> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 1
> > 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 1: 'Creation'

> > ******

> > Chapter One: Questions by the Sages

> > TEXT 1

> > om namo bhagavate vâsudevâya

> > janmâdy asya yato 'nvayâd itaratas' cârtheshv abhijn'ah svarâth

> > tene brahma hridâ ya âdi-kavaye muhyanti yat sûrayah

> > tejo-vâri-mridâm yathâ vinimayo yatra tri-sargo 'mrishâ

> > dhâmnâ svena sadâ nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhîmahi

> > om--O my Lord; namah--offering my obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Personality of Godhead; vâsudevâya--unto Vâsudeva (the son of Vasudeva), or Lord S'rî Krishna, the primeval Lord; janma-âdi--creation, sustenance and destruction; asya--of the manifested universes; yatah--from whom; anvayât--directly; itaratah--indirectly; ca--and; artheshu--purposes; abhijn'ah--fully cognizant; sva-râth--fully independent; tene--imparted; brahma--the Vedic knowledge; hridâ--consciousness of the heart; yah--one who; âdi-kavaye--unto the original created being; muhyanti--are illusioned; yat--about whom; sûrayah--great sages and demigods; tejah--fire; vâri--water; mridâm--earth; yathâ--as much as; vinimayah--action and reaction; yatra--whereupon; tri-sargah--three modes of creation, creative faculties; amrishâ--almost factual; dhâmnâ--along with all transcendental paraphernalia; svena--self-sufficiently; sadâ--always; nirasta--negation by absence; kuhakam--illusion; satyam--truth; param--absolute; dhîmahi--I do meditate upon.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O my Lord, S'rî Krishna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord S'rî Krishna because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmâjî, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord S'rî Krishna, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarânâm satâm

> > vedyam vâstavam atra vastu s'ivadam tâpa-trayonmûlanam

> > s'rîmad-bhâgavate mahâ-muni-krite kim vâ parair îs'varah

> > sadyo hridy avarudhyate 'tra kritibhih s'us'rûshubhis tat-kshanât

> > dharmah--religiosity; projjhita--completely rejected; kaitavah--covered by fruitive intention; atra--herein; paramah--the highest; nirmatsarânâm--of the one-hundred-percent pure in heart; satâm--devotees; vedyam--understandable; vâstavam--factual; atra--herein; vastu--substance; s'ivadam--well-being; tâpa-traya--threefold miseries; unmûlanam--causing uprooting of; s'rîmat--beautiful; bhâgavate--the Bhâgavata Purâna; mahâ-muni--the great sage (Vyâsadeva); krite--having compiled; kim--what is; vâ--the need; paraih--others; îs'varah--the Supreme Lord; sadyah--at once; hridi--within the heart; avarudhyate--become compact; atra--herein; kritibhih--by the pious men; s'us'rûshubhih--by culture; tat-kshanât--without delay.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhâgavata Purâna propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhâgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyâsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhâgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam

> > s'uka-mukhâd amrita-drava-samyutam

> > pibata bhâgavatam rasam âlayam

> > muhur aho rasikâ bhuvi bhâvukâh

> > nigama--the Vedic literatures; kalpa-taroh--the desire tree; galitam--fully matured; phalam--fruit; s'uka--S'rîla S'ukadeva Gosvâmî, the original speaker of S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam; mukhât--from the lips of; amrita--nectar; drava--semisolid and soft and therefore easily swallowable; samyutam--perfect in all respects; pibata--do relish it; bhâgavatam--the book dealing in the science of the eternal relation with the Lord; rasam--juice (that which is relishable); âlayam--until liberation, or even in a liberated condition; muhuh--always; aho--O; rasikâh--those who are full in the knowledge of mellows; bhuvi--on the earth; bhâvukâh--expert and thoughtful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O expert and thoughtful men, relish S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > naimishe 'nimisha-kshetre

