> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 5

> **************

> Chapter Eighteen: The Prayers Offered to the Lord by the Residents of Jambudvipa.

> *******

> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> tathâ ca bhadrasravâ nâma dharma-sutas tat-kula-patayah purusâ

> bhadrâsva-varse sâksâd bhagavato vâsudevasya priyâm tanum.

> dharmamayîm hayasîrsâbhidhânâm paramena samâdhinâ

> sannidhâpyedam abhigrnanta upadhâvanti.

> srî-sukah uvâca--Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; tathâ ca--similarly (just as Lord Siva worships Sankarsana in Ilâvrta-varsa); bhadra-sravâ--Bhadrasravâ; nâma--known as; dharma-sutah--the son of Dharmarâja; tat--of him; kula-patayah--the chiefs of the dynasty; purusâh--all the residents; bhadrâsva-varse--in the land known as Bhadrâsva-varsa; sâksât--directly; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vâsudevasya--of Lord Vâsudeva; priyâm tanum--very dear form; dharma-mayîm--the director of all religious principles; hayasîrsa-abhidhânâm--the Lord's incarnation named Hayasîrsa (also called Hayagrîva); paramena samâdhinâ--with the highest form of trance; sannidhâpya--coming near; idam--this; abhigrnantah--chanting; upadhâvanti--they worship.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Bhadrasrava, the son of Dharmaraja, rules the tract of land known as Bhadrasva-varsa. Just as Lord Siva worships Sankarsana in Ilavrta-varsa, Bhadrasrava, accompanied by his intimate servants and all the residents of the land, worships the plenary expansion of Vasudeva known as Hayasirsa. Lord Hayasirsa is very dear to the devotees, and He is the director of all religious principles. Fixed in the topmost trance, Bhadrasrava and his associates offer their respectful obeisances to the Lord and chant the following prayers with careful pronunciation.

> *******

> TEXT 2

> bhadrasravasa ûcuh

> om namo bhagavate dharmâyâtma-visodhanâya nama iti.

> bhadrasravasah ûcuh--the ruler Bhadrasravâ and his intimate associates said; om--O Lord; namah--respectful obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dharmâya--the source of all religious principles; âtma-visodhanâya--who purifies us of material contamination; namah--our obeisances; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> The ruler Bhadrasrava and his intimate associates utter the following prayer: We offer our respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the reservoir of all religious principles, who cleanses the heart of the conditioned soul in this material world. Again and again we offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.

> *******

> TEXT 3

> aho vicitram bhagavad-vicestitam

> ghnantam jano 'yam hi misan na pasyati

> dhyâyann asad yarhi vikarma sevitum

> nirhrtya putram pitaram jijîvisati

> aho--alas; vicitram--wonderful; bhagavat-vicestitam--the pastimes of the Lord; ghnantam--death; janah--a person; ayam--this; hi--certainly; misan--although seeing; na pasyati--does not see; dhyâyan--thinking about; asat--material happiness; yarhi--because; vikarma--forbidden activities; sevitum--to enjoy; nirhrtya--burning; putram--sons; pitaram--the father; jijîvisati--desires a long life.

> TRANSLATION

> Alas! How wonderful it is that the foolish materialist does not heed the great danger of impending death! He knows that death will surely come, yet he is nevertheless callous and neglectful. If his father dies, he wants to enjoy his father's property, and if his son dies, he wants to enjoy his son's possessions as well. In either case, he heedlessly tries to enjoy material happiness with the acquired money.

> *******

> TEXT 4

> vadanti visvam kavayah sma nasvaram

> pasyanti câdhyâtmavido vipascitah

> tathâpi muhyanti tavâja mâyayâ

> suvismitam krtyam ajam nato 'smi tam

> vadanti--they say authoritatively; visvam--the entire material creation; kavayah--great learned sages; sma--certainly; nasvaram--perishable; pasyanti--they see in trance; ca--also; adhyâtma-vidah--who have realized spiritual knowledge; vipascitah--very learned scholars; tathâ api--still; muhyanti--become illusioned; tava--your; aja--O unborn one; mâyayâ--by the illusory energy; su-vismitam--most wonderful; krtyam--activity; ajam--unto the supreme unborn one; natah asmi--I offer my obeisances; tam--unto Him.

> TRANSLATION

> O unborn one, learned Vedic scholars who are advanced in spiritual knowledge certainly know that this material world is perishable, as do other logicians and philosophers. In trance they realize the factual position of this world, and they preach the truth as well. Yet even they are sometimes bewildered by Your illusory energy. This is Your own wonderful pastime. Therefore, I can understand that Your illusory energy is very wonderful, and I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

> *******

> TEXT 5

> visvodbhava-sthâna-nirodha-karma te

> hy akartur angîkrtam apy apâvrtah

> yuktam na citram tvayi kârya-kârane

> sarvâtmani vyatirikte ca vastutah

> visva--of the whole universe; udbhava--of the creation; sthâna--of the maintenance; nirodha--of the annihilation; karma--these activities; te--of You (O dear Lord); hi--indeed; akartuh--aloof; angîkrtam--still accepted by the Vedic literature; api--although; apâvrtah--untouched by all these activities; yuktam--befitting; na--not; citram--wonderful; tvayi--in You; kârya-kârane--the original cause of all effects; sarva-âtmani--in all respects; vyatirikte--set apart; ca--also; vastutah--the original substance.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, although You are completely detached from the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material world and are not directly affected by these activities, they are all attributed to You. We do not wonder at this, for Your inconceivable energies perfectly qualify You to be the cause of all causes. You are the active principle in everything, although You are separate from everything. Thus we can realize that everything is happening because of Your inconceivable energy.

