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TEXT 1

TEXT

maitreya uvaca

sat-sevaniyo bata puru-vamso

yal loka-palo bhagavat-pradhanah

babhuvithehajita-kirti-malam

pade pade nutanayasy abhiksnam

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca–Sri Maitreya Muni said; sat-sevaniyah–worthy to

serve the pure devotees; bata–oh, certainly; puru-vamsah–the

descendants of King Puru; yat–because; loka-palah–the kings are;

bhagavat-pradhanah–chiefly devoted to the Personality of Godhead;

babhuvitha–you are also born; iha–in this; ajita–the Lord, who is

unconquerable; kirti-malam–chain of transcendental activities; pade

pade–step by step; nutanayasi–becoming newer and newer; abhiksnam–

always.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Maitreya Muni said to Vidura: The royal dynasty of King

Puru is worthy to serve the pure devotees because all the descendants of

that family are devoted to the Personality of Godhead. You are also born

in that family, and it is wonderful that because of your attempt the

transcendental pastimes of the Lord are becoming newer and newer at every

TEXT 2

TEXT

so ‘ham nrnam ksulla-sukhaya duhkham

mahad gatanam viramaya tasya

pravartaye bhagavatam puranam

yad aha saksad bhagavan rsibhyah

SYNONYMS

sah–that; aham–I; nrnam–of the human being; ksulla–very little;

sukhaya–for happiness; duhkham–distress; mahat–great; gatanam–entered

into; viramaya–for mitigation; tasya–his; pravartaye–in beginning;

bhagavatam–Srimad-Bhagavatam; puranam–Vedic supplement; yat–which;

aha–said; saksat–directly; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead;

rsibhyah–unto the sages.

TRANSLATION

Let me now begin speaking on the Bhagavata Purana, which was directly

spoken to the great sages by the Personality of Godhead for the benefit

of those who are entangled in extreme miseries for the sake of very

TEXT 3

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asinam urvyam bhagavantam adyam

sankarsanam devam akuntha-sattvam

vivitsavas tattvam atah parasya

kumara-mukhya munayo ‘nvaprcchan

SYNONYMS

asinam–seated; urvyam–in the bottom of the universe; bhagavantam–

unto the Lord; adyam–the original; sankarsanam–Sankarsana; devam–the

Personality of Godhead; akuntha-sattvam–undeterred knowledge;

vivitsavah–being inquisitive to know; tattvam atah–truth like this;

parasya–regarding the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kumara–the boysaint;

mukhyah–headed by; munayah–great sages; anvaprcchan–inquired

like this.

TRANSLATION

Some time ago, being inquisitive to know, Sanat-kumara, the chief of

the boy-saints, accompanied by other great sages, inquired exactly like

you about the truths regarding Vasudeva, the Supreme, from Lord

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svam eva dhisnyam bahu manayantam

yad vasudevabhidham amananti

pratyag-dhrtaksambuja-kosam isad

unmilayantam vibudhodayaya

SYNONYMS

svam–Himself; eva–thus; dhisnyam–situated; bahu–greatly;

manayantam–esteemed; yat–that which; vasudeva–Lord Vasudeva; abhidham-

-by the name; amananti–acknowledge; pratyak-dhrta-aksa–eyes settled for

introspection; ambuja-kosam–lotuslike eye; isat–slightly; unmilayantam-

-opened; vibudha–of the greatly learned sages; udayaya–for the sake of

advancement.

TRANSLATION

At that time Lord Sankarsana was meditating upon His Supreme Lord,

whom the learned esteem as Lord Vasudeva, but for the sake of the

advancement of the great learned sages He slightly opened His lotus like

eyes and began to speak.

TEXT 5

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svardhuny-udardraih sva-jata-kalapair

upasprsantas caranopadhanam

padmam yad arcanty ahi-raja-kanyah

sa-prema nana-balibhir vararthah

SYNONYMS

svardhuni-uda–by the water of the Ganges; ardraih–being moistened;

sva-jata–bunch of hairs; kalapaih–situated on the head; upasprsantah–

by so touching; carana-upadhanam–the shelter of His feet; padmam–the

lotus shelter; yat–that which; arcanti–worships; ahi-raja–the serpentking;

kanyah–daughters; sa-prema–with great devotion; nana–various;

balibhih–paraphernalia; vara-arthah–being desirous of husbands.

TRANSLATION

The sages came from the highest planets down to the lower region

through the water of the Ganges, and therefore the hair on their heads

was wet. They touched the lotus feet of the Lord, which are worshiped

with various paraphernalia by the daughters of the serpent-king when they

TEXT 6

TEXT

muhur grnanto vacasanuragaskhalat-

padenasya krtani taj-jnah

kirita-sahasra-mani-pravekapradyotitoddama-

phana-sahasram

SYNONYMS

muhuh–again and again; grnantah–glorifying; vacasa–by words;

anuraga–with great affection; skhalat-padena–with symmetrical rhythm;

asya–of the Lord; krtani–activities; tat-jnah–those who know the

pastimes; kirita–helmets; sahasra–thousands; mani-praveka–glowing

effulgence of the valuable stones; pradyotita–emanating from; uddama–

raised; phana–hoods; sahasram–thousands.

TRANSLATION

The four Kumaras, headed by Sanat-kumara, who all knew the

transcendental pastimes of the Lord, glorified the Lord in rhythmic

accents with selected words full of affection and love. At that time Lord

Sankarsana, with His thousands of raised hoods, began to radiate an

TEXT 7

TEXT

proktam kilaitad bhagavattamena

nivrtti-dharmabhirataya tena

sanat-kumaraya sa caha prstah

sankhyayanayanga dhrta-vrataya

SYNONYMS

proktam–was said; kila–certainly; etat–this; bhagavattamena–by

Lord Sankarsana; nivrtti–renunciation; dharma-abhirataya–unto one who

has taken this religious vow; tena–by Him; sanat-kumaraya–unto Sanatkumara;

sah–he; ca–also; aha–said; prstah–when inquired of;

sankhyayanaya–unto the great sage Sankhyayana; anga–my dear Vidura;

dhrta-vrataya–unto one who has taken such a vow.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sankarsana thus spoke the purport of Srimad-Bhagavatam to the

great sage Sanat-kumara, who had already taken the vow of renunciation.

Sanat-kumara also, in his turn, when inquired of by Sankhyayana Muni,

TEXT 8

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sankhyayanah paramahamsya-mukhyo

vivaksamano bhagavad-vibhutih

jagada so ‘smad-gurave ‘nvitaya

parasarayatha brhaspates ca

SYNONYMS

sankhyayanah–the great sage Sankhyayana; paramahamsya-mukhyah–the

chief of all transcendentalists; vivaksamanah–while reciting; bhagavatvibhutih–

the glories of the Lord; jagada–explained; sah–he; asmat–of

me; gurave–unto the spiritual master; anvitaya–followed; parasaraya–

unto the sage Parasara; atha brhaspateh ca–also to Brhaspati.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Sankhyayana was the chief amongst the

transcendentalists, and when he was describing the glories of the Lord in

terms of Srimad-Bhagavatam, it so happened that my spiritual master,

Parasara, and Brhaspati both heard him.

TEXT 9

TEXT

provaca mahyam sa dayalur ukto

munih pulastyena puranam adyam

so ‘ham tavaitat kathayami vatsa

sraddhalave nityam anuvrataya

SYNONYMS

provaca–said; mahyam–unto me; sah–he; dayaluh–kindhearted; uktah–

aforementioned; munih–sage; pulastyena–by the sage Pulastya; puranam

adyam–the foremost of all the Puranas; sah aham–that also I; tava–unto

you; etat–this; kathayami–shall speak; vatsa–my dear son; sraddhalave-

-unto one who is faithful; nityam–always; anuvrataya–unto one who is a

follower.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Parasara, as aforementioned, being so advised by the

great sage Pulastya, spoke unto me the foremost of the Puranas

[Bhagavatam]. I shall also describe this before you, my dear son, in

TEXT 10

TEXT

udaplutam visvam idam tadasid

yan nidrayamilita-drn nyamilayat

ahindra-talpe ‘dhisayana ekah

krta-ksanah svatma-ratau nirihah

SYNONYMS

uda–water; aplutam–submerged in; visvam–the three worlds; idam–

this; tada–at that time; asit–it so remained; yat–in which; nidraya–

in slumber; amilita–closed; drk–eyes; nyamilayat–not completely

closed; ahi-indra–the great snake Ananta; talpe–on the bed of;

adhisayanah–lying on; ekah–alone; krta-ksanah–being engaged; sva-atmaratau–

enjoying in His internal potency; nirihah–without any part of

external energy.

TRANSLATION

At that time when the three worlds were submerged in water,

Garbhodakasayi Visnu was alone, lying on His bedstead, the great snake

Ananta, and although He appeared to be in slumber in His own internal

potency, free from the action of the external energy, His eyes were not

TEXT 11

TEXT

so ‘ntah sarire ‘rpita-bhuta-suksmah

kalatmikam saktim udirayanah

uvasa tasmin salile pade sve

yathanalo daruni ruddha-viryah

SYNONYMS

sah–the Supreme Lord; antah–within; sarire–in the transcendental

body; arpita–kept; bhuta–material elements; suksmah–subtle; kalaatmikam–

the form of time; saktim–energy; udirayanah–invigorating;

uvasa–resided; tasmin–therein; salile–in the water; pade–in the

place; sve–His own; yatha–as much as; analah–fire; daruni–in the fuel

wood; ruddha-viryah–submerged strength.

TRANSLATION

Just like the strength of fire within fuel wood, the Lord remained

within the water of dissolution, submerging all the living entities in

TEXT 12

TEXT

catur-yuganam ca sahasram apsu

svapan svayodiritaya sva-saktya

kalakhyayasadita-karma-tantro

lokan apitan dadrse sva-dehe

SYNONYMS

catuh–four; yuganam–of the millenniums; ca–also; sahasram–one

thousand; apsu–in the water; svapan–dreaming in sleep; svaya–with His

internal potency; udiritaya–for further development; sva-saktya–by His

own energy; kala-akhyaya–by the name kala; asadita–being so engaged;

karma-tantrah–in the matter of fruitive activities; lokan–the total

living entities; apitan–bluish; dadrse–saw it so; sva-dehe–in His own

body.

TRANSLATION

The Lord lay down for four thousand yuga cycles in His internal

potency, and by His external energy He appeared to be sleeping within the

water. When the living entities were coming out for further development

of their fruitive activities, actuated by the energy called kala-sakti,

TEXT 13

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tasyartha-suksmabhinivista-drster

antar-gato ‘rtho rajasa taniyan

gunena kalanugatena viddhah

susyams tadabhidyata nabhi-desat

SYNONYMS

tasya–His; artha–subject; suksma–subtle; abhinivista-drsteh–of one

whose attention was fixed; antah-gatah–internal; arthah–purpose;

rajasa–by the mode of passion of material nature; taniyan–very subtle;

gunena–by the qualities; kala-anugatena–in due course of time; viddhah-

-agitated; susyan–generating; tada–then; abhidyata–pierced through;

nabhi-desat–from the abdomen.

TRANSLATION

The subtle subject matter of creation, on which the Lord’s attention

was fixed, was agitated by the material mode of passion, and thus the

subtle form of creation pierced through His abdomen.

TEXT 14

TEXT

sa padma-kosah sahasodatisthat

kalena karma-pratibodhanena

sva-rocisa tat salilam visalam

vidyotayann arka ivatma-yonih

SYNONYMS

sah–that; padma-kosah–bud of a lotus flower; sahasa–suddenly;

udatisthat–appeared; kalena–by time; karma–fruitive activities;

pratibodhanena–awakening; sva-rocisa–by its own effulgence; tat–that;

salilam–water of devastation; visalam–vast; vidyotayan–illuminating;

arkah–the sun; iva–like; atma-yonih–generating from the Personality of

Visnu.

TRANSLATION

Piercing through, this sum total form of the fruitive activity of the

living entities took the shape of the bud of a lotus flower generated

from the Personality of Visnu, and by His supreme will it illuminated

everything, like the sun, and dried up the vast waters of devastation.

TEXT 15

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tal loka-padmam sa u eva visnuh

pravivisat sarva-gunavabhasam

tasmin svayam vedamayo vidhata

svayambhuvam yam sma vadanti so ‘bhut

SYNONYMS

tat–that; loka–universal; padmam–lotus flower; sah–He; u–

certainly; eva–factually; visnuh–the Lord; pravivisat–entered into;

sarva–all; guna-avabhasam–reservoir of all modes of nature; tasmin–in

which; svayam–in person; veda-mayah–the personality of Vedic wisdom;

vidhata–controller of the universe; svayam-bhuvam–self-born; yam–whom;

sma–in the past; vadanti–do say; sah–he; abhut–generated.

TRANSLATION

Into that universal lotus flower Lord Visnu personally entered as the

Supersoul, and when it was thus impregnated with all the modes of

material nature, the personality of Vedic wisdom, whom we call the selfborn,

TEXT 16

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tasyam sa cambho-ruha-karnikayam

avasthito lokam apasyamanah

parikraman vyomni vivrtta-netras

catvari lebhe ‘nudisam mukhani

SYNONYMS

tasyam–in that; sah–Brahma; ca–and; ambhah–water; ruha-karnikayam-

-whorl of the lotus; avasthitah–being situated; lokam–the world;

apasyamanah–without being able to see; parikraman–circumambulating;

vyomni–in space; vivrtta-netrah–while moving the eyes; catvari–four;

lebhe–achieved; anudisam–in terms of direction; mukhani–heads.

TRANSLATION

Brahma, born out of the lotus flower, could not see the world,

although he was situated in the whorl. He therefore circumambulated all

of space, and while moving his eyes in all directions he achieved four

heads in terms of the four directions.

TEXT 17

TEXT

tasmad yuganta-svasanavaghurnajalormi-

cakrat salilad virudham

upasritah kanjam u loka-tattvam

natmanam addhavidad adi-devah

SYNONYMS

tasmat–from there; yuga-anta–at the end of the millennium; svasana–

the air of devastation; avaghurna–because of movement; jala–water;

urmi-cakrat–out of the circle of waves; salilat–from the water;

virudham–situated on them; upasritah–having the shelter of; kanjam–

lotus flower; u–in astonishment; loka-tattvam–the mystery of creation;

na–not; atmanam–himself; addha–perfectly; avidat–could understand;

adi-devah–the first demigod.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, situated in that lotus, could not perfectly understand

the creation, the lotus or himself. At the end of the millennium the air

of devastation began to move the water and the lotus in great circular

TEXT 18

TEXT

ka esa yo ‘sav aham abja-prstha

etat kuto vabjam ananyad apsu

asti hy adhastad iha kincanaitad

adhisthitam yatra sata nu bhavyam

SYNONYMS

kah–who; esah–this; yah asau aham–that I am; abja-prsthe–on top of

the lotus; etat–this; kutah–wherefrom; va–either; abjam–lotus flower;

ananyat–otherwise; apsu–in the water; asti–there is; hi–certainly;

adhastat–from below; iha–in this; kincana–anything; etat–this;

adhisthitam–situated; yatra–wherein; sata–automatically; nu–or not;

bhavyam–must be.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, in his ignorance, contemplated: Who am I that am situated

on the top of this lotus? Wherefrom has it sprouted? There must be

something downwards, and that from which this lotus has grown must be

TEXT 19

TEXT

sa ittham udviksya tad-abja-nalanadibhir

antar-jalam avivesa

narvag-gatas tat-khara-nala-nalanabhim

vicinvams tad avindatajah

SYNONYMS

sah–he (Brahma); ittham–in this way; udviksya–contemplating; tat–

that; abja–lotus; nala–stem; nadibhih–by the pipe; antah-jalam–within

the water; avivesa–entered into; na–not; arvak-gatah–in spite of going

inside; tat-khara-nala–the stem of the lotus; nala–pipe; nabhim–of the

navel; vicinvan–thinking much of it; tat–that; avindata–understood;

ajah–the self-born.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, thus contemplating, entered the water through the channel

of the stem of the lotus. But in spite of entering the stem and going

TEXT 20

TEXT

tamasy apare viduratma-sargam

vicinvato ‘bhut sumahams tri-nemih

yo deha-bhajam bhayam irayanah

pariksinoty ayur ajasya hetih

SYNONYMS

tamasi apare–because of an ignorant way of searching; vidura–O

Vidura; atma-sargam–the cause of his creation; vicinvatah–while

contemplating; abhut–it so became; su-mahan–very great; tri-nemih–time

of three dimensions; yah–which; deha-bhajam–of the embodied; bhayam–

fearfulness; irayanah–generating; pariksinoti–diminishing the one

hundred years; ayuh–duration of life; ajasya–of the self-born; hetih–

the wheel of eternal time.

TRANSLATION

O Vidura, while searching in that way about his existence, Brahma

reached his ultimate time, which is the eternal wheel in the hand of

Visnu and which generates fear in the mind of the living entity like the

fear of death.

TEXT 21

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tato nivrtto ‘pratilabdha-kamah

sva-dhisnyam asadya punah sa devah

sanair jita-svasa-nivrtta-citto

nyasidad arudha-samadhi-yogah

SYNONYMS

tatah–thereafter; nivrttah–retired from that endeavor; apratilabdhakamah–

without achievement of the desired destination; sva-dhisnyam–own

seat; asadya–reaching; punah–again; sah–he; devah–the demigod;

sanaih–without delay; jita-svasa–controlling the breathing; nivrtta–

retired; cittah–intelligence; nyasidat–sat down; arudha–in confidence;

samadhi-yogah–in meditation on the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, being unable to achieve the desired destination, he

retired from such searching and came back again to the top of the lotus.

Thus, controlling all objectives, he concentrated his mind on the Supreme

TEXT 22

TEXT

kalena so ‘jah purusayusabhipravrtta-

yogena virudha-bodhah

svayam tad antar-hrdaye ‘vabhatam

apasyatapasyata yan na purvam

SYNONYMS

kalena–in due course of time; sah–he; ajah–the self-born Brahma;

purusa-ayusa–by the duration of his age; abhipravrtta–being engaged;

yogena–in meditation; virudha–developed; bodhah–intelligence; svayam–

automatically; tat antah-hrdaye–in the heart; avabhatam–manifested;

apasyata–saw; apasyata–did see; yat–which; na–not; purvam–before.

TRANSLATION

At the end of Brahma’s one hundred years, when his meditation was

complete, he developed the required knowledge, and as a result he could

see in his head the Supreme within himself, whom he could not see before

TEXT 23

TEXT

mrnala-gaurayata-sesa-bhogaparyanka

ekam purusam sayanam

phanatapatrayuta-murdha-ratnadyubhir

hata-dhvanta-yuganta-toye

SYNONYMS

mrnala–lotus flower; gaura–white all over; ayata–gigantic; sesabhoga–

body of Sesa-naga; paryanke–on the bed; ekam–alone; purusam–the

Supreme Person; sayanam–was lying; phana-atapatra–umbrella of a serpent

hood; ayuta–bedecked with; murdha–head; ratna–jewels; dyubhih–by the

rays; hata-dhvanta–darkness dissipated; yuga-anta–devastation; toye–in

the water.

TRANSLATION

Brahma could see that on the water there was a gigantic lotuslike

white bedstead, the body of Sesa-naga, on which the Personality of

Godhead was lying alone. The whole atmosphere was illuminated by the rays

of the jewels bedecking the hood of Sesa-naga, and that illumination

dissipated all the darkness of those regions.

TEXT 24

TEXT

preksam ksipantam haritopaladreh

sandhyabhra-niver uru-rukma-murdhnah

ratnodadharausadhi-saumanasya

vana-srajo venu-bhujanghripanghreh

SYNONYMS

preksam–the panorama; ksipantam–deriding; harita–green; upala–

coral; adreh–of the hell; sandhya-abhra-niveh–of the dress of the

evening sky; uru–great; rukma–gold; murdhnah–on the summit; ratna–

jewels; udadhara–waterfalls; ausadhi–herbs; saumanasya–of the scenery;

vana-srajah–flower garland; venu–dress; bhuja–hands; anghripa–trees;

anghreh–legs.

TRANSLATION

The luster of the transcendental body of the Lord mocked the beauty of

the coral mountain. The coral mountain is very beautifully dressed by the

evening sky, but the yellow dress of the Lord mocked its beauty. There is

gold on the summit of the mountain, but the Lord’s helmet, bedecked with

jewels, mocked it. The mountain’s waterfalls, herbs, etc., with a

panorama of flowers, seem like garlands, but the Lord’s gigantic body,

and His hands and legs, decorated with jewels, pearls, tulasi leaves and

TEXT 25

TEXT

ayamato vistaratah sva-manadehena

loka-traya-sangrahena

vicitra-divyabharanamsukanam

krta-sriyapasrita-vesa-deham

SYNONYMS

ayamatah–by length; vistaratah–by breadth; sva-mana–by His own

measurement; dehena–by the transcendental body; loka-traya–the three

(upper, middle and lower) planetary systems; sangrahena–by total

absorption; vicitra–variegated; divya–transcendental; abharanaamsukanam–

rays of the ornaments; krta-sriya apasrita–beauty created by

those dresses and ornaments; vesa–dressed; deham–transcendental body.

TRANSLATION

His transcendental body, unlimited in length and breadth, occupied the

three planetary systems, upper, middle and lower. His body was selfilluminated

by unparalleled dress and variegatedness and was properly

ornamented.TEXT 26

TEXT

pumsam sva-kamaya vivikta-margair

abhyarcatam kama-dughanghri-padmam

pradarsayantam krpaya nakhendumayukha-

bhinnanguli-caru-patram

SYNONYMS

pumsam–of the human being; sva-kamaya–according to the desire;

vivikta-margaih–by the path of devotional service; abhyarcatam–

worshiped; kama-dugha-anghri-padmam–the lotus feet of the Lord, which

can award all desired fruits; pradarsayantam–while showing them; krpaya-

-by causeless mercy; nakha–nails; indu–moonlike; mayukha–rays; bhinna-

-divided; anguli–figures; caru-patram–very beautiful.

TRANSLATION

The Lord showed His lotus feet by raising them. His lotus feet are the

source of all awards achieved by devotional service free from material

contamination. Such awards are for those who worship Him in pure

devotion. The splendor of the transcendental rays from His moonlike

toenails and fingernails appeared like the petals of a flower.TEXT 27

TEXT

mukhena lokarti-hara-smitena

parisphurat-kundala-manditena

sonayitenadhara-bimba-bhasa

pratyarhayantam sunasena subhrva

SYNONYMS

mukhena–by a gesture of the face; loka-arti-hara–vanquisher of the

distress of the devotees; smitena–by smiling; parisphurat–dazzling;

kundala–earrings; manditena–decorated with; sonayitena–acknowledging;

adhara–of His lips; bimba–reflection; bhasa–rays; pratyarhayantam–

reciprocating; su-nasena–by His pleasing nose; su-bhrva–and pleasing

eyebrows.

TRANSLATION

He also acknowledged the service of the devotees and vanquished their

distress by His beautiful smile. The reflection of His face, decorated

with earrings, was so pleasing because it dazzled with the rays from His

lips and the beauty of His nose and eyebrows.TEXT 28

TEXT

kadamba-kinjalka-pisanga-vasasa

svalankrtam mekhalaya nitambe

harena cananta-dhanena vatsa

srivatsa-vaksah-sthala-vallabhena

SYNONYMS

kadamba-kinjalka–saffron dust of the kadamba flower; pisanga–dress

of the color; vasasa–by clothing; su-alankrtam–well decorated;

mekhalaya–by the belt; nitambe–on the waist; harena–by the garland;

ca–also; ananta–highly; dhanena–valuable; vatsa–my dear Vidura;

srivatsa–of the transcendental marking; vaksah-sthala–on the chest;

vallabhena–very pleasing.

TRANSLATION

O my dear Vidura, the Lord’s waist was covered with yellow cloth

resembling the saffron dust of the kadamba flower, and it was encircled

by a well-decorated belt. His chest was decorated with the srivatsa

marking and a necklace of unlimited value.

TEXT 29

TEXT

parardhya-keyura-mani-pravekaparyasta-

dordanda-sahasra-sakham

avyakta-mulam bhuvananghripendram

ahindra-bhogair adhivita-valsam

SYNONYMS

parardhya–very valuable; keyura–ornaments; mani-praveka–highly

valuable jewels; paryasta–disseminating; dordanda–arms; sahasra-sakham-

-with thousands of branches; avyakta-mulam–self-situated; bhuvana–

universal; anghripa–trees; indram–the Lord; ahi-indra–Anantadeva;

bhogaih–by hoods; adhivita–surrounded; valsam–shoulders.

TRANSLATION

As a sandalwood tree is decorated with fragrant flowers and branches,

the Lord’s body was decorated with valuable jewels and pearls. He was the

self-situated tree, the Lord of all others in the universe. And as a

sandalwood tree is covered with many snakes, so the Lord’s body was also

covered by the hoods of Ananta.TEXT 30

TEXT

caracarauko bhagavan-mahidhram

ahindra-bandhum salilopagudham

kirita-sahasra-hiranya-srngam

avirbhavat kaustubha-ratna-garbham

SYNONYMS

cara–moving animals; acara–nonmoving trees; okah–the place or

situation; bhagavat–the Personality of Godhead; mahidhram–the mountain;

ahi-indra–Sri Anantadeva; bandhum–friend; salila–water; upagudham–

submerged; kirita–helmets; sahasra–thousands; hiranya–gold; srngam–

peaks; avirbhavat–manifested; kaustubha–the Kaustubha jewel; ratnagarbham–

ocean.

TRANSLATION

Like a great mountain, the Lord stands as the abode for all moving and

nonmoving living entities. He is the friend of the snakes because Lord

Ananta is His friend. As a mountain has thousands of golden peas, so the

Lord was seen with the thousands of golden-helmeted hoods of Ananta-naga;

and as a mountain is sometimes filled with jewels, so also His

transcendental body was fully decorated with valuable jewels. As a

mountains is sometimes submerged in the ocean water, so the Lord is

sometimes submerged in the water of devastation.

TEXT 31

TEXT

nivitam amnaya-madhu-vrata-sriya

sva-kirti-mayya vana-malaya harim

suryendu-vayv-agny-agamam tri-dhamabhih

parikramat-pradhanikair durasadam

SYNONYMS

nivitam–so being enclosed; amnaya–Vedic wisdom; madhu-vrata-sriya–

sweet sound in beauty; sva-kirti-mayya–by His own glories; vana-malaya–

flower garland; harim–unto the Lord; surya–the sun; indu–the moon;

vayu–the air; agni–the fire; agamam–unapproachable; tri-dhamabhih–by

the three planetary systems; parikramat–circumambulating; pradhanikaih–

for fighting; durasadam–very difficult to reach.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, thus looking upon the Lord in the shape of a mountain,

concluded that He was Hari, the Personality of Godhead. He saw that the

garland of flowers on His chest glorified Him with Vedic wisdom in sweet

songs and looked very beautiful. He was protected by the Sudarsana wheel

for fighting, and even the sun, moon, air, fire, etc., could not have

access to Him.

TEXT 32

TEXT

tarhy eva tan-nabhi-sarah-sarojam

atmanam ambhah svasanam viyac ca

dadarsa devo jagato vidhata

natah param loka-visarga-drstih

SYNONYMS

tarhi–therefore; eva–certainly; tat–His; nabhi–navel; sarah–lake;

sarojam–lotus flower; atmanam–Brahma; ambhah–the devastating water;

svasanam–the drying air; viyat–the sky; ca–also; dadarsa–looked upon;

devah–demigod; jagatah–of the universe; vidhata–maker of the

destination; na–not; atah param–beyond; loka-visarga–creation of the

cosmic manifestation; drstih–glance.

TRANSLATION

When Lord Brahma, the maker of the universal destination, thus saw the

Lord, be simultaneously glanced over creation. Lord Brahma saw the lake

in Lord Visnu’s navel, and the lotus flower, as well as the devastating

water, the drying air and the sky. All became visible to him.

TEXT 33

TEXT

sa karma-bijam rajasoparaktah

prajah sisrksann iyad eva drstva

astaud visargabhimukhas tam idyam

avyakta-vartmany abhivesitatma

SYNONYMS

sah–he (Brahma); karma-bijam–seed of worldly activities; rajasa

uparaktah–initiated by the mode of passion; prajah–living entities;

sisrksan–willing to create progeny; iyat–all the five causes of

creation; eva–thus; drstva–looking on; astaut–prayed for; visarga–

creation after the creation by the Lord; abhimukhah–towards; tam–that;

idyam–worshipable; avyakta–transcendental; vartmani–on the path of;

abhivesita–fixed; atma–mind.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, thus being surcharged with the mode of passion, became

inclined to create, and after seeing the five causes of creation

indicated by the Personality of Godhead, he began to offer his respectful

prayers on the path of the creative mentality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT 1

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

evam bruvanam maitreyam

dvaipayana-suto budhah

prinayann iva bharatya

vidurah pratyabhasata

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam–thus; bruvanam–

speaking; maitreyam–unto the sage. Maitreya; dvaipayana-sutah–the son

of Dvaipayana; budhah–learned; prinayan–in a pleasing manner; iva–as

it was; bharatya–in the manner of a request; vidurah–Vidura;

pratyabhasata–expressed.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, while Maitreya, the great sage, was

thus speaking, Vidura, the learned son of Dvaipayana Vyasa, expressed a

request in a pleasing manner by asking this question.

TEXT 2

TEXT

vidura uvaca

brahman katham bhagavatas

cin-matrasyavikarinah

lilaya capi yujyeran

nirgunasya gunah kriyah

SYNONYMS

vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; brahman–O brahmana; katham–how;

bhagavatah–of the Personality of Godhead; cit-matrasya–of the complete

spiritual whole; avikarinah–of the unchangeable; lilaya–by His pastime;

ca–either; api–even though it is so; yujyeran–take place; nirgunasya–

who is without the modes of nature; gunah–modes of nature; kriyah–

activities.

TRANSLATION

Sri Vidura said: O great brahmana, since the Supreme Personality of

Godhead is the complete spiritual whole and is unchangeable, how is He

connected with the material modes of nature and their activities? If this

is His pastime, how do the activities of the unchangeable take place and

TEXT 3

TEXT

kridayam udyamo ‘rbhasya

kamas cikridisanyatah

svatas-trptasya ca katham

nivrttasya sadanyatah

SYNONYMS

kridayam–in the matter of playing; udyamah–enthusiasm; arbhasya–of

the boys; kamah–desire; cikridisa–willingness to play; anyatah–with

other boys; svatah-trptasya–for one who is self-satisfied; ca–also;

katham–what for; nivrttasya–one who is detached; sada–at all times;

anyatah–otherwise.

TRANSLATION

Boys are enthusiastic to play with other boys or with various

diversions because they are encouraged by desire. But there is no

possibility of such desire for the Lord because He is self-satisfied and

TEXT 4

TEXT

asraksid bhagavan visvam

guna-mayyatma-mayaya

taya samsthapayaty etad

bhuyah pratyapidhasyati

SYNONYMS

asraksit–caused to create; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead;

visvam–the universe; guna-mayya–endowed with three modes of material

nature; atma–self; mayaya–by the potency; taya–by her; samsthapayati–

maintains; etat–all these; bhuyah–then again; praty-apidhasyati–

conversely dissolves also.

TRANSLATION

By His self-sheltered potency of the three modes of material nature,

the Lord has caused the creation of this universe. By her He maintains

TEXT 5

TEXT

desatah kalato yo ‘sav

avasthatah svato ‘nyatah

aviluptavabodhatma

sa yujyetajaya katham

SYNONYMS

desatah–circumstantial; kalatah–by the influence of time; yah–one

who; asau–the living entity; avasthatah–by situation; svatah–by dream;

anyatah–by others; avilupta–extinct; avabodha–consciousness; atma–

pure self; sah–he; yujyeta–engaged; ajaya–with nescience; katham–how

is it so.

TRANSLATION

The pure soul is pure consciousness and is never out of consciousness,

either due to circumstances, time, situations, dreams or other causes.

TEXT 6

TEXT

bhagavan eka evaisa

sarva-ksetresv avasthitah

amusya durbhagatvam va

kleso va karmabhih kutah

SYNONYMS

bhagavan–the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ekah–alone; eva esah–

all these; sarva–all; ksetresu–in the living entities; avasthitah–

situated; amusya–of the living entities; durbhagatvam–misfortune; va–

either; klesah–miseries; va–or; karmabhih–by activities; kutah–what

for.

TRANSLATION

The Lord, as the Supersoul, is situated in every living being’s heart.

Why then do the living entities’ activities result in misfortune and

TEXT 7

TEXT

etasmin me mano vidvan

khidyate ‘jnana-sankate

tan nah paranuda vibho

kasmalam manasam mahat

SYNONYMS

etasmin–in this; me–my; manah–mind; vidvan–O learned one;

khidyate–is troubling; ajnana–nescience; sankate–in distress; tat–

therefore; nah–my; paranuda–clear up; vibho–O great one; kasmalam–

illusion; manasam–relating to the mind; mahat–great.

TRANSLATION

O great and learned one, my mind is greatly illusioned by the distress

TEXT 8

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

sa ittham coditah ksattra

tattva-jijnasuna munih

pratyaha bhagavac-cittah

smayann iva gata-smayah

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; sah–he (Maitreya Muni);

ittham–in this way; coditah–being agitated; ksattra–by Vidura; tattvajijnasuna–

by one who was anxious to inquire to know the truth; munih–

the great sage; pratyaha–replied; bhagavat-cittah–God conscious;

smayan–wondering; iva–as if; gata-smayah–without hesitation.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, Maitreya, being thus agitated by

the inquisitive Vidura, at first seemed astonished, but then he replied

TEXT 9

TEXT

maitreya uvaca

seyam bhagavato maya

yan nayena virudhyate

isvarasya vimuktasya

karpanyam uta bandhanam

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; sa iyam–such a statement; bhagavatah-

-of the Personality of Godhead; maya–illusion; yat–that which; nayena–

by logic; virudhyate–becomes contradictory; isvarasya–of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead; vimuktasya–of the ever liberated; karpanyam–

insufficiency; uta–as also, what to speak of; bandhanam–bondage.

TRANSLATION

Sri Maitreya said: Certain conditioned souls put forward the theory

that the Supreme Brahman, or the Personality of Godhead, is overcome by

illusion, or maya, and at the same time they maintain that He is

TEXT 10

TEXT

yad arthena vinamusya

pumsa atma-viparyayah

pratiyata upadrastuh

sva-siras chedanadikah

SYNONYMS

yat–thus; arthena–a purpose or meaning; vina–without; amusya–of

such a one; pumsah–of the living entity; atma-viparyayah–upset about

self-identification; pratiyate–so appear; upadrastuh–of the superficial

onlooker; sva-sirah–own head; chedana-adikah–cutting off.

TRANSLATION

The living entity is in distress regarding his self-identity. He has

no factual background, like a man who dreams that he sees his head cut

TEXT 11

TEXT

yatha jale candramasah

kampadis tat-krto gunah

drsyate ‘sann api drastur

atmano ‘natmano gunah

SYNONYMS

yatha–as; jale–in the water; candramasah–of the moon; kampa-adih–

quivering, etc.; tat-krtah–done by the water; gunah–quality; drsyate–

it is so seen; asan api–without existence; drastuh–of the seer;

atmanah–of the self; anatmanah–of other than the self; gunah–quality.

