TEXT 1
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
ity ajenanunitena
bhavena paritusyata
abhyadhayi maha-baho
prahasya sruyatam iti
SYNONYMS
maitreyah–Maitreya; uvaca–said; iti–thus; ajena–by Lord Brahma;
anunitena–pacified; bhavena–by Lord Siva; paritusyata–fully satisfied;
abhyadhayi–said; maha-baho–O Vidura; prahasya–smiling; sruyatam–
listen; iti–thus.
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya said: O mighty-armed Vidura, Lord Siva, being thus
pacified by the words of Lord Brahma, spoke as follows in answer to Lord
Brahma’s request.
TEXT 2
TEXT
mahadeva uvaca
nagham prajesa balanam
varnaye nanucintaye
deva-mayabhibhutanam
dandas tatra dhrto maya
SYNONYMS
mahadevah–Lord Siva; uvaca–said; na–not; agham–offense; praja-isa-
-O lord of created beings; balanam–of the children; varnaye–I regard;
na–not; anucintaye–I consider; deva-maya–the external energy of the
Lord; abhibhutanam–of those deluded by; dandah–rod; tatra–there;
dhrtah–used; maya–by me.
TRANSLATION
Lord Siva said: My dear father, Brahma, I do not mind the offenses
created by the demigods. Because these demigods are childish and less
intelligent, I do not take a serious view of their offenses, and I have
punished them only in order to right them.TEXT 3
TEXT
prajapater dagdha-sirsno
bhavatv aja-mukham sirah
mitrasya caksusekseta
bhagam svam barhiso bhagah
SYNONYMS
prajapateh–of Prajapati Daksa; dagdha-sirsnah–whose head has been
burned to ashes; bhavatu–let there be; aja-mukham–with the face of a
goat; sirah–a head; mitrasya–of Mitra; caksusa–through the eyes;
ikseta–may see; bhagam–share; svam–his own; barhisah–of the
sacrifice; bhagah–Bhaga.
TRANSLATION
Lord Siva continued: Since the head of Daksa has already been burned
to ashes, he will have the head of a goat. The demigod known as Bhaga
will be able to see his share of sacrifice through the eyes of Mitra.
TEXT 4
TEXT
pusa tu yajamanasya
dadbhir jaksatu pista-bhuk
devah prakrta-sarvanga
ye ma ucchesanam daduh
SYNONYMS
pusa–Pusa; tu–but; yajamanasya–of the performer of the sacrifice;
dadbhih–with the teeth; jaksatu–chew; pista-bhuk–eating flour; devah–
the demigods; prakrta–made; sarva-angah–complete; ye–who; me–unto me;
ucchesanam–a share of the sacrifice; daduh–gave.
TRANSLATION
The demigod Pusa will be able to chew only through the teeth of his
disciples, and if alone, he will have to satisfy himself by eating dough
made from chickpea flour. But the demigods who have agreed to give me my
share of the sacrifice will recover from all their injuries.TEXT 5
TEXT
bahubhyam asvinoh pusno
hastabhyam krta-bahavah
bhavantv adhvaryavas canye
basta-smasrur bhrgur bhavet
SYNONYMS
bahubhyam–with two arms; asvinoh–of Asvini-kumara; pusnah–of Pusa;
hastabhyam–with two hands; krta-bahavah–those in need of arms;
bhavantu–they will have to; adhvaryavah–the priests; ca–and; anye–
others; basta-smasruh–the beard of the goat; bhrguh–Bhrgu; bhavet–he
may have.
TRANSLATION
Those who have had their arms cut off will have to work with the arms
of Asvini-kumara, and those whose hands were cut off will have to do
their work with the hands of Pusa. The priests will also have to act in
that manner. As for Bhrgu, he will have the beard from the goat’s head.TEXT 6
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
tada sarvani bhutani
srutva midhustamoditam
paritustatmabhis tata
sadhu sadhv ity athabruvan
SYNONYMS
maitreyah–the sage Maitreya; uvaca–said; tada–at that time;
sarvani–all; bhutani–personalities; srutva–after hearing; midhuh-tama-
-the best of the benedictors (Lord Siva); uditam–spoken by; paritusta–
being satisfied; atmabhih–by heart and soul; tata–my dear Vidura; sadhu
sadhu–well done, well done; iti–thus; atha abruvan–as we have said.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, all the personalities
present were very much satisfied in heart and soul upon hearing the words
of Lord Siva, who is the best among the benedictors.TEXT 7
TEXT
tato midhvamsam amantrya
sunasirah saharsibhih
bhuyas tad deva-yajanam
sa-midhvad-vedhaso yayuh
SYNONYMS
tatah–thereafter; midhvamsam–Lord Siva; amantrya–inviting;
sunasirah–the demigods headed by King Indra; saha rsibhih–with all the
great sages, headed by Bhrgu; bhuyah–again; tat–that; deva-yajanam–
place where the demigods are worshiped; sa-midhvat–with Lord Siva;
vedhasah–with Lord Brahma; yayuh–went.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Bhrgu, the chief of the great sages, invited Lord Siva to
come to the sacrificial arena. Thus the demigods, accompanied by the
sages, Lord Siva, and Lord Brahma, all went to the place where the great
sacrifice was being performed.TEXT 8
TEXT
vidhaya kartsnyena ca tad
yad aha bhagavan bhavah
sandadhuh kasya kayena
savaniya-pasoh sirah
SYNONYMS
vidhaya–executing; kartsnyena–all in all; ca–also; tat–that; yat–
which; aha–was said; bhagavan–the Lord; bhavah–Siva; sandadhuh–
executed; kasya–of the living (Daksa); kayena–with the body; savaniya–
meant for sacrifice; pasoh–of the animal; sirah–head.
TRANSLATION
After everything was executed exactly as directed by Lord Siva,
Daksa’s body was joined to the head of the animal meant to be killed in
the sacrifice.TEXT 9
TEXT
sandhiyamane sirasi
dakso rudrabhiviksitah
sadyah supta ivottasthau
dadrse cagrato mrdam
SYNONYMS
sandhiyamane–being executed; sirasi–by the head; daksah–King Daksa;
rudra-abhiviksitah–having been seen by Rudra (Lord Siva); sadyah–
immediately; supte–sleeping; iva–like; uttasthau–awakened; dadrse–
saw; ca–also; agratah–in front; mrdam–Lord Siva.
TRANSLATION
When the animal’s head was fixed on the body of King Daksa, Daksa was
immediately brought to consciousness, and as he awakened from sleep, the
King saw Lord Siva standing before him.TEXT 10
TEXT
tada vrsadhvaja-dvesakalilatma
prajapatih
sivavalokad abhavac
charad-dhrada ivamalah
SYNONYMS
tada–at that time; vrsa-dhvaja–Lord Siva, who rides on a bull;
dvesa–envy; kalila-atma–polluted heart; prajapatih–King Daksa; siva–
Lord Siva; avalokat–by seeing him; abhavat–became; sarat–in the
autumn; hradah–lake; iva–like; amalah–cleansed.