> > rishayah s'aunakâdayah

> > satram svargâya lokâya

> > sahasra-samam âsata

> > naimishe--in the forest known as Naimishâranya; animisha-kshetre--the spot which is especially a favorite of Vishnu (who does not close His eyelids); rishayah--sages; s'aunaka-âdayah--headed by the sage S'aunaka; satram--sacrifice; svargâya--the Lord who is glorified in heaven; lokâya--and for the devotees who are always in touch with the Lord; sahasra--one thousand;samam--years; âsata--performed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once, in a holy place in the forest of Naimishâranya, great sages headed by the sage S'aunaka assembled to perform a great thousand-year sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Lord and His devotees.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > ta ekadâ tu munayah

> > prâtar huta-hutâgnayah

> > sat-kritam sûtam âsînam

> > papracchur idam âdarât

> > te--the sages; ekadâ--one day; tu--but; munayah--sages; prâtah--morning; huta--burning; huta-agnayah--the sacrificial fire; sat-kritam--due respects; sûtam--S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî; âsînam--seated on; papracchuh--made inquiries; idam--on this (as follows); âdarât--with due regards.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to S'rîla Sûta Gosvâmî, the great sages made inquiries, with great respect, about the following matters.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > rishaya ûcuh

> > tvayâ khalu purânâni

> > setihâsâni cânagha

> > âkhyâtâny apy adhîtâni

> > dharma-s'âs'trâni yâny uta

> > rishayah--the sages; ûcuh--said; tvayâ--by you; khalu--undoubtedly; purânâni--the supplements to the Vedas with illustrative narrations; sa-itihâsâni--along with the histories; ca--and; anagha--freed from all vices; âkhyâtâni--explained; api--although; adhîtâni--well read; dharma-s'âstrâni--scriptures giving right directions to progressive life; yâni--all these; uta--said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sages said: Respected Sûta Gosvâmî, you are completely free from all vice. You are well versed in all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in the Purânas and the histories as well, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > yâni veda-vidâm sreshthho

> > bhagavân bâdarâyanah

> > anye ca munayah sûta

> > parâvara-vido viduh

> > yâni--all that; veda-vidâm--scholars of the Vedas; s'reshthhah--seniormost; bhagavân--incarnation of Godhead; bâdarâyanah--Vyâsadeva; anye--others; ca--and; munayah--the sages; sûta--O Sûta Gosvâmî; parâvara-vidah--amongst the learned scholars, one who is conversant with physical and metaphysical knowledge; viduh--one who knows.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Being the eldest learned Vedantist, O Sûta Gosvâmî, you are acquainted with the knowledge of Vyâsadeva, who is the incarnation of Godhead, and you also know other sages who are fully versed in all kinds of physical and metaphysical knowledge.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > vettha tvam saumya tat samam

> > tattvatas tad-anugrahât

> > brûyuh snigdhasya s'ishyasya

> > guravo guhyam apy uta

> > vettha--you are well conversant; tvam--Your Honor; saumya--one who is pure and simple; tat--those; sarvam--all; tattvatah--in fact; tat--their; anugrahât--by the favor of; brûyuh--will tell; snigdhasya--of the one who is submissive; s'ishyasya--of the disciple; guravah--the spiritual masters; guhyam--secret; api uta--endowed with.

> > TRANSLATION

> > And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed you with all the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple. Therefore you can tell us all that you have scientifically learned from them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > tatra tatrân'jasâyushman

> > bhavatâ yad vinis'citam

> > pumsâm ekântatah s'reyas

> > tan nah s'amsitum arhasi

> > tatra--thereof; tatra--thereof; an'jasâ--made easy; âyushman--blessed with a long duration of life; bhavatâ--by your good self; yat--whatever; vinis'citam--ascertained; pumsâm--for the people in general; ekântatah--absolutely; s'reyah--ultimate good; tat--that; nah--to us; s'amsitum--to explain; arhasi--deserve.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Please, therefore, being blessed with many years, explain to us, in an easily understandable way, what you have ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > prâyenâlpâyushah sabhya

> > kalâv asmin yuge janâh

> > mandâh sumanda-matayo

> > manda-bhâgyâ hy upadrutâh

> > prayena--almost always; alpa--meager; âyushah--duration of life; sabhya--member of a learned society; kalau--in this age of Kali (quarrel); asmin--herein; yuge--age; janâh--the public; mandâh--lazy; sumanda-matayah--misguided; manda-bhâgyâh--unlucky; hi--and above all; upadrutâh--disturbed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > bhûrîni bhûri-karmâni

