TEXT 1
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
iti te varnitah ksattah
kalakhyah paramatmanah
mahima veda-garbho ‘tha
yathasraksin nibodha me
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–Sri Maitreya said; iti–thus; te–unto you; varnitah-
-described; ksattah–O Vidura; kala-akhyah–by the name eternal time;
paramatmanah–of the Supersoul; mahima–glories; veda-garbhah–Lord
Brahma, the reservoir of the Vedas; atha–hereafter; yatha–as it is;
asraksit–did create; nibodha–just try to understand; me–from me.
TRANSLATION
Sri Maitreya said: O learned Vidura, so far I have explained to you
the glories of the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His
feature of kala. Now you can hear from me about the creation of Brahma,
the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge.
TEXT 2
TEXT
sasarjagre ‘ndha-tamisram
atha tamisram adi-krt
mahamoham ca moham ca
tamas cajnana-vrttayah
SYNONYMS
sasarja–created; agre–at first; andha-tamisram–the sense of death;
atha–then; tamisram–anger upon frustration; adi-krt–all these; mahamoham–
ownership of enjoyable objects; ca–also; moham–illusory
conception; ca–also; tamah–darkness in self-knowledge; ca–as well as;
ajnana–nescience; vrttayah–engagements.
TRANSLATION
Brahma first created the nescient engagements like self-deception, the
sense of death, anger after frustration, the sense of false ownership,
and the illusory bodily conception, or forgetfulness of one’s real
identity.TEXT 3
TEXT
drstva papiyasim srstim
natmanam bahv amanyata
bhagavad-dhyana-putena
manasanyam tato ‘srjat
SYNONYMS
drstva–by seeing; papiyasim–sinful; srstim–creation; na–did not;
atmanam–unto Himself; bahu–much pleasure; amanyata–felt; bhagavat–on
the Personality of Godhead; dhyana–meditation; putena–purified by that;
manasa–by such a mentality; anyam–another; tatah–thereafter; asrjat–
created.
TRANSLATION
Seeing such a misleading creation as a sinful task, Brahma did not
feel much pleasure in his activity, and therefore he purified himself by
meditation on the Personality of Godhead. Then he began another term of
creation.TEXT 4
TEXT
sanakam ca sanandam ca
sanatanam athatmabhuh
sanat-kumaram ca munin
niskriyan urdhva-retasah
SYNONYMS
sanakam–Sanaka; ca–also; sanandam–Sananda; ca–and; sanatanam–
Sanatana; atha–thereafter; atma-bhuh–Brahma, who is self-born; sanatkumaram–
Sanat-kumara; ca–also; munin–the great sages; niskriyan–free
from all fruitive action; urdhva-retasah–those whose semen flows
upwards.
TRANSLATION
In the beginning, Brahma created four great sages named Sanaka,
Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat-kumara. All of them were unwilling to adopt
materialistic activities because they were highly elevated due to their
semen’s flowing upwards.TEXT 5
TEXT
tan babhase svabhuh putran
prajah srjata putrakah
tan naicchan moksa-dharmano
vasudeva-parayanah
SYNONYMS
tan–unto the Kumaras, as above mentioned; babhase–addressed;
svabhuh–Brahma; putran–unto the sons; prajah–generations; srjata–to
create; putrakah–O my sons; tat–that; na–not; aicchan–desired; moksadharmanah–
pledged to the principles of liberation; vasudeva–the
Personality of Godhead; parayanah–who are so devoted.
TRANSLATION
Brahma spoke to his sons after generating them. “My dear sons,” he
said, “now generate progeny.” But due to their being attached to
Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they aimed at liberation,
and therefore they expressed their unwillingness.TEXT 6
TEXT
so ‘vadhyatah sutair evam
pratyakhyatanusasanaih
krodham durvisaham jatam
niyantum upacakrame
SYNONYMS
sah–he (Brahma); avadhyatah–thus being disrespected; sutaih–by the
sons; evam–thus; pratyakhyata–refusing to obey; anusasanaih–the order
of their father; krodham–anger; durvisaham–too much to be tolerated;
jatam–thus generated; niyantum–to control; upacakrame–tried his best.
TRANSLATION
On the refusal of the sons to obey the order of their father, there
was much anger generated in the mind of Brahma, which he tried to control
and not express.TEXT 7
TEXT
dhiya nigrhyamano ‘pi
bhruvor madhyat prajapateh
sadyo ‘jayata tan-manyuh
kumaro nila-lohitah
SYNONYMS
dhiya–by intelligence; nigrhyamanah–being controlled; api–in spite
of; bhruvoh–of the eyebrows; madhyat–from between; prajapateh–of
Brahma; sadyah–at once; ajayata–generated; tat–his; manyuh–anger;
kumarah–a child; nila-lohitah–mixture of blue and red.
