TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
atma-mayam rte rajan
parasyanubhavatmanah
na ghatetartha-sambandhah
svapna-drastur ivanjasa
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; atma–the Supreme
Personality of Godhead; mayam–energy; rte–without; rajan–O King;
parasya–of the pure soul; anubhava-atmanah–of the purely conscious; na-
-never; ghateta–it can so happen; artha–meaning; sambandhah–relation
with the material body; svapna–dream; drastuh–of the seer; iva–like;
anjasa–completely.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, unless one is influenced by the
energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no meaning to the
relationship of the pure soul in pure consciousness with the material
body. That relationship is just like a dreamer’s seeing his own body
TEXT 2
TEXT
bahu-rupa ivabhati
mayaya bahu-rupaya
ramamano gunesv asya
mamaham iti manyate
SYNONYMS
bahu-rupah–multiforms; iva–as it were; abhati–manifested; mayaya–
by the influence of the exterior energy; bahu-rupaya–in multifarious
forms; ramamanah–enjoying as it were; gunesu–in the modes of different
qualities; asyah–of the external energy; mama–mine; aham–I; iti–thus;
manyate–thinks.
TRANSLATION
The illusioned living entity appears in so many forms offered by the
external energy of the Lord. While enjoying in the modes of material
nature, the encaged living entity misconceives, thinking in terms of “I”
TEXT 3
TEXT
yarhi vava mahimni sve
parasmin kala-mayayoh
rameta gata-sammohas
tyaktvodaste tadobhayam
SYNONYMS
yarhi–at any time; vava–certainly; mahimni–in the glory; sve–of
himself; parasmin–in the Supreme; kala–time; mayayoh–of the material
energy; rameta–enjoys; gata-sammohah–being freed from the
misconception; tyaktva–giving up; udaste–in fullness; tada–then;
ubhayam–both (the misconceptions of I and mine).
TRANSLATION
As soon as the living entity becomes situated in his constitutional
glory and begins to enjoy the transcendence beyond time and material
energy, he at once gives up the two misconceptions of life [I and mine]
TEXT 4
TEXT
atma-tattva-visuddhy-artham
yad aha bhagavan rtam
brahmane darsayan rupam
avyalika-vratadrtah
SYNONYMS
atma-tattva–the science of God or that of the living entity;
visuddhi–purification; artham–goal; yat–that which; aha–said;
bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; rtam–in reality; brahmane–unto
Lord Brahma; darsayan–by showing; rupam–eternal form; avyalika–without
any deceptive motive; vrata–vow; adrtah–worshiped.
TRANSLATION
O King, the Personality of Godhead, being very much pleased with Lord
Brahma because of his nondeceptive penance in bhakti-yoga, presented His
eternal and transcendental form before Brahma. And that is the objective
TEXT 5
TEXT
sa adi-devo jagatam paro guruh
svadhisnyam asthaya sisrksayaiksata
tam nadhyagacchad drsam atra sammatam
prapanca-nirmana-vidhir yaya bhavet
SYNONYMS
sah–he; adi-devah–the first demigod; jagatam–of the universe;
parah–supreme; guruh–spiritual master; svadhisnyam–his lotus seat;
asthaya–to find the source of it; sisrksaya–for the matter of creating
the universal affairs; aiksata–began to think; tam–in that matter; na–
could not; adhyagacchat–understand; drsam–the direction; atra–therein;
sammatam–just the proper way; prapanca–material; nirmana–construction;
vidhih–process; yaya–as much as; bhavet–should be.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma, the first spiritual master, supreme in the universe,
could not trace out the source of his lotus seat, and while thinking of
creating the material world, he could not understand the proper direction
for such creative work, nor could he find out the process for such
TEXT 6
TEXT
sa cintayan dvy-aksaram ekadambhasy
upasrnod dvir-gaditam vaco vibhuh
sparsesu yat sodasam ekavimsam
niskincananam nrpa yad dhanam viduh
SYNONYMS
sah–he; cintayan–while thus thinking; dvi–two; aksaram–syllables;
ekada–once upon a time; ambhasi–in the water; upasrnot–heard it
nearby; dvih–twice; gaditam–uttered; vacah–words; vibhuh–the great;
sparsesu–in the sparsa letters; yat–which; sodasam–the sixteenth;
ekavimsam–and the twenty-first; niskincananam–of the renounced order of
life; nrpa–O King; yat–what is; dhanam–wealth; viduh–as it is known.