> > s'rotavyâni vibhâgas'ah

> > atah sâdho 'tra yat sâram

> > samuddhritya manîshayâ

> > brûhi bhadrâya bhûtânâm

> > yenâtmâ suprasîdati

> > bhûrîni--multifarious; bhûrî--many; karmâni--duties; s'rotavyâni--to be learned; vibhâgas'ah--by divisions of subject matter; atah--therefore; sâdho--O sage; atra--herein; yat--whatever; sâram--essence; samuddhritya--by selection; manîshayâ--best to your knowledge; bruhi--please tell us; bhadraya--for the good of; bhûtânâm--the living beings; yena--by which; âtmâ--the self; suprasîdati--becomes fully satisfied.

> > TRANSLATION

> > There are many varieties of scriptures, and in all of them there are many prescribed duties, which can be learned only after many years of study in their various divisions. Therefore, O sage, please select the essence of all these scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings, that by such instruction their hearts may be fully satisfied.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > sûta jânâsi bhadram te

> > bhagavân sâtvatâm patih

> > devakyâm vasudevasya

> > jâto yasya cikîrshayâ

> > sûta--O Sûta Gosvâmî; jânâsi--you know; bhadram te--all blessings upon you; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; sâtvatâm--of the pure devotees; patih--the protector; devakyâm--in the womb of Devakî; vasudevasya--by Vasudeva; jâtah--born of; yasya--for the purpose of; cikîrshayâ--executing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All blessings upon you, O Sûta Gosvâmî. You know for what purpose the Personality of Godhead appeared in the womb of Devakî as the son of Vasudeva.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > tan nah s'us'rûshamânânâm

> > arhasy angânuvarnitum

> > yasyâvatâro bhûtânâm

> > kshemâya ca bhavâya ca

> > tat--those; nah--unto us; s'us'rûshamânânâm--those who are endeavoring for; arhasi--ought to do it; anga--O Sûta Gosvâmî; anuvarnitum--to explain by following in the footsteps of previous âcâryas; yasya--whose; avatârah--incarnation; bhûtânâm--of the living beings; kshemâya--for good; ca--and; bhavâya--upliftment; ca--and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Sûta Gosvâmî, we are eager to learn about the Personality of Godhead and His incarnations. Please explain to us those teachings imparted by previous masters [âcâryas], for one is uplifted both by speaking them and by hearing them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > âpannah samsritim ghorâm

> > yan-nâma vivas'o grinan

> > tatah sadyo vimucyeta

> > yad bibheti svayam bhayam

> > âpannah--being entangled; samsritim--in the hurdle of birth and death; ghorâm--too complicated; yat--what; nâma--the absolute name; vivas'ah--unconsciously; grinan--chanting; tatah--from that; sadyah--at once; vimucyeta--gets freedom; yat--that which; bibheti--fears; svayam--personally; bhayam--fear itself.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krishna, which is feared by fear personified.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > yat-pâda-sams'rayâh sûta

> > munayah pras'amâyanâh

> > sadyah punanty upasprishthâh

> > svardhuny-âpo 'nusevayâ

> > yat--whose; pâda--lotus feet; sams'rayâh--those who have taken shelter of; sûta--O Sûta Gosvâmî; munayah--great sages; pras'amâyanâh--absorbed in devotion to the Supreme; sadyah--at once; punanti--sanctify; upasprishthâh--simply by association; svardhuni--of the sacred Ganges; âpah--water; anusevayâ--bringing into use.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Sûta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > ko vâ bhagavatas tasya

> > punya-s'lokedya-karmanah

> > s'uddhi-kâmo na s'rinuyâd

> > yas'ah kali-malâpaham

> > kah--who; vâ--rather; bhagavatah--of the Lord; tasya--His; punya--virtuous; s'loka-îdya--worshipable by prayers; karmanah--deeds; s'uddhi-kâmah--desiring deliverance from all sins; na--not; s'rinuyât--does hear; yas'ah--glories; kali--of the age of quarrel; mala-apaham--the agent for sanctification.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Who is there, desiring deliverance from the vices of the age of quarrel, who is not willing to hear the virtuous glories of the Lord?

