TEXT
rajovaca
brahmana codito brahman
gunakhyane ‘gunasya ca
yasmai yasmai yatha praha
narado deva-darsanah
SYNONYMS
raja–the King; uvaca–inquired; brahmana–by Lord Brahma; coditah–
being instructed; brahman–O learned brahmana (Sukadeva Gosvami); gunaakhyane–
in narrating the transcendental qualities; agunasya–of the
Lord, who is without material qualities; ca–and; yasmai yasmai–and
whom; yatha–as much as; praha–explained; naradah–Narada Muni; devadarsanah–
one whose audience is as good as that of any demigod.
TRANSLATION
King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: How did Narada Muni,
whose hearers are as fortunate as those instructed by Lord Brahma,
explain the transcendental qualities of the Lord, who is without material
qualities, and before whom did he speak?
TEXT 2
TEXT
etad veditum icchami
tattvam tattva-vidam vara
harer adbhuta-viryasya
katha loka-sumangalah
SYNONYMS
etat–this; veditum–to understand; icchami–I wish; tattvam–truth;
tattva-vidam–of those who are well versed in the Absolute Truth; vara–O
best; hareh–of the Lord; adbhuta-viryasya–of the one who possesses
wonderful potencies; kathah–narrations; loka–for all planets; sumangalah–
auspicious.
TRANSLATION
The King said: I wish to know. Narrations concerning the Lord, who
possesses wonderful potencies, are certainly auspicious for living beings
TEXT 3
TEXT
kathayasva mahabhaga
yathaham akhilatmani
krsne nivesya nihsangam
manas tyaksye kalevaram
SYNONYMS
kathayasva–please continue speaking; mahabhaga–O greatly fortunate
one; yatha–as much as; aham–I; akhila-atmani–unto the Supreme Soul;
krsne–unto Lord Sri Krsna; nivesya–having placed; nihsangam–being
freed from material qualities; manah–mind; tyaksye–may relinquish;
kalevaram–body.
TRANSLATION
O greatly fortunate Sukadeva Gosvami, please continue narrating
Srimad-Bhagavatam so that I can place my mind upon the Supreme Soul, Lord
Krsna, and, being completely freed from material qualities, thus
TEXT 4
TEXT
srnvatah sraddhaya nityam
grnatas ca sva-cestitam
kalena natidirghena
bhagavan visate hrdi
SYNONYMS
srnvatah–of those who hear; sraddhaya–in earnestness; nityam–
regularly, always; grnatah–taking the matter; ca–also; sva-cestitam–
seriously by one’s own endeavor; kalena–duration; na–not; ati-dirghena-
-very prolonged time; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna;
visate–becomes manifest; hrdi–within one’s heart.
TRANSLATION
Persons who hear Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly and are always taking the
matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna
TEXT 5
TEXT
pravistah karna-randhrena
svanam bhava-saroruham
dhunoti samalam krsnah
salilasya yatha sarat
SYNONYMS
pravistah–thus being entered; karna-randhrena–through the holes of
the ears; svanam–according to one’s liberated position; bhava–
constitutional relationship; sarah-ruham–the lotus flower; dhunoti–
cleanses; samalam–material qualities like lust, anger, avarice and
hankering; krsnah–Lord Krsna, the Supreme personality of Godhead;
salilasya–of the reservoir of waters; yatha–as it were; sarat–the
autumn season.
TRANSLATION
The sound incarnation of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Soul [i.e. Srimad-
Bhagavatam], enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on
the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust
of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering. Thus it acts
TEXT 6
TEXT
dhautatma purusah krsnapada-
mulam na muncati
mukta-sarva-pariklesah
panthah sva-saranam yatha
SYNONYMS
dhauta-atma–whose heart has been cleansed; purusah–the living being;
krsna–the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pada-mulam–the shelter of the
lotus feet; na–never; muncati–gives up; mukta–liberated; sarva–all;
pariklesah–of all miseries of life; panthah–the traveler; sva-saranam–
in his own abode; yatha–as it were.
