> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 8
> > 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 8: 'Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations'

> > ****

> > Chapter Twenty-three: The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Planets

> > *****

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > ity uktavantam purusam purâtanam

> > mahânubhâvo 'khila-sâdhu-sammatah

> > baddhânjalir bâspa-kalâkuleksano

> > bhakty-utkalo gadgadayâ girâbravît

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti--thus; uktavantam--upon the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purusam--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purâtanam--the oldest of everyone; mahâ-anubhâvah--Bali Mahârâja, who was a great and exalted soul; akhila-sâdhu-sammatah--as approved by all saintly persons; baddha-anjalih--with folded hands; bâspa-kala-âkula-îksanah--whose eyes were filled with tears; bhakti-utkalah--full of ecstatic devotion; gadgadayâ--which were faltering in devotional ecstasy; girâ--by such words; abravît--said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: When the supreme, ancient, eternal Personality of Godhead had thus spoken to Bali Maharaja, who is universally accepted as a pure devotee of the Lord and therefore a great soul, Bali Maharaja, his eyes filled with tears, his hands folded and his voice faltering in devotional ecstasy, responded as follows.

> > *****

> > TEXT 2

> > srî-balir uvâca

> > aho pranâmâya krtah samudyamah

> > prapanna-bhaktârtha-vidhau samâhitah

> > yal loka-pâlais tvad-anugraho 'marair

> > alabdha-pûrvo 'pasade 'sure 'rpitah

> > srî-balih uvâca--Bali Mahârâja said; aho--alas; pranâmâya--to offer my respectful obeisances; krtah--I did; samudyamah--only an endeavor; prapanna-bhakta-artha-vidhau--in the regulative principles observed by pure devotees; samâhitah--is capable; yat--that; loka-pâlaih--by the leaders of various planets; tvat-anugrahah--Your causeless mercy; amaraih--by the demigods; alabdha-pûrvah--not achieved previously; apasade--unto a fallen person like me; asure--belonging to the asura community; arpitah--endowed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bali Maharaja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to offer respectful obeisances to You! I merely endeavored to offer You obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those of pure devotees. The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen demon, was never achieved even by the demigods or the leaders of the various planets.

> > *****

> > TEXT 3

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > ity uktvâ harim ânatya

> > brahmânam sabhavam tatah

> > vivesa sutalam prîto

> > balir muktah sahâsuraih

> > srî sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti uktvâ--saying this; harim--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; ânatya--offering obeisances; brahmânam--unto Lord Brahmâ; sa-bhavam--with Lord Siva; tatah--thereafter; vivesa--he entered; sutalam--the planet Sutala; prîtah--being fully satisfied; balih--Bali Mahârâja; muktah--thus released; saha asuraih--with his asura associates.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After speaking in this way, Bali Maharaja offered his obeisances first to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and then to Lord Brahma and Lord Siva. Thus he was released from the bondage of the naga-pasa [the ropes of Varuna], and in full satisfaction he entered the planet known as Sutala.

> > *****

> > TEXT 4

> > evam indrâya bhagavân

> > pratyânîya trivistapam

> > pûrayitvâditeh kâmam

> > asâsat sakalam jagat

> > evam--in this way; indrâya--unto King Indra; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pratyânîya--giving back; tri-vistapam--his supremacy in the heavenly planets; pûrayitvâ--fulfilling; aditeh--of Aditi; kâmam--the desire; asâsat--ruled; sakalam--complete; jagat--universe.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus having delivered the proprietorship of the heavenly planets to Indra and having fulfilled the desire of Aditi, mother of the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead ruled the affairs of the universe.

> > *****

> > TEXT 5

> > labdha-prasâdam nirmuktam

> > pautram vamsa-dharam balim

> > nisâmya bhakti-pravanah

> > prahrâda idam abravît

> > labdha-prasâdam--who had achieved the blessings of the Lord; nirmuktam--who was released from bondage; pautram--his grandson; vamsa-dharam--the descendant; balim--Bali Mahârâja; nisâmya--after overhearing; bhakti-pravanah--in fully ecstatic devotion; prahrâdah--Prahlâda Mahârâja; idam--this; abravît--spoke.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Prahlada Maharaja heard how Bali Maharaja, his grandson and descendant, had been released from bondage and had achieved the benediction of the Lord, he spoke as follows in a tone of greatly ecstatic devotion.

