> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 2
> > 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)

> > ******

> > The Cosmic Manifestation

> > *******

> > Chapter Six : Purusha-sûkta Confirmed

> > TEXT 1

> > brahmovâca

> > vâcâm vahner mukham kshetram

> > chandasâm sapta dhâtavah

> > havya-kavyâmritânnânâm

> > jihvâ sarva-rasasya ca

> > brahmâ uvâca--Lord Brahmâ said; vâcâm--of the voice; vahneh--of fire; mukham--the mouth; kshetram--the generating center; chanclasâm--of the Vedic hymns, such as Gâyatrî; sapta--seven; dhâtavah--skin and six other layers; havya-kavya--offerings for the demigods and the forefathers; amrita--food for human beings; annânâm--of all sorts of foodstuffs; jihvâ--the tongue; sarva--all; rasasya--of all delicacies; ca--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ said: The mouth of the virât-purusha [the universal form of the Lord] is the generating center of the voice, and the controlling deity is fire. His skin and six other layers are the generating centers of the Vedic hymns, and His tongue is the productive center of different foodstuffs and delicacies for offering to the demigods, the forefathers and the general mass of people.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > sarvâsûnâm ca vâyos' ca

> > tan-nâse paramâyane

> > as'vinor oshadhînâm ca

> > ghrâno moda-pramodayoh

> > sarva--all; asûnâm--different kinds of life air; ca--and; vâyoh--of the air; ca--also; tat--His; nâse--in the nose; parama-âyane--in the transcendental generating center; as'vinoh--of the As'vinî-kumâra demigods; oshadhînâm--of all medicinal herbs; ca--also; ghrânah--His smelling power; moda--pleasure; pramodayoh--specific sport.

> > TRANSLATION

> > His two nostrils are the generating centers of our breathing and of all other airs, His smelling powers generate the As'vinî-kumâra demigods and all kinds of medicinal herbs, and His breathing energies produce different kinds of fragrance.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > rûpânâm tejasâm cakshur

> > divah sûryasya câkshinî

> > karnau dis'âm ca tîrthânâm

> > s'rotram âkâs'a-s'abdayoh

> > rûpânâm--for all kinds of forms; tejasâm--of all that is illuminating; cakshuh--the eyes; divah--that which glitters; sûryasya--of the sun; ca--also; akshinî--the eyeballs; karnau--the ears; dis'âm--of all directions; ca--and; tîrthânâm--of all the Vedas; s'rotram--the sense of hearing; âkâs'a--the sky; s'abdayoh--of all sounds.

> > TRANSLATION

> > His eyes are the generating centers of all kinds of forms, and they glitter and illuminate. His eyeballs are like the sun and the heavenly planets. His ears hear from all sides and are receptacles for all the Vedas, and His sense of hearing is the generating center of the sky and of all kinds of sound.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > tad-gâtram vastu-sârânâm

> > saubhagasya ca bhâjanam

> > tvag asya spars'a-vâyos' ca

> > sarva-medhasya caiva hi

> > tat--His; gâtram--bodily surface; vastu-sârânâm--of the active principles of all articles; saubhagasya--of all auspicious opportunities; ca--and; bhâjanam--the field of production; tvak--skin; asya--His; spars'a--touch; vâyoh--of the moving airs; ca--also; sarva--all kinds of; medhasya--of sacrifices; ca--also; eva--certainly; hi--exactly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > His bodily surface is the breeding ground for the active principles of everything and for all kinds of auspicious opportunities. His skin, like the moving air, is the generating center for all kinds of sense of touch and is the place for performing all kinds of sacrifice.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > româny udbhijja jâtînâm

