Thiruvonum's Weblog

..TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
nisamya vacam vadato
muneh punyatamam nrpa
bhuyah papraccha kauravyo
vasudeva-kathadrtah
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; nisamya–after hearing;
vacam–talks; vadatah–while speaking; muneh–of Maitreya Muni; punyatamam–
the most virtuous; nrpa–O King; bhuyah–then again; papraccha–
inquired; kauravyah–the best amongst the Kurus (Vidura); vasudeva-katha-
-topics on the subject of the personality of Godhead, Vasudeva; adrtah–
one who so adores.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, after hearing all these most
virtuous topics from the sage Maitreya, Vidura inquired further on the
topics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which he adored to hear.TEXT 2
TEXT
vidura uvaca
sa vai svayambhuvah samrat
priyah putrah svayambhuvah
pratilabhya priyam patnim
kim cakara tato mune
SYNONYMS
vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; sah–he; vai–easily; svayambhuvah–
Svayambhuva Manu; samrat–the king of all kings; priyah–dear; putrah–
son; svayambhuvah–of Brahma; pratilabhya–after obtaining; priyam–most
loving; patnim–wife; kim–what; cakara–did; tatah–thereafter; mune–O
great sage.
TRANSLATION
Vidura said: O great sage, what did Svayambhuva, the dear son of
Brahma, do after obtaining his very loving wife?
TEXT 3
TEXT
caritam tasya rajarser
adi-rajasya sattama
bruhi me sraddadhanaya
visvaksenasrayo hy asau
SYNONYMS
caritam–character; tasya–his; rajarseh–of the saintly king; adirajasya–
of the original king; sattama–O most pious one; bruhi–kindly
speak; me–unto me; sraddadhanaya–unto one eager to receive; visvaksena-
of the Personality of Godhead; asrayah–one who has taken shelter; hi–
certainly; asau–that king.
TRANSLATION
O best of the virtuous, the original king of kings [Manu] was a great
devotee of the Personality of Godhead Hari, and thus it is worth hearing
of his sublime character and activities. Please describe them. I am very
eager to hear.TEXT 4
TEXT
srutasya pumsam sucira-sramasya
nanv anjasa suribhir idito ‘rthah
tat-tad-gunanusravanam mukundapadaravindam
hrdayesu yesam
SYNONYMS
srutasya–of persons who are in the process of hearing; pumsam–of
such persons; sucira–for a long time; sramasya–laboring very hard;
nanu–certainly; anjasa–elaborately; suribhih–by pure devotees; iditah-
-explained by; arthah–statements; tat–that; tat–that; guna–
transcendental qualities; anusravanam–thinking; mukunda–the Personality
of Godhead, who awards liberation; pada-aravindam–the lotus feet;
hrdayesu–within the heart; yesam–of them.
TRANSLATION
Persons who hear from a spiritual master with great labor and for a
long time must hear from the mouths of pure devotees about the character
and activities of pure devotees. Pure devotees always think within their
hearts of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, who awards His
devotees liberation.TEXT 5
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
iti bruvanam viduram vinitam
sahasra-sirsnas caranopadhanam
prahrsta-roma bhagavat-kathayam
praniyamano munir abhyacasta
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti–thus; bruvanam–
speaking; viduram–unto Vidura; vinitam–very gentle; sahasra-sirsnah–
the Personality of Godhead Krsna; carana–lotus feet; upadhanam–pillow;
prahrsta-roma–hairs standing in ecstasy; bhagavat–in relationship with
the Personality of Godhead; kathayam–in the words; praniyamanah–being
influenced by such spirit; munih–the sage; abhyacasta–attempted to
speak.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: The Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna was
pleased to place His lotus feet on the lap of Vidura because Vidura was
very meek and gentle. The sage Maitreya was very pleased with Vidura’s
words, and, being influenced by his spirit, he attempted to speak.TEXT 6
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
yada sva-bharyaya sardham
jatah svayambhuvo manuh
pranjalih pranatas cedam
veda-garbham abhasata
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; yada–when; sva-bharyaya–along with
his wife; sardham–accompanied by; jatah–appeared; svayambhuvah–
Svayambhuva Manu; manuh–the father of mankind; pranjalih–with folded
hands; pranatah–in obeisances; ca–also; idam–this; veda-garbham–unto
the reservoir of Vedic wisdom; abhasata–addressed.
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya said to Vidura: After his appearance, Manu, the
father of mankind, along with his wife, thus addressed the reservoir of
Vedic wisdom, Brahma, with obeisances and folded hands.
TEXT 7
TEXT
tvam ekah sarva-bhutanam
janma-krd vrttidah pita
tathapi nah prajanam te
susrusa kena va bhavet
SYNONYMS
tvam–you; ekah–one; sarva–all; bhutanam–living entities; janmakrt–
progenitor; vrtti-dah–source of subsistence; pita–the father;
tatha api–yet; nah–ourselves; prajanam–of all who are born; te–of
you; susrusa–service; kena–how; va–either; bhavet–may be possible.
TRANSLATION
You are the father of all living entities and the source of their
subsistence because they are all born of you. Please order us how we may
be able to render service unto you.TEXT 8
TEXT
tad vidhehi namas tubhyam
karmasv idyatma-saktisu
yat krtveha yaso visvag
amutra ca bhaved gatih
SYNONYMS
tat–that; vidhehi–give direction; namah–my obeisances; tubhyam–
unto you; karmasu–in duties; idya–O worshipful one; atma-saktisu–
within our working capacity; yat–which; krtva–doing; iha–in this
world; yasah–fame; visvak–everywhere; amutra–in the next world; ca–
and; bhavet–it should be; gatih–progress.
TRANSLATION
O worshipful one, please give us your direction for the execution of
duty within our working capacity so that we can follow it for fame in
this life and progress in the next.TEXT 9
TEXT
brahmovaca
pritas tubhyam aham tata
svasti stad vam ksitisvara
yan nirvyalikena hrda
sadhi mety atmanarpitam
SYNONYMS
brahma uvaca–Brahma said; pritah–pleased; tubhyam–unto you; aham–
I; tata–my dear son; svasti–all blessings; stat–let there be; vam–
unto you both; ksiti-isvara–O lord of the world; yat–because;
nirvyalikena–without reservation; hrda–by the heart; sadhi–give
instruction; ma–unto me; iti–thus; atmana–by self; arpitam–
surrendered.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma said: My dear son, O lord of the world, I am very pleased
with you, and I desire all blessings for both you and your wife. You have
without reservation surrendered yourself unto me with your heart for my
instructions.TEXT 10
TEXT
etavaty atmajair vira
karya hy apacitir gurau
saktyapramattair grhyeta
sadaram gata-matsaraih
SYNONYMS
etavati–just exactly like this; atmajaih–by the offspring; vira–O
hero; karya–should be performed; hi–certainly; apacitih–worship;
gurau–unto the superior; saktya–with full capacity; apramattaih–by the
sane; grhyeta–should be accepted; sa-adaram–with great delight; gatamatsaraih–
by those who are beyond the limit of envy.
TRANSLATION
O hero, your example is quite befitting a son in relationship with his
father. This sort of adoration for the superior is required. One who is
beyond the limit of envy and who is sane accepts the order of his father
with great delight and executes it to his full capacity.TEXT 11
TEXT
sa tvam asyam apatyani
sadrsany atmano gunaih
utpadya sasa dharmena
gam yajnaih purusam yaja
SYNONYMS
sah–therefore that obedient son; tvam–as you are; asyam–in her;
apatyani–children; sadrsani–equally qualified; atmanah–of yourself;
gunaih–with the characteristics; utpadya–having begotten; sasa–rule;
dharmena–on the principles of devotional service; gam–the world;
yajnaih–by sacrifices; purusam–the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
yaja–worship.
TRANSLATION
Since you are my very obedient son, I ask you to beget children
qualified like yourself in the womb of your wife. Rule the world in
pursuance of the principles of devotional service unto the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and thus worship the Lord by performances of
yajna.TEXT 12
TEXT
param susrusanam mahyam
syat praja-raksaya nrpa
bhagavams te praja-bhartur
hrsikeso ‘nutusyati
SYNONYMS
param–the greatest; susrusanam–devotional service; mahyam–unto me;
syat–should be; praja–the living entities born in the material world;
raksaya–by saving them from being spoiled; nrpa–O King; bhagavan–the
Personality of Godhead; te–with you; praja-bhartuh–with the protector
of the living beings; hrsikesah–the Lord of the senses; anutusyati–is
satisfied.
TRANSLATION
O King, if you can give proper protection to the living beings in the
material world, that will be the best service for me. When the Supreme
Lord sees you to be a good protector of the conditioned souls, certainly
the master of the senses will be very pleased with you.TEXT 13
TEXT
yesam na tusto bhagavan
yajna-lingo janardanah
tesam sramo hy aparthaya
yad atma nadrtah svayam
SYNONYMS
yesam–of those with whom; na–never; tustah–satisfied; bhagavan–the
Personality of Godhead; yajna-lingah–the form of sacrifice; janardanah–
Lord Krsna, or the visnu-tattva; tesam–of them; sramah–labor; hi–
certainly; aparthaya–without profit; yat–because; atma–the Supreme
Soul; na–not; adrtah–respected; svayam–his own self.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Janardana [Lord Krsna], is the
form to accept all the results of sacrifice. If He is not satisfied, then
one’s labor for advancement is futile. He is the ultimate Self, and
therefore one who does not satisfy Him certainly neglects his own
interests.TEXT 14
TEXT
manur uvaca
adese ‘ham bhagavato
varteyamiva-sudana
sthanam tv ihanujanihi
prajanam mama ca prabho
SYNONYMS
manuh uvaca–Sri Manu said; adese–under the order; aham–I;
bhagavatah–of your powerful self; varteya–shall stay; amiva-sudana–O
killer of all sins; sthanam–the place; tu–but; iha–in this world;
anujanihi–please let me know; prajanam–of the living entities born from
me; mama–my; ca–also; prabho–O lord.
TRANSLATION
Sri Manu said: O all-powerful lord, O killer of all sins, I shall
abide by your order. Now please let me know my place and that of the
living entities born of me.
TEXT 15
TEXT
yad okah sarva-bhutanam
mahi magna mahambhasi
asya uddharane yatno
deva devya vidhiyatam
SYNONYMS
yat–because; okah–the dwelling place; sarva–for all; bhutanam–
living entities; mahi–the earth; magna–merged; maha-ambhasi–in the
great water; asyah–of this; uddharane–in the lifting; yatnah–attempt;
deva–O master of the demigods; devyah–of this earth; vidhiyatam–let it
be done.
TRANSLATION
O master of the demigods, please attempt to lift the earth, which is
merged in the great water, because it is the dwelling place for all the
living entities. It can be done by your endeavor and by the mercy of the
Lord.TEXT 16
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
paramesthi tv apam madhye
tatha sannam aveksya gam
katham enam samunnesya
iti dadhyau dhiya ciram
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–Sri Maitreya Muni said; paramesthi–Brahma; tu–also;
apam–the water; madhye–within; tatha–thus; sannam–situated; aveksya–
seeing; gam–the earth; katham–how; enam–this; samunnesye–I shall
lift; iti–thus; dadhyau–gave attention; dhiya–by intelligence; ciram–
for a long time.
TRANSLATION
Sri Maitreya said: Thus, seeing the earth merged in the water, Brahma
gave his attention for a long time to how it could be lifted.TEXT 17
TEXT
srjato me ksitir varbhih
plavyamana rasam gata
athatra kim anustheyam
asmabhih sarga-yojitaih
yasyaham hrdayad asam
sa iso vidadhatu me
SYNONYMS
srjatah–while engaged in creation; me–of me; ksitih–the earth;
varbhih–by the water; plavyamana–being inundated; rasam–depth of
water; gata–gone down; atha–therefore; atra–in this matter; kim–what;
anustheyam–is right to be attempted; asmabhih–by us; sarga–creation;
yojitaih–engaged in; yasya–the one from whose; aham–I; hrdayat–from
the heart; asam–born; sah–He; isah–the Lord; vidadhatu–may direct;
me–unto me.
TRANSLATION
Brahma thought: While I have been engaged in the process of creation,
the earth has been inundated by a deluge and has gone down into the
depths of the ocean. What can we do who are engaged in this matter of
creation? It is best to let the Almighty Lord direct us.TEXT 18
TEXT
ity abhidhyayato nasavivarat
sahasanagha
varaha-toko niragad
angustha-parimanakah
SYNONYMS
iti–thus; abhidhyayatah–while thinking; nasa-vivarat–from the
