> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 11
> > 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 11: 'General History'

> > ******

> > Chapter Four: Drumila Explains the Incarnations of Godhead to King Nimi

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-râjovâca

> > yâni yânîha karmâni

> > yair yaih svacchanda-janmabhih

> > cakre karoti kartâ vâ

> > haris tâni bruvantu nah

> > s'rî-râjâ uvâca - the King said; yâni yâni - each; iha - in this world; karmâni - of the activities; yaih yaih - by each; svacchanda - assumed independently; janmabhih - of the appearances; cakre - He performed; karoti - is performing; kartâ - will perform; vâ - or; harih - the Supreme Lord, Hari; tâni - these; bruvantu - please tell; nah - us.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Nimi said - The Supreme Personality of Godhead descends into the material world by His internal potency and according to His own desire. Therefore, please tell us about the various pastimes Lord Hari has performed in the past, is performing now and will perform in this world in the future in His various incarnations.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > s'rî-drumila uvâca

> > yo vâ anantasya gunân anantân

> > anukramishyan sa tu bâla-buddhih

> > rajâmsi bhûmer ganayet kathan'cit

> > kâlena naivâkhila-s'akti-dhâmnah

> > s'rî-drumilah uvâca - S'rî Drumila said; yah - who; vai - indeed; anantasya - of the unlimited Lord; gurunâ - the transcendental qualities; anantân - which are unlimited; anukramishyan - trying to enumerate; sah - he; tu - certainly; bâla-buddhih - is a person of childish intelligence; rajâmsi - the particles of dust; bhûmeh - on the earth; ganayet - one may count; kathan'cit - somehow; kâlena - in time; na eva - but not; akhila-s'akti-dhâmnah - (the qualities) of the reservoir of all potencies.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî Drumila said - Anyone trying to enumerate or describe fully the unlimited qualities of the unlimited Supreme Lord has the intelligence of a foolish child. Even if a great genius could somehow or other, after a time-consuming endeavor, count all the particles of dust on the surface of the earth, such a genius could never count the attractive qualities of the Personality of Godhead, who is the reservoir of all potencies.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > bhûtair yadâ pan'cabhir âtma-sristhaih

> > puram virâjam viracayya tasmin

> > svâms'ena visthah purushâbhidhânam

> > avâpa nârâyana âdi-devah

> > bhûtaih - by the material elements; yadâ - when; pan'cabhih - five (earth, water, fire, air and ether); âtma-sristhaih - created by Himself; puram - the body; virâjam - of the universe in its subtle form; viracayya - having constructed; tasmin - within that; sva-ams'ena - in the manifestation of His own plenary expansion; visthah - entering; purusha-abhidhânam - the name Purusha; avâpa - assumed; nârâyanah - Lord Nârâyana; âdi-devah - the original Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the primeval Lord Nârâyana created His universal body out of the five elements produced from Himself and then entered within that universal body by His own plenary portion, He thus became known as the Purusha.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > yat-kâya esha bhuvana-traya-sannives'o

> > yasyendriyais tanu-bhritâm ubhayendriyâni

> > jn'ânam svatah s'vasanato balam oja îhâ

> > sattvâdibhih sthiti-layodbhava âdi-kartâ

> > yat-kâye - within whose body; eshah - this; bhuvana-traya - of the three planetary systems making up the universe; sannives'ah - the elaborate arrangement; yasya - of whom; indriyaih - by the senses; tanu-bhritâm - of the embodied living beings; ubhaya-indriyâni - both kinds of senses (knowledge-acquiring and active); jn'ânam - knowledge; svatah - directly from Him; s'vasanatah - from His breathing; balam - strength of the body; ojah - strength of the senses; îhâ - activities; sattva-âdibhih - by nature's modes of goodness, passion and ignorance; sthiti - in maintenance; laya - destruction; udbhave - and creation; âdi-kartâ - the original doer.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Within His body are elaborately arranged the three planetary systems of this universe. His transcendental senses generate the knowledge-acquiring and active senses of all embodied beings. His consciousness generates conditioned knowledge, and His powerful breathing produces the bodily strength, sensory power and conditioned activities of the embodied souls. He is the prime mover, through the agency of the material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. And thus the universe is created, maintained and annihilated.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > âdâv abhûc chata-dhritî rajasâsya sarge

