Srimad Bhagavatam. Canto 7: The Science of God

Chapter 1: The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone. Text 13

अत्रैवोदाहृतः पूर्वमितिहासः सुरर्षिणा ।
प्रीत्या महाक्रतौ राजन् पृच्छतेऽजातशत्रवे ॥१३॥

atraivodÄhá¹›taḥ pÅ«rvam
itihÄsaḥ surará¹£iṇÄ
prÄ«tyÄ mahÄ-kratau rÄjan
pá¹›cchate 'jÄta-Å›atrave

 atra - in this connection; eva - certainly; udÄhá¹›taḥ - was recited; pÅ«rvam - previously; itihÄsaḥ - an old story; sura-ṛṣiá¹‡Ä - by the great sage NÄrada; prÄ«tyÄ - with joy; mahÄ-kratau - at the great RÄjasÅ«ya sacrifice; rÄjan - O King; pá¹›cchate - to the inquiring; ajÄta-Å›atrave - MahÄrÄja Yudhiṣṭhira, who had no enemy.


Text

Formerly, O King, when MahÄrÄja Yudhiṣṭhira was performing the RÄjasÅ«ya sacrifice, the great sage NÄrada, responding to his inquiry, recited historical facts showing how the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always impartial, even when killing demons. In this regard he gave a vivid example.

Purport

This relates to how the Lord exhibited His impartiality even when killing ÅšiÅ›upÄla in the arena of the RÄjasÅ«ya yajña performed by MahÄrÄja Yudhiṣṭhira.