nostrils; sahasa–all of a sudden; anagha–O sinless one; varaha-tokah–a
minute form of Varaha (a boar); niragat–came out; angustha–the upper
portion of the thumb; parimanakah–of the measurement.
TRANSLATION
O sinless Vidura, all of a sudden, while Brahma was engaged in
thinking, a small form of a boar came out of his nostril. The measurement
of the creature was not more than the upper portion of a thumb.
TEXT 19
TEXT
tasyabhipasyatah kha-sthah
ksanena kila bharata
gaja-matrah pravavrdhe
tad adbhutam abhun mahat
SYNONYMS
tasya–his; abhipasyatah–while thus observing; kha-sthah–situated in
the sky; ksanena–suddenly; kila–verily; bharata–O descendant of
Bharata; gaja-matrah–just like an elephant; pravavrdhe–thoroughly
expanded; tat–that; adbhutam–extraordinary; abhut–transformed; mahat–
into a gigantic body.
TRANSLATION
O descendant of Bharata, while Brahma was observing Him, that boar
became situated in the sky in a wonderful manifestation as gigantic as a
great elephant.
TEXT 20
TEXT
marici-pramukhair vipraih
kumarair manuna saha
drstva tat saukaram rupam
tarkayam asa citradha
SYNONYMS
marici–the great sage Marici; pramukhaih–headed by; vipraih–all
brahmanas; kumaraih–with the four Kumaras; manuna–and with Manu; saha–
with; drstva–seeing; tat–that; saukaram–appearance like a boar; rupam-
-form; tarkayam asa–argued among themselves; citradha–in various ways.
TRANSLATION
Struck with wonder at observing the wonderful boarlike form in the
sky, Brahma, with great brahmanas like Marici, as well as the Kumaras and
Manu, began to argue in various ways.
TEXT 21
TEXT
kim etat sukara-vyajam
sattvam divyam avasthitam
aho batascaryam idam
nasaya me vinihsrtam
SYNONYMS
kim–what; etat–this; sukara–boar; vyajam–pretension; sattvam–
entity; divyam–extraordinary; avasthitam–situated; aho bata–oh, it is;
ascaryam–very wonderful; idam–this; nasayah–from the nose; me–my;
vinihsrtam–came out.
TRANSLATION
Is this some extraordinary entity come in the pretense of a boar? It
is very wonderful that He has come from my nose.
TEXT 22
TEXT
drsto ‘ngustha-siro-matrah
ksanad ganda-sila-samah
api svid bhagavan esa
yajno me khedayan manah
SYNONYMS
drstah–just seen; angustha–thumb; sirah–tip; matrah–only; ksanat–
immediately; ganda-sila–large stone; samah–like; api svit–whether;
bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; esah–this; yajnah–Visnu; me–my;
khedayan–perturbing; manah–mind.
TRANSLATION
First of all this boar was seen no bigger than the tip of a thumb, and
within a moment He was as large as a stone. My mind is perturbed. Is He
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu?TEXT 23
TEXT
iti mimamsatas tasya
brahmanah saha sunubhih
bhagavan yajna-puruso
jagarjagendra-sannibhah
SYNONYMS
iti–thus; mimamsatah–while deliberating; tasya–his; brahmanah–of
Brahma; saha–along with; sunubhih–his sons; bhagavan–the Personality
of Godhead; yajna–Lord Visnu; purusah–the Supreme Person; jagarja–
resounded; aga-indra–great mountain; sannibhah–like.
TRANSLATION
While Brahma was deliberating with his sons, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, Visnu, roared tumultuously like a great mountain.TEXT 24
TEXT
brahmanam harsayam asa
haris tams ca dvijottaman
sva-garjitena kakubhah
pratisvanayata vibhuh
SYNONYMS
brahmanam–unto Brahma; harsayam asa–enlivened; harih–the
Personality of Godhead; tan–all of them; ca–also; dvija-uttaman–highly
elevated brahmanas; sva-garjitena–by His uncommon voice; kakubhah–all
directions; pratisvanayata–which echoed; vibhuh–the omnipotent.
TRANSLATION
The omnipotent Supreme Personality of Godhead enlivened Brahma and the
other highly elevated brahmanas by again roaring with His uncommon voice,
which echoed in all directions.TEXT 25
TEXT
nisamya te ghargharitam sva-khedaksayisnu
mayamaya-sukarasya
janas-tapah-satya-nivasinas te
tribhih pavitrair munayo ‘grnan sma
SYNONYMS
nisamya–just after hearing; te–those; ghargharitam–the tumultuous
sound; sva-kheda–personal lamentation; ksayisnu–destroying; maya-maya–
all-merciful; sukarasya–of Lord Boar; janah–the Janaloka planet; tapah-
-the Tapoloka planet; satya–the Satyaloka planet; nivasinah–residents;
te–all of them; tribhih–from the three Vedas; pavitraih–by the allauspicious
mantras; munayah–great thinkers and sages; agrnan sma–
chanted.
TRANSLATION
When the great sages and thinkers who are residents of Janaloka,
Tapoloka and Satyaloka heard the tumultuous voice of Lord Boar, which was
the all-auspicious sound of the all-merciful Lord, they chanted
auspicious chants from the three Vedas.TEXT 26
TEXT
tesam satam veda-vitana-murtir
brahmavadharyatma-gunanuvadam
vinadya bhuyo vibudhodayaya
gajendra-lilo jalam avivesa
SYNONYMS
tesam–of them; satam–of the great devotees; veda–all knowledge;
vitana-murtih–the form of expansion; brahma–Vedic sound; avadharya–
knowing it well; atma–of Himself; guna-anuvadam–transcendental
glorification; vinadya–resounding; bhuyah–again; vibudha–of the
transcendentally learned; udayaya–for the elevation or benefit;
gajendra-lilah–playing like an elephant; jalam–the water; avivesa–
entered.
TRANSLATION
Playing like an elephant, He entered into the water after roaring
again in reply to the Vedic prayers by the great devotees. The Lord is
the object of the Vedic prayers, and thus He understood that the
devotees’ prayers were meant for Him.TEXT 27
TEXT
utksipta-valah kha-carah kathorah
sata vidhunvan khara-romasa-tvak
khurahatabhrah sita-damstra iksajyotir
babhase bhagavan mahidhrah
SYNONYMS
utksipta-valah–slashing with the tail; kha-carah–in the sky;
kathorah–very hard; satah–hairs on the shoulder; vidhunvan–quivering;
khara–sharp; romasa-tvak–skin full of hairs; khura-ahata–struck by the
hooves; abhrah–the clouds; sita-damstrah–white tusks; iksa–glance;
jyotih–luminous; babhase–began to emit an effulgence; bhagavan–the
Personality of Godhead; mahi-dhrah–the supporter of the world.
TRANSLATION
Before entering the water to rescue the earth, Lord Boar flew in the
sky, slashing His tail, His hard hairs quivering. His very glance was
luminous, and He scattered the clouds in the sky with His hooves and His
glittering white tusks.TEXT 28
TEXT
ghranena prthvyah padavim vijighran
krodapadesah svayam adhvarangah
karala-damstro ‘py akarala-drgbhyam
udviksya vipran grnato ‘visat kam
SYNONYMS
ghranena–by smelling; prthvyah–of the earth; padavim–situation;
vijighran–searching after the earth; kroda-apadesah–assuming the body
of a hog; svayam–personally; adhvara–transcendental; angah–body;
karala–fearful; damstrah–teeth (tusks); api–in spite of; akarala–not
fearful; drgbhyam–by His glance; udviksya–glancing over; vipran–all
the brahmana- devotees; grnatah–who were engaged in prayers; avisat–
entered; kam–the water.
TRANSLATION
He was personally the Supreme Lord Visnu and was therefore
transcendental, yet because He had the body of a hog, He searched after
the earth by smell. His tusks were fearful, and He glanced over the
devotee-brahmanas engaged in offering prayers. Thus He entered the waterTEXT 29
TEXT
sa vajra-kutanga-nipata-vegavisirna-
kuksih stanayann udanvan
utsrsta-dirghormi-bhujair ivartas
cukrosa yajnesvara pahi meti
SYNONYMS
sah–that; vajra-kuta-anga–body like a great mountain; nipata-vega–
the force of diving; visirna–bifurcating; kuksih–the middle portion;
stanayan–resounding like; udanvan–the ocean; utsrsta–creating; dirgha-
-high; urmi–waves; bhujaih–by the arms; iva artah–like a distressed
person; cukrosa–prayed loudly; yajna-isvara–O master of all sacrifices;
pahi–please protect; ma–unto me; iti–thus.
TRANSLATION
Diving into the water like a giant mountain, Lord Boar divided the
middle of the ocean, and two high waves appeared as the arms of the
ocean, which cried loudly as if praying to the Lord, “O Lord of all
sacrifices, please do not cut me in two! Kindly give me protection!”TEXT 30
TEXT
khuraih ksuraprair darayams tad apa
utpara-param tri-paru rasayam
dadarsa gam tatra susupsur agre
yam jiva-dhanim svayam abhyadhatta
SYNONYMS
khuraih–by the hooves; ksurapraih–compared to a sharp weapon;
darayan–penetrating; tat–that; apah–water; utpara-param–found the
limitation of the unlimited; tri-paruh–the master of all sacrifices;
rasayam–within the water; dadarsa–found; gam–the earth; tatra–there;
susupsuh–lying; agre–in the beginning; yam–whom; jiva-dhanim–the
resting place for all living entities; svayam–personally; abhyadhatta–
uplifted.
TRANSLATION
Lord Boar penetrated the water with His hooves, which were like sharp
arrows, and found the limits of the ocean, although it was unlimited. He
saw the earth, the resting place for all living beings, lying as it was
in the beginning of creation, and He personally lifted it.TEXT 31
TEXT
sva-damstrayoddhrtya mahim nimagnam
sa utthitah samruruce rasayah
tatrapi daityam gadayapatantam
sunabha-sandipita-tivra-manyuh
SYNONYMS
sva-damstraya–by His own tusks; uddhrtya–raising; mahim–the earth;
nimagnam–submerged; sah–He; utthitah–getting up; samruruce–appeared
very splendid; rasayah–from the water; tatra–there; api–also; daityam-
-unto the demon; gadaya–with the club; apatantam–rushing towards Him;
sunabha–the wheel of Krsna; sandipita–glowing; tivra–fierce; manyuh–
anger.
TRANSLATION
Lord Boar very easily took the earth on His tusks and got it out of
the water. Thus He appeared very splendid. Then, His anger glowing like
the Sudarsana wheel, He immediately killed the demon [Hiranyaksa],
although he tried to fight with the Lord.TEXT 31
TEXT
sva-damstrayoddhrtya mahim nimagnam
sa utthitah samruruce rasayah
tatrapi daityam gadayapatantam
sunabha-sandipita-tivra-manyuh
SYNONYMS
sva-damstraya–by His own tusks; uddhrtya–raising; mahim–the earth;
nimagnam–submerged; sah–He; utthitah–getting up; samruruce–appeared
very splendid; rasayah–from the water; tatra–there; api–also; daityam-
-unto the demon; gadaya–with the club; apatantam–rushing towards Him;
sunabha–the wheel of Krsna; sandipita–glowing; tivra–fierce; manyuh–
anger.
TRANSLATION
Lord Boar very easily took the earth on His tusks and got it out of
the water. Thus He appeared very splendid. Then, His anger glowing like
the Sudarsana wheel, He immediately killed the demon [Hiranyaksa],
although he tried to fight with the Lord.TEXT 35
TEXT
rupam tavaitan nanu duskrtatmanam
durdarsanam deva yad adhvaratmakam
chandamsi yasya tvaci barhi-romasv
ajyam drsi tv anghrisu catur-hotram
SYNONYMS
rupam–form; tava–Your; etat–this; nanu–but; duskrta-atmanam–of
souls who are simply miscreants; durdarsanam–very difficult to see;
deva–O Lord; yat–that; adhvara-atmakam–worshipable by performances of
sacrifice; chandamsi–the Gayatri mantra and others; yasya–whose; tvaci-
-touch of the skin; barhih–sacred grass called kusa; romasu–hairs on
the body; ajyam–clarified butter; drsi–in the eyes; tu–also; anghrisu-
-on the four legs; catuh-hotram–four kinds of fruitive activities.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, Your form is worshipable by performances of sacrifice, but
souls who are simply miscreants are unable to see it. All the Vedic
hymns, Gayatri and others, are in the touch of Your skin. In Your bodily
hairs is the kusa grass, in Your eyes is the clarified butter, and in
Your four legs are the four kinds of fruitive activities.TEXT 36
TEXT
srak tunda asit sruva isa nasayor
idodare camasah karna-randhre
prasitram asye grasane grahas tu te
yac carvanam te bhagavann agni-hotram
SYNONYMS
srak–the plate for sacrifice; tunde–on the tongue; asit–there is;
sruvah–another plate for sacrifice; isa–O Lord; nasayoh–of the
nostrils; ida–the plate for eating; udare–in the belly; camasah–
another plate for sacrifices; karna-randhre–in the holes of the ears;
prasitram–the plate called the Brahma plate; asye–in the mouth;
grasane–in the throat; grahah–the plates known as soma plates; tu–but;
te–Your; yat–that which; carvanam–chewing; te–Your; bhagavan–O my
Lord; agni-hotram–is Your eating through Your sacrificial fire.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, Your tongue is a plate of sacrifice, Your nostril is another
plate of sacrifice, in Your belly is the eating plate of sacrifice, and
another plate of sacrifice is the holes of Your ears. In Your mouth is
the Brahma plate of sacrifice, Your throat is the plate of sacrifice
known as soma, and whatever You chew is known as agni-hotra.TEXT 37
TEXT
diksanujanmopasadah sirodharam
tvam prayaniyodayaniya-damstrah
jihva pravargyas tava sirsakam kratoh