> *******

> TEXT 6

> vedân yugânte tamasâ tiraskrtân

> rasâtalâd yo nr-turanga-vigrahah

> pratyâdade vai kavaye 'bhiyâcate

> tasmai namas te 'vitathehitâya iti

> vedân--the four Vedas; yuga-ante--at the end of the millennium; tamasâ--by the demon of ignorance personified; tiraskrtân--stolen away; rasâtalât--from the lowest planetary system (Rasâtala); yah--who (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); nr-turanga-vigrahah--assuming the form of half-horse, half-man; pratyâdade--returned; vai--indeed; kavaye--to the supreme poet (Lord Brahmâ); abhiyâ-cate--when he asked for them; tasmai--unto Him (the form of Hayagrîva); namah--my respectful obeisances; te--to You; avitatha-îhitâya--whose resolution never fails; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> At the end of the millennium, ignorance personified assumed the form of a demon, stole all the Vedas and took them down to the planet of Rasatala. The Supreme Lord, however, in His form of Hayagriva retrieved the Vedas and returned them to Lord Brahma when he begged for them. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, whose determination never fails.

> *******

> TEXT 7

> hari-varse câpi bhagavân nara-hari-rûpenâste.

> tad-rûpa-grahana-nimittam uttaratrâbhidhâsye. tad dayitam rûpam

> mahâ-purusa-guna-bhâjano mahâ-bhâgavato daitya-dânava-kula-tîrthîkarana-sîlâ-caritah

> prahlâdo 'vyavadhânânanya-bhakti-yogena saha tad-varsa-purusair

> upâste idam codâharati.

> hari-varse--in the tract of land known as Harivarsa; ca--also; api--indeed; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nara-hari-rûpena--His form of Nrsimhadeva; âste--is situated; tat-rûpa-grahana-nimittam--the reason why Lord Krsna (Kesava) assumed the form of Nrsimha; uttaratra--in later chapters; abhidhâsye--I shall describe; tat--that; dayitam--most pleasing; rûpam--form of the Lord; mahâ-purusa-guna-bhâjanah--Prahlâda Mahârâja, who is the abode of all the good qualities of great personalities; mahâ-bhâgavatah--the topmost devotee; daitya-dânava-kula-tîrthî-karana-sîlâ-caritah--whose activities and character were so exalted that he delivered all the daityas (demons) born in his family; prahlâdah--Mahârâja Prahlâda; avyavadhâna-ananya-bhakti-yogena--by uninterrupted and unflinching devotional service; saha--with; tat-varsa-purusaih--the inhabitants of Hari-varsa; upâste--offers obeisances to and worships; idam--this; ca--and; udâ-harati--chants.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, Lord Nrsimhadeva resides in the tract of land known as Hari-varsa. In the Seventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, I shall describe to you how Prahlada Maharaja caused the Lord to assume the form of Nrsimhadeva. Prahlada Maharaja, the topmost devotee of the Lord, is a reservoir of all the good qualities of great personalities. His character and activities have delivered all the fallen members of his demoniac family. Lord Nrsimhadeva is very dear to this exalted personality. Thus Prahlada Maharaja, along with his servants and all the denizens of Hari-varsa, worships Lord Nrsimhadeva by chanting the following mantra.

> *******

> TEXT 8

> om namo bhagavate narasimhâya namas tejas-tejase âvir-âvirbhava

> vajra-nakha vajra-damstra karmâsayân randhaya randhaya tamo grasa

> grasa om svâhâ. abhayam abhayam âtmani bhûyisthâ om ksraum.

> om--O Lord; namah--my respectful obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nara-simhâya--known as Lord Nrsimha; namah--obeisances; tejah-tejase--the power of all power; âvih-âvirbhava--please be fully manifest; vajra-nakha--O You who possess nails like thunderbolts; vajra-damstra--O You who possess teeth like thunderbolts; karma-âsayân--demoniac desires to be happy by material activities; randhaya randhaya--kindly vanquish; tamah--ignorance in the material world; grasa--kindly drive away; grasa--kindly drive away; om--O my Lord; svâhâ--respectful oblations; abhayam--fearlessness; abhayam--fearlessness; âtmani--in my mind; bhûyisthâh--may You appear; om--O Lord; ksraum--the bîja, or seed, of mantras offering prayers to Lord Nrsimha.

> TRANSLATION

> I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrsimhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demonlike desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world.

> *******

> TEXT 9

> svasty astu visvasya khalah prasîdatâm

> dhyâyantu bhûtâni sivam mitho dhiyâ

> manas ca bhadram bhajatâd adhoksaje

> âvesyatâm no matir apy ahaitukî

> svasti--auspiciousness; astu--let there be; visvasya--of the entire universe; khalah--the envious (almost everyone); prasîdatâm--let them be pacified; dhyâyantu--let them consider; bhûtâni--all the living entities; sivam--auspiciousness; mithah--mutual; dhiyâ--by their intelligence; manah--the mind; ca--and; bhadram--calmness; bhajatât--let it experience; adhoksaje--in the Supreme personality of Godhead, who is beyond the perception of mind, intelligence and senses; âvesyatâm--let it be absorbed; nah--our; matih--intelligence; api--indeed; ahaitukî--without any motive.

> TRANSLATION

> May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other's welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krsna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him.

> *******

> TEXT 10

> mâgâra-dârâtmaja-vitta-bandhusu

> sango yadi syâd bhagavat-priyesu nah

> yah prâna-vrttyâ paritusta âtmavân

> siddhyaty adûrân na tathendriya-priyah

> mâ--not; agâra--house; dâra--wife; âtma ja--children; vitta--bank balance; bandhusu--among friends and relatives; sangah--association or attachment; yadi--if; syât--there must be; bhagavat-priyesu--among persons to whom the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very dear; nah--of us; yah--anyone who; prâna-vrttyâ--by the bare necessities of life; paritustah--satisfied; âtma-vân--who has controlled his mind and realized his self; siddhyati--becomes successful; adûrât--very soon; na--not; tathâ--so much; indriya-priyah--a person attached to sense gratification.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear Lord, we pray that we may never feel attraction for the prison of family life, consisting of home, wife, children, friends, bank balance, relatives and so on. If we do have some attachment, let it be for devotees, whose only dear friend is Krsna. A person who is actually self-realized and who has controlled his mind is perfectly satisfied with the bare necessities of life. He does not try to gratify his senses. Such a person quickly advances in Krsna consciousness, whereas others, who are too attached to material things, find advancement very difficult.