TRANSLATION
At that time, when Daksa saw Lord Siva, who rides upon a bull, his
heart, which was polluted by envy of Lord Siva, was immediately cleansed,
just as the water in a lake is cleansed by autumn rains.TEXT 10
TEXT
tada vrsadhvaja-dvesakalilatma
prajapatih
sivavalokad abhavac
charad-dhrada ivamalah
SYNONYMS
tada–at that time; vrsa-dhvaja–Lord Siva, who rides on a bull;
dvesa–envy; kalila-atma–polluted heart; prajapatih–King Daksa; siva–
Lord Siva; avalokat–by seeing him; abhavat–became; sarat–in the
autumn; hradah–lake; iva–like; amalah–cleansed.
TRANSLATION
At that time, when Daksa saw Lord Siva, who rides upon a bull, his
heart, which was polluted by envy of Lord Siva, was immediately cleansed,
just as the water in a lake is cleansed by autumn rains.TEXT 14
TEXT
vidya-tapo-vrata-dharan mukhatah sma vipran
brahmatma-tattvam avitum prathamam tvam asrak
tad brahmanan parama sarva-vipatsu pasi
palah pasun iva vibho pragrhita-dandah
SYNONYMS
vidya–learning; tapah–austerities; vrata–vows; dharan–the
followers; mukhatah–from the mouth; sma–was; vipran–the brahmanas;
brahma–Lord Brahma; atma-tattvam–self-realization; avitum–to
disseminate; prathamam–first; tvam–you; asrak–created; tat–therefore;
brahmanan–the brahmanas; parama–O great one; sarva–all; vipatsu–in
dangers; pasi–you protect; palah–like the protector; pasun–the
animals; iva–like; vibho–O great one; pragrhita–taking in hand;
dandah–a stick.
TRANSLATION
My dear great and powerful Lord Siva, you were created first from the
mouth of Lord Brahma in order to protect the brahmanas in pursuing
education, austerities, vows and self-realization. As protector of the
brahmanas, you always protect the regulative principles they follow, just
as a cowherd boy keeps a stick in his hand to give protection to the
cows.TEXT 14
TEXT
vidya-tapo-vrata-dharan mukhatah sma vipran
brahmatma-tattvam avitum prathamam tvam asrak
tad brahmanan parama sarva-vipatsu pasi
palah pasun iva vibho pragrhita-dandah
SYNONYMS
vidya–learning; tapah–austerities; vrata–vows; dharan–the
followers; mukhatah–from the mouth; sma–was; vipran–the brahmanas;
brahma–Lord Brahma; atma-tattvam–self-realization; avitum–to
disseminate; prathamam–first; tvam–you; asrak–created; tat–therefore;
brahmanan–the brahmanas; parama–O great one; sarva–all; vipatsu–in
dangers; pasi–you protect; palah–like the protector; pasun–the
animals; iva–like; vibho–O great one; pragrhita–taking in hand;
dandah–a stick.
TRANSLATION
My dear great and powerful Lord Siva, you were created first from the
mouth of Lord Brahma in order to protect the brahmanas in pursuing
education, austerities, vows and self-realization. As protector of the
brahmanas, you always protect the regulative principles they follow, just
as a cowherd boy keeps a stick in his hand to give protection to the
cows.TEXT 16
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
ksamapyaivam sa midhvamsam
brahmana canumantritah
karma santanayam asa
sopadhyayartvig-adibhih
SYNONYMS
maitreyah–the sage Maitreya; uvaca–said; ksama–forgiveness; apya–
receiving; evam–thus; sah–King Daksa; midhvamsam–unto Lord Siva;
brahmana–along with Lord Brahma; ca–also; anumantritah–being
permitted; karma–the sacrifice; santanayam asa–began again; sa–along
with; upadhyaya–learned sages; rtvik–the priests; adibhih–and others.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya said: Thus being pardoned by Lord Siva, King
Daksa, with the permission of Lord Brahma, again began the performance of
the yajna, along with the great learned sages, the priests and others.
TEXT 17
TEXT
vaisnavam yajna-santatyai
tri-kapalam dvijottamah
purodasam niravapan
vira-samsarga-suddhaye
SYNONYMS
vaisnavam–meant for Lord Visnu or His devotees; yajna–sacrifice;
santatyai–for performances; tri-kapalam–three kinds of offerings;
dvija-uttamah–the best of the brahmanas; purodasam–the oblation called
purodasa; niravapan–offered; vira–Virabhadra and other followers of
Lord Siva; samsarga–contamination (dosa) due to his touching; suddhaye–
for purification.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, in order to resume the activities of sacrifice, the
brahmanas first arranged to purify the sacrificial arena of the
contamination caused by the touch of Virabhadra and the other ghostly
followers of Lord Siva. Then they arranged to offer into the fire the
oblations known as purodasa.TEXT 18
TEXT
adhvaryunatta-havisa
yajamano visampate
dhiya visuddhaya dadhyau
tatha pradurabhud dharih
SYNONYMS
adhvaryuna–with the Yajur Veda; atta–taking; havisa–with clarified
butter; yajamanah–King Daksa; visam-pate–O Vidura; dhiya–in
meditation; visuddhaya–sanctified; dadhyau–offered; tatha–immediately;
praduh–manifest; abhut–became; harih–Hari, the Lord.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya said to Vidura: My dear Vidura, as soon as
King Daksa offered the clarified butter with Yajur Veda mantras in
sanctified meditation, Lord Visnu appeared there in His original form as
Narayana.TEXT 19
TEXT
tada sva-prabhaya tesam
dyotayantya diso dasa
musnams teja upanitas
tarksyena stotra-vajina
SYNONYMS
tada–at that time; sva-prabhaya–by His own effulgence; tesam–all of
them; dyotayantya–by brightness; disah–directions; dasa–ten; musnan–
diminishing; tejah–effulgence; upanitah–brought; tarksyena–by Garuda;
stotra-vajina–whose wings are called Brhat and Rathantara.
TRANSLATION
Lord Narayana was seated on the shoulder of Stotra, or Garuda, who had
big wings. As soon as the Lord appeared, all directions were illuminated,
diminishing the luster of Brahma and the others present.TEXT 20
TEXT
syamo hiranya-rasano ‘rka-kirita-justo
nilalaka-bhramara-mandita-kundalasyah
sankhabja-cakra-sara-capa-gadasi-carmavyagrair
hiranmaya-bhujair iva karnikarah
SYNONYMS
syamah–blackish; hiranya-rasanah–a garment like gold; arka-kiritajustah–
with a helmet as dazzling as the sun; nila-alaka–bluish curls;
bhramara–big black bees; mandita-kundala-asyah–having a face decorated
with earrings; sankha–conchshell; abja–lotus flower; cakra–wheel;
sara–arrows; capa–bow; gada–club; asi–sword; carma–shield; vyagraih-
filled with; hiranmaya–golden (bracelets and bangles); bhujaih–with
hands; iva–as; karnikarah–flower tree.