TRANSLATION
While thus engaged in thinking, in the water, Brahmaji heard twice
from nearby two syllables joined together. One of the syllables was taken
from the sixteenth and the other from the twenty-first of the sparsa
alphabets, and both joined to become the wealth of the renounced order of
TEXT 7
TEXT
nisamya tad-vaktr-didrksaya diso
vilokya tatranyad apasyamanah
svadhisnyam asthaya vimrsya tad-dhitam
tapasy upadista ivadadhe manah
SYNONYMS
nisamya–after hearing; tat–that; vaktr–the speaker; didrksaya–just
to find out who spoke; disah–all sides; vilokya–seeing; tatra–there;
anyat–any other; apasyamanah–not to be found; svadhisnyam–on his lotus
seat; asthaya–sit down; vimrsya–thinking; tat–it; hitam–welfare;
tapasi–in penance; upadistah–as he was instructed; iva–in pursuance
of; adadhe–gave; manah–attention.
TRANSLATION
When he heard the sound, he tried to find the speaker, searching on
all sides. But when he was unable to find anyone besides himself, he
thought it wise to sit down on his lotus seat firmly and give his
TEXT 8
TEXT
divyam sahasrabdam amogha-darsano
jitanilatma vijitobhayendriyah
atapyata smakhila-loka-tapanam
tapas tapiyams tapatam samahitah
SYNONYMS
divyam–pertaining to the demigods in the higher planets; sahasra–one
thousand; abdam–years; amogha–spotless, without a tinge of impurity;
darsanah–one who has such a vision of life; jita–controlled; anila–
life; atma–mind; vijita–controlled over; ubhaya–both; indriyah–one
who has such senses; atapyata–executed penance; sma–in the past;
akhila–all; loka–planet; tapanam–enlightening; tapah–penance;
tapiyan–extremely hard penance; tapatam–of all the executors of
penances; samahitah–thus situated.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma underwent penances for one thousand years by the
calculations of the demigods. He heard this transcendental vibration from
the sky, and he accepted it as divine. Thus he controlled his mind and
senses, and the penances he executed were a great lesson for the living
TEXT 9
TEXT
tasmai sva-lokam bhagavan sabhajitah
sandarsayam asa param na yat-param
vyapeta-sanklesa-vimoha-sadhvasam
sva-drstavadbhir purusair abhistutam
SYNONYMS
tasmai–unto him; sva-lokam–His own planet or abode; bhagavan–the
Personality of Godhead; sabhajitah–being pleased by the penance of
Brahma; sandarsayam asa–manifested; param–the supreme; na–not; yat–of
which; param–further supreme; vyapeta–completely given up; sanklesa–
five kinds of material afflictions; vimoha–without illusion; sadhvasam–
fear of material existence; sva-drsta-vadbhih–by those who have
perfectly realized the self; purusaih–by persons; abhistutam–worshiped
by.
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead, being thus very much satisfied with the
penance of Lord Brahma, was pleased to manifest His personal abode,
Vaikuntha, the supreme planet above all others. This transcendental abode
of the Lord is adored by all self-realized persons freed from all kinds
TEXT 10
TEXT
pravartate yatra rajas tamas tayoh
sattvam ca misram na ca kala-vikramah
na yatra maya kim utapare harer
anuvrata yatra surasurarcitah
SYNONYMS
pravartate–prevail; yatra–wherein; rajah tamah–the modes of passion
and ignorance; tayoh–of both of them; sattvam–the mode of goodness; ca-
-and; misram–mixture; na–never; ca–and; kala–time; vikramah–
influence; na–neither; yatra–therein; maya–illusory, external energy;
kim–what; uta–there is; apare–others; hareh–of the Personality of
Godhead; anuvratah–devotees; yatra–wherein; sura–by the demigods;
asura–and the demons; arcitah–worshiped.
TRANSLATION
In that personal abode of the Lord, the material modes of ignorance
and passion do not prevail, nor is there any of their influence in
goodness. There is no predominance of the influence of time, so what to
speak of the illusory, external energy; it cannot enter that region.
Without discrimination, both the demigods and the demons worship the Lord
TEXT 11
TEXT
syamavadatah sata-patra-locanah
pisanga-vastrah surucah supesasah
sarve catur-bahava unmisan-manipraveka-
niskabharanah suvarcasah
SYNONYMS
syama–sky-bluish; avadatah–glowing; sata-patra–lotus flower;
locanah–eyes; pisanga–yellowish; vastrah–clothing; su-rucah–greatly
attractive; su-pesasah–growing youthful; sarve–all of them; catuh–
four; bahavah–hands; unmisan–rising luster; mani–pearls; praveka–
superior quality; niska-abharanah–ornamental medallions; su-varcasah–
effulgent.