TRANSLATION

As the moon reflected on water appears to the seer to tremble due to

being associated with the quality of the water, so the self associated

TEXT 12

TEXT

sa vai nivrtti-dharmena

vasudevanukampaya

bhagavad-bhakti-yogena

tirodhatte sanair iha

SYNONYMS

sah–that; vai–also; nivrtti–detachment; dharmena–by engagement;

vasudeva–the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anukampaya–by the mercy

of; bhagavat–in relation with the Personality of Godhead; bhakti-yogena-

-by linking up; tirodhatte–diminishes; sanaih–gradually; iha–in this

existence.

TRANSLATION

But that misconception of self-identity can be diminished gradually by

the mercy of the Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, through the process of

TEXT 13

TEXT

yadendriyoparamo ‘tha

drastratmani pare harau

viliyante tada klesah

samsuptasyeva krtsnasah

SYNONYMS

yada–when; indriya–senses; uparamah–satiated; atha–thus; drastratmani–

unto the seer, the Supersoul; pare–in the Transcendence; harau–

unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; viliyante–become merged in;

tada–at that time; klesah–miseries; samsuptasya–one who has enjoyed

sound sleep; iva–like; krtsnasah–completely.

TRANSLATION

When the senses are satisfied in the seer-Supersoul, the Personality

of Godhead, and merge in Him, all miseries are completely vanquished, as

TEXT 14

TEXT

asesa-sanklesa-samam vidhatte

gunanuvada-sravanam murareh

kim va punas tac-caranaravindaparaga-

seva-ratir atma-labdha

SYNONYMS

asesa–unlimited; sanklesa–miserable conditions; samam–cessation;

vidhatte–can perform; guna-anuvada–of the transcendental name, form,

qualities, pastimes, entourage and paraphernalia, etc.; sravanam–hearing

and chanting; murareh–of Murari (Sri Krsna), the Personality of Godhead;

kim va–what to speak of; punah–again; tat–His; carana-aravinda–lotus

feet; paraga-seva–to the service of the flavorful dust; ratih–

attraction; atma-labdha–those who have gained such self-achievement.

TRANSLATION

Simply by chanting and hearing of the transcendental name, form, etc.,

of the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, one can achieve the cessation

of unlimited miserable conditions. Therefore what to speak of those who

have attained attraction for serving the flavor of the dust of the Lord’s

TEXT 15

TEXT

vidura uvaca

sanchinnah samsayo mahyam

tava suktasina vibho

ubhayatrapi bhagavan

mano me sampradhavati

SYNONYMS

vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; sanchinnah–cut off; samsayah–doubts;

mahyam–unto me; tava–your; sukta-asina–by the weapon of convincing

words; vibho–O my lord; ubhayatra api–both in God and in the living

entity; bhagavan–O powerful one; manah–mind; me–my; sampradhavati–

perfectly entering.

TRANSLATION

Vidura said: O powerful sage, my lord, all my doubts about the Supreme

Personality of Godhead and the living entities have now been removed by

TEXT 16

TEXT

sadhv etad vyahrtam vidvan

natma-mayayanam hareh

abhaty apartham nirmulam

visva-mulam na yad bahih

SYNONYMS

sadhu–as good as it should be; etat–all these explanations;

vyahrtam–thus spoken; vidvan–O learned one; na–not; atma–the self;

maya–energy; ayanam–movement; hareh–of the Personality of Godhead;

abhati–appears; apartham–without meaning; nirmulam–without basis;

visva-mulam–the origin is the Supreme; na–not; yat–which; bahih–

outside.

TRANSLATION

O learned sage, your explanations are very good, as they should be.

Disturbances to the conditioned soul have no other basis than the

TEXT 17

TEXT

yas ca mudhatamo loke

yas ca buddheh param gatah

tav ubhau sukham edhete

klisyaty antarito janah

SYNONYMS

yah–one who is; ca–also; mudha-tamah–the lowest of the fools; loke-

-in the world; yah ca–and one who is; buddheh–of intelligence; param–

transcendental; gatah–gone; tau–of them; ubhau–both; sukham–

happiness; edhete–enjoy; klisyati–suffer; antaritah–situated between;

janah–persons.

TRANSLATION

Both the lowest of fools and he who is transcendental to all

intelligence enjoy happiness, whereas persons between them suffer the

material pangs.TEXT 18

TEXT

arthabhavam viniscitya

pratitasyapi natmanah

tam capi yusmac-caranasevayaham

paranude

SYNONYMS

artha-abhavam–without substance; viniscitya–being ascertained;

pratitasya–of the apparent values; api–also; na–never; atmanah–of the

self; tam–that; ca–also; api–thus; yusmat–your; carana–feet; sevaya-

-by service; aham–myself; paranude–shall be able to give up.

TRANSLATION

But, my dear sir, I am obliged to you because now I can understand

that this material manifestation is without substance, although it

appears real. I am confident that by serving your feet it will be

possible for me to give up the false idea.TEXT 19

TEXT

yat-sevaya bhagavatah

kuta-sthasya madhu-dvisah

rati-raso bhavet tivrah

padayor vyasanardanah

SYNONYMS

yat–to whom; sevaya–by service; bhagavatah–of the Personality of

Godhead; kuta-sthasya–of the unchangeable; madhu-dvisah–the enemy of

the Madhu asura; rati-rasah–attachment in different relationships;

bhavet–develops; tivrah–highly ecstatic; padayoh–of the feet; vyasana-

-distresses; ardanah–vanquishing.

TRANSLATION

By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is enabled to develop

transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who

is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes

one’s material distresses.TEXT 20

TEXT

durapa hy alpa-tapasah

seva vaikuntha-vartmasu

yatropagiyate nityam

deva-devo janardanah

SYNONYMS

durapa–rarely obtainable; hi–certainly; alpa-tapasah–of one whose

austerity is meager; seva–service; vaikuntha–the transcendental kingdom

of God; vartmasu–on the path of; yatra–wherein; upagiyate–is

glorified; nityam–always; deva–of the demigods; devah–the Lord; janaardanah–

the controller of the living entities.

TRANSLATION

Persons whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the

pure devotees who are progressing on the path back to the kingdom of

Godhead, the Vaikunthas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in

glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the

controller of all living entities.TEXT 21

TEXT

srstvagre mahad-adini

sa-vikarany anukramat

tebhyo virajam uddhrtya

tam anu pravisad vibhuh

SYNONYMS

srstva–after creating; agre–in the beginning; mahat-adini–the total

material energy; sa-vikarani–along with the sense organs; anukramat–by

a gradual process of differentiation; tebhyah–out of that; virajam–the

gigantic universal form; uddhrtya–manifesting; tam–unto that; anu–

later; pravisat–entered; vibhuh–the Supreme.

TRANSLATION

After creating the total material energy, the mahat-tattva, and

thereby manifesting the gigantic universal form with senses and sense

organs, the Supreme Lord entered within it.TEXT 22

TEXT

yam ahur adyam purusam

sahasranghry-uru-bahukam

yatra visva ime lokah

sa-vikasam ta asate

SYNONYMS

yam–who; ahuh–is called; adyam–original; purusam–incarnation for

cosmic manifestation; sahasra–thousand; anghri–legs; uru–thighs;

bahukam–hands; yatra–wherein; visvah–the universe; ime–all these;

lokah–planets; sa-vikasam–with respective developments; te–all of

them; asate–living.

TRANSLATION

The purusa incarnation lying on the Causal Ocean is called the

original purusa in the material creations, and in His virat form, in whom

all the planets and their inhabitants live, He has many thousands of legs

and hands.TEXT 23

TEXT

yasmin dasa-vidhah pranah

sendriyarthendriyas tri-vrt

tvayerito yato varnas

tad-vibhutir vadasva nah

SYNONYMS

yasmin–in which; dasa-vidhah–ten kinds of; pranah–air of life; sa–

with; indriya–senses; artha–interest; indriyah–of the senses; tri-vrt-

-three kinds of life vigor; tvaya–by you; iritah–explained; yatah–

wherefrom; varnah–four specific divisions; tat-vibhutih–prowess;

vadasva–please describe; nah–unto me.

TRANSLATION

O great brahmana, you have told me that the gigantic virat form and

His senses, sense objects and ten kinds of life air exist with three

kinds of life vigor. Now, if you will, kindly explain to me the different

powers of the specific divisions.

TEXT 24

TEXT

yatra putrais ca pautrais ca

naptrbhih saha gotrajaih

praja vicitrakrtaya

asan yabhir idam tatam

SYNONYMS

yatra–wherein; putraih–along with sons; ca–and; pautraih–along

with grandsons; ca–also; naptrbhih–with grandsons from daughters; saha-

-along with; gotra-jaih–of the same family; prajah–generations;

vicitra–of different kinds; akrtayah–so done; asan–exist; yabhih–by

whom; idam–all these planets; tatam–spread.

TRANSLATION

O my lord, I think that the process manifest in the forms of sons,

grandsons and family members has spread all over the universe in

different varieties and species.

TEXT 25

TEXT

prajapatinam sa patis

caklpe kan prajapatin

sargams caivanusargams ca

manun manvantaradhipan

SYNONYMS

praja-patinam–of the demigods like Brahma and others; sah–he; patih-

-leader; caklpe–decided; kan–whomsoever; prajapatin–fathers of the

living entities; sargan–generations; ca–also; eva–certainly;

anusargan–later generations; ca–and; manun–the Manus; manvantaraadhipan–

and the changes of such.

TRANSLATION

O learned brahmana, please describe how the leader of all the

demigods, namely Prajapati, Brahma, decided to establish the various

Manus, the heads of the ages. Please describe the Manus also, and please

describe the descendants of those Manus.TEXT 26

TEXT

upary adhas ca ye loka

bhumer mitratmajasate

tesam samstham pramanam ca

bhur-lokasya ca varnaya

SYNONYMS

upari–on the head; adhah–underneath; ca–also; ye–which; lokah–

planets; bhumeh–of the earth; mitra-atmaja–O son of Mitra (Maitreya

Muni); asate–do exist; tesam–their; samstham–situation; pramanam ca–

also their measurement; bhuh-lokasya–of the earthly planets; ca–also;

varnaya–please describe.

TRANSLATION

O son of Mitra, kindly describe how the planets are situated above the

earth as well as underneath it, and also please mention their measurement

as well as that of the earthly planets.TEXT 27

TEXT

tiryan-manusa-devanam

sarisrpa-patattrinam

vada nah sarga-samvyuham

garbha-sveda-dvijodbhidam

SYNONYMS

tiryak–subhuman; manusa–human beings; devanam–of the superhuman

beings, or demigods; sarisrpa–reptiles; patattrinam–of the birds; vada-

-kindly describe; nah–unto me; sarga–generation; samvyuham–specific

divisions; garbha–embryonic; sveda–perspiration; dvija–twice-born;

udbhidam–of the planets, etc.

TRANSLATION

Also please describe the living beings under different

classifications: subhumans, humans, those born of the embryo, those born

of perspiration, those who are twice-born [birds], and the plants and

vegetables. Kindly describe their generations and subdivisions also.

TEXT 28

TEXT

gunavatarair visvasya

sarga-sthity-apyayasrayam

srjatah srinivasasya

vyacaksvodara-vikramam

SYNONYMS

guna–modes of material nature; avataraih–of the incarnations;

visvasya–of the universe; sarga–creation; sthiti–maintenance; apyaya–

destruction; asrayam–and ultimate rest; srjatah–of the one who creates;

srinivasasya–of the Personality of Godhead; vyacaksva–kindly describe;

udara–magnanimous; vikramam–specific activities.

TRANSLATION

Please also describe the incarnations of the material modes of nature-

-Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara–and please describe the incarnation of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead and His magnanimous activities.TEXT 29

TEXT

varnasrama-vibhagams ca

rupa-sila-svabhavatah

rsinam janma-karmani

vedasya ca vikarsanam

SYNONYMS

varna-asrama–the four divisions of social statuses and orders of

spiritual culture; vibhagan–respective divisions; ca–also; rupa–

personal feature s; sila-svabhavatah–personal character; rsinam–of the

sages; janma–birth; karmani–activities; vedasya–of the Vedas; ca–and;

vikarsanam–categorical divisions.

TRANSLATION

O great sage, kindly describe the divisions and orders of human

society in terms of symptoms, behavior and the characteristics of mental

equilibrium and sense control. Also please describe the births of the

great sages and the categorical divisions of the Vedas.TEXT 30

TEXT

yajnasya ca vitanani

yogasya ca pathah prabho

naiskarmyasya ca sankhyasya

tantram va bhagavat-smrtam

SYNONYMS

yajnasya–of sacrifices; ca–also; vitanani–expansions; yogasya–of

the mystic powers; ca–also; pathah–ways; prabho–O my lord;

naiskarmyasya–of knowledge; ca–and; sankhyasya–of analytical studies;

tantram–the path of devotional service; va–as well as; bhagavat–in

relation with the Personality of Godhead; smrtam–regulative principles.

TRANSLATION

Please also describe the expansions of different sacrifices and the

paths of mystic powers, analytical study of knowledge, and devotional

service, all with their respective regulations.TEXT 31

TEXT

pasanda-patha-vaisamyam

pratiloma-nivesanam

jivasya gatayo yas ca

yavatir guna-karmajah

SYNONYMS

pasanda-patha–the path of the faithless; vaisamyam–imperfection by

contradiction; pratiloma–crossbreeding; nivesanam–situation; jivasya–

of the living entities; gatayah–movements; yah–as they are; ca–also;

yavatih–as many as; guna–modes of material nature; karma-jah–generated

by different work.

TRANSLATION

Please also describe the imperfections and contradictions of the

faithless atheists, the situation of crossbreeding, and the movements of

the living entities in various species of life according to their

particular modes of nature and work.TEXT 32

TEXT

dharmartha-kama-moksanam

nimittany avirodhatah

vartaya danda-nites ca

srutasya ca vidhim prthak

SYNONYMS

dharma–religiosity; artha–economic development; kama–sense

gratification; moksanam–salvation; nimittani–causes; avirodhatah–

without being contradictory; vartayah–on the principles of the means of

livelihood; danda-niteh–of law and order; ca–also; srutasya–of the

codes of scriptures; ca–also; vidhim–regulations; prthak–different.

TRANSLATION

You may also describe the noncontradictory causes of religiosity,

economic development, sense gratification and salvation and also the

different means of livelihood and different processes of law and order as

mentioned in the revealed scriptures.

TEXT 33

TEXT

sraddhasya ca vidhim brahman

pitrnam sargam eva ca

graha-naksatra-taranam

kalavayava-samsthitim

SYNONYMS

sraddhasya–of the periodical offerings of respects; ca–also; vidhim-

-regulations; brahman–O brahmana; pitrnam–of the forefathers; sargam–

creation; eva–as; ca–also; graha–planetary system; naksatra–the

stars; taranam–luminaries; kala–time; avayava–duration; samsthitim–

situations.

TRANSLATION

Please also explain the regulations for offering respects to the

forefathers, the creation of the Pitrloka, the time schedule in the

planets, stars and luminaries, and their respective situations.TEXT 34

TEXT

danasya tapaso vapi

yac cesta-purtayoh phalam

pravasa-sthasya yo dharmo

yas ca pumsa utapadi

SYNONYMS

danasya–of charity; tapasah–of penance; vapi–lake; yat–that which;

ca–and; ista–endeavor; purtayoh–of reservoirs of water; phalam–

fruitive result; pravasa-sthasya–one who is away from home; yah–that

which; dharmah–duty; yah ca–and which; pumsah–of man; uta–described;

apadi–in danger.

TRANSLATION

Please also describe the fruitive results of charity and penance and

of digging reservoirs of water. Please describe the situation of persons

who are away from home and also the duty of a man in an awkward position.TEXT 35

TEXT

yena va bhagavams tusyed

dharma-yonir janardanah

samprasidati va yesam

etad akhyahi me ‘nagha

SYNONYMS

yena–by which; va–either; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead;

tusyet–is satisfied; dharma-yonih–the father of all religion;

janardanah–the controller of all living being; samprasidati–completely

satisfied; va–either, or; yesam–of those; etat–all these; akhyahi–

kindly describe; me–unto me; anagha–O sinless one.

TRANSLATION

O sinless one, because the Personality of Godhead, the controller of

all living entities, is the father of all religion and all those who are

candidates for religious activities, kindly describe how He can be

completely satisfied.TEXT 36

TEXT

anuvratanam sisyanam

putranam ca dvijottama

anaprstam api bruyur

guravo dina-vatsalah

SYNONYMS

anuvratanam–the followers; sisyanam–of the disciples; putranam–of

the sons; ca–also; dvija-uttama–O best amongst the brahmanas;

anaprstam–that which is not asked for; api–in spite of; bruyuh–please

describe; guravah–the spiritual masters; dina-vatsalah–who are kind to

the needy.

TRANSLATION

O best among the brahmanas, those who are spiritual masters are very

kind to the needy. They are always kind to their followers, disciples and

sons, and without being asked by them, the spiritual master describes all

that is knowledge.TEXT 37

TEXT

tattvanam bhagavams tesam

katidha pratisankramah

tatremam ka upasiran

ka u svid anuserate

SYNONYMS

tattvanam–of the elements of nature; bhagavan–O great sage; tesam–

of them; katidha–how many; pratisankramah–dissolutions; tatra–

thereupon; imam–unto the Supreme Lord; ke–who are they; upasiran–being

saved; ke–who are they; u–who; svit–may; anuserate–serve the Lord

while He sleeps.

TRANSLATION

Please describe how many dissolutions there are for the elements of

material nature and who survives after the dissolutions to serve the Lord

while He is asleep.TEXT 38

TEXT

purusasya ca samsthanam

svarupam va parasya ca

jnanam ca naigamam yat tad

guru-sisya-prayojanam

SYNONYMS

purusasya–of the living entity; ca–also; samsthanam–existence;

svarupam–identity; va–either, or; parasya–of the Supreme; ca–also;

jnanam–knowledge; ca–also; naigamam–in the matter of the Upanisads;

yat–that; tat–the same; guru–spiritual master; sisya–disciple;

prayojanam–necessity.

TRANSLATION

What are the truths regarding the living entities and the Supreme

Personality of Godhead? What are their identities ? What are the specific

values in the knowledge in the Vedas, and what are the necessities for

the spiritual master and his disciples?TEXT 39

TEXT

nimittani ca tasyeha

proktany anagha-suribhih

svato jnanam kutah pumsam

bhaktir vairagyam eva va

SYNONYMS

nimittani–the source of knowledge; ca–also; tasya–of such

knowledge; iha–in this world; proktani–mentioned; anagha–spotless;

suribhih–by devotees; svatah–self-sufficient; jnanam–knowledge; kutah-

-how; pumsam–of the living entity; bhaktih–devotional service;

vairagyam–detachment; eva–certainly; va–also.

TRANSLATION

Spotless devotees of the Lord have mentioned the source of such

knowledge. How could one have knowledge of devotional service and

detachment without the help of such devotees?TEXT 40

TEXT

etan me prcchatah prasnan

hareh karma-vivitsaya

bruhi me ‘jnasya mitratvad

ajaya nasta-caksusah

SYNONYMS

etan–all these; me–my; prcchatah–of one who inquires; prasnan–

questions; hareh–of the Supreme Lord; karma–pastimes; vivitsaya–

desiring to know; bruhi–kindly describe; me–unto me; ajnasya–of one

who is ignorant; mitratvat–because of friendship; ajaya–by the external

energy; nasta-caksusah–those who have lost their vision.

TRANSLATION

My dear sage, I have put all these questions before you with a view to

knowing the pastimes of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are

the friend of all, so kindly describe them for all those who have lost

their vision.TEXT 41

TEXT

sarve vedas ca yajnas ca

tapo danani canagha

jivabhaya-pradanasya

na kurviran kalam api

SYNONYMS

sarve–all kinds of; vedah–divisions of the Vedas; ca–also; yajnah–

sacrifices; ca–also; tapah–penances; danani–charities; ca–and;

anagha–O spotless one; jiva–the living entity; abhaya–immunity from

material pangs; pradanasya–of one who gives such assurance; na–not;

kurviran–can he equalized; kalam–even partially; api–certainly.

TRANSLATION

O spotless one, your answers to all these questions will grant

immunity from all material miseries. Such charity is greater than all

Vedic charities, sacrifices, penances, etc.TEXT 42

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

sa ittham aprsta-purana-kalpah

kuru-pradhanena muni-pradhanah

pravrddha-harso bhagavat-kathayam

sancoditas tam prahasann ivaha

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; sah–he; ittham–thus;

aprsta–being questioned; purana-kalpah–one who knows how to explain the

supplements of the Vedas (the Puranas); kuru-pradhanena–by the chief of

the Kurus; muni-pradhanah–the chief amongst the sages; pravrddha–

sufficiently enriched; harsah–satisfaction; bhagavat–the Personality of

Godhead; kathayam–in the topics of; sancoditah–being so infused; tam–

unto Vidura; prahasan–with smiles; iva–like that; aha–replied.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thus the chief of the sages, who was always

enthusiastic about describing topics regarding the Personality of

Godhead, began to narrate the descriptive explanation of the Puranas,

being so infused by Vidura. He was very much enlivened by speaking on the

transcendental activities of the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dvari dyu-nadya rsabhah kurunam

maitreyam asinam agadha-bodham

ksattopasrtyacyuta-bhava-siddhah

papraccha sausilya-gunabhitrptah

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sukadeva Gosvami said; dvari–at the source of; dyunadyah–

the celestial River Ganges; rsabhah–the best of the Kurus;

kurunam–of the Kurus; maitreyam–unto Maitreya; asinam–sitting; agadhabodham–

of unfathomed knowledge; ksatta–Vidura; upasrtya–having

approached nearer; acyuta–the infallible Lord; bhava–character;

siddhah–perfect; papraccha–inquired; sausilya–gentleness; gunaabhitrptah–

satisfied in transcendental qualities.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said: Vidura, the best amongst the Kuru dynasty, who

was perfect in devotional service to the Lord, thus reached the source of

the celestial Ganges River [Hardwar], where Maitreya, the great,

fathomless learned sage of the world, was seated. Vidura, who was perfect

sukhaya karmani karoti loko

na taih sukham vanyad-uparamam va

vindeta bhuyas tata eva duhkham

yad atra yuktam bhagavan vaden nah

SYNONYMS

vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; sukhaya–for attaining happiness; karmani-

-fruitive activities; karoti–everyone does so; lokah–in this world; na-

-never; taih–by those activities; sukham–any happiness; va–or; anyat–

differently; uparamam–satiation; va–either; vindeta–achieves; bhuyah–

on the contrary; tatah–by such activities; eva–certainly; duhkham–

miseries; yat–that which; atra–under the circumstances; yuktam–right

course; bhagavan–O great one; vadet–may kindly enlighten; nah–us.

TRANSLATION

Vidura said: O great sage, everyone in this world engages in fruitive

activities to attain happiness, but one finds neither satiation nor the

mitigation of distress. On the contrary, one is only aggravated by such

activities. Please, therefore, give us directions on how one should live

adharma-silasya suduhkhitasya

anugrahayeha caranti nunam

bhutani bhavyani janardanasya

SYNONYMS

janasya–of the common man; krsnat–from the Supreme Lord, Krsna;

vimukhasya–of the one who has turned his face against the Lord; daivat–

by the influence of external energy; adharma-silasya–of one who is

engaged in irreligion; su-duhkhitasya–of one who is always unhappy;

anugrahaya–due to being compassionate towards them; iha–in this world;

caranti–wander; nunam–certainly; bhutani–persons; bhavyani–great

philanthropic souls; janardanasya–of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

O my lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of

the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls

samradhito bhagavan yena pumsam

hrdi sthito yacchati bhakti-pute

jnanam sa-tattvadhigamam puranam

SYNONYMS

tat–therefore; sadhu-varya–O great one amongst the saints; adisa–

please instruct; vartma–the path; sam–auspicious; nah–for us;

samradhitah–being perfectly served; bhagavan–the Personality of

Godhead; yena–by which; pumsam–of the living entity; hrdi sthitah–

residing in the heart; yacchati–awards; bhakti-pute–unto the unalloyed

devotee; jnanam–knowledge; sa–that; tattva–truth; adhigamam–by which

one learns; puranam–authorized, old.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, O great sage, please give me instruction on the

transcendental devotional service of the Lord, so that He who is situated

in the heart of everyone can be pleased to impart, from within, knowledge

of the Absolute Truth in terms of the ancient Vedic principles delivered

yany atma-tantro bhagavams tryadhisah

yatha sasarjagra idam nirihah

samsthapya vrttim jagato vidhatte

SYNONYMS

karoti–does them; karmani–transcendental activities; krta–by

accepting; avatarah–incarnations; yani–all those; atma-tantrah–Selfindependent;

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; tri-adhisah–the Lord

of the three worlds; yatha–as much as; sasarja–created; agre–at first;

idam–this cosmic manifestation; nirihah–although desireless;

samsthapya–by establishing; vrttim–means of livelihood; jagatah–of the

universes; vidhatte–as He regulates.

TRANSLATION

O great sage, kindly narrate how the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

who is the independent, desireless Lord of the three worlds and the

controller of all energies, accepts incarnations and creates the cosmic

manifestation with perfectly arranged regulative principles for its

sete guhayam sa nivrtta-vrttih

yogesvaradhisvara eka etad

anupravisto bahudha yathasit

SYNONYMS

yatha–as much as; punah–again; sve–in His; khe–form of space

(virat-rupa); idam–this; nivesya–entering into; sete–lies down;

guhayam–within the universe; sah–He (the Personality of Godhead);

nivrtta–without endeavor; vrttih–means of livelihood; yoga-isvara–the

master of all mystic powers; adhisvarah–proprietor of everything; ekah–

one without a second; etat–this; anupravistah–entering afterwards;

bahudha–by innumerable; yatha–as much as; asit–exists.

TRANSLATION

He lies down on His own heart spread in the form of the sky, and thus

placing the whole creation in that space, He expands Himself into many

living entities, which are manifested as different species of life. He

does not have to endeavor for His maintenance, because He is the master

of all mystic powers and the proprietor of everything. Thus He is

ksemaya karmany avatara-bhedaih

mano na trpyaty api srnvatam nah

susloka-maules caritamrtani

SYNONYMS

kridan–manifesting pastimes; vidhatte–He performs; dvija–twiceborn;

go–cows; suranam–of the demigods; ksemaya–welfare; karmani–

transcendental activities; avatara–incarnations; bhedaih–differently;

manah–mind; na–never; trpyati–satisfies; api–in spite of; srnvatam–

continuously hearing; nah–our; su-sloka–auspicious; mauleh–of the

Lord; carita–characteristics; amrtani–undying.

TRANSLATION

You may narrate also about the auspicious characteristics of the Lord

in His different incarnations for the welfare of the twice-born, the cows

and the demigods. Our minds are never satisfied completely, although we

lokan alokan saha lokapalan

aciklpad yatra hi sarva-sattvanikaya-

bhedo ‘dhikrtah pratitah

SYNONYMS

yaih–by whom; tattva–truth; bhedaih–by differentiation; adhilokanathah–

the King of the kings; lokan–planets; alokan–planets of the

lower region; saha–along with; loka-palan–respective kings; aciklpat–

planned; yatra–wherein; hi–certainly; sarva–all; sattva–existence;

nikaya–living entities; bhedah–difference; adhikrtah–occupied;

pratitah–it so appears.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme King of all kings has created different planets and places

of habitation where living entities are situated in terms of the modes of

ca bhidam vyadhatta

narayano visvasrg atma-yonir

etac ca no varnaya vipra-varya

SYNONYMS

yena–by which; prajanam–of those who are born; uta–as also; atmakarma–

destined engagement; rupa–form and feature; abhidhanam–

endeavors; ca–also; bhidam–differentiation; vyadhatta–dispersed;

narayanah–the Supreme Personality of Godhead; visvasrk–the creator of

the universe; atma-yonih–self-sufficient; etat–all these; ca–also;

nah–unto us; varnaya–describe; vipra-varya–O chief amongst the

brahmanas.

TRANSLATION

O chief amongst the brahmanas, please also describe how Narayana, the

creator of the universe and the self-sufficient Lord, has differently

created the natures, activities, forms, features and names of the

srutani me vyasa-mukhad abhiksnam

atrpnuma ksulla-sukhavahanam

tesam rte krsna-kathamrtaughat

SYNONYMS

para–higher; avaresam–of these lower; bhagavan–O my lord, O great

one; vratani–occupations; srutani–heard; me–by me; vyasa–Vyasa;

mukhat–from the mouth; abhiksnam–repeatedly; atrpnuma–I am satisfied;

ksulla–little; sukha-avahanam–that which causes happiness; tesam–out

of that; rte–without; krsna-katha–talks about the Personality of

Godhead, Lord Krsna; amrta-oghat–from the nectar.

TRANSLATION

O my lord, I have repeatedly heard about these higher and lower

statuses of human society from the mouth of Vyasadeva, and I am quite

satiated with all these lesser subject matters and their happiness. They

have not satisfied me with the nectar of topics about Krsna.

kas trpnuyat tirtha-pado ‘bhidhanat

satresu vah suribhir idyamanat

yah karna-nadim purusasya yato

bhava-pradam geha-ratim chinatti

SYNONYMS

kah–who is that man; trpnuyat–that can be satisfied; tirtha-padah–

whose lotus feet are all the places of pilgrimage; abhidhanat–from the

talks of; satresu–in human society; vah–one who is; suribhih–by great

devotees; idyamanat–one who is so worshiped; yah–who; karna-nadim–in

the holes of the ears; purusasya–of a man; yatah–entering; bhavapradam–

that which awards births and deaths; geha-ratim–family

affection; chinatti–is cut off.

TRANSLATION

Who in human society can be satisfied without hearing sufficient talk

of the Lord, whose lotus feet are the sum total of all places of

pilgrimage and who is worshiped by great sages and devotees? Such topics

can cut off one’s bondage to family affection simply by entering the

munir vivaksur bhagavad-gunanam

sakhapi te bharatam aha krsnah

yasmin nrnam gramya-sukhanuvadair

matir grhita nu hareh kathayam

SYNONYMS

munih–the sage; vivaksuh–described; bhagavat–of the Personality of

Godhead; gunanam–transcendental qualities; sakha–friend; api–also; te-

-your; bharatam–the Mahabharata; aha–has described; krsnah–Krsnadvaipayana

Vyasa; yasmin–in which; nrnam–of the people; gramya–

worldly; sukha-anuvadaih–pleasure derived from mundane topics; matih–

attention; grhita nu–just to draw towards; hareh–of the Lord; kathayam-

-speeches of (Bhagavad-gita).

TRANSLATION

Your friend the great sage Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa has already

described the transcendental qualities of the Lord in his great work the

Mahabharata. But the whole idea is to draw the attention of the mass of

people to krsna-katha [Bhagavad-gita] through their strong affinity for

sa sraddadhanasya vivardhamana

viraktim anyatra karoti pumsah

hareh padanusmrti-nirvrtasya

samasta-duhkhapyayam asu dhatte

SYNONYMS

sa–those topics of Krsna, or krsna-katha; sraddadhanasya–of one who

is anxious to hear; vivardhamana–gradually increasing; viraktim–

indifference; anyatra–in other things (than such topics); karoti–does;

pumsah–of one who is so engaged; hareh–of the Lord; pada-anusmrti–

constant remembrance of the lotus feet of the Lord; nirvrtasya–one who

has achieved such transcendental bliss; samasta-duhkha–all miseries;

apyayam–vanquished; asu–without delay; dhatte–executes.

TRANSLATION

For one who is anxious to engage constantly in hearing such topics,

krsna-katha gradually increases his indifference towards all other

things. Such constant remembrance of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna by the

devotee who has achieved transcendental bliss vanquishes all his miseries

tan chocya-socyan avido ‘nusoce

hareh kathayam vimukhan aghena

ksinoti devo ‘nimisas tu yesam

ayur vrtha-vada-gati-smrtinam

SYNONYMS

tan–all those; socya–pitiable; socyan–of the pitiable; avidah–

ignorant; anusoce–I pity; hareh–of the Lord; kathayam–to the topics

of; vimukhan–averse; aghena–because of sinful activities; ksinoti–

decaying; devah–the Lord; animisah–eternal time; tu–but; yesam–of

whom; ayuh–duration of life; vrtha–uselessly; vada–philosophical

speculations; gati–ultimate goal; smrtinam–of those following different

rituals.

TRANSLATION

O sage, persons who because of their sinful activities are averse to

the topics of Transcendence and thus ignorant of the purpose of the

Mahabharata [Bhagavad-gita] are pitied by the pitiable. I also pity them

because I see how their duration of life is spoiled by eternal time while

they involve themselves in presentations of philosophical speculation,

tad asya kausarava sarma-datur

hareh katham eva kathasu saram

uddhrtya puspebhya ivarta-bandho

sivaya nah kirtaya tirtha-kirteh

SYNONYMS

tat–therefore; asya–His; kausarava–O Maitreya; sarma-datuh–of one

who awards good fortune; hareh–of the Lord; katham–topics; eva–only;

kathasu–of all topics; saram–the essence; uddhrtya–by quoting;

puspebhyah–from the flowers; iva–like that; arta-bandho–O friend of

the distressed; sivaya–for welfare; nah–of us; kirtaya–kindly

describe; tirtha–pilgrimage; kirteh–of glorious.

TRANSLATION

O Maitreya, O friend of the distressed, the glories of the Supreme

Lord can alone do good for people all over the world. Therefore, just as

bees collect honey from flowers, kindly describe the essence of all

sa visva-janma-sthiti-samyamarthe

krtavatarah pragrhita-saktih

cakara karmany atipurusani

yanisvarah kirtaya tani mahyam

SYNONYMS

sah–the Personality of Godhead; visva–universe; janma–creation;

sthiti–maintenance; samyama-arthe–with a view to perfect control; krta-

-accepted; avatarah–incarnation; pragrhita–accomplished with; saktih–

potency; cakara–performed; karmani–transcendental activities; atipurusani–

superhuman; yani–all those; isvarah–the Lord; kirtaya–please

chant; tani–all those; mahyam–unto me.

TRANSLATION

Kindly chant all those superhuman transcendental activities of the

supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead, who accepted incarnations

fully equipped with all potency for the full manifestation and

maintenance of the cosmic creation.

 

 

TEXT 17

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

sa evam bhagavan prstah

ksattra kausaravo munih

pumsam nihsreyasarthena

tam aha bahu-manayan

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; sah–he; evam–thus;

bhagavan–the great sage; prstah–being requested; ksattra–by Vidura;

kausaravah–Maitreya; munih–the great sage; pumsam–for all people;

nihsreyasa–for the greatest welfare; arthena–for that; tam–unto him;

aha–narrated; bahu–greatly; manayan–honoring.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said: The great sage Maitreya Muni, after honoring

Vidura very greatly, began to speak, at Vidura’s request, for the

TEXT 18

TEXT

maitreya uvaca

sadhu prstam tvaya sadho

lokan sadhv anugrhnata

kirtim vitanvata loke

atmano ‘dhoksajatmanah

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca–Sri Maitreya said; sadhu–all good; prstam–I am

asked; tvaya–by you; sadho–O good one; lokan–all the people; sadhu

anugrhnata–showing mercy in goodness; kirtim–glories; vitanvata–

broadcasting; loke–in the world; atmanah–of the self; adhoksaja–the

Transcendence; atmanah–mind.