TRANSLATION
Although he tried to curb his anger, it came out from between his
eyebrows, and a child mixed blue and red was immediately generated.TEXT 8
TEXT
sa vai ruroda devanam
purvajo bhagavan bhavah
namani kuru me dhatah
sthanani ca jagad-guro
SYNONYMS
sah–he; vai–certainly; ruroda–cried loudly; devanam purvajah–the
eldest of all demigods; bhagavan–the most powerful; bhavah–Lord Siva;
namani–different names; kuru–designate; me–my; dhatah–O destiny
maker; sthanani–places; ca–also; jagat-guro–O teacher of the universe.
TRANSLATION
After his birth he began to cry: O destiny maker, teacher of the
universe, kindly designate my name and place.
TEXT 9
TEXT
iti tasya vacah padmo
bhagavan paripalayan
abhyadhad bhadraya vaca
ma rodis tat karomi te
SYNONYMS
iti–thus; tasya–his; vacah–request; padmah–one who is born from
the lotus flower; bhagavan–the powerful; paripalayan–accepting the
request; abhyadhat–pacified; bhadraya–by gentle; vaca–words; ma–do
not; rodih–cry; tat–that; karomi–I shall do it; te–as desired by you.
TRANSLATION
The all-powerful Brahma, who was born from the lotus flower, pacified
the boy with gentle words, accepting his request, and said: Do not cry. I
shall certainly do as you desire.
TEXT 10
TEXT
yad arodih sura-srestha
sodvega iva balakah
tatas tvam abhidhasyanti
namna rudra iti prajah
SYNONYMS
yat–as much as; arodih–cried loudly; sura-srestha–O chief of the
demigods; sa-udvegah–with great anxiety; iva–like; balakah–a boy;
tatah–therefore; tvam–you; abhidhasyanti–will call; namna–by the
name; rudrah–Rudra; iti–thus; prajah–people.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter Brahma said: O chief of the demigods, you shall be called
by the name Rudra by all people because you have so anxiously cried.
TEXT 11
TEXT
hrd indriyany asur vyoma
vayur agnir jalam mahi
suryas candras tapas caiva
sthanany agre krtani te
SYNONYMS
hrt–the heart; indriyani–the senses; asuh–life air; vyoma–the sky;
vayuh–the air; agnih–fire; jalam–water; mahi–the earth; suryah–the
sun; candrah–the moon; tapah–austerity; ca–as well as; eva–certainly;
sthanani–all these places; agre–hereinbefore; krtani–already made; te-
-for you.
TRANSLATION
My dear boy, I have already selected the following places for your
residence: the heart, the senses, the air of life, the sky, the air, the
fire, the water, the earth, the sun, the moon and austerity.TEXT 12
TEXT
manyur manur mahinaso
mahan chiva rtadhvajah
ugrareta bhavah kalo
vamadevo dhrtavratah
SYNONYMS
manyuh, manuh, mahinasah, mahan, sivah, rtadhvajah, ugaretah, bhavah,
kalah, vamadevah, dhrtavratah–all names of Rudra.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma said: My dear boy Rudra, you have eleven other names:
Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahan, Siva, Rtadhvaja, Ugrareta, Bhava, Kala,
Vamadeva and Dhrtavrata.
TEXT 13
TEXT
dhir dhrti-rasaloma ca
niyut sarpir ilambika
iravati svadha diksa
rudranyo rudra te striyah
SYNONYMS
dhih, dhrti, rasala, uma, niyut, sarpih, ila, ambika, iravati, svadha,
diksa rudranyah–the eleven Rudranis; rudra–O Rudra; te–unto you;
striyah–wives.
TRANSLATION
O Rudra, you also have eleven wives, called the Rudranis, and they are
as follows: Dhi, Dhrti, Rasala, Uma, Niyut, Sarpi, Ila, Ambika, Iravati,
Svadha and Diksa.
TEXT 14
TEXT
grhanaitani namani
sthanani ca sa-yosanah
ebhih srja praja bahvih
prajanam asi yat patih
SYNONYMS
grhana–just accept; etani–all these; namani–different names;
sthanani–as well as places; ca–also; sa-yosanah–along with wives;
ebhih–with them; srja–just generate; prajah–progeny; bahvih–on a
large scale; prajanam–of the living entities; asi–you are; yat–since;
patih–the master.
TRANSLATION
My dear boy, you may now accept all the names and places designated
for you and your different wives, and since you are now one of the
masters of the living entities, you may increase the population on a
large scale.TEXT 15
TEXT
ity adistah sva-guruna
bhagavan nila-lohitah
sattvakrti-svabhavena
sasarjatma-samah prajah
SYNONYMS
iti–thus; adistah–being ordered; sva-guruna–by his own spiritual
master; bhagavan–the most powerful; nila-lohitah–Rudra, whose color is
mixed blue and red; sattva–power; akrti–bodily features; svabhavena–
and with a very furious mode of nature; sasarja–created; atma-samah–
like his own prototype; prajah–generations.