> > vishnuh sthitau kratu-patir dvija-dharma-setuh

> > rudro 'pyayâya tamasâ purushah sa âdya

> > ity udbhava-sthiti-layâh satatam prajâsu

> > âdau - in the beginning; abhût - He became; s'ata-dhritih - Lord Brahmâ; rajasâ - by the material mode of passion; asya - of this universe; sarge - in the creation; vishnuh - Lord Vishnu; sthitau - in maintenance; kratu-patih - the Lord of sacrifice; dvija - of the twice-born brâhmanas; dharma - of the religious duties; setuh - the protector; rudrah - Lord S'iva; apyayâya - for annihilation; tamasâ - by the mode of ignorance; purushah - the Supreme Person; sah - He; âdyah - original; iti - thus; udbhava-sthiti-layâh - creation, maintenance and destruction; satatam - always; prajâsu - among created beings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the beginning, the original Supreme Personality manifested the form of Brahmâ through the material mode of passion in order to create this universe. The Lord manifested His form as Vishnu, the Lord of sacrifice and protector of the twice-born brâhmanas and their religious duties, to maintain the universe. And when the universe is to be annihilated the same Supreme Lord employs the material mode of ignorance and manifests the form of Rudra The created living beings are thus always subject to the forces of creation, maintenance and destruction.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > dharmasya daksha-duhitary ajanistha mûrtyâm

> > nârâyano nara rishi-pravarah pras'ântah

> > naishkarmya-lakshanam uvâca cacâra karma

> > yo 'dyâpi câsta rishi-varya-nishevitânghrih

> > dharmasya - (the wife) of Dharma; daksha-duhitari - by the daughter of Daksha; ajanistha - was born; mûrtyâm - by Mûrti; nârâyanah narah - Nara-Nârâyana; rishi-pravarah - the best of sages; pras'ântah - perfectly peaceful; naishkarmya-lakshanam - characterized by the cessation of all material work; uvâca - He spoke; cacâra - and performed; karma - the duties; yah - who; adya api - even today; ca - also; âste - is living; rishi-varya - by the greatest sages; nishevita - being served; anghrih - His feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Nara-Nârâyana Rishi, who is perfectly peaceful and is the best of sages, was born as the son of Dharma and his wife Mûrti, the daughter of Daksha. Nara-Nârâyana Rishi taught the devotional service of the Lord, by which material work ceases, and He Himself perfectly practiced this knowledge. He is living even today, His lotus feet served by the greatest of saintly persons.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > indro vis'ankya mama dhâma jighrikshatîti

> > kâmam nyayunkta sa-ganam sa badary-upâkhyam

> > gatvâpsaro-gana-vasanta-sumanda-vâtaih

> > strî-prekshaneshubhir avidhyad atan-mahi-jn'ah

> > indrah - Lord Indra; vis'ankya - fearing; mama - my; dhâma - kingdom; jighrikshati - He wants to devour; iti - thinking thus; kâmam - Cupid; nyayunkta - he engaged; sa-ganam - with his associates; sah - he (Cupid); badarî-upâkhyam - to the âs'rama named Badarikâ; gatvâ - going; apsarah-gana - with the heavenly society girls; vasanta - the spring season; su-manda-vâtaih - and the gentle breezes; strî-prekshana - (consisting of) the glances of women; ishubhih - with his arrows; avidhyat - attempted to pierce; atat-mahi-jn'ah - not knowing His greatness.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Indra became fearful, thinking that Nara-Nârâyana Rishi would become very powerful by His severe penances and seize Indra's heavenly kingdom. Thus Indra, not knowing the transcendental glories of the incarnation of the Lord, sent Cupid and his associates to the Lord's residence in Badarikâs'rama. As the charming breezes of spring created a most sensuous atmosphere, Cupid himself attacked the Lord with arrows in the form of the irresistible glances of beautiful women.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > vijn'âya s'akra-kritam akramam âdi-devah

> > prâha prahasya gata-vismaya ejamânân

> > mâ bhair vibho madana mâruta deva-vadhvo

> > grihnîta no balim as'ûnyam imam kurudhvam

> > vijn'âya - understanding perfectly; s'akra - by Indra; kritam - committed; akramam - the offense; âdi-devah - the original Personality of Godhead; prâha - He spoke; prahasya - laughing; gata-vismayah - free from pride; ejamânân - to those who were trembling; mâ bhaih - please have no fear; vibho - O mighty one; madana - Cupid; mâruta - O god of the wind; deva-vadhvah - O wives of the demigods; grihnîta - please accept; nah - from Us; balim - these gifts; as'ûnyam - not empty; imam - this (âs'rama); kurudhvam - please make.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The primeval Lord, understanding the offense committed by Indra, did not become proud. Instead He spoke laughingly as follows to Cupid and his followers, who were trembling before Him - 'Do not fear, O mighty Madana, O wind-god and wives of the demigods. Rather, please accept these gifts I am offering you and kindly sanctify My âs'rama by your presence.'