> *******

> TEXT 11

> yat-sanga-labdham nija-vîrya-vaibhavam

> tîrtham muhuh samsprsatâm hi mânasam

> haraty ajo 'ntah srutibhir gato 'ngajam

> ko vai na seveta mukunda-vikramam

> yat--of whom (the devotees); sanga-labdham--achieved by the association; nija-vîrya-vaibhavam--whose influence is uncommon; tîrtham--holy places like the Ganges; muhuh--repeatedly; samsprsatâm--of those touching; hi--certainly; mânasam--the dirty things in the mind; harati--vanquishes; ajah--the supreme unborn one; antah--in the core of the heart; srutibhih--by the ears; gatah--entered; anga jam--dirty things or infections of the body; kah--who; vai--indeed; na--not; seveta--would serve; mukunda-vikramam--the glorious activities of Mukunda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> TRANSLATION

> By associating with persons for whom the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, is the all in all, one can hear of His powerful activities and soon come to understand them. The activities of Mukunda are so potent that simply by hearing of them one immediately associates with the Lord. For a person who constantly and very eagerly hears narrations of the Lord's powerful activities, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead in the form of sound vibrations, enters within his heart and cleanses it of all contamination. On the other hand, although bathing in the Ganges diminishes bodily contaminations and infections, this process and the process of visiting holy places can cleanse the heart only after a long time. Therefore who is the sane man who will not associate with devotees to quickly perfect his life?

> *******

> TEXT 12

> yasyâsti bhaktir bhagavaty akincanâ

> sarvair gunais tatra samâsate surâh

> harâv abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunâ

> manorathenâsati dhâvato bahih

> yasya--of whom; asti--there is; bhaktih--devotional service; bhagavati--to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akincanâ--without any motive; sarvaih--with all; gunaih--good qualities; tatra--there (in that person); samâsate--reside; surâh--all the demigods; harau--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; abhaktasya--of a person who is not devoted; kutah--where; mahat-gunâh--good qualities; manorathena--by mental speculation; asati--in the temporary material world; dhâvatah--who is running; bahih--outside.

> TRANSLATION

> All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord's external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?

> *******

> TEXT 13

> harir hi sâksâd bhagavân sarîrinâm

> âtmâ jhasânâm iva toyam îpsitam

> hitvâ mahâms tam yadi sajjate grhe

> tadâ mahattvam vayasâ dampatînâm

> harih--the Lord; hi--certainly; sâksât--directly; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarîrinâm--of all living entities who have accepted material bodies; âtmâ--the life and soul; jhasânâm--of the aquatics; iva--like; toyam--the vast water; îpsitam--is desired; hitvâ--giving up; mahân--a great personality; tam--Him; yadi--if; sajjate--becomes attached; grhe--to household life; tadâ--at that time; mahattvam--greatness; vayasâ--by age; dam-patînâm--of the husband and wife.

> TRANSLATION

> Just as aquatics always desire to remain in the vast mass of water, all conditioned living entities naturally desire to remain in the vast existence of the Supreme Lord. Therefore if someone very great by material calculations fails to take shelter of the Supreme Soul but instead becomes attached to material household life, his greatness is like that of a young, low-class couple. One who is too attached to material life loses all good spiritual qualities.

> *******

> TEXT 14

> tasmâd rajo-râga-visâda-manyu-

> mâna-sprhâ-bhayadainyâdhimûlam

> hitvâ grham samsrti-cakravâlam

> nrsimha-pâdam bhajatâkutobhayam iti

> tasmât--therefore; rajah--of passion or material desires; râga--attachment for material things; visâda--then disappointment; manyu--anger; mâna-sprhâ--the desire to be respectable in society; bhaya--fear; dainya--of poverty; adhimûlam--the root cause; hitvâ--giving up; grham--household life; samsrti-cakravâlam--the cycle of repeated birth and death; nrsimha-pâdam--the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva; bhajata--worship; akutah-bhayam--the shelter of fearlessness; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> Therefore, O demons, give up the so-called happiness of family life and simply take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva, which are the actual shelter of fearlessness. Entanglement in family life is the root cause of material attachment, indefatigable desires, moroseness, anger, despair, fear and the desire for false prestige, all of which result in the repetition of birth and death.

> *******

> TEXT 15

> ketumâle 'pi bhagavân kâmadeva-svarûpena laksmyâh

> priya-cikîrsayâ prajâpater duhitrnâm putrânâm tad-varsa-patînâm

> purusâyusâho-râtra-parisankhyânânâm yâsâm garbhâ mahâ-purusa-

> mahâstra-tejasodvejita-manasâm vidhvastâ vyasavah samvatsarânte

> vinipatanti.

> ketumâle--in the tract of land known as Ketumâla-varsa; api--also; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu; kâmadeva-svarûpena--in the form of Kâmadeva (Cupid or Pradyumna); laksmyâh--of the goddess of fortune; priya-cikîrsayâ--with a desire to bring about the satisfaction; prajâpateh--of Prajâpati; duhitrnâm--of the daughters; putrânâm--of the sons; tat-varsa-patînâm--the ruler of that land; purusa-âyusâ--in a human lifetime (about one hundred years); ahah-râtra--the days and nights; parisankhyânânâm--which equal in number; yâsâm--of whom (the daughters); garbhâh--fetuses; mahâ-purusa--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mahâ-astra--of the great weapon (the disc); tejasâ--by the effulgence; udvejita-manasâm--whose minds are agitated; vidhvastâh--ruined; vyasavah--dead; samvatsara-ante--at the end of the year; vinipatanti--fall down.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami continued: In the tract of land called Ketumala-varsa, Lord Visnu lives in the form of Kamadeva, only for the satisfaction of His devotees. These include Laksmiji [the goddess of fortune], the Prajapati Samvatsara and all of Samvatsara's sons and daughters. The daughters of Prajapati are considered the controlling deities of the nights, and his sons are considered the controllers of the days. The Prajapati's offspring number 36,000, one for each day and each night in the lifetime of a human being. At the end of each year, the Prajapati's daughters become very agitated upon seeing the extremely effulgent disc of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus they all suffer miscarriages.