TRANSLATION
The most powerful Rudra, whose bodily color was blue mixed with red,
created many offspring exactly resembling him in features, strength and
furious nature.
TEXT 16
TEXT
rudranam rudra-srstanam
samantad grasatam jagat
nisamyasankhyaso yuthan
prajapatir asankata
SYNONYMS
rudranam–of the sons of Rudra; rudra-srstanam–who were generated by
Rudra; samantat–being assembled together; grasatam–while devouring;
jagat–the universe; nisamya–by observing their activities; asankhyasah-
-unlimited; yuthan–assembly; praja-patih–the father of the living
entities; asankata–became afraid of.
TRANSLATION
The sons and grandsons generated by Rudra were unlimited in number,
and when they assembled together they attempted to devour the entire
universe. When Brahma, the father of the living entities, saw this, he
became afraid of the situation.TEXT 17
TEXT
alam prajabhih srstabhir
idrsibhih surottama
maya saha dahantibhir
disas caksurbhir ulbanaih
SYNONYMS
alam–unnecessary; prajabhih–by such living entities; srstabhih–
generated; idrsibhih–of this type; sura-uttama–O best among the
demigods; maya–me; saha–along with; dahantibhih–who are burning;
disah–all sides; caksurbhih–by the eyes; ulbanaih–fiery flames.
TRANSLATION
Brahma told Rudra: O best among the demigods, there is no need for you
to generate living entities of this nature. They have begun to devastate
everything on all sides with the fiery flames from their eyes, and they
have even attacked me.
TEXT 18
TEXT
tapa atistha bhadram te
sarva-bhuta-sukhavaham
tapasaiva yatha purvam
srasta visvam idam bhavan
SYNONYMS
tapah–penance; atistha–be situated; bhadram–auspicious; te–unto
you; sarva–all; bhuta–living entities; sukha-avaham–bringing
happiness; tapasa–by penance; eva–only; yatha–as much as; purvam–
before; srasta–will create; visvam–the universe; idam–this; bhavan–
yourself.
TRANSLATION
My dear son, you had better situate yourself in penance, which is
auspicious for all living entities and which will bring all benediction
upon you. By penance only shall you be able to create the universe as it
was before.TEXT 19
TEXT
tapasaiva param jyotir
bhagavantam adhoksajam
sarva-bhuta-guhavasam
anjasa vindate puman
SYNONYMS
tapasa–by penance; eva–only; param–the supreme; jyotih–light;
bhagavantam–unto the Personality of Godhead; adhoksajam–He who is
beyond the approach of the senses; sarva-bhuta-guha-avasam–residing in
the heart of all living entities; anjasa–completely; vindate–can know;
puman–a person.
TRANSLATION
By penance only can one even approach the Personality of Godhead, who
is within the heart of every living entity and at the same time beyond
the reach of all senses.TEXT 20
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
evam atmabhuvadistah
parikramya giram patim
badham ity amum amantrya
vivesa tapase vanam
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–Sri Maitreya said; evam–thus; atma-bhuva–by Brahma;
adistah–being so requested; parikramya–by circumambulating; giram–of
the Vedas; patim–unto the master; badham–that is right; iti–thus;
amum–unto Brahma; amantrya–thus addressing; vivesa–entered into;
tapase–for the matter of penance; vanam–into the forest.
TRANSLATION
Sri Maitreya said: Thus Rudra, having been ordered by Brahma,
circumambulated his father, the master of the Vedas. Addressing him with
words of assent, he entered the forest to perform austere penances.
TEXT 21
TEXT
athabhidhyayatah sargam
dasa putrah prajajnire
bhagavac-chakti-yuktasya
loka-santana-hetavah
SYNONYMS
atha–thus; abhidhyayatah–while thinking of; sargam–creation; dasa–
ten; putrah–sons; prajajnire–were begotten; bhagavat–regarding the
Personality of Godhead; sakti–potency; yuktasya–empowered with; loka–
the world; santana–generation; hetavah–the causes.
TRANSLATION
Brahma, who was empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
thought of generating living entities and begot ten sons for the
extension of the generations.
TEXT 22
TEXT
maricir atry-angirasau
pulastyah pulahah kratuh
bhrgur vasistho daksas ca
dasamas tatra naradah
SYNONYMS
maricih, atri, angirasau, pulastyah, pulahah, kratuh, bhrguh,
vasisthah, daksah–names of sons of Brahma; ca–and; dasamah–the tenth;
tatra–there; naradah–Narada.
TRANSLATION
Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrgu, Vasistha, Daksa,
and the tenth son, Narada, were thus born.TEXT 23
TEXT
utsangan narado jajne
dakso ‘ngusthat svayambhuvah
pranad vasisthah sanjato
bhrgus tvaci karat kratuh
SYNONYMS
utsangat–by transcendental deliberation; naradah–Mahamuni Narada;
jajne–was generated; daksah–Daksa; angusthat–from the thumb;
svayambhuvah–of Brahma; pranat–from the life air, or breathing;
vasisthah–Vasistha; sanjatah–was born; bhrguh–the sage Bhrgu; tvaci–
from the touch; karat–from the hand; kratuh–the sage Kratu.