TRANSLATION
A pure devotee of the Lord whose heart has once been cleansed by the
process of devotional service never relinquishes the lotus feet of Lord
Krsna, for they fully satisfy him, as a traveler is satisfied at home
TEXT 7
TEXT
yad adhatu-mato brahman
deharambho ‘sya dhatubhih
yadrcchaya hetuna va
bhavanto janate yatha
SYNONYMS
yat–as it is; adhatu-matah–without being materially constituted;
brahman–O learned brahmana; deha–the material body; arambhah–the
beginning of; asya–of the living being; dhatubhih–by matter;
yadrcchaya–without cause, accidental; hetuna–due to some cause; va–
either; bhavantah–your good self; janate–as you may know it; yatha–so
you inform me.
TRANSLATION
O learned brahmana, the transcendental spirit soul is different from
the material body. Does he acquire the body accidentally or by some
TEXT 8
TEXT
asid yad-udarat padmam
loka-samsthana-laksanam
yavan ayam vai purusa
iyattavayavaih prthak
tavan asav iti proktah
samsthavayavavan iva
SYNONYMS
asit–as it grew; yat-udarat–from whose abdomen; padmam–lotus
flower; loka–world; samsthana–situation; laksanam–possessed of; yavan-
-as it were; ayam–this; vai–certainly; purusah–the Supreme Personality
of Godhead; iyatta–measurement; avayavaih–by embodiments; prthak–
different; tavan–so; asau–that; iti proktah–it is so said; samstha–
situation; avayavavan–embodiment; iva–like.
TRANSLATION
If the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whose abdomen the lotus
stem sprouted, is possessed of a gigantic body according to His own
caliber and measurement, then what is the specific difference between the
TEXT 9
TEXT
ajah srjati bhutani
bhutatma yad-anugrahat
dadrse yena tad-rupam
nabhi-padma-samudbhavah
SYNONYMS
ajah–one who is born without a material source; srjati–creates;
bhutani–all those materially born; bhuta-atma–having a body of matter;
yat–whose; anugrahat–by the mercy of; dadrse–could see; yena–by whom;
tat-rupam–His form of body; nabhi–navel; padma–lotus flower;
samudbhavah–being born of.
TRANSLATION
Brahma, who was not born of a material source but of the lotus flower
coming out of the navel abdomen of the Lord, is the creator of all those
who are materially born. Of course, by the grace of the Lord, Brahma was
TEXT 10
TEXT
sa capi yatra puruso
visva-sthity-udbhavapyayah
muktvatma-mayam mayesah
sete sarva-guhasayah
SYNONYMS
sah–He; ca–also; api–as He is; yatra–where; purusah–the
Personality of Godhead; visva–the material worlds; sthiti–maintenance;
udbhava–creation; apyayah–annihilation; muktva–without being touched;
atma-mayam–own energy; maya-isah–the Lord of all energies; sete–does
lie on; sarva-guha-sayah–one who lies in everyone s heart.
TRANSLATION
Please also explain the Personality of Godhead, who lies in every
heart as the Supersoul, and as the Lord of all energies, but is untouched
TEXT 11
TEXT
purusavayavair lokah
sapalah purva-kalpitah
lokair amusyavayavah
sa-palair iti susruma
SYNONYMS
purusa–the universal form of the Lord (virat-purusah); avayavaih–by
different parts of the body; lokah–the planetary system; sa-palah–with
respective governors; purva–formerly; kalpitah–discussed; lokaih–by
the different planetary systems; amusya–His; avayavah–different parts
of the body; sa-palaih–with the governors; iti–thus; susruma–I heard.
TRANSLATION
O learned brahmana, it was formerly explained that all the planets of
the universe with their respective governors are situated in the
different parts of the gigantic body of the virat-purusa. I have also
heard that the different planetary systems are supposed to be in the
gigantic body of the virat-purusa. But what is their actual position ?
Will you please explain that?
TEXT 12
TEXT
yavan kalpo vikalpo va
yatha kalo ‘numiyate
bhuta-bhavya-bhavac-chabda
ayur-manam ca yat satah
SYNONYMS
yavan–as it is; kalpah–the duration of time between creation and
annihilation; vikalpah–subsidiary creation and annihilation; va–either;
yatha–as also; kalah–the time; anumiyate–is measured; bhuta–past;
bhavya–future; bhavat–present; sabdah–sound; ayuh–duration of life;
manam–measurement; ca–also; yat–which; satah–of all living beings in
all planets.