> > *****

> > TEXT 6

> > srî-prahrâda uvâca

> > nemam virinco labhate prasâdam

> > na srîr na sarvah kim utâpare 'nye

> > yan no 'surânâm asi durga-pâlo

> > visvâbhivandyair abhivanditânghrih

> > srî-prahrâdah uvâca--Prahlâda Mahârâja said; na--not; imam--this; virincah--even Lord Brahmâ; labhate--can achieve; prasâdam--benediction; na--nor; srîh--the goddess of fortune; na--nor; sarvah--Lord Siva; kim uta--what to speak of; apare anye--others; yat--which benediction; nah--of us; asurânâm--the demons; asi--You have become; durga-pâlah--the maintainer; visva-abhivandyaih--by personalities like Lord Brahmâ and Lord Siva, who are worshiped all over the universe; abhivandita-anghrih--whose lotus feet are worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Prahlada Maharaja said: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are universally worshiped; even Lord Brahma and Lord Siva worship Your lotus feet. Yet although You are such a great personality, You have kindly promised to protect us, the demons. I think that such kindness has never been achieved even by Lord Brahma, Lord Siva or the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, what to speak of other demigods or common people.

> > *****

> > TEXT 7

> > yat-pâda-padma-makaranda-nisevanena

> > brahmâdayah saranadâsnuvate vibhûtîh

> > kasmâd vayam kusrtayah khala-yonayas te

> > dâksinya-drsti-padavîm bhavatah pranîtâh

> > yat--of whom; pâda-padma--of the lotus flower of the feet; makaranda--of the honey; nisevanena--by tasting the sweetness of rendering service; brahma-âdayah--great personalities like Lord Brahmâ; sarana-da--O my Lord, supreme shelter of everyone; asnuvate--enjoy; vibhûtîh--benedictions given by You; kasmât--how; vayam--we; ku-srtayah--all the rogues and thieves; khala-yonayah--born of an envious dynasty, namely that of the demons; te--those asuras; dâksinya-drsti-padavîm--the position bestowed by the merciful glance; bhavatah--of Your Lordship; pranîtâh--have achieved.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O supreme shelter of everyone, great personalities like Brahma enjoy their perfection simply by tasting the honey of rendering service at Your lotus feet. But as for us, who are all rogues and debauchees born of an envious family of demons, how have we received Your mercy? It has been possible only because Your mercy is causeless.

> > *****

> > TEXT 8

> > citram tavehitam aho 'mita-yogamâyâ-

> > lîlâ-visrsta-bhuvanasya visâradasya

> > sarvâtmanah samadrso 'visamah svabhâvo

> > bhakta-priyo yad asi kalpataru-svabhâvah

> > citram--very wonderful; tava îhitam--all Your activities; aho--alas; amita--unlimited; yogamâyâ--of Your spiritual potency; lîlâ--by the pastimes; visrsta-bhuvanasya--of Your Lordship, by whom all the universes have been created; visâradasya--of Your Lordship, who are expert in all respects; sarva-âtmanah--of Your Lordship, who pervade all; sama-drsah--and who are equal toward all; avisamah--without differentiation; svabhâvah--that is Your characteristic; bhakta-priyah--under the circumstances You become favorable to the devotees; yat--because; asi--You are; kalpataru-svabhâvah--having the characteristic of a desire tree.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O my Lord, Your pastimes are all wonderfully performed by Your inconceivable spiritual energy; and by her perverted reflection, the material energy, You have created all the universes. As the Supersoul of all living entities, You are aware of everything, and therefore You are certainly equal toward everyone. Nonetheless, You favor Your devotees. This is not partiality, however, for Your characteristic is just like that of a desire tree, which yields everything according to one's desire.

> > *****

> > TEXT 9

> > srî-bhagavân uvâca

> > vatsa prahrâda bhadram te

> > prayâhi sutalâlayam

> > modamânah sva-pautrena

> > jnâtînâm sukham âvaha

> > srî-bhagavân uvâca--the Personality of Godhead said; vatsa--O My dear son; prahrâda--O Prahlâda Mahârâja; bhadram te--all auspiciousness unto you; prayâhi--please go; sutala-âlayam--to the place known as Sutala; modamânah--in a spirit of jubilation; sva-pautrena--with your grandson (Bali Mahârâja); jnâtînâm--of your relatives and friends; sukham--happiness; âvaha--just enjoy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear son Prahlada, all good fortune unto you. For the time being, please go to the place known as Sutala and there enjoy happiness with your grandson and your other relatives and friends.