> *******

> TEXT 16

> atîva sulalita-gati-vilâsa-vilasita-rucira-hâsa-lesâvaloka-lîlayâ

> kincid-uttambhita-sundara-bhrû-mandala-subhaga-vadanâravinda-sriyâ

> ramâm ramayann indriyâni ramayate.

> atîva--very much; su-lalita--beautiful; gati--with movements; vilâsa--by pastimes; vilasita--manifested; rucira--pleasing; hâsa-lesa--mild smiling; avaloka-lîlayâ--by playful glancing; kincit-uttambhita--slightly raised; sundara--beautiful; bhrû-mandala--by the eyebrows; subhaga--auspicious; vadana-aravinda-sriyâ--with His beautiful lotuslike face; ramâm--the goddess of fortune; ramayan--pleasing; indriyâni--all the senses; ramayate--He pleases.

> TRANSLATION

> In Ketumala-varsa, Lord Kamadeva [Pradyumna] moves very graciously. His mild smile is very beautiful, and when He increases the beauty of His face by slightly raising His eyebrows and glancing playfully, He pleases the goddess of fortune. Thus He enjoys His transcendental senses.

> *******

> TEXT 17

> tad bhagavato mâyâmayam rûpam parama-samâdhi-yogena ramâ devî

> samvatsarasya râtnsu prajâpater duhitrbhir upetâhahsu ca

> tad-bhartrbhir upâste idam codâharati.

> tat--that; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mâyâ-mayam--full of affection for the devotees; rûpam--form; parama--highest; samâdhi-yogena--by absorption of the mind in the service of the Lord; ramâ--the goddess of fortune; devî--divine woman; samvatsarasya--known as Samvatsara; râtrisu--during the nights; prajâpateh--of Prajâpati; duhitrbhih--with the daughters; upeta--combined; ahahsu--during the days; ca--also; tat-bhartrbhih--with the husbands; upâste--worships; idam--this; ca--also; udâharati--chants.

> TRANSLATION

> Accompanied during the daytime by the sons of the Prajapati [the predominating deities of the days] and accompanied at night by his daughters [the deities of the nights], Laksmidevi worships the Lord during the period known as the Samvatsara in His most merciful form as Kamadeva. Fully absorbed in devotional service, she chants the following mantras.

> *******

> TEXT 18

> om hrâm hrîm hrûm om namo bhagavate hrsîkesâya sarva-guna-visesair

> vilaksitâtmane âkûtînâm cittînâm cetasâm visesânâm câdhipataye

> sodasa-kalâya cchando-mayâyânna-mayâyâmrta-mayâya

> sarva-mayâya sahase ojase balâya kântâya kâmâya namas te ubhayatra

> bhûyât.

> om--O Lord; hrâm hrîm hrûm--the seeds of the mantra, chanted for a successful result; om--O Lord; namah--respectful obeisances; bhagavate--unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hrsîkesâya--unto Hrsîkesa, the Lord of the senses; sarva-guna--with all transcendental qualities; visesaih--with all varieties; vilaksita--particularly observed; âtmane--unto the soul of all living entities; âkûtînâm--of all kinds of activity; cittînâm--of all kinds of knowledge; cetasâm--of the functions of the mind, such as determination and mental effort; visesânâm--of their respective objects; ca--and; adhipataye--unto the master; sodasa-kalâya--whose parts are the sixteen original ingredients of creation (namely the five objects of the senses and the eleven senses, including the mind); chandah-mayâya--unto the enjoyer of all ritualistic ceremonies; anna-mayâya--who maintains all living entities by supplying the necessities of life; amrta-mayâya--who awards eternal life; sarva-mayâya--who is all-pervading; sahase--the powerful; ojase--who supplies strength to the senses; balâya--who supplies strength to the body; kântâya--the supreme husband or master of all living entities; kâmâya--who supplies all necessities for the devotees; namah--respectful obeisances; te--unto You; ubhayatra--always (during both day and night, or both in this life and the next); bhûyât--may there be all good fortune.

> TRANSLATION

> Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hrsikesa, the controller of all my senses and the origin of everything. As the supreme master of all bodily, mental and intellectual activities, He is the only enjoyer of their results. The five sense objects and eleven senses, including the mind, are His partial manifestations. He supplies all the necessities of life, which are His energy and thus nondifferent from Him, and He is the cause of everyone's bodily and mental prowess, which is also nondifferent from Him. Indeed, He is the husband and provider of necessities for all living entities. The purpose of all the Vedas is to worship Him. Therefore let us all offer Him our respectful obeisances. May He always be favorable toward us in this life and the next.

> *******

> TEXT 19

> striyo vratais tvâ hrsîkesvaram svato

> hy ârâdhya loke patim âsâsate 'nyam

> tâsâm na te vai paripânty apatyam

> priyam dhanâyûmsi yato 'sva-tantrâh

> striyah--all women; vrataih--by observing fasting and other vows; tvâ--you; hrsîkesvaram--the Supreme personality of Godhead, master of the senses; svatah--of your own accord; hi--certainly; ârâdhya--worshiping; loke--in the world; patim--a husband; âsâsate--ask for; anyam--another; tâsâm--of all those women; na--not; te--the husbands; vai--indeed; paripânti--able to protect; apatyam--the children; priyam--very dear; dhana--the wealth; âyûmsi--or the duration of life; yatah--because; asva-tantrâh--dependent.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear Lord, You are certainly the fully independent master of all the senses. Therefore all women who worship You by strictly observing vows because they wish to acquire a husband to satisfy their senses are surely under illusion. They do not know that such a husband cannot actually give protection to them or their children. Nor can he protect their wealth or duration of life, for he himself is dependent on time, fruitive results and the modes of nature, which are all subordinate to You.