TRANSLATION
Narada was born from the deliberation of Brahma, which is the best
part of the body. Vasistha was born from his breathing, Daksa from a
thumb, Bhrgu from his touch, and Kratu from his handTEXT 24
TEXT
pulaho nabhito jajne
pulastyah karnayor rsih
angira mukhato ‘ksno ‘trir
maricir manaso ‘bhavat
SYNONYMS
pulahah–the sage Pulaha; nabhitah–from the navel; jajne–generated;
pulastyah–the sage Pulastya; karnayoh–from the ears; rsih–the great
sage; angirah–the sage Angira; mukhatah–from the mouth; aksnah–from
the eyes; atrih–the sage Atri; maricih–the sage Marici; manasah–from
the mind; abhavat–appeared.
TRANSLATION
Pulastya was generated from the ears, Angira from the mouth, Atri from
the eyes, Marici from the mind and Pulaha from the navel of Brahma.
TEXT 25
TEXT
dharmah stanad daksinato
yatra narayanah svayam
adharmah prsthato yasman
mrtyur loka-bhayankarah
SYNONYMS
dharmah–religion; stanat–from the breast; daksinatah–on the right
side; yatra–wherein; narayanah–the Supreme Lord; svayam–personally;
adharmah–irreligion; prsthatah–from the back; yasmat–from which;
mrtyuh–death; loka–to the living entity; bhayam-karah–horrible.
TRANSLATION
Religion was manifested from the breast of Brahma, wherein is seated
the Supreme Personality of Godhead Narayana, and irreligion appeared from
his back, where horrible death takes place for the living entity.
TEXT 26
TEXT
hrdi kamo bhruvah krodho
lobhas cadhara-dacchadat
asyad vak sindhavo medhran
nirrtih payor aghasrayah
SYNONYMS
hrdi–from the heart; kamah–lust; bhruvah–from the eyebrows;
krodhah–anger; lobhah–greed; ca–also; adhara-dacchadat–from between
the lips; asyat–from the mouth; vak–speaking; sindhavah–the seas;
medhrat–from the penis; nirrtih–low activities; payoh–from the anus;
agha-asrayah–reservoir of all vices.
TRANSLATION
Lust and desire became manifested from the heart of Brahma, anger from
between his eyebrows, greed from between his lips, the power of speaking
from his mouth, the ocean from his penis, and low and abominable
activities from his anus, the source of all sins.TEXT 27
TEXT
chayayah kardamo jajne
devahutyah patih prabhuh
manaso dehatas cedam
jajne visva-krto jagat
SYNONYMS
chayayah–by the shadow; kardamah–Kardama Muni; jajne–became
manifested; devahutyah–of Devahuti; patih–husband; prabhuh–the master;
manasah–from the mind; dehatah–from the body; ca–also; idam–this;
jajne–developed; visva–the universe; krtah–of the creator; jagat–
cosmic manifestation.
TRANSLATION
Sage Kardama, husband of the great Devahuti, was manifested from the
shadow of Brahma. Thus all became manifested from either the body or the
mind of Brahma.TEXT 28
TEXT
vacam duhitaram tanvim
svayambhur haratim manah
akamam cakame ksattah
sa-kama iti nah srutam
SYNONYMS
vacam–Vak; duhitaram–unto the daughter; tanvim–born of his body;
svayambhuh–Brahma; haratim–attracting; manah–his mind; akamam–without
being sexually inclined; cakame–desired; ksattah–O Vidura; sa-kamah–
being sexually inclined; iti–thus; nah–we; srutam–have heard.
TRANSLATION
O Vidura, we have heard that Brahma had a daughter named Vak who was
born from his body and who attracted his mind toward sex, although she
was not sexually inclined towards him.TEXT 29
TEXT
tam adharme krta-matim
vilokya pitaram sutah
marici-mukhya munayo
visrambhat pratyabodhayan
SYNONYMS
tam–unto him; adharme–in the matter of immortality; krta-matim–the
mind being so given; vilokya–seeing thus; pitaram–unto the father;
sutah–sons; marici-mukhyah–headed by Marici; munayah–sages;
visrambhat–with due respect; pratyabodhayan–submitted as follows.
TRANSLATION
Thus, finding their father so deluded in an act of immorality, the
sages headed by Marici, all sons of Brahma, spoke as follows with great
respect.TEXT 30
TEXT
naitat purvaih krtam tvad ye
na karisyanti capare
yas tvam duhitaram gaccher
anigrhyangajam prabhuh
SYNONYMS
na–never; etat–such a thing; purvaih–by any other Brahma, or
yourself in any previous ka[la; krtam–performed; tvat–by you; ye–that
which; na–nor; karisyanti–will do; ca–also; apare–anyone else; yah–
that which; tvam–you; duhitaram–unto the daughter; gaccheh–would do;
anigrhya–without controlling; angajam–sex desire; prabhuh–O father.