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > ittham bruvaty abhaya-de nara-deva devâh

> > sa-vrîda-namra-s'irasah sa-ghrinam tam ûcuh

> > naitad vibho tvayi pare 'vikrite vicitram

> > svârâma-dhîra-nikarânata-pâda-padme

> > ittham - in this way; bruvati - when He had spoken; abhaya-de - the giver of fearlessness; nara-deva - O King (Nimi); devâh - the demigods (Cupid and his associates); sa-vrîda - out of shame; namra - bowed; s'irasah - with their heads; sa-ghrinam - begging for compassion; tam - to Him; ûcuh - they said; na - is not; etat - this; vibho - O almighty Lord; tvayi - for You; pare - the Supreme; avikrite - unchanging; vicitram - anything surprising; sva-ârâma - of those who are self-satisfied; dhîra - and those who are sober-minded; nikara - by great numbers; ânata - bowed down to; pâda-padme - whose lotus feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King Nimi, when Nara-Nârâyana Rishi thus spoke, eradicating the fear of the demigods, they bowed their heads with shame and addressed the Lord as follows, to invoke His compassion - Our dear Lord, You are always transcendental, beyond the reach of illusion, and therefore You are forever changeless. Your causeless compassion toward us, despite our great offense, is not at all unusual in You, since innumerable great sages who are self-satisfied and free from anger and false pride bow down humbly at Your lotus feet.

> > PURPORT

> > The demigods said, 'Our dear Lord, although ordinary living entities such as the demigods and ordinary men are always disturbed by material pride and anger, You are always transcendental. Therefore it is not surprising that we fallible demigods could not appreciate Your glories.'

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > tvâm sevatâm sura-kritâ bahavo 'ntarâyâh

> > svauko vilanghya paramam vrajatâm padam te

> > nânyasya barhishi balîn dadatah sva-bhâgân

> > dhatte padam tvam avitâ yadi vighna-mûrdhni

> > tvâm - You; sevatâm - for those who are serving; sura-kritâh - made by the demigods; bahavah - many; antarâyâh - disturbances; sva-okah - their own abode (the planets of the demigods); vilanghya - crossing beyond; paramam - the supreme; vrajatâm - who are going; padam - to the abode; te - Your; na - there are not such; anyasya - for another; barhishi - in ritual sacrifices; balîn - offerings; dadatah - for one who is giving; sva-bhâgân - the own shares (of the demigods); dhatte - (the devotee) places; padam - his foot; tvam - You; avitâ - the protector; yadi - because; vighna - of the disturbance; mûrdhni - upon the head.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The demigods place many obstacles on the path of those who worship You to transcend the temporary abodes of the demigods and reach Your supreme abode. Those who offer the demigods their assigned shares in sacrificial performances encounter no such obstacles. But because You are the direct protector of Your devotee, he is able to step over the head of whatever obstacle the demigods place before him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > kshut-trith-tri-kâla-guna-mâruta-jaihva-s'aishnân

> > asmân apâra-jaladhîn atitîrya kecit

> > krodhasya yânti viphalasya vas'am pade gor

> > majjanti dus'cara-tapas' ca vrithotsrijanti

> > kshut - hunger; trith - thirst; tri-kâla-guna - the manifestations of the three phases of time (such as heat and cold, rain and so on); mâruta - wind; jaihva - enjoyment of the tongue; s'aishnân - and of the genitals; asmân - ourselves (in all these forms); apâra - limitless; jala-dhîn - oceans; atitîrya - having crossed over; kecit - some persons; krodhasya - of anger; yânti - they come; viphalasya - which is fruitless; vas'am - under the sway; pade - in the foot(print); goh - of a cow; majjanti - they drown; dus'cara - difficult to execute; tapah - their austerities; ca - and; vrithâ - without any good purpose; utsrijanti - they throw away.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Some men practice severe penances to cross beyond our influence, which is like an immeasurable ocean with endless waves of hunger, thirst, heat, cold and the other conditions brought about by the passing of time, such as the sensuous wind and the urges of the tongue and sex organs. Nevertheless, although crossing this ocean of sense gratification through severe penances, such persons foolishly drown in a cow's hoofprint when conquered by useless anger. Thus they exhaust the benefit of their difficult austerities in vain.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > iti pragrinatâm teshâm