TRANSLATION

Sri Maitreya said: O Vidura, all glory unto you. You have inquired

from me of the greatest of all goodness, and thus you have shown your

mercy both to the world and to me because your mind is always absorbed in

TEXT 19

TEXT

naitac citram tvayi ksattar

badarayana-viryaje

grhito ‘nanya-bhavena

yat tvaya harir isvarah

SYNONYMS

na–never; etat–such inquiries; citram–very wonderful; tvayi–in

you; ksattah–O Vidura; badarayana–of Vyasadeva; virya-je–born from the

semen; grhitah–accepted; ananya-bhavena–without deviation from the

thought; yat–because; tvaya–by you; harih–the Personality of Godhead;

isvarah–the Lord.

TRANSLATION

O Vidura, it is not at all wonderful that you have so accepted the

Lord without deviation of thought, for you were born from the semen of

TEXT 20

TEXT

mandavya-sapad bhagavan

praja-samyamano yamah

bhratuh ksetre bhujisyayam

jatah satyavati-sutat

SYNONYMS

mandavya–the great rsi Mandavya Muni; sapat–by his curse; bhagavan–

the greatly powerful; praja–one who is born; samyamanah–controller of

death; yamah–known as Yamaraja; bhratuh–of the brother; ksetre–in the

wife; bhujisyayam–kept; jatah–born; satyavati–Satyavati (the mother of

both Vicitravirya and Vyasadeva); sutat–by the son (Vyasadeva).

TRANSLATION

I know that you are now Vidura due to the cursing of Mandavya Muni and

that formerly you were King Yamaraja, the great controller of living

entities after their death. You were begotten by the son of Satyavati,

TEXT 21

TEXT

bhavan bhagavato nityam

sammatah sanugasya ha

yasya jnanopadesaya

madisad bhagavan vrajan

SYNONYMS

bhavan–your good self; bhagavatah–of the Personality of Godhead;

nityam–eternal; sammatah–recognized; sa-anugasya–one of the

associates; ha–have been; yasya–of whom; jnana–knowledge; upadesaya–

for instructing; ma–unto me; adisat–so ordered; bhagavan–the

Personality of Godhead; vrajan–while returning to His abode.

TRANSLATION

Your good self is one of the eternal associates of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead for whose sake the Lord, while going back to His

TEXT 22

TEXT

atha te bhagaval-lila

yoga-mayorubrmhitah

visva-sthity-udbhavantartha

varnayamy anupurvasah

SYNONYMS

atha–therefore; te–unto you; bhagavat–pertaining to the Personality

of Godhead; lilah–pastimes; yoga-maya–energy of the Lord; uru–greatly;

brmhitah–extended by; visva–of the cosmic world; sthiti–maintenance;

udbhava–creation; anta–dissolution; arthah–purpose; varnayami–I shall

describe; anupurvasah–systematically.

TRANSLATION

I shall therefore describe to you the pastimes by which the

Personality of Godhead extends His transcendental potency for the

creation, maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic world as they occur

TEXT 23

TEXT

bhagavan eka asedam

agra atmatmanam vibhuh

atmecchanugatav atma

nana-maty-upalaksanah

SYNONYMS

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; ekah–one without a second; asa-

-was there; idam–this creation; agre–prior to the creation; atma–in

His own form; atmanam–of the living entities; vibhuh–master; atma–

Self; iccha–desire; anugatau–being merged in; atma–Self; nana-mati–

different vision; upalaksanah–symptoms.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead, the master of all living entities, existed

prior to the creation as one without a second. It is by His will only

that creation is made possible and again everything merges in Him. This

TEXT 24

TEXT

sa va esa tada drasta

napasyad drsyam ekarat

mene ‘santam ivatmanam

supta-saktir asupta-drk

SYNONYMS

sah–the Personality of Godhead; va–either; esah–all these; tada–at

that time; drasta–the seer; na–did not; apasyat–see; drsyam–the

cosmic creation; eka-rat–undisputed proprietor; mene–thought like this;

asantam–nonexistent; iva–like that; atmanam–plenary manifestations;

supta–unmanifested; saktih–material energy; asupta–manifested; drk–

internal potency.

TRANSLATION

The Lord, the undisputed proprietor of everything, was the only seer.

The cosmic manifestation was not present at that time, and thus He felt

imperfect without His plenary and separated parts and parcels. The

TEXT 25

TEXT

sa va etasya samdrastuh

saktih sad-asad-atmika

maya nama maha-bhaga

yayedam nirmame vibhuh

SYNONYMS

sa–that external energy; va–is either; etasya–of the Lord;

samdrastuh–of the perfect seer; saktih–energy; sat-asat-atmika–as both

the cause and the effect; maya nama–called by the name maya; maha-bhaga-

-O fortunate one; yaya–by which; idam–this material world; nirmame–

constructed; vibhuh–the Almighty.

TRANSLATION

The Lord is the seer, and the external energy, which is seen, works as

both cause and effect in the cosmic manifestation. O greatly fortunate

Vidura, this external energy is known as maya or illusion, and through

TEXT 26

TEXT

kala-vrttya tu mayayam

guna-mayyam adhoksajah

purusenatma-bhutena

viryam adhatta viryavan

SYNONYMS

kala–the eternal time; vrttya–by the influence of; tu–but; mayayam-

-in the external energy; guna-mayyam–in the qualitative modes of nature;

adhoksajah–the Transcendence; purusena–by the purusa incarnation; atmabhutena–

who is the plenary expansion of the Lord; viryam–the seeds of

the living entities; adhatta–impregnated; viryavan–the Supreme Living

Being.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Living Being in His feature as the transcendental purusa

incarnation, who is the Lord’s plenary expansion, impregnates the

material nature of three modes, and thus by the influence of eternal time

TEXT 27

TEXT

tato ‘bhavan mahat-tattvam

avyaktat kala-coditat

vijnanatmatma-deha-stham

visvam vyanjams tamo-nudah

SYNONYMS

tatah–thereafter; abhavat–came into existence; mahat–supreme;

tattvam–sum total; avyaktat–from the unmanifested; kala-coditat–by the

interaction of time; vijnana-atma–unalloyed goodness; atma-deha-stham–

situated on the bodily self; visvam–complete universes; vyanjan–

manifesting; tamah-nudah–the supreme light.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, influenced by the interactions of eternal time, the

supreme sum total of matter called the mahat-tattva became manifested,

and in this mahat-tattva the unalloyed goodness, the Supreme Lord, sowed

TEXT 28

TEXT

so ‘py amsa-guna-kalatma

bhagavad-drsti-gocarah

atmanam vyakarod atma

visvasyasya sisrksaya

SYNONYMS

sah–mahat-tattva; api–also; amsa–purusa plenary expansion; guna–

chiefly the quality of ignorance; kala–the duration of time; atma–full

consciousness; bhagavat–the Personality of Godhead; drsti-gocarah–range

of sight; atmanam–many different forms; vyakarot–differentiated; atma–

reservoir; visvasya–the would-be entities; asya–of this; sisrksaya–

generates the false ego.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the mahat-tattva differentiated itself into many different

forms as the reservoir of the would-be entities. The mahat-tattva is

chiefly in the mode of ignorance, and it generates the false ego. It is a

plenary expansion of the Personality of Godhead, with full consciousness

TEXT 29

TEXT

mahat-tattvad vikurvanad

aham-tattvam vyajayata

karya-karana-kartratma

bhutendriya-mano-mayah

vaikarikas taijasas ca

tamasas cety aham tridha

SYNONYMS

mahat–the great; tattvat–from the causal truth; vikurvanat–being

transformed; aham–false ego; tattvam–material truth; vyajayata–became

manifested; karya–effects; karana–cause; kartr–doer; atma–soul or

source; bhuta–material ingredients; indriya–senses; manah-mayah–

hovering on the mental plane; vaikarikah–the mode of goodness; taijasah-

-the mode of passion; ca–and; tamasah–the mode of ignorance; ca–and;

iti–thus; aham–false ego; tridha–three kinds.

TRANSLATION

Mahat-tattva, or the great causal truth, transforms into false ego,

which is manifested in three phases–cause, effect and the doer. All such

activities are on the mental plane and are based on the material

elements, gross senses and mental speculation. The false ego is

TEXT 30

TEXT

aham-tattvad vikurvanan

mano vaikarikad abhut

vaikarikas ca ye deva

arthabhivyanjanam yatah

SYNONYMS

aham-tattvat–from the principle of false ego; vikurvanat–by

transformation; manah–the mind; vaikarikat–by interaction with the mode

of goodness; abhut–generated; vaikarikah–by interaction with goodness;

ca–also; ye–all these; devah–demigods; artha–the phenomenon;

abhivyanjanam–physical knowledge; yatah–the source.

TRANSLATION

The false ego is transformed into mind by interaction with the mode of

goodness. All the demigods who control the phenomenal world are also

products of the same principle, namely the interaction of false ego and

the mode of goodness.TEXT 31

TEXT

taijasanindriyany eva

jnana-karma-mayani ca

SYNONYMS

taijasani–the mode of passion; indriyani–the senses; eva–certainly;

jnana–knowledge, philosophical speculations; karma–fruitive activities;

mayani–predominating; ca–also.

TRANSLATION

The senses are certainly products of the mode of passion in false ego,

and therefore philosophical speculative knowledge and fruitive activities

are predominantly products of the mode of passion.TEXT 32

TEXT

tamaso bhuta-suksmadir

yatah kham lingam atmanah

SYNONYMS

tamasah–from the mode of passion; bhuta-suksma-adih–subtle sense

objects; yatah–from which; kham–the sky; lingam–symbolic

representation; atmanah–of the Supreme Soul.

TRANSLATION

The sky is a product of sound, and sound is the transformation of

egoistic passion. In other words, the sky is the symbolic representation

of the Supreme Soul.TEXT 33

TEXT

kala-mayamsa-yogena

bhagavad-viksitam nabhah

nabhaso ‘nusrtam sparsam

vikurvan nirmame ‘nilam

SYNONYMS

kala–time; maya–external energy; amsa-yogena–partly mixed;

bhagavat–the Personality of Godhead; viksitam–glanced over; nabhah–the

sky; nabhasah–from the sky; anusrtam–being so contacted; sparsam–

touch; vikurvat–being transformed; nirmame–was created; anilam–the

air.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the Personality of Godhead glanced over the sky, partly

mixed with eternal time and external energy, and thus developed the touch

sensation, from which the air in the sky was produced.TEXT 34

TEXT

anilo ‘pi vikurvano

nabhasoru-balanvitah

sasarja rupa-tanmatram

jyotir lokasya locanam

SYNONYMS

anilah–air; api–also; vikurvanah–being transformed; nabhasa–sky;

uru-bala-anvitah–extremely powerful; sasarja–created; rupa–form; tatmatram–

sense perception; jyotih–electricity; lokasya–of the world;

locanam–light to see.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the extremely powerful air, interacting with the sky,

generated the form of sense perception, and the perception of form

transformed into electricity, the light to see the world.

TEXT 35

TEXT

anilenanvitam jyotir

vikurvat paraviksitam

adhattambho rasa-mayam

kala-mayamsa-yogatah

SYNONYMS

anilena–by the air; anvitam–interacted; jyotih–electricity;

vikurvat–being transformed; paraviksitam–being glanced over by the

Supreme; adhatta–created; ambhah rasa-mayam–water with taste; kala–of

eternal time; maya-amsa–and external energy; yogatah–by a mixture.

TRANSLATION

When electricity was surcharged in the air and was glanced over by the

Supreme, at that time, by a mixture of eternal time and external energy,

there occurred the creation of water and taste.

TEXT 36

TEXT

jyotisambho ‘nusamsrstam

vikurvad brahma-viksitam

mahim gandha-gunam adhat

kala-mayamsa-yogatah

SYNONYMS

jyotisa–electricity; ambhah–water; anusamsrstam–thus created;

vikurvat–due to transformation; brahma–the Supreme; viksitam–so

glanced over; mahim–the earth; gandha–smell; gunam–qualification;

adhat–was created; kala–eternal time; maya–external energy; amsa–

partially; yogatah–by intermixture.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the water produced from electricity was glanced over by the

Supreme Personality of Godhead and mixed with eternal time and external

energy. Thus it was transformed into the earth, which is qualified

primarily by smell.TEXT 37

TEXT

bhutanam nabha-adinam

yad yad bhavyavaravaram

tesam paranusamsargad

yatha sankhyam gunan viduh

SYNONYMS

bhutanam–of all the physical elements; nabhah–the sky; adinam–

beginning from; yat–as; yat–and as; bhavya–O gentle one; avara–

inferior; varam–superior; tesam–all of them; para–the Supreme;

anusamsargat–last touch; yatha–as many; sankhyam–number; gunan–

qualities; viduh–you may understand.

TRANSLATION

O gentle one, of all the physical elements, beginning from the sky

down to the earth, all the inferior and superior qualities are due only

to the final touch of the glance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 38

TEXT

ete devah kala visnoh

kala-mayamsa-linginah

nanatvat sva-kriyanisah

procuh pranjalayo vibhum

SYNONYMS

ete–of all these physical elements; devah–the controlling demigods;

kalah–parts and parcels; visnoh–of the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

kala–time; maya–external energy; amsa–part and parcel; linginah–so

embodied; nanatvat–because of various; sva-kriya–personal duties;

anisah–not being able to perform; procuh–uttered; pranjalayah–

fascinating; vibhum–unto the Lord.

TRANSLATION

The controlling deities of all the above-mentioned physical elements

are empowered expansions of Lord Visnu. They are embodied by eternal time

under the external energy, and they are His parts and parcels. Because

they were entrusted with different functions of universal duties and were

unable to perform them, they offered fascinating prayers to the Lord as

follows.TEXT 39

TEXT

deva ucuh

namama te deva padaravindam

prapanna-tapopasamatapatram

yan-mula-keta yatayo ‘njasorusamsara-

duhkham bahir utksipanti

SYNONYMS

devah ucuh–the demigods said; namama–we offer our respectful

obeisances; te–Your; deva–O Lord; pada-aravindam–lotus feet; prapanna-

-surrendered; tapa–distress; upasama–suppresses; atapatram–umbrella;

yat-mula-ketah–shelter of the lotus feet; yatayah–great sages; anjasa–

totally; uru–great; samsara-duhkham–miseries of material existence;

bahih–out; utksipanti–forcibly throw.

TRANSLATION

The demigods said: O Lord, Your lotus feet are like an umbrella for

the surrendered souls, protecting them from all the miseries of material

existence. All the sages under that shelter throw off all material

miseries. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto Your lotus

feet.TEXT 40

TEXT

dhatar yad asmin bhava isa jivas

tapa-trayenabhihata na sarma

atman labhante bhagavams tavanghricchayam

sa-vidyam ata asrayema

SYNONYMS

dhatah–O father; yat–because; asmin–in this; bhave–material world;

isa–O Lord; jivah–the living entities; tapa–miseries; trayena–by the

three; abhihatah–always embarrassed; na–never; sarma–in happiness;

atman–self; labhante–do gain; bhagavan–O Personality of Godhead; tava-

-Your; anghri-chayam–shade of Your feet; sa-vidyam–full of knowledge;

atah–obtain; asrayema–shelter.

TRANSLATION

O Father, O Lord, O Personality of Godhead, the living entities in the

material world can never have any happiness because they are overwhelmed

by the three kinds of miseries. Therefore they take shelter of the shade

of Your lotus feet, which are full of knowledge, and we also thus take

shelter of them.TEXT 41

TEXT

marganti yat te mukha-padma-nidais

chandah-suparnair rsayo vivikte

yasyagha-marsoda-sarid-varayah

padam padam tirtha-padah prapannah

SYNONYMS

marganti–searching after; yat–as; te–Your; mukha-padma–lotuslike

face; nidaih–by those who have taken shelter of such a lotus flower;

chandah–Vedic hymns; suparnaih–by the wings; rsayah–the sages;

vivikte–in clear mind; yasya–whose; agha-marsa-uda–that which offers

freedom from all reactions to sin; sarit–rivers; varayah–in the best;

padam padam–in every step; tirtha-padah–one whose lotus feet are as

good as a place of pilgrimage; prapannah–taking shelter.

TRANSLATION

The lotus feet of the Lord are by themselves the shelter of all places

of pilgrimage. The great clear-minded sages, carried by the wings of the

Vedas, always search after the nest of Your lotuslike face. Some of them

surrender to Your lotus feet at every step by taking shelter of the best

of rivers [the Ganges], which can deliver one from all sinful reactions.TEXT 42

TEXT

yac chraddhaya srutavatya ca bhaktya

sammrjyamane hrdaye ‘vadhaya

jnanena vairagya-balena dhira

vrajema tat te ‘nghri-saroja-pitham

SYNONYMS

yat–that which; sraddhaya–by eagerness; srutavatya–simply by

hearing; ca–also; bhaktya–in devotion; sammrjyamane–being cleansed;

hrdaye–in the heart; avadhaya–meditation; jnanena–by knowledge;

vairagya–detachment; balena–by the strength of; dhirah–the pacified;

vrajema–must go to; tat–that; te–Your; anghri–feet; saroja-pitham–

lotus sanctuary.

TRANSLATION

Simply by hearing about Your lotus feet with eagerness and devotion

and by meditating upon them within the heart, one at once becomes

enlightened with knowledge, and on the strength of detachment one becomes

pacified. We must therefore take shelter of the sanctuary of Your lotus

feet.TEXT 43

TEXT

visvasya janma-sthiti-samyamarthe

krtavatarasya padambujam te

vrajema sarve saranam yad isa

smrtam prayacchaty abhayam sva-pumsam

SYNONYMS

visvasya–of the cosmic universe; janma–creation; sthiti–

maintenance; samyama-arthe–for the dissolution also; krta–accepted or

assumed; avatarasya–of the incarnations; pada-ambujam–lotus feet; te–

Your; vrajema–let us take shelter of; sarve–all of us; saranam–

shelter; yat–that which; isa–O Lord; smrtam–remembrance; prayacchati–

awarding; abhayam–courage; sva-pumsam–of the devotees.

TRANSLATION

O Lord, You assume incarnations for the creation, maintenance and

dissolution of the cosmic manifestation, and therefore we all take

shelter of Your lotus feet because they always award remembrance and

courage to Your devotees.TEXT 44

TEXT

yat sanubandhe ‘sati deha-gehe

mamaham ity udha-duragrahanam

pumsam suduram vasato ‘pi puryam

bhajema tat te bhagavan padabjam

SYNONYMS

yat–because; sa-anubandhe–due to becoming entangled; asati–thus

being; deha–the gross material body; gehe–in the home; mama–mine;

aham–I; iti–thus; udha–great, deep; duragrahanam–undesirable

eagerness; pumsam–of persons; su-duram–far away; vasatah–dwelling;

api–although; puryam–within the body; bhajema–let us worship; tat–

therefore; te–Your; bhagavan–O Lord; pada-abjam–lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

O Lord, persons who are entangled by undesirable eagerness for the

temporary body and kinsmen, and who are bound by thoughts of “mine” and

“I,” are unable to see Your lotus feet, although Your lotus feet are

situated within their own bodies. But let us take shelter of Your lotus

feet.TEXT 45

TEXT

tan vai hy asad-vrttibhir aksibhir ye

parahrtantar-manasah paresa

atho na pasyanty urugaya nunam

ye te padanyasa-vilasa-laksyah

SYNONYMS

tan–the lotus feet of the Lord; vai–certainly; hi–for; asat–

materialistic; vrttibhih–by those who are influenced by external energy;

aksibhih–by the senses; ye–those; parahrta–missing at a distance;

antah-manasah–of the internal mind; paresa–O Supreme; atho–therefore;

na–never; pasyanti–can see; urugaya–O great; nunam–but; ye–those

who; te–Your; padanyasa–activities; vilasa–transcendental enjoyment;

laksyah–those who see.

TRANSLATION

O great Supreme Lord, offensive persons whose internal vision has been

too affected by external materialistic activities cannot see Your lotus

feet, but they are seen by Your pure devotees, whose one and only aim is

to transcendentally enjoy Your activities.TEXT 46

TEXT

panena te deva katha-sudhayah

pravrddha-bhaktya visadasaya ye

vairagya-saram pratilabhya bodham

yathanjasanviyur akuntha-dhisnyam

SYNONYMS

panena–by drinking; te–of You; deva–O Lord; katha–topics;

sudhayah–of the nectar; pravrddha–highly enlightened; bhaktya–by

devotional service; visada-asayah–with a greatly serious attitude; ye–

those who; vairagya-saram–the entire purport of renunciation;

pratilabhya–achieving; bodham–intelligence; yatha–as much as; anjasa–

quickly; anviyuh–achieve; akuntha-dhisnyam–Vaikunthaloka in the

spiritual sky.

TRANSLATION

O Lord, persons who, because of their serious attitude, attain the

stage of enlightened devotional service achieve the complete meaning of

renunciation and knowledge and attain the Vaikunthaloka in the spiritual

sky simply by drinking the nectar of Your topics.TEXT 47

TEXT

tathapare catma-samadhi-yogabalena

jitva prakrtim balistham

tvam eva dhirah purusam visanti

tesam sramah syan na tu sevaya te

SYNONYMS

tatha–as far as; apare–others; ca–also; atma-samadhi–

transcendental self-realization; yoga–means; balena–by the strength of;

jitva–conquering; prakrtim–acquired nature or modes of nature;

balistham–very powerful; tvam–You; eva–only; dhirah–pacified;

purusam–person; visanti–enters into; tesam–for them; sramah–much

labor; syat–has to be taken; na–never; tu–but; sevaya–by serving; te-

-of You.

TRANSLATION

Others, who are pacified by means of transcendental self-realization

and have conquered over the modes of nature by dint of strong power and

knowledge, also enter into You, but for them there is much pain, whereas

the devotee simply discharges devotional service and thus feels no such

pain.TEXT 48

TEXT

tat te vayam loka-sisrksayadya

tvayanusrstas tribhir atmabhih sma

sarve viyuktah sva-vihara-tantram

na saknumas tat pratihartave te

SYNONYMS

tat–therefore; te–Your; vayam–all of us; loka–world; sisrksaya–

for the sake of creation; adya–O Original person; tvaya–by You;

anusrstah–being created one after another; tribhih–by the three modes

of nature; atmabhih–by one’s own; sma–in the past; sarve–all;

viyuktah–separated; sva-vihara-tantram–the network of activities for

one’s own pleasure; na–not; saknumah–could do it; tat–that;

pratihartave–to award; te–unto Your.

TRANSLATION

O Original Person, we are therefore but Yours only. Although we are

Your creatures, we are born one after another under the influence of the

three modes of nature, and for this reason we are separated in action.

Therefore, after the creation we could not act concertedly for Your

transcendental pleasure.TEXT 49

TEXT

yavad balim te ‘ja harama kale

yatha vayam cannam adama yatra

yathobhayesam ta ime hi loka

balim haranto ‘nnam adanty anuhah

SYNONYMS

yavat–as it may be; balim–offerings; te–Your; aja–O unborn one;

harama–shall offer; kale–at the right time; yatha–as much as; vayam–

we; ca–also; annam–food grains; adama–shall partake; yatra–whereupon;

yatha–as much as; ubhayesam–both for You and for us; te–all; ime–

these; hi–certainly; lokah–living entities; balim–offerings; harantah-

-while offering; annam–grains; adanti–eat; anuhah–without disturbance.

TRANSLATION

O unborn one, please enlighten us regarding the ways and means by

which we can offer You all enjoyable grains and commodities so that both

we and all other living entities in this world can maintain ourselves

without disturbance and can easily accumulate the necessities of life

both for You and for ourselves.TEXT 50

TEXT

tvam nah suranam asi sanvayanam

kuta-stha adyah purusah puranah

tvam deva saktyam guna-karma-yonau

retas tv ajayam kavim adadhe ‘jah

SYNONYMS

tvam–Your Lordship; nah–of us; suranam–of the demigods; asi–You

are; sa-anvayanam–with different gradations; kuta-sthah–one who is

unchanged; adyah–without any superior; purusah–the founder person;

puranah–the oldest, who has no other founder; tvam–You; deva–O Lord;

saktyam–unto the energy; guna-karma-yonau–unto the cause of the

material modes and activities; retah–semen of birth; tu–indeed; ajayam-

-for begetting; kavim–the total living entities; adadhe–initiated;

ajah–one who is unborn.

TRANSLATION

You are the original personal founder of all the demigods and the

orders of different gradations, yet You are the oldest and are unchanged.

O Lord, You have no source or superior. You have impregnated the external

energy with the semen of the total living entities, yet You are unborn.TEXT 51

TEXT

tato vayam mat-pramukha yad-arthe

babhuvimatman karavama kim te

tvam nah sva-caksuh paridehi saktya

deva kriyarthe yad-anugrahanam

SYNONYMS

tatah–therefore; vayam–all of us; mat-pramukhah–coming from the

total cosmos, the mahat-tattva; yat-arthe–for the purpose of which;

babhuvima–created; atman–O Supreme Self; karavama–shall do; kim–what;

te–Your service; tvam–Yourself; nah–to us; sva-caksuh–personal plan;

paridehi–specifically grant us; saktya–with potency to work; deva–O

Lord; kriya-arthe–for acting; yat–from which; anugrahanam–of those who

are specifically favored.

TRANSLATION

O Supreme Self, please give us, who are created in the beginning from

the mahat-tattva, the total cosmic energy, Your kind directions on how we

shall act. Kindly award us Your perfect knowledge and potency so that we

can render You service in the different departments of subsequent

creation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT 1

TEXT

uddhava uvaca

atha te tad-anujnata

bhuktva pitva ca varunim

taya vibhramsita-jnana

duruktair marma pasprsuh

SYNONYMS

uddhavah uvaca–Uddhava said; atha–thereafter; te–they (the

Yadavas); tat–by the brahmanas; anujnatah–being permitted; bhuktva–

after partaking; pitva–drinking; ca–and; varunim–liquor; taya–by

that; vibhramsita-jnanah–being bereft of knowledge; duruktaih–with

harsh words; marma–the core of the heart; pasprsuh–touched.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, all of them [the descendants of Vrsni and Bhoja], being

permitted by the brahmanas, partook of the remnants of prasada and also

drank liquor made of rice. By drinking they all became delirious, and,

bereft of knowledge, they touched the cores of each other’s hearts with

TEXT 2

TEXT

tesam maireya-dosena

visamikrta-cetasam

nimlocati ravav asid

venunam iva mardanam

SYNONYMS

tesam–of them; maireya–of intoxication; dosena–by the faults;

visamikrta–became unbalanced; cetasam–of those of whom the minds;

nimlocati–sets; ravau–the sun; asit–takes place; venunam–of the

bamboos; iva–as; mardanam–destruction.

TRANSLATION

As by the friction of bamboos destruction takes place, so also, at

sunset, by the interaction of the faults of intoxication, all their minds

TEXT 3

TEXT

bhagavan svatma-mayaya

gatim tam avalokya sah

sarasvatim upasprsya

vrksa-mulam upavisat

SYNONYMS

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; sva-atma-mayayah–by His

internal potency; gatim–the end; tam–that; avalokya–foreseeing; sah–

He (Krsna); sarasvatim–the River Sarasvati; upasprsya–after sipping

water; vrksa-mulam–at the foot of a tree; upavisat–sat down.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, after foreseeing the end

[of His family] by His internal potency, went to the bank of the River

TEXT 4

TEXT

aham cokto bhagavata

prapannarti-harena ha

badarim tvam prayahiti

sva-kulam sanjihirsuna

SYNONYMS

aham–I; ca–and; uktah–was told; bhagavata–by the Supreme Lord;

prapanna–of the surrendered; arti-harena–by He who is the vanquisher of

the distresses; ha–indeed; badarim–to Badari; tvam–you; prayahi–

should go; iti–thus; sva-kulam–His own family; sanjihirsuna–who

desired to destroy.

TRANSLATION

The Lord is the vanquisher of the distresses of one who is surrendered

unto Him. Thus He who desired to destroy His family told me previously to

TEXT 5

TEXT

tathapi tad-abhipretam

janann aham arindama

prsthato ‘nvagamam bhartuh

pada-vislesanaksamah

SYNONYMS

tatha api–yet, in spite of; tat-abhipretam–His desire; janan–

knowing; aham–I; arim-dama–O subduer of the enemy (Vidura); prsthatah–

behind; anvagamam–followed; bhartuh–of the master; pada-vislesana–

separation from His lotus feet; aksamah–not being able.

TRANSLATION

Yet in spite of my knowing His desire [to destroy the dynasty], O

Arindama [Vidura], I followed Him because it was impossible for me to

bear separation from the lotus feet of the master.

TEXT 6

TEXT

adraksam ekam asinam

vicinvan dayitam patim

sri-niketam sarasvatyam

krta-ketam aketanam

SYNONYMS

adraksam–I saw; ekam–alone; asinam–sitting; vicinvan–deeply

thinking; dayitam–patron; patim–master; sri-niketam–the shelter of the

goddess of fortune; sarasvatyam–on the bank of the Sarasvati; krtaketam–

taking shelter; aketanam–being situated without a shelter.

TRANSLATION

Thus following, I saw my patron and master [Lord Sri Krsna] sitting

alone and deeply thinking, taking shelter on the bank of the River

TEXT 7

TEXT

syamavadatam virajam

prasantaruna-locanam

dorbhis caturbhir viditam

pita-kausambarena ca

SYNONYMS

syama-avadatam–beautiful with black color; virajam–formed of pure

goodness; prasanta–peaceful; aruna–reddish; locanam–eyes; dorbhih–by

the arms; caturbhih–four; viditam–being recognized; pita–yellow;

kausa–silken; ambarena–with garments; ca–and.

TRANSLATION

The Lord’s body is blackish, but is eternal, full of bliss and

knowledge, and very, very beautiful. His eyes are always peaceful, and

they are reddish like the rising morning sun. I could immediately

recognize Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His four hands,

different symbolic representations, and yellow silk garments.

TEXT 8

TEXT

vama urav adhisritya

daksinanghri-saroruham

apasritarbhakasvattham

akrsam tyakta-pippalam

SYNONYMS

vame–on the left; urau–thigh; adhisritya–placed on; daksina-anghrisaroruham–

the right lotus foot; apasrita–taking rest against; arbhaka–

young; asvattham–banyan tree; akrsam–cheerful; tyakta–having left;

pippalam–household comforts.

TRANSLATION

The Lord was sitting, taking rest against a young banyan tree, with

His right lotus foot on His left thigh, and although He had left all

TEXT 9

TEXT

tasmin maha-bhagavato

dvaipayana-suhrt-sakha

lokan anucaran siddha

asasada yadrcchaya

SYNONYMS

tasmin–then; maha-bhagavatah–a great devotee of the Lord;

dvaipayana–of Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa; suhrt–a well-wisher; sakha–a

friend; lokan–the three worlds; anucaran–traveling; siddhe–in that

asrama; asasada–arrived; yadrcchaya–by his own perfect accord.

TRANSLATION

At that time, after traveling in many parts of the world, Maitreya, a

great devotee of the Lord and a friend and well-wisher of the great sage

TEXT 10

TEXT

tasyanuraktasya muner mukundah

pramoda-bhavanata-kandharasya

asrnvato mam anuraga-hasasamiksaya

visramayann uvaca

SYNONYMS

tasya–his (Maitreya’s); anuraktasya–although attached; muneh–of the

sage; mukundah–the Lord who awards salvation; pramoda-bhava–in a

pleasing attitude; anata–lowered; kandharasya–of the shoulder;

asrnvatah–while thus hearing; mam–unto me; anuraga-hasa–with kind

smiling; samiksaya–particularly seeing me; visra-mayan–allowing me

complete rest; uvaca–said.

TRANSLATION

Maitreya Muni was greatly attached to Him [the Lord], and he was

listening in a pleasing attitude, with his shoulder lowered. With a smile

and a particular glance upon me, having allowed me to rest, the Lord

TEXT 11

TEXT

sri-bhagavan uvaca

vedaham antar manasipsitam te

dadami yat tad duravapam anyaih

satre pura visva-srjam vasunam

mat-siddhi-kamena vaso tvayestah

SYNONYMS

sri-bhagavan uvaca–the Personality of Godhead said; veda–know; aham-

-I; antah–within; manasi–the mind; ipsitam–what you desired; te–your;

dadami–I give you; yat–which is; tat–that; duravapam–very difficult

to achieve; anyaih–by others; satre–in the sacrifice; pura–in the days

of yore; visva-srjam–of those who expanded this creation; vasunam–of

the Vasus; mat-siddhi-kamena–with a desire to achieve My association;

vaso–O Vasu; tvaya–by you; istah–ultimate goal of life.

TRANSLATION

O Vasu, I know from within your mind what you desired in the days of

yore when the Vasus and other demigods responsible for expanding the

universal affairs performed sacrifices. You particularly desired to

achieve My association. This is very difficult to obtain for others, but

TEXT 12

TEXT

sa esa sadho caramo bhavanam

asaditas te mad-anugraho yat

yan mam nrlokan raha utsrjantam

distya dadrsvan visadanuvrttya

SYNONYMS

sah–that; esah–of those; sadho–O honest one; caramah–the ultimate;

bhavanam–of all your incarnations (as Vasu); asaditah–now achieved; te-

-unto you; mat–My; anugrahah–mercy; yat–as it is; yat–because; mam–

Me; nr-lokan–the planets of the conditioned souls; rahah–in seclusion;

utsrjantam–while quitting; distya–by seeing; dadrsvan–what you have

seen; visada-anuvrttya–by unflinching devotion.

TRANSLATION

O honest one, your present life is the last and the supermost because

in this term of life you have been awarded My ultimate favor. Now you can

go to My transcendental abode, Vaikuntha, by leaving this universe of

conditioned living entities. Your visit to Me in this lonely place

because of your pure and unflinching devotional service is a great boon

TEXT 13

TEXT

pura maya proktam ajaya nabhye

padme nisannaya mamadi-sarge

jnanam param man-mahimavabhasam

yat surayo bhagavatam vadanti

SYNONYMS

pura–in the days of yore; maya–by Me; proktam–was said; ajaya–unto

Brahma; nabhye–out of the navel; padme–on the lotus; nisannaya–unto

the one situated on; mama–My; adi-sarge–in the beginning of creation;

jnanam–knowledge; param–sublime; mat-mahima–My transcendental glories;

avabhasam–that which clarifies; yat–which; surayah–the great learned

sages; bhagavatam–Srimad-Bhagavatam; vadanti–do say.