TRANSLATION
The inhabitants of the Vaikuntha planets are described as having a
glowing sky-bluish complexion. Their eyes resemble lotus flowers, their
dress is of yellowish color, and their bodily features very attractive.
They are just the age of growing youths, they all have four hands, they
are all nicely decorated with pearl necklaces with ornamental medallions,
TEXT 12
TEXT
pravala-vaidurya-mrnala-varcasah
parisphurat-kundala-mauli-malinah
SYNONYMS
pravala–coral; vaidurya–a special diamond; mrnala–celestial lotus;
varcasah–rays; parisphurat–blooming; kundala–earring; mauli–heads;
malinah–with garlands.
TRANSLATION
Some of them are effulgent like coral and diamonds in complexion and
have garlands on their heads, blooming like lotus flowers, and some wear
earrings.TEXT 13
TEXT
bhrajisnubhir yah parito virajate
lasad-vimanavalibhir mahatmanam
vidyotamanah pramadottamadyubhih
savidyud abhravalibhir yatha nabhah
SYNONYMS
bhrajisnubhih–by the glowing; yah–the Vaikunthalokas; paritah–
surrounded by; virajate–thus situated; lasat–brilliant; vimana–
airplanes; avalibhih–assemblage; maha-atmanam–of the great devotees of
the Lord; vidyotamanah–beautiful like lightning; pramada–ladies;
uttama–celestial; adyubhih–by complexion; sa-vidyut–with electric
lightning; abhravalibhih–with clouds in the sky; yatha–as it were;
nabhah–the sky.
TRANSLATION
The Vaikuntha planets are also surrounded by various airplanes, all
glowing and brilliantly situated. These airplanes belong to the great
mahatmas or devotees of the Lord. The ladies are as beautiful as
lightning because of their celestial complexions, and all these combined
together appear just like the sky decorated with both clouds and
lightning.TEXT 14
TEXT
srir yatra rupiny urugaya-padayoh
karoti manam bahudha vibhutibhih
prenkham srita ya kusumakaranugair
vigiyamana priya-karma gayati
SYNONYMS
srih–the goddess of fortune; yatra–in the Vaikuntha planets; rupini-
-in her transcendental form; urugaya–the Lord, who is sung of by the
great devotees; padayoh–under the lotus feet of the Lord; karoti–does;
manam–respectful services; bahudha–in diverse paraphernalia;
vibhutibhih–accompanied by her personal associates; prenkham–movement
of enjoyment; srita–taken shelter of; ya–who; kusumakara–spring;
anugaih–by the black bees; vigiyamana–being followed by the songs;
priya-karma–activities of the dearmost; gayati–singing.
TRANSLATION
The goddess of fortune in her transcendental form is engaged in the
loving service of the Lord’s lotus feet, and being moved by the black
bees, followers of spring, she is not only engaged in variegated
pleasure–service to the Lord, along with her constant companions–but is
also engaged in singing the glories of the Lord’s activities.
TEXT 15
TEXT
dadarsa tatrakhila-satvatam patim
sriyah patim yajna-patim jagat-patim
sunanda-nanda-prabalarhanadibhih
sva-parsadagraih parisevitam vibhum
SYNONYMS
dadarsa–Brahma saw; tatra–there (in Vaikunthaloka); akhila–entire;
satvatam–of the great devotees; patim–the Lord; sriyah–of the goddess
of fortune; patim–the Lord; yajna–of sacrifice; patim–the Lord; jagat-
-of the universe; patim–the Lord; sunanda–Sunanda; nanda–Nanda;
prabala–Prabala; arhana–Arhana; adibhih–by them; sva-parsada–own
associates; agraih–by the foremost; parisevitam–being served in
transcendental love; vibhum–the great Almighty.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma saw in the Vaikuntha planets the Personality of Godhead,
who is the Lord of the entire devotee community, the Lord of the goddess
of fortune, the Lord of all sacrifices, and the Lord of the universe, and
who is served by the foremost servitors like Nanda, Sunanda, Prabala and
Arhana, His immediate associates.TEXT 16
TEXT
bhrtya-prasadabhimukham drg-asavam
prasanna-hasaruna-locanananam
kiritinam kundalinam catur-bhujam
pitamsukam vaksasi laksitam sriya
SYNONYMS
bhrtya–the servitor; prasada–affection; abhimukham–favorably
facing; drk–the very sight; asavam–an intoxication; prasanna–very much
pleased; hasa–smile; aruna–reddish; locana–eyes; ananam–face;
kiritinam–with helmet; kundalinam–with earrings; catuh-bhujam–with
four hands; pita–yellow; amsukam–dress; vaksasi–on the chest;
laksitam–marked; sriya–with the goddess of fortune.