> > *****

> > TEXT 10

> > nityam drastâsi mâm tatra

> > gadâ-pânim avasthitam

> > mad-darsana-mahâhlâda-

> > dhvasta-karma-nibandhanah

> > nityam--constantly; drastâ--the seer; asi--you shall be; mâm--unto Me; tatra--there (in Sutalaloka); gadâ-pânim--with a club in My hand; avasthitam--situated there; mat-darsana--by seeing Me in that form; mahâ-âhlâda--by the great transcendental bliss; dhvasta--having been vanquished; karma-nibandhanah--the bondage of fruitive activities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead assured Prahlada Maharaja: You shall be able to see Me there in My usual feature with conchshell, disc, club and lotus in My hand. Because of your transcendental bliss due to always personally seeing Me, you will have no further bondage to fruitive activities.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 11-12

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > âjnâm bhagavato râjan

> > prahrâdo balinâ saha

> > bâdham ity amala-prajno

> > mûrdhny âdhâya krtânjalih

> > parikramyâdi-purusam

> > sarvâsura-camûpatih

> > pranatas tad-anujnâtah

> > pravivesa mahâ-bilam

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; âjnâm--the order; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; râjan--O King (Mahârâja Parîksit); prahrâdah--Mahârâja Prahlâda; balinâ saha--accompanied by Bali Mahârâja; bâdham--yes, sir, what You say is all right; iti--thus; amala-prajnah--Prahlâda Mahârâja, who had clear intelligence; mûdhni--on his head; âdhâya--accepting; krta-anjalih--with folded hands;

> > parikramya--after circumambulating; âdi-purusam--the supreme original person, Bhagavân; sarva-asura-camûpatih--the master of all the chiefs of the demons; pranatah--after offering obeisances; tat-anujnâtah--being permitted by Him (Lord Vâmana); pravivesa--entered; mahâ-bilam--the planet known as Sutala.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Srila Sukadeva Gosvami said: Accompanied by Bali Maharaja, my dear King Pariksit, Prahlada Maharaja, the master of all the chiefs of the demons, took the Supreme Lord's order on his head with folded hands. After saying yes to the Lord, circumambulating Him and offering Him respectful obeisances, he entered the lower planetary system known as Sutala.

> > *****

> > TEXT 13

> > athâhosanasam râjan

> > harir nârâyano 'ntike

> > âsînam rtvijâm madhye

> > sadasi brahma-vâdinâm

> > atha--thereafter; âha--said; usanasam--unto Sukrâcârya; râjan--O King; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nârâyanah--the Lord; antike--nearby; âsînam--who was sitting; rtvijâm madhye--in the group of all the priests; sadasi--in the assembly; brahma-vâdinâm--of the followers of Vedic principles.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, thereafter addressed Sukracarya, who was sitting nearby in the midst of the assembly with the priests [brahma, hota, udgata and adhvaryu]. O Maharaja Pariksit, these priests were all brahma-vadis, followers of the Vedic principles for performing sacrifices.

> > *****

> > TEXT 14

> > brahman santanu sisyasya

> > karma-cchidram vitanvatah

> > yat tat karmasu vaisamyam

> > brahma-drstam samam bhavet

> > brahman--O brâhmana; santanu--please describe; sisyasya--of your disciple; karma-chidram--the discrepancies in the fruitive activities; vitanvatah--of he who was performing sacrifices; yat tat--that which; karmasu--in the fruitive activities; vaisamyam--discrepancy; brahma-drstam--when it is judged by the brâhmanas; samam--equipoised; bhavet--it so becomes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O best of the brahmanas, Sukracarya, please describe the fault or discrepancy in your disciple Bali Maharaja, who engaged in performing sacrifices. This fault will be nullified when judged in the presence of qualified brahmanas.