> > striyo 'ty-adbhuta-dars'anâh

> > dars'ayâm âsa s'us'rûshâm

> > sv-arcitâh kurvatîr vibhuh

> > iti - thus; pragrinatâm - who were offering praise; teshâm - in their presence; striyah - women; ati-adbhuta - very wonderful; dars'anâh - in appearance; dars'ayâm âsa - He showed; s'us'rûshâm - reverential service; su-arcitâh - nicely decorated; kurvatîh - performing; vibhuh - the almighty Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While the demigods were thus praising the Supreme Lord, the all-powerful Lord suddenly manifested before their eyes many women, who were astonishingly gorgeous, decorated with fine clothes and ornaments, and all faithfully engaging in the Lord's service.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > te devânucarâ dristhvâ

> > striyah s'rîr iva rûpinîh

> > gandhena mumuhus tâsâm

> > rûpaudârya-hata-s'riyah

> > te - they; deva-anucarâh - the followers of the demigods; dristhvâ - seeing; striyah - these women; s'rîh - the goddess of fortune; iva - as if; rûpinîh - in person; gandhena - by the fragrance; mumuhuh - they became bewildered; tâsâm - of the women; rûpa - of the beauty; audârya - by the magnificence; hata - ruined; s'riyah - their opulence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the followers of the demigods gazed upon the fascinating mystic beauty of the women created by Nara-Nârâyana Rishi and smelled the fragrance of their bodies, the minds of these followers became bewildered. Indeed, upon seeing the beauty and magnificence of such women, the representatives of the demigods were completely diminished in their own opulence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > tân âha deva-deves'ah

> > pranatân prahasann iva

> > âsâm ekatamâm vrindhvam

> > sa-varnâm svarga-bhûshanâm

> > tân - to them; âha - said; deva-deva-îs'ah - the Supreme Lord of all lords; pranatân - who had bowed down to Him; prahasan iva - almost smiling; âsâm - of these women; ekatamâm - one; vrindhvam - please choose; sa-varnâm - suitable; svarga - of heaven; bhûshanâm - the ornament.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Lord of lords then smiled slightly and told the representatives of heaven, who were bowing down before Him, 'Please choose one of these women, whomever you find suitable for you. She will become the ornament of the heavenly planets.'

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > om ity âdes'am âdâya

> > natvâ tam sura-vandinah

> > urvas'îm apsarah-s'resthhâm

> > puraskritya divam yayuh

> > om iti - chanting om to signify agreement; âdes'am - His order; âdâya - taking; natvâ - offering obeisances; tam - to Him; sura - of the demigods; vandinah - those servants; urvas'îm - Urvas'i; apsarah-s'resthhâm - the best of the Apsarâs; purah-kritya - placing in front (out of respect); divam - to heaven; yayuh - they returned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Vibrating the sacred syllable om, the servants of the demigods selected Urvas'î, the best of the Apsarâs. Placing her in front of them out of respect, they returned to the heavenly planets.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > indrâyânamya sadasi

> > s'rinvatâm tri-divaukasâm

> > ûcur nârâyana-balam

> > s'akras tatrâsa vismitah

> > indrâya - to Lord Indra; ânamya - bowing down; sadasi - in his assembly; s'rinvatâm - while they were listening; tri-diva - the three heavens; okasâm - whose residents; ûcuh - they told; nârâyana-balam - about the strength of Lord Nârâyana; s'akrah - Indra; tatra - at that; âsa - became; vismitah - surprised.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The servants of the demigods reached the assembly of Indra, and thus, while all the residents of the three heavens listened, they explained to Indra the supreme power of Nârâyana. When Indra heard of Nara-Nârâyana Rishi and became aware of his offense, he was both frightened and astonished.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > hamsa-svarûpy avadad acyuta âtma-yogam