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead, seen leaning favorably towards His loving
servitors, His very sight intoxicating and attractive, appeared to be
very much satisfied. He had a smiling face decorated with an enchanting
reddish hue. He was dressed in yellow robes and wore earrings and a
helmet on his head. He had four hands, and His chest was marked with the
lines of the goddess of fortune.TEXT 17
TEXT
adhyarhaniyasanam asthitam param
vrtam catuh-sodasa-panca-saktibhih
yuktam bhagaih svair itaratra cadhruvaih
sva eva dhaman ramamanam isvaram
SYNONYMS
adhyarhaniya–greatly worshipable; asanam–throne; asthitam–seated on
it; param–the Supreme; vrtam–surrounded by; catuh–four, namely
prakrti, purusa, mahat and ego; sodasa–the sixteen; panca–the five;
saktibhih–by the energies; yuktam–empowered with; bhagaih–His
opulences; svaih–personal; itaratra–other minor prowesses; ca–also;
adhruvaih–temporary; sve–own; eva–certainly; dhaman–abode; ramamanam-
-enjoying; isvaram–the Supreme Lord.
TRANSLATION
The Lord was seated on His throne and was surrounded by different
energies like the four, the sixteen, the five, and the six natural
opulences, along with other insignificant energies of the temporary
character. But He was the factual Supreme Lord, enjoying His own abode.TEXT 18
TEXT
tad-darsanahlada-pariplutantaro
hrsyat-tanuh prema-bharasru-locanah
nanama padambujam asya visva-srg
yat paramahamsyena pathadhigamyate
SYNONYMS
tat–by that audience of the Lord; darsana–audience; ahlada–joy;
paripluta–overwhelmed; antarah–within the heart; hrsyat–full in
ecstasy; tanuh–body; prema-bhara–in full transcendental love; asru–
tears; locanah–in the eyes; nanama–bowed down; pada-ambujam–under the
lotus feet; asya–of the Lord; visva-srk–the creator of the universe;
yat–which; paramahamsyena–by the great liberated soul; patha–the path;
adhigamyate–is followed.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma, thus seeing the Personality of Godhead in His fullness,
was overwhelmed with joy within his heart, and thus in full
transcendental love and ecstasy, his eyes filled with tears of love. He
thus bowed down before the Lord. That is the way of the highest
perfection for the living being [paramahamsa].TEXT 19
TEXT
tam priyamanam samupasthitam kavim
praja-visarge nija-sasanarhanam
babhasa isat-smita-socisa gira
priyah priyam prita-manah kare sprsan
SYNONYMS
tam–unto Lord Brahma; priyamanam–worthy of being dear;
samupasthitam–present before; kavim–the great scholar; praja–living
entities; visarge–in the matter of creation; nija–His own; sasana–
control; arhanam–just suitable; babhase–addressed; isat–mild; smita–
smiling; socisa–with enlightening; gira–words; priyah–the beloved;
priyam–the counterpart of love; prita-manah–being very much pleased;
kare–by the hand; sprsan–shaking.
TRANSLATION
And seeing Brahma present before Him, the Lord accepted him as worthy
to create living beings, to be controlled as He desired, and thus being
much satisfied with him, the Lord shook hands with Brahma and, slightly
smiling, addressed him thus.TEXT 20
TEXT
sri-bhagavan uvaca
tvayaham tositah samyag
veda-garbha sisrksaya
ciram bhrtena tapasa
dustosah kuta-yoginam
SYNONYMS
sri-bhagavan uvaca–the all-beautiful Personality of Godhead said;
tvaya–by you; aham–I am; tositah–pleased; samyak–complete; vedagarbha–
impregnated with the Vedas; sisrksaya–for creating; ciram–for a
long time; bhrtena–accumulated; tapasa–by penance; dustosah–very hard
to please; kuta-yoginam–for the pseudo mystics.