> *******

> TEXT 20

> sa vai patih syâd akutobhayah svayam

> samantatah pâti bhayâturam janam

> sa eka evetarathâ mitho bhayam

> naivâtmalâbhâd adhi manyate param

> sah--he; vai--indeed; patih--a husband; syât--would be; akutah-bhayah--who is not fearful of anyone; svayam--self-sufficient; samantatah--entirely; pâti--maintains; bhaya-âturam--who is very afraid; janam--a person; sah--therefore he; ekah--one; eva--only; itarathâ--otherwise; mithah--from one another; bhayam--fear; na--not; eva--indeed; âtma-lâbhât--than the attainment of You; adhi--greater; manyate--is accepted; param--other thing.

> TRANSLATION

> He alone who is never afraid but who, on the contrary, gives complete shelter to all fearful persons can actually become a husband and protector. Therefore, my Lord, you are the only husband, and no one else can claim this position. If you were not the only husband, You would be afraid of others. Therefore persons learned in all Vedic literature accept only Your Lordship as everyone's master, and they think no one else a better husband and protector than You.

> *******

> TEXT 21

> yâ tasya te pâda-saroruhârhanam

> nikâmayet sâkhila-kâma-lampatâ

> tad eva râsîpsitam îpsito 'rcito

> yad-bhagna-yâcnâ bhagavan pratapyate

> yâ--a woman who; tasya--of Him; te--of You; pâda-saroruha--of the lotus feet; arhanam--the worship; nikâmayet--fully desires; sâ--such a woman; akhila-kâma-lampatâ--though maintaining all kinds of material desire; tat--that; eva--only; râsi--You award; îpsitam--some other desired benediction; ipsitah--being looked to for; arcitah--worshiped; yat--from which; bhagna-yâcnâ--one who desires objects other than Your lotus feet and who thus becomes broken; bhagavan--O my Lord; pratapyate--is pained.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear Lord, You automatically fulfill all the desires of a woman who worships Your lotus feet in pure love. However, if a woman worships Your lotus feet for a particular purpose, You also quickly fulfill her desires, but in the end she becomes broken-hearted and laments. Therefore one need not worship Your lotus feet for some material benefit.

> *******

> TEXT 22

> mat-prâptaye 'jesa-surâsurâdayas

> tapyanta ugram tapa aindriye dhiyah

> rte bhavat-pâda-parâyanân na mâm

> vindanty aham tvad-dhrdayâ yato 'jita

> mat-prâptaye--to obtain my mercy; aja--Lord Brahmâ; îsa--Lord Siva; sura--the other demigods, headed by King Indra, Candra and Varuna; asura-âdayah--as well as the demons; tapyante--undergo; ugram--severe; tapah--austerity; aindriye dhiyah--whose minds are absorbed in thoughts of superior sense gratification; rte--unless; bhavat-pâda-pârayanât--one who is wholly and solely engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord's lotus feet; na--not; mâm--me; vindanti--obtain; aham--I; tvat--in You; hrdayâh--whose hearts; yatah--therefore; ajita--O unconquerable one.

> TRANSLATION

> O supreme unconquerable Lord, when they become absorbed in thoughts of material enjoyment, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, as well as other demigods and demons, undergo severe penances and austerities to receive my benedictions. But I do not favor anyone, however great he may be; unless he is always engaged in the service of Your lotus feet. Because I always keep You within my heart, I cannot favor anyone but a devotee.

> *******

> TEXT 23

> sa tvam mamâpy acyuta sîrsni vanditam

> karâmbujam yat tvad-adhâyi sâtvatâm

> bibharsi mâm laksma varenya mâyayâ

> ka îsvarasyehitam ûhitum vibhur iti

> sah--that; tvam--You; mama--of me; api--also; acyuta--O infallible one; sîrsni--on the head; vanditam--worshiped; kara-ambujam--Your lotus hand; yat--which; tvat--by You; adhâyi--placed; sâtvatâm--on the head of the devotees; bibharsi--You maintain; mam--me; laksma--as an insignia on Your chest; varenya--O worshipable one; mâyayâ--with deceit; kah--who; îsvarasya--of the supremely powerful controller; îhitam--the desires; ûhitum--to understand by reason and argument; vibhuh--is able; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> O infallible one, Your lotus palm is the source of all benediction. Therefore Your pure devotees worship it, and You very mercifully place Your hand on their heads. I wish that You may also place Your hand on My head, for although You already bear my insignia of golden streaks on Your chest, I regard this honor as merely a kind of false prestige for me. You show Your real mercy to Your devotees, not to me. Of course, You are the supreme absolute controller, and no one can understand Your motives.

> *******

> TEXT 24

> ramyake ca bhagavatah priyatamam mâtsyam avatâra-rûpam

> tad-varsa-purusasya manoh prâk-pradarsitam sa idânîm api mahatâ

> bhaktiyogenârâdhayatîdam codâharati.

> ramyake ca--also in Ramyaka-varsa; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; priya-tamam--the foremost; mâtsyam--fish; avatâra-rûpam--the form of the incarnation; tat-varsa-purusasya--of the ruler of that land; manoh--Manu; prâk--previously (at the end of the Câksusa-manvantara); pradarsitam--exhibited; sah--that Manu; idânîm api--even until now; mahatâ bhakti-yogena--by dint of advanced devotional service; ârâdhayati--worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead; idam--this; ca--and; udâharati--chants.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami continued: In Ramyaka-varsa, where Vaivasvata Manu rules, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Lord Matsya at the end of the last era [the Caksusa-manvantara]. Vaivasvata Manu now worships Lord Matsya in pure devotional service and chants the following mantra.