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > tasya karmâny udârâni

> > parigîtâni sûribhih

> > brûhi nah s'raddadhânânâm

> > lîlayâ dadhatah kalâh

> > tasya--His; karmâni--transcendental acts; udârâni--magnanimous; parigîtâni--broadcast; sûribhih--by the great souls; brûhi--please speak; nah--unto us; s'raddadhânânâm--ready to receive with respect; lîlayâ--pastimes; dadhatah--advented; kalâh--incarnations.

> > TRANSLATION

> > His transcendental acts are magnificent and gracious, and great learned sages like Nârada sing of them. Please, therefore, speak to us, who are eager to hear about the adventures He performs in His various incarnations.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > athâkhyâhi harer dhîmann

> > avatâra-kathâh s'ubhâh

> > lîlâ vidadhatah svairam

> > îs'varasyâtma-mâyayâ

> > atha--therefore; âkhyâhi--describe; hareh--of the Lord; dhimân--O sagacious one; avatâra--incarnations; kathâh--narratives; s'ubhâh--auspicious; lîlâ--adventures; vidadhatah--performed; svairam--pastimes; îs'varasya--of the supreme controller; âtma--personal; mâyayâ--energies.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O wise Sûta, please narrate to us the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Godhead's multi-incarnations. Such auspicious adventures and pastimes of the Lord, the supreme controller, are performed by His internal powers.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > vayam tu na vitripyâma

> > uttama-s'loka-vikrame

> > yac-chrinvatâm rasa jn'ânâm

> > svâdu svâdu pade pade

> > vayam--we; tu--but; na--not; vitripyâmah--shall be at rest; uttama-s'loka--the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by transcendental prayers; vikrame--adventures; yat--which; s'rinvatâm--by continuous hearing; rasa--humor; jn'ânâm--those who are conversant with; svâdu--relishing; svâdu--palatable; pade pade--at every step.

> > TRANSLATION

> > We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing of His pastimes at every moment.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > kritavân kila karmâni

> > saha râmena kes'avah

> > atimartyâni bhagavân

> > gûdhah kapatha-mânushah

> > kritavân--done by; kila--what; karmâni--acts; saha--along with; râmena--Balarâma; kes'avah--S'rî Krishna; atimartyâni--superhuman; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; gûdhah--masked as; kapatha--apparently; mânushah--human being.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord S'rî Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarâma, played like a human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > kalim âgatam âjn'âya

> > kshetre 'smin vaishnave vayam

> > âsinâ dîrgha-satrena

> > kathâyâm sakshanâ hareh

> > kalim--the age of Kali (iron age of quarrel); âgatam--having arrived; âjn'âya--knowing this; kshetre--in this tract of land; asmin--in this; vaishnave--specially meant for the devotee of the Lord; vayam--we; âsînâh--seated; dîrgha--prolonged; satrena--for performance of sacrifices; kathâyâm--in the words of; sa-kshanâh--with time at our disposal; hareh--of the Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Knowing well that the age of Kali has already begun, we are assembled here in this holy place to hear at great length the transcendental message of Godhead and in this way perform sacrifice.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > tvam nah sandars'ito dhâtrâ

> > dustaram nistitîrshatâm

> > kalim sattva-haram pumsâm

> > karna-dhâra ivârnavam

> > tvam--Your Goodness; nah--unto us; sandars'itah--meeting; dhâtrâ--by providence; dustaram--insurmountable; nistitîrshatâm--for those desiring to cross over; kalim--the age of Kali; sattva-haram--that which deteriorates the good qualities; pumsâm--of a man; karna-dhârah--captain; iva--as; arnavam--the ocean.

> > TRANSLATION

> > We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > brûhi yoges'vare krishne

> > brahmanye dharma-varmani

> > svâm kâshthhâm adhunopete

> > dharmah kam s'aranam gatah

> > brûhi--please tell; yoga-îs'vare--the Lord of all mystic powers; krishne--Lord Krishna; brahmanye--the Absolute Truth; dharma--religion; varmani--protector; svâm--own; kâshthhâm--abode; adhunâ--nowadays; upete--having gone away; dharmah--religion; kam--unto whom; s'aranam--shelter; gatah--gone.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Since S'rî Krishna, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us to whom the religious principles have now gone for shelter.

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