> > *****

> > TEXT 15

> > srî-sukra uvâca

> > kutas tat-karma-vaisamyam

> > yasya karmesvaro bhavân

> > yajneso yajna-purusah

> > sarva-bhâvena pûjitah

> > srî-sukrah uvâca--Srî Sukrâcârya said; kutah--where is that; tat--of him (Bali Mahârâja); karma-vaisamyam--discrepancy in discharging fruitive activities; yasya--of whom (Bali Mahârâja); karma-îsvarah--the master of all fruitive activities; bhavân--Your Lordship; yajna-îsah--You are the enjoyer of all sacrifices; yajna-purusah--You are the person for whose pleasure all sacrifices are offered; sarva-bhâvena--in all respects; pûjitah--having worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukracarya said: My Lord, You are the enjoyer and lawgiver in all performances of sacrifice, and You are the yajna-purusa, the person to whom all sacrifices are offered. If one has fully satisfied You, where is the chance of discrepancies or faults in his performances of sacrifice?

> > *****

> > TEXT 16

> > mantratas tantratas chidram

> > desa-kâlârha-vastutah

> > sarvam karoti nischidram

> > anusankîrtanam tava

> > mantratah--in pronouncing the Vedic mantras improperly; tantratah--in insufficient knowledge for following regulative principles; chidram--discrepancy; desa--in the matter of country; kâla--and time; arha--and recipient; vastutah--and paraphernalia; sarvam--all these; karoti--makes; nischidram--without discrepancy; anusankîrtanam--constantly chanting the holy name; tava--of Your Lordship.

> > TRANSLATION

> > There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship's holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.

> > *****

> > TEXT 17

> > tathâpi vadato bhûman

> > karisyâmy anusâsanam

> > etac chreyah param pumsam

> > yat tavâjnânupâlanam

> > tathâpi--although there was no fault on the part of Bali Mahârâja; vadatah--because of your order; bhûman--O Supreme; karisyâmi-- I must execute; anusâsanam--because it is Your order; etat--this is; sreyah--that which is the most auspicious; param--supreme; pumsâm--of all persons; yat--because; tava âjnâ-anupâlanam--to obey Your order.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Visnu, I must nonetheless act in obedience to Your order because obeying Your order is most auspicious and is the first duty of everyone.

> > *****

> > TEXT 18

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > pratinandya harer âjnâm

> > usanâ bhagavân iti

> > yajna-cchidram samâdhatta

> > baler viprarsibhih saha

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; pratinandya--offering all obeisances; hareh--of the Personality of Godhead; âjnâm--the order; usanâh--Sukrâcârya; bhagavân--the most powerful; iti--thus; yajna-chidram--discrepancies in the performance of sacrifices; samâdhatta--made it a point to fulfill; baleh--of Bali Mahârâja; vipra-rsibhih--the best brâhmanas; saha--along with.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami continued: In this way, the most powerful Sukracarya accepted the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead with full respect. Along with the best brahmanas, he began to compensate for the discrepancies in the sacrifices performed by Bali Maharaja.

> > *****

> > TEXT 19

> > evam baler mahîm râjan

> > bhiksitvâ vâmano harih

> > dadau bhrâtre mahendrâya

> > tridivam yat parair hrtam

> > evam--thus; baleh--from Bali Mahârâja; mahim--the land; râjan--O King Parîksit; bhiksitvâ--after begging; vâmanah--His Lordship Vâmana; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dadau--delivered; bhrâtre--unto His brother; mahâ-indrâya--Indra, the King of heaven; tridivam--the planetary system of the demigods; yat--which; paraih--by others; hrtam--was taken.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, thus having taken all the land of Bali Maharaja by begging, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vamanadeva, delivered to His brother Indra all the land taken away by Indra's enemy.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 20-21