satyavasathyam citayo ‘savo hi te
SYNONYMS
diksa–initiation; anujanma–spiritual birth, or repeated
incarnations; upasadah–three kinds of desires (relationship, activities
and ultimate goal); sirah-dharam–the neck; tvam–You; prayaniya–after
the result of initiation; udayaniya–the last rites of desires; damstrah-
-the tusks; jihva–the tongue; pravargyah–prior activities; tava–Your;
sirsakam–head; kratoh–of the sacrifice; satya–fire without sacrifice;
avasathyam–fire of worship; citayah–aggregate of all desires; asavah–
life breath; hi–certainly; te–Your.
TRANSLATION
Moreover, O Lord, the repetition of Your appearance is the desire for
all kinds of initiation. Your neck is the place for three desires, and
Your tusks are the result of initiation and the end of all desires. Your
tongue is the prior activities of initiation, Your head is the fire
without sacrifice as well as the fire of worship, and Your living forces
are the aggregate of all desires.
TEXT 38
TEXT
somas tu retah savanany avasthitih
samstha-vibhedas tava deva dhatavah
satrani sarvani sarira-sandhis
tvam sarva-yajna-kratur isti-bandhanah
SYNONYMS
somah tu retah–Your semen is the sacrifice called soma; savanani–
ritualistic performances of the morning; avasthitih–different statuses
of bodily growth; samstha-vibhedah–seven varieties of sacrifices; tava–
Your; deva–O Lord; dhatavah–ingredients of the body such as skin and
flesh; satrani–sacrifices performed over twelve days; sarvani–all of
them; sarira–the bodily; sandhih–joints; tvam–Your Lordship; sarva–
all; yajna–asoma sacrifices; kratuh–soma sacrifices; isti–the ultimate
desire; bandhanah–attachment.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, Your semen is the sacrifice called soma-yajna. Your growth is
the ritualistic performances of the morning. Your skin and touch
sensations are the seven elements of the agnistoma sacrifice. Your bodily
joints are symbols of various other sacrifices performed in twelve days.
Therefore You are the object of all sacrifices called soma and asoma, and
You are bound by yajnas only.TEXT 39
TEXT
namo namas te ‘khila-mantra-devatadravyaya
sarva-kratave kriyatmane
vairagya-bhaktyatmajayanubhavitajnanaya
vidya-gurave namo namah
SYNONYMS
namah namah–obeisances unto You; te–unto You, who are worshipable;
akhila–all-inclusive; mantra–hymns; devata–the Supreme Lord; dravyaya-
-unto all ingredients for performing sacrifices; sarva-kratave–unto all
kinds of sacrifices; kriya-atmane–unto You, the supreme form of all
sacrifices; vairagya–renunciation; bhaktya–by devotional service; atmajaya-
anubhavita–perceivable by conquering the mind; jnanaya–such
knowledge; vidya-gurave–the supreme spiritual master of all knowledge;
namah namah–again I offer my respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are worshipable
by universal prayers, Vedic hymns and sacrificial ingredients. We offer
our obeisances unto You. You can be realized by the pure mind freed from
all visible and invisible material contamination. We offer our respectful
obeisances to You as the supreme spiritual master of knowledge in
devotional service.TEXT 40
TEXT
damstragra-kotya bhagavams tvaya dhrta
virajate bhudhara bhuh sa-bhudhara
yatha vanan nihsarato data dhrta
matan-gajendrasya sa-patra-padmini
SYNONYMS
damstra-agra–the tips of the tusks; kotya–by the edges; bhagavan–O
Personality of Godhead; tvaya–by You; dhrta–sustained; virajate–is so
beautifully situated; bhu-dhara–O lifter of the earth; bhuh–the earth;
sa-bhudhara–with mountains; yatha–as much as; vanat–from the water;
nihsaratah–coming out; data–by the tusk; dhrta–captured; matamgajendrasya–
infuriated elephant; sa-patra–with leaves; padmini–the
lotus flower.
TRANSLATION
O lifter of the earth, the earth with its mountains, which You have
lifted with Your tusks, is situated as beautifully as a lotus flower with
leaves sustained by an infuriated elephant just coming out of the water.TEXT 41
TEXT
trayimayam rupam idam ca saukaram
bhu-mandalenatha data dhrtena te
cakasti srngodha-ghanena bhuyasa
kulacalendrasya yathaiva vibhramah
SYNONYMS
trayi-mayam–Vedas personified; rupam–form; idam–this; ca–also;
saukaram–the boar; bhu-mandalena–by the earth planet; atha–now; data–
by the tusk; dhrtena–sustained by; te–Your; cakasti–is glowing; srngaudha–
sustained by the peaks; ghanena–by the clouds; bhuyasa–more
glorified; kula-acala-indrasya–of the great mountains; yatha–as much
as; eva–certainly; vibhramah–decoration.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, as the peaks of great mountains become beautiful when
decorated with clouds, Your transcendental body has become beautiful
because of Your lifting the earth on the edge of Your tusks.TEXT 42
TEXT
samsthapayainam jagatam sa-tasthusam
lokaya patnim asi mataram pita
vidhema casyai namasa saha tvaya
yasyam sva-tejo ‘gnim ivaranav adhah
SYNONYMS
samsthapaya enam–raise this earth; jagatam–both the moving and; satasthusam–
nonmoving; lokaya–for their residence; patnim–wife; asi–You
are; mataram–the mother; pita–the father; vidhema–do we offer; ca–
also; asyai–unto the mother; namasa–with all obeisances; saha–along
with; tvaya–with You; yasyam–in whom; sva-tejah–by Your own potency;
agnim–fire; iva–likened; aranau–in the arani wood; adhah–invested.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, for the residential purposes of all inhabitants, both moving
and nonmoving, this earth is Your wife, and You are the supreme father.
We offer our respectful obeisances unto You, along with mother earth, in
whom You have invested Your own potency, just as an expert sacrificer
puts fire in the arani wood.TEXT 43
TEXT
kah sraddadhitanyatamas tava prabho
rasam gataya bhuva udvibarhanam
na vismayo ‘sau tvayi visva-vismaye
yo mayayedam sasrje ‘tivismayam
SYNONYMS
kah–who else; sraddadhita–can endeavor; anyatamah–anyone besides
Yourself; tava–Your; prabho–O Lord; rasam–in the water; gatayah–while
lying in; bhuvah–of the earth; udvibarhanam–deliverance; na–never;
vismayah–wonderful; asau–such an act; tvayi–unto You; visva–
universal; vismaye–full of wonders; yah–one who; mayaya–by potencies;
idam–this; sasrje–created; ativismayam–surpassing all wonders.
TRANSLATION
Who else but You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, could deliver
the earth from within the water? It is not very wonderful for You,
however, because You acted most wonderfully in the creation of the
universe. By Your energy You have created this wonderful cosmic
manifestation.TEXT 44
TEXT
vidhunvata vedamayam nijam vapur
janas-tapah-satya-nivasino vayam
sata-sikhoddhuta-sivambu-bindubhir
vimrjyamana bhrsam isa pavitah
SYNONYMS
vidhunvata–while shaking; veda-mayam–personified Vedas; nijam–own;
vapuh–body; janah–the Janaloka planetary system; tapah–the Tapoloka
planetary system; satya–the Satyaloka planetary system; nivasinah–the
inhabitants; vayam–we; sata–hairs on the shoulder; sikha-uddhuta–
sustained by the tip of the hair; siva–auspicious; ambu–water;
bindubhih–by the particles; vimrjyamanah–we are thus sprinkled by;
bhrsam–highly; isa–O Supreme Lord; pavitah–purified.
TRANSLATION
O Supreme Lord, undoubtedly we are inhabitants of the most pious
planets–the Jana, Tapas and Satya lokas–but still we have been purified
by the drops of water sprinkled from Your shoulder hairs by the shaking
of Your body.TEXT 45
TEXT
sa vai bata bhrasta-matis tavaisate
yah karmanam param apara-karmanah
yad-yogamaya-guna-yoga-mohitam
visvam samastam bhagavan vidhehi sam
SYNONYMS
sah–he; vai–certainly; bata–alas; bhrasta-matih–nonsense; tava–
Your; esate–desires; yah–one who; karmanam–of activities; param–
limit; apara-karmanah–of one who has unlimited activities; yat–by whom;
yoga–mystic power; maya–potency; guna–modes of material nature; yoga–
mystic power; mohitam–bewildered; visvam–the universe; samastam–in
total; bhagavan–O Supreme personality of Godhead; vidhehi–just be
pleased to bestow; sam–good fortune.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, there is no limit to Your wonderful activities. Anyone who
desires to know the limit of Your activities is certainly nonsensical.
Everyone in this world is conditioned by the powerful mystic potencies.
Please bestow Your causeless mercy upon these conditioned souls.TEXT 46
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
ity upasthiyamano ‘sau
munibhir brahma-vadibhih
salile sva-khurakranta
upadhattavitavanim
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–the sage Maitreya said; iti–thus; upasthiyamanah–
being praised by; asau–Lord Boar; munibhih–by the great sages; brahmavadibhih–
by the transcendentalists; salile–on the water; sva-khuraakrante–
touched by His own hooves; upadhatta–placed; avita–the
maintainer; avanim–the earth.
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya said: The Lord, being thus worshiped by all the
great sages and transcendentalists, touched the earth with His hooves and
placed it on the water.TEXT 47
TEXT
sa ittham bhagavan urvim
visvaksenah prajapatih
rasaya lilayonnitam
apsu nyasya yayau harih
SYNONYMS
sah–He; ittham–in this manner; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead;
urvim–the earth; visvaksenah–another name of Visnu; praja-patih–the
Lord of the living entities; rasayah–from within the water; lilaya–very
easily; unnitam–raised; apsu–on the water; nyasya–placing; yayau–
returned to His own abode; harih–the Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
In this manner the Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, the maintainer
of all living entities, raised the earth from within the water, and
having placed it afloat on the water, He returned to His own abode.TEXT 48
TEXT
ya evam etam hari-medhaso hareh
katham subhadram kathaniya-mayinah
srnvita bhaktya sravayeta vosatim
janardano ‘syasu hrdi prasidati
SYNONYMS
yah–one who; evam–thus; etam–this; hari-medhasah–who destroys the
material existence of the devotee; hareh–of the Personality of Godhead;
katham–narration; su-bhadram–auspicious; kathaniya–worthy to narrate;
mayinah–of the merciful by His internal potency; srnvita–hears;
bhaktya–in devotion; sravayeta–also allows others to hear; va–either;
usatim–very pleasing; janardanah–the Lord; asya–his; asu–very soon;
hrdi–within the heart; prasidati–becomes very pleased.
TRANSLATION
If one hears and describes in a devotional service attitude this
auspicious narration of Lord Boar, which is worthy of description, the
Lord, who is within the heart of everyone, is very pleased.TEXT 49
TEXT
tasmin prasanne sakalasisam prabhau
kim durlabham tabhir alam lavatmabhih
ananya-drstya bhajatam guhasayah
svayam vidhatte sva-gatim parah param
SYNONYMS
tasmin–unto Him; prasanne–being pleased; sakala-asisam–of all
benediction; prabhau–unto the Lord; kim–what is that; durlabham–very
difficult to obtain; tabhih–with them; alam–away; lava-atmabhih–with
insignificant gains; ananya-drstya–by nothing but devotional service;
bhajatam–of those who are engaged in devotional service; guha-asayah–
residing within the heart; svayam–personally; vidhatte–executes; svagatim–
in His own abode; parah–the supreme; param–transcendental.
TRANSLATION
Nothing remains unachieved when the Supreme Personality of Godhead is
pleased with someone. By transcendental achievement one understands
everything else to be insignificant. One who engages in transcendental
loving service is elevated to the highest perfectional stage by the Lord
Himself, who is seated in everyone’s heart.TEXT 50
TEXT
ko nama loke purusartha-saravit
pura-kathanam bhagavat-katha-sudham
apiya karnanjalibhir bhavapaham
aho virajyeta vina naretaram
SYNONYMS
kah–who; nama–indeed; loke–in the world; purusa-artha–goal of
life; sara-vit–one who knows the essence of; pura-kathanam–of all past
histories; bhagavat–regarding the Personality of Godhead; katha-sudham–
the nectar of the narrations about the Personality of Godhead; apiya–by
drinking; karna-anjalibhih–by aural reception; bhava-apaham–that which
kills all material pangs; aho–alas; virajyeta–could refuse; vina–
except; nara-itaram–other than the human being. being.
TRANSLATION
Who, other than one who is not a human being, can exist in this world
and not be interested in the ultimate goal of life? Who can refuse the
nectar of narrations about the Personality of Godhead’s activities, which
by itself can deliver one from all material pangs?