TRANSLATION
O father, this performance in which you are endeavoring to complicate
yourself was never attempted by any other Brahma, nor by anyone else, nor
by you in previous kalpas, nor will anyone dare to attempt it in the
future. You are the supreme being in the universe, so how is it that you
want to have sex with your daughter and cannot control your desire?TEXT 31
TEXT
tejiyasam api hy etan
na suslokyam jagad-guro
yad-vrttam anutisthan vai
lokah ksemaya kalpate
SYNONYMS
tejiyasam–of the most powerful; api–also; hi–certainly; etat–such
an act; na–not suitable; su-slokyam–good behavior; jagat-guro–O
spiritual master of the universe; yat–whose; vrttam–character;
anutisthan–following; vai–certainly; lokah–the world; ksemaya–for
prosperity; kalpate–becomes eligible.
TRANSLATION
Even though you are the most powerful being, this act does not suit
you because your character is followed for spiritual improvement by
people in general.TEXT 32
TEXT
tasmai namo bhagavate
ya idam svena rocisa
atma-stham vyanjayam asa
sa dharmam patum arhati
SYNONYMS
tasmai–unto Him; namah–obeisances; bhagavate–unto the Personality
of Godhead; yah–who; idam–this; svena–by His own; rocisa–effulgence;
atma-stham–situated in Himself; vyanjayam asa–has manifested; sah–He;
dharmam–religion; patum–for protection; arhati–may kindly do so.
TRANSLATION
Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the Personality of
Godhead, who, by His own effulgence, while situated in Himself, has
manifested this cosmos. May He also protect religion for all goodness.TEXT 33
TEXT
sa ittham grnatah putran
puro drstva prajapatin
prajapati-patis tanvam
tatyaja vriditas tada
tam diso jagrhur ghoram
niharam yad vidus tamah
SYNONYMS
sah–he (Brahma); ittham–thus; grnatah–speaking; putran–sons;
purah–before; drstva–seeing; praja-patin–all the progenitors of living
entities; prajapati-patih–the father of them (Brahma); tanvam–body;
tatyaja–quit; vriditah–ashamed; tada–at that time; tam–that body;
disah–all directions; jagrhuh–accepted; ghoram–blamable; niharam–fog;
yat–which; viduh–they know as; tamah–darkness.
TRANSLATION
The father of all Prajapatis, Brahma, thus seeing all his Prajapati
sons speaking in that way, became very much ashamed and at once gave up
the body he had accepted. Later that body appeared in all directions as
the dangerous fog in darkness.TEXT 34
TEXT
kadacid dhyayatah srastur
veda asams catur-mukhat
katham sraksyamy aham lokan
samavetan yatha pura
SYNONYMS
kadacit–once upon a time; dhyayatah–while contemplating; srastuh–of
Brahma; vedah–the Vedic literature; asan–became manifested; catuhmukhat–
from the four mouths; katham sraksyami–how shall I create; aham-
-myself; lokan–all these worlds; samavetan–assembled; yatha–as they
were; pura–in the past.
TRANSLATION
Once upon a time, when Brahma was thinking of how to create the worlds
as in the past millennium, the four Vedas, which contain all varieties of
knowledge, became manifested from his four mouths.TEXT 35
TEXT
catur-hotram karma-tantram
upaveda-nayaih saha
dharmasya padas catvaras
tathaivasrama-vrttayah
SYNONYMS
catuh–four; hotram–paraphernalia for sacrifice; karma–action;
tantram–expansions of such activities; upaveda–supplementary to the
Vedas; nayaih–by logical conclusions; saha–along with; dharmasya–of
religiosity; padah–principles; catvarah–four; tatha eva–in the same
way; asrama–social orders; vrttayah–occupations.
TRANSLATION
The four kinds of paraphernalia for conducting the fire sacrifice
became manifest: the performer [the chanter], the offerer, the fire, and
the action performed in terms of the supplementary Vedas. Also the four
principles of religiosity [truth, austerity, mercy and cleanliness] and
the duties in the four social orders all became manifest.TEXT 36
TEXT
vidura uvaca
sa vai visva-srjam iso
vedadin mukhato ‘srjat
yad yad yenasrjad devas
tan me bruhi tapo-dhana
SYNONYMS
vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; sah–he (Brahma); vai–certainly; visva–
the universe; srjam–of those who created; isah–the controller; vedaadin–
the Vedas, etc.; mukhatah–from the mouth; asrjat–established;
yat–that; yat–which; yena–by which; asrjat–created; devah–the god;
tat–that; me–unto me; bruhi–please explain; tapah-dhana–O sage whose
only wealth is penance.