TRANSLATION
His complexion was blackish, His garment yellow like gold, and His
helmet as dazzling as the sun. His hair was bluish, the color of black
bees, and His face was decorated with earrings. His eight hands held a
conchshell, wheel, club, lotus flower, arrow, bow, shield and sword, and
they were decorated with golden ornaments such as bangles and bracelets.
His whole body resembled a blossoming tree beautifully decorated with
various kinds of flowers.TEXT 21
TEXT
vaksasy adhisrita-vadhur vana-maly udarahasavaloka-
kalaya ramayams ca visvam
parsva-bhramad-vyajana-camara-raja-hamsah
svetatapatra-sasinopari rajyamanah
SYNONYMS
vaksasi–on the chest; adhisrita–situated; vadhuh–a woman (the
goddess of fortune, Laksmi); vana-mali–garlanded with forest flowers;
udara–beautiful; hasa–smiling; avaloka–glance; kalaya–with a small
part; ramayan–pleasing; ca–and; visvam–the whole world; parsva–side;
bhramat–moving back and forth; vyajana-camara–white yak-tail hair for
fanning; raja-hamsah–swan; sveta-atapatra-sasina–with a white canopy
like the moon; upari–above; rajyamanah–looking beautiful.
TRANSLATION
Lord Visnu looked extraordinarily beautiful because the goddess of
fortune and a garland were situated on His chest. His face was
beautifully decorated with a smiling attitude which can captivate the
entire world, especially the devotees. Fans of white hair appeared on
both sides of the Lord like white swans, and the white canopy overhead
looked like the moon.TEXT 22
TEXT
tam upagatam alaksya
sarve sura-ganadayah
pranemuh sahasotthaya
brahmendra-tryaksa-nayakah
SYNONYMS
tam–Him; upagatam–arrived; alaksya–after seeing; sarve–all; suragana-
adayah–the demigods and others; pranemuh–obeisances; sahasa–
immediately; utthaya–after standing up; brahma–Lord Brahma; indra–Lord
Indra; tri-aksa–Lord Siva (who has three eyes); nayakah–led by.
TRANSLATION
As soon as Lord Visnu was visible, all the demigods–Lord Brahma and
Lord Siva, the Gandharvas and all present there–immediately offered
their respectful obeisances by falling down straight before Him.TEXT 23
TEXT
tat-tejasa hata-rucah
sanna-jihvah sa-sadhvasah
murdhna dhrtanjali-puta
upatasthur adhoksajam
SYNONYMS
tat-tejasa–by the glaring effulgence of His body; hata-rucah–having
faded lusters; sanna-jihvah–having silent tongues; sa-sadhvasah–having
fear of Him; murdhna–with the head; dhrta-anjali-putah–with hands
touched to the head; upatasthuh–prayed; adhoksajam–to Adhoksaja, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
In the presence of the glaring effulgence of the bodily luster of
Narayana, everyone else’s luster faded away, and everyone stopped
speaking. Fearful with awe and veneration, all present touched their
hands to their heads and prepared to offer their prayers to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Adhoksaja.
TEXT 24
TEXT
apy arvag-vrttayo yasya
mahi tv atmabhuv-adayah
yatha-mati grnanti sma
krtanugraha-vigraham
SYNONYMS
api–still; arvak-vrttayah–beyond the mental activities; yasya–
whose; mahi–glory; tu–but; atmabhu-adayah–Brahma, etc.; yatha-mati–
according to their different capacities; grnanti sma–offered prayers;
krta-anugraha–manifested by His grace; vigraham–transcendental form.
TRANSLATION
Although the mental scope of even demigods like Brahma was unable to
comprehend the unlimited glories of the Supreme Lord, they were all able
to perceive the transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
by His grace. Only by such grace could they offer their respectful
prayers according to their different capacities.TEXT 25
TEXT
dakso grhitarhana-sadanottamam
yajnesvaram visva-srjam param gurum
sunanda-nandady-anugair vrtam muda
grnan prapede prayatah krtanjalih
SYNONYMS
daksah–Daksa; grhita–accepted; arhana–rightful; sadana-uttamam–
sacrificial vessel; yajna-isvaram–unto the master of all sacrifices;
visva-srjam–of all the Prajapatis; param–the supreme; gurum–preceptor;
sunanda-nanda-adi-anugaih–by associates like Sunanda and Nanda; vrtam–
surrounded; muda–with great pleasure; grnan–offering respectful
prayers; prapede–took shelter; prayatah–having a subdued mind; krtaanjalih–
with folded hands.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Visnu accepted the oblations offered in the sacrifice,
Daksa, the Prajapati, began with great pleasure to offer respectful
prayers unto Him. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the
master of all sacrifices and preceptor of all the Prajapatis, and He is
served even by such personalities as Nanda and Sunanda.
TEXT 26
TEXT
daksa uvaca
suddham sva-dhamny uparatakhila-buddhy-avastham
cin-matram ekam abhayam pratisidhya mayam
tisthams tayaiva purusatvam upetya tasyam
aste bhavan aparisuddha ivatma-tantrah
SYNONYMS
daksah–Daksa; uvaca–said; suddham–pure; sva-dhamni–in Your own
abode; uparata-akhila–completely turned back; buddhi-avastham–position
of mental speculation; cit-matram–completely spiritual; ekam–one
without a second; abhayam–fearless; pratisidhya–controlling; mayam–
material energy; tisthan–being situated; taya–with her (Maya); eva–
certainly; purusatvam–overseer; upetya–entering into; tasyam–in her;
aste–is present; bhavan–Your Lordship; aparisuddhah–impure; iva–as
if; atma-tantrah–self-sufficient.
TRANSLATION
Daksa addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead: My dear Lord, You
are transcendental to all speculative positions. You are completely
spiritual, devoid of all fear, and You are always in control of the
material energy. Even though You appear in the material energy, You are
situated transcendentally. You are always free from material
contamination because You are completely self-sufficient.
TEXT 27
TEXT
rtvija ucuh
tattvam na te vayam ananjana rudra-sapat
karmany avagraha-dhiyo bhagavan vidamah
dharmopalaksanam idam trivrd adhvarakhyam
jnatam yad-artham adhidaivam ado vyavasthah
SYNONYMS
rtvijah–the priests; ucuh–began to say; tattvam–truth; na–not; te-
-of Your Lordship; vayam–all of us; ananjana–without material
contamination; rudra–Lord Siva; sapat–by his curse; karmani–in
fruitive activities; avagraha–being too much attached; dhiyah–of such
intelligence; bhagavan–O Lord; vidamah–know; dharma–religion;
upalaksanam–symbolized; idam–this; tri-vrt–the three departments of
knowledge of the Vedas; adhvara–sacrifice; akhyam–of the name; jnatam–
known to us; yat–that; artham–for the matter of; adhidaivam–for
worshiping the demigods; adah–this; vyavasthah–arrangement.