> *******

> TEXT 25

> om namo bhagavate mukhyatamâya namah sattvâya prânâyaujase

> sahase balâya mahâ-matsyâya nama iti.

> om--O my Lord; namah--respectful obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mukhya-tamâya--the first incarnation to appear; namah--my respectful obeisances; sattvâya--unto the pure transcendence; prânâya--the origin of life; ojase--the source of the potency of the senses; sahase--the origin of all mental power; balâya--the origin of bodily strength; mahâ-matsyâya--unto the gigantic fish incarnation; namah--respectful obeisances; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is pure transcendence. He is the origin of all life, bodily strength, mental power and sensory ability. Known as Matsyavatara, the gigantic fish incarnation, He appears first among all the incarnations. Again I offer my obeisances unto Him.

> *******

> TEXT 26

> antar bahis câkhila-loka-pâlakair

> adrsta-rûpo vicarasy uru-svanah

> sa îsvaras tvam ya idam vase 'nayan

> nâmnâ yathâ dârumayîm narah striyam

> antah--within; bahih--without; ca--also; akhila-loka-pâlakaih--by the leaders of the different planets, societies, kingdoms and so on; adrsta-rûpah--not seen; vicarasi--You wander; uru--very great; svanah--whose sounds (Vedic mantras); sah--He; îsvarah--the supreme controller; tvam--You; yah--who; idam--this; vase--under control; anayat--has brought; nâmnâ--by different names like brâhmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sûdra; yathâ--exactly like; dârumayîm--made of wood; narah--a man; striyam--a doll.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear Lord, just as a puppeteer controls his dancing dolls and a husband controls his wife, Your Lordship controls all the living entities in the universe, such as the brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. Although You are in everyone's heart as the supreme witness and commander and are outside everyone as well, the so-called leaders of societies, communities and countries cannot realize You. Only those who hear the vibration of the Vedic mantras can appreciate You.

> *******

> TEXT 27

> yam loka-pâlâh kila matsara jvarâ

> hitvâ yatanto 'pi prthak sametya ca

> pâtum na sekur dvi-padas catus-padah

> sarîsrpam sthânu yad atra drsyate

> yam--whom (You); loka-pâlâh--the great leaders of the universe, beginning with Lord Brahmâ; kila--what to speak of others; matsara-jvarâh--who are suffering from the fever of envy; hitvâ--leaving aside; yatantah--endeavoring; api--although; prthak--separately; sametya--combined; ca--also; pâtum--to protect; na--not; sekuh--able; dvi-padah--two-legged; catuh-padah--four-legged; sarîsrpam--reptiles; sthânu--not moving; yat--whatever; atra--within this material world; drsyate--is visible.

> TRANSLATION

> My Lord, from the great leaders of the universe, such as Lord Brahma and other demigods, down to the political leaders of this world, all are envious of Your authority. Without Your help, however, they could neither separately nor concertedly maintain the innumerable living entities within the universe. You are actually the only maintainer of all human beings, of animals like cows and asses, and of plants, reptiles, birds, mountains and whatever else is visible within this material world.

> *******

> TEXT 28

> bhavân yugântârnava ûrmi-mâlini

> ksonîm imâm osadhi-vîrudhâm nidhim

> mayâ sahoru kramate 'ja ojasâ

> tasmai jagat-prâna-ganâtmane nama iti

> bhavân--Your Lordship; yuga-anta-arnave--in the water of devastation at the end of the millennium; ûrmi-mâlini--possessing rows of big waves; ksonîm--the planet earth; imâm--this; osadhi-vîrudhâm--of all kinds of herbs and drugs; nidhim--the storehouse; mayâ--me; saha--with; uru--great; kramate--You roamed; aja--O unborn one; ojasâ--with speed; tasmai--unto Him; jagat--of the entire universe; prâna-gana-âtmane--the ultimate source of life; namah--my respectful obeisances; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> O almighty Lord, at the end of the millennium this planet earth, which is the source of all kinds of herbs, drugs and trees, was inundated by water and drowned beneath the devastating waves. At that time, You protected me along with the earth and roamed the sea with great speed. O unborn one, You are the actual maintainer of the entire universal creation, and therefore You are the cause of all living entities. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

> *******

> TEXT 29

> hiranmaye 'pi bhagavân nivasati kûrma-tanum bibhrânas tasya tat

> priyatamâm tanum aryamâ saha varsa-purusaih pitr-ganâdhipatir

> upadhâvati mantram imam cânujapati.

> hiranmaye--in Hiranmaya-varsa; api--indeed; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nivasati--resides; kûrma-tanum--the body of a tortoise; bibhrânah--manifesting; tasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat--that; priya-tamâm--dearmost; tanum--body; aryamâ--Aryamâ, the chief resident of Hiranmaya-varsa; saha--with; varsa-purusaih--the people of that tract of land; pitr-gana-adhipatih--who is the chief of the pitâs; upadhâvati--worships in devotional service; mantram--hymn; imam--this; ca--also; anujapati--chants.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami continued: In Hiranmaya-varsa, the Supreme Lord, Visnu, lives in the form of a tortoise [kurma-sarira]. This most dear and beautiful form is always worshiped there in devotional service by Aryama, the chief resident of Hiranmaya-varsa, along with the other inhabitants of that land. They chant the following hymns.

> *******

> TEXT 30

> om namo bhagavate akûpârâya sarva-sattva-guna-visesanâyânu-

> palaksita-sthânâya namo varsmane namo bhûmne namo namo

> 'vasthânâya namas te.