> > prajâpati-patir brahmâ

> > devarsi-pitr-bhûmipaih

> > daksa-bhrgv-angiro-mukhyaih

> > kumârena bhavena ca

> > kasyapasyâditeh prîtyai

> > sarva-bhûta-bhavâya ca

> > lokânâm loka-pâlânâm

> > akarod vâmanam patim

> > prajâpati-patih--the master of all Prajâpatis; brahmâ--Lord Brahmâ; deva--with the demigods; rsi--with the great saintly persons; pitr--with the inhabitants of Pitrloka; bhûmipaih--with the Manus; daksa--with Daksa; bhrgu--with Bhrgu Muni; angirah--with Angirâ Muni; mukhyaih--with all the chiefs of the various planetary systems; kumârena--with Kârttikeya; bhavena--with Lord Siva; ca--also; kasyapasya--of Kasyapa Muni; aditeh--of Aditi; prîtyai--f or the pleasure; sarva-bhûta-bhavâya--for the auspiciousness of all living entities; ca--also; lokânâm--of all planetary systems; loka-pâlânâm--of the predominating persons in all planets; akarot--made; vâmanam--Lord Vâmana; patim--the supreme leader.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahma [the master of King Daksa and all other Prajapatis], accompanied by all the demigods, the great saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitrloka, the Manus, the munis, and such leaders as Daksa, Bhrgu and Angira, as well as Karttikeya and Lord Siva, accepted Lord Vamanadeva as the protector of everyone. He did this for the pleasure of Kasyapa Muni and his wife Aditi and for the welfare of all the inhabitants of the universe, including their various leaders.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 22-23

> > vedânâm sarva-devânâm

> > dharmasya yasasah sriyah

> > mangalânâm vratânâm ca

> > kalpam svargâpavargayoh

> > upendram kalpayâm cakre

> > patim sarva-vibhûtaye

> > tadâ sarvâni bhûtâni

> > bhrsam mumudire nrpa

> > vedânâm--(for the protection) of all the Vedas; sarva-devânâm--of all the demigods; dharmasya--of all principles of religion; yasasah--of all fame; sriyah--of all opulences; mangalânâm--of all auspiciousness; vratânâm ca--and of all vows; kalpam--the most expert; svarga-apavargayoh--of elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation from material bondage;

> > upendram--Lord Vâmanadeva; kalpayâm cakre--they made it the plan; patim--the master; sarva-vibhûtaye--for all purposes; tadâ--at that time; sarvâni--all; bhûtâni--living entities; bhrsam--very much; mumudire--became happy; nrpa--O King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, Indra was considered the King of all the universe, but the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, wanted Upendra, Lord Vamanadeva, as the protector of the Vedas, the principles of religion, fame, opulence, auspiciousness, vows, elevation to the higher planetary system, and liberation. Thus they accepted Upendra, Lord Vamanadeva, as the supreme master of everything. This decision made all living entities extremely happy.

> > *****

> > TEXT 24

> > tatas tv indrah puraskrtya

> > deva-yânena vâmanam

> > loka-pâlair divam ninye

> > brahmanâ cânumoditah

> > tatah--thereafter; tu--but; indrah--the King of heaven; puraskrtya--keeping forward; deva-yânena--by an airplane used by the demigods; vâmanam--Lord Vâmana; loka-pâlaih--with the chiefs of all other planets; divam--to the heavenly planets; ninye--brought; brahmanâ--by Lord Brahmâ; ca--also; anumoditah--being approved.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, along with all the leaders of the heavenly planets, Indra, the King of heaven, placed Lord Vamanadeva before him and, with the approval of Lord Brahma, brought Him to the heavenly planet in a celestial airplane.

> > *****

> > TEXT 25

> > prâpya tri-bhuvanam cendra

> > upendra-bhuja-pâlitah

> > sriyâ paramayâ justo

> > mumude gata-sâdhvasah

> > prâpya--after obtaining; tri-bhuvanam--the three worlds; ca--also; indrah--the King of heaven; upendra-bhuja-pâlitah--being protected by the arms of Vâmanadeva, Upendra; sriyâ--by opulence; paramayâ--by supreme; justah--thus being served; mumude--enjoyed; gata-sâdhvasah--without fear of the demons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Indra, King of heaven, being protected by the arms of Vamanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thus regained his rule of the three worlds and was reinstated in his own position, supremely opulent, fearless and fully satisfied.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 26-27

> > brahmâ sarvah kumâras ca

> > bhrgv-âdyâ munayo nrpa

> > pitarah sarva-bhûtâni

> > siddhâ vaimânikâs ca ye

> > sumahat karma tad visnor

> > gâyantah param adbhutam

> > dhisnyâni svâni te jagmur

> > aditim ca sasamsire

> > brahmâ--Lord Brahmâ; sarvah--Lord Siva; kumârah ca--also Lord Kârttikeya; bhrgu-âdyâh--headed by Bhrgu Muni, one of the seven rsis; munayah--the saintly persons; nrpa--O King; pitarah--the inhabitants of Pitrloka; sarva-bhûtâni--other living entities; siddhâh--the residents of Siddhaloka; vaimânikâh ca--human beings who can travel everywhere in outer space by airplane; ye--such persons;