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.

TEXT 1

TEXT

maitreya uvaca

caramah sad-visesanam

aneko ‘samyutah sada

paramanuh sa vijneyo

nrnam aikya-bhramo yatah

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; caramah–ultimate; sat–effect;

visesanam–symptoms; anekah–innumerable; asamyutah–unmixed; sada–

always; parama-anuh–atoms; sah–that; vijneyah–should be understood;

nrnam–of men; aikya–oneness; bhramah–mistaken; yatah–from which.

TRANSLATION

The material manifestation’s ultimate particle, which is indivisible

and not formed into a body, is called the atom. It exists always as an

invisible identity, even after the dissolution of all forms. The material

body is but a combination of such atoms, but it is misunderstood by the

TEXT 2

TEXT

sata eva padarthasya

svarupavasthitasya yat

kaivalyam parama-mahan

aviseso nirantarah

SYNONYMS

satah–of the effective manifestation; eva–certainly; pada-arthasya–

of physical bodies; svarupa-avasthitasya–staying in the same form even

to the time of dissolution; yat–that which; kaivalyam–oneness; parama–

the supreme; mahan–unlimited; avisesah–forms; nirantarah–eternally.

TRANSLATION

Atoms are the ultimate state of the manifest universe. When they stay

in their own forms without forming different bodies, they are called the

unlimited oneness. There are certainly different bodies in physical

forms, but the atoms themselves form the complete manifestation.

TEXT 3

TEXT

evam kalo ‘py anumitah

sauksmye sthaulye ca sattama

samsthana-bhuktya bhagavan

avyakto vyakta-bhug vibhuh

SYNONYMS

evam–thus; kalah–time; api–also; anumitah–measured; sauksmye–in

the subtle; sthaulye–in the gross forms; ca–also; sattama–O best;

samsthana–combinations of the atoms; bhuktya–by the motion; bhagavan–

the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avyaktah–unmanifested; vyakta-bhuk–

controlling all physical movement; vibhuh–the great potential.

TRANSLATION

One can estimate time by measuring the movement of the atomic

combination of bodies. Time is the potency of the almighty Personality of

Godhead, Hari, who controls all physical movement although He is not

visible in the physical world.

TEXT 4

TEXT

sa kalah paramanur vai

yo bhunkte paramanutam

sato ‘visesa-bhug yas tu

sa kalah paramo mahan

SYNONYMS

sah–that; kalah–eternal time; parama-anuh–atomic; vai–certainly;

yah–which; bhunkte–passes through; parama-anutam–the space of an atom;

satah–of the entire aggregate; avisesa-bhuk–passing through the nondual

exhibition; yah tu–which; sah–that; kalah–time; paramah–the supreme;

mahan–the great.

TRANSLATION

Atomic time is measured according to its covering a particular atomic

space. That time which covers the unmanifest aggregate of atoms is called

TEXT 5

TEXT

anur dvau paramanu syat

trasarenus trayah smrtah

jalarka-rasmy-avagatah

kham evanupatann agat

SYNONYMS

anuh–double atom; dvau–two; parama-anu–atoms; syat–become;

trasarenuh–hexatom; trayah–three; smrtah–considered; jala-arka–of

sunshine through the holes of a window screen; rasmi–by the rays;

avagatah–can be known; kham eva–towards the sky; anupatan agat–going

up.

TRANSLATION

The division of gross time is calculated as follows: two atoms make

one double atom, and three double atoms make one hexatom. This hexatom is

visible in the sunshine which enters through the holes of a window

TEXT 6

TEXT

trasarenu-trikam bhunkte

yah kalah sa trutih smrtah

sata-bhagas tu vedhah syat

tais tribhis tu lavah smrtah

SYNONYMS

trasarenu-trikam–combination of three hexatoms; bhunkte–as they take

time to integrate; yah–that which; kalah–duration of time; sah–that;

trutih–by the name truti; smrtah–is called; sata-bhagah–one hundred

trutis; tu–but; vedhah–called a vedha; syat–it so happens; taih–by

them; tribhih–three times; tu–but; lavah–lava; smrtah–so called.

TRANSLATION

The time duration needed for the integration of three trasarenus is

called a truti, and one hundred trutis make one vedha. Three vedhas make

TEXT 7

TEXT

nimesas tri-lavo jneya

amnatas te trayah ksanah

ksanan panca viduh kastham

laghu ta dasa panca ca

SYNONYMS

nimesah–the duration of time called a nimesa; tri-lavah–the duration

of three lavas; jneyah–is to be known; amnatah–it is so called; te–

they; trayah–three; ksanah–the duration of time called a ksana; ksanan-

-such ksanas; panca–five; viduh–one should understand; kastham–the

duration of time called a kastha; laghu–the duration of time called a

laghu; tah–those; dasa panca–fifteen; ca–also.