TRANSLATION
The priests addressed the Lord, saying: O Lord, transcendental to
material contamination, by the curse offered by Lord Siva’s men we have
become attached to fruitive activities, and thus we are now fallen and
therefore do not know anything about You. On the contrary, we are now
involved in the injunctions of the three departments of the Vedic
knowledge under the plea of executing rituals in the name of yajna. We
know that You have made arrangements for distributing the respective
shares of the demigods.TEXT 28
TEXT
sadasya ucuh
utpatty-adhvany asarana uru-klesa-durge ‘ntakogravyalanviste
visaya-mrga-trsy atma-gehoru-bharah
dvandva-svabhre khala-mrga-bhaye soka-dave ‘jna-sarthah
padaukas te saranada kada yati kamopasrstah
SYNONYMS
sadasyah–the members of the assembly; ucuh–said; utpatti–repeated
birth and death; adhvani–on the path of; asarane–not having a place to
take shelter; uru–great; klesa–troublesome; durge–in the formidable
fort; antaka–termination; ugra–ferocious; vyala–snakes; anviste–being
infested with; visaya–material happiness; mrga-trsi–mirage; atma–body;
geha–home; uru–heavy; bharah–burden; dvandva–dual; svabhre–holes,
ditches of so-called happiness and distress; khala–ferocious; mrga–
animals; bhaye–being afraid of; soka-dave–the forest fire of
lamentation; ajna-sa-arthah–for the interest of the rascals; pada-okah–
shelter of Your lotus feet; te–unto You; sarana-da–giving shelter;
kada–when; yati–went; kama-upasrstah–being afflicted by all sorts of
desires.
TRANSLATION
The members of the assembly addressed the Lord: O exclusive shelter
for all who are situated in troubled life, in this formidable fort of
conditional existence the time element, like a snake, is always looking
for an opportunity to strike. This world is full of ditches of so-called
distress and happiness, and there are many ferocious animals always ready
to attack. The fire of lamentation is always blazing, and the mirage of
false happiness is always alluring, but one has no shelter from them.
Thus foolish persons live in the cycle of birth and death, always
overburdened in discharging their so-called duties, and we do not know
when they will accept the shelter of Your lotus feet.TEXT 29
TEXT
rudra uvaca
tava varada varanghrav asisehakhilarthe
hy api munibhir asaktair adarenarhaniye
yadi racita-dhiyam mavidya-loko ‘paviddham
japati na ganaye tat tvat-paranugrahena
SYNONYMS
rudrah uvaca–Lord Siva said; tava–Your; vara-da–O supreme
benefactor; vara-anghrau–precious lotus feet; asisa–by desire; iha–in
the material world; akhila-arthe–for fulfillment; hi api–certainly;
munibhih–by the sages; asaktaih–liberated; adarena–with care;
arhaniye–worshipable; yadi–if; racita-dhiyam–mind fixed; ma–me;
avidya-lokah–the ignorant persons; apaviddham–unpurified activity;
japati–utters; na ganaye–do not value; tat–it; tvat-para-anugrahena–
by compassion like Yours.
TRANSLATION
Lord Siva said: My dear Lord, my mind and consciousness are always
fixed on Your lotus feet, which, as the source of all benediction and the
fulfillment of all desires, are worshiped by all liberated great sages
because Your lotus feet are worthy of worship. With my mind fixed on Your
lotus feet, I am no longer disturbed by persons who blaspheme me,
claiming that my activities are not purified. I do not mind their
accusations, and I excuse them out of compassion, just as You exhibit
compassion toward all living entities.TEXT 30
TEXT
bhrgur uvaca
yan mayaya gahanayapahrtatma-bodha
brahmadayas tanu-bhrtas tamasi svapantah
natman-sritam tava vidanty adhunapi tattvam
so ‘yam prasidatu bhavan pranatatma-bandhuh
SYNONYMS
bhrguh uvaca–Sri Bhrgu said; yat–who; mayaya–by illusory energy;
gahanaya–insurmountable; apahrta–stolen; atma-bodhah–knowledge of the
constitutional position; brahma-adayah–Lord Brahma, etc.; tanu-bhrtah–
embodied living entities; tamasi–in the darkness of illusion; svapantah-
-lying down; na–not; atman–in the living entity; sritam–situated in;
tava–Your; vidanti–understand; adhuna–now; api–certainly; tattvam–
absolute position; sah–You; ayam–this; prasidatu–be kind; bhavan–Your
Lordship; pranata-atma–surrendered soul; bandhuh–friend.
TRANSLATION
Sri Bhrgu said: My dear Lord, all living entities, beginning from the
highest, namely Lord Brahma, down to the ordinary ant, are under the
influence of the insurmountable spell of illusory energy, and thus they
are ignorant of their constitutional position. Everyone believes in the
concept of the body, and all are thus submerged in the darkness of
illusion. They are actually unable to understand how You live in every
living entity as the Supersoul, nor can they understand Your absolute
position. But You are the eternal friend and protector of all surrendered
souls. Therefore, please be kind toward us and forgive all our offenses.TEXT 31
TEXT
brahmovaca
naitat svarupam bhavato ‘sau padarthabheda-
grahaih puruso yavad ikset
jnanasya carthasya gunasya casrayo
mayamayad vyatirikto matas tvam
SYNONYMS
brahma uvaca–Lord Brahma said; na–not; etat–this; svarupam–eternal
form; bhavatah–Your; asau–that other; pada-artha–knowledge; bheda–
different; grahaih–by the acquiring; purusah–person; yavat–as long as;
ikset–wants to see; jnanasya–of knowledge; ca–also; arthasya–of the
objective; gunasya–of the instruments of knowledge; ca–also; asrayah–
the basis; maya-mayat–from being made of material energy; vyatiriktah–
distinct; matah–regarded; tvam–You.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma said: My dear Lord, Your personality and eternal form
cannot be understood by any person who is trying to know You through the
different processes of acquiring knowledge. Your position is always
transcendental to the material creation, whereas the empiric attempt to
understand You is material, as are its objectives and instruments.TEXT 32
TEXT
indra uvaca
idam apy acyuta visva-bhavanam
vapur ananda-karam mano-drsam
sura-vidvit-ksapanair udayudhair
bhuja-dandair upapannam astabhih
SYNONYMS
indrah uvaca–King Indra said; idam–this; api–certainly; acyuta–O
infallible one; visva-bhavanam–for the welfare of the universe; vapuh–
transcendental form; ananda-karam–a cause of pleasure; manah-drsam–to
the mind and the eye; sura-vidvit–envious of Your devotees; ksapanaih–
by punishment; ud-ayudhaih–with uplifted weapons; bhuja-dandaih–with
arms; upapannam–possessed of; astabhih–with eight.