> > sumahat--highly praiseworthy; karma--activities; tat--all those (activities); visnoh--done by Lord Visnu; gâyantah--glorifying; param adbhutam--uncommon and wonderful; dhisnyâni--to their respective planets; svâni--own; te--all of them; jagmuh--departed; aditim ca--as well as Aditi; sasamsire--praised all these activities of the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Lord Karttikeya, the great sage Bhrgu, other saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitrloka and all other living entities present, including the inhabitants of Siddhaloka and living entities who travel in outer space by airplane, all glorified the uncommon activities of Lord Vamanadeva. O King, while chanting about and glorifying the Lord, they returned to their respective heavenly planets. They also praised the position of Aditi.

> > *****

> > TEXT 28

> > sarvam etan mayâkhyâtam

> > bhavatah kula-nandana

> > urukramasya caritam

> > srotrnâm agha-mocanam

> > sarvam--all; etat--these incidents; mayâ--by me; âkhyâtam--have been described; bhavatah--of you; kula-nandana--O Mahârâja Parîksit, the pleasure of your dynasty; urukramasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; caritam--activities; srotrnâm--of the audience; agha-mocanam--such hearing of the Lord's activities certainly vanquishes the results of sinful activities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Maharaja Pariksit, pleasure of your dynasty, I have now described to you everything about the wonderful activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vamanadeva. Those who hear about this are certainly freed from all the results of sinful activities.

> > *****

> > TEXT 29

> > pâram mahimna uruvikramato grnâno

> > yah pârthivâni vimame sa rajâmsi martyah

> > kim jâyamâna uta jâta upaiti martya

> > ity âha mantra-drg rsih purusasya yasya

> > pâram--the measurement; mahimnah--of the glories; uruvikramatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who acts wonderfully; grnânah--can count; yah--a person who; pârthivâni--of the whole planet earth; vimame--can count; sah--he; rajâmsi--the atoms; martyah--a human being who is subject to death; kim--what; jâyamânah--one who will take birth in the future; uta--either; jâtah--one who is already born; upaiti--can do; martyah--a person subject to death; iti--thus; âha--said; mantra-drk--who could foresee the Vedic mantras; rsih--the great saintly Vasistha Muni; purusasya--of the supreme person; yasya--of whom.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One who is subject to death cannot measure the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Trivikrama, Lord Visnu, any more than he can count the number of atoms on the entire planet earth. No one, whether born already or destined to take birth, is able to do this. This has been sung by the great sage Vasistha.

> > *****

> > TEXT 30

> > ya idam deva-devasya

> > harer adbhuta-karmanah

> > avatârânucaritam

> > srnvan yâti parâm gatim

> > yah--anyone who; idam--this; deva-devasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by the demigods; hareh--of Lord Krsna, Hari; adbhuta-karmanah--whose activities are all wonderful; avatâra-anucaritam--activities performed in His different incarnations; srnvan--if one continues to hear; yâti--he goes; parâm gatim--to the supreme perfection, back home, back to Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If one hears about the uncommon activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various incarnations, he is certainly elevated to the higher planetary system or even brought back home, back to Godhead.

> > *****

> > TEXT 31

> > kriyamâne karmanîdam

> > daive pitrye 'tha mânuse

> > yatra yatrânukîrtyeta

> > tat tesâm sukrtam viduh

> > kriyamâne--upon the performance; karmani--of a ritualistic ceremony; idam--this description of the characteristics of Vâmanadeva; daive--to please the demigods; pitrye--or to please the forefathers, as in a srâddha ceremony; atha--either; mânuse--for the pleasure of human society, as in marriages; yatra--wherever; yatra--whenever; anukîrtyeta--is described; tat--that; tesâm--for them; sukrtam--auspicious; viduh--everyone should understand.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Whenever the activities of Vamanadeva are described in the course of a ritualistic ceremony, whether the ceremony be performed to please the demigods, to please one's forefathers in Pitrloka, or to celebrate a social event like a marriage, that ceremony should be understood to be extremely auspicious.

> > Back to the running text