> om--O my Lord; namah--respectful obeisances; bhagavate--unto You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akûpârâya--in the form of a tortoise; sarva-sattva-guna-visesanâya--whose form consists of suddha-sattva, transcendental goodness; anupalaksita-sthânâya--unto You, whose position is not discernible; namah--my respectful obeisances; varsmane--unto You who, although the oldest, are unaffected by time; namah--my respectful obeisances; bhûmne--to the great one who can go everywhere; namah namah--repeated obeisances; avasthânâya--the shelter of everything; namah--respectful obeisances; te--unto You.

> TRANSLATION

> O my Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who have assumed the form of a tortoise. You are the reservoir of all transcendental qualities, and being entirely untinged by matter, You are perfectly situated in pure goodness. You move here and there in the water, but no one can discern Your position. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Because of Your transcendental position, You are not limited by past, present and future. You are present everywhere as the shelter of all things, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You again and again.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> yad-rûpam etan nija-mâyayârpitam

> artha-svarûpam bahu-rûpa-rûpitam

> sankhyâ na yasyâsty ayathopalambhanât

> tasmai namas te 'vyapadesa-rûpine

> yat--of whom; rûpam--the form; etat--this; nija-mâyayâ arpitam--manifested by Your personal potency; artha-svarûpam--this entire visible cosmic manifestation; bahu-rûpa-rûpitam--manifested in various forms; sankhyâ--the measurement; na--not; yasya--of which; asti--there is; ayathâ--falsely; upalambhanât--from perceiving; tasmai--unto Him (the Supreme Lord); namah--my respectful obeisances; te--unto You; avyapadesa--cannot be ascertained by mental speculation; rûpine--whose real form.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear Lord, this visible cosmic manifestation is a demonstration of Your own creative energy. Since the countless varieties of forms within this cosmic manifestation are simply a display of Your external energy, this virata-rupa [universal body] is not Your real form. Except for a devotee in transcendental consciousness, no one can perceive Your actual form. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

> *******

> TEXT 32

> jarâyujam svedajam andajodbhidam

> carâcaram devarsi-pitr-bhûtam aindriyam

> dyauh kham ksitih saila-sarit-samudra-

> dvîpa-graharksety abhidheya ekah

> jarâyu jam--one born from a womb; sveda jam--one born from perspiration; anda ja--one born from an egg; udbhidam--one born of the earth; cara-acaram--the moving and the stationary; deva--the demigods; rsi--the great sages; pitr--the inhabitants of Pitrloka; bhûtam--the material elements air, fire, water and earth; aindriyam--all the senses; dyauh--the higher planetary systems; kham--the sky; ksitih--the earthly planets; saila--the hills and mountains; sarit--the rivers; samudra--the oceans; dvîpa--the islands; graha-rksa--the stars and planets; iti--thus; abhidheyah--to be variously named; ekah--one.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear Lord, You manifest Your different energies in countless forms: as living entities born from wombs, from eggs and from perspiration; as plants and trees that grow out of the earth; as all living entities, both moving and standing, including the demigods, the learned sages and the pitas; as outer space, as the higher planetary system containing the heavenly planets, and as the planet earth with its hills, rivers, seas, oceans and islands. Indeed, all the stars and planets are simply manifestations of Your different energies, but originally You are one without a second. Therefore there is nothing beyond You. This entire cosmic manifestation is therefore not false but is simply a temporary manifestation of Your inconceivable energy.

> *******

> TEXT 33

> yasminn asankhyeya-visesa-nâma-

> rûpâkrtau kavibhih kalpiteyam

> sankhyâ yayâ tattva-drsâpanîyate

> tasmai namah sânkhya-nidarsanâya te iti

> yasmin--in You (the Supreme personality of Godhead); asankhyeya--innumerable; visesa--particular; nâma--names; rûpa--forms; âkrtau--possessing bodily features; kavibhih--by great learned persons; kalpitâ--imagined; iyam--this; sankhyâ--number; yayâ--by whom; tattva--of the truth; drsâ--by knowledge; apanîyate--is extracted; tasmai--unto Him; namah--respectful obeisances; sânkhya-nidarsanâya--who is the revealer of this numerical knowledge; te--unto You; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> O my Lord, Your name, form and bodily features are expanded in countless forms. No one can determine exactly how many forms exist, yet You Yourself, in Your incarnation as the learned scholar Kapiladeva, have analyzed the cosmic manifestation as containing twenty-four elements. Therefore if one is interested in Sankhya philosophy, by which one can enumerate the different truths, he must hear it from You. Unfortunately, nondevotees simply count the different elements and remain ignorant of Your actual form. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

> *******

> TEXT 34

> uttaresu ca kurusu bhagavân yajna-purusah krta-varâha-rûpa âste

> tam tu devî haisâ bhûh saha kurubhir askhalita-bhakti-yogenopadhâ-

> vati imâm ca paramâm upanisadam âvartayati.

> uttaresu--on the northern side; ca--also; kurusu--in the tract of land known as Kuru; bhagavân--the Supreme personality of Godhead; yajna-purusah--who accepts all results of sacrifices; krta-varâha-rûpah--having accepted the form of a boar; âste--exists eternally; tam--Him; tu--certainly; devî--the goddess; ha--certainly; esâ--this; bhûh--planet earth; saha--along with; kurubhih--the inhabitants of the land known as Kuru; askhalita--unfailing; bhakti-yogena--by devotional service; upadhâvati--worship; imâm--this; ca--also; paramâm upanisadam--the supreme Upanisad (the process by which one can approach the Lord); âvartayati--chants again and again for the purpose of practice.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami said: Dear King, the Supreme Lord in His boar incarnation, who accepts all sacrificial offerings, lives in the northern part of Jambudvipa. There, in the tract of land known as Uttarakuru-varsa, mother earth and all the other inhabitants worship Him with unfailing devotional service by repeatedly chanting the following Upanisad mantra.