TRANSLATION

O Uddhava, in the lotus millennium in the days of yore, at the

beginning of the creation, I spoke unto Brahma, who is situated on the

lotus that grows out of My navel, about My transcendental glories, which

TEXT 14

TEXT

ity adrtoktah paramasya pumsah

pratiksananugraha-bhajano ‘ham

snehottha-roma skhalitaksaras tam

muncan chucah pranjalir ababhase

SYNONYMS

iti–thus; adrta–being favored; uktah–addressed; paramasya–of the

Supreme; pumsah–Personality of Godhead; pratiksana–every moment;

anugraha-bhajanah–object of favor; aham–myself; sneha–affection;

uttha–eruption; roma–hairs on the body; skhalita–slackened; aksarah–

of the eyes; tam–that; muncan–smearing; sucah–tears; pranjalih–with

folded hands; ababhase–said.

TRANSLATION

Uddhava said: O Vidura, when I was thus favored at every moment by the

Supreme Personality of Godhead and addressed by Him with great affection,

my words failed in tears, and the hairs on my body erupted. After

smearing my tears, I, with folded hands, spoke like this.

TEXT 15

TEXT

ko nv isa te pada-saroja-bhajam

sudurlabho ‘rthesu catursv apiha

tathapi naham pravrnomi bhuman

bhavat-padambhoja-nisevanotsukah

SYNONYMS

kah nu isa–O my Lord; te–Your; pada-saroja-bhajam–of the devotees

engaged in the transcendental loving service of Your lotus feet; sudurlabhah–

very difficult to obtain; arthesu–in the matter of; catursu–

in the four objectives; api–in spite of; iha–in this world; tatha api–

yet; na–do not; aham–I; pravrnomi–prefer; bhuman–O great one; bhavat-

-Your; pada-ambhoja–lotus feet; nisevana-utsukah–anxious to serve.

TRANSLATION

O my Lord, devotees who engage in the transcendental loving service of

Your lotus feet have no difficulty in achieving anything within the realm

of the four principles of religiosity, economic development, sense

gratification and liberation. But, O great one, as far as I am concerned,

TEXT 16

TEXT

karmany anihasya bhavo ‘bhavasya te

durgasrayo ‘thari-bhayat palayanam

kalatmano yat pramada-yutasramah

svatman-rateh khidyati dhir vidam iha

SYNONYMS

karmani–activities; anihasya–of one who has no desire; bhavah–

birth; abhavasya–of one who is never born; te–your; durga-asrayah–

taking shelter of the fort; atha–thereafter; ari-bhayat–out of fear of

the enemies; palayanam–flee; kala-atmanah–of He who is the controller

of eternal time; yat–that; pramada-ayuta–in the association of women;

asramah–household life; sva-atman–in Your own Self; rateh–one who

enjoys; khidyati–is disturbed; dhih–intelligence; vidam–of the

learned; iha–in this world.

TRANSLATION

My Lord, even the learned sages become disturbed in their intelligence

when they see that Your Greatness engages in fruitive work although You

are free from all desires, that You take birth although You are unborn,

that You flee out of fear of the enemy and take shelter in a fort

although You are the controller of invincible time, and that You enjoy

householder life surrounded by many women although You enjoy in Your

TEXT 17

TEXT

mantresu mam va upahuya yat tvam

akunthitakhanda-sadatma-bodhah

prccheh prabho mugdha ivapramattas

tan no mano mohayativa deva

SYNONYMS

mantresu–in consultations; mam–unto me; vai–as either; upahuya–by

calling; yat–as much as; tvam–Your Lordship; akunthita–without

hesitation; akhanda–without being separated; sada–eternally; atma–

self; bodhah–intelligent; prccheh–asked; prabho–O my Lord; mugdhah–

bewildered; iva–as if it were so; apramattah–although never bewildered;

tat–that; nah–our; manah–mind; mohayati–bewilders; iva–as it is so;

deva–O my Lord.

TRANSLATION

O my Lord, Your eternal Self is never divided by the influence of

time, and there is no limitation to Your perfect knowledge. Thus You were

sufficiently able to consult with Yourself, yet You called upon me for

consultation, as if bewildered, although You are never bewildered. And

TEXT 18

TEXT

jnanam param svatma-rahah-prakasam

provaca kasmai bhagavan samagram

api ksamam no grahanaya bhartar

vadanjasa yad vrjinam tarema

SYNONYMS

jnanam–knowledge; param–supreme; sva-atma–own self; rahah–mystery;

prakasam–enlightening; provaca–said; kasmai–unto Ka (Brahmaji);

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; samagram–in sum total; api–if so;

ksamam–able; nah–unto me; grahanaya–acceptable; bhartah–O my Lord;

vada–say; anjasa–in detail; yat–that which; vrjinam–miseries; tarema-

-can cross over.

TRANSLATION

My Lord, kindly explain to us, if You think us competent to receive

it, that transcendental knowledge which gives enlightenment about

TEXT 19

TEXT

ity avedita-hardaya

mahyam sa bhagavan parah

adidesaravindaksa

atmanah paramam sthitim

SYNONYMS

iti avedita–thus being prayed to by me; hardaya–from the core of my

heart; mahyam–unto me; sah–He; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead;

parah–Supreme; adidesa–instructed; aravinda-aksah–the lotus-eyed;

atmanah–of Himself; paramam–transcendental; sthitim–situation.

TRANSLATION

When I thus expressed my heartfelt desires unto the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, the lotus-eyed Lord instructed me about His

transcendental situation.TEXT 20

TEXT

sa evam aradhita-pada-tirthad

adhita-tattvatma-vibodha-margah

pranamya padau parivrtya devam

ihagato ‘ham virahaturatma

SYNONYMS

sah–so myself; evam–thus; aradhita–worshiped; pada-tirthat–from

the Personality of Godhead; adhita–studied; tattva-atma–self-knowledge;

vibodha–understanding; margah–path; pranamya–after saluting; padau–at

His lotus feet; parivrtya–after circumambulating; devam–the Lord; iha–

at this place; agatah–reached; aham–I; viraha–separation; atura-atma–

aggrieved in self.

TRANSLATION

I have studied the path of understanding self-knowledge from my

spiritual master, the Personality of Godhead, and thus after

circumambulating Him I have come to this place, very much aggrieved due

to separation.TEXT 21

TEXT

so ‘ham tad-darsanahladaviyogarti-

yutah prabho

gamisye dayitam tasya

badaryasrama-mandalam

SYNONYMS

sah aham–thus myself; tat–His; darsana–audience; ahlada–pleasure;

viyoga–without that; arti-yutah–afflicted by distress; prabho–my dear

sir; gamisye–shall go; dayitam–so instructed; tasya–His; badaryasrama-

-Badarikasrama, in the Himalayas; mandalam–association.

TRANSLATION

My dear Vidura, now I am mad for want of the pleasure of seeing Him,

and just to mitigate this I am now proceeding to Badarikasrama in the

Himalayas for association, as I have been instructed by Him.TEXT 22

TEXT

yatra narayano devo

naras ca bhagavan rsih

mrdu tivram tapo dirgham

tepate loka-bhavanau

SYNONYMS

yatra–where; narayanah–the Personality of Godhead; devah–by

incarnation; narah–human being; ca–also; bhagavan–the Lord; rsih–

great sage; mrdu–amiable to everyone; tivram–severe; tapah–penance;

dirgham–very long; tepate–performing; loka-bhavanau–welfare of all

living entities.

TRANSLATION

There in Badarikasrama the Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation

as the sages Nara and Narayana, has been undergoing great penance since

time immemorial for the welfare of all amiable living entities.TEXT 23

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

ity uddhavad upakarnya

suhrdam duhsaham vadham

jnanenasamayat ksatta

sokam utpatitam budhah

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Suka Gosvami said; iti–thus; uddhavat–from

Uddhava; upakarnya–hearing; suhrdam–of friends and relatives; duhsaham-

-unbearable; vadham–annihilation; jnanena–by transcendental knowledge;

asamayat–pacified himself; ksatta–Vidura; sokam–bereavement;

utpatitam–arisen; budhah–the learned.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: After hearing from Uddhava all about the

annihilation of his friends and relatives, the learned Vidura pacified

his overwhelming bereavement by dint of his transcendental knowledge.TEXT 24

TEXT

sa tam maha-bhagavatam

vrajantam kauravarsabhah

visrambhad abhyadhattedam

mukhyam krsna-parigrahe

SYNONYMS

sah–Vidura; tam–unto Uddhava; maha-bhagavatam–the great devotee of

the Lord; vrajantam–while going; kaurava-rsabhah–the best amongst the

Kauravas; visrambhat–out of confidence; abhyadhatta–submitted; idam–

this; mukhyam–unto the chief; krsna–Lord Krsna; parigrahe–in

devotional service to the Lord.

TRANSLATION

While Uddhava, the chief and most confidential amongst the devotees of

the Lord, was going away, Vidura, in affection and confidence, questioned

him.TEXT 25

TEXT

vidura uvaca

jnanam param svatma-rahah-prakasam

yad aha yogesvara isvaras te

vaktum bhavan no ‘rhati yad dhi visnor

bhrtyah sva-bhrtyartha-krtas caranti

SYNONYMS

vidurah uvaca–Vidura said; jnanam–knowledge; param–transcendental;

sva-atma–regarding the self; rahah–mystery; prakasam–enlightening;

yat–that which; aha–said; yoga-isvarah–the master of all mystics;

isvarah–the Lord; te–unto you; vaktum–to narrate; bhavan–your good

self; nah–unto me; arhati–deserve; yat–for; hi–reason of; visnoh–of

Lord Visnu; bhrtyah–servants; sva-bhrtya-artha-krtah–for the interest

of their servants; caranti–do wander.

TRANSLATION

Vidura said: O Uddhava, because the servants of Visnu, the Lord,

wander in the interest of serving others, it is quite fit that you kindly

describe the self-knowledge with which you have been enlightened by the

Lord Himself.TEXT 26

TEXT

uddhava uvaca

nanu te tattva-samradhya

rsih kausaravo ‘ntike

saksad bhagavatadisto

martya-lokam jihasata

SYNONYMS

uddhavah uvaca–Uddhava said; nanu–however; te–of yourself; tattvasamradhyah–

one who is worshipable for reception of transcendental

knowledge; rsih–learned scholar; kausaravah–unto the son of Kusaru

(Maitreya); antike–staying nearby; saksat–directly; bhagavata–by the

Personality of Godhead; adistah–instructed; martya-lokam–mortal world;

jihasata–while quitting.

TRANSLATION

Sri Uddhava said: You may take lessons from the great learned sage

Maitreya, who is nearby and who is worshipable for reception of

transcendental knowledge. He was directly instructed by the Personality

of Godhead while He was about to quit this mortal world.TEXT 27

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

iti saha vidurena visva-murter

guna-kathaya sudhaya plavitorutapah

ksanam iva puline yamasvasus tam

samusita aupagavir nisam tato ‘gat

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti–thus; saha–along

with; vidurena–Vidura; visva-murteh–of the Universal Person; gunakathaya–

in the discourse of transcendental qualities; sudhaya–

nectarean; plavita-uru-tapah–overwhelmed by great affliction; ksanam–

moment; iva–like that; puline–on the bank of; yamasvasuh tam–River

Yamuna; samusitah–passed on; aupagavih–the son of Aupagava (Uddhava);

nisam–the night; tatah–thereafter; agat–went away.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, after thus discussing with Vidura the

transcendental name, fame, qualities, etc., on the bank of the Yamuna,

Uddhava was overwhelmed with great affliction. He passed the night as if

it were a moment, and thereafter he went away.TEXT 28

TEXT

rajovaca

nidhanam upagatesu vrsni-bhojesv

adhiratha-yuthapa-yuthapesu mukhyah

sa tu katham avasista uddhavo yad

dharir api tatyaja akrtim tryadhisah

SYNONYMS

raja uvaca–the King inquired; nidhanam–destruction; upagatesu–

having overtaken; vrsni–of the Vrsni dynasty; bhojesu–the Bhoja

dynasty; adhiratha–great commander; yutha-pa–commander in chief; yuthapesu–

amongst them; mukhyah–prominent; sah–he; tu–only; katham–how;

avasistah–remained; uddhavah–Uddhava; yat–whereas; harih–the

Personality of Godhead; api–also; tatyaje–finished; akrtim–complete

pastimes; tri-adhisah–the Lord of the three worlds.

TRANSLATION

The King inquired: At the end of the pastimes of the Lord of the three

worlds, Sri Krsna, and after the disappearance of the members of the

Vrsni and Bhoja dynasties, who were the best of the great commanders, why

did Uddhava alone remain?TEXT 29

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

brahma-sapapadesena

kalenamogha-vanchitah

samhrtya sva-kulam sphitam

tyaksyan deham acintayat

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; brahma-sapa–cursing by

the brahmanas; apadesena–on the plea, by such a show; kalena–by the

eternal time; amogha–unfailing; vanchitah–one who so desires; samhrtya-

-closing; sva-kulam–own family; sphitam–excessively numerous; tyaksyan-

-after giving up; deham–the universal form; acintayat–thought to

Himself.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami replied: My dear King, the cursing of the brahmanas

was only a plea, but the actual fact was the supreme desire of the Lord.

He wanted to disappear from the face of the earth after dispatching His

excessively numerous family members. He thought to Himself as follows.TEXT 30

TEXT

asmal lokad uparate

mayi jnanam mad-asrayam

arhaty uddhava evaddha

sampraty atmavatam varah

SYNONYMS

asmat–from this (universe); lokat–earth; uparate–having

disappeared; mayi–of Myself; jnanam–knowledge; mat-asrayam–concerning

Myself; arhati–deserves; uddhavah–Uddhava; eva–certainly; addha–

directly; samprati–at the present moment; atmavatam–of the devotees;

varah–foremost.

TRANSLATION

Now I shall leave the vision of this mundane world, and I see that

Uddhava, the foremost of My devotees, is the only one who can be directly

entrusted with knowledge about Me.TEXT 31

TEXT

noddhavo ‘nv api man-nyuno

yad gunair narditah prabhuh

ato mad-vayunam lokam

grahayann iha tisthatu

SYNONYMS

na–not; uddhavah–Uddhava; anu–slightly; api–also; mat–to Myself;

nyunah–inferior; yat–because; gunaih–by the modes of material nature;

na–nor; arditah–affected; prabhuh–master; atah–therefore; matvayunam–

knowledge of Me (the Personality of Godhead); lokam–the world;

grahayan–just to disseminate; iha–in this world; tisthatu–may remain.

TRANSLATION

Uddhava is not inferior to Me in any way because he is never affected

by the modes of material nature. Therefore he may remain in this world in

order to disseminate specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead.TEXT 32

TEXT

evam tri-loka-guruna

sandistah sabda-yonina

badaryasramam asadya

harim ije samadhina

SYNONYMS

evam–thus; tri-loka–three worlds; guruna–by the spiritual master;

sandistah–being perfectly taught; sabda-yonina–by one who is the source

of all Vedic knowledge; badaryasramam–in the pilgrimage site of

Badarikasrama; asadya–reaching; harim–unto the Lord; ije–satisfied;

samadhina–by trance.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami informed the King that Uddhava, being thus instructed

by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of all Vedic

knowledge and the spiritual master of the three worlds, reached the

pilgrimage site of Badarikasrama and engaged himself there in trance to

satisfy the Lord.TEXT 33

TEXT

viduro ‘py uddhavac chrutva

krsnasya paramatmanah

kridayopatta-dehasya

karmani slaghitani ca

SYNONYMS

vidurah–Vidura; api–also; uddhavat–from the source of Uddhava;

srutva–having heard; krsnasya–of Lord Krsna; parama-atmanah–of the

Supersoul; kridaya–for the sake of pastimes in the mortal world; upatta-

-extraordinarily accepted; dehasya–of the body; karmani–transcendental

activities; slaghitani–most glorious; ca–also.

TRANSLATION

Vidura also heard from Uddhava about the appearance and disappearance

of Lord Krsna, the Supersoul, in the mortal world, which is a subject

matter sought after with great perseverance by the great sages.TEXT 34

TEXT

deha-nyasam ca tasyaivam

dhiranam dhairya-vardhanam

anyesam duskarataram

pasunam viklavatmanam

SYNONYMS

deha-nyasam–entering the body; ca–also; tasya–His; evam–also;

dhiranam–of great sages; dhairya–perseverance; vardhanam–increasing;

anyesam–for others; duskara-taram–very difficult to ascertain; pasunam-

-of the beasts; viklava–disturbed; atmanam–of such a mind.

TRANSLATION

The Lord’s glorious acts and His acceptance of various transcendental

forms for the performance of extraordinary pastimes in the mortal world

are very difficult for anyone other than His devotees to understand, and

for the beasts they are simply a mental disturbance.TEXT 35

TEXT

atmanam ca kuru-srestha

krsnena manaseksitam

dhyayan gate bhagavate

ruroda prema-vihvalah

SYNONYMS

atmanam–himself; ca–also; kuru-srestha–O best amongst the Kurus;

krsnena–by Krsna; manasa–by the mind; iksitam–remembered; dhyayan–

thus thinking of; gate–having gone; bhagavate–of the devotee; ruroda–

cried loudly; prema-vihvalah–overwhelmed by the ecstasy of love.

TRANSLATION

Understanding that he was remembered by Lord Krsna [while quitting

this world], Vidura began to cry loudly, overwhelmed by the ecstasy of

love.TEXT 36

TEXT

kalindyah katibhih siddha

ahobhir bharatarsabha

prapadyata svah-saritam

yatra mitra-suto munih

SYNONYMS

kalindyah–on the bank of the Yamuna; katibhih–a few; siddhe–being

so passed; ahobhih–days; bharata-rsabha–O best of the Bharata dynasty;

prapadyata–reached; svah-saritam–the celestial water of the Ganges;

yatra–where; mitra-sutah–the son of Mitra-; munih–sage.

TRANSLATION

After passing a few days on the bank of the River Yamuna, Vidura, the

self-realized soul, reached the bank of the Ganges, where the great sage

Maitreya was situated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT 1

TEXT

uddhava uvaca

tatah sa agatya puram sva-pitros

cikirsaya sam baladeva-samyutah

nipatya tungad ripu-yutha-natham

hatam vyakarsad vyasum ojasorvyam

SYNONYMS

uddhavah uvaca–Sri Uddhava said; tatah–thereafter; sah–the Lord;

agatya–coming; puram–to the city of Mathura; sva-pitroh–own parents;

cikirsaya–wishing well; sam–well-being; baladeva-samyutah–with Lord

Baladeva; nipatya–dragging down; tungat–from the throne; ripu-yuthanatham–

leader of public enemies; hatam–killed; vyakarsat–pulled;

vyasum–dead; ojasa–by strength; urvyam–on the ground.

TRANSLATION

Sri Uddhava said: Thereafter Lord Krsna went to Mathura City with Sri

Baladeva, and to please Their parents They dragged Kamsa, the leader of

public enemies, down from his throne and killed him, pulling him along

TEXT 2

TEXT

sandipaneh sakrt proktam

brahmadhitya sa-vistaram

tasmai pradad varam putram

mrtam panca-janodarat

SYNONYMS

sandipaneh–of Sandipani Muni; sakrt–once only; proktam–instructed;

brahma–all the Vedas with their different branches of knowledge;

adhitya–after studying; sa-vistaram–in all details; tasmai–unto him;

pradat–rewarded; varam–a benediction; putram–his son; mrtam–who was

already dead; panca-jana–the region of the departed souls; udarat–from

within.

TRANSLATION

The Lord learned all the Vedas with their different branches simply by

hearing them once from His teacher, Sandipani Muni, whom He rewarded by

TEXT 3

TEXT

samahuta bhismaka-kanyaya ye

sriyah savarnena bubhusayaisam

gandharva-vrttya misatam sva-bhagam

jahre padam murdhni dadhat suparnah

SYNONYMS

samahutah–invited; bhismaka–of King Bhismaka; kanyaya–by the

daughter; ye–all those; sriyah–fortune; sa-varnena–by a similar

sequence; bubhusaya–expecting to be so; esam–of them; gandharva–in

marrying; vrttya–by such a custom; misatam–carrying so; sva-bhagam–own

share; jahre–took away; padam–feet; murdhni–on the head; dadhat–

placed; suparnah–Garuda.

TRANSLATION

Attracted by the beauty and fortune of Rukmini, the daughter of King

Bhismaka, many great princes and kings assembled to marry her. But Lord

Krsna, stepping over the other hopeful candidates, carried her away as

TEXT 4

TEXT

kakudmino ‘viddha-naso damitva

svayamvare nagnajitim uvaha

tad-bhagnamanan api grdhyato ‘jnan

jaghne ‘ksatah sastra-bhrtah sva-sastraih

SYNONYMS

kakudminah–bulls whose noses were not pierced; aviddha-nasah–pierced

by the nose; damitva–subduing; svayamvare–in the open competition to

select the bridegroom; nagnajitim–Princess Nagnijiti; uvaha–married;

tat-bhagnamanan–in that way all who were disappointed; api–even though;

grdhyatah–wanted; ajnan–the fools; jaghne–killed and wounded; aksatah-

-without being wounded; sastra-bhrtah–equipped with all weapons; svasastraih–

by His own weapons.

TRANSLATION

By subduing seven bulls whose noses were not pierced, the Lord

achieved the hand of Princess Nagnijiti in the open competition to select

her bridegroom. Although the Lord was victorious, His competitors asked

the hand of the princess, and thus there was a fight. Well equipped with

weapons, the Lord killed or wounded all of them, but He was not hurt

Himself.

TEXT 5

TEXT

priyam prabhur gramya iva priyaya

vidhitsur arcchad dyutarum yad-arthe

vajry adravat tam sa-gano rusandhah

krida-mrgo nunam ayam vadhunam

SYNONYMS

priyam–of the dear wife; prabhuh–the Lord; gramyah–ordinary living

being; iva–in the manner of; priyayah–just to please; vidhitsuh–

wishing; arcchat–brought about; dyutarum–the parijata flower tree; yat-

-for which; arthe–in the matter of; vajri–Indra, the King of heaven;

adravat tam–went forward to fight with Him; sa-ganah–with full

strength; rusa–in anger; andhah–blind; krida-mrgah–henpecked; nunam–

of course; ayam–this; vadhunam–of the wives.

TRANSLATION

Just to please His dear wife, the Lord brought back the parijata tree

from heaven, just as an ordinary husband would do. But Indra, the King of

heaven, induced by his wives (henpecked as he was), ran after the Lord

TEXT 6

TEXT

sutam mrdhe kham vapusa grasantam

drstva sunabhonmathitam dharitrya

amantritas tat-tanayaya sesam

dattva tad-antah-puram avivesa

SYNONYMS

sutam–son; mrdhe–in the fight; kham–the sky; vapusa–by his body;

grasantam–while devouring; drstva–seeing; sunabha–by the Sudarsana

wheel; unmathitam–killed; dharitrya–by the earth; amantritah–being

prayed for; tat-tanayaya–to the son of Narakasura; sesam–that which was

taken from; dattva–returning it; tat–his; antah-puram–inside the

house; avivesa–entered.

TRANSLATION

Narakasura, the son of Dharitri, the earth, tried to grasp the whole

sky, and for this he was killed by the Lord in a fight. His mother then

prayed to the Lord. This led to the return of the kingdom to the son of

TEXT 7

TEXT

tatrahrtas ta nara-deva-kanyah

kujena drstva harim arta-bandhum

utthaya sadyo jagrhuh praharsavridanuraga-

prahitavalokaih

SYNONYMS

tatra–inside the house of Narakasura; ahrtah–kidnapped; tah–all

those; nara-deva-kanyah–daughters of many kings; kujena–by the demon;

drstva–by seeing; harim–the Lord; arta-bandhum–the friend of the

distressed; utthaya–at once got up; sadyah–then and there; jagrhuh–

accepted; praharsa–joyfully; vrida–shyness; anuraga–attachment;

prahita-avalokaih–by eager glances.

TRANSLATION

There in the house of the demon, all the princesses kidnapped by

Narakasura at once became alert upon seeing the Lord, the friend of the

distressed. They looked upon Him with eagerness, joy and shyness and

TEXT 8

TEXT

asam muhurta ekasmin

nanagaresu yositam

sa-vidham jagrhe panin

anurupah sva-mayaya

SYNONYMS

asam–all those; muhurte–at one time; ekasmin–simultaneously; nanaagaresu–

in different compartments; yositam–of the women; sa-vidham–

with perfect rituals; jagrhe–accepted; panin–hands; anurupah–exactly

to match; sva-mayaya–by His internal potency.

TRANSLATION

All those princesses were lodged in different apartments, and the Lord

simultaneously assumed different bodily expansions exactly matching each

and every princess. He accepted their hands in perfect rituals by His

TEXT 9

TEXT

tasv apatyany ajanayad

atma-tulyani sarvatah

ekaikasyam dasa dasa

prakrter vibubhusaya

SYNONYMS

tasu–unto them; apatyani–offspring; ajanayat–begot; atma-tulyani–

all like Himself; sarvatah–in all respects; eka-ekasyam–in each and

every one of them; dasa–ten; dasa–ten; prakrteh–for expanding Himself;

vibubhusaya–so desiring.

TRANSLATION

Just to expand Himself according to His transcendental features, the

Lord begot in each and every one of them ten offspring with exactly His

own qualities.

TEXT 10

TEXT

kala-magadha-salvadin

anikai rundhatah puram

ajighanat svayam divyam

sva-pumsam teja adisat

SYNONYMS

kala–Kalayavana; magadha–the King of Magadha (Jarasandha); salva–

King Salva; adin–and others; anikaih–by the soldiers; rundhatah–being

encircled; puram–the city of Mathura; ajighanat–killed; svayam–

personally; divyam–transcendental; sva-pumsam–of His own men; tejah–

prowess; adisat–exhibited.

TRANSLATION

Kalayavana, the King of Magadha and Salva attacked the city of

Mathura, but when the city was encircled by their soldiers, the Lord

refrained from killing them personally, just to show the power of His own

TEXT 11

TEXT

sambaram dvividam banam

muram balvalam eva ca

anyams ca dantavakradin

avadhit kams ca ghatayat

SYNONYMS

sambaram–Sambara; dvividam–Dvivida; banam–Bana; muram–Mura;

balvalam–Balvala; eva ca–as also; anyan–others; ca–also; dantavakraadin–

like Dantavakra and others; avadhit–killed; kan ca–and many

others; ghatayat–caused to be killed.

TRANSLATION

Of kings like Sambara, Dvivida, Bana, Mura, Balvala and many other

demons, such as Dantavakra, some He killed Himself, and some He caused to

be killed by others [Sri Baladeva, etc.].

TEXT 12

TEXT

atha te bhratr-putranam

paksayoh patitan nrpan

cacala bhuh kuruksetram

yesam apatatam balaih

SYNONYMS

atha–thereafter; te–your; bhratr-putranam–of the nephews; paksayoh-

-of both sides; patitan–killed; nrpan–kings; cacala–shook; bhuh–the

earth; kuruksetram–the Battle of Kuruksetra; yesam–of whom; apatatam–

traversing; balaih–by strength.

TRANSLATION

Then, O Vidura, the Lord caused all the kings, both the enemies and

those on the side of your fighting nephews, to be killed in the Battle of

Kuruksetra. All those kings were so great and strong that the earth

seemed to shake as they traversed the warfield.

TEXT 13

TEXT

sa karna-duhsasana-saubalanam

kumantra-pakena hata-sriyayusam

suyodhanam sanucaram sayanam

bhagnorum urvyam na nananda pasyan

SYNONYMS

sah–He (the Lord); karna–Karna; duhsasana–Duhsasana; saubalanam–

Saubala; kumantra-pakena–by the intricacy of ill advice; hata-sriya–

bereft of fortune; ayusam–duration of life; suyodhanam–Duryodhana; saanucaram–

with followers; sayanam–lying down; bhagna–broken; urum–

thighs; urvyam–very powerful; na–did not; nananda–take pleasure;

pasyan–seeing like that.

TRANSLATION

Duryodhana was bereft of his fortune and duration of life because of

the intricacy of ill advice given by Karna, Duhsasana and Saubala. When

he lay on the ground with his followers, his thighs broken although he

TEXT 14

TEXT

kiyan bhuvo ‘yam ksapitoru-bharo

yad drona-bhismarjuna-bhima-mulaih

astadasaksauhiniko mad-amsair

aste balam durvisaham yadunam

SYNONYMS

kiyan–what is this; bhuvah–of the earth; ayam–this; ksapita–

abated; uru–very great; bharah–burden; yat–which; drona–Drona;

bhisma–Bhisma; arjuna–Arjuna; bhima–Bhima; mulaih–with the help;

astadasa–eighteen; aksauhinikah–phalanxes of military strength (vide

Bhag. 1.16.34); mat-amsaih–with My descendants; aste–are still there;

balam–great strength; durvisaham–unbearable; yadunam–of the Yadu

dynasty.

TRANSLATION

[After the end of the Battle of Kuruksetra, the Lord said:] The

abatement of the earth’s great burden, eighteen aksauhinis, has now been

effected with the help of Drona, Bhisma, Arjuna and Bhima. But what is

this? There is still the great strength of the Yadu dynasty, born of

TEXT 15

TEXT

mitho yadaisam bhavita vivado

madhv-amadatamra-vilocananam

naisam vadhopaya iyan ato ‘nyo

mayy udyate ‘ntardadhate svayam sma

SYNONYMS

mithah–one another; yada–when; esam–of them; bhavita–will take

place; vivadah–quarrel; madhu-amada–intoxication by drinking; atamravilocananam–

of their eyes being copper-red; na–not; esam–of them;

vadha-upayah–means of disappearance; iyan–like this; atah–besides

this; anyah–alternative; mayi–on My; udyate–disappearance; antahdadhate–

will disappear; svayam–themselves; sma–certainly.

TRANSLATION

When they quarrel among themselves, influenced by intoxication, with

their eyes red like copper because of drinking [madhu], then only will

they disappear; otherwise, it will not be possible. On My disappearance,

this incident will take place.

TEXT 16

TEXT

evam sancintya bhagavan

sva-rajye sthapya dharmajam

nandayam asa suhrdah

sadhunam vartma darsayan

SYNONYMS

evam–thus; sancintya–thinking within Himself; bhagavan–the

Personality of Godhead; sva-rajye–in his own kingdom; sthapya–

installing; dharmajam–Maharaja Yudhisthira; nandayam asa–gladdened;

suhrdah–the friends; sadhunam–of the saints; vartma–the path;

darsayan–by indicating.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Krsna, thus thinking to Himself, established Maharaja

Yudhisthira in the position of supreme control of the world in order to

show the ideal of administration on the path of piety.

TEXT 17

TEXT

uttarayam dhrtah puror

vamsah sadhv-abhimanyuna

sa vai drauny-astra-samplustah

punar bhagavata dhrtah

SYNONYMS

uttarayam–unto Uttara; dhrtah–conceived; puroh–of Puru; vamsah–

descendant; sadhu-abhimanyuna–by the hero Abhimanyu; sah–he; vai–

certainly; drauni-astra–by the weapon of Drauni, the son of Drona;

samplustah–being burnt; punah–again, for the second time; bhagavata–by

the Personality of Godhead; dhrtah–was protected.

TRANSLATION

The embryo of Puru’s descendant begotten by the great hero Abhimanyu

in the womb of Uttara, his wife, was burnt by the weapon of the son of

TEXT 18

TEXT

ayajayad dharma-sutam

asvamedhais tribhir vibhuh

so ‘pi ksmam anujai raksan

reme krsnam anuvratah

SYNONYMS

ayajayat–made to perform; dharma-sutam–by the son of Dharma

(Maharaja Yudhisthira); asvamedhaih–by horse sacrifices; tribhih–three;

vibhuh–the Supreme Lord; sah–Maharaja Yudhisthira; api–also; ksmam–

the earth; anujaih–assisted by his younger brothers; raksan–protecting;

reme–enjoyed; krsnam–Krsna, the Personality of Godhead; anuvratah–

constant follower.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord induced the son of Dharma to perform three horse

sacrifices, and Maharaja Yudhisthira, constantly following Krsna, the

Personality of Godhead, protected and enjoyed the earth, assisted by his

TEXT 19

TEXT

bhagavan api visvatma

loka-veda-pathanugah

kaman siseve dvarvatyam

asaktah sankhyam asthitah

SYNONYMS

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; api–also; visva-atma–the

Supersoul of the universe; loka–customary; veda–Vedic principles;

patha-anugah–follower of the path; kaman–the necessities of life;

siseve–enjoyed; dvarvatyam–in the city of Dvaraka; asaktah–without

being attached; sankhyam–knowledge in Sankhya philosophy; asthitah–

being situated.

TRANSLATION

Simultaneously, the Personality of Godhead enjoyed life in the city of

Dvaraka, strictly in conformity with the Vedic customs of society. He was

situated in detachment and knowledge, as enunciated by the Sankhya system

TEXT 20

TEXT

snigdha-smitavalokena

vaca piyusa-kalpaya

caritrenanavadyena

sri-niketena catmana

SYNONYMS

snigdha–gentle; smita-avalokena–by a glance with a sweet smile;

vaca–by words; piyusa-kalpaya–compared to nectar; caritrena–by

character; anavadyena–without flaw; sri–fortune; niketena–residence;

ca–and; atmana–by His transcendental body.

TRANSLATION

He was there in His transcendental body, the residence of the goddess

of fortune, with His usual gentle and sweetly smiling face, His nectarean

words and His flawless character.TEXT 21

TEXT

imam lokam amum caiva

ramayan sutaram yadun

reme ksanadaya dattaksana-

stri-ksana-sauhrdah

SYNONYMS

imam–this; lokam–earth; amum–and the other worlds; ca–also; eva–

certainly; ramayan–pleasing; sutaram–specifically; yadun–the Yadus;

reme–enjoyed; ksanadaya–by night; datta–given by; ksana–leisure;

stri–with women; ksana–conjugal love; sauhrdah–friendship.

TRANSLATION

The Lord enjoyed His pastimes, both in this world and in other worlds

[higher planets], specifically in the association of the Yadu dynasty. At

leisure hours offered by night, He enjoyed the friendship of conjugal

love with women.TEXT 22

TEXT

tasyaivam ramamanasya

samvatsara-ganan bahun

grhamedhesu yogesu

viragah samajayata

SYNONYMS

tasya–His; evam–thus; ramamanasya–enjoying; samvatsara–years;

ganan–many; bahun–great many; grhamedhesu–in household life; yogesu–

in sex life; viragah–detachment; samajayata–awakened.

TRANSLATION

The Lord was thus engaged in household life for many, many years, but

at last His detachment from ephemeral sex life was fully manifested.TEXT 23

TEXT

daivadhinesu kamesu

daivadhinah svayam puman

ko visrambheta yogena

yogesvaram anuvratah

SYNONYMS

daiva–supernatural; adhinesu–being controlled; kamesu–in sense

enjoyment; daiva-adhinah–controlled by supernatural force; svayam–

himself; puman–living entity; kah–whoever; visrambheta–can have faith

in; yogena–by devotional service; yogesvaram–the Supreme Lord;

anuvratah–serving.

TRANSLATION

Every living entity is controlled by a supernatural force, and thus

his sense enjoyment is also under the control of that supernatural force.