> > dattah kumâra rishabho bhagavân pitâ nah

> > vishnuh s'ivâya jagatâm kalayâvatirnas

> > tenâhritâ madhu-bhidâ s'rutayo hayâsye

> > hamsa-svarûpî - assuming His eternal form of the swan incarnation; avadat - He spoke; acyutah - the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead; âtma-yogam - self-realization; dattah - Dattâtreya; kumârah - the Kumâra brothers, headed by Sanaka; rishabhah - Rishabhadeva; bhagavân - the Lord; pitâ - father; nah - our; vishnuh - Lord Vishnu; s'ivâya - for the welfare; jagatâm - of all the world; kalayâ - by His secondary personal expansions; avatîrnah - descending to this world; tena - by Him; âhritâh - were brought back (from the depths of Pâtâlaloka); madhu-bhidâ - by the killer of the demon Madhu; s'rutayah - the original texts of the Vedas; haya-âsye - in the horse-headed incarnation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, has descended into this world by His various partial incarnations such as Lord Hamsa [the swan], Dattâtreya, the four Kumâras and our own father, the mighty Rishabhadeva. By such incarnations, the Lord teaches the science of self-realization for the benefit of the whole universe. In His appearance as Hayagrîva He killed the demon Madhu and thus brought the Vedas back from the hellish planet Pâtâlaloka.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > gupto 'pyaye manur ilaushadhayas' ca mâtsye

> > kraude hato diti-ja uddharatâmbhasah kshmâm

> > kaurme dhrito 'drir amritonmathane sva-pristhhe

> > grâhât prapannam ibha-râjam amun'cad ârtam

> > guptah - was protected; apyaye - during the annihilation; manuh - Vaivasvata Manu; ilâ - the earth planet; oshadhayah - the herbs; ca - and; mâtsye - in His incarnation as a fish; kraude - in His incarnation as a boar; hatah - was killed; diti-jah - the demoniac son of Diti, Hiranyâksha; uddharatâ - by Him who was delivering; ambhasah - from the waters; kshmâm - the earth; kaurme - as a tortoise; dhritah - was held; adrih - the mountain (Mandara); amrita-unmathane - when the nectar was being churned (by the demons and demigods together); sva-pristhhe - upon His own back; grâhât - from the crocodile; prapannam - surrendered; ibha-râjam - the king of the elephants; amun'cat - He freed; ârtam - distressed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In His appearance as a fish, the Lord protected Satyavrata Manu, the earth and her valuable herbs. He protected them from the waters of annihilation. As a boar, the Lord killed Hiranyâksha, the son of Diti, while delivering the earth from the universal waters. And as a tortoise, He lifted Mandara Mountain on His back so that nectar could be churned from the ocean. The Lord saved the surrendered king of the elephants, Gajendra, who was suffering terrible distress from the grips of a crocodile.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > samstunvato nipatitân s'ramanân rishîms' ca

> > s'akram ca vritra-vadhatas tamasi pravistham

> > deva-striyo 'sura-grihe pihitâ anâthâ

> > jaghne 'surendram abhayâya satâm nrisimhe

> > samstunvatah - who were offering prayers; nipatitân - fallen (into the water in a cow's hoofprint); s'ramanân - the ascetics; rishîn - sages (the Vâlakhilyas); ca - and; s'akram - Indra; ca - and; vritra-vadhatah - from killing Vritrâsura; tamasi - in darkness; pravistham - absorbed; deva-striyah - the wives of the demigods; asura-grihe - in the palace of the demons; pihitâh - imprisoned; anâthâh - helpless; jaghne - He killed; asura-indram - the king of the demons, Hiranyakas'ipu; abhayâya - for the sake of giving fearlessness; satâm - to the saintly devotees; nrisimhe - in the incarnation of Nrisimha.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord also delivered the tiny ascetic sages called the Vâlakhilyas when they fell into the water in a cow's hoofprint and Indra was laughing at them. The Lord then saved Indra when Indra was covered by darkness due to the sinful reaction for killing Vritrâsura. When the wives of the demigods were trapped in the palace of the demons without any shelter, the Lord saved them. In His incarnation as Nrisimha, the Lord killed Hiranyakas'ipu, the king of demons, to free the saintly devotees from fear.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > devâsure yudhi ca daitya-patîn surârthe

> > hatvântareshu bhuvanâny adadhât kalâbhih

> > bhûtvâtha vâmana imâm aharad baleh kshmâm

> > yâcn'â-cchalena samadâd aditeh sutebhyah

> > deva-asure - of the demigods and demons; yudhi - in the battle; ca - and; daitya-patîn - the leaders of the demons; sura-arthe - for the sake of the demigods; hatvâ - by killing; antareshu - during the reign of each Manu; bhuvanâni - all the worlds; adadhât - protected; kalâbhih - by His various appearances; bhûtvâ - becoming; atha - moreover; vâmanah - the incarnation as a dwarf brâhmana boy; imâm - this; aharat - took away; baleh - from Bali Mahârâja; kshmâm - earth; yâcn'â-chalena - on the excuse of begging for charity; samadât - gave; aditeh - of Aditi; sutebhyah - to the sons (the demigods).