TRANSLATION
Vidura said: O great sage whose only wealth is penance, kindly explain
to me how and with whose help Brahma established the Vedic knowledge
which emanated from his mouth.
TEXT 37
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
rg-yajuh-samatharvakhyan
vedan purvadibhir mukhaih
sastram ijyam stuti-stomam
prayascittam vyadhat kramat
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; rk-yajuh-sama-atharva–the four Vedas;
akhyan–of the name; vedan–Vedic literatures; purva-adibhih–beginning
with the front; mukhaih–by the mouths; sastram–Vedic hymns not
pronounced before; ijyam–priestly rituals; stuti-stomam–the subject
matter of the reciters; prayascittam–transcendental activities; vyadhat-
-established; kramat–one after another.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya said: Beginning from the front face of Brahma, gradually the
four Vedas–Rk, Yajur, Sama and Atharva–became manifest. Thereafter,
Vedic hymns which had not been pronounced before, priestly rituals, the
subject matters of the recitation, and transcendental activities were all
established, one after another.
TEXT 38
TEXT
ayur-vedam dhanur-vedam
gandharvam vedam atmanah
sthapatyam casrjad vedam
kramat purvadibhir mukhaih
SYNONYMS
ayuh-vedam–medical science; dhanuh-vedam–military science;
gandharvam–musical art; vedam–they are all Vedic knowledge; atmanah–of
his own; sthapatyam–architectural; ca–also; asrjat–created; vedam–
knowledge; kramat–respectively; purva-adibhih–beginning from the front
face; mukhaih–by the mouths.
TRANSLATION
He also created the medical science, military art, musical art and
architectural science, all from the Vedas. They all emanated one after
another, beginning from the front face.TEXT 39
TEXT
itihasa-puranani
pancamam vedam isvarah
sarvebhya eva vaktrebhyah
sasrje sarva-darsanah
SYNONYMS
itihasa–histories; puranani–the Puranas (supplementary Vedas);
pancamam–the fifth; vedam–the Vedic literature; isvarah–the Lord;
sarvebhyah–all together; eva–certainly; vaktrebhyah–from his mouths;
sasrje–created; sarva–all around; darsanah–one who can see all time.
TRANSLATION
Then he created the fifth Veda–the Puranas and the histories–from
all his mouths, since he could see all the past, present and future.TEXT 40
TEXT
sodasy-ukthau purva-vaktrat
purisy-agnistutav atha
aptoryamatiratrau ca
vajapeyam sagosavam
SYNONYMS
sodasi-ukthau–types of sacrifice; purva-vaktrat–from the eastern
mouth; purisi-agnistutau–types of sacrifice; atha–then; aptoryamaatiratrau–
types of sacrifice; ca–and; vajapeyam–type of sacrifice; sagosavam–
type of sacrifice.
TRANSLATION
All the different varieties of fire sacrifices [sodasi, uktha, purisi,
agnistoma, aptoryama, atiratra, vajapeya and gosava] became manifested
from the eastern mouth of Brahma.
TEXT 41
TEXT
vidya danam tapah satyam
dharmasyeti padani ca
asramams ca yatha-sankhyam
asrjat saha vrttibhih
SYNONYMS
vidya–education; danam–charity; tapah–penance; satyam–truth;
dharmasya–of religion; iti–thus; padani–four legs; ca–also; asraman–
orders of life; ca–also; yatha–as they are; sankhyam–in number;
asrjat–created; saha–along with; vrttibhih–by vocations.
TRANSLATION
Education, charity, penance and truth are said to be the four legs of
religion, and to learn this there are four orders of life with different
classifications of castes according to vocation. Brahma created all these
in systematic order.TEXT 42
TEXT
savitram prajapatyam ca
brahmam catha brhat tatha
varta sancaya-salinasiloncha
iti vai grhe
SYNONYMS
savitram–the thread ceremony of the twice-born; prajapatyam–to
execute the vow for one year; ca–and; brahmam–acceptance of the Vedas;
ca–and; atha–also; brhat–complete abstinence from sex life; tatha–
then; varta–vocation in terms of Vedic sanction; sancaya–professional
duty; salina–livelihood without asking anyone for cooperation; silaunchah–
picking up rejected grains; iti–thus; vai–even though; grhe–in
household life.
TRANSLATION
Then the thread ceremony for the twice-born was inaugurated, as were
the rules to be followed for at least one year after acceptance of the
Vedas, rules for observing complete abstinence from sex life, vocations
in terms of Vedic injunctions, various professional duties in household
life, and the method of maintaining a livelihood without anyone’s
cooperation by picking up rejected grains.TEXT 43
TEXT
vaikhanasa valakhilyaudumbarah
phenapa vane
nyase kuticakah purvam
bahvodo hamsa-niskriyau
SYNONYMS
vaikhanasah–the section of men who retire from active life and live
on half-boiled meals; valakhilya–one who quits his former stock of
grains on receipt of more; audumbarah–one who lives on what he gets from
the direction towards which he starts after rising from bed; phenapah–
one who lives on the fruits which automatically fall from the tree; vane-
-in the forest; nyase–in the order of renunciation; kuticakah–life in
the family without attachment; purvam–in the beginning; bahvodah–giving
up all material activities and engaging fully in transcendental service;
hamsa–fully engaged in transcendental knowledge; niskriyau–stopping all
kinds of activities.