> *******

> TEXT 35

> om namo bhagavate mantra-tattva-lingâya yajna-kratave

> mahâ-dhvarâvayavâya mahâ-purusâya namah karma-suklâya tri-yugâya

> namas te.

> om--O Lord; namah--respectful obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme personality of Godhead; mantra-tattva-lingâya--who is understood in truth by different mantras; yajna--in the form of animal sacrifices; kratave--and animal sacrifice; mahâ-dhvara--great sacrifices; avayavâya--whose limbs and bodily parts; mahâ-purusâya--unto the Supreme Person; namah--respectful obeisances; karma-suklâya--who purifies the fruitive activities of the living entities; tri-yugâya--unto the Supreme personality of Godhead, who is full with six opulences and who appears in three yugas (remaining concealed in the fourth yuga); namah--my respectful obeisances; te--unto You.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You as the gigantic person. Simply by chanting mantras, we shall be able to understand You fully. You are yajna [sacrifice], and You are the kratu [ritual]. Therefore all the ritualistic ceremonies of sacrifice are part of Your transcendental body, and You are the only enjoyer of all sacrifices. Your form is composed of transcendental goodness. You are known as tri-yuga because in Kali-yuga You appeared as a concealed incarnation and because You always fully possess the three pairs of opulences.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> yasya svarûpam kavayo vipascito

> gunesu dârusv iva jâta-vedasam

> mithnanti mathnâ manasâ didrksavo

> gûdham kriyârthair nama îritâtmane

> yasya--whose; sva-rûpam--form; kavayah--the greatly learned sages; vipascitah--expert in ascertaining the Absolute Truth; gunesu--in the material manifestation, consisting of the three modes of nature; dârusu--in wood; iva--like; jâta--manifested; vedasam--fire; mithnanti--stir; mathnâ--with a piece of wood used for producing fire; manasâ--by the mind; didrksavah--who are inquisitive; gûdham--hidden; kriyâ-arthaih--by fruitive activities and their results; namah--respectful obeisances; îrita-âtmane--unto the Lord, who is manifested.

> TRANSLATION

> By manipulating a fire-generating stick, great saints and sages can bring forth the fire lying dormant within wood. In the same way, O Lord, those expert in understanding the Absolute Truth try to see You in everything--even in their own bodies. Yet you remain concealed. You are not to be understood by indirect processes involving mental or physical activities. Because You are self-manifested, only when You see that a person is wholeheartedly engaged in searching for You do You reveal Yourself. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

> *******

> TEXT 37

> dravya-kriyâ-hetv-ayanesa-kartrbhir

> mâyâ-gunair vastu-nirîksitâtmane

> anvîksayângâtisayâtma-buddhibhir

> nirasta-mâyâkrtaye namo namah

> dravya--by the objects of sense enjoyment; kriyâ--the activities of the senses; hetu--the predominating deities of sensory activities; ayana--the body; îsa--the predominating time; kartrbhih--by false egotism; mâyâ-gunaih--by the modes of material nature; vastu--as a fact; nirîksita--being observed; âtmane--unto the Supreme Soul; anvîksayâ--by careful consideration; anga--by the limbs of yogic practice; atisaya-âtma-buddhibhih--by those whose intelligence has become fixed; nirasta--completely freed from; mâyâ--the illusory energy; âkrtaye--whose form; namah--all respectful obeisances; namah--respectful obeisances.

> TRANSLATION

> The objects of material enjoyment [sound, form, taste, touch and smell], the activities of the senses, the controllers of sensory activities [the demigods], the body, eternal time and egotism are all creations of Your material energy. Those whose intelligence has become fixed by perfect execution of mystic yoga can see that all these elements result from the actions of Your external energy. They can also see Your transcendental form as Supersoul in the background of everything. Therefore I repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

> *******

> TEXT 38

> karoti visva-sthiti-samyamodayam

> yasyepsitam nepsitam îksitur gunaih

> mâyâ yathâyo bhramate tad-âsrayam

> grâvno namas te guna-karma-sâksine

> karoti--performing; visva--of the universe; sthiti--the maintenance; samyama--winding up; udayam--creation; yasya--of whom; îpsitam--desired; na--not; îpsitam--desired; îksituh--of the one glancing over; gunaih--with the modes of material nature; mâyâ--the material energy; yathâ--as much as; ayah--iron; bhramate--moves; tat-âsrayam--placed near that; grâvnah--a magnetic stone; namah--my respectful obeisances; te--unto You; guna-karma-sâksine--the witness of the actions and reactions of material nature.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, You do not desire the creation, maintenance or annihilation of this material world, but You perform these activities for the conditioned souls by Your creative energy. Exactly as a piece of iron moves under the influence of a lodestone, inert matter moves when You glance over the total material energy.

> *******

> TEXT 39

> pramathya daityam prativâranam mrdhe

> yo mâm rasâyâ jagad-âdi-sûkarah

> krtvâgra-damstre niragâd udanvatah

> krîdann ivebhah pranatâsmi tam vibhum iti

> pramathya--after killing; daityam--the demon; prativâranam--most formidable opponent; mrdhe--in the fight; yah--He who; mâm--me (the earth); rasâyâh--fallen to the bottom of the universe; jagat--in this material world; âdi-sûkarah--the original form of a boar; krtvâ--keeping it; agra-damstre--on the end of the tusk; niragât--came out of the water; udanvatah--from the Garbhodaka Ocean; krîdan--playing; iva--like; ibhah--elephant; pranatâ asmi--I bow down; tam--to Him; vibhum--the Supreme Lord; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> My Lord, as the original boar within this universe, You fought and killed the great demon Hiranyaksa. Then You lifted me [the earth] from the Garbhodaka Ocean on the end of Your tusk, exactly as a sporting elephant plucks a lotus flower from the water. I bow down before You.

> > Back to the running text