No one, therefore, can put his faith in Lord Krsna’s transcendental sense

activities but one who has become a devotee of the Lord by rendering

devotional service.TEXT 24

TEXT

puryam kadacit kridadbhir

yadu-bhoja-kumarakaih

kopita munayah sepur

bhagavan-mata-kovidah

SYNONYMS

puryam–in the city of Dvaraka; kadacit–once upon a time; kridadbhih-

-by sporting activities; yadu–the descendants of Yadu; bhoja–the

descendants of Bhoja; kumarakaih–princes; kopitah–became angry;

munayah–the great sages; sepuh–cursed; bhagavat–the Personality of

Godhead; mata–desire; kovidah–cognizant.

TRANSLATION

Once upon a time, great sages were made angry by the sporting

activities of the princely descendants of the Yadu and Bhoja dynasties,

and thus, as desired by the Lord, the sages cursed them.TEXT 25

TEXT

tatah katipayair masair

vrsni-bhojandhakadayah

yayuh prabhasam samhrsta

rathair deva-vimohitah

SYNONYMS

tatah–thereafter; katipayaih–a few; masaih–months passing; vrsni–

the descendants of Vrsni; bhoja–the descendants of Bhoja; andhakaadayah–

and others, like the sons of Andhaka; yayuh–went; prabhasam–the

place of pilgrimage named Prabhasa; samhrstah–with great pleasure;

rathaih–on their chariots; deva–by Krsna; vimohitah–bewildered.

TRANSLATION

A few months passed, and then, bewildered by Krsna, all the

descendants of Vrsni, Bhoja and Andhaka who were incarnations of demigods

went to Prabhasa, while those who were eternal devotees of the Lord did

not leave but remained in Dvaraka.

TEXT 26

TEXT

tatra snatva pitrn devan

rsims caiva tad-ambhasa

tarpayitvatha viprebhyo

gavo bahu-guna daduh

SYNONYMS

tatra–there; snatva–by taking bath; pitrn–forefathers; devan–

demigods; rsin–great sages; ca–also; eva–certainly; tat–of that;

ambhasa–by the water; tarpayitva–by pleasing; atha–thereupon;

viprebhyah–unto the brahmanas; gavah–cows; bahu-gunah–greatly useful;

daduh–gave in charity.

TRANSLATION

After arriving there, all of them took bath, and with the water of

this place of pilgrimage they offered their respects to the forefathers,

demigods and great sages and thus satisfied them. They gave cows to the

brahmanas in royal charity.TEXT 27

TEXT

hiranyam rajatam sayyam

vasamsy ajina-kambalan

yanam rathan ibhan kanya

dharam vrtti-karim api

SYNONYMS

hiranyam–gold; rajatam–gold coins; sayyam–bedding; vasamsi–

clothing; ajina–animal skin for seats; kambalan–blankets; yanam–

horses; rathan–chariots; ibhan–elephants; kanyah–girls; dharam–land;

vrtti-karim–to provide livelihood; api–also.

TRANSLATION

The brahmanas were not only given well-fed cows in charity, but also

gold, gold coins, bedding, clothing, animal-skin seats, blankets, horses,

elephants, girls and sufficient land for maintenance.TEXT 28

TEXT

annam coru-rasam tebhyo

dattva bhagavad-arpanam

go-viprarthasavah surah

pranemur bhuvi murdhabhih

SYNONYMS

annam–foodstuff; ca–also; uru-rasam–highly delicious; tebhyah–unto

the brahmanas; dattva–after supplying; bhagavat-arpanam–which was first

offered to the Personality of Godhead; go–cows; vipra–brahmanas; artha-

-purpose; asavah–purpose of living; surah–all the valiant ksatriyas;

pranemuh–offered obeisances; bhuvi–touching the ground; murdhabhih–

with their heads.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter they offered the brahmanas highly delicious foodstuffs

first offered to the Personality of Godhead and offered their respectful

obeisances by touching their heads to the ground. They lived perfectly by

protecting the cows and the brahmanas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT 1

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

iti bhagavatah prstah

ksattra vartam priyasrayam

prativaktum na cotseha

autkanthyat smaritesvarah

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva said; iti–thus; bhagavatah–the great

devotee; prstah–being asked; ksattra–by Vidura; vartam–message; priyaasrayam–

regarding the dearest; prativaktum–to reply; na–not; ca–also;

utsehe–became eager; autkanthyat–by excessive anxiety; smarita–

remembrance; isvarah–the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: When the great devotee Uddhava was asked by

Vidura to speak on the messages of the dearest [Lord Krsna], Uddhava was

unable to answer immediately due to excessive anxiety at the remembrance

of the Lord.

TEXT 2

TEXT

yah panca-hayano matra

pratar-asaya yacitah

tan naicchad racayan yasya

saparyam bala-lilaya

SYNONYMS

yah–one who; panca–five; hayanah–years old; matra–by his mother;

pratah-asaya–for breakfast; yacitah–called for; tat–that; na–not;

aicchat–liked; racayan–playing; yasya–whose; saparyam–service; balalilaya–

childhood.

TRANSLATION

He was one who even in his childhood, at the age of five years, was so

absorbed in the service of Lord Krsna that when he was called by his

TEXT 3

TEXT

sa katham sevaya tasya

kalena jarasam gatah

prsto vartam pratibruyad

bhartuh padav anusmaran

SYNONYMS

sah–Uddhava; katham–how; sevaya–by such service; tasya–his;

kalena–in course of time; jarasam–invalidity; gatah–undergone; prstah-

-asked for; vartam–message; pratibruyat–just to reply; bhartuh–of the

Lord; padau–His lotus feet; anusmaran–remembering.

TRANSLATION

Uddhava thus served the Lord continually from childhood, and in his

old age that attitude of service never slackened. As soon as he was asked

TEXT 4

TEXT

sa muhurtam abhut tusnim

krsnanghri-sudhaya bhrsam

tivrena bhakti-yogena

nimagnah sadhu nirvrtah

SYNONYMS

sah–Uddhava; muhurtam–for a moment; abhut–became; tusnim–dead

silent; krsna-anghri–the lotus feet of the Lord; sudhaya–by the nectar;

bhrsam–well matured; tivrena–by very strong; bhakti-yogena–devotional

service; nimagnah–absorbed in; sadhu–good; nirvrtah–fully in love.

TRANSLATION

For a moment he remained dead silent, and his body did not move. He

became absorbed in the nectar of remembering the Lord’s lotus feet in

devotional ecstasy, and he appeared to be going increasingly deeper into

TEXT 5

TEXT

pulakodbhinna-sarvango

muncan milad-drsa sucah

purnartho laksitas tena

sneha-prasara-samplutah

SYNONYMS

pulaka-udbhinna–bodily changes of transcendental ecstasy; sarvaangah–

every part of the body; muncan–smearing; milat–opening; drsa–by

the eyes; sucah–tears of grief; purna-arthah–complete achievement;

laksitah–thus observed; tena–by Vidura; sneha-prasara–extensive love;

samplutah–thoroughly assimilated.

TRANSLATION

It was so observed by Vidura that Uddhava had all the transcendental

bodily changes due to total ecstasy, and he was trying to wipe away tears

of separation from his eyes. Thus Vidura could understand that Uddhava

TEXT 6

TEXT

sanakair bhagaval-lokan

nrlokam punar agatah

vimrjya netre viduram

prityahoddhava utsmayan

SYNONYMS

sanakaih–gradually; bhagavat–the Lord; lokat–from the abode;

nrlokam–the planet of the human beings; punah agatah–coming again;

vimrjya–wiping; netre–eyes; viduram–unto Vidura; pritya–in affection;

aha–said; uddhavah–Uddhava; utsmayan–by all those remembrances.

TRANSLATION

The great devotee Uddhava soon came back from the abode of the Lord to

the human plane, and wiping his eyes, he awakened his reminiscence of the

TEXT 7

TEXT

uddhava uvaca

krsna-dyumani nimloce

girnesv ajagarena ha

kim nu nah kusalam bruyam

gata-srisu grhesv aham

SYNONYMS

uddhavah uvaca–Sri Uddhava said; krsna-dyumani–the Krsna sun;

nimloce–having set; girnesu–being swallowed; ajagarena–by the great

snake; ha–in the past; kim–what; nu–else; nah–our; kusalam–welfare;

bruyam–may I say; gata–gone away; srisu grhesu–in the house; aham–I.

TRANSLATION

Sri Uddhava said: My dear Vidura, the sun of the world, Lord Krsna,

has set, and our house has now been swallowed by the great snake of time.

TEXT 8

TEXT

durbhago bata loko ‘yam

yadavo nitaram api

ye samvasanto na vidur

harim mina ivodupam

SYNONYMS

durbhagah–unfortunate; bata–certainly; lokah–universe; ayam–this;

yadavah–the Yadu dynasty; nitaram–more specifically; api–also; ye–

those; samvasantah–living together; na–did not; viduh–understand;

harim–the Personality of Godhead; minah–the fishes; iva udupam–like

the moon.

TRANSLATION

This universe with all its planets is most unfortunate. And even more

unfortunate are the members of the Yadu dynasty because they could not

identify Lord Hari as the Personality of Godhead, any more than the fish

TEXT 9

TEXT

ingita-jnah puru-praudha

ekaramas ca satvatah

satvatam rsabham sarve

bhutavasam amamsata

SYNONYMS

ingita-jnah–expert in psychic study; puru-praudhah–highly

experienced; eka–one; aramah–relaxation; ca–also; satvatah–devotees,

or own men; satvatam rsabham–head of the family; sarve–all; bhutaavasam–

all-pervading; amamsata–could think.

TRANSLATION

The Yadus were all experienced devotees, learned and expert in psychic

study. Over and above this, they were always with the Lord in all kinds

of relaxations, and still they were only able to know Him as the one

TEXT 10

TEXT

devasya mayaya sprsta

ye canyad asad-asritah

bhramyate dhir na tad-vakyair

atmany uptatmano harau

SYNONYMS

devasya–of the personality of Godhead; mayaya–by the influence of

external energy; sprstah–infected; ye–all those; ca–and; anyat–

others; asat–illusory; asritah–being taken to; bhramyate–bewilder;

dhih–intelligence; na–not; tat–of them; vakyaih–by those words;

atmani–in the Supreme Self; upta-atmanah–surrendered souls; harau–unto

the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Under no circumstances can the words of persons bewildered by the

illusory energy of the Lord deviate the intelligence of those who are

TEXT 11

TEXT

pradarsyatapta-tapasam

avitrpta-drsam nrnam

adayantar adhad yas tu

sva-bimbam loka-locanam

SYNONYMS

pradarsya–by exhibiting; atapta–without undergoing; tapasam–

penances; avitrpta-drsam–without fulfillment of vision; nrnam–of

persons; adaya–taking; antah–disappearance; adhat–performed; yah–He

who; tu–but; sva-bimbam–His own form; loka-locanam–public vision.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Krsna, who manifested His eternal form before the vision of

all on the earth, performed His disappearance by removing His form from

the sight of those who were unable to see Him [as He is] due to not

TEXT 12

TEXT

yan martya-lilaupayikam sva-yogamaya-

balam darsayata grhitam

vismapanam svasya ca saubhagarddheh

param padam bhusana-bhusanangam

SYNONYMS

yat–His eternal form which; martya–mortal world; lila-upayikam–just

suitable for the pastimes; sva-yoga-maya-balam–potency of the internal

energy; darsayata–for manifestation; grhitam–discovered; vismapanam–

wonderful; svasya–of His own; ca–and; saubhaga-rddheh–of the opulent;

param–supreme; padam–ultimate stand; bhusana–ornament; bhusana-angam–

of the ornaments.

TRANSLATION

The Lord appeared in the mortal world by His internal potency, yogamaya.

He came in His eternal form, which is just suitable for His

pastimes. These pastimes were wonderful for everyone, even for those

proud of their own opulence, including the Lord Himself in His form as

the Lord of Vaikuntha. Thus His [Sri Krsna’s] transcendental body is the

TEXT 13

TEXT

yad dharma-sunor bata rajasuye

niriksya drk-svastyayanam tri-lokah

kartsnyena cadyeha gatam vidhatur

arvak-srtau kausalam ity amanyata

SYNONYMS

yat–the form which; dharma-sunoh–of Maharaja Yudhisthira; bata–

certainly; rajasuye–in the arena of the rajasuya sacrifice; niriksya–by

observing; drk–sight; svastyayanam–pleasing; tri-lokah–the three

worlds; kartsnyena–in sum total; ca–thus; adya–today; iha–within the

universe; gatam–surpassed; vidhatuh–of the creator (Brahma); arvak–

recent mankind; srtau–in the material world; kausalam–dexterity; iti–

thus; amanyata–contemplated.

TRANSLATION

All the demigods from the upper, lower and middle universal planetary

systems assembled at the altar of the rajasuya sacrifice performed by

Maharaja Yudhisthira. After seeing the beautiful bodily features of Lord

Krsna, they all contemplated that He was the ultimate dexterous creation

TEXT 14

TEXT

yasyanuraga-pluta-hasa-rasalilavaloka-

pratilabdha-manah

vraja-striyo drgbhir anupravrttadhiyo

‘vatasthuh kila krtya-sesah

SYNONYMS

yasya–whose; anuraga–attachment; pluta–enhanced by; hasa–laughter;

rasa–humors; lila–pastimes; avaloka–glancing; pratilabdha–obtained

thereof; manah–anguished; vraja-striyah–damsels of Vraja; drgbhih–with

the eyes; anupravrtta–following; dhiyah–by intelligence; avatasthuh–

sat silently; kila–indeed; krtya-sesah–without finishing household

duties.

TRANSLATION

The damsels of Vraja, after pastimes of laughter, humor and exchanges

of glances, were anguished when Krsna left them. They used to follow Him

with their eyes, and thus they sat down with stunned intelligence and

TEXT 15

TEXT

sva-santa-rupesv itaraih sva-rupair

abhyardyamanesv anukampitatma

paravareso mahad-amsa-yukto

hy ajo ‘pi jato bhagavan yathagnih

SYNONYMS

sva-santa-rupesu–unto the peaceful devotees of the Lord; itaraih–

others, nondevotees; sva-rupaih–according to their own modes of nature;

abhyardyamanesu–being harassed by; anukampita-atma–the allcompassionate

Lord; para-avara–spiritual and material; isah–controller;

mahat-amsa-yuktah–accompanied by the plenary portion of mahat-tattva;

hi–certainly; ajah–the unborn; api–although; jatah–is born; bhagavan-

-the Personality of Godhead; yatha–as if; agnih–the fire.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead, the all-compassionate controller of both

the spiritual and material creations, is unborn, but when there is

friction between His peaceful devotees and persons who are in the

material modes of nature, He takes birth just like fire, accompanied by

TEXT 16

TEXT

mam khedayaty etad ajasya janmavidambanam

yad vasudeva-gehe

vraje ca vaso ‘ri-bhayad iva svayam

purad vyavatsid yad-ananta-viryah

SYNONYMS

mam–to me; khedayati–gives me distress; etat–this; ajasya–of the

unborn; janma–birth; vidambanam–bewildering; yat–that; vasudeva-gehe–

in the home of Vasudeva; vraje–in Vrndavana; ca–also; vasah–

inhabitation; ari–enemy; bhayat–because of fear; iva–as if; svayam–

Himself; purat–from Mathura Puri; vyavatsit–fled; yat–one who is;

ananta-viryah–unlimitedly powerful.

TRANSLATION

When I think of Lord Krsna–how He was born in the prison house of

Vasudeva although He is unborn, how He went away from His father’s

protection to Vraja and lived there incognito out of fear of the enemy,

and how, although unlimitedly powerful, He fled from Mathura in fear–all

TEXT 17

TEXT

dunoti cetah smarato mamaitad

yad aha padav abhivandya pitroh

tatamba kamsad uru-sankitanam

prasidatam no ‘krta-niskrtinam

SYNONYMS

dunoti–it gives me pain; cetah–heart; smaratah–while thinking of;

mama–my; etat–this; yat–as much as; aha–said; padau–feet;

abhivandya–worshiping; pitroh–of the parents; tata–My dear father;

amba–My dear mother; kamsat–out of Kamsa’s; uru–great; sankitanam–of

those who are afraid; prasidatam–be pleased with; nah–Our; akrta–not

executed; niskrtinam–duties to serve you.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna begged pardon from His parents for Their [Krsna’s and

Balarama’s] inability to serve their feet, due to being away from home

because of great fear of Kamsa. He said, “O mother, O father, please

excuse Us for this inability.” All this behavior of the Lord gives me

TEXT 18

TEXT

ko va amusyanghri-saroja-renum

vismartum isita puman vijighran

yo visphurad-bhru-vitapena bhumer

bharam krtantena tirascakara

SYNONYMS

kah–who else; va–either; amusya–the Lord’s; anghri–feet; sarojarenum–

dust of the lotus; vismartum–to forget; isita–may be able;

puman–person; vijighran–smelling; yah–one who; visphurat–expanding;

bhru-vitapena–by the leaves of the eyebrows; bhumeh–of the earth;

bharam–burden; krta-antena–by death-blows; tirascakara–executed.

TRANSLATION

Who, after smelling the dust of His lotus feet even once, could ever

forget it? Simply by expanding the leaves of His eyebrows, Krsna has

given the deathblow to those who were burdening the earth.TEXT 19

TEXT

drsta bhavadbhir nanu rajasuye

caidyasya krsnam dvisato ‘pi siddhih

yam yoginah samsprhayanti samyag

yogena kas tad-viraham saheta

SYNONYMS

drsta–it has been seen; bhavadbhih–by your good self; nanu–of

course; rajasuye–in the assembly of the rajasuya sacrifice performed by

Maharaja Yudhisthira; caidyasya–of the King of Cedi (Sisupala); krsnam–

unto Krsna; dvisatah–envying; api–in spite of; siddhih–success; yam–

which; yoginah–the yogis; samsprhayanti–verily desire; samyak–fully;

yogena–by performance of yoga; kah–who; tat–His; viraham–separation;

saheta–can tolerate.

TRANSLATION

You have personally seen how the King of Cedi [Sisupala] achieved

success in yoga practice, although he hated Lord Krsna. Even the actual

yogis aspire after such success with great interest by performance of

their various practices. Who can tolerate separation from Him?TEXT 20

TEXT

tathaiva canye nara-loka-vira

ya ahave krsna-mukharavindam

netraih pibanto nayanabhiramam

parthastra-putah padam apur asya

SYNONYMS

tatha–as also; eva ca–and certainly; anye–others; nara-loka–human

society; virah–fighters; ye–those; ahave–on the battlefield (of

Kuruksetra); krsna–Lord Krsna’s; mukha-aravindam–face like a lotus

flower; netraih–with the eyes; pibantah–while seeing; nayana-abhiramam-

-very pleasing to the eyes; partha–Arjuna; astra-putah–purified by

arrows; padam–abode; apuh–achieved; asya–of Him.

TRANSLATION

Certainly others who were fighters on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra

were purified by the onslaught of Arjuna’s arrows, and while seeing the

lotuslike face of Krsna, so pleasing to the eyes, they achieved the abode

of the Lord.TEXT 21

TEXT

svayam tv asamyatisayas tryadhisah

svarajya-laksmy-apta-samasta-kamah

balim haradbhis cira-loka-palaih

kirita-koty-edita-pada-pithah

SYNONYMS

svayam–Himself; tu–but; asamya–unique; atisayah–greater; triadhisah–

Lord of the three; svarajya–independent supremacy; laksmi–

fortune; apta–achieved; samasta-kamah–all desires; balim–worshiping

paraphernalia; haradbhih–offered by; cira-loka-palaih–by the eternal

maintainers of the order of creation; kirita-koti–millions of helmets;

edita-pada-pithah–feet honored by prayers.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Krsna is the Lord of all kinds of threes and is independently

supreme by achievement of all kinds of fortune. He is worshiped by the

eternal maintainers of the creation, who offer Him the paraphernalia of

worship by touching their millions of helmets to His feet.TEXT 22

TEXT

tat tasya kainkaryam alam bhrtan no

viglapayaty anga yad ugrasenam

tisthan nisannam paramesthi-dhisnye

nyabodhayad deva nidharayeti

SYNONYMS

tat–therefore; tasya–His; kainkaryam–service; alam–of course;

bhrtan–the servitors; nah–us; viglapayati–gives pain; anga–O Vidura;

yat–as much as; ugrasenam–unto King Ugrasena; tisthan–being seated;

nisannam–waiting upon Him; paramesthi-dhisnye–on the royal throne;

nyabodhayat–submitted; deva–addressing my Lord; nidharaya–please know

it; iti–thus.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, O Vidura, does it not pain us, His servitors, when we

remember that He [Lord Krsna] used to stand before King Ugrasena, who was

sitting on the royal throne, and used to submit explanations before him,

saying, “O My lord, please let it be known to you”?TEXT 23

TEXT

aho baki yam stana-kala-kutam

jighamsayapayayad apy asadhvi

lebhe gatim dhatry-ucitam tato ‘nyam

kam va dayalum saranam vrajema

SYNONYMS

aho–alas; baki–the she-demon (Putana); yam–whom; stana–of her

breast; kala–deadly; kutam–poison; jighamsaya–out of envy; apayayat–

nourished; api–although; asadhvi–unfaithful; lebhe–achieved; gatim–

destination; dhatri-ucitam–just suitable for the nurse; tatah–beyond

whom; anyam–other; kam–who else; va–certainly; dayalum–merciful;

saranam–shelter; vrajema–shall I take.

TRANSLATION

Alas, how shall I take shelter of one more merciful than He who

granted the position of mother to a she-demon [Putana] although she was

unfaithful and she prepared deadly poison to be sucked from her breast?TEXT 24

TEXT

manye ‘suran bhagavatams tryadhise

samrambha-margabhinivista-cittan

ye samyuge ‘caksata tarksya-putram

amse sunabhayudham apatantam

SYNONYMS

manye–I think; asuran–the demons; bhagavatan–great devotees; triadhise–

unto the Lord of the threes; samrambha–enmity; marga–by the way

of; abhinivista-cittan–absorbed in thought; ye–those; samyuge–in the

fight; acaksata–could see; tarksya-putram–Garuda, the carrier of the

Lord; amse–on the shoulder; sunabha–the wheel; ayudham–one who carries

the weapon; apatantam–coming forward.

TRANSLATION

I consider the demons, who are inimical toward the Lord, to be more

than the devotees because while fighting with the Lord, absorbed in

thoughts of enmity, they are able to see the Lord carried on the shoulder

of Garuda, the son of Tarksya [Kasyapa], and carrying the wheel weapon in

His hand.TEXT 25

TEXT

vasudevasya devakyam

jato bhojendra-bandhane

cikirsur bhagavan asyah

sam ajenabhiyacitah

SYNONYMS

vasudevasya–of the wife of Vasudeva; devakyam–in the womb of Devaki;

jatah–born of; bhoja-indra–of the King of the Bhojas; bandhane–in the

prison house; cikirsuh–for doing; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead;

asyah–of the earth; sam–welfare; ajena–by Brahma; abhiyacitah–being

prayed for.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, being prayed to by Brahma

to bring welfare to the earth, was begotten by Vasudeva in the womb of

his wife Devaki in the prison of the King of Bhoja.TEXT 26

TEXT

tato nanda-vrajam itah

pitra kamsad vibibhyata

ekadasa samas tatra

gudharcih sa-balo ‘vasat

SYNONYMS

tatah–thereafter; nanda-vrajam–cow pastures of Nanda Maharaja; itah-

-being brought up; pitra–by His father; kamsat–from Kamsa; vibibhyata–

being afraid of; ekadasa–eleven; samah–years; tatra–therein; gudhaarcih–

covered fire; sa-balah–with Baladeva; avasat–resided.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, His father, being afraid of Kamsa, brought Him to the cow

pastures of Maharaja Nanda, and there He lived for eleven years like a

covered flame with His elder brother, Baladeva.TEXT 27

TEXT

parito vatsapair vatsams

carayan vyaharad vibhuh

yamunopavane kujaddvija-

sankulitanghripe

SYNONYMS

paritah–surrounded by; vatsapaih–cowherd boys; vatsan–calves;

carayan–herding, tending; vyaharat–enjoyed by traveling; vibhuh–the

Almighty; yamuna–the Yamuna River; upavane–gardens on the shore; kujat-

-vibrated by the voice; dvija–the twice-born birds; sankulita–densely

situated; anghripe–in the trees.

TRANSLATION

In His childhood, the Almighty Lord was surrounded by cowherd boys and

calves, and thus He traveled on the shore of the Yamuna River, through

gardens densely covered with trees and filled with vibrations of chirping

birds.TEXT 28

TEXT

kaumarim darsayams cestam

preksaniyam vrajaukasam

rudann iva hasan mugdhabala-

simhavalokanah

SYNONYMS

kaumarim–just suitable to childhood; darsayan–while showing; cestam-

-activities; preksaniyam–worthy to be seen; vraja-okasam–by the

inhabitants of the land of Vrndavana; rudan–crying; iva–just like;

hasan–laughing; mugdha–struck with wonder; bala-simha–lion cub;

avalokanah–looking like that.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord displayed His activities just suitable for childhood, He

was visible only to the residents of Vrndavana. Sometimes He would cry

and sometimes laugh, just like a child, and while so doing He would

appear like a lion cub.TEXT 29

TEXT

sa eva go-dhanam laksmya

niketam sita-go-vrsam

carayann anugan gopan

ranad-venur ariramat

SYNONYMS

sah–He (Lord Krsna); eva–certainly; go-dhanam–the treasure of cows;

laksmyah–by opulence; niketam–reservoir; sita-go-vrsam–beautiful cows

and bulls; carayan–herding; anugan–the followers; gopan–cowherd boys;

ranat–blowing; venuh–flute; ariramat–enlivened.

TRANSLATION

While herding the very beautiful bulls, the Lord, who was the

reservoir of all opulence and fortune, used to blow His flute, and thus

He enlivened His faithful followers, the cowherd boys.TEXT 30

TEXT

prayuktan bhoja-rajena

mayinah kama-rupinah

lilaya vyanudat tams tan

balah kridanakan iva

SYNONYMS

prayuktan–engaged; bhoja-rajena–by King Kamsa; mayinah–great

wizards; kama-rupinah–who could assume any form they liked; lilaya–in

the course of the pastimes; vyanudat–killed; tan–them; tan–as they

came there; balah–the child; kridanakan–dolls; iva–like that.

TRANSLATION

The great wizards who were able to assume any form were engaged by the

King of Bhoja, Kamsa, to kill Krsna, but in the course of His pastimes

the Lord killed them as easily as a child breaks dolls.TEXT 31

TEXT

vipannan visa-panena

nigrhya bhujagadhipam

utthapyapayayad gavas

tat toyam prakrti-sthitam

SYNONYMS

vipannan–perplexed in great difficulties; visa-panena–by drinking

poison; nigrhya–subduing; bhujaga-adhipam–the chief of the reptiles;

utthapya–after coming out; apayayat–caused to drink; gavah–the cows;

tat–that; toyam–water; prakrti–natural; sthitam–situated.

TRANSLATION

The inhabitants of Vrndavana were perplexed by great difficulties

because a certain portion of the Yamuna was poisoned by the chief of the

reptiles [Kaliya]. The Lord chastised the snake-king within the water and

drove him away, and after coming out of the river, He caused the cows to

drink the water and proved that the water was again in its natural state.

TEXT 32

TEXT

ayajayad go-savena

gopa-rajam dvijottamaih

vittasya coru-bharasya

cikirsan sad-vyayam vibhuh

SYNONYMS

ayajayat–made to perform; go-savena–by worship of the cows; goparajam–

the king of the cowherds; dvija-uttamaih–by the learned

brahmanas; vittasya–of the wealth; ca–also; uru-bharasya–great

opulence; cikirsan–desiring to act; sat-vyayam–proper utilization;

vibhuh–the great.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord, Krsna, desired to utilize the opulent financial

strength of Maharaja Nanda for worship of the cows, and also He wanted to

give a lesson to Indra, the King of heaven. Thus He advised His father to

perform worship of go, or the pasturing land and the cows, with the help

of learned brahmanas.TEXT 33

TEXT

varsatindre vrajah kopad

bhagnamane ‘tivihvalah

gotra-lilatapatrena

trato bhadranugrhnata

SYNONYMS

varsati–in pouring water; indre–by the King of heaven, Indra;

vrajah–the land of cows (Vrndavana); kopat bhagnamane–having been in

anger on being insulted; ati–highly; vihvalah–perturbed; gotra–the

hill for the cows; lila-atapatrena–by the pastime umbrella; tratah–were

protected; bhadra–O sober one; anugrhnata–by the merciful Lord.

TRANSLATION

O sober Vidura, King Indra, his honor having been insulted, poured

water incessantly on Vrndavana, and thus the inhabitants of Vraja, the

land of cows, were greatly distressed. But the compassionate Lord Krsna

saved them from danger with His pastime umbrella, the Govardhana Hill.

TEXT 34

TEXT

sarac-chasi-karair mrstam

manayan rajani-mukham

gayan kala-padam reme

strinam mandala-mandanah

SYNONYMS

sarat–autumn; sasi–of the moon; karaih–by the shining; mrstam–

brightened; manayan–thinking so; rajani-mukham–the face of the night;

gayan–singing; kala-padam–pleasing songs; reme–enjoyed; strinam–of

the women; mandala-mandanah–as the central beauty of the assembly of

women.

TRANSLATION

In the third season of the year, the Lord enjoyed as the central

beauty of the assembly of women by attracting them with His pleasing

songs in an autumn night brightened by moonshine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sri-suka uvaca

evam etat pura prsto

maitreyo bhagavan kila

ksattra vanam pravistena

tyaktva sva-grham rddhimat

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam–thus; etat–this;

pura–formerly; prstah–being asked; maitreyah–the great sage Maitreya;

bhagavan–His Grace; kila–certainly; ksattra–by Vidura; vanam–forest;

pravistena–entering; tyaktva–renouncing; sva-grham–own house;

rddhimat–prosperous.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said: After renouncing his prosperous home and

entering the forest, King Vidura, the great devotee, asked this question

of His Grace Maitreya Rsi.

TEXT 2

TEXT

yad va ayam mantra-krd vo

bhagavan akhilesvarah

pauravendra-grham hitva

pravivesatmasat krtam

SYNONYMS

yat–the house; vai–what else is there to say; ayam–Sri Krsna;

mantra-krt–minister; vah–you people; bhagavan–the Personality of

Godhead; akhila-isvarah–the Lord of everything; pauravendra–Duryodhana;

grham–house; hitva–giving up; pravivesa–entered; atmasat–identify

with oneself; krtam–so accepted.

TRANSLATION

What else is there to say about the residential house of the Pandavas?

Sri Krsna, the Lord of everything, acted as your minister. He used to

enter that house as if it were His own, and He did not take any care of

Duryodhana’s house.

 

TEXT 3

TEXT

rajovaca

kutra ksattur bhagavata

maitreyenasa sangamah

kada va saha-samvada

etad varnaya nah prabho

SYNONYMS

raja uvaca–the King said; kutra–wherein; ksattuh–with Vidura;

bhagavata–and with His Grace; maitreyena–with Maitreya; asa–there was;

sangamah–meeting; kada–when; va–also; saha–with; samvadah–

discussion; etat–this; varnaya–describe; nah–unto me; prabho–O my

lord.

TRANSLATION

The King asked Sukadeva Gosvami: Where and when did the meeting and

discussion take place between Saint Vidura and His Grace Maitreya Muni?

TEXT 4

TEXT

na hy alparthodayas tasya

vidurasyamalatmanah

tasmin variyasi prasnah

sadhu-vadopabrmhitah

SYNONYMS

na–never; hi–certainly; alpa-artha–small (unimportant) purpose;

udayah–raised; tasya–his; vidurasya–of Vidura; amala-atmanah–of the

saintly man; tasmin–in that; variyasi–highly purposeful; prasnah–

question; sadhu-vada–things approved by saints and sages; upabrmhitah–

full with.

TRANSLATION

Saint Vidura was a great and pure devotee of the Lord, and therefore

his questions to His Grace Rsi Maitreya must have been very purposeful,

TEXT 5

TEXT

suta uvaca

sa evam rsi-varyo ‘yam

prsto rajna pariksita

praty aha tam subahu-vit

pritatma sruyatam iti

SYNONYMS

sutah uvaca–Sri Suta Gosvami said; sah–he; evam–thus; rsi-varyah–

the great rsi; ayam–Sukadeva Gosvami; prstah–being questioned; rajna–

by the King; pariksita–Maharaja Pariksit; prati–to; aha–replied; tam–

unto the King; su-bahu-vit–highly experienced; prita-atma–fully

satisfied; sruyatam–please hear me; iti–thus.

TRANSLATION

Sri Suta Gosvami said: The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami was highly

experienced and was pleased with the King. Thus being questioned by the

King, he said to him, “Please hear the topics attentively.”

TEXT 6

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

yada tu raja sva-sutan asadhun

pusnan na dharmena vinasta-drstih

bhratur yavisthasya sutan vibandhun

pravesya laksa-bhavane dadaha

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; yada–when; tu–but; raja-

-King Dhrtarastra; sva-sutan–his own sons; asadhun–dishonest; pusnan–

nourishing; na–never; dharmena–on the right path; vinasta-drstih–one

who has lost his insight; bhratuh–of his brother; yavisthasya–younger;

sutan–sons; vibandhun–having no guardian (father); pravesya–made to

enter; laksa–lacquer; bhavane–in the house; dadaha–set on fire.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: King Dhrtarastra became blind under the

influence of impious desires to nourish his dishonest sons, and thus he

set fire to the lacquer house to burn his fatherless nephews, the

TEXT 7

TEXT

yada sabhayam kuru-deva-devyah

kesabhimarsam suta-karma garhyam

na varayam asa nrpah snusayah

svasrair harantyah kuca-kunkumani

SYNONYMS

yada–when; sabhayam–the assembly; kuru-deva-devyah–of Draupadi, the

wife of godly Yudhisthira; kesa-abhimarsam–insult by grabbing her hair;

suta-karma–action taken by his son; garhyam–which was abominable; na–

did not; varayam asa–forbid; nrpah–the King; snusayah–of his daughterin-

law; svasraih–by her tears; harantyah–of she who was washing; kucakunkumani–

red dust on her breast.

TRANSLATION

The King did not forbid his son Duhsasana’s abominable action of

grabbing the hair of Draupadi, the wife of the godly King Yudhisthira,

even though her tears washed the red dust on her breast.

TEXT 8

TEXT

dyute tv adharmena jitasya sadhoh

satyavalambasya vanam gatasya

na yacato ‘dat samayena dayam

tamo-jusano yad ajata-satroh

SYNONYMS

dyute–by means of gambling; tu–but; adharmena–by unfair tricks;

jitasya–of the vanquished; sadhoh–a saintly person; satya-avalambasya–

one who embraced truth as shelter; vanam–forest; gatasya–of the goer;

na–never; yacatah–when asked for; adat–delivered; samayena–in due

course; dayam–right share; tamah-jusanah–overwhelmed by illusion; yat–

as much as; ajata-satroh–of one who had no enemy.