TRANSLATION

The duration of time of three lavas is equal to one nimesa, the

combination of three nimesas makes one ksana, five ksanas combined

TEXT 8

TEXT

laghuni vai samamnata

dasa panca ca nadika

te dve muhurtah praharah

sad yamah sapta va nrnam

SYNONYMS

laghuni–such laghus (each of two minutes); vai–exactly; samamnata–

is called; dasa panca–fifteen; ca–also; nadika–a nadika; te–of them;

dve–two; muhurtah–a moment; praharah–three hours; sat–six; yamah–one

fourth of a day or night; sapta–seven; va–or; nrnam–of human

calculation.

TRANSLATION

Fifteen laghus make one nadika, which is also called a danda. Two

dandas make one muhurta, and six or seven dandas make one fourth of a day

or night, according to human calculation.

TEXT 9

TEXT

dvadasardha-palonmanam

caturbhis catur-angulaih

svarna-masaih krta-cchidram

yavat prastha-jala-plutam

SYNONYMS

dvadasa-ardha–six; pala–of the scale of weight; unmanam–measuring

pot; caturbhih–by weight of four; catuh-angulaih–four fingers by

measure; svarna–of gold; masaih–of the weight; krta-chidram–making a

hole; yavat–as long as; prastha–measuring one prastha; jala-plutam–

filled by water.

TRANSLATION

The measuring pot for one nadika, or danda, can be prepared with a

six-pala-weight [fourteen ounce] pot of copper, in which a hole is bored

with a gold probe weighing four masa and measuring four fingers long.

When the pot is placed on water, the time before the water overflows in

TEXT 10

TEXT

yamas catvaras catvaro

martyanam ahani ubhe

paksah panca-dasahani

suklah krsnas ca manada

SYNONYMS

yamah–three hours; catvarah–four; catvarah–and four; martyanam–of

the human beings; ahani–duration of day; ubhe–both day and night;

paksah–fortnight; panca-dasa–fifteen; ahani–days; suklah–white;

krsnah–black; ca–also; manada–measured.

TRANSLATION

It is calculated that there are four praharas, which are also called

yamas, in the day and four in the night of the human being. Similarly,

fifteen days and nights are a fortnight, and there are two fortnights,

white and black, in a month.

TEXT 11

TEXT

tayoh samuccayo masah

pitrnam tad ahar-nisam

dvau tav rtuh sad ayanam

daksinam cottaram divi

SYNONYMS

tayoh–of them; samuccayah–aggregate; masah–month; pitrnam–of the

Pita planets; tat–that (month); ahah-nisam–day and night; dvau–two;

tau–months; rtuh–a season; sat–six; ayanam–the movement of the sun in

six months; daksinam–southern; ca–also; uttaram–northern; divi–in the

heavens.

TRANSLATION

The aggregate of two fortnights is one month, and that period is one

complete day and night for the Pita planets. Two of such months comprise

one season, and six months comprise one complete movement of the sun from

south to north.

TEXT 12

TEXT

ayane cahani prahur

vatsaro dvadasa smrtah

samvatsara-satam nrnam

paramayur nirupitam

SYNONYMS

ayane–in the solar movement (of six months); ca–and; ahani–a day of

the demigods; prahuh–it is said; vatsarah–one calendar year; dvadasa–

twelve months; smrtah–is so called; samvatsara-satam–one hundred years;

nrnam–of human beings; parama-ayuh–duration of life; nirupitam–is

estimated.

TRANSLATION

Two solar movements make one day and night of the demigods, and that

combination of day and night is one complete calendar year for the human

being. The human being has a duration of life of one hundred years.

TEXT 13

TEXT

graharksa-tara-cakra-sthah

paramanv-adina jagat

samvatsaravasanena

paryety animiso vibhuh

SYNONYMS

graha–influential planets like the moon; rksa–luminaries like

Asvini; tara–stars; cakra-sthah–in the orbit; parama-anu-adina–along

with the atoms; jagat–the entire universe; samvatsara-avasanena–by the

end of one year; paryeti–completes its orbit; animisah–the eternal

time; vibhuh–the Almighty.

TRANSLATION

Influential stars, planets, luminaries and atoms all over the universe

are rotating in their respective orbits under the direction of the

TEXT 14

TEXT

samvatsarah parivatsara

ida-vatsara eva ca

anuvatsaro vatsaras ca

viduraivam prabhasyate

SYNONYMS

samvatsarah–orbit of the sun; parivatsarah–circumambulation of

Brhaspati; ida-vatsarah–orbit of the stars; eva–as they are; ca–also;

anuvatsarah–orbit of the moon; vatsarah–one calendar year; ca–also;

vidura–O Vidura; evam–thus; prabhasyate–they are so told.

TRANSLATION

There are five different names for the orbits of the sun, moon, stars

One truti – 8.13,500 second

>One vedha – 8.135 second

>One lava – 8.45 second

>One nimesa – 8.15 second

>One ksana – 8.5 second

>One kastha – 8 seconds

>One laghu – 2 minutes

>One danda – 30 minutes

>One prahara – 3 hours

>One day – 2 hours

>One night – 12 hours

>One paksa – 15 days

Two paksas comprise one month, and twelve months comprise one calendar

year, or one full orbit of the sun. A human being is expected to live up

TEXT 15

TEXT

yah srjya-saktim urudhocchvasayan sva-saktya

pumso ‘bhramaya divi dhavati bhuta-bhedah

kalakhyaya gunamayam kratubhir vitanvams

tasmai balim harata vatsara-pancakaya

SYNONYMS

yah–one who; srjya–of creation; saktim–the seeds; urudha–in

various ways; ucchvasayan–invigorating; sva-saktya–by his own energy;

pumsah–of the living entity; abhramaya–to dissipate darkness; divi–

during the daytime; dhavati–moves; bhuta-bhedah–distinct from all other

material form; kala-akhyaya–by the name eternal time; guna-mayam–the

material results; kratubhih–by offerings; vitanvan–enlarging; tasmai–

unto him; balim–ingredients of offerings; harata–one should offer;

vatsara-pancakaya–offerings every five years.

TRANSLATION

O Vidura, the sun enlivens all living entities with his unlimited heat

and light. He diminishes the duration of life of all living entities in

order to release them from their illusion of material attachment, and he

enlarges the path of elevation to the heavenly kingdom. He thus moves in

the firmament with great velocity, and therefore everyone should offer

him respects once every five years with all ingredients of worship.

TEXT 16

TEXT

vidura uvaca

pitr-deva-manusyanam

ayuh param idam smrtam

paresam gatim acaksva

ye syuh kalpad bahir vidah

SYNONYMS

vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; pitr–the Pita planets; deva–the heavenly

planets; manusyanam–and that of the human beings; ayuh–duration of

life; param–final; idam–in their own measurement; smrtam–calculated;

paresam–of the superior living entities; gatim–duration of life;

acaksva–kindly calculate; ye–all those who; syuh–are; kalpat–from the

millennium; bahih–outside; vidah–greatly learned.

TRANSLATION

Vidura said: I now understand the life durations of the residents of

the Pita planets and heavenly planets as well as that of the human

beings. Now kindly inform me of the durations of life of those greatly

TEXT 17

TEXT

bhagavan veda kalasya

gatim bhagavato nanu

visvam vicaksate dhira

yoga-raddhena caksusa

SYNONYMS

bhagavan–O spiritually powerful one; veda–you know; kalasya–of the

eternal time; gatim–movements; bhagavatah–of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead; nanu–as a matter of course; visvam–the whole universe;

vicaksate–see; dhirah–those who are self-realized; yoga-raddhena–by

dint of mystic vision; caksusa–by the eyes.

TRANSLATION

O spiritually powerful one, you can understand the movements of

eternal time, which is the controlling form of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead. Because you are a self-realized person, you can see everything

TEXT 18

TEXT

maitreya uvaca

krtam treta dvaparam ca

kalis ceti catur-yugam

divyair dvadasabhir varsaih

savadhanam nirupitam

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; krtam–the age of Satya; treta–the

age of Treta; dvaparam–the age of Dvapara; ca–also; kalih–the age of

Kali; ca–and; iti–thus; catuh-yugam–four millenniums; divyaih–of the

demigods; dvadasabhih–twelve; varsaih–thousands of years; sa-avadhanam-

-approximately; nirupitam–ascertained.

TRANSLATION

Maitreya said: O Vidura, the four millenniums are called the Satya,

Treta, Dvapara and Kali yugas. The aggregate number of years of all of

TEXT 19

TEXT

catvari trini dve caikam

krtadisu yatha-kramam

sankhyatani sahasrani

dvi-gunani satani ca

SYNONYMS

catvari–four; trini–three; dve–two; ca–also; ekam–one; krtaadisu–

in the Satya-yuga; yatha-kramam–and subsequently others;

sankhyatani–numbering; sahasrani–thousands; dvi-gunani–twice; satani–

hundreds; ca–also.

TRANSLATION

The duration of the Satya millennium equals 4,800 years of the years

of the demigods; the duration of the Dvapara millennium equals 2,400

TEXT 20

TEXT

sandhya-sandhyamsayor antar

yah kalah sata-sankhyayoh

tam evahur yugam taj-jna

yatra dharmo vidhiyate

SYNONYMS

sandhya–transitional period before; sandhya-amsayoh–and transitional

period after; antah–within; yah–that which; kalah–duration of time;

sata-sankhyayoh–hundreds of years; tam eva–that period; ahuh–they

call; yugam–millennium; tat-jnah–the expert astronomers; yatra–

wherein; dharmah–religion; vidhiyate–is performed.

TRANSLATION

The transitional periods before and after every millennium, which are

a few hundred years as aforementioned, are known as yuga-sandhyas, or the

conjunctions of two millenniums, according to the expert astronomers. In

those periods all kinds of religious activities are performed.

TEXT 21

TEXT

dharmas catus-pan manujan

krte samanuvartate

sa evanyesv adharmena

vyeti padena vardhata

SYNONYMS

dharmah–religion; catuh-pat–complete four dimensions; manujan–

mankind; krte–in the Satya-yuga; samanuvartate–properly maintained;

sah–that; eva–certainly; anyesu–in other; adharmena–by the influence

of irreligion; vyeti–declined; padena–by one part; vardhata–gradually

increasing proportionately.

TRANSLATION

O Vidura, in the Satya millennium mankind properly and completely

maintained the principles of religion, but in other millenniums religion

gradually decreased by one part as irreligion was proportionately

TEXT 22

TEXT

tri-lokya yuga-sahasram

bahir abrahmano dinam

tavaty eva nisa tata

yan nimilati visva-srk

SYNONYMS

tri-lokyah–of the three worlds; yuga–the four yugas; sahasram–one

thousand; bahih–outside of; abrahmanah–up to Brahmaloka; dinam–is a

day; tavati–a similar (period); eva–certainly; nisa–is night; tata–O

dear one; yat–because; nimilati–goes to sleep; visva-srk–Brahma.