TRANSLATION
King Indra said: My dear Lord, Your transcendental form with eight
hands and weapons in each of them appears for the welfare of the entire
universe, and it is very pleasing to the mind and eyes. In such a form,
Your Lordship is always prepared to punish the demons, who are envious of
Your devotees.TEXT 33
TEXT
patnya ucuh
yajno ‘yam tava yajanaya kena srsto
vidhvastah pasupatinadya daksa-kopat
tam nas tvam sava-sayanabha-santa-medham
yajnatman nalina-ruca drsa punihi
SYNONYMS
patnyah ucuh–the wives of the executors of the sacrifice said;
yajnah–the sacrifice; ayam–this; tava–Your; yajanaya–worshiping;
kena–by Brahma; srstah–arranged; vidhvastah–devastated; pasupatina–by
Lord Siva; adya–today; daksa-kopat–from anger at Daksa; tam–it; nah–
our; tvam–You; sava-sayana–dead bodies; abha–like; santa-medham–the
still sacrificial animals; yajna-atman–O Lord of sacrifice; nalina–
lotus; ruca–beautiful; drsa–by the vision of Your eyes; punihi–
sanctify.
TRANSLATION
The wives of the performers of the sacrifice said: My dear Lord, this
sacrifice was arranged under the instruction of Brahma, but unfortunately
Lord Siva, being angry at Daksa, devastated the entire scene, and because
of his anger the animals meant for sacrifice are lying dead. Therefore
the preparations of the yajna have been lost. Now, by the glance of Your
lotus eyes, the sanctity of this sacrificial arena may be again invoked.TEXT 34
TEXT
rsaya ucuh
ananvitam te bhagavan vicestitam
yad atmana carasi hi karma najyase
vibhutaye yata upasedur isvarim
na manyate svayam anuvartatim bhavan
SYNONYMS
rsayah–the sages; ucuh–prayed; ananvitam–wonderful; te–Your;
bhagavan–O possessor of all opulences; vicestitam–activities; yat–
which; atmana–by Your potencies; carasi–You execute; hi–certainly;
karma–to such activities; na ajyase–You are not attached; vibhutaye–
for her mercy; yatah–from whom; upaseduh–worshiped; isvarim–Laksmi,
the goddess of fortune; na manyate–are not attached; svayam–Yourself;
anuvartatim–to Your obedient servant (Laksmi); bhavan–Your Lordship.
TRANSLATION
The sages prayed: Dear Lord, Your activities are most wonderful, and
although You do everything by Your different potencies, You are not at
all attached to such activities. You are not even attached to the goddess
of fortune, who is worshiped by the great demigods like Brahma, who pray
to achieve her mercy.TEXT 35
TEXT
siddha ucuh
ayam tvat-katha-mrsta-piyusa-nadyam
mano-varanah klesa-davagni-dagdhah
trsarto ‘vagadho na sasmara davam
na niskramati brahma-sampannavan nah
SYNONYMS
siddhah–the Siddhas; ucuh–prayed; ayam–this; tvat-katha–Your
pastimes; mrsta–pure; piyusa–of nectar; nadyam–in the river; manah–of
the mind; varanah–the elephant; klesa–sufferings; dava-agni–by the
forest fire; dagdhah–burned; trsa–thirst; artah–afflicted; avagadhah–
being immersed; na sasmara–does not remember; davam–the forest fire or
the miseries; na niskramati–not come out; brahma–the Absolute;
sampanna-vat–like having merged; nah–our.
TRANSLATION
The Siddhas prayed: Like an elephant that has suffered in a forest
fire but can forget all its troubles by entering a river, our minds, O
Lord, always merge in the nectarean river of Your transcendental
pastimes, and they desire never to leave such transcendental bliss, which
is as good as the pleasure of merging in the Absolute.TEXT 36
TEXT
yajamany uvaca
svagatam te prasidesa tubhyam namah
srinivasa sriya kantaya trahi nah
tvam rte ‘dhisa nangair makhah sobhate
sirsa-hinah ka-bandho yatha purusah
SYNONYMS
yajamani–the wife of Daksa; uvaca–prayed; su-agatam–auspicious
appearance; te–Your; prasida–become pleased; isa–my dear Lord;
tubhyam–unto You; namah–respectful obeisances; srinivasa–O abode of
the goddess of fortune; sriya–with Laksmi; kantaya–Your wife; trahi–
protect; nah–us; tvam–You; rte–without; adhisa–O supreme controller;
na–not; angaih–with bodily limbs; makhah–the sacrificial arena;
sobhate–is beautiful; sirsa-hinah–without the head; ka-bandhah–
possessed of only a body; yatha–as; purusah–a person.
TRANSLATION
The wife of Daksa prayed as follows: My dear Lord, it is very
fortunate that You have appeared in this arena of sacrifice. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto You, and I request that You be pleased on this
occasion. The sacrificial arena is not beautiful without You, just as a
body is not beautiful without the head.TEXT 37
TEXT
lokapala ucuh
drstah kim no drgbhir asad-grahais tvam
pratyag-drasta drsyate yena visvam
maya hy esa bhavadiya hi bhuman
yas tvam sasthah pancabhir bhasi bhutaih
SYNONYMS
loka-palah–the governors of the different planets; ucuh–said;
drstah–seen; kim–whether; nah–by us; drgbhih–by the material senses;
asat-grahaih–revealing the cosmic manifestation; tvam–You; pratyakdrasta–
inner witness; drsyate–is seen; yena–by whom; visvam–the
universe; maya–material world; hi–because; esa–this; bhavadiya–Your;
hi–certainly; bhuman–O possessor of the universe; yah–because; tvam–
You; sasthah–the sixth; pancabhih–with the five; bhasi–appear;
bhutaih–with the elements.
TRANSLATION
The governors of various planets spoke as follows: Dear Lord, we
believe only in our direct perception, but under the circumstances we do
not know whether we have actually seen You with our material senses. By
our material senses we can simply perceive the cosmic manifestation, but
You are beyond the five elements. You are the sixth. We see You,
therefore, as a creation of the material world.TEXT 38
TEXT
yogesvara ucuh
preyan na te ‘nyo ‘sty amutas tvayi prabho
visvatmaniksen na prthag ya atmanah
athapi bhaktyesa tayopadhavatam
ananya-vrttyanugrhana vatsala
SYNONYMS
yoga-isvarah–the great mystics; ucuh–said; preyan–very dear; na–
not; te–of You; anyah–another; asti–there is; amutah–from that;
tvayi–in You; prabho–dear Lord; visva-atmani–in the Supersoul of all
living entities; ikset–see; na–not; prthak–different; yah–who;
atmanah–the living entities; atha api–so much more; bhaktya–with
devotion; isa–O Lord; taya–with it; upadhavatam–of those who worship;
ananya-vrttya–unfailing; anugrhana–favor; vatsala–O favorable Lord.