TRANSLATION
The beautiful Personality of Godhead addressed Lord Brahma: O Brahma,
impregnated with the Vedas, I am very much pleased with your long
accumulated penance with the desire for creation. Hardly am I pleased
with the pseudo mystics.TEXT 21
TEXT
varam varaya bhadram te
varesam mabhivanchitam
brahman chreyah-parisramah
pumsam mad-darsanavadhih
SYNONYMS
varam–benediction; varaya–just ask from; bhadram–auspicious; te–
unto you; vara-isam–the giver of all benediction; ma (mam)–from Me;
abhivanchitam–wishing; brahman–O Brahma; sreyah–the ultimate success;
parisramah–for all penances; pumsam–for everyone; mat–My; darsana–
realization; avadhih–up to the limit of.
TRANSLATION
I wish you good luck. O Brahma, you may ask from Me, the giver of all
benediction, all that you may desire. You may know that the ultimate
benediction, as the result of all penances, is to see Me by realization.TEXT 22
TEXT
manisitanubhavo ‘yam
mama lokavalokanam
yad upasrutya rahasi
cakartha paramam tapah
SYNONYMS
manisita–ingenuity; anubhavah–perception; ayam–this; mama–My;
loka–abode; avalokanam–seeing by actual experience; yat–because;
upasrutya–hearing; rahasi–in great penance; cakartha–having performed;
paramam–highest; tapah–penance.
TRANSLATION
The highest perfectional ingenuity is the personal perception of My
abodes, and this has been possible because of your submissive attitude in
the performance of severe penance according to My order.TEXT 23
TEXT
pratyadistam maya tatra
tvayi karma-vimohite
tapo me hrdayam saksad
atmaham tapaso ‘nagha
SYNONYMS
pratyadistam–ordered; maya–by Me; tatra–because of; tvayi–unto
you; karma–duty; vimohite–being perplexed; tapah–penance; me–Me;
hrdayam–heart; saksat–directly; atma–life and soul; aham–Myself;
tapasah–of one who is engaged in penance; anagha–O sinless one.
TRANSLATION
O sinless Brahma, you may know from Me that it was I who first ordered
you to undergo penance when you were perplexed in your duty. Such penance
is My heart and soul, and therefore penance and I are nondifferent.TEXT 24
TEXT
srjami tapasaivedam
grasami tapasa punah
bibharmi tapasa visvam
viryam me duscaram tapah
SYNONYMS
srjami–I create; tapasa–by the same energy of penance; eva–
certainly; idam–this; grasami tapasa–I do withdraw also by the same
energy; punah–again; bibharmi–do maintain; tapasa–by penance; visvam–
the cosmos; viryam–potency; me–My; duscaram–severe; tapah–penance.
TRANSLATION
I create this cosmos by such penance, I maintain it by the same
energy, and I withdraw it all by the same energy. Therefore the potential
power is penance only.TEXT 25
TEXT
brahmovaca
bhagavan sarva-bhutanam
adhyakso ‘vasthito guham
veda hy apratiruddhena
prajnanena cikirsitam
SYNONYMS
brahma uvaca–Lord Brahma said; bhagavan–O my Lord; sarva bhutanam–
of all living entities; adhyaksah–director; avasthitah–situated; guham-
-within the heart; veda–know; hi–certainly; apratiruddhena–without
hindrance; prajnanena–by superintelligence; cikirsitam–endeavors.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma said: O Personality of Godhead, You are situated in every
living entity’s heart as the supreme director, and therefore You are
aware of all endeavors by Your superior intelligence, without any
hindrance whatsoever.TEXT 26
TEXT
tathapi nathamanasya
natha nathaya nathitam
paravare yatha rupe
janiyam te tv arupinah
SYNONYMS
tatha api–in spite of that; nathamanasya–of the one who is asking
for; natha–O Lord; nathaya–please award; nathitam–as it is desired;
para-avare–in the matter of mundane and transcendental; yatha–as it is;
rupe–in the form; janiyam–may it be known; te–Your; tu–but; arupinah-
-one who is formless.
TRANSLATION
In spite of that, my Lord, I am praying to You to kindly fulfill my
desire. May I please be informed how, in spite of Your transcendental
form, You assume the mundane form, although You have no such form at all.
TEXT 27
TEXT
yathatma-maya-yogena
nana-sakty-upabrmhitam
vilumpan visrjan grhnan
bibhrad atmanam atmana
SYNONYMS
yatha–as much as; atma–own; maya–potency; yogena–by combination;
nana–various; sakti–energy; upabrmhitam–by combination and
permutation; vilumpan–in the matter of annihilation; visrjan–in the
matter of generation; grhnan–in the matter of acceptance; bibhrat–in
the matter of maintenance; atmanam–own self; atmana–by the self.