TRANSLATION
The four divisions of retired life are the vaikhanasas, valakhilyas,
audumbaras and phenapas. The four divisions of the renounced order of
life are the kuticakas, bahvodas, hamsas and niskriyas. All these were
manifested from Brahma.TEXT 44
TEXT
anviksiki trayi varta
danda-nitis tathaiva ca
evam vyahrtayas casan
pranavo hy asya dahratah
SYNONYMS
anviksiki–logic; trayi–the three goals, namely religion, economy and
salvation; varta–sense gratification; danda–law and order; nitih–moral
codes; tatha–as also; eva ca–respectively; evam–thus; vyahrtayah–the
celebrated hymns bhuh, bhuvah and svah; ca–also; asan–came into
existence; pranavah–the omkara; hi–certainly; asya–of him (Brahma);
dahratah–from the heart.
TRANSLATION
The science of logical argument, the Vedic goals of life, and also law
and order, moral codes, and the celebrated hymns bhuh, bhuvah and svah
all became manifested from the mouths of Brahma, and the pranava omkara
was manifested from his heart.
TEXT 45
TEXT
tasyosnig asil lomabhyo
gayatri ca tvaco vibhoh
tristum mamsat snuto ‘nustub
jagaty asthnah prajapateh
SYNONYMS
tasya–his; usnik–one of the Vedic meters; asit–generated;
lomabhyah–from the hairs on the body; gayatri–the principal Vedic hymn;
ca–also; tvacah–from the skin; vibhoh–of the Lord; tristup–a
particular type of poetic meter; mamsat–from the flesh; snutah–from the
sinews; anustup–another type of poetic meter; jagati–another type of
poetic meter; asthnah–from the bones; prajapateh–of the father of the
living entities.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter the art of literary expression, usnik, was generated from
the hairs on the body of the almighty Prajapati. The principal Vedic
hymn, gayatri, was generated from the skin, tristup from the flesh,
anustup from the veins, and jagati from the bones of the lord of the
living entities.
TEXT 46
TEXT
majjayah panktir utpanna
brhati pranato ‘bhavat
SYNONYMS
majjayah–from the bone marrow; panktih–a particular type of verse;
utpanna–became manifested; brhati–another type of verse; pranatah–out
of the life-breathing; abhavat–generated.
TRANSLATION
The art of writing verse, pankti, became manifested from the bone
marrow, and that of brhati, another type of verse, was generated from the
life-breath of the Lord of the living entities.
TEXT 47
TEXT
sparsas tasyabhavaj jivah
svaro deha udahrta
usmanam indriyany ahur
antah-stha balam atmanah
svarah sapta viharena
bhavanti sma prajapateh
SYNONYMS
sparsah–the set of letters from ka to ma; tasya–his; abhavat–
became; jivah–the soul; svarah–vowels; dehah–his body; udahrtah–are
expressed; usmanam–the letters sa, sa, sa and ha; indriyani–the senses;
ahuh–are called; antah-sthah–the set of letters so known (ya, ra, la
and va); balam–energy; atmanah–of his self; svarah–music; sapta–
seven; viharena–by the sensual activities; bhavanti sma–became
manifested; prajapateh–of the lord of the living entities.
TRANSLATION
Brahma’s soul was manifested as the touch alphabets, his body as the
vowels, his senses as the sibilant alphabets, his strength as the
intermediate alphabets and his sensual activities as the seven notes of
music.TEXT 48
TEXT
sabda-brahmatmanas tasya
vyaktavyaktatmanah parah
brahmavabhati vitato
nana-sakty-upabrmhitah
SYNONYMS
sabda-brahma–transcendental sound; atmanah–of the Supreme Lord;
tasya–His; vyakta–manifested; avyakta-atmanah–of the unmanifested;
parah–transcendental; brahma–the Absolute; avabhati–completely
manifested; vitatah–distributing; nana–multifarious; sakti–energies;
upabrmhitah–invested with.
TRANSLATION
Brahma is the personal representation of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead as the source of transcendental sound and is therefore above the
conception of manifested and unmanifested. Brahma is the complete form of
the Absolute Truth and is invested with multifarious energies.TEXT 49
TEXT
tato ‘param upadaya
sa sargaya mano dadhe
SYNONYMS
tatah–thereafter; aparam–another; upadaya–having accepted; sah–he;
sargaya–in the matter of creation; manah–mind; dadhe– gave attention.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter Brahma accepted another body, in which sex life was not
forbidden, and thus he engaged himself in the matter of further creationTEXT 50
TEXT
rsinam bhuri-viryanam
api sargam avistrtam
jnatva tad dhrdaye bhuyas
cintayam asa kaurava
SYNONYMS
rsinam–of the great sages; bhuri-viryanam–with great potential
power; api–in spite of; sargam–the creation; avistrtam–not extended;
jnatva–knowing; tat–that; hrdaye–in his heart; bhuyah–again; cintayam
asa–he began to consider; kaurava–O son of the Kurus.