TRANSLATION

Yudhisthira, who was born without any enemy, was unfairly defeated in

gambling. But because he had taken the vow of truthfulness, he went off

to the forest. When he came back in due course and begged the return of

his rightful share of the kingdom, he was refused by Dhrtarastra, who was

TEXT 9

TEXT

yada ca partha-prahitah sabhayam

jagad-gurur yani jagada krsnah

na tani pumsam amrtayanani

rajoru mene ksata-punya-lesah

SYNONYMS

yada–when; ca–also; partha-prahitah–being advised by Arjuna;

sabhayam–in the assembly; jagat-guruh–of the teacher of the world;

yani–those; jagada–went; krsnah–Lord Krsna; na–never; tani–such

words; pumsam–of all men of sense; amrta-ayanani–as good as nectar;

raja–the King (Dhrtarastra or Duryodhana); uru–very important; mene–

did consider; ksata–dwindling; punya-lesah–fragment of pious acts.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna was sent by Arjuna into the assembly as the spiritual

master of the whole world, and although His words were heard by some

[like Bhisma] as pure nectar, it was not so for the others, who were

completely bereft of the last farthing of past pious works. The King

[Dhrtarastra or Duryodhana] did not take the words of Lord Krsna very

TEXT 10

TEXT

yadopahuto bhavanam pravisto

mantraya prstah kila purvajena

athaha tan mantra-drsam variyan

yan mantrino vaidurikam vadanti

SYNONYMS

yada–when; upahutah–was called by; bhavanam–the palace; pravistah–

entered; mantraya–for consultation; prstah–asked by; kila–of course;

purvajena–by the elder brother; atha–thus; aha–said; tat–that;

mantra–advice; drsam–just suitable; variyan–excellent; yat–that

which; mantrinah–the ministers of state, or expert politicians;

vaidurikam–instructions by Vidura; vadanti–do they say.

TRANSLATION

When Vidura was invited by his elder brother [Dhrtarastra] for

consultation, he entered the house and gave instructions which were

exactly to the point. His advice is well known, and instructions by

Vidura are approved by expert ministers of stateTEXT 11

TEXT

ajata-satroh pratiyaccha dayam

titiksato durvisaham tavagah

sahanujo yatra vrkodarahih

svasan rusa yat tvam alam bibhesi

SYNONYMS

ajata-satroh–of Yudhisthira, who has no enemy; pratiyaccha–return;

dayam–legitimate share; titiksatah–of he who is so forbearing;

durvisaham–unbearable; tava–your; agah–offense; saha–along with;

anujah–younger brothers; yatra–wherein; vrkodara–Bhima; ahih–

revenging snake; svasan–breathing heavily; rusa–in anger; yat–whom;

tvam–you; alam–verily; bibhesi–do fear.

TRANSLATION

[Vidura said:] You must now return the legitimate share to

Yudhisthira, who has no enemies and who has been forbearing through

untold sufferings due to your offenses. He is waiting with his younger

brothers, among whom is the revengeful Bhima, breathing heavily like a

snake. Surely you are afraid of him.

TEXT 12

TEXT

parthams tu devo bhagavan mukundo

grhitavan saksiti-deva-devah

aste sva-puryam yadu-deva-devo

vinirjitasesa-nrdeva-devah

SYNONYMS

parthan–the sons of Prtha (Kunti); tu–but; devah–the Lord;

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; mukundah–Sri Krsna, who awards

liberation; grhitavan–has taken up; sa–with; ksiti-deva-devah–the

brahmanas and the demigods; aste–is present; sva-puryam–along with His

family; yadu-deva-devah–worshiped by the royal order of the Yadu

dynasty; vinirjita–who have been conquered; asesa–unlimited; nrdeva–

kings; devah–Lord.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, has accepted the sons of Prtha

as His kinsmen, and all the kings of the world are with Lord Sri Krsna.

He is present in His home with all His family members, the kings and

princes of the Yadu dynasty, who have conquered an unlimited number of

rulers, and He is their Lord.TEXT 13

TEXT

sa esa dosah purusa-dvid aste

grhan pravisto yam apatya-matya

pusnasi krsnad vimukho gata-sris

tyajasv asaivam kula-kausalaya

SYNONYMS

sah–he; esah–this; dosah–offense personified; purusa-dvit–envious

of Lord Krsna; aste–exists; grhan–household; pravistah–entered; yam–

whom; apatya-matya–thinking to be your son; pusnasi–maintaining;

krsnat–from Krsna; vimukhah–in opposition; gata-srih–devoid of

everything auspicious; tyaja–give up; asu–as soon as possible; asaivam-

-inauspicious; kula–family; kausalaya–for the sake of.

TRANSLATION

You are maintaining offense personified, Duryodhana, as your

infallible son, but he is envious of Lord Krsna. And because you are thus

maintaining a nondevotee of Krsna, you are devoid of all auspicious

qualities. Relieve yourself of this ill fortune as soon as possible and

do good to the whole family!TEXT 14

TEXT

ity ucivams tatra suyodhanena

pravrddha-kopa-sphuritadharena

asat-krtah sat-sprhaniya-silah

ksatta sakarnanuja-saubalena

SYNONYMS

iti–thus; ucivan–while speaking; tatra–there; suyodhanena–by

Duryodhana; pravrddha–swollen with; kopa–anger; sphurita–flapping;

adharena–lips; asat-krtah–insulted; sat–respectable; sprhaniya-silah–

desirable qualities; ksatta–Vidura; sa–with; karna–Karna; anuja–

younger brothers; saubalena–with Sakuni.

TRANSLATION

While speaking thus, Vidura, whose personal character was esteemed by

respectable persons, was insulted by Duryodhana, who was swollen with

anger and whose lips were trembling. Duryodhana was in company with

Karna, his younger brothers and his maternal uncle Sakuni.TEXT 15

TEXT

ka enam atropajuhava jihmam

dasyah sutam yad-balinaiva pustah

tasmin pratipah parakrtya aste

nirvasyatam asu purac chvasanah

SYNONYMS

kah–who; enam–this; atra–here; upajuhava–called for; jihmam–

crooked; dasyah–of a kept mistress; sutam–son; yat–whose; balina–by

whose subsistence; eva–certainly; pustah–grown up; tasmin–unto him;

pratipah–enmity; parakrtya–enemy’s interest; aste–situated;

nirvasyatam–get him out; asu–immediately; purat–from the palace;

svasanah–let him breathe only.

TRANSLATION

Who asked him to come here, this son of a kept mistress? He is so

crooked that he spies in the interest of the enemy against those on whose

support he has grown up. Toss him out of the palace immediately and leave

him with only his breath.TEXT 16

TEXT

svayam dhanur dvari nidhaya mayam

bhratuh puro marmasu tadito ‘pi

sa ittham atyulbana-karna-banair

gata-vyatho ‘yad uru manayanah

SYNONYMS

svayam–he himself; dhanuh dvari–bow on the door; nidhaya–keeping;

mayam–the external nature; bhratuh–brother’s; purah–from the palace;

marmasu–in the core of the heart; taditah–being afflicted; api–in

spite of; sah–he (Vidura); ittham–like this; ati-ulbana–severely;

karna–ear; banaih–by the arrows; gata-vyathah–without being sorry;

ayat–excited; uru–great; mana-yanah–so thinking.

TRANSLATION

Thus being pierced by arrows through his ears and afflicted to the

core of his heart, Vidura placed his bow on the door and quit his

brother’s palace. He was not sorry, for he considered the acts of the

external energy to be supreme.TEXT 17

TEXT

sa nirgatah kaurava-punya-labdho

gajahvayat tirtha-padah padani

anvakramat punya-cikirsayorvyam

adhisthito yani sahasra-murtih

SYNONYMS

sah–he (Vidura); nirgatah–after having quit; kaurava–the Kuru

dynasty; punya–piety; labdhah–so achieved; gaja-ahvayat–from

Hastinapura; tirtha-padah–of the Supreme Lord; padani–pilgrimages;

anvakramat–took shelter; punya–piety; cikirsaya–desiring so; urvyam–

of high grade; adhisthitah–situated; yani–all those; sahasra–

thousands; murtih–forms.

TRANSLATION

By his piety, Vidura achieved the advantages of the pious Kauravas.

After leaving Hastinapura, he took shelter of many places of pilgrimages,

which are the Lord’s lotus feet. With a desire to gain a high order of

pious life, he traveled to holy places where thousands of transcendental

forms of the Lord are situated.TEXT 18

TEXT

puresu punyopavanadri-kunjesv

apanka-toyesu sarit-sarahsu

ananta-lingaih samalankrtesu

cacara tirthayatanesv ananyah

SYNONYMS

puresu–holy places like Ayodhya, Dvaraka and Mathura; punya–piety;

upavana–the air; adri–hill; kunjesu–in the orchards; apanka–without

sin; toyesu–in the water; sarit–river; sarahsu–lakes; ananta-lingaih–

the forms of the Unlimited; samalankrtesu–being so decorated; cacara–

executed; tirtha–places of pilgrimage; ayatanesu–holy lands; ananyah–

alone or seeing Krsna alone.

TRANSLATION

He began to travel alone, thinking only of Krsna, through various holy

places like Ayodhya, Dvaraka and Mathura. He traveled where the air,

hill, orchard, river and lake are all pure and sinless and where the

forms of the Unlimited decorate the temples. Thus he performed the

pilgrim’s progress.

TEXT 19

TEXT

gam paryatan medhya-vivikta-vrttih

sadapluto ‘dhah sayano ‘vadhutah

alaksitah svair avadhuta-veso

vratani cere hari-tosanani

SYNONYMS

gam–earth; paryatan–traversing; medhya–pure; vivikta-vrttih–

independent occupation for living; sada–always; aplutah–sanctified;

adhah–on the earth; sayanah–lying; avadhutah–without dressing (of the

hair, etc.); alaksitah–without being seen; svaih–alone; avadhuta-vesah-

-dressed like a mendicant; vratani–vows; cere–performed; hari-tosanani-

-that pleased the Lord.

TRANSLATION

While so traversing the earth, he simply performed duties to please

the Supreme Lord Hari. His occupation was pure and independent. He was

constantly sanctified by taking his bath in holy places, although he was

in the dress of a mendicant and had no hair dressing nor a bed on which

to lie. Thus he was always unseen by his various relatives.TEXT 20

TEXT

ittham vrajan bharatam eva varsam

kalena yavad gatavan prabhasam

tavac chasasa ksitim eka cakram

ekatapatram ajitena parthah

SYNONYMS

ittham–like this; vrajan–while traveling; bharatam–India; eva–

only; varsam–the tract of land; kalena–in due course of time; yavat–

when; gatavan–visited; prabhasam–the Prabhasa pilgrimage site; tavat–

at that time; sasasa–ruled; ksitim–the world; eka-cakram–by one

military force; eka–one; atapatram–flag; ajitena–by the mercy of the

unconquerable Krsna; parthah–Maharaja Yudhisthira.

TRANSLATION

Thus, when he was in the land of Bharatavarsa traveling to all the

places of pilgrimage, he visited Prabhasaksetra. At that time Maharaja

Yudhisthira was the emperor and held the world under one military

strength and one flag.TEXT 21

TEXT

tatratha susrava suhrd-vinastim

vanam yatha venuja-vahni-samsrayam

samspardhaya dagdham athanusocan

sarasvatim pratyag iyaya tusnim

SYNONYMS

tatra– there; atha–thereafter; susrava–heard; suhrt–kinsmen;

vinastim–all dead; vanam–forest; yatha–as much as; venuja-vahni–fire

due to the bamboos; samsrayam–friction with one another; samspardhaya–

by violent passion; dagdham–burnt; atha–thus; anusocan–thinking;

sarasvatim–the River Sarasvati; pratyak–westward; iyaya–went; tusnim–

silently.

TRANSLATION

At the place of pilgrimage at Prabhasa, it came to his knowledge that

all his relatives had died due to violent passion, just as an entire

forest burns due to fire produced by the friction of bamboos. After this

he proceeded west, where the River Sarasvati flows.TEXT 22

TEXT

tasyam tritasyosanaso manos ca

prthor athagner asitasya vayoh

tirtham sudasasya gavam guhasya

yac chraddhadevasya sa asiseve

SYNONYMS

tasyam–on the bank of the River Sarasvati; tritasya–the pilgrimage

site named Trita; usanasah–the pilgrimage site named Usana; manoh ca–as

also of the pilgrimage site named Manu; prthoh–that of Prthu; atha–

thereafter; agneh–that of Agni; asitasya–that of Asita; vayoh–that of

Vayu; tirtham–places of pilgrimages; sudasasya–of the name Sudasa;

gavam–that of Go; guhasya–that of Guha; yat–thereupon; sraddhadevasya-

-of the name Sraddhadeva; sah–Vidura; asiseve–duly visited and

performed the rituals.

TRANSLATION

On the bank of the River Sarasvati there were eleven places of

pilgrimage, namely, (1) Trita, (2) Usana, (3) Manu, (4) Prthu, (5) Agni,

(6) Asita, (7) Vayu, (8) Sudasa, (9) Go, (10) Guha and (11) Sraddhadeva.

Vidura visited all of them and duly performed rituals.

TEXT 23

TEXT

anyani ceha dvija-deva-devaih

krtani nanayatanani visnoh

pratyanga-mukhyankita-mandirani

yad-darsanat krsnam anusmaranti

SYNONYMS

anyani–others; ca–also; iha–here; dvija-deva–by the great sages;

devaih–and the demigods; krtani–established by; nana–various;

ayatanani–various forms; visnoh–of the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

prati–each and every; anga–part; mukhya–the chief; ankita–marked;

mandirani–temple s; yat–which; darsanat–by seeing from a distance;

krsnam–the original Personality of Godhead; anusmaranti–constantly

remembers.

TRANSLATION

There were also many other temples of various forms of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead Visnu, established by great sages and demigods.

These temples were marked with the chief emblems of the Lord, and they

reminded one always of the original Personality of Godhead, Lord KrsnaTEXT 24

TEXT

tatas tv ativrajya surastram rddham

sauvira-matsyan kurujangalams ca

kalena tavad yamunam upetya

tatroddhavam bhagavatam dadarsa

SYNONYMS

tatah–from there; tu–but; ativrajya–by passing over; surastram–the

kingdom of Surat; rddham–very wealthy; sauvira–the kingdom of Sauvira;

matsyan–the kingdom of Matsya; kurujangalan–the kingdom of western

India up to the Delhi province; ca–also; kalena–in course of time;

tavat–as soon as; yamunam–bank of the River Yamuna; upetya–reaching;

tatra–there; uddhavam–Uddhava, one of the prominent Yadus; bhagavatam–

the great devotee of Lord Krsna; dadarsa–happened to see.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter he passed through very wealthy provinces like Surat,

Sauvira and Matsya and through western India, known as Kurujangala. At

last he reached the bank of the Yamuna, where he happened to meet

Uddhava, the great devotee of Lord Krsna.TEXT 25

TEXT

sa vasudevanucaram prasantam

brhaspateh prak tanayam pratitam

alingya gadham pranayena bhadram

svanam aprcchad bhagavat-prajanam

SYNONYMS

sah–he, Vidura; vasudeva–Lord Krsna; anucaram–constant companion;

prasantam–very sober and gentle; brhaspateh–of Brhaspati, the learned

spiritual master of the demigods; prak–formerly; tanayam–son or

disciple; pratitam–acknowledged; alingya–embracing; gadham–very

feelingly; pranayena–in love; bhadram–auspicious; svanam–his own;

aprcchat–asked; bhagavat–of the Personality of Godhead; prajanam–

family.

TRANSLATION

Then, due to his great love and feeling, Vidura embraced him

[Uddhava], who was a constant companion of Lord Krsna and formerly a

great student of Brhaspati’s. Vidura then asked him for news of the

family of Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead.TEXT 26

TEXT

kaccit puranau purusau svanabhyapadmanuvrttyeha

kilavatirnau

asata urvyah kusalam vidhaya

krta-ksanau kusalam sura-gehe

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; puranau–the original; purusau–Personalities of

Godhead (Krsna and Balarama); svanabhya–Brahma; padma-anuvrttya–by the

request of the one who is born from the lotus; iha–here; kila–

certainly; avatirnau–incarnated; asate–are; urvyah–in the world;

kusalam–well-being; vidhaya–for doing so; krta-ksanau–the elevators of

everyone’s prosperity; kusalam–all well; sura-gehe–in the house of

Surasena.

TRANSLATION

[Please tell me] whether the original Personalities of Godhead, who

incarnated Themselves at the request of Brahma [who is born out of the

lotus flower from the Lord] and who have increased the prosperity of the

world by elevating everyone, are doing well in the house of Surasena.TEXT 27

TEXT

kaccit kurunam paramah suhrn no

bhamah sa aste sukham anga saurih

yo vai svasrnam pitrvad dadati

varan vadanyo vara-tarpanena

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; kurunam–of the Kurus; paramah–greatest; suhrt–

well-wisher; nah–our; bhamah–brother-in-law; sah–he; aste–is; sukham-

-happy; anga–O Uddhava; saurih–Vasudeva; yah–one who; vai–certainly;

svasrnam–of the sisters; pitr-vat–like a father; dadati–gives; varan–

everything desirable; vadanyah–munificent; vara–wife; tarpanena–by

pleasing.

TRANSLATION

[Please tell me] whether the best friend of the Kurus, our brother-inlaw

Vasudeva, is doing well. He is very munificent. He is like a father

to his sisters, and he is always pleasing to his wives.TEXT 28

TEXT

kaccid varuthadhipatir yadunam

pradyumna aste sukham anga virah

yam rukmini bhagavato ‘bhilebhe

aradhya vipran smaram adi-sarge

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; varutha–of the military; adhipatih–commander-inchief;

yadunam–of the Yadus; pradyumnah–the son of Krsna named

Pradyumna; aste–is; sukham–happy; anga–O Uddhava; virah–the great

warrior; yam–whom; rukmini–the wife of Krsna named Rukmini; bhagavatah-

-from the Personality of Godhead; abhilebhe–got as a prize; aradhya–

pleasing; vipran–brahmanas; smaram–Cupid (Kamadeva); adi-sarge–in his

previous life.

TRANSLATION

O Uddhava, please tell me how is Pradyumna, the commander-in-chief of

the Yadus, who was Cupid in a former life? Rukmini bore him as her son

from Lord Krsna, by the grace of brahmanas whom she pleased.TEXT 29

TEXT

kaccit sukham satvata-vrsni-bhojadasarhakanam

adhipah sa aste

yam abhyasincac chata-patra-netro

nrpasanasam parihrtya durat

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; sukham–is all well; satvata–the Satvata race;

vrsni–the Vrsni dynasty; bhoja–the Bhoja dynasty; dasarhakanam–the

Dasarha race; adhipah–King Ugrasena; sah–he; aste–does exist; yam–

whom; abhyasincat–installed; sata-patra-netrah–Lord Sri Krsna; nrpaasana-

asam–hope of the royal throne; parihrtya–giving up; durat–at a

distant place.

TRANSLATION

O my friend, [tell me] whether Ugrasena, the King of the Satvatas,

Vrsnis, Bhojas and Dasarhas, is now doing well. He went far away from his

kingdom, leaving aside all hopes of his royal throne, but Lord Krsna

again installed him.

TEXT 30

TEXT

kaccid dhareh saumya sutah sadrksa

aste ‘grani rathinam sadhu sambah

asuta yam jambavati vratadhya

devam guham yo ‘mbikaya dhrto ‘gre

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; hareh–of the Personality of Godhead; saumya–O grave

one; sutah–son; sadrksah–similar; aste–fares well; agranih–foremost;

rathinam–of the warriors; sadhu–well behaved; sambah–Samba; asuta–

gave birth; yam–whom; jambavati–Jambavati, a queen of Lord Krsna’s;

vratadhya–enriched by vows; devam–the demigod; guham–of the name

Karttikeya; yah–whom; ambikaya–unto the wife of Siva; dhrtah–born;

agre–in the previous birth.

TRANSLATION

O gentle one, does Samba fare well? He exactly resembles the son of

the Personality of Godhead. In a previous birth he was born as Karttikeya

in the womb of the wife of Lord Siva, and now he has been born in the

womb of Jambavati, the most enriched wife of Krsna.TEXT 31

TEXT

ksemam sa kaccid yuyudhana aste

yah phalgunal labdha-dhanu-rahasyah

lebhe ‘njasadhoksaja-sevayaiva

gatim tadiyam yatibhir durapam

SYNONYMS

ksemam–all good; sah–he; kaccit–whether; yuyudhanah–Satyaki; aste-

-is there; yah–one who; phalgunat–from Arjuna; labdha–has achieved;

dhanuh-rahasyah–one who understands the intricacies of military art;

lebhe–also achieved; anjasa–summarily; adhoksaja–of the Transcendence;

sevaya–by service; eva–certainly; gatim–destination; tadiyam–

transcendental; yatibhih–by great renouncers; durapam–very difficult to

achieve.

TRANSLATION

O Uddhava, does Yuyudhana fare well? He learned the intricacies of the

military art from Arjuna and attained the transcendental destination

which is very difficult to reach even for great renouncers.TEXT 32

TEXT

kaccid budhah svasty anamiva aste

svaphalka-putro bhagavat-prapannah

yah krsna-padankita-marga-pamsusv

acestata prema-vibhinna-dhairyah

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; budhah–very learned; svasti–well; anamivah–

faultless; aste–does exist; svaphalka-putrah–the son of Svaphalka,

Akrura; bhagavat–regarding the Personality of Godhead; prapannah–

surrendered; yah–one who; krsna–the Lord; pada-ankita–marked with

footprints; marga–path; pamsusu–in the dust; acestata–exhibited;

prema-vibhinna–lost in transcendental love; dhairyah–mental

equilibrium.

TRANSLATION

Please tell me whether Akrura, the son of Svaphalka, is doing well. He

is a faultless soul surrendered unto the Personality of Godhead. He once

lost his mental equilibrium due to his ecstasy of transcendental love and

fell down on the dust of a road which was marked with the footprints of

Lord Krsna.TEXT 33

TEXT

kaccic chivam devaka-bhoja-putrya

visnu-prajaya iva deva-matuh

ya vai sva-garbhena dadhara devam

trayi yatha yajna-vitanam artham

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; sivam–everything well; devaka-bhoja-putryah–of the

daughter of King Devaka-bhoja; visnu-prajayah–of she who gave birth to

the Personality of Godhead; iva–like that of; deva-matuh–of the mother

of the demigods (Aditi); ya–one who; vai–indeed; sva-garbhena–by her

own womb; dadhara–conceived; devam–the Supreme Lord; trayi–the Vedas;

yatha–as much as; yajna-vitanam–of spreading the sacrifice; artham–

purpose.

TRANSLATION

As the Vedas are the reservoir of sacrificial purposes, so the

daughter of King Devaka-bhoja conceived the Supreme Personality of

Godhead in her womb, as did the mother of the demigods. Is she [Devaki]

doing well?TEXT 34

TEXT

apisvid aste bhagavan sukham vo

yah satvatam kama-dugho ‘niruddhah

yam amananti sma hi sabda-yonim

mano-mayam sattva-turiya-tattvam

SYNONYMS

api–as also; svit–whether; aste–does He; bhagavan–the Personality

of Godhead; sukham–all happiness; vah–of you; yah–one who; satvatam–

of the devotees; kama-dughah–source of all desires; aniruddhah–the

plenary expansion Aniruddha; yam–whom; amananti–they accept; sma–from

yore; hi–certainly; sabda-yonim–the cause of the Rg Veda; manah-mayam–

creator of the mind; sattva–transcendental; turiya–the fourth

expansion; tattvam–principle.

TRANSLATION

May I inquire whether Aniruddha is doing well? He is the fulfiller of

all the desires of the pure devotees and has been considered from yore to

be the cause of the Rg Veda, the creator of the mind and the fourth

Plenary expansion of Visnu.TEXT 35

TEXT

apisvid anye ca nijatma-daivam

ananya-vrttya samanuvrata ye

hrdika-satyatmaja-carudesnagadadayah

svasti caranti saumya

SYNONYMS

api–as also; svit–whether; anye–others; ca–and; nija-atma–of

one’s own self; daivam–Sri Krsna; ananya–absolutely; vrttya–faith;

samanuvratah–followers; ye–all those who; hrdika–Hrdika; satya-atmaja-

-the son of Satyabhama; carudesna–Carudesna; gada–Gada; adayah–and

others; svasti–all well; caranti–pass time; saumya–O sober one.

TRANSLATION

O sober one, others, such as Hrdika, Carudesna, Gada and the son of

Satyabhama, who accept Lord Sri Krsna as the soul of the self and thus

follow His path without deviation–are they well?

TEXT 36

TEXT

api sva-dorbhyam vijayacyutabhyam

dharmena dharmah paripati setum

duryodhano ‘tapyata yat-sabhayam

samrajya-laksmya vijayanuvrttya

SYNONYMS

api–as also; sva-dorbhyam–own arms; vijaya–Arjuna; acyuta-bhyam–

along with Sri Krsna; dharmena–on religious principles; dharmah–King

Yudhisthira; paripati–maintains; setum–the respect of religion;

duryodhanah–Duryodhana; atapyata–envied; yat–whose; sabhayam–royal

assembly; samrajya–imperial; laksmya–opulence; vijaya-anuvrttya–by the

service of Arjuna.

TRANSLATION

Also let me inquire whether Maharaja Yudhisthira is now maintaining

the kingdom according to religious principles and with respect for the

path of religion. Formerly Duryodhana was burning with envy because

Yudhisthira was being protected by the arms of Krsna and Arjuna as if

they were his own arms.TEXT 37

TEXT

kim va krtaghesv agham atyamarsi

bhimo ‘hivad dirghatamam vyamuncat

yasyanghri-patam rana-bhur na sehe

margam gadayas carato vicitram

SYNONYMS

kim–whether; va–either; krta–performed; aghesu–unto the sinners;

agham–angry; ati-amarsi–unconquerable; bhimah–Bhima; ahi-vat–like a

cobra; dirgha-tamam–long-cherished; vyamuncat–has released; yasya–

whose; anghri-patam–putting on the steps; rana-bhuh–the field of

battle; na–could not; sehe–tolerate; margam–the path; gadayah–by the

clubs; caratah–playing; vicitram–wonderful.

TRANSLATION

[Please tell me] whether the unconquerable Bhima, who is like a cobra,

has released his long-cherished anger upon the sinners? The field of

battle could not tolerate even the wonderful playing of his club when he

stepped on the path.TEXT 38

TEXT

kaccid yasodha ratha-yuthapanam

gandiva-dhanvoparatarir aste

alaksito yac-chara-kuta-gudho

maya-kirato girisas tutosa

SYNONYMS

kaccit–whether; yasah-dha–famous; ratha-yuthapanam–amongst the

great chariot warriors; gandiva–Gandiva; dhanva–bow; uparata-arih–one

who has vanquished the enemies; aste–doing well; alaksitah–without

being identified; yat–whose; sara-kuta-gudhah–being covered by arrows;

maya-kiratah–false hunter; girisah–Lord Siva; tutosa–was satisfied.

TRANSLATION

[Please tell me] whether Arjuna, whose bow bears the name Gandiva and

who is always famous amongst the chariot warriors for vanquishing his

enemies, is doing well. He once satisfied Lord Siva by covering him with

arrows when Siva came as an unidentified false hunter.TEXT 39

TEXT

yamav utasvit tanayau prthayah

parthair vrtau paksmabhir aksiniva

remata uddaya mrdhe sva-riktham

parat suparnav iva vajri-vaktrat

SYNONYMS

yamau–twins (Nakula and Sahadeva); utasvit–whether; tanayau–sons;

prthayah–of Prtha; parthaih–by the sons of Prtha; vrtau–protected;

paksmabhih–by shields; aksini–of the eyes; iva–like; remate–playing

carelessly; uddaya–snatching; mrdhe–in the fight; sva-riktham–own

property; parat–from the enemy Duryodhana; suparnau–Garuda, the carrier

of Lord Visnu; iva–like; vajri-vaktrat–from the mouth of Indra.

TRANSLATION

Are the twin brothers who are protected by their brothers doing well?

Just as the eye is always protected by the eyelid, they are protected by

the sons of Prtha, who snatched back their rightful kingdom from the

hands of their enemy Duryodhana, just as Garuda snatched nectar from the

mouth of Indra, the thunderbolt carrier.TEXT 40

TEXT

aho prthapi dhriyate ‘rbhakarthe

rajarsi-varyena vinapi tena

yas tv eka-viro ‘dhiratho vijigye

dhanur dvitiyah kakubhas catasrah

SYNONYMS

aho–O my lord; prtha–Kunti; api–also; dhriyate–bears her life;

arbhaka-arthe–for the sake of fatherless children; rajarsi–King Pandu;

varyena–the best; vina api–without him; tena–him; yah–one who; tu–

but; eka–alone; virah–the warrior; adhirathah–commander; vijigye–

could conquer; dhanuh–the bow; dvitiyah–the second; kakubhah–

directions; catasrah–four.

TRANSLATION

O my lord, is Prtha still living? She lived only for the sake of her

fatherless children; otherwise it was impossible for her to live without

King Pandu, who was the greatest commander and who alone conquered the

four directions simply with the help of a second bow.TEXT 41

TEXT

saumyanusoce tam adhah-patantam

bhratre paretaya vidudruhe yah

niryapito yena suhrt sva-purya

aham sva-putran samanuvratena

SYNONYMS

saumya–O gentle one; anusoce–just lamenting; tam–him; adhahpatantam–

gliding down; bhratre–on his brother’s; paretaya–death;

vidudruhe–revolted against; yah–one who; niryapitah–driven out; yena–

by whom; suhrt–well-wisher; sva-puryah–from his own house; aham–

myself; sva-putran–with his own sons; samanu-vratena–accepting the same

line of action.

TRANSLATION

O gentle one, I simply lament for he [Dhrtarastra] who rebelled

against his brother after death. By him I was driven out of my own house,

although I am his sincere well-wisher, because he accepted the line of

action adopted by his own sons.TEXT 42

TEXT

so ‘ham harer martya-vidambanena

drso nrnam calayato vidhatuh

nanyopalaksyah padavim prasadac

carami pasyan gata-vismayo ‘tra

SYNONYMS

sah aham–therefore, I; hareh–of the Personality of Godhead; martya–

in this mortal world; vidambanena–without being recognized; drsah–on

sight; nrnam–of the people in general; calayatah–bewildering; vidhatuh-

-in order to do it; na–not; anya–other; upalaksyah–seen by others;

padavim–glories; prasadat–by the grace of; carami–do travel; pasyan–

by seeing; gata-vismayah–without doubt; atra–in this matter.

TRANSLATION

I am not astonished at this, having traveled over the world without

being seen by others. The activities of the Personality of Godhead, which

are like those of a man in this mortal world, are bewildering to others,

but I know of His greatness by His grace, and thus I am happy in all

respects.TEXT 43

TEXT

nunam nrpanam tri-madotpathanam

mahim muhus calayatam camubhih

vadhat prapannarti-jihirsayeso

‘py upaiksatagham bhagavan kurunam

SYNONYMS

nunam–of course; nrpanam–of the kings; tri–three; mada-utpathanam–

going astray out of false pride; mahim–earth; muhuh–constantly;

calayatam–agitating; camubhih–by movement of soldiers; vadhat–from the

act of killing; prapanna–surrendered; arti-jihirsaya–willing to relieve

the distress of the sufferers; isah–the Lord; api–in spite of;

upaiksata–waited; agham–offenses; bhagavan–the Supreme Lord; kurunam–

of the Kurus.

TRANSLATION

Despite His being the Lord and being always willing to relieve the

distress of sufferers, He [Krsna] refrained from killing the Kurus,

although they committed all sorts of sins and although He saw other kings

constantly agitating the earth by their strong military movements carried

out under the dictation of three kinds of false pride.TEXT 44

TEXT

ajasya janmotpatha-nasanaya

karmany akartur grahanaya pumsam

nanv anyatha ko ‘rhati deha-yogam

paro gunanam uta karma-tantram

SYNONYMS

ajasya–of the unborn; janma–appearance; utpatha-nasanaya–f or the

sake of annihilating the upstarts; karmani–works; akartuh–of one who

has nothing to do; grahanaya–to take up; pumsam–of all persons; nanu

anyatha–otherwise; kah–who; arhati–may deserve; deha-yogam–contact of

the body; parah–transcendental; gunanam–of the three modes of nature;

uta–what to speak of; karma-tantram–the law of action and reaction.

TRANSLATION

The appearance of the Lord is manifested for the annihilation of the

upstarts. His activities are transcendental and are enacted for the

understanding of all persons. Otherwise, since the Lord is transcendental

to all material modes, what purpose could He serve by coming to earth?TEXT 45

TEXT

tasya prapannakhila-lokapanam

avasthitanam anusasane sve

arthaya jatasya yadusv ajasya

vartam sakhe kirtaya tirtha-kirteh

SYNONYMS

tasya–His; prapanna–surrendered; akhila-loka-panam–all rulers of

the entire universe; avasthitanam–situated in; anusasane–under the

control of; sve–own self; arthaya–for the interest of; jatasya–of the

born; yadusu–in the family of the Yadus; ajasya–of the unborn; vartam–

topics; sakhe–O my friend; kirtaya–please narrate; tirtha-kirteh–of

the Lord, whose glories are chanted in the places of pilgrimage.

TRANSLATION

O my friend, please, therefore, chant the glories of the Lord, who is

meant to be glorified in the places of pilgrimage. He is unborn, and yet

He appears by His causeless mercy upon the surrendered rulers of all

parts of the universe. Only for their interest did He appear in the

family of His unalloyed devotees the Yadus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT 1

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

atra sargo visargas ca

sthanam posanam utayah

manvantaresanukatha

nirodho muktir asrayah

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; atra–in this Srimad-

Bhagavatam; sargah–statement of the creation of the universe; visargah–

statement of subcreation; ca–also; sthanam–the planetary systems;

posanam–protection; utayah–the creative impetus; manvantara–changes of

Manus; isa-anukathah–the science of God; nirodhah–going back home, back

to Godhead; muktih–liberation; asrayah–the summum bonum.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there are ten

divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the

universe, subcreation, planetary systems, protection by the Lord, the

creative impetus, the change of Manus, the science of God, returning

home, back to Godhead, liberation, and the summum bonum.

TEXT 2

TEXT

dasamasya visuddhy-artham

navanam iha laksanam

varnayanti mahatmanah

srutenarthena canjasa

SYNONYMS

dasamasya–of the summum bonum; visuddhi–isolation; artham–purpose;

navanam–of the other nine; iha–in this Srimad-Bhagavatam; laksanam–

symptoms; varnayanti–they describe; maha-atmanah–the great sages;

srutena–by Vedic evidences; arthena–by direct explanation; ca–and;

anjasa–summarily.

TRANSLATION

To isolate the transcendence of the summum bonum, the symptoms of the

rest are described sometimes by Vedic inference, sometimes by direct

explanation, and sometimes by summary explanations given by the great

sages.

TEXT 3

TEXT

bhuta-matrendriya-dhiyam

janma sarga udahrtah

brahmano guna-vaisamyad

visargah paurusah smrtah

SYNONYMS

bhuta–the five gross elements (the sky, etc.); matra–objects

perceived by the senses; indriya–the senses; dhiyam–of the mind; janma-

-creation; sargah–manifestation; udahrtah–is called the creation;

brahmanah–of Brahma, the first purusa; guna-vaisamyat–by interaction of

the three modes of nature; visargah–re-creation; paurusah–resultant

activities; smrtah–it is so known.