TRANSLATION
Also please explain the duration of time between creation and
annihilation, and that of other subsidiary creations, as well as the
nature of time, indicated by the sound of past, present and future. Also,
please explain the duration and measurement of life of the different
living beings known as the demigods, the human beings, etc., in different
planets of the universe.
TEXT 13
TEXT
kalasyanugatir ya tu
laksyate ‘nvi brhaty api
yavatyah karma-gatayo
yadrsir dvija-sattama
SYNONYMS
kalasya–of eternal time; anugatih–beginning; ya tu–as they are;
laksyate–experienced; anvi–small; brhati–great; api–even; yavatyah–
as long as; karma-gatayah–in terms of the work performed; yadrsih–as it
may; dvija-sattama–O purest of all brahmanas.
TRANSLATION
O purest of the brahmanas, please also explain the cause of the
different durations of time, both short and long, as well as the
beginning of time, following the course of action.
TEXT 14
TEXT
yasmin karma-samavayo
yatha yenopagrhyate
gunanam guninam caiva
parinamam abhipsatam
SYNONYMS
yasmin–in which; karma–actions; samavayah–accumulation; yatha–as
far as; yena–by which; upagrhyate–takes over; gunanam–of the different
modes of material nature; guninam–of the living beings; ca–also; eva–
certainly; parinamam–resultant; abhipsatam–of the desires.
TRANSLATION
Then again, kindly describe how the proportionate accumulation of the
reactions resulting from the different modes of material nature act upon
the desiring living being, promoting or degrading him among the different
species of life, beginning from the demigods down to the most
TEXT 15
TEXT
bhu-patala-kakub-vyomagraha-
naksatra-bhubhrtam
sarit-samudra-dvipanam
sambhavas caitad-okasam
SYNONYMS
bhu-patala–underneath the land; kakup–the four sides of the heavens;
vyoma–the sky; graha–the planets; naksatra–the stars; bhubhrtam–of
the hills; sarit–the river; samudra–the sea; dvipanam–of the islands;
sambhavah–appearance; ca–also; etat–their; okasam–of the inhabitants.
TRANSLATION
O best of the brahmanas, please also describe how the creation of the
globes throughout the universe, the four directions of the heavens, the
sky, the planets, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, the seas and the
TEXT 16
TEXT
pramanam anda-kosasya
bahyabhyantara-bhedatah
mahatam canucaritam
varnasrama-viniscayah
SYNONYMS
pramanam–extent and measurement; anda-kosasya–of the universe;
bahya–outer space; abhyantara–inner space; bhedatah–by division of;
mahatam–of the great souls; ca–also; anucaritam–character and
activities; varna–castes; asrama–orders of life; viniscayah–
specifically describe.
TRANSLATION
Also, please describe the inner and outer space of the universe by
specific divisions, as well as the character and activities of the great
souls, and also the characteristics of the different classifications of
TEXT 17
TEXT
yugani yuga-manam ca
dharmo yas ca yuge yuge
avataranucaritam
yad ascaryatamam hareh
SYNONYMS
yugani–the different ages; yuga-manam–the duration of each age; ca–
as well as; dharmah–the particular occupational duty; yah ca–and which;
yuge yuge–in each and every yuga, or particular age; avatara–the
incarnation; anucaritam–and the activities of the incarnation; yat–
which; ascaryatamam–the most wonderful activities; hareh–of the Supreme
Lord.
TRANSLATION
Please explain all the different ages in the duration of the creation,
and also the duration of such ages. Also tell me about the different
TEXT 18
TEXT
nrnam sadharano dharmah
savisesas ca yadrsah
sreninam rajarsinam ca
dharmah krcchresu jivatam
SYNONYMS
nrnam–of human society; sadharanah–general; dharmah–religious
affiliation; sa-visesah–specific; ca–also; yadrsah–as they are;
sreninam–of the particular three classes; rajarsinam–of the saintly
royal order; ca–also; dharmah–occupational duty; krcchresu–in the
matter of distressed conditions; jivatam–of the living beings.