TRANSLATION
O son of the Kurus, when Brahma saw that in spite of the presence of
sages of great potency there was no sufficient increase in population, he
seriously began to consider how the population could be increased.
TEXT 51
TEXT
aho adbhutam etan me
vyaprtasyapi nityada
na hy edhante praja nunam
daivam atra vighatakam
SYNONYMS
aho–alas; adbhutam–it is wonderful; etat–this; me–for me;
vyaprtasya–being busy; api–although; nityada–always; na–does not; hi-
-certainly; edhante–generate; prajah–living entities; nunam–however;
daivam–destiny; atra–herein; vighatakam–against.
TRANSLATION
Brahma thought to himself: Alas, it is wonderful that in spite of my
being scattered all over, there is still insufficient population
throughout the universe. There is no other cause for this misfortune but
destiny.
TEXT 52
TEXT
evam yukta-krtas tasya
daivam caveksatas tada
kasya rupam abhud dvedha
yat kayam abhicaksate
SYNONYMS
evam–thus; yukta–contemplating; krtah–while doing so; tasya–his;
daivam–supernatural power; ca–also; aveksatah–observing; tada–at that
time; kasya–of Brahma; rupam–form; abhut–became manifested; dvedha–
twofold; yat–which is; kayam–his body; abhicaksate–is said to be.
TRANSLATION
While he was thus absorbed in contemplation and was observing the
supernatural power, two other forms were generated from his body. They
are still celebrated as the body of Brahma.TEXT 53
TEXT
tabhyam rupa-vibhagabhyam
mithunam samapadyata
SYNONYMS
tabhyam–of them; rupa–form; vibhagabhyam–thus being divided;
mithunam–sex relation; samapadyata–perfectly executed.
TRANSLATION
The two newly separated bodies united together in a sexual
relationship.
TEXT 54
TEXT
yas tu tatra puman so ‘bhun
manuh svayambhuvah svarat
stri yasic chatarupakhya
mahisy asya mahatmanah
SYNONYMS
yah–one who; tu–but; tatra–there; puman–the male; sah–he; abhut–
became; manuh–the father of mankind; svayambhuvah–of the name
Svayambhuva; sva-rat–fully independent; stri–the woman; ya–one who;
asit–there was; satarupa–of the name Satarupa; akhya–known as; mahisi-
-the queen; asya–of him; mahatmanah– the great soul.
TRANSLATION
Out of them, the one who had the male form became known as the Manu
named Svayambhuva, and the woman became known as Satarupa, the queen of
the great soul Manu.
TEXT 55
TEXT
tada mithuna-dharmena
praja hy edham babhuvire
SYNONYMS
tada–at that time; mithuna–sex life; dharmena–according to
regulative principles; prajah–generations; hi–certainly; edham–
increased; babhuvire–took place.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, by sex indulgence, they gradually increased generations of
population one after another.
TEXT 56
TEXT
sa capi satarupayam
pancapatyany ajijanat
priyavratottanapadau
tisrah kanyas ca bharata
akutir devahutis ca
prasutir iti sattama
SYNONYMS
sah–he (Manu); ca–also; api–in due course; satarupayam–unto
Satarupa; panca–five; apatyani–children; ajijanat–begot; priyavrata–
Priyavrata; uttanapadau–Uttanapada; tisrah–three in number; kanyah–
daughters; ca–also; bharata–O son of Bharata; akutih–Akuti; devahutih-
-Devahuti; ca–and; prasutih–Prasuti; iti–thus; sattama–O best of all.
TRANSLATION
O son of Bharata, in due course of time he [Manu] begot in Satarupa
five children–two sons, Priyavrata and Uttanapada, and three daughters,
Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti.
TEXT 57
TEXT
akutim rucaye pradat
kardamaya tu madhyamam
daksayadat prasutim ca
yata apuritam jagat
SYNONYMS
akutim–the daughter named Akuti; rucaye–unto the sage Ruci; pradat–
handed over; kardamaya–unto the sage Kardama; tu–but; madhyamam–the
middle one (Devahuti); daksaya–unto Daksa; adat–handed over; prasutim–
the youngest daughter; ca–also; yatah–wherefrom; apuritam–is
fulfilled; jagat–the whole world.
TRANSLATION
The father, Manu, handed over his first daughter, Akuti, to the sage
Ruci, the middle daughter, Devahuti, to the sage Kardama, and the
youngest, Prasuti, to Daksa. From them, all the world filled with
population.
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