TRANSLATION

Outside of the three planetary systems [Svarga, Martya and Patala],

the four yugas multiplied by one thousand comprise one day on the planet

of Brahma. A similar period comprises a night of Brahma, in which the

TEXT 23

TEXT

nisavasana arabdho

loka-kalpo ‘nuvartate

yavad dinam bhagavato

manun bhunjams catur-dasa

SYNONYMS

nisa–night; avasane–termination; arabdhah–beginning from; lokakalpah–

further creation of the three worlds; anuvartate–follows; yavat-

-until; dinam–the daytime; bhagavatah–of the lord (Brahma); manun–the

Manus; bhunjan–existing through; catuh-dasa–fourteen.

TRANSLATION

After the end of Brahma’s night, the creation of the three worlds

begins again in the daytime of Brahma, and they continue to exist through

the life durations of fourteen consecutive Manus, or fathers of mankind.TEXT 24

TEXT

svam svam kalam manur bhunkte

sadhikam hy eka-saptatim

SYNONYMS

svam–own; svam–accordingly; kalam–duration of life; manuh–Manu;

bhunkte–enjoys; sa-adhikam–a little more than; hi–certainly; ekasaptatim–

seventy-one.

TRANSLATION

Each and every Manu enjoys a life of a little more than seventy-one

sets of four millenniums.TEXT 25

TEXT

manvantaresu manavas

tad-vamsya rsayah surah

bhavanti caiva yugapat

suresas canu ye ca tan

SYNONYMS

manu-antaresu–after the dissolution of each and every Manu; manavah–

other Manus; tat-vamsyah–and their descendants; rsayah–the seven famous

sages; surah–devotees of the Lord; bhavanti–flourish; ca eva–also all

of them; yugapat–simultaneously; sura-isah–demigods like Indra; ca–

and; anu–followers; ye–all; ca–also; tan–them.

TRANSLATION

After the dissolution of each and every Manu, the next Manu comes in

order, along with his descendants, who rule over the different planets;

but the seven famous sages, and demigods like Indra and their followers,

such as the Gandharvas, all appear simultaneously with Manu.TEXT 26

TEXT

esa dainan-dinah sargo

brahmas trailokya-vartanah

tiryan-nr-pitr-devanam

sambhavo yatra karmabhih

SYNONYMS

esah–all these creations; dainam-dinah–daily; sargah–creation;

brahmah–in terms of the days of Brahma; trailokya-vartanah–revolution

of the three worlds; tiryak–animals lower than the human beings; nr–

human beings; pitr–of the Pita planets; devanam–of the demigods;

sambhavah–appearance; yatra–wherein; karmabhih–in the cycle of

fruitive activities.

TRANSLATION

In the creation, during Brahma’s day, the three planetary systems–

Svarga, Martya and Patala–revolve, and the inhabitants, including the

lower animals, human beings, demigods and Pitas, appear and disappear in

terms of their fruitive activities.

TEXT 27

TEXT

manvantaresu bhagavan

bibhrat sattvam sva-murtibhih

manv-adibhir idam visvam

avaty udita-paurusah

SYNONYMS

manu-antaresu–in each change of Manu; bhagavan–the Personality of

Godhead; bibhrat–manifesting; sattvam–His internal potency; svamurtibhih–

by His different incarnations; manu-adibhih–as Manus; idam–

this; visvam–the universe; avati–maintains; udita–discovering;

paurusah–divine potencies.

TRANSLATION

In each and every change of Manu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

appears by manifesting His internal potency in different incarnations, as

Manu and others. Thus He maintains the universe by discovered power.

TEXT 28

TEXT

tamo-matram upadaya

pratisamruddha-vikramah

kalenanugatasesa

aste tusnim dinatyaye

SYNONYMS

tamah–the mode of ignorance, or the darkness of night; matram–an

insignificant portion only; upadaya–accepting; pratisamruddha-vikramah–

suspending all power of manifestation; kalena–by means of the eternal

kala; anugata–merged in; asesah–innumerable living entities; aste–

remains; tusnim–silent; dina-atyaye–at the end of the day.

TRANSLATION

At the end of the day, under the insignificant portion of the mode of

darkness, the powerful manifestation of the universe merges in the

darkness of night. By the influence of eternal time, the innumerable

living entities remain merged in that dissolution, and everything is

silent.TEXT 29

TEXT

tam evanv api dhiyante

loka bhur-adayas trayah

nisayam anuvrttayam

nirmukta-sasi-bhaskaram

SYNONYMS

tam–that; eva–certainly; anu–after; api dhiyante–are out of sight;

lokah–the planets; bhuh-adayah–the three worlds, Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah;

trayah–three; nisayam–in the night; anuvrttayam–ordinary; nirmukta–

without glare; sasi–the moon; bhaskaram–the sun.

TRANSLATION

When the night of Brahma ensues, all the three worlds are out of

sight, and the sun and the moon are without glare, just as in the due

course of an ordinary night.TEXT 30

TEXT

tri-lokyam dahyamanayam

saktya sankarsanagnina

yanty usmana maharlokaj

janam bhrgv-adayo ‘rditah

SYNONYMS

tri-lokyam–when the spheres of the three worlds; dahyamanayam–being

set ablaze; saktya–by the potency; sankarsana–from the mouth of

Sankarsana; agnina–by the fire; yanti–they go; usmana–heated by the

warmth; mahah-lokat–from Maharloka; janam–to Janaloka; bhrgu–the sage

Bhrgu; adayah–and others; arditah–being so distressed.

TRANSLATION

The devastation takes place due to the fire emanating from the mouth

of Sankarsana, and thus great sages like Bhrgu and other inhabitants of

Maharloka transport themselves to Janaloka, being distressed by the

warmth of the blazing fire which rages through the three worlds below.

TEXT 31

TEXT

tavat tri-bhuvanam sadyah

kalpantaidhita-sindhavah

plavayanty utkatatopacanda-

vateritormayah

SYNONYMS

tavat–then; tri-bhuvanam–all the three worlds; sadyah–immediately

after; kalpa-anta–in the beginning of the devastation; edhita–inflated;

sindhavah–all the oceans; plavayanti–inundate; utkata–violent; atopa–

agitation; canda–hurricane; vata–by winds; irita–blown; urmayah–

waves.

TRANSLATION

At the beginning of the devastation all the seas overflow, and

hurricane winds blow very violently. Thus the waves of the seas become

ferocious, and in no time at all the three worlds are full of water.TEXT 32

TEXT

antah sa tasmin salila

aste ‘nantasano harih

yoga-nidra-nimilaksah

stuyamano janalayaih

SYNONYMS

antah–within; sah–that; tasmin–in that; salile–water; aste–there

is; ananta–Ananta; asanah–on the seat of; harih–the Lord; yoga–

mystic; nidra–sleep; nimila-aksah–eyes closed; stuya-manah–being

glorified; jana-alayaih–by the inhabitants of the Janaloka planets.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, lies down in the water

on the seat of Ananta, with His eyes closed, and the inhabitants of the

Janaloka planets offer their glorious prayers unto the Lord with folded

hands.TEXT 33

TEXT

evam-vidhair aho-ratraih

kala-gatyopalaksitaih

apaksitam ivasyapi

paramayur vayah-satam

SYNONYMS

evam–thus; vidhaih–by the process of; ahah–days; ratraih–by

nights; kala-gatya–advancement of time; upalaksitaih–by such symptoms;

apaksitam–declined; iva–just like; asya–his; api–although; paramaayuh–

duration of life; vayah–years; satam–one hundred.

TRANSLATION

Thus the process of the exhaustion of the duration of life exists for

every one of the living beings, including Lord Brahma. One’s life endures

for only one hundred years, in terms of the times in the different

planets.TEXT 34

TEXT

yad ardham ayusas tasya

parardham abhidhiyate

purvah parardho ‘pakranto

hy aparo ‘dya pravartate

SYNONYMS

yat–that which; ardham–half; ayusah–of the duration of life; tasya-

-his; parardham–a parardha; abhidhiyate–is called; purvah–the former;

para-ardhah–half of the duration of life; apakrantah–having passed; hi-

-certainly; aparah–the latter; adya–in this millennium; pravartate–

shall begin.

TRANSLATION

The one hundred years of Brahma’s life are divided into two parts, the

first half and the second half. The first half of the duration of

Brahma’s life is already over, and the second half is now current.TEXT 35

TEXT

purvasyadau parardhasya

brahmo nama mahan abhut

kalpo yatrabhavad brahma

sabda-brahmeti yam viduh

SYNONYMS

purvasya–of the first half; adau–in the beginning; para-ardhasya–of

the superior half; brahmah–Brahma-kalpa; nama–of the name; mahan–very

great; abhut–was manifest; kalpah–millennium; yatra–whereupon;

abhavat–appeared; brahma–Lord Brahma; sabda-brahma iti–the sounds of

the Vedas; yam–which; viduh–they know.

TRANSLATION

In the beginning of the first half of Brahma’s life, there was a

millennium called Brahma-kalpa, wherein Lord Brahma appeared. The birth

of the Vedas was simultaneous with Brahma’s birth.TEXT 36

TEXT

tasyaiva cante kalpo ‘bhud

yam padmam abhicaksate

yad dharer nabhi-sarasa

asil loka-saroruham

SYNONYMS

tasya–of the Brahma-kalpa; eva–certainly; ca–also; ante–at the end

of; kalpah–millennium; abhut–came into existence; yam–which; padmam–

Padma; abhicaksate–is called; yat–in which; hareh–of the Personality

of Godhead; nabhi–in the navel; sarasah–from the reservoir of water;

asit–there was; loka–of the universe; saroruham–lotus.

TRANSLATION

The millennium which followed the first Brahma millennium is known as

the Padma-kalpa because in that millennium the universal lotus flower

grew out of the navel reservoir of water of the Personality of Godhead,

Hari.TEXT 37

TEXT

ayam tu kathitah kalpo

dvitiyasyapi bharata

varaha iti vikhyato

yatrasic chukaro harih

SYNONYMS

ayam–this; tu–but; kathitah–known as; kalpah–the current

millennium; dvitiyasya–of the second half; api–certainly; bharata–O

descendant of Bharata; varahah–Varaha; iti–thus; vikhyatah–is

celebrated; yatra–in which; asit–appeared; sukarah–hog shape; harih–

the Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

O descendant of Bharata, the first millennium in the second half of

the life of Brahma is also known as the Varaha millennium because the

Personality of Godhead appeared in that millennium as the hog

incarnation.TEXT 38

TEXT

kalo ‘yam dvi-parardhakhyo

nimesa upacaryate

avyakrtasyanantasya

hy anader jagad-atmanah

SYNONYMS

kalah–eternal time; ayam–this (as measured by Brahma’s duration of

life); dvi-parardha-akhyah–measured by the two halves of Brahma’s life;

nimesah–less than a second; upacaryate–is so measured; avyakrtasya–of

one who is unchanged; anantasya–of the unlimited; hi–certainly; anadeh-

-of the beginningless; jagat-atmanah–of the soul of the universe.