TRANSLATION
And [please inform me] how You, by Your own Self, manifest different
energies for annihilation, generation, acceptance and maintenance by
combination and permutation.TEXT 28
TEXT
kridasy amogha-sankalpa
urnanabhir yathornute
tatha tad-visayam dhehi
manisam mayi madhava
SYNONYMS
kridasi–as You play; amogha–infallible; sankalpa–determination;
urnanabhih–the spider; yatha–as much as; urnute–covers; tatha–so and
so; tat-visayam–in the subject of all those; dhehi–do let me know;
manisam–philosophically; mayi–unto me; madhava–O master of all
energies.
TRANSLATION
O master of all energies, please tell me philosophically all about
them. You play like a spider that covers itself by its own energy, and
Your determination is infallible.TEXT 29
TEXT
bhagavac-chiksitam aham
karavani hy atandritah
nehamanah praja-sargam
badhyeyam yad-anugrahat
SYNONYMS
bhagavat–by the Personality of Godhead; siksitam–taught; aham–
myself; karavani–by acting; hi–certainly; atandritah–instrumental; na-
-never; ihamanah–although acting; praja-sargam–generation of the living
entities; badhyeyam–be conditioned; yat–as a matter of fact; anugrahat-
-by the mercy of.
TRANSLATION
Please tell me so that I may be taught in the matter by the
instruction of the Personality of Godhead and may thus act instrumentally
to generate living entities, without being conditioned by such
activities.TEXT 30
TEXT
yavat sakha sakhyur ivesa te krtah
praja-visarge vibhajami bho janam
aviklavas te parikarmani sthito
ma me samunnaddha-mado ‘ja maninah
SYNONYMS
yavat–as it is; sakha–friend; sakhyuh–unto the friend; iva–like
that; isa–O Lord; te–You; krtah–have accepted; praja–the living
entities; visarge–in the matter of creation; vibhajami–as I shall do it
differently; bhoh–O my Lord; janam–those who are born; aviklavah–
without being perturbed; te–Your; parikarmani–in the matter of service;
sthitah–thus situated; ma–may it never be; me–unto me; samunnaddha–
resulting arise; madah–madness; aja–O unborn one; maninah–thus being
thought of.
TRANSLATION
O my Lord, the unborn, You have shaken hands with me just as a friend
does with a friend [as if equal in position]. I shall be engaged in the
creation of different types of living entities, and I shall be occupied
in Your service. I shall have no perturbation, but I pray that all this
may not give rise to pride, as if I were the Supreme.TEXT 31
TEXT
sri-bhagavan uvaca
jnanam parama-guhyam me
yad vijnana-samanvitam
sarahasyam tad-angam ca
grhana gaditam maya
SYNONYMS
sri-bhagavan uvaca–the personality of Godhead said; jnanam–knowledge
acquired; parama–extremely; guhyam–confidential; me–of Me; yat–which
is; vijnana–realization; samanvitam–coordinated; sa-rahasyam–with
devotional service; tat–of that; angam ca–necessary paraphernalia;
grhana–just try to take up; gaditam–explained; maya–by Me.
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead said: Knowledge about Me as described in
the scriptures is very confidential, and it has to be realized in
conjunction with devotional service. The necessary paraphernalia for that
process is being explained by Me. You may take it up carefully.TEXT 32
TEXT
yavan aham yatha-bhavo
yad-rupa-guna-karmakah
tathaiva tattva-vijnanam
astu te mad-anugrahat
SYNONYMS
yavan–as I am in eternal form; aham–Myself; yatha–as much as;
bhavah–transcendental existence; yat–those; rupa–various forms and
colors; guna–qualities; karmakah–activities; tatha–so and so; eva–
certainly; tattva-vijnanam–factual realization; astu–let it be; te–
unto you; mat–My; anugrahat–by causeless mercy.