TRANSLATION

The elementary creation of sixteen items of matter–namely the five

elements [fire, water, land, air and sky], sound, form, taste, smell,

touch, and the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin and mind–is known as

sarga, whereas subsequent resultant interaction of the modes of material

TEXT 4

TEXT

sthitir vaikuntha-vijayah

posanam tad-anugrahah

manvantarani sad-dharma

utayah karma-vasanah

SYNONYMS

sthitih–the right situation; vaikuntha-vijayah–the victory of the

Lord of Vaikuntha; posanam–maintenance; tat-anugrahah–His causeless

mercy; manvantarani–the reign of the Manus; sat-dharmah–perfect

occupational duty; utayah–impetus to work; karma-vasanah–desire for

fruitive work.

TRANSLATION

The right situation for the living entities is to obey the laws of the

Lord and thus be in perfect peace of mind under the protection of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Manus and their laws are meant to

give right direction in life. The impetus for activity is the desire for

TEXT 5

TEXT

avataranucaritam

hares casyanuvartinam

pumsam isa-kathah prokta

nanakhyanopabrmhitah

SYNONYMS

avatara–incarnation of Godhead; anucaritam–activities; hareh–of the

Personality of Godhead; ca–also; asya–of His; anuvartinam–followers;

pumsam–of the persons; isa-kathah–the science of God; proktah–is said;

nana–various; akhyana–narrations; upabrmhitah–described.

TRANSLATION

The science of God describes the incarnations of the Personality of

Godhead and His different activities together with the activities of His

TEXT 6

TEXT

nirodho ‘syanusayanam

atmanah saha saktibhih

muktir hitvanyatha rupam

sva-rupena vyavasthitih

SYNONYMS

nirodhah–the winding up of the cosmic manifestation; asya–of His;

anusayanam–the lying down of the purusa incarnation Maha-Visnu in mystic

slumber; atmanah–of the living entities; saha–along with; saktibhih–

with the energies; muktih–liberation; hitva–giving up; anyatha–

otherwise; rupam–form; sva-rupena–in constitutional form; vyavasthitih-

-permanent situation.

TRANSLATION

The merging of the living entity, along with his conditional living

tendency, with the mystic lying down of the Maha-Visnu is called the

winding up of the cosmic manifestation. Liberation is the permanent

situation of the form of the living entity after he gives up the

TEXT 7

TEXT

abhasas ca nirodhas ca

yato ‘sty adhyavasiyate

sa asrayah param brahma

paramatmeti sabdyate

SYNONYMS

abhasah–the cosmic manifestation; ca–and; nirodhah–and its winding

up; ca–also; yatah–from the source; asti–is; adhyavasiyate–become

manifested; sah–He; asrayah–reservoir; param–the Supreme; brahma–

Being; paramatma–the Supersoul; iti–thus; sabdyate–called.

TRANSLATION

The supreme one who is celebrated as the Supreme Being or the Supreme

Soul is the supreme source of the cosmic manifestation as well as its

reservoir and winding up. Thus He is the Supreme Fountainhead, the

TEXT 8

TEXT

yo ‘dhyatmiko ‘yam purusah

so ‘sav evadhidaivikah

yas tatrobhaya-vicchedah

puruso hy adhibhautikah

SYNONYMS

yah–one who; adhyatmikah–is possessed of the sense organs; ayam–

this; purusah–personality; sah–he; asau–that; eva–also; adhidaivikah-

-controlling deity; yah–that which; tatra–there; ubhaya–of both;

vicchedah–separation; purusah–person; hi–for; adhibhautikah–the

visible body or the embodied living entity.

TRANSLATION

The individual person possessing different instruments of senses is

called the adhyatmic person, and the individual controlling deity of the

senses is called adhidaivic. The embodiment seen on the eyeballs is

TEXT 9

TEXT

ekam ekatarabhave

yada nopalabhamahe

tritayam tatra yo veda

sa atma svasrayasrayah

SYNONYMS

ekam–one; ekatara–another; abhave–in the absence of; yada–because;

na–does not; upalabhamahe–perceptible; tritayam–in three stages;

tatra–there; yah–the one; veda–who knows; sah–he; atma–the

Supersoul; sva–own; asraya–shelter; asrayah–of the shelter.

TRANSLATION

All three of the above-mentioned stages of different living entities

are interdependent. In the absence of one, another is not understood. But

the Supreme Being who sees every one of them as the shelter of the

shelter is independent of all, and therefore He is the supreme shelter.

PURPORT

There are innumerable living entities, one dependent on the other in

the relationship of the controlled and the controller. But without the

medium of perception, no one can know or understand who is the controlled

and who is the controller. For example, the sun controls the power of our

vision, we can see the sun because the sun has its body, and the sunlight

is useful only because we have eyes. Without our having eyes, the

sunlight is useless, and without sunlight the eyes are useless. Thus they

are interdependent, and none of them is independent. Therefore the

natural question arises concerning who made them interdependent. The one

who has made such a relationship of interdependence must be ultimately

completely independent. As stated in the beginning of the Srimad-

Bhagavatam, the ultimate source of all interdependent objectives is the

complete independent subject. This ultimate source of all interdependence

is the Supreme Truth or Paramatma, the Supersoul, who is not dependent on

anything else. He is svasrayasrayah. He is only dependent on His self,

and thus He is the supreme shelter of everything. Although Paramatma and

Brahman are subordinate to Bhagavan, because Bhagavan is Purusottama or

the Superperson, He is the source of the Supersoul also. In the Bhagavadgita

(15.18) Lord Krsna says that He is the Purusottama and the source of

TEXT 10

TEXT

puruso ‘ndam vinirbhidya

yadasau sa vinirgatah

atmano ‘yanam anvicchann

apo ‘sraksic chucih sucih

SYNONYMS

purusah–the Supreme Person, Paramatma; andam–the universes;

vinirbhidya–making them each separately situated; yada–when; asau–the

same; sah–He (the Lord); vinirgatah–came out; atmanah–of Himself;

ayanam–lying in place; anvicchan–desiring; apah–water; asraksit–

created; sucih–the most pure; sucih–transcendental.

TRANSLATION

After separating the different universes, the gigantic universal form

of the Lord [Maha-Visnu], which came out of the causal ocean, the place

of appearance for the first purusa-avatara, entered into each of the

separate universes, desiring to lie on the created transcendental water

TEXT 11

TEXT

tasv avatsit sva-srstasu

sahasram parivatsaran

tena narayano nama

yad apah purusodbhavah

SYNONYMS

tasu–in that; avatsit–resided; sva–own; srstasu–in the matter of

creation; sahasram–one thousand; parivatsaran–years of His measurement;

tena–for that reason; narayanah–the Personality of Godhead named

Narayana; nama–name; yat–because; apah–water; purusa-udbhavah–

emanated from the Supreme Person.

TRANSLATION

That Supreme Person is not impersonal and therefore is distinctively a

nara, or person. Therefore the transcendental water created from the

Supreme Nara is known as nara. And because He lies down on that water, He

TEXT 12

TEXT

dravyam karma ca kalas ca

svabhavo jiva eva ca

yad-anugrahatah santi

na santi yad-upeksaya

SYNONYMS

dravyam–physical elements; karma–action; ca–and; kalah–time; ca–

also; sva-bhavah jivah–the living entities; eva–certainly; ca–also;

yat–whose; anugrahatah–by the mercy of; santi–exist; na–does not;

santi–exist; yat-upeksaya–by negligence.

TRANSLATION

One should definitely know that all material ingredients, activities,

time and modes, and the living entities who are meant to enjoy them all,

exist by His mercy only, and as soon as He does not care for them,

TEXT 13

TEXT

eko nanatvam anvicchan

yoga-talpat samutthitah

viryam hiranmayam devo

mayaya vyasrjat tridha

SYNONYMS

ekah–He, one alone; nanatvam–varieties; anvicchan–so desiring;

yoga-talpat–from the bedstead of mystic slumber; samutthitah–thus

generated; viryam–the semina; hiranmayam–golden hue; devah–the

demigod; mayaya–by the external energy; vyasrjat–perfectly created;

tridha–in three features.

TRANSLATION

The Lord, while lying on His bed of mystic slumber, generated the

seminal symbol, golden in hue, through external energy out of His desire

TEXT 14

TEXT

adhidaivam athadhyatmam

adhibhutam iti prabhuh

athaikam paurusam viryam

tridhabhidyata tac chrnu

SYNONYMS

adhidaivam–the controlling entities; atha–now; adhyatmam–the

controlled entities; adhibhutam–the material bodies; iti–thus; prabhuh-

-the Lord; atha–in this way; ekam–one only; paurusam–of His Lordship;

viryam–potency; tridha–in three; abhidyata–divided; tat–that; srnu–

just hear from me.

TRANSLATION

Just hear from me how the potency of His Lordship divides one into

three, called the controlling entities, the controlled entities and the

material bodies, in the manner mentioned above.

TEXT 15

TEXT

antah sarira akasat

purusasya vicestatah

ojah saho balam jajne

tatah prano mahan asuh

SYNONYMS

antah sarire–within the body; akasat–from the sky; purusasya–of

Maha-Visnu; vicestatah–while so trying, or willing; ojah–the energy of

the senses; sahah–mental force; balam–bodily strength; jajne–

generated; tatah–thereafter; pranah–the living force; mahan asuh–the

fountainhead of everyone’s life.

TRANSLATION

From the sky situated within the transcendental body of the

manifesting Maha-Visnu, sense energy, mental force and bodily strength

are all generated, as well as the sum total of the fountainhead of the

total living force.

TEXT 16

TEXT

anuprananti yam pranah

pranantam sarva-jantusu

apanantam apananti

nara-devam ivanugah

SYNONYMS

anuprananti–follow the living symptoms; yam–whom; pranah–senses;

pranantam–endeavoring; sarva-jantusu–in all living entities; apanantam-

-stop endeavoring; apananti–all others stop; nara-devam–a king; iva–

like; anugah–the followers.

TRANSLATION

As the followers of a king follow their lord, similarly when the total

energy is in motion, all other living entities move, and when the total

energy stops endeavoring, all other living entities stop sensual

TEXT 17

TEXT

pranenaksipata ksut trd

antara jayate vibhoh

pipasato jaksatas ca

pran mukham nirabhidyata

SYNONYMS

pranena–by the living force; aksipata–being agitated; ksut–hunger;

trt–thirst; antara–from within; jayate–generates; vibhoh–of the

Supreme; pipasatah–being desirous to quench the thirst; jaksatah–being

desirous to eat; ca–and; prak–at first; mukham–the mouth;

nirabhidyata–was opened.

TRANSLATION

The living force, being agitated by the virat-purusa, generated hunger

TEXT 18

TEXT

mukhatas talu nirbhinnam

jihva tatropajayate

tato nana-raso jajne

jihvaya yo ‘dhigamyate

SYNONYMS

mukhatah–from the mouth; talu–the palate; nirbhinnam–being

generated; jihva–the tongue; tatra–thereupon; upajayate–becomes

manifested; tatah–thereupon; nana-rasah–various tastes; jajne–became

manifested; jihvaya–by the tongue; yah–which; adhigamyate–become

relished.

TRANSLATION

From the mouth the palate became manifested, and thereupon the tongue

was also generated. After this all the different tastes came into

TEXT 19

TEXT

vivaksor mukhato bhumno

vahnir vag vyahrtam tayoh

jale caitasya suciram

nirodhah samajayata

SYNONYMS

vivaksoh–when there was a need to speak; mukhatah–from the mouth;

bhumnah–of the Supreme; vahnih–fire or the controlling deity of fire;

vak–vibration; vyahrtam–speeches; tayoh–by both; jale–in the water;

ca–however; etasya–of all these; suciram–a very, very long time;

nirodhah–suspension; samajayata–did continue.

TRANSLATION

When the Supreme desired to speak, speeches were vibrated from the

mouth. Then the controlling deity Fire was generated from the mouth. But

TEXT 20

TEXT

nasike nirabhidyetam

dodhuyati nabhasvati

tatra vayur gandha-vaho

ghrano nasi jighrksatah

SYNONYMS

nasike–in the nostrils; nirabhidyetam–being developed; dodhuyati–

rapidly blowing; nabhasvati–air respiration; tatra–thereupon; vayuh–

air; gandha-vahah–smelling odor; ghranah–sense of smell; nasi–in the

nose; jighrksatah–desiring to smell odors.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, when the supreme purusa desired to smell odors, the

nostrils and respiration were generated, the nasal instrument and odors

came into existence, and the controlling deity of air, carrying smell,

also became manifested.TEXT 21

TEXT

yadatmani niralokam

atmanam ca didrksatah

nirbhinne hy aksini tasya

jyotis caksur guna-grahah

SYNONYMS

yada–while; atmani–unto Himself; niralokam–without any light;

atmanam–His own transcendental body; ca–also other bodily forms;

didrksatah–desired to look upon; nirbhinne–due to being sprouted; hi–

for; aksini–of the eyes; tasya–of Him; jyotih–the sun; caksuh–the

eyes; guna-grahah–the power of seeing.

TRANSLATION

Thus when everything existed in darkness, the Lord desired to see

Himself and all that was created. Then the eyes, the illuminating god

Sun, the power of vision and the object of sight all became manifested.TEXT 22

TEXT

bodhyamanasya rsibhir

atmanas taj jighrksatah

karnau ca nirabhidyetam

disah srotram guna-grahah

SYNONYMS

bodhyamanasya–desiring to understand; rsibhih–by the authorities;

atmanah–of the Supreme Being; tat–that; jighrksatah–when He desired to

take up; karnau–the ears; ca–also; nirabhidyetam–became manifested;

disah–the direction or the god of air; srotram–the power of hearing;

guna-grahah–and the objects of hearing.

TRANSLATION

By development of the desire of the great sages to know, the ears, the

power of hearing, the controlling deity of hearing, and the objects of

hearing became manifested. The great sages desired to hear about the

Self.TEXT 23

TEXT

vastuno mrdu-kathinyalaghu-

gurv-osna-sitatam

jighrksatas tvan nirbhinna

tasyam roma-mahi-ruhah

tatra cantar bahir vatas

tvaca labdha-guno vrtah

SYNONYMS

vastunah–of all matter; mrdu–softness; kathinya–hardness; laghu–

lightness; guru–heaviness; osna–warmness; sitatam–coldness;

jighrksatah–desiring to perceive; tvak–the touch sensation; nirbhinna–

distributed; tasyam–in the skin; roma–hairs on the body; mahi-ruhah–as

well as the trees, the controlling deities; tatra–there; ca–also;

antah–within; bahih–outside; vatah tvaca–the sense of touch or the

skin; labdha–having been perceived; gunah–objects of sense perception;

vrtah–generated.

TRANSLATION

When there was a desire to perceive the physical characteristics of

matter, such as softness, hardness, warmth, cold, lightness and

heaviness, the background of sensation, the skin, the skin pores, the

hairs on the body and their controlling deities (the trees) were

generated. Within and outside the skin is a covering of air through which

sense perception became prominent.TEXT 24

TEXT

hastau ruruhatus tasya

nana-karma-cikirsaya

tayos tu balavan indra

adanam ubhayasrayam

SYNONYMS

hastau–the hands; ruruhatuh–manifested; tasya–His; nana–various;

karma–work; cikirsaya–being so desirous; tayoh–of them; tu–however;

balavan–to give strength; indrah–the demigod in heaven; adanam–

activities of the hand; ubhaya-asrayam–dependent on both the demigod and

the hand.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter when the Supreme Person desired to perform varieties of

work, the two hands and their controlling strength, and Indra, the

demigod in heaven, became manifested, as also the acts dependent on both

the hands and the demigod.TEXT 25

TEXT

gatim jigisatah padau

ruruhate ‘bhikamikam

padbhyam yajnah svayam havyam

karmabhih kriyate nrbhih

SYNONYMS

gatim–movement; jigisatah–so desiring; padau–the legs; ruruhate–

being manifested; abhikamikam–purposeful; padbhyam–from the legs;

yajnah–Lord Visnu; svayam–personally Himself; havyam–the duties;

karmabhih–by one’s occupational duty; kriyate–caused to be done;

nrbhih–by different human beings.

TRANSLATION

Thereupon, because of His desiring to control movement, His legs

became manifested, and from the legs the controlling deity named Visnu

was generated. By His personal supervision of this act, all varieties of

human being are busily engaged in dutiful occupational sacrifice.TEXT 26

TEXT

nirabhidyata sisno vai

prajanandamrtarthinah

upastha asit kamanam

priyam tad-ubhayasrayam

SYNONYMS

nirabhidyata–came out; sisnah–the genitals; vai–certainly; prajaananda–

sex pleasure; amrta-arthinah–aspiring to taste the nectar;

upasthah–the male or female organ; asit–came into existence; kamanam–

of the lustful; priyam–very dear; tat–that; ubhaya-asrayam–shelter for

both.

TRANSLATION

Thereupon, for sexual pleasure, begetting offspring and tasting

heavenly nectar, the Lord developed the genitals, and thus there is the

genital organ and its controlling deity, the Prajapati. The object of

sexual pleasure and the controlling deity are under the control of the

genitals of the Lord.TEXT 27

TEXT

utsisrksor dhatu-malam

nirabhidyata vai gudam

tatah payus tato mitra

utsarga ubhayasrayah

SYNONYMS

utsisrksoh–desiring to evacuate; dhatu-malam–refuse of eatables;

nirabhidyata–became open; vai–certainly; gudam–the evacuating hole;

tatah–thereafter; payuh–the evacuating sense organ; tatah–thereafter;

mitrah–the controlling demigod; utsargah–the substance evacuated;

ubhaya–both; asrayah–shelter.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, when He desired to evacuate the refuse of eatables, the

evacuating hole, anus, and the sensory organ thereof developed along with

the controlling deity Mitra. The sensory organ and the evacuating

substance are both under the shelter of the controlling deity.TEXT 28

TEXT

asisrpsoh purah purya

nabhi-dvaram apanatah

tatrapanas tato mrtyuh

prthaktvam ubhayasrayam

SYNONYMS

asisrpsoh–desiring to go everywhere; purah–in different bodies;

puryah–from one body; nabhi-dvaram–the navel or abdominal hole;

apanatah–was manifested; tatra–thereupon; apanah–stopping of the vital

force; tatah–thereafter; mrtyuh–death; prthaktvam–separately; ubhaya–

both; asrayam–shelter.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, when He desired to move from one body to another, the

navel and the air of departure and death were combinedly created. The

navel is the shelter for both, namely death and the separating force.TEXT 29

TEXT

aditsor anna-pananam

asan kuksy-antra-nadayah

nadyah samudras ca tayos

tustih pustis tad-asraye

SYNONYMS

aditsoh–desiring to have; anna-pananam–of food and drink; asan–

there became; kuksi–the abdomen; antra–the intestines; nadayah–and the

arteries; nadyah–the rivers; samudrah–seas; ca–also; tayoh–of them;

tustih–sustenance; pustih–metabolism; tat–of them; asraye–the source.

TRANSLATION

When there was a desire to have food and drink, the abdomen and the

intestines and also the arteries became manifested. The rivers and seas

are the source of their sustenance and metabolism.TEXT 30

TEXT

nididhyasor atma-mayam

hrdayam nirabhidyata

tato manas candra iti

sankalpah kama eva ca

SYNONYMS

nididhyasoh–being desirous to know; atma-mayam–own energy; hrdayam–

the location of the mind; nirabhidyata–was manifested; tatah–

thereafter; manah–the mind; candrah–the controlling deity of the mind,

the moon; iti–thus; sankalpah–determination; kamah–desire; eva–as

much as; ca–also.

TRANSLATION

When there was a desire to think about the activities of His own

energy, then the heart (the seat of the mind), the mind, the moon,

determination and all desire became manifested.TEXT 31

TEXT

tvak-carma-mamsa-rudhiramedo-

majjasthi-dhatavah

bhumy-ap-tejomayah sapta

prano vyomambu-vayubhih

SYNONYMS

tvak–the thin layer on the skin; carma–skin; mamsa–flesh; rudhira–

blood; medah–fat; majja–marrow; asthi–bone; dhatavah–elements; bhumi-

-earth; ap–water; tejah–fire; mayah–predominating; sapta–seven;

pranah–breathing air; vyoma–sky; ambu–water; vayubhih–by the air.

TRANSLATION

The seven elements of the body, namely the thin layer on the skin, the

skin itself, the flesh, blood, fat, marrow and bone, are all made of

earth, water and fire, whereas the life breath is produced by the sky,

water and air.TEXT 32

TEXT

gunatmakanindriyani

bhutadi-prabhava gunah

manah sarva-vikaratma

buddhir vijnana-rupini

SYNONYMS

guna-atmakani–attached to the qualities; indriyani–the senses;

bhuta-adi–material ego; prabhavah–influenced by; gunah–the modes of

material nature; manah–the mind; sarva–all; vikara–affection

(happiness and distress); atma–form; buddhih–intelligence; vijnana–

deliberation; rupini–featuring.

TRANSLATION

The sense organs are attached to the modes of material nature, and the

modes of material nature are products of the false ego. The mind is

subjected to all kinds of material experiences (happiness and distress),

and the intelligence is the feature of the mind’s deliberation.TEXT 33

TEXT

etad bhagavato rupam

sthulam te vyahrtam maya

mahy-adibhis cavaranair

astabhir bahir avrtam

SYNONYMS

etat–all these; bhagavatah–of the Personality of Godhead; rupam–

form; sthulam–gross; te–unto you; vyahrtam–explained; maya–by me;

mahi–the planets; adibhih–and so on; ca–unlimitedly; avaranaih–by

coverings; astabhih–by eight; bahih–external; avrtam–covered.

TRANSLATION

Thus by all this, the external feature of the Personality of Godhead

is covered by gross forms such as those of planets, which were explained

to you by me.TEXT 34

TEXT

atah param suksmatamam

avyaktam nirvisesanam

anadi-madhya-nidhanam

nityam van-manasah param

SYNONYMS

atah–therefore; param–transcendental; suksmatamam–finer than the

finest; avyaktam–unmanifested; nirvisesanam–without material features;

anadi–without beginning; madhya–without an intermediate stage;

nidhanam–without end; nityam–eternal; vak–words; manasah–of the mind;

param–transcendental.

TRANSLATION

Therefore beyond this [gross manifestation] is a transcendental

manifestation finer than the finest form. It has no beginning, no

intermediate stage and no end; therefore it is beyond the limits of

expression or mental speculation and is distinct from the material

conception.TEXT 35

TEXT

amuni bhagavad-rupe

maya te hy anuvarnite

ubhe api na grhnanti

maya-srste vipascitah

SYNONYMS

amuni–all these; bhagavat–unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

rupe–in the forms; maya–by me; te–unto you; hi–certainly; anuvarnite-

-described respectively; ubhe–both; api–also; na–never; grhnanti–

accepts; maya–external; srste–being so manifested; vipah-citah–the

learned one who knows.

TRANSLATION

Neither of the above forms of the Lord, as just described unto you

from the material angle of vision, is accepted by the pure devotees of

the Lord who know Him well.TEXT 36

TEXT

sa vacya-vacakataya

bhagavan brahma-rupa-dhrk

nama-rupa-kriya dhatte

sakarmakarmakah parah

SYNONYMS

sah–He; vacya–by His forms and activities; vacakataya–by His

transcendental qualities and entourage; bhagavan–the Personality of

Godhead; brahma–absolute; rupa-dhrk–by accepting visible forms; nama–

name; rupa–form; kriya–pastimes; dhatte–accepts; sa-karma–engaged in

work; akarmakah–without being affected; parah–transcendence.

TRANSLATION

He, the Personality of Godhead, manifests Himself in a transcendental

form, being the subject of His transcendental name, quality, pastimes,

entourage and transcendental variegatedness. Although He is unaffected by

all such activities, He appears to be so engaged.TEXTS 37-40

TEXT

praja-patin manun devan

rsin pitr-ganan prthak

siddha-carana-gandharvan

vidyadhrasura-guhyakan

kinnarapsaraso nagan

sarpan kimpurusan naran

matr raksah-pisacams ca

preta-bhuta-vinayakan

kusmandonmada-vetalan

yatudhanan grahan api

khagan mrgan pasun vrksan

girin nrpa sarisrpan

dvi-vidhas catur-vidha ye ‘nye

jala-sthala-nabhaukasah

kusalakusala misrah

karmanam gatayas tv imah

SYNONYMS

praja-patin–Brahma and his sons like Daksa and others; manun–the

periodical heads like Vaivasvata Manu; devan–like Indra, Candra and

Varuna; rsin–like Bhrgu and Vasistha; pitr-ganan–the inhabitants of the

Pita planets; prthak–separately; siddha–the inhabitants of the Siddha

planet; carana–the inhabitants of the Carana planet; gandharvan–the

inhabitants of the Gandharva planets; vidyadhra–the inhabitants of the

Vidyadhara planet; asura–the atheists; guhyakan–the inhabitants of the

Yaksa planet; kinnara–the inhabitants of the Kinnara planet; apsarasah–

the beautiful angels of the Apsara planet; nagan–the serpentine

inhabitants of Nagaloka; sarpan–the inhabitants of Sarpaloka (snakes);

kimpurusan–the monkey-shaped inhabitants of the Kimpurusa planet; naran-

-the inhabitants of earth; matr–the inhabitants of Matrloka; raksah–the

inhabitants of the demoniac planet; pisacan–the inhabitants of

Pisacaloka; ca–also; preta–the inhabitants of Pretaloka; bhuta–the

evil spirits; vinayakan–the goblins; kusmanda–will-o’-the-wisp; unmada-

-lunatics; vetalan–the jinn; yatudhanan–a particular type of evil

spirit; grahan–the good and evil stars; api–also; khagan–the birds;

mrgan–the forest animals; pasun–the household animals; vrksan–the

ghosts; girin–the mountains; nrpa–O King; sarisrpan–reptiles; dvividhah–

the moving and the standing living entities; catuh-vidhah–living

entities born from embryos, eggs, perspiration and seeds; ye–others;

anye–all; jala–water; sthala–land; nabha-okasah–birds; kusala–in

happiness; akusalah–in distress; misrah–in mixed happiness and

distress; karmanam–according to one’s own past deeds; gatayah–as result

of; tu–but; imah–all of them.

TRANSLATION

O King, know from me that all living entities are created by the

Supreme Lord according to their past deeds. This includes Brahma and his

sons like Daksa, the periodical heads like Vaivasvata Manu, the demigods

like Indra, Candra and Varuna, the great sages like Bhrgu, Vyasa and

Vasistha, the inhabitants of Pitrloka and Siddhaloka, the Caranas,

Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Asuras, Yaksas, Kinnaras and angels, the

serpentines, the monkey-shaped Kimpurusas, the human beings, the

inhabitants of Matrloka, the demons, Pisacas, ghosts, spirits, lunatics

and evil spirits, the good and evil stars, the goblins, the animals in

the forest, the birds, the household animals, the reptiles, the

mountains, the moving and standing living entities, the living entities

born from embryos, from eggs, from perspiration and from seeds, and all

others, whether they be in the water, land or sky, in happiness, in

distress or in mixed happiness and distress. All of them, according to

their past deeds, are created by the Supreme Lord.TEXT 41

TEXT

sattvam rajas tama iti

tisrah sura-nr-narakah

tatrapy ekaikaso rajan

bhidyante gatayas tridha

yadaikaikataro ‘nyabhyam

sva-bhava upahanyate

SYNONYMS

sattvam–the mode of goodness; rajah–the mode of passion; tamah–the

mode of darkness; iti–thus; tisrah–the three; sura–demigod; nr–human

being; narakah–one who is suffering hellish conditions; tatra api–even

there; ekaikasah–another; rajan–O King; bhidyante–divide into;

gatayah–movements; tridha–three; yada–at that time; ekaikatarah–one

in relation with another; anyabhyam–from the other; sva-bhavah–habit;

upahanyate–develops.

TRANSLATION

According to the different modes of material nature–the mode of

goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of darkness–there are

different living creatures, who are known as demigods, human beings and

hellish living entities. O King, even a particular mode of nature, being

mixed with the other two, is divided into three, and thus each kind of

living creature is influenced by the other modes and acquires its habits

also.TEXT 42

TEXT

sa evedam jagad-dhata

bhagavan dharma-rupa-dhrk

pusnati sthapayan visvam

tiryan-nara-suradibhih

SYNONYMS

sah–He; eva–certainly; idam–this; jagat-dhata–the maintainer of

the entire universe; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; dharma-rupadhrk–

assuming the form of religious principles; pusnati–maintains;

sthapayan–after establishing; visvam–the universes; tiryak–living

entities lower than the human beings; nara–the human beings; suraadibhih–

by the demigodly incarnations.

TRANSLATION

He, the Personality of Godhead, as the maintainer of all in the

universe, appears in different incarnations after establishing the

creation, and thus He reclaims all kinds of conditioned souls amongst the

humans, the nonhumans and the demigods.TEXT 43

TEXT

tatah kalagni-rudratma

yat srstam idam atmanah

sanniyacchati tat kale

ghananikam ivanilah

SYNONYMS

tatah–thereafter, at the end; kala–destruction; agni–fire; rudraatma–

in the form of Rudra; yat–whatever; srstam–created; idam–all

these; atmanah–of His own; sam–completely; niyacchati–annihilates; tat

kale–at the end of the millennium; ghana-anikam–bunches of clouds; iva-

-like that of; anilah–air.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, at the end of the millennium, the Lord Himself in the form

of Rudra, the destroyer, will annihilate the complete creation as the

wind displaces the clouds.TEXT 44

TEXT

ittham-bhavena kathito

bhagavan bhagavattamah

nettham-bhavena hi param

drastum arhanti surayah

SYNONYMS

ittham–in these features; bhavena–the matter of creation and

destruction; kathitah–described; bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead;

bhagavat-tamah–by the great transcendentalists; na–not; ittham–in

this; bhavena–features; hi–only; param–most glorious; drastum–to see;

arhanti–deserve; surayah–great devotees.

TRANSLATION

The great transcendentalists thus describe the activities of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the pure devotees deserve to see more

glorious things in transcendence, beyond these features.TEXT 45

TEXT

nasya karmani janmadau

parasyanuvidhiyate

kartrtva-pratisedhartham

mayayaropitam hi tat

SYNONYMS

na–never; asya–of the creation; karmani–in the matter of; janmaadau–

creation and destruction; parasya–of the Supreme; anuvidhiyate–it

is so described; kartrtva–engineering; pratisedha-artham–counteract;

mayaya–by the external energy; aropitam–is manifested; hi–for; tat–

the creator.

TRANSLATION

There is no direct engineering by the Lord for the creation and

destruction of the material world. What is described in the Vedas about

His direct interference is simply to counteract the idea that material

nature is the creator.TEXT 46

TEXT

ayam tu brahmanah kalpah

savikalpa udahrtah

vidhih sadharano yatra

sargah prakrta-vaikrtah

SYNONYMS

ayam–this process of creation and annihilation; tu–but; brahmanah–

of Brahma; kalpah–his one day; sa-vikalpah–along with the duration of

the universes; udahrtah–exemplified; vidhih–regulative principles;

sadharanah–in summary; yatra–wherein; sargah–creation; prakrta–in the

matter of material nature; vaikrtah–disbursement.

TRANSLATION

This process of creation and annihilation described in summary herein

is the regulative principle during the duration of Brahma’s one day. It

is also the regulative principle in the creation of mahat, in which the

material nature is dispersed.Therefore the thirty kalpas of Brahma are: (1) Sveta-kalpa, (2)

Nilalohita, (3) Vamadeva, (4) Gathantara, (5) Raurava, (6) Prana, (7)

Brhat-kalpa, (8) Kandarpa, (9) Sadyotha, (10) Isana, (11) Dhyana, (12)

Sarasvata, (13) Udana, (14) Garuda, (15) Kaurma, (16) Narasimha, (17)

Samadhi, (18) Agneya, (19) Visnuja, (20) Saura, (21) Soma-kalpa, (22)

Bhavana, (23) Supuma, (24) Vaikuntha, (25) Arcisa, (26) Vali-kalpa, (27)

Vairaja, (28) Gauri-kalpa, (29) Mahesvara, (30) Paitr-kalpa.TEXT 47

TEXT

parimanam ca kalasya

kalpa-laksana-vigraham

yatha purastad vyakhyasye

padmam kalpam atho srnu

SYNONYMS

parimanam–measurement; ca–also; kalasya–of time; kalpa–a day of

Brahma; laksana–symptoms; vigraham–form; yatha–as much as; purastat–

hereafter; vyakhyasye–shall be explained; padmam–by the name Padma;

kalpam–the duration of a day; atho–thus; srnu–just hear.

TRANSLATION

O King, I shall in due course explain the measurement of time in its

gross and subtle features with the specific symptoms of each, but for the

present let me explain unto you the Padma-kalpa.TEXT 48

TEXT

saunaka uvaca

yad aha no bhavan suta

ksatta bhagavatottamah

cacara tirthani bhuvas

tyaktva bandhun sudustyajan

SYNONYMS

saunakah uvaca–Sri Saunaka Muni said; yat–as; aha–you said; nah–

unto us; bhavan–your good self; suta–O Suta; ksatta–Vidura; bhagavatauttamah–

one of the topmost devotees of the Lord; cacara–practiced;

tirthani–places of pilgrimage; bhuvah–on the earth; tyaktva–leaving

aside; bandhun–all relatives; su-dustyajan–very difficult to give up.

TRANSLATION

Saunaka Rsi, after hearing all about the creation, inquired from Suta

Gosvami about Vidura, for Suta Gosvami had previously informed him how

Vidura left home, leaving aside all his relatives, who were very

difficult to leave.TEXTS 49-50

TEXT

ksattuh kausaraves tasya

samvado ‘dhyatma-samsritah

yad va sa bhagavams tasmai

prstas tattvam uvaca ha

bruhi nas tad idam saumya

vidurasya vicestitam

bandhu-tyaga-nimittam ca

yathaivagatavan punah

SYNONYMS

ksattuh–of Vidura; kausaraveh–as that of Maitreya; tasya–their;

samvadah–news; adhyatma–in the matter of transcendental knowledge;

samsritah–full of; yat–which; va–anything else; sah–he; bhagavan–His

Grace; tasmai–unto him; prstah–inquired; tattvam–the truth; uvaca–

answered; ha–in the past; bruhi–please tell; nah–unto us; tat–those

matters; idam–here; saumya–O gentle one; vidurasya–of Vidura;

vicestitam–activities; bandhu-tyaga–renouncing the friends; nimittam–

the cause of; ca–also; yatha–as; eva–also; agatavan–came back; punah-

-again (at home).