TRANSLATION

The duration of the two parts of Brahma’s life, as above mentioned, is

calculated to be equal to one nimesa [less than a second] for the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, who is unchanging and unlimited and is the cause

of all causes of the universe.TEXT 39

TEXT

kalo ‘yam paramanv-adir

dvi-parardhanta isvarah

naivesitum prabhur bhumna

isvaro dhama-maninam

SYNONYMS

kalah–the eternal time; ayam–this; parama-anu–atom; adih–beginning

from; dvi-parardha–two superdurations of time; antah–to the end;

isvarah–controller; na–never; eva–certainly; isitum–to control;

prabhuh–capable; bhumnah–of the Supreme; isvarah–controller; dhamamaninam–

of those who are body conscious.

TRANSLATION

Eternal time is certainly the controller of different dimensions, from

that of the atom up to the superdivisions of the duration of Brahma’s

life; but, nevertheless, it is controlled by the Supreme. Time can

control only those who are body conscious, even up to the Satyaloka or

the other higher planets of the universe.

TEXT 40

TEXT

vikaraih sahito yuktair

visesadibhir avrtah

andakoso bahir ayam

pancasat-koti-vistrtah

SYNONYMS

vikaraih–by the transformation of the elements; sahitah–along with;

yuktaih–being so amalgamated; visesa–manifestations; adibhih–by them;

avrtah–covered; anda-kosah–the universe; bahih–outside; ayam–this;

pancasat–fifty; koti–ten million; vistrtah–widespread.

TRANSLATION

This phenomenal material world is expanded to a diameter of four

billion miles, as a combination of eight material elements transformed

into sixteen further categories, within and without, as follows.TEXT 41

TEXT

dasottaradhikair yatra

pravistah paramanuvat

laksyate ‘ntar-gatas canye

kotiso hy anda-rasayah

SYNONYMS

dasa-uttara-adhikaih–with ten times greater thickness; yatra–in

which; pravistah–entered; parama-anu-vat–like atoms; laksyate–it (the

mass of universes) appears; antah-gatah–come together; ca–and; anye–in

the other; kotisah–clustered; hi–for; anda-rasayah–huge combination of

universes.

TRANSLATION

The layers or elements covering the universes are each ten times

thicker than the one before, and all the universes clustered together

appear like atoms in a huge combination.TEXT 42

TEXT

tad ahur aksaram brahma

sarva-karana-karanam

visnor dhama param saksat

purusasya mahatmanah

SYNONYMS

tat–that; ahuh–is said; aksaram–infallible; brahma–the supreme;

sarva-karana–all causes; karanam–the supreme cause; visnoh dhama–the

spiritual abode of Visnu; param–the supreme; saksat–without doubt;

purusasya–of the purusa incarnation; mahatmanah–of the Maha-Visnu.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is therefore said to be

the original cause of all causes. Thus the spiritual abode of Visnu is

eternal without a doubt, and it is also the abode of Maha-Visnu, the

origin of all manifestations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT 3

TEXT

suta uvaca

evam sancoditas tena

ksattra kausaravir munih

pritah pratyaha tan prasnan

hrdi-sthan atha bhargava

SYNONYMS

sutah uvaca–Sri Suta Gosvami said; evam–thus; sancoditah–being

enlivened; tena–by him; ksattra–by Vidura; kausaravih–the son of

Kusara; munih–great sage; pritah–being pleased; pratyaha–replied; tan-

-those; prasnan–questions; hrdi-sthan–from the core of his heart; atha-

-thus; bhargava–O son of Bhrgu.

TRANSLATION

Suta Gosvami said: O son of Bhrgu, the great sage Maitreya Muni, thus

hearing from Vidura, felt very much enlivened. Everything was in his

TEXT 4

TEXT

maitreya uvaca

virinco ‘pi tatha cakre

divyam varsa-satam tapah

atmany atmanam avesya

yathaha bhagavan ajah

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca–the great sage Maitreya said; virincah–Brahma; api–

also; tatha–in that manner; cakre–performed; divyam–celestial; varsasatam–

one hundred years; tapah–penances; atmani–unto the Lord;

atmanam–his own self; avesya–engaging; yatha aha–as it was spoken;

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; ajah–the unborn.

TRANSLATION

The greatly learned sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, Brahma thus engaged

himself in penances for one hundred celestial years, as advised by the

Personality of Godhead, and applied himself in devotional service to the

TEXT 5

TEXT

tad vilokyabja-sambhuto

vayuna yad-adhisthitah

padmam ambhas ca tat-kalakrta-

viryena kampitam

SYNONYMS

tat vilokya–looking into that; abja-sambhutah–whose source of birth

was a lotus; vayuna–by the air; yat–that; adhisthitah–on which he was

situated; padmam–lotus; ambhah–water; ca–also; tat-kala-krta–which

was effected by eternal time; viryena–by its inherent force; kampitam–

trembling.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter Brahma saw that both the lotus on which he was situated and

the water on which the lotus was growing were trembling due to a strong,

TEXT 6

TEXT

tapasa hy edhamanena

vidyaya catma-samsthaya

vivrddha-vijnana-balo

nyapad vayum sahambhasa

SYNONYMS

tapasa–by penance; hi–certainly; edhamanena–increasing; vidyaya–by

transcendental knowledge; ca–also; atma–self; samsthaya–situated in

the self; vivrddha–matured; vijnana–practical knowledge; balah–power;

nyapat–drank; vayum–the wind; saha ambhasa–along with the water.

TRANSLATION

Long penance and transcendental knowledge of self-realization had

matured Brahma in practical knowledge, and thus he drank the wind

TEXT 7

TEXT

tad vilokya viyad-vyapi

puskaram yad-adhisthitam

anena lokan prag-linan

kalpitasmity acintayat

SYNONYMS

tat vilokya–looking into that; viyat-vyapi–extensively widespread;

puskaram–the lotus; yat–that which; adhisthitam–he was situated;

anena–by this; lokan–all the planets; prak-linan–previously merged in

dissolution; kalpita asmi–I shall create; iti–thus; acintayat–he

thought.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter he saw that the lotus on which he was situated was spread

throughout the universe, and he contemplated how to create all the

TEXT 8

TEXT

padma-kosam tadavisya

bhagavat-karma-coditah

ekam vyabhanksid urudha

tridha bhavyam dvi-saptadha

SYNONYMS

padma-kosam–the whorl of the lotus; tada–then; avisya–entering

into; bhagavat–by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; karma–in

activities; coditah–being encouraged by; ekam–one; vyabhanksit–divided

into; urudha–great division; tridha–three divisions; bhavyam–capable

of further creation; dvi-saptadha–fourteen divisions.

TRANSLATION

Thus engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

Lord Brahma entered into the whorl of the lotus, and as it spread all

over the universe he divided it into three divisions of worlds and later

into fourteen divisions.

TEXT 9

TEXT

etavan jiva-lokasya

samstha-bhedah samahrtah

dharmasya hy animittasya

vipakah paramesthy asau

SYNONYMS

etavan–up to this; jiva-lokasya–of the planets inhabited by the

living entities; samstha-bhedah–different situations of habitation;

samahrtah–performed completely; dharmasya–of religion; hi–certainly;

animittasya–of causelessness; vipakah–mature stage; paramesthi–the

highest personality in the universe; asau–that.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma is the most exalted personality in the universe because of

his causeless devotional service unto the Lord in mature transcendental

knowledge. He therefore created all the fourteen planetary divisions for

TEXT 10

TEXT

vidura uvaca

yathattha bahu-rupasya

harer adbhuta-karmanah

kalakhyam laksanam brahman

yatha varnaya nah prabho

SYNONYMS

vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; yatha–as; attha–you have said; bahurupasya–

having varieties of forms; hareh–of the Lord; adbhuta–

wonderful; karmanah–of the actor; kala–time; akhyam–of the name;

laksanam–symptoms; brahman–O learned brahmana; yatha–as it is;

varnaya–please describe; nah–unto us; prabho–O lord.

TRANSLATION

Vidura inquired from Maitreya: O my lord, O greatly learned sage,

kindly describe eternal time, which is another form of the Supreme Lord,

the wonderful actor. What are the symptoms of that eternal time? Please

TEXT 11

TEXT

maitreya uvaca

guna-vyatikarakaro

nirviseso ‘pratisthitah

purusas tad-upadanam

atmanam lilayasrjat

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; guna-vyatikara–of the interactions of

the modes of material nature; akarah–source; nirvisesah–without

diversity; apratisthitah–unlimited; purusah–of the Supreme Person; tat-

-that; upadanam–instrument; atmanam–the material creation; lilaya–by

pastimes; asrjat–created.

TRANSLATION

Maitreya said: Eternal time is the primeval source of the interactions

of the three modes of material nature. It is unchangeable and limitless,

and it works as the instrument of the Supreme Personality of Godhead for

TEXT 12

TEXT

visvam vai brahma-tan-matram

samsthitam visnu-mayaya

isvarena paricchinnam

kalenavyakta-murtina

SYNONYMS

visvam–the material phenomenon; vai–certainly; brahma–the Supreme;

tat-matram–the same as; samsthitam–situated; visnu-mayaya–by the

energy of Visnu; isvarena–by the Personality of Godhead; paricchinnam–

separated; kalena–by the eternal time; avyakta–unmanifested; murtina–

by such a feature.

TRANSLATION

This cosmic manifestation is separated from the Supreme Lord as

material energy by means of kala, which is the unmanifested, impersonal

feature of the Lord. It is situated as the objective manifestation of the

TEXT 13

TEXT

yathedanim tathagre ca

pascad apy etad idrsam

SYNONYMS

yatha–as it is; idanim–at present; tatha–so it was; agre–in the

beginning; ca–and; pascat–at the end; api–also; etat idrsam–it

continues to be the same.

TRANSLATION

This cosmic manifestation is as it is now, it was the same in the

TEXT 14

TEXT

sargo nava-vidhas tasya

prakrto vaikrtas tu yah

kala-dravya-gunair asya

tri-vidhah pratisankramah

SYNONYMS

sargah–creation; nava-vidhah–of nine different kinds; tasya–its;

prakrtah–material; vaikrtah–by the modes of material nature; tu–but;

yah–that which; kala–eternal time; dravya–matter; gunaih–qualities;

asya–its; tri-vidhah–three kinds; pratisankramah–annihilation.

TRANSLATION

There are nine different kinds of creations besides the one which

naturally occurs due to the interactions of the modes. There are three

kinds of annihilations due to eternal time, the material elements and the

TEXT 15

TEXT

adyas tu mahatah sargo

guna-vaisamyam atmanah

dvitiyas tv ahamo yatra

dravya-jnana-kriyodayah

SYNONYMS

adyah–the first; tu–but; mahatah–of the total emanation from the

Lord; sargah–creation; guna-vaisamyam–interaction of the material

modes; atmanah–of the Supreme; dvitiyah–the second; tu–but; ahamah–

false ego; yatra–wherein; dravya–material ingredients; jnana–material

knowledge; kriya-udayah–awakening of activities (work).