TRANSLATION
All of Me, namely My actual eternal form and My transcendental
existence, color, qualities and activities–let all be awakened within
you by factual realization, out of My causeless mercy.TEXT 33
TEXT
aham evasam evagre
nanyad yat sad-asat param
pascad aham yad etac ca
yo ‘vasisyeta so ‘smy aham
SYNONYMS
aham–I, the Personality of Godhead; eva–certainly; asam–existed;
eva–only; agre–before the creation; na–never; anyat–anything else;
yat–all those; sat–the effect; asat–the cause; param–the supreme;
pascat–at the end; aham–I, the Personality of Godhead; yat–all these;
etat–creation; ca–also; yah–everything; avasisyeta–remains; sah–
that; asmi–I am; aham–I, the Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Brahma, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before
the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the
material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is
also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains
will also be I, the Personality of Godhead.TEXT 34
TEXT
rte ‘rtham yat pratiyeta
na pratiyeta catmani
tad vidyad atmano mayam
yathabhaso yatha tamah
SYNONYMS
rte–without; artham–value; yat–that which; pratiyeta–appears to
be; na–not; pratiyeta–appears to be; ca–and; atmani–in relation to
Me; tat–that; vidyat–you must know; atmanah–My; mayam–illusory
energy; yatha–just as; abhasah–the reflection; yatha–as; tamah–the
darkness.
TRANSLATION
O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without
relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that
reflection which appears to be in darkness.TEXT 35
TEXT
yatha mahanti bhutani
bhutesuccavacesv anu
pravistany apravistani
tatha tesu na tesv aham
SYNONYMS
yatha–just as; mahanti–the universal; bhutani–elements; bhutesu
ucca-avacesu–in the minute and gigantic; anu–after; pravistani–
entered; apravistani–not entered; tatha–so; tesu–in them; na–not;
tesu–in them; aham–Myself.
TRANSLATION
O Brahma, please know that the universal elements enter into the
cosmos and at the same time do not enter into the cosmos; similarly, I
Myself also exist within everything created, and at the same time I am
outside of everything.TEXT 36
TEXT
etavad eva jijnasyam
tattva-jijnasunatmanah
anvaya-vyatirekabhyam
yat syat sarvatra sarvada
SYNONYMS
etavat–up to this; eva–certainly; jijnasyam–is to be inquired;
tattva–the Absolute Truth; jijnasuna–by the student; atmanah–of the
Self; anvaya–directly; vyatirekabhyam–indirectly; yat–whatever; syat–
it may be; sarvatra–in all space and time; sarvada–in all
circumstances.
TRANSLATION
A person who is searching after the Supreme Absolute Truth, the
Personality of Godhead, most certainly search for it up to this, in all
circumstances, in all space and time, and both directly and indirectly.TEXT 37
TEXT
etan matam samatistha
paramena samadhina
bhavan kalpa-vikalpesu
na vimuhyati karhicit
SYNONYMS
etat–this; matam–the conclusion; samatistha–remain fixed; paramena-
-by the supreme; samadhina–concentration of the mind; bhavan–yourself;
kalpa–intermediate devastation; vikalpesu–in the final devastation; na
vimuhyati–will never bewilder; karhicit–anything like complacence.
TRANSLATION
O Brahma, just follow this conclusion by fixed concentration of mind,
and no pride will disturb you, neither in the partial nor in the final
devastation.TEXT 38
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
sampradisyaivam ajano
jananam paramesthinam
pasyatas tasya tad rupam
atmano nyarunad dharih
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; sampradisya–fully
instructing Brahmaji; evam–thus; ajanah–the Supreme Lord; jananam–of
the living entities; paramesthinam–unto the supreme leader, Brahma;
pasyatah–while he was seeing; tasya–His; tat rupam–that transcendental
form; atmanah–of the Absolute; nyarunat–disappeared; harih–the Lord,
the Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said to Maharaja Pariksit: The Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Hari, after being seen in His transcendental form, instructing
Brahmaji, the leader of the living entities, disappeared.TEXT 39
TEXT
antarhitendriyarthaya
haraye vihitanjalih
sarva-bhutamayo visvam
sasarjedam sa purvavat
SYNONYMS
antarhita–on the disappearance; indriya-arthaya–unto the Personality
of Godhead, the objective of all senses; haraye–unto the Lord; vihitaanjalih–
in folded hands; sarva-bhuta–all living entities; mayah–full
of; visvam–the universe; sasarja–created; idam–this; sah–he
(Brahmaji); purva-vat–exactly like before.
TRANSLATION
On the disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who
is the object of transcendental enjoyment for the senses of devotees,
Brahma, with folded hands, began to re-create the universe, full with
living entities, as it was previously.TEXT 40
TEXT
prajapatir dharma-patir
ekada niyaman yaman
bhadram prajanam anvicchann
atisthat svartha-kamyaya
SYNONYMS
praja-patih–the forefather of all living entities; dharma-patih–the
father of religious life; ekada–once upon a time; niyaman–rules and
regulations; yaman–principles of control; bhadram–welfare; prajanam–of
the living beings; anvicchan–desiring; atisthat–situated; sva-artha–
own interest; kamyaya–so desiring.