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Lord regularly takes advantage of the wars between the demons and demigods to kill the leaders of the demons. The Lord thus encourages the demigods by protecting the universe through His various incarnations during the reigns of each Manu. The Lord also appeared as Vâmana and took the earth away from Bali Mahârâja on the plea of begging three steps of land. The Lord then returned the entire world to the sons of Aditi.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > nihkshatriyâm akrita gâm ca trih-sapta-kritvo

> > râmas tu haihaya-kulâpyaya-bhârgavâgnih

> > so 'bdhim babandha das'a-vaktram ahan sa-lankam

> > sîtâ-patir jayati loka-mala-ghna-kîritih

> > nihkshatriyâm - devoid of members of the warrior class; akrita - He made; gâm - the earth; ca - and; trih-sapta-kritvah - three times seven (twenty-one) times; râmah - Lord Paras'urâma; tu - indeed; haihaya-kula - of the dynasty of Haihaya; apyaya - the destruction; bhârgava - descending from Bhrigu Muni; agnih - the fire; sah - He; abdhim - the ocean; babandha - brought under subjection; das'a-vaktram - the ten-headed Râvana; ahan - killed; sa-lankam - along with all the soldiers of his kingdom, Lankâ; sîtâ-patih - Lord Râmacandra, the husband of Sîtâ; jayati - is always victorious; loka - of the entire world; mala - the contamination; ghna - which destroys; kîrtih - the recounting of whose glories.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Paras'urâma appeared in the family of Bhrigu as a fire that burned to ashes the dynasty of Haihaya. Thus Lord Paras'urâma rid the earth of all kshatriyas twenty-one times. The same Lord appeared as Râmacandra, the husband of Sîtâdevî, and thus He killed the ten-headed Râvana, along with all the soldiers of Lankâ. May that S'rî Râma, whose glories destroy the contamination of the world, be always victorious.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > bhûmer bharâvataranâya yadushv ajanmâ

> > jâtah karishyati surair api dushkarâni

> > vâdair vimohayati yajn'a-krito 'tad-arhân

> > s'ûdrân kalau kshiti-bhujo nyahanishyad ante

> > bhûmeh - of the earth; bhara - the burden; avataranâya - to diminish; yadushu - in the Yadu dynasty; ajanmâ - the unborn Lord; jâtah - taking birth; karishyati - He will perform; suraih - by the demigods; api - even; dushkarâni - difficult deeds; vâdaih - by speculative arguments; vimohayati - He will bewilder; yajn'a-kritah - the performers of Vedic sacrifices; atat-arhân - who are unfit to be so engaged; s'ûdrân - the low-class men; kalau - in the degraded age of Kali; kshiti-bhujah - rulers; nyahanishyat - He will kill; ante - at the end.

> > TRANSLATION

> > To diminish the burden of the earth, the unborn Lord will take birth in the Yadu dynasty and perform feats impossible even for the demigods. Propounding speculative philosophy, the Lord, as Buddha, will bewilder the unworthy performers of Vedic sacrifices. And as Kalki the Lord will kill all the low-class men posing as rulers at the end of the age of Kali.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > evam-vidhâni janmâni

> > karmâni ca jagat-pateh

> > bhûrîni bhûri-yas'aso

> > varnitâni mahâ-bhuja

> > evam-vidhâni - just like these; janmâni - appearances; karmâni - activities; ca - and; jagat-pateh - of the Lord of the universe; bhûrîni - innumerable; bhûri-yas'asah - very glorious; varnitâni - described; mahâ-bhuja - O mighty-armed King Nimi.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O mighty-armed King, there are innumerable appearances and activities of the Supreme Lord of the universe similar to those I have already mentioned. In fact, the glories of the Supreme Lord are unlimited.

> > Back to the running text