TRANSLATION
The great mystics said: Dear Lord, persons who see You as nondifferent
from themselves, knowing that You are the Supersoul of all living
entities, are certainly very, very dear to You. You are very favorable
toward those who engage in devotional service, accepting You as the Lord
and themselves as the servants. By Your mercy, You are always inclined in
their favor.TEXT 39
TEXT
jagad-udbhava-sthiti-layesu daivato
bahu-bhidyamana-gunayatma-mayaya
racitatma-bheda-mataye sva-samsthaya
vinivartita-bhrama-gunatmane namah
SYNONYMS
jagat–the material world; udbhava–creation; sthiti–maintenance;
layesu–in annihilation; daivatah–destiny; bahu–many; bhidyamana–being
variegated; gunaya–by material qualities; atma-mayaya–by His material
energy; racita–produced; atma–in the living entities; bheda-mataye–who
produced different inclinations; sva-samsthaya–by His internal potency;
vinivartita–caused to stop; bhrama–interaction; guna–of material
modes; atmane–unto Him in His personal form; namah–obeisances.
TRANSLATION
We offer our respectful obeisances unto the Supreme, who has created
varieties of manifestations and put them under the spell of the three
qualities of the material world in order to create, maintain and
annihilate them. He Himself is not under the control of the external
energy; in His personal feature He is completely devoid of the variegated
manifestation of material qualities, and He is under no illusion of false
identification.TEXT 40
TEXT
brahmovaca
namas te srita-sattvaya
dharmadinam ca sutaye
nirgunaya ca yat-kastham
naham vedapare ‘pi ca
SYNONYMS
brahma–the personified Vedas; uvaca–said; namah–respectful
obeisances; te–unto You; srita-sattvaya–the shelter of the quality of
goodness; dharma-adinam–of all religion, austerity and penance; ca–and;
sutaye–the source; nirgunaya–transcendental to material qualities; ca–
and; yat–of whom (of the Supreme Lord); kastham–the situation; na–not;
aham–I; veda–know; apare–others; api–certainly; ca–and.
TRANSLATION
The personified Vedas said: We offer our respectful obeisances unto
You, the Lord, the shelter of the quality of goodness and therefore the
source of all religion, austerity and penance, for You are transcendental
to all material qualities and no one knows You or Your actual situation.TEXT 41
TEXT
agnir uvaca
yat-tejasaham susamiddha-teja
havyam vahe svadhvara ajya-siktam
tam yajniyam panca-vidham ca pancabhih
svistam yajurbhih pranato ‘smi yajnam
SYNONYMS
agnih–the fire-god; uvaca–said; yat-tejasa–by whose effulgence;
aham–I; su-samiddha-tejah–as luminous as blazing fire; havyam–
offerings; vahe–I am accepting; su-adhvare–in the sacrifice; ajyasiktam–
mixed with butter; tam–that; yajniyam–the protector of the
sacrifice; panca-vidham–five; ca–and; pancabhih–by five; su-istam–
worshiped; yajurbhih–Vedic hymns; pranatah–offer respectful obeisances;
asmi–I; yajnam–to Yajna (Visnu).
TRANSLATION
The fire-god said: My dear Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto
You because by Your favor I am as luminous as blazing fire and I accept
the offerings mixed with butter and offered in sacrifice. The five kinds
of offerings according to the Yajur Veda are all Your different energies,
and You are worshiped by five kinds of Vedic hymns. Sacrifice means Your
Supreme Personality of Godhead.TEXT 42
TEXT
deva ucuh
pura kalpapaye sva-krtam udari-krtya vikrtam
tvam evadyas tasmin salila uragendradhisayane
puman sese siddhair hrdi vimrsitadhyatma-padavih
sa evadyaksnor yah pathi carasi bhrtyan avasi nah
SYNONYMS
devah–the demigods; ucuh–said; pura–formerly; kalpa-apaye–at the
devastation of the kalpa; sva-krtam–self-produced; udari-krtya–having
drawn within Your abdomen; vikrtam–effect; tvam–You; eva–certainly;
adyah–original; tasmin–in that; salile–water; uraga-indra–on Sesa;
adhisayane–on the bed; puman–personality; sese–taking rest; siddhaih–
by the liberated souls (like Sanaka, etc.); hrdi–in the heart; vimrsita-
-meditated on; adhyatma-padavih–the path of philosophical speculation;
sah–He; eva–certainly; adya–now; aksnoh–of both eyes; yah–who;
pathi–on the path; carasi–You move; bhrtyan–servants; avasi–protect;
nah–us.
TRANSLATION
The demigods said: Dear Lord, formerly, when there was a devastation,
You conserved all the different energies of material manifestation. At
that time, all the inhabitants of the higher planets, represented by such
liberated souls as Sanaka, were meditating on You by philosophical
speculation. You are therefore the original person, and You rest in the
water of devastation on the bed of the Sesa snake. Now, today, You are
visible to us, who are all Your servants. Please give us protection.TEXT 43
TEXT
gandharva ucuh
amsamsas te deva maricy-adaya ete
brahmendradya deva-gana rudra-purogah
krida-bhandam visvam idam yasya vibhuman
tasmai nityam natha namas te karavama
SYNONYMS
gandharvah–the Gandharvas; ucuh–said; amsa-amsah–parts and parcels
of Your body; te–Your; deva–dear Lord; marici-adayah–Marici and the
great sages; ete–these; brahma-indra-adyah–headed by Brahma and Indra;
deva-ganah–the demigods; rudra-purogah–having Lord Siva as the chief;
krida-bhandam–a plaything; visvam–the whole creation; idam–this;
yasya–of whom; vibhuman–the Supreme Almighty Great; tasmai–unto Him;
nityam–always; natha–O Lord; namah–respectful obeisances; te–unto
You; karavama–we offer.
TRANSLATION
The Gandharvas said: Dear Lord, all the demigods, including Lord Siva,
Lord Brahma, Indra and Marici and the great sages, are all only
differentiated parts and parcels of Your body. You are the Supreme
Almighty Great; the whole creation is just like a plaything for You. We
always accept You as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we offer our
respectful obeisances unto You.TEXT 44
TEXT
vidyadhara ucuh
tvan-mayayartham abhipadya kalevare ‘smin
krtva mamaham iti durmatir utpathaih svaih
ksipto ‘py asad-visaya-lalasa atma-moham
yusmat-kathamrta-nisevaka udvyudasyet
SYNONYMS
vidyadharah–the Vidyadharas; ucuh–said; tvat-mayaya–by Your
external potency; artham–the human body; abhipadya–after obtaining;
kalevare–in the body; asmin–in this; krtva–having misidentified; mama-
-mine; aham–I; iti–thus; durmatih–the ignorant person; utpathaih–by
wrong roads; svaih–by one’s own belongings; ksiptah–distracted; api–
even; asat–temporary; visaya-lalasah–having his happiness in sense
objects; atma-moham–the illusion of the body as the self; yusmat–Your;
katha–topics; amrta–nectar; nisevakah–relishing; ut–from a long
distance; vyudasyet–can be delivered.