TRANSLATION
Please also explain what may generally be the common religious
affiliations of human society, as well as their specific occupational
duties in religion, the classification of the social orders as well as
the administrative royal orders, and the religious principles for one who
TEXT 19
TEXT
tattvanam parisankhyanam
laksanam hetu-laksanam
purusaradhana-vidhir
yogasyadhyatmikasya ca
SYNONYMS
tattvanam–of the elements that constitute the creation;
parisankhyanam–of the number of such elements; laksanam–symptoms; hetulaksanam–
the symptoms of the causes; purusa–of the Lord; aradhana–of
devotional service; vidhih–rules and regulations; yogasya–of
cultivation of the yoga system; adhyatmikasya–spiritual methods leading
to devotional service; ca–also.
TRANSLATION
Kindly explain all about the elementary principles of creation, the
number of such elementary principles, their causes, and their
development, and also the process of devotional service and the method of
mystic powers.
TEXT 20
TEXT
yogesvaraisvarya-gatir
linga-bhangas tu yoginam
vedopaveda-dharmanam
itihasa-puranayoh
SYNONYMS
yoga-isvara–of the master of the mystic powers; aisvarya–opulence;
gatih–advancement; linga–astral body; bhangah–detachment; tu–but;
yoginam–of the mystics; veda–transcendental knowledge; upaveda–
knowledge in pursuance of the Veda indirectly; dharmanam–of the
religiosities; itihasa–history; puranayoh–of the Puranas.
TRANSLATION
What are the opulences of the great mystics, and what is their
ultimate realization? How does the perfect mystic become detached from
the subtle astral body? What is the basic knowledge of the Vedic
literatures, including the branches of history and the supplementary
TEXT 21
TEXT
samplavah sarva-bhutanam
vikramah pratisankramah
ista-purtasya kamyanam
tri-vargasya ca yo vidhih
SYNONYMS
samplavah–the perfect means or complete devastation; sarva-bhutanam–
of all living beings; vikramah–specific power or situation;
pratisankramah–ultimate destruction; ista–performance of Vedic rituals;
purtasya–pious acts in terms of religion; kamyanam–rituals for economic
development; tri-vargasya–the three means of religion, economic
development and sense satisfaction; ca–also; yah–whatsoever; vidhih–
procedures.
TRANSLATION
Please explain unto me how the living beings are generated, how they
are maintained, and how they are annihilated. Tell me also of the
advantages and disadvantages of discharging devotional service unto the
Lord. What are the Vedic rituals and injunctions of the supplementary
Vedic rites, and what are the procedures of religion, economic
TEXT 22
TEXT
yo vanusayinam sargah
pasandasya ca sambhavah
atmano bandha-moksau ca
vyavasthanam sva-rupatah
SYNONYMS
yah–all those; va–either; anusayinam–merged into the body of the
Lord; sargah–creation; pasandasya–of the infidels; ca–and; sambhavah–
appearance; atmanah–of the living beings; bandha–conditioned; moksau–
being liberated; ca–also; vyavasthanam–being situated; sva-rupatah–in
an unconditioned state.
TRANSLATION
Please also explain how, merged in the body of the Lord, living beings
are created, and how the infidels appear in the world. Also please
TEXT 23
TEXT
yathatma-tantro bhagavan
vikridaty atma-mayaya
visrjya va yatha mayam
udaste saksivad vibhuh
SYNONYMS
yatha–as; atma-tantrah–independent; bhagavan–the Personality of
Godhead; vikridati–enjoys His pastimes; atma-mayaya–by His internal
potency; visrjya–giving up; va–as also; yatha–as He desires; mayam–
the external potency; udaste–remains; saksivat–just as the witness;
vibhuh–the almighty.
TRANSLATION
The independent Personality of Godhead enjoys His pastimes by His
internal potency and at the time of annihilation gives them up to the
TEXT 23
TEXT
yathatma-tantro bhagavan
vikridaty atma-mayaya
visrjya va yatha mayam
udaste saksivad vibhuh
SYNONYMS
yatha–as; atma-tantrah–independent; bhagavan–the Personality of
Godhead; vikridati–enjoys His pastimes; atma-mayaya–by His internal
potency; visrjya–giving up; va–as also; yatha–as He desires; mayam–
the external potency; udaste–remains; saksivat–just as the witness;
vibhuh–the almighty.