TRANSLATION

Of the nine creations, the first one is the creation of the mahattattva,

or the sum total of the material ingredients, wherein the modes

interact due to the presence of the Supreme Lord. In the second, the

false ego is generated in which the material ingredients, material

TEXT 16

TEXT

bhuta-sargas trtiyas tu

tan-matro dravya-saktiman

caturtha aindriyah sargo

yas tu jnana-kriyatmakah

SYNONYMS

bhuta-sargah–creation of matter; trtiyah–is the third; tu–but; tatmatrah–

sense perception; dravya–of the elements; saktiman–generator;

caturthah–the fourth; aindriyah–in the matter of the senses; sargah–

creation; yah–that which; tu–but; jnana–knowledge-acquiring; kriya–

working; atmakah–basically.

TRANSLATION

The sense perceptions are created in the third creation, and from

these the elements are generated. The fourth creation is the creation of

knowledge and of working capacity.

TEXT 17

TEXT

vaikariko deva-sargah

pancamo yan-mayam manah

sasthas tu tamasah sargo

yas tv abuddhi-krtah prabhoh

SYNONYMS

vaikarikah–interaction of the mode of goodness; deva–the demigods,

or controlling deities; sargah–creation; pancamah–fifth; yat–that

which; mayam–sum total; manah–mind; sasthah–sixth; tu–but; tamasah–

of darkness; sargah–creation; yah–that which; tu–expletive; abuddhikrtah–

made foolish; prabhoh–of the master.

TRANSLATION

The fifth creation is that of the controlling deities by the

interaction of the mode of goodness, of which the mind is the sum total.

The sixth creation is the ignorant darkness of the living entity, by

TEXT 18

TEXT

sad ime prakrtah sarga

vaikrtan api me srnu

rajo-bhajo bhagavato

lileyam hari-medhasah

SYNONYMS

sat–six; ime–all these; prakrtah–of the material energy; sargah–

creations; vaikrtan–secondary creations by Brahma; api–also; me–from

me; srnu–just hear; rajah-bhajah–of the incarnation of the mode of

passion (Brahma); bhagavatah–of the greatly powerful; lila–pastime;

iyam–this; hari–the Supreme Personality of Godhead; medhasah–of one

who has such a brain.

TRANSLATION

All the above are natural creations by the external energy of the

Lord. Now hear from me about the creations by Brahma, who is an

incarnation of the mode of passion and who, in the matter of creation,

has a brain like that of the Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 19

TEXT

saptamo mukhya-sargas tu

sad-vidhas tasthusam ca yah

vanaspaty-osadhi-latatvaksara

virudho drumah

SYNONYMS

saptamah–the seventh; mukhya–principle; sargah–creation; tu–

indeed; sat-vidhah–six kinds of; tasthusam–of those who do not move;

ca–also; yah–those; vanaspati–fruit trees without flowers; osadhi–

trees and plants existing until the fruit is ripe; lata–creepers;

tvaksarah–pipe plants; virudhah–creepers without support; drumah–trees

with flowers and fruits.

TRANSLATION

The seventh creation is that of the immovable entities, which are of

six kinds: the fruit trees without flowers, trees and plants which exist

until the fruit is ripe, creepers, pipe plants, creepers which have no

support, and trees with flowers and fruits.

TEXT 20

TEXT

utsrotasas tamah-praya

antah-sparsa visesinah

SYNONYMS

utsrotasah–they seek their subsistence upwards; tamah-prayah–almost

unconscious; antah-sparsah–slightly feeling within; visesinah–with

varieties of manifestation.

TRANSLATION

All the immovable trees and plants seek their subsistence upwards.

They are almost unconscious but have feelings of pain within. They are

manifested in variegatedness.

TEXT 21

TEXT

tirascam astamah sargah

so ‘stavimsad-vidho matah

avido bhuri-tamaso

ghrana-jna hrdy avedinah

SYNONYMS

tirascam–species of lower animals; astamah–the eighth; sargah–

creation; sah–they are; astavimsat–twenty-eight; vidhah–varieties;

matah–considered; avidah–without knowledge of tomorrow; bhuri–

extensively; tamasah–ignorant; ghrana-jnah–can know desirables by

smell; hrdi avedinah–can remember very little in the heart.

TRANSLATION

The eighth creation is that of the lower species of life, and they are

of different varieties, numbering twenty-eight. They are all extensively

foolish and ignorant. They know their desirables by smell, but are unable

TEXT 22

TEXT

gaur ajo mahisah krsnah

sukaro gavayo ruruh

dvi-saphah pasavas ceme

avir ustras ca sattama

SYNONYMS

gauh–the cow; ajah–the goat; mahisah–the buffalo; krsnah–a kind of

stag; sukarah–hog; gavayah–a species of animal; ruruh–deer; dvisaphah–

having two hooves; pasavah–animals; ca–also; ime–all these;

avih–lamb; ustrah–camel; ca–and; sattama–O purest.

TRANSLATION

O purest Vidura, of the lower animals the cow, goat, buffalo, krsna

stag, hog, gavaya animal, deer, lamb and camel all have two hooves.

TEXT 23

TEXT

kharo ‘svo ‘svataro gaurah

sarabhas camari tatha

ete caika-saphah ksattah

srnu panca-nakhan pasun

SYNONYMS

kharah–ass; asvah–horse; asvatarah–mule; gaurah–white deer;

sarabhah–bison; camari–wild cow; tatha–thus; ete–all these; ca–and;

eka–only one; saphah–hoof; ksattah–O Vidura; srnu–just hear now;

panca–five; nakhan–nails; pasun–animals.

TRANSLATION

The horse, mule, ass, gaura, sarabha bison and wild cow all have only

one hoof. Now you may hear from me about the animals who have five nails.

TEXT 24

TEXT

sva srgalo vrko vyaghro

marjarah sasa-sallakau

simhah kapir gajah kurmo

godha ca makaradayah

SYNONYMS

sva–dog; srgalah–jackal; vrkah–fox; vyaghrah–tiger; marjarah–cat;

sasa–rabbit; sallakau–sajaru (with thorns on the body); simhah–lion;

kapih–monkey; gajah–elephant; kurmah–tortoise; godha–gosapa (snake

with four legs); ca–also; makara-adayah–the alligator and others.

TRANSLATION

The dog, jackal, tiger, fox, cat, rabbit, sajaru, lion, monkey,

elephant, tortoise, alligator, gosapa, etc., all have five nails in their

claws. They are known as panca-nakhas, or animals having five nails.

TEXT 25

TEXT

kanka-grdhra-baka-syenabhasa-

bhalluka-barhinah

hamsa-sarasa-cakrahvakakolukadayah

khagah

SYNONYMS

kanka–heron; grdhra–vulture; baka–crane; syena–hawk; bhasa–the

bhasa; bhalluka–the bhalluka; barhinah–the peacock; hamsa–swan;

sarasa–the sarasa; cakrahva–the cakravaka; kaka–crow; uluka–owl;

adayah–and others; khagah–the birds.

TRANSLATION

The heron, vulture, crane, hawk, bhasa, bhalluka, peacock, swan,

sarasa, cakravaka, crow, owl and others are the birds.

TEXT 26

TEXT

arvak-srotas tu navamah

ksattar eka-vidho nrnam

rajo ‘dhikah karma-para

duhkhe ca sukha-maninah

SYNONYMS

arvak–downwards; srotah–passage of food; tu–but; navamah–the

ninth; ksattah–O Vidura; eka-vidhah–one species; nrnam–of human

beings; rajah–the mode of passion; adhikah–very prominent; karma-parah-

-interested in working; duhkhe–in misery; ca–but; sukha–happiness;

maninah–thinking.

TRANSLATION

The creation of the human beings, who are of one species only and who

stock their eatables in the belly, is the ninth in the rotation. In the

human race, the mode of passion is very prominent. Humans are always busy

in the midst of miserable life, but they think themselves happy in all

TEXT 27

TEXT

vaikrtas traya evaite

deva-sargas ca sattama

vaikarikas tu yah proktah

kaumaras tubhayatmakah

SYNONYMS

vaikrtah–creations of Brahma; trayah–three kinds; eva–certainly;

ete–all these; deva-sargah–appearance of the demigods; ca–also;

sattama–O good Vidura; vaikarikah–creation of demigods by nature; tu–

but; yah–which; proktah–described before; kaumarah–the four Kumaras;

tu–but; ubhaya-atmakah–both ways (namely vaikrta and prakrta).

TRANSLATION

O good Vidura, these last three creations and the creation of demigods

(the tenth creation) are vaikrta creations, which are different from the

previously described prakrta (natural) creations. The appearance of the

Kumaras is both.

TEXTS 28-29

TEXT

deva-sargas casta-vidho

vibudhah pitaro ‘surah

gandharvapsarasah siddha

yaksa-raksamsi caranah

bhuta-preta-pisacas ca

vidyadhrah kinnaradayah

dasaite vidurakhyatah

sargas te visva-srk-krtah

SYNONYMS

deva-sargah–creation of the demigods; ca–also; asta-vidhah–eight

kinds; vibudhah–the demigods; pitarah–the forefathers; asurah–the

demons; gandharva–the expert artisans in the higher planets; apsarasah–

the angels; siddhah–persons who are perfect in mystic powers; yaksa–the

superprotectors; raksamsi–giants; caranah–the celestial singers; bhuta-

-jinn; preta–evil spirits; pisacah–attendant spirits; ca–also;

vidyadhrah–the celestial denizens named Vidyadharas; kinnara–superhuman

beings; adayah–and others; dasa ete–all these ten (creations); vidura–

O Vidura; akhyatah–described; sargah–creations; te–unto you; visvasrk–

the creator of the universe (Brahma); krtah–done by him.

TRANSLATION

The creation of the demigods is of eight varieties: (1) the demigods,

(2) the forefathers, (3) the asuras, or demons, (4) the Gandharvas and

Apsaras, or angels, (5) the Yaksas and Raksasas, (6) the Siddhas, Caranas

and Vidyadharas, (7) the Bhutas, Pretas and Pisacas, and (8) the

superhuman beings, celestial singers, etc. All are created by Brahma, the

TEXT 30

TEXT

atah param pravaksyami

vamsan manvantarani ca

evam rajah-plutah srasta

kalpadisv atmabhur harih

srjaty amogha-sankalpa

atmaivatmanam atmana

SYNONYMS

atah–here; param–after; pravaksyami–I shall explain; vamsan–

descendants; manvantarani–different advents of Manus; ca–and; evam–

thus; rajah-plutah–infused with the mode of passion; srasta–the

creator; kalpa-adisu–in different millenniums; atma-bhuh–self-advent;

harih–the Personality of Godhead; srjati–creates; amogha–unfailing;

sankalpah–determination; atma eva–He Himself; atmanam–Himself; atmana-

-by His own energy.

TRANSLATION

Now I shall describe the descendants of the Manus. The creator,

Brahma, as the incarnation of the passion mode of the Personality of

Godhead, creates the universal affairs with unfailing desires in every

millennium by the force of the Lord’s energy.