TRANSLATION
The Vidyadharas said: Dear Lord, this human form of body is meant for
attaining the highest perfectional objective, but, impelled by Your
external energy, the living entity misidentifies himself with his body
and with the material energy, and therefore, influenced by maya, he wants
to become happy by material enjoyment. He is misled and always attracted
by temporary, illusory happiness. But Your transcendental activities are
so powerful that if one engages in the hearing and chanting of such
topics, he can be delivered from illusion.TEXT 45
TEXT
brahmana ucuh
tvam kratus tvam havis tvam hutasah svayam
tvam hi mantrah samid-darbha-patrani ca
tvam sadasyartvijo dampati devata
agnihotram svadha soma ajyam pasuh
SYNONYMS
brahmanah–the brahmanas; ucuh–said; tvam–You; kratuh–sacrifice;
tvam–You; havih–offering of clarified butter; tvam–You; huta-asah–
fire; svayam–personified; tvam–You; hi–for; mantrah–the Vedic hymns;
samit-darbha-patrani–the fuel, the kusa grass and the sacrificial pots;
ca–and; tvam–You; sadasya–the members of the assembly; rtvijah–the
priests; dampati–the chief person of the sacrifice and his wife; devata-
-demigods; agni-hotram–the sacred fire ceremony; svadha–the offering to
the forefathers; somah–the soma plant; ajyam–the clarified butter;
pasuh–the sacrificial animal.
TRANSLATION
The brahmanas said: Dear Lord, You are sacrifice personified. You are
the offering of clarified butter, You are the fire, You are the chanting
of Vedic hymns by which the sacrifice is conducted, You are the fuel, You
are the flame, You are the kusa grass, and You are the sacrificial pots.
You are the priests who perform the yajna, You are the demigods headed by
Indra, and You are the sacrificial animal. Everything that is sacrificed
is You or Your energy.TEXT 46
TEXT
tvam pura gam rasaya maha-sukaro
damstraya padminim varanendro yatha
stuyamano nadal lilaya yogibhir
vyujjahartha trayi-gatra yajna-kratuh
SYNONYMS
tvam–You; pura–in the past; gam–the earth; rasayah–from within the
water; maha-sukarah–the great boar incarnation; damstraya–with Your
tusk; padminim–a lotus; varana-indrah–an elephant; yatha–as;
stuyamanah–being offered prayers; nadan–vibrating; lilaya–very easily;
yogibhih–by great sages like Sanaka, etc.; vyujjahartha–picked up;
trayi-gatra–O personified Vedic knowledge; yajna-kratuh–having the form
of sacrifice.
TRANSLATION
Dear Lord, O personified Vedic knowledge, in the past millennium,
long, long ago, when You appeared as the great boar incarnation, You
picked up the world from the water, as an elephant picks up a lotus
flower from a lake. When You vibrated transcendental sound in that
gigantic form of a boar, the sound was accepted as a sacrificial hymn,
and great sages like Sanaka meditated upon it and offered prayers for
Your glorification.TEXT 47
TEXT
sa prasida tvam asmakam akanksatam
darsanam te paribhrasta-sat-karmanam
kirtyamane nrbhir namni yajnesa te
yajna-vighnah ksayam yanti tasmai namah
SYNONYMS
sah–that same person; prasida–be pleased; tvam–You; asmakam–upon
us; akanksatam–awaiting; darsanam–audience; te–Your; paribhrasta–
fallen down; sat-karmanam–of whom the performance of sacrifice;
kirtyamane–being chanted; nrbhih–by persons; namni–Your holy name;
yajna-isa–O Lord of sacrifice; te–Your; yajna-vighnah–obstacles;
ksayam–destruction; yanti–attain; tasmai–unto You; namah–respectful
obeisances.
TRANSLATION
Dear Lord, we were awaiting Your audience because we have been unable
to perform the yajnas according to the Vedic rituals. We pray unto You,
therefore, to be pleased with us. Simply by chanting Your holy name, one
can surpass all obstacles. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You in
Your presence.TEXT 48
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
iti daksah kavir yajnam
bhadra rudrabhimarsitam
kirtyamane hrsikese
sanninye yajna-bhavane
SYNONYMS
maitreyah–Maitreya; uvaca–said; iti–thus; daksah–Daksa; kavih–
being purified in consciousness; yajnam–the sacrifice; bhadra–O Vidura;
rudra-abhimarsitam–devastated by Virabhadra; kirtya-mane–being
glorified; hrsikese–Hrsikesa (Lord Visnu); sanninye–arranged for
restarting; yajna-bhavane–the protector of sacrifice.
TRANSLATION
Sri Maitreya said: After Lord Visnu was glorified by all present,
Daksa, his consciousness purified, arranged to begin again the yajna
which had been devastated by the followers of Lord Siva.
TEXT 49
TEXT
bhagavan svena bhagena
sarvatma sarva-bhaga-bhuk
daksam babhasa abhasya
priyamana ivanagha
SYNONYMS
bhagavan–Lord Visnu; svena–with His own; bhagena–with the share;
sarva-atma–the Supersoul of all living entities; sarva-bhaga-bhuk–the
enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices; daksam–Daksa; babhase–said;
abhasya–addressing; priyamanah–being satisfied; iva–as; anagha–O
sinless Vidura.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya continued: My dear sinless Vidura, Lord Visnu is actually the
enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices. Yet because of His being the
Supersoul of all living entities, He was satisfied simply with His share
of the sacrificial offerings. He therefore addressed Daksa in a pleasing
attitude.TEXT 50
TEXT
sri-bhagavan uvaca
aham brahma ca sarvas ca
jagatah karanam param
atmesvara upadrasta
svayan-drg avisesanah
SYNONYMS
sri-bhagavan–Lord Visnu; uvaca–said; aham–I; brahma–Brahma; ca–
and; sarvah–Lord Siva; ca–and; jagatah–of the material manifestation;
karanam–cause; param–supreme; atma-isvarah–the Supersoul; upadrasta–
the witness; svayam-drk–self-sufficient; avisesanah–there is no
difference.
TRANSLATION
Lord Visnu replied: Brahma, Lord Siva and I are the supreme cause of
the material manifestation. I am the Supersoul, the self sufficient
witness. But impersonally there is no difference between Brahma, Lord
Siva and Me.TEXT 51
TEXT
atma-mayam samavisya
so ‘ham gunamayim dvija
srjan raksan haran visvam
dadhre samjnam kriyocitam
SYNONYMS
atma-mayam–My energy; samavisya–having entered; sah–Myself; aham–
I; guna-mayim–composed of the modes of material nature; dvi-ja–O twiceborn
Daksa; srjan–creating; raksan–maintaining; haran–annihilating;
visvam–the cosmic manifestation; dadhre–I cause to be born; samjnam–a
name; kriya-ucitam–according to the activity.
TRANSLATION
The Lord continued: My dear Daksa Dvija, I am the original Personality
of Godhead, but in order to create, maintain and annihilate this cosmic
manifestation, I act through My material energy, and according to the
different grades of activity, My representations are differently named.TEXT 52
TEXT
tasmin brahmany advitiye
kevale paramatmani
brahma-rudrau ca bhutani
bhedenajno ‘nupasyati
SYNONYMS
tasmin–Him; brahmani–the Supreme Brahman; advitiye–without a
second; kevale–being one; parama-atmani–the Supersoul; brahma-rudrau–
both Brahma and Siva; ca–and; bhutani–the living entities; bhedena–
with separation; ajnah–one who is not properly conversant; anupasyati–
thinks.