TRANSLATION
The independent Personality of Godhead enjoys His pastimes by His
internal potency and at the time of annihilation gives them up to the
TEXT 24
TEXT
sarvam etac ca bhagavan
prcchato me ‘nupurvasah
tattvato ‘rhasy udahartum
prapannaya maha-mune
SYNONYMS
sarvam–all these; etat–inquiries; ca–also that I have not been able
to ask; bhagavan–O great sage; prcchatah–of the inquisitive; me–
myself; anupurvasah–from the beginning; tattvatah–just in accordance
with the truth; arhasi–may kindly be explained; udahartum–as you will
let know; prapannaya–one who is surrounded; maha-mune–O great sage.
TRANSLATION
O great sage, representative of the Lord, kindly satisfy my
inquisitiveness in all that I have inquired from you and all that I may
not have inquired from you from the very beginning of my questionings.
Since I am a soul surrendered unto you, please impart full knowledge in
TEXT 25
TEXT
atra pramanam hi bhavan
paramesthi yathatma-bhuh
apare canutisthanti
purvesam purva-jaih krtam
SYNONYMS
atra–in this matter; pramanam–evidential facts; hi–certainly;
bhavan–yourself; paramesthi–Brahma, the creator of the universe; yatha-
-as; atma-bhuh–born directly from the Lord; apare–others; ca–only;
anutisthanti–just to follow; purvesam–as a matter of custom; purvajaih–
knowledge suggested by a previous philosopher; krtam–having been
done.
TRANSLATION
O great sage, you are as good as Brahma, the original living being.
Others follow custom only, as followed by the previous philosophical
TEXT 26
TEXT
na me ‘savah parayanti
brahmann anasanad ami
pibato ‘cyuta-piyusam
tad vakyabdhi-vinihsrtam
SYNONYMS
na–never; me–mine; asavah–life; parayanti–becomes exhausted;
brahman–O learned brahmana; anasanat ami–because of fasting; pibatah–
because of my drinking; acyuta–of the infallible; piyusam–nectar; tat–
your; vakya-abdhi–ocean of speech; vinihsrtam–flowing down from.
TRANSLATION
O learned brahmana, because of my drinking the nectar of the message
of the infallible Personality of Godhead, which is flowing down from the
ocean of your speeches, I do not feel any sort of exhaustion due to my
TEXT 27
TEXT
suta uvaca
sa upamantrito rajna
kathayam iti sat-pateh
brahmarato bhrsam prito
visnuratena samsadi
SYNONYMS
sutah uvaca–Srila Suta Gosvami said; sah–he (Sukadeva Gosvami);
upamantritah–thus being inquired; rajna–by the King; kathayam–in the
topics; iti–thus; sat-pateh–of the highest truth; brahma-ratah–
Sukadeva Gosvami; bhrsam–very much; pritah–pleased; visnu-ratena–by
Maharaja Pariksit; samsadi–in the meeting.
TRANSLATION
Suta Gosvami said: Thus Sukadeva Gosvami, being invited by Maharaja
Pariksit to speak on topics of the Lord Sri Krsna with the devotees, was
TEXT 28
TEXT
praha bhagavatam nama
puranam brahma-sammitam
brahmane bhagavat-proktam
brahma-kalpa upagate
SYNONYMS
praha–he said; bhagavatam–the science of the Personality of Godhead;
nama–of the name; puranam–the supplement of the Vedas; brahma-sammitam-
-just in pursuance of the Vedas; brahmane–unto Lord Brahma; bhagavatproktam–
was spoken by the Personality of Godhead; brahma-kalpe–the
millennium in which Brahma was first generated; upagate–just in the
beginning.
TRANSLATION
He began to reply to the inquiries of Maharaja Pariksit by saying that
the science of the Personality of Godhead was spoken first by the Lord
Himself to Brahma when he was first born. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the
TEXT 29
TEXT
yad yat pariksid rsabhah
pandunam anuprcchati
anupurvyena tat sarvam
akhyatum upacakrame
SYNONYMS
yat yat–whatsoever; pariksit–the King; rsabhah–the best; pandunam–
in the dynasty of Pandu; anuprcchati–goes on inquiring; anupurvyena–the
beginning to the end; tat–all those; sarvam–fully; akhyatum–to
describe; upacakrame–he just prepared himself.
TRANSLATION
He also prepared himself to reply to all that King Pariksit had
inquired from him. Maharaja Pariksit was the best in the dynasty of the
Pandus, and thus he was able to ask the right questions from the right
person.
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