TRANSLATION

Saunaka Rsi said: Let us know, please, what topics were discussed

between Vidura and Maitreya, who talked on transcendental subjects, and

what was inquired by Vidura and replied by Maitreya. Also please let us

know the reason for Vidura’s giving up the connection of his family

members, and why he again came home. Please also let us know the

activities of Vidura while he was in the places of pilgrimage.TEXT 51

TEXT

suta uvaca

rajna pariksita prsto

yad avocan maha-munih

tad vo ‘bhidhasye srnuta

rajnah prasnanusaratah

SYNONYMS

sutah uvaca–Sri Suta Gosvami replied; rajna–by the King; pariksita–

by Pariksit; prstah–as asked; yat–what; avocat–spoke; maha-munih–the

great sage; tat–that very thing; vah–unto you; abhidhasye–I shall

explain; srnuta–please hear; rajnah–by the King; prasna–question;

anusaratah–in accordance with.

TRANSLATION

Sri Suta Gosvami explained: I shall now explain to you the very

subjects explained by the great sage in answer to King Pariksit’s

inquiries. Please hear them attentively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT 1

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

atma-mayam rte rajan

parasyanubhavatmanah

na ghatetartha-sambandhah

svapna-drastur ivanjasa

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; atma–the Supreme

Personality of Godhead; mayam–energy; rte–without; rajan–O King;

parasya–of the pure soul; anubhava-atmanah–of the purely conscious; na-

-never; ghateta–it can so happen; artha–meaning; sambandhah–relation

with the material body; svapna–dream; drastuh–of the seer; iva–like;

anjasa–completely.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, unless one is influenced by the

energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no meaning to the

relationship of the pure soul in pure consciousness with the material

body. That relationship is just like a dreamer’s seeing his own body

TEXT 2

TEXT

bahu-rupa ivabhati

mayaya bahu-rupaya

ramamano gunesv asya

mamaham iti manyate

SYNONYMS

bahu-rupah–multiforms; iva–as it were; abhati–manifested; mayaya–

by the influence of the exterior energy; bahu-rupaya–in multifarious

forms; ramamanah–enjoying as it were; gunesu–in the modes of different

qualities; asyah–of the external energy; mama–mine; aham–I; iti–thus;

manyate–thinks.

TRANSLATION

The illusioned living entity appears in so many forms offered by the

external energy of the Lord. While enjoying in the modes of material

nature, the encaged living entity misconceives, thinking in terms of “I”

TEXT 3

TEXT

yarhi vava mahimni sve

parasmin kala-mayayoh

rameta gata-sammohas

tyaktvodaste tadobhayam

SYNONYMS

yarhi–at any time; vava–certainly; mahimni–in the glory; sve–of

himself; parasmin–in the Supreme; kala–time; mayayoh–of the material

energy; rameta–enjoys; gata-sammohah–being freed from the

misconception; tyaktva–giving up; udaste–in fullness; tada–then;

ubhayam–both (the misconceptions of I and mine).

TRANSLATION

As soon as the living entity becomes situated in his constitutional

glory and begins to enjoy the transcendence beyond time and material

energy, he at once gives up the two misconceptions of life [I and mine]

TEXT 4

TEXT

atma-tattva-visuddhy-artham

yad aha bhagavan rtam

brahmane darsayan rupam

avyalika-vratadrtah

SYNONYMS

atma-tattva–the science of God or that of the living entity;

visuddhi–purification; artham–goal; yat–that which; aha–said;

bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; rtam–in reality; brahmane–unto

Lord Brahma; darsayan–by showing; rupam–eternal form; avyalika–without

any deceptive motive; vrata–vow; adrtah–worshiped.

TRANSLATION

O King, the Personality of Godhead, being very much pleased with Lord

Brahma because of his nondeceptive penance in bhakti-yoga, presented His

eternal and transcendental form before Brahma. And that is the objective

TEXT 5

TEXT

sa adi-devo jagatam paro guruh

svadhisnyam asthaya sisrksayaiksata

tam nadhyagacchad drsam atra sammatam

prapanca-nirmana-vidhir yaya bhavet

SYNONYMS

sah–he; adi-devah–the first demigod; jagatam–of the universe;

parah–supreme; guruh–spiritual master; svadhisnyam–his lotus seat;

asthaya–to find the source of it; sisrksaya–for the matter of creating

the universal affairs; aiksata–began to think; tam–in that matter; na–

could not; adhyagacchat–understand; drsam–the direction; atra–therein;

sammatam–just the proper way; prapanca–material; nirmana–construction;

vidhih–process; yaya–as much as; bhavet–should be.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, the first spiritual master, supreme in the universe,

could not trace out the source of his lotus seat, and while thinking of

creating the material world, he could not understand the proper direction

for such creative work, nor could he find out the process for such

TEXT 6

TEXT

sa cintayan dvy-aksaram ekadambhasy

upasrnod dvir-gaditam vaco vibhuh

sparsesu yat sodasam ekavimsam

niskincananam nrpa yad dhanam viduh

SYNONYMS

sah–he; cintayan–while thus thinking; dvi–two; aksaram–syllables;

ekada–once upon a time; ambhasi–in the water; upasrnot–heard it

nearby; dvih–twice; gaditam–uttered; vacah–words; vibhuh–the great;

sparsesu–in the sparsa letters; yat–which; sodasam–the sixteenth;

ekavimsam–and the twenty-first; niskincananam–of the renounced order of

life; nrpa–O King; yat–what is; dhanam–wealth; viduh–as it is known.

TRANSLATION

While thus engaged in thinking, in the water, Brahmaji heard twice

from nearby two syllables joined together. One of the syllables was taken

from the sixteenth and the other from the twenty-first of the sparsa

alphabets, and both joined to become the wealth of the renounced order of

TEXT 7

TEXT

nisamya tad-vaktr-didrksaya diso

vilokya tatranyad apasyamanah

svadhisnyam asthaya vimrsya tad-dhitam

tapasy upadista ivadadhe manah

SYNONYMS

nisamya–after hearing; tat–that; vaktr–the speaker; didrksaya–just

to find out who spoke; disah–all sides; vilokya–seeing; tatra–there;

anyat–any other; apasyamanah–not to be found; svadhisnyam–on his lotus

seat; asthaya–sit down; vimrsya–thinking; tat–it; hitam–welfare;

tapasi–in penance; upadistah–as he was instructed; iva–in pursuance

of; adadhe–gave; manah–attention.

TRANSLATION

When he heard the sound, he tried to find the speaker, searching on

all sides. But when he was unable to find anyone besides himself, he

thought it wise to sit down on his lotus seat firmly and give his

TEXT 8

TEXT

divyam sahasrabdam amogha-darsano

jitanilatma vijitobhayendriyah

atapyata smakhila-loka-tapanam

tapas tapiyams tapatam samahitah

SYNONYMS

divyam–pertaining to the demigods in the higher planets; sahasra–one

thousand; abdam–years; amogha–spotless, without a tinge of impurity;

darsanah–one who has such a vision of life; jita–controlled; anila–

life; atma–mind; vijita–controlled over; ubhaya–both; indriyah–one

who has such senses; atapyata–executed penance; sma–in the past;

akhila–all; loka–planet; tapanam–enlightening; tapah–penance;

tapiyan–extremely hard penance; tapatam–of all the executors of

penances; samahitah–thus situated.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma underwent penances for one thousand years by the

calculations of the demigods. He heard this transcendental vibration from

the sky, and he accepted it as divine. Thus he controlled his mind and

senses, and the penances he executed were a great lesson for the living

TEXT 9

TEXT

tasmai sva-lokam bhagavan sabhajitah

sandarsayam asa param na yat-param

vyapeta-sanklesa-vimoha-sadhvasam

sva-drstavadbhir purusair abhistutam

SYNONYMS

tasmai–unto him; sva-lokam–His own planet or abode; bhagavan–the

Personality of Godhead; sabhajitah–being pleased by the penance of

Brahma; sandarsayam asa–manifested; param–the supreme; na–not; yat–of

which; param–further supreme; vyapeta–completely given up; sanklesa–

five kinds of material afflictions; vimoha–without illusion; sadhvasam–

fear of material existence; sva-drsta-vadbhih–by those who have

perfectly realized the self; purusaih–by persons; abhistutam–worshiped

by.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead, being thus very much satisfied with the

penance of Lord Brahma, was pleased to manifest His personal abode,

Vaikuntha, the supreme planet above all others. This transcendental abode

of the Lord is adored by all self-realized persons freed from all kinds

TEXT 10

TEXT

pravartate yatra rajas tamas tayoh

sattvam ca misram na ca kala-vikramah

na yatra maya kim utapare harer

anuvrata yatra surasurarcitah

SYNONYMS

pravartate–prevail; yatra–wherein; rajah tamah–the modes of passion

and ignorance; tayoh–of both of them; sattvam–the mode of goodness; ca-

-and; misram–mixture; na–never; ca–and; kala–time; vikramah–

influence; na–neither; yatra–therein; maya–illusory, external energy;

kim–what; uta–there is; apare–others; hareh–of the Personality of

Godhead; anuvratah–devotees; yatra–wherein; sura–by the demigods;

asura–and the demons; arcitah–worshiped.

TRANSLATION

In that personal abode of the Lord, the material modes of ignorance

and passion do not prevail, nor is there any of their influence in

goodness. There is no predominance of the influence of time, so what to

speak of the illusory, external energy; it cannot enter that region.

Without discrimination, both the demigods and the demons worship the Lord

TEXT 11

TEXT

syamavadatah sata-patra-locanah

pisanga-vastrah surucah supesasah

sarve catur-bahava unmisan-manipraveka-

niskabharanah suvarcasah

SYNONYMS

syama–sky-bluish; avadatah–glowing; sata-patra–lotus flower;

locanah–eyes; pisanga–yellowish; vastrah–clothing; su-rucah–greatly

attractive; su-pesasah–growing youthful; sarve–all of them; catuh–

four; bahavah–hands; unmisan–rising luster; mani–pearls; praveka–

superior quality; niska-abharanah–ornamental medallions; su-varcasah–

effulgent.

TRANSLATION

The inhabitants of the Vaikuntha planets are described as having a

glowing sky-bluish complexion. Their eyes resemble lotus flowers, their

dress is of yellowish color, and their bodily features very attractive.

They are just the age of growing youths, they all have four hands, they

are all nicely decorated with pearl necklaces with ornamental medallions,

TEXT 12

TEXT

pravala-vaidurya-mrnala-varcasah

parisphurat-kundala-mauli-malinah

SYNONYMS

pravala–coral; vaidurya–a special diamond; mrnala–celestial lotus;

varcasah–rays; parisphurat–blooming; kundala–earring; mauli–heads;

malinah–with garlands.

TRANSLATION

Some of them are effulgent like coral and diamonds in complexion and

have garlands on their heads, blooming like lotus flowers, and some wear

earrings.TEXT 13

TEXT

bhrajisnubhir yah parito virajate

lasad-vimanavalibhir mahatmanam

vidyotamanah pramadottamadyubhih

savidyud abhravalibhir yatha nabhah

SYNONYMS

bhrajisnubhih–by the glowing; yah–the Vaikunthalokas; paritah–

surrounded by; virajate–thus situated; lasat–brilliant; vimana–

airplanes; avalibhih–assemblage; maha-atmanam–of the great devotees of

the Lord; vidyotamanah–beautiful like lightning; pramada–ladies;

uttama–celestial; adyubhih–by complexion; sa-vidyut–with electric

lightning; abhravalibhih–with clouds in the sky; yatha–as it were;

nabhah–the sky.

TRANSLATION

The Vaikuntha planets are also surrounded by various airplanes, all

glowing and brilliantly situated. These airplanes belong to the great

mahatmas or devotees of the Lord. The ladies are as beautiful as

lightning because of their celestial complexions, and all these combined

together appear just like the sky decorated with both clouds and

lightning.TEXT 14

TEXT

srir yatra rupiny urugaya-padayoh

karoti manam bahudha vibhutibhih

prenkham srita ya kusumakaranugair

vigiyamana priya-karma gayati

SYNONYMS

srih–the goddess of fortune; yatra–in the Vaikuntha planets; rupini-

-in her transcendental form; urugaya–the Lord, who is sung of by the

great devotees; padayoh–under the lotus feet of the Lord; karoti–does;

manam–respectful services; bahudha–in diverse paraphernalia;

vibhutibhih–accompanied by her personal associates; prenkham–movement

of enjoyment; srita–taken shelter of; ya–who; kusumakara–spring;

anugaih–by the black bees; vigiyamana–being followed by the songs;

priya-karma–activities of the dearmost; gayati–singing.

TRANSLATION

The goddess of fortune in her transcendental form is engaged in the

loving service of the Lord’s lotus feet, and being moved by the black

bees, followers of spring, she is not only engaged in variegated

pleasure–service to the Lord, along with her constant companions–but is

also engaged in singing the glories of the Lord’s activities.

TEXT 15

TEXT

dadarsa tatrakhila-satvatam patim

sriyah patim yajna-patim jagat-patim

sunanda-nanda-prabalarhanadibhih

sva-parsadagraih parisevitam vibhum

SYNONYMS

dadarsa–Brahma saw; tatra–there (in Vaikunthaloka); akhila–entire;

satvatam–of the great devotees; patim–the Lord; sriyah–of the goddess

of fortune; patim–the Lord; yajna–of sacrifice; patim–the Lord; jagat-

-of the universe; patim–the Lord; sunanda–Sunanda; nanda–Nanda;

prabala–Prabala; arhana–Arhana; adibhih–by them; sva-parsada–own

associates; agraih–by the foremost; parisevitam–being served in

transcendental love; vibhum–the great Almighty.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma saw in the Vaikuntha planets the Personality of Godhead,

who is the Lord of the entire devotee community, the Lord of the goddess

of fortune, the Lord of all sacrifices, and the Lord of the universe, and

who is served by the foremost servitors like Nanda, Sunanda, Prabala and

Arhana, His immediate associates.TEXT 16

TEXT

bhrtya-prasadabhimukham drg-asavam

prasanna-hasaruna-locanananam

kiritinam kundalinam catur-bhujam

pitamsukam vaksasi laksitam sriya

SYNONYMS

bhrtya–the servitor; prasada–affection; abhimukham–favorably

facing; drk–the very sight; asavam–an intoxication; prasanna–very much

pleased; hasa–smile; aruna–reddish; locana–eyes; ananam–face;

kiritinam–with helmet; kundalinam–with earrings; catuh-bhujam–with

four hands; pita–yellow; amsukam–dress; vaksasi–on the chest;

laksitam–marked; sriya–with the goddess of fortune.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead, seen leaning favorably towards His loving

servitors, His very sight intoxicating and attractive, appeared to be

very much satisfied. He had a smiling face decorated with an enchanting

reddish hue. He was dressed in yellow robes and wore earrings and a

helmet on his head. He had four hands, and His chest was marked with the

lines of the goddess of fortune.TEXT 17

TEXT

adhyarhaniyasanam asthitam param

vrtam catuh-sodasa-panca-saktibhih

yuktam bhagaih svair itaratra cadhruvaih

sva eva dhaman ramamanam isvaram

SYNONYMS

adhyarhaniya–greatly worshipable; asanam–throne; asthitam–seated on

it; param–the Supreme; vrtam–surrounded by; catuh–four, namely

prakrti, purusa, mahat and ego; sodasa–the sixteen; panca–the five;

saktibhih–by the energies; yuktam–empowered with; bhagaih–His

opulences; svaih–personal; itaratra–other minor prowesses; ca–also;

adhruvaih–temporary; sve–own; eva–certainly; dhaman–abode; ramamanam-

-enjoying; isvaram–the Supreme Lord.

TRANSLATION

The Lord was seated on His throne and was surrounded by different

energies like the four, the sixteen, the five, and the six natural

opulences, along with other insignificant energies of the temporary

character. But He was the factual Supreme Lord, enjoying His own abode.TEXT 18

TEXT

tad-darsanahlada-pariplutantaro

hrsyat-tanuh prema-bharasru-locanah

nanama padambujam asya visva-srg

yat paramahamsyena pathadhigamyate

SYNONYMS

tat–by that audience of the Lord; darsana–audience; ahlada–joy;

paripluta–overwhelmed; antarah–within the heart; hrsyat–full in

ecstasy; tanuh–body; prema-bhara–in full transcendental love; asru–

tears; locanah–in the eyes; nanama–bowed down; pada-ambujam–under the

lotus feet; asya–of the Lord; visva-srk–the creator of the universe;

yat–which; paramahamsyena–by the great liberated soul; patha–the path;

adhigamyate–is followed.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, thus seeing the Personality of Godhead in His fullness,

was overwhelmed with joy within his heart, and thus in full

transcendental love and ecstasy, his eyes filled with tears of love. He

thus bowed down before the Lord. That is the way of the highest

perfection for the living being [paramahamsa].TEXT 19

TEXT

tam priyamanam samupasthitam kavim

praja-visarge nija-sasanarhanam

babhasa isat-smita-socisa gira

priyah priyam prita-manah kare sprsan

SYNONYMS

tam–unto Lord Brahma; priyamanam–worthy of being dear;

samupasthitam–present before; kavim–the great scholar; praja–living

entities; visarge–in the matter of creation; nija–His own; sasana–

control; arhanam–just suitable; babhase–addressed; isat–mild; smita–

smiling; socisa–with enlightening; gira–words; priyah–the beloved;

priyam–the counterpart of love; prita-manah–being very much pleased;

kare–by the hand; sprsan–shaking.

TRANSLATION

And seeing Brahma present before Him, the Lord accepted him as worthy

to create living beings, to be controlled as He desired, and thus being

much satisfied with him, the Lord shook hands with Brahma and, slightly

smiling, addressed him thus.TEXT 20

TEXT

sri-bhagavan uvaca

tvayaham tositah samyag

veda-garbha sisrksaya

ciram bhrtena tapasa

dustosah kuta-yoginam

SYNONYMS

sri-bhagavan uvaca–the all-beautiful Personality of Godhead said;

tvaya–by you; aham–I am; tositah–pleased; samyak–complete; vedagarbha–

impregnated with the Vedas; sisrksaya–for creating; ciram–for a

long time; bhrtena–accumulated; tapasa–by penance; dustosah–very hard

to please; kuta-yoginam–for the pseudo mystics.

TRANSLATION

The beautiful Personality of Godhead addressed Lord Brahma: O Brahma,

impregnated with the Vedas, I am very much pleased with your long

accumulated penance with the desire for creation. Hardly am I pleased

with the pseudo mystics.TEXT 21

TEXT

varam varaya bhadram te

varesam mabhivanchitam

brahman chreyah-parisramah

pumsam mad-darsanavadhih

SYNONYMS

varam–benediction; varaya–just ask from; bhadram–auspicious; te–

unto you; vara-isam–the giver of all benediction; ma (mam)–from Me;

abhivanchitam–wishing; brahman–O Brahma; sreyah–the ultimate success;

parisramah–for all penances; pumsam–for everyone; mat–My; darsana–

realization; avadhih–up to the limit of.

TRANSLATION

I wish you good luck. O Brahma, you may ask from Me, the giver of all

benediction, all that you may desire. You may know that the ultimate

benediction, as the result of all penances, is to see Me by realization.TEXT 22

TEXT

manisitanubhavo ‘yam

mama lokavalokanam

yad upasrutya rahasi

cakartha paramam tapah

SYNONYMS

manisita–ingenuity; anubhavah–perception; ayam–this; mama–My;

loka–abode; avalokanam–seeing by actual experience; yat–because;

upasrutya–hearing; rahasi–in great penance; cakartha–having performed;

paramam–highest; tapah–penance.

TRANSLATION

The highest perfectional ingenuity is the personal perception of My

abodes, and this has been possible because of your submissive attitude in

the performance of severe penance according to My order.TEXT 23

TEXT

pratyadistam maya tatra

tvayi karma-vimohite

tapo me hrdayam saksad

atmaham tapaso ‘nagha

SYNONYMS

pratyadistam–ordered; maya–by Me; tatra–because of; tvayi–unto

you; karma–duty; vimohite–being perplexed; tapah–penance; me–Me;

hrdayam–heart; saksat–directly; atma–life and soul; aham–Myself;

tapasah–of one who is engaged in penance; anagha–O sinless one.

TRANSLATION

O sinless Brahma, you may know from Me that it was I who first ordered

you to undergo penance when you were perplexed in your duty. Such penance

is My heart and soul, and therefore penance and I are nondifferent.TEXT 24

TEXT

srjami tapasaivedam

grasami tapasa punah

bibharmi tapasa visvam

viryam me duscaram tapah

SYNONYMS

srjami–I create; tapasa–by the same energy of penance; eva–

certainly; idam–this; grasami tapasa–I do withdraw also by the same

energy; punah–again; bibharmi–do maintain; tapasa–by penance; visvam–

the cosmos; viryam–potency; me–My; duscaram–severe; tapah–penance.

TRANSLATION

I create this cosmos by such penance, I maintain it by the same

energy, and I withdraw it all by the same energy. Therefore the potential

power is penance only.TEXT 25

TEXT

brahmovaca

bhagavan sarva-bhutanam

adhyakso ‘vasthito guham

veda hy apratiruddhena

prajnanena cikirsitam

SYNONYMS

brahma uvaca–Lord Brahma said; bhagavan–O my Lord; sarva bhutanam–

of all living entities; adhyaksah–director; avasthitah–situated; guham-

-within the heart; veda–know; hi–certainly; apratiruddhena–without

hindrance; prajnanena–by superintelligence; cikirsitam–endeavors.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma said: O Personality of Godhead, You are situated in every

living entity’s heart as the supreme director, and therefore You are

aware of all endeavors by Your superior intelligence, without any

hindrance whatsoever.TEXT 26

TEXT

tathapi nathamanasya

natha nathaya nathitam

paravare yatha rupe

janiyam te tv arupinah

SYNONYMS

tatha api–in spite of that; nathamanasya–of the one who is asking

for; natha–O Lord; nathaya–please award; nathitam–as it is desired;

para-avare–in the matter of mundane and transcendental; yatha–as it is;

rupe–in the form; janiyam–may it be known; te–Your; tu–but; arupinah-

-one who is formless.

TRANSLATION

In spite of that, my Lord, I am praying to You to kindly fulfill my

desire. May I please be informed how, in spite of Your transcendental

form, You assume the mundane form, although You have no such form at all.

TEXT 27

TEXT

yathatma-maya-yogena

nana-sakty-upabrmhitam

vilumpan visrjan grhnan

bibhrad atmanam atmana

SYNONYMS

yatha–as much as; atma–own; maya–potency; yogena–by combination;

nana–various; sakti–energy; upabrmhitam–by combination and

permutation; vilumpan–in the matter of annihilation; visrjan–in the

matter of generation; grhnan–in the matter of acceptance; bibhrat–in

the matter of maintenance; atmanam–own self; atmana–by the self.

TRANSLATION

And [please inform me] how You, by Your own Self, manifest different

energies for annihilation, generation, acceptance and maintenance by

combination and permutation.TEXT 28

TEXT

kridasy amogha-sankalpa

urnanabhir yathornute

tatha tad-visayam dhehi

manisam mayi madhava

SYNONYMS

kridasi–as You play; amogha–infallible; sankalpa–determination;

urnanabhih–the spider; yatha–as much as; urnute–covers; tatha–so and

so; tat-visayam–in the subject of all those; dhehi–do let me know;

manisam–philosophically; mayi–unto me; madhava–O master of all

energies.

TRANSLATION

O master of all energies, please tell me philosophically all about

them. You play like a spider that covers itself by its own energy, and

Your determination is infallible.TEXT 29

TEXT

bhagavac-chiksitam aham

karavani hy atandritah

nehamanah praja-sargam

badhyeyam yad-anugrahat

SYNONYMS

bhagavat–by the Personality of Godhead; siksitam–taught; aham–

myself; karavani–by acting; hi–certainly; atandritah–instrumental; na-

-never; ihamanah–although acting; praja-sargam–generation of the living

entities; badhyeyam–be conditioned; yat–as a matter of fact; anugrahat-

-by the mercy of.

TRANSLATION

Please tell me so that I may be taught in the matter by the

instruction of the Personality of Godhead and may thus act instrumentally

to generate living entities, without being conditioned by such

activities.TEXT 30

TEXT

yavat sakha sakhyur ivesa te krtah

praja-visarge vibhajami bho janam

aviklavas te parikarmani sthito

ma me samunnaddha-mado ‘ja maninah

SYNONYMS

yavat–as it is; sakha–friend; sakhyuh–unto the friend; iva–like

that; isa–O Lord; te–You; krtah–have accepted; praja–the living

entities; visarge–in the matter of creation; vibhajami–as I shall do it

differently; bhoh–O my Lord; janam–those who are born; aviklavah–

without being perturbed; te–Your; parikarmani–in the matter of service;

sthitah–thus situated; ma–may it never be; me–unto me; samunnaddha–

resulting arise; madah–madness; aja–O unborn one; maninah–thus being

thought of.

TRANSLATION

O my Lord, the unborn, You have shaken hands with me just as a friend

does with a friend [as if equal in position]. I shall be engaged in the

creation of different types of living entities, and I shall be occupied

in Your service. I shall have no perturbation, but I pray that all this

may not give rise to pride, as if I were the Supreme.TEXT 31

TEXT

sri-bhagavan uvaca

jnanam parama-guhyam me

yad vijnana-samanvitam

sarahasyam tad-angam ca

grhana gaditam maya

SYNONYMS

sri-bhagavan uvaca–the personality of Godhead said; jnanam–knowledge

acquired; parama–extremely; guhyam–confidential; me–of Me; yat–which

is; vijnana–realization; samanvitam–coordinated; sa-rahasyam–with

devotional service; tat–of that; angam ca–necessary paraphernalia;

grhana–just try to take up; gaditam–explained; maya–by Me.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead said: Knowledge about Me as described in

the scriptures is very confidential, and it has to be realized in

conjunction with devotional service. The necessary paraphernalia for that

process is being explained by Me. You may take it up carefully.TEXT 32

TEXT

yavan aham yatha-bhavo

yad-rupa-guna-karmakah

tathaiva tattva-vijnanam

astu te mad-anugrahat

SYNONYMS

yavan–as I am in eternal form; aham–Myself; yatha–as much as;

bhavah–transcendental existence; yat–those; rupa–various forms and

colors; guna–qualities; karmakah–activities; tatha–so and so; eva–

certainly; tattva-vijnanam–factual realization; astu–let it be; te–

unto you; mat–My; anugrahat–by causeless mercy.

TRANSLATION

All of Me, namely My actual eternal form and My transcendental

existence, color, qualities and activities–let all be awakened within

you by factual realization, out of My causeless mercy.TEXT 33

TEXT

aham evasam evagre

nanyad yat sad-asat param

pascad aham yad etac ca

yo ‘vasisyeta so ‘smy aham

SYNONYMS

aham–I, the Personality of Godhead; eva–certainly; asam–existed;

eva–only; agre–before the creation; na–never; anyat–anything else;

yat–all those; sat–the effect; asat–the cause; param–the supreme;

pascat–at the end; aham–I, the Personality of Godhead; yat–all these;

etat–creation; ca–also; yah–everything; avasisyeta–remains; sah–

that; asmi–I am; aham–I, the Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Brahma, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before

the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the

material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is

also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains

will also be I, the Personality of Godhead.TEXT 34

TEXT

rte ‘rtham yat pratiyeta

na pratiyeta catmani

tad vidyad atmano mayam

yathabhaso yatha tamah

SYNONYMS

rte–without; artham–value; yat–that which; pratiyeta–appears to

be; na–not; pratiyeta–appears to be; ca–and; atmani–in relation to

Me; tat–that; vidyat–you must know; atmanah–My; mayam–illusory

energy; yatha–just as; abhasah–the reflection; yatha–as; tamah–the

darkness.

TRANSLATION

O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without

relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that

reflection which appears to be in darkness.TEXT 35

TEXT

yatha mahanti bhutani

bhutesuccavacesv anu

pravistany apravistani

tatha tesu na tesv aham

SYNONYMS

yatha–just as; mahanti–the universal; bhutani–elements; bhutesu

ucca-avacesu–in the minute and gigantic; anu–after; pravistani–

entered; apravistani–not entered; tatha–so; tesu–in them; na–not;

tesu–in them; aham–Myself.

TRANSLATION

O Brahma, please know that the universal elements enter into the

cosmos and at the same time do not enter into the cosmos; similarly, I

Myself also exist within everything created, and at the same time I am

outside of everything.TEXT 36

TEXT

etavad eva jijnasyam

tattva-jijnasunatmanah

anvaya-vyatirekabhyam

yat syat sarvatra sarvada

SYNONYMS

etavat–up to this; eva–certainly; jijnasyam–is to be inquired;

tattva–the Absolute Truth; jijnasuna–by the student; atmanah–of the

Self; anvaya–directly; vyatirekabhyam–indirectly; yat–whatever; syat–

it may be; sarvatra–in all space and time; sarvada–in all

circumstances.

TRANSLATION

A person who is searching after the Supreme Absolute Truth, the

Personality of Godhead, most certainly search for it up to this, in all

circumstances, in all space and time, and both directly and indirectly.TEXT 37

TEXT

etan matam samatistha

paramena samadhina

bhavan kalpa-vikalpesu

na vimuhyati karhicit

SYNONYMS

etat–this; matam–the conclusion; samatistha–remain fixed; paramena-

-by the supreme; samadhina–concentration of the mind; bhavan–yourself;

kalpa–intermediate devastation; vikalpesu–in the final devastation; na

vimuhyati–will never bewilder; karhicit–anything like complacence.

TRANSLATION

O Brahma, just follow this conclusion by fixed concentration of mind,

and no pride will disturb you, neither in the partial nor in the final

devastation.TEXT 38

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

sampradisyaivam ajano

jananam paramesthinam

pasyatas tasya tad rupam

atmano nyarunad dharih

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; sampradisya–fully

instructing Brahmaji; evam–thus; ajanah–the Supreme Lord; jananam–of

the living entities; paramesthinam–unto the supreme leader, Brahma;

pasyatah–while he was seeing; tasya–His; tat rupam–that transcendental

form; atmanah–of the Absolute; nyarunat–disappeared; harih–the Lord,

the Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said to Maharaja Pariksit: The Supreme Personality of

Godhead, Hari, after being seen in His transcendental form, instructing

Brahmaji, the leader of the living entities, disappeared.TEXT 39

TEXT

antarhitendriyarthaya

haraye vihitanjalih

sarva-bhutamayo visvam

sasarjedam sa purvavat

SYNONYMS

antarhita–on the disappearance; indriya-arthaya–unto the Personality

of Godhead, the objective of all senses; haraye–unto the Lord; vihitaanjalih–

in folded hands; sarva-bhuta–all living entities; mayah–full

of; visvam–the universe; sasarja–created; idam–this; sah–he

(Brahmaji); purva-vat–exactly like before.

TRANSLATION

On the disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who

is the object of transcendental enjoyment for the senses of devotees,

Brahma, with folded hands, began to re-create the universe, full with

living entities, as it was previously.TEXT 40

TEXT

prajapatir dharma-patir

ekada niyaman yaman

bhadram prajanam anvicchann

atisthat svartha-kamyaya

SYNONYMS

praja-patih–the forefather of all living entities; dharma-patih–the

father of religious life; ekada–once upon a time; niyaman–rules and

regulations; yaman–principles of control; bhadram–welfare; prajanam–of

the living beings; anvicchan–desiring; atisthat–situated; sva-artha–

own interest; kamyaya–so desiring.

TRANSLATION

Thus once upon a time the forefather of living entities and the father

of religiousness, Lord Brahma, situated himself in acts of regulative

principles, desiring self-interest for the welfare of all living

entities.TEXT 41

TEXT

tam naradah priyatamo

rikthadanam anuvratah

susrusamanah silena

prasrayena damena ca

SYNONYMS

tam–unto him; naradah–the great sage Narada; priyatamah–very dear;

riktha-adanam–of the inheritor sons; anuvratah–very obedient;

susrusamanah–always ready to serve; silena–by good behavior;

prasrayena–by meekness; damena–by sense control; ca–also.

TRANSLATION

Narada, the most dear of the inheritor sons of Brahma, always ready to

serve his father, strictly follows the instructions of his father by his

mannerly behavior, meekness and sense control.

TEXT 42

TEXT

mayam vividisan visnor

mayesasya maha-munih

maha-bhagavato rajan

pitaram paryatosayat

SYNONYMS

mayam–energies; vividisan–desiring to know; visnoh–of the

Personality of Godhead; maya-isasya–of the master of all energies; mahamunih–

the great sage; maha-bhagavatah–the first-class devotee of the

Lord; rajan–O King; pitaram–unto his father; paryatosayat–very much

pleased.

TRANSLATION

Narada very much pleased his father and desired to know all about the

energies of Visnu, the master of all energies, for Narada was the

greatest of all sages and greatest of all devotees, O King.TEXT 43

TEXT

tustam nisamya pitaram

lokanam prapitamaham

devarsih paripapraccha

bhavan yan manuprcchati

SYNONYMS

tustam–satisfied; nisamya–after seeing; pitaram–the father;

lokanam–of the whole universe; prapitamaham–the great-grandfather;

devarsih–the great sage Narada; paripapraccha–inquired; bhavan–

yourself; yat–as it is; ma–from me; anuprcchati–inquiring.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Narada also inquired in detail from his father, Brahma,

the great-grandfather of all the universe, after seeing him well

satisfied.TEXT 44

TEXT

tasma idam bhagavatam

puranam dasa-laksanam

proktam bhagavata praha

pritah putraya bhuta-krt

SYNONYMS

tasmai–thereupon; idam–this; bhagavatam–the glories of the Lord or

the science of the Lord; puranam–Vedic supplement; dasa-laksanam–ten

characteristics; proktam–described; bhagavata–by the Personality of

Godhead; praha–said; pritah–in satisfaction; putraya–unto the son;

bhuta-krt–the creator of the universe.

TRANSLATION

Thereupon the supplementary Vedic literature, Srimad-Bhagavatam, which

was described by the Personality of Godhead and which contains ten

characteristics, was told with satisfaction by the father [Brahma] to his

son Narada.TEXT 45

TEXT

naradah praha munaye

sarasvatyas tate nrpa

dhyayate brahma paramam

vyasayamita-tejase

SYNONYMS

naradah–the great sage Narada; praha–instructed; munaye–unto the

great sage; sarasvatyah–of the River Sarasvati; tate–on the bank; nrpa-

-O King; dhyayate–unto the meditative; brahma–Absolute Truth; paramam–

the Supreme; vyasaya–unto Srila Vyasadeva; amita–unlimited; tejase–

unto the powerful.

TRANSLATION

In succession, O King, the great sage Narada instructed Srimad-

Bhagavatam unto the unlimitedly powerful Vyasadeva, who meditated in

devotional service upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute

Truth, on the bank of the River Sarasvati.TEXT 46

TEXT

yad utaham tvaya prsto

vairajat purusad idam

yathasit tad upakhyaste

prasnan anyams ca krtsnasah

SYNONYMS

yat–what; uta–is, however; aham–I; tvaya–by you; prstah–I am

asked; vairajat–from the universal form; purusat–from the Personality

of Godhead; idam–this world; yatha–as it; asit–was; tat–that;

upakhyaste–I shall explain; prasnan–all the questions; anyan–others;

ca–as well as; krtsnasah–in great detail.

TRANSLATION

O King, your questions as to how the universe became manifested from

the gigantic form of the Personality of Godhead, as well as other

questions, I shall answer in detail by explanation of the four verses

already mentioned.