TRANSLATION
The Lord continued: One who is not in proper knowledge thinks that
demigods like Brahma and Siva are independent, or he even thinks that the
living entities are independent.TEXT 53
TEXT
yatha puman na svangesu
sirah-pany-adisu kvacit
parakya-buddhim kurute
evam bhutesu mat-parah
SYNONYMS
yatha–as; puman–a person; na–not; sva-angesu–in his own body;
sirah-pani-adisu–between the head and the hands and other parts of the
body; kvacit–sometimes; parakya-buddhim–differentiation; kurute–make;
evam–thus; bhutesu–among living entities; mat-parah–My devotee.
TRANSLATION
A person with average intelligence does not think the head and other
parts of the body to be separate. Similarly, My devotee does not
differentiate Visnu, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, from any
thing or any living entity.TEXT 54
TEXT
trayanam eka-bhavanam
yo na pasyati vai bhidam
sarva-bhutatmanam brahman
sa santim adhigacchati
SYNONYMS
trayanam–of the three; eka-bhavanam–having one nature; yah–who; na
pasyati–does not see; vai–certainly; bhidam–separateness; sarva-bhutaatmanam–
of the Supersoul of all living entities; brahman–O Daksa; sah–
he; santim–peace; adhigacchati–realizes.
TRANSLATION
The Lord continued: One who does not consider Brahma, Visnu, Siva or
the living entities in general to be separate from the Supreme, and who
knows Brahman, actually realizes peace; others do notTEXT 55
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
evam bhagavatadistah
prajapati-patir harim
arcitva kratuna svena
devan ubhayato ‘yajat
SYNONYMS
maitreyah–Maitreya; uvaca–said; evam–thus; bhagavata–by the
Supreme Personality of Godhead; adistah–having been instructed;
prajapati-patih–the head of all the Prajapatis; harim–Hari; arcitva–
after worshiping; kratuna–with the sacrificial ceremonies; svena–his
own; devan–the demigods; ubhayatah–separately; ayajat–worshiped.
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya said: Thus Daksa, the head of all Prajapatis, having
been nicely instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, worshiped
Lord Visnu. After worshiping Him by performing the prescribed sacrificial
ceremonies, Daksa separately worshiped Lord Brahma and Lord Siva.TEXT 56
TEXT
rudram ca svena bhagena
hy upadhavat samahitah
karmanodavasanena
somapan itaran api
udavasya sahartvigbhih
sasnav avabhrtham tatah
SYNONYMS
rudram–Lord Siva; ca–and; svena–with his own; bhagena–share; hi–
since; upadhavat–he worshiped; samahitah–with concentrated mind;
karmana–by the performance; udavasanena–by the act of finishing; somapan–
demigods; itaran–other; api–even; udavasya–after finishing; saha-
-along with; rtvigbhih–with the priests; sasnau–bathed; avabhrtham–the
avabhrtha bath; tatah–then.
TRANSLATION
With all respect, Daksa worshiped Lord Siva with his share of the
remnants of the yajna. After finishing the ritualistic sacrificial
activities, he satisfied all the other demigods and the other people
assembled there. Then, after finishing all these duties with the priests,
he took a bath and was fully satisfied.TEXT 57
TEXT
tasma apy anubhavena
svenaivavapta-radhase
dharma eva matim dattva
tridasas te divam yayuh
SYNONYMS
tasmai–unto him (Daksa); api–even; anubhavena–by worshiping the
Supreme Lord; svena–by his own; eva–certainly; avapta-radhase–having
attained perfection; dharme–in religion; eva–certainly; matim–
intelligence; dattva–having given; tridasah–demigods; te–those; divam-
-to the heavenly planets; yayuh–went.
TRANSLATION
Thus worshiping the Supreme Lord Visnu by the ritualistic performance
of sacrifice, Daksa was completely situated on the religious path.
Moreover, all the demigods who had assembled at the sacrifice blessed him
that he might increase his piety, and then they left.TEXT 58
TEXT
evam daksayani hitva
sati purva-kalevaram
jajne himavatah ksetre
menayam iti susruma
SYNONYMS
evam–thus; daksayani–the daughter of Daksa; hitva–after giving up;
sati–Sati; purva-kalevaram–her former body; jajne–was born; himavatah-
-of the Himalayas; ksetre–in the wife; menayam–in Mena; iti–thus;
susruma–I have heard.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya said: I have heard that after giving up the body she had
received from Daksa, Daksayani (his daughter) took her birth in the
kingdom of the Himalayas. She was born as the daughter of Mena. I heard
this from authoritative sources.TEXT 59
TEXT
tam eva dayitam bhuya
avrnkte patim ambika
ananya-bhavaika-gatim
saktih supteva purusam
SYNONYMS
tam–him (Lord Siva); eva–certainly; dayitam–beloved; bhuyah–again;
avrnkte–accepted; patim–as her husband; ambika–Ambika, or Sati;
ananya-bhava–without attachment for others; eka-gatim–the one goal;
saktih–the feminine (marginal and external) energies; supta–lying
dormant; iva–as; purusam–the masculine (Lord Siva, as representative of
the Supreme Lord).
TRANSLATION
Ambika [goddess Durga], who was known as Daksayini [Sati], again
accepted Lord Siva as her husband, just as different energies of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead act during the course of a new creation.TEXT 60
TEXT
etad bhagavatah sambhoh
karma daksadhvara-druhah
srutam bhagavatac chisyad
uddhavan me brhaspateh
SYNONYMS
etat–this; bhagavatah–of the possessor of all opulences; sambhoh–of
Sambhu (Lord Siva); karma–story; daksa-adhvara-druhah–who devastated
the sacrifice of Daksa; srutam–was heard; bhagavatat–from a great
devotee; sisyat–from the disciple; uddhavat–from Uddhava; me–by me;
brhaspateh–of Brhaspati.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, I heard this story of the Daksa yajna,
which was devastated by Lord Siva, from Uddhava, a great devotee and a
disciple of Brhaspati.
TEXT 61
TEXT
idam pavitram param isa-cestitam
yasasyam ayusyam aghaugha-marsanam
yo nityadakarnya naro ‘nukirtayed
dhunoty agham kaurava bhakti-bhavatah
SYNONYMS
idam–this; pavitram–pure; param–supreme; isa-cestitam–pastime of
the Supreme Lord; yasasyam–fame; ayusyam–long duration of life; aghaogha-
marsanam–destroying sins; yah–who; nityada–always; akarnya–after
hearing; narah–a person; anukirtayet–should narrate; dhunoti–clears
off; agham–material contamination; kaurava–O descendant of Kuru;
bhakti-bhavatah–with faith and devotion.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya concluded: If one hears and again narrates,
with faith and devotion, this story of the Daksa yajna as it was
conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, then certainly
one is cleared of all contamination of material existence, O son of Kuru.
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