TRANSLATION
Thus once upon a time the forefather of living entities and the father
of religiousness, Lord Brahma, situated himself in acts of regulative
principles, desiring self-interest for the welfare of all living
entities.TEXT 41
TEXT
tam naradah priyatamo
rikthadanam anuvratah
susrusamanah silena
prasrayena damena ca
SYNONYMS
tam–unto him; naradah–the great sage Narada; priyatamah–very dear;
riktha-adanam–of the inheritor sons; anuvratah–very obedient;
susrusamanah–always ready to serve; silena–by good behavior;
prasrayena–by meekness; damena–by sense control; ca–also.
TRANSLATION
Narada, the most dear of the inheritor sons of Brahma, always ready to
serve his father, strictly follows the instructions of his father by his
mannerly behavior, meekness and sense control.
TEXT 42
TEXT
mayam vividisan visnor
mayesasya maha-munih
maha-bhagavato rajan
pitaram paryatosayat
SYNONYMS
mayam–energies; vividisan–desiring to know; visnoh–of the
Personality of Godhead; maya-isasya–of the master of all energies; mahamunih–
the great sage; maha-bhagavatah–the first-class devotee of the
Lord; rajan–O King; pitaram–unto his father; paryatosayat–very much
pleased.
TRANSLATION
Narada very much pleased his father and desired to know all about the
energies of Visnu, the master of all energies, for Narada was the
greatest of all sages and greatest of all devotees, O King.TEXT 43
TEXT
tustam nisamya pitaram
lokanam prapitamaham
devarsih paripapraccha
bhavan yan manuprcchati
SYNONYMS
tustam–satisfied; nisamya–after seeing; pitaram–the father;
lokanam–of the whole universe; prapitamaham–the great-grandfather;
devarsih–the great sage Narada; paripapraccha–inquired; bhavan–
yourself; yat–as it is; ma–from me; anuprcchati–inquiring.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Narada also inquired in detail from his father, Brahma,
the great-grandfather of all the universe, after seeing him well
satisfied.TEXT 44
TEXT
tasma idam bhagavatam
puranam dasa-laksanam
proktam bhagavata praha
pritah putraya bhuta-krt
SYNONYMS
tasmai–thereupon; idam–this; bhagavatam–the glories of the Lord or
the science of the Lord; puranam–Vedic supplement; dasa-laksanam–ten
characteristics; proktam–described; bhagavata–by the Personality of
Godhead; praha–said; pritah–in satisfaction; putraya–unto the son;
bhuta-krt–the creator of the universe.
TRANSLATION
Thereupon the supplementary Vedic literature, Srimad-Bhagavatam, which
was described by the Personality of Godhead and which contains ten
characteristics, was told with satisfaction by the father [Brahma] to his
son Narada.TEXT 45
TEXT
naradah praha munaye
sarasvatyas tate nrpa
dhyayate brahma paramam
vyasayamita-tejase
SYNONYMS
naradah–the great sage Narada; praha–instructed; munaye–unto the
great sage; sarasvatyah–of the River Sarasvati; tate–on the bank; nrpa-
-O King; dhyayate–unto the meditative; brahma–Absolute Truth; paramam–
the Supreme; vyasaya–unto Srila Vyasadeva; amita–unlimited; tejase–
unto the powerful.
TRANSLATION
In succession, O King, the great sage Narada instructed Srimad-
Bhagavatam unto the unlimitedly powerful Vyasadeva, who meditated in
devotional service upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute
Truth, on the bank of the River Sarasvati.TEXT 46
TEXT
yad utaham tvaya prsto
vairajat purusad idam
yathasit tad upakhyaste
prasnan anyams ca krtsnasah
SYNONYMS
yat–what; uta–is, however; aham–I; tvaya–by you; prstah–I am
asked; vairajat–from the universal form; purusat–from the Personality
of Godhead; idam–this world; yatha–as it; asit–was; tat–that;
upakhyaste–I shall explain; prasnan–all the questions; anyan–others;
ca–as well as; krtsnasah–in great detail.
TRANSLATION
O King, your questions as to how the universe became manifested from
the gigantic form of the Personality of Godhead, as well as other
questions, I shall answer in detail by explanation of the four verses
already mentioned.
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