> > yair vâ yajn'as tu sambhritah

> > kes'a-s'mas'ru -nakhâny asya

> > s'ilâ -lohâbhra-vidyutâm

> > români--hairs on the body; udbhijja--vegetables; jâtînâm--of the kingdoms; yaih--by which; vâ--either; yajn'ah--sacrifices; tu--but; sambhritah--particularly served; kes'a--hairs on the head; s'mas'ru--facial hair; nakhâni--nails; asya--of Him; s'ilâ--stones; loha--iron ores; abhra--clouds; vidyutâm--electricity.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The hairs on His body are the cause of all vegetation, particularly of those trees which are required as ingredients for sacrifice. The hairs on His head and face are reservoirs for the clouds, and His nails are the breeding ground of electricity, stones and iron ores.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > bâhavo loka-pâlânâm

> > prâyas'ah kshema-karmanâm

> > bâhavah --arms; loka-pâlânam--of the governing deities of the planets, the demigods; prâyas'ah--almost always; kshema-karmanâm--of those who are leaders and protectors of the general mass.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord's arms are the productive fields for the great demigods and other leaders of the living entities who protect the general mass.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > vikramo bhûr bhuvah svas' ca

> > kshemasya s'aranasya ca

> > sarva-kâma-varasyâpi

> > hares ' carana âspadam

> > vikramah --forward steps; bhûh bhuvah--of the lower and upper planets; svah--as well as of heaven; ca--also; kshemasya--of protection of all that we have; s'aranasya--of fearlessness; ca--also; sarva-kâma--all that we need; varasya--of all benedictions; api--exactly; hareh--of the Lord; caranah--the lotus feet; âspadam--shelter.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus the forward steps of the Lord are the shelter for the upper, lower and heavenly planets, as well as for all that we need. His lotus feet serve as protection from all kinds of fear.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > apâm vîryasya sargasya

> > parjanyasya prajâpateh

> > pumsah s'is'na upasthas tu

> > prajâty-ânanda-nirvriteh

> > apâm--of water; vîryasya--of the semen; sargasya--of the generative; parjanyasya--of rains; prajâpateh--of the creator; pumsah--of the Lord; s'is'nah--the genitals; upasthah tu--the place where the genitals are situated; prajâti--due to begetting; ânanda--pleasure; nirvriteh--cause.

> > TRANSLATION

> > From the Lord's genitals originate water, semen, generatives, rains, and the procreators. His genitals are the cause of a pleasure that counteracts the distress of begetting.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > pâyur yamasya mitrasya

> > parimokshasya nârada

> > himsâyâ nirriter mrityor

> > nirayasya gudam smritah

> > pâyuh--the evacuating outlet; yamasya--the controlling deity of death; mitrasya--of Mitra; parimokshasya--of the evacuating hole; nârada&emdash;o Nârada; himsâyâh--of envy; nirriteh--of misfortune; mrityoh--of death; nirayasya--of hell; gudam--the rectum; smritah--is understood.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Nârada, the evacuating outlet of the universal form of the Lord is the abode of the controlling deity of death, Mitra, and the evacuating hole and the rectum of the Lord is the place of envy, misfortune, death, hell, etc.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > parâbhûter adharmasya

> > tamasas ' câpi pas'cimah

> > nâdyo nada-nadînâm ca

> > gotrânâm asthi-samhatih

> > parâbhûteh--of frustration; adharmasya--of immorality; tamasah--of ignorance; ca--and; api--as also; pas'cimah--the back; nâdyah--of the intestines; nada--of the great rivers; nadînâm--of the rivulets; ca--also; gotrânâm--of the mountains; asthi--bones; samhatih--accumulation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The back of the Lord is the place for all kinds of frustration and ignorance, as well as for immorality. From His veins flow the great rivers and rivulets, and on His bones are stacked the great mountains.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > avyakta-rasa-sindhûnâm

> > bhûtânâm nidhanasya ca

> > udaram viditam pumso

> > hridayam manasah padam

> > avyakta--the impersonal feature; rasa-sindhûnâm--of the seas and oceans of water; bhûtânâm--of those who take birth in the material world; nidhanasya--of the annihilation; ca--also; udaram--His belly; viditam--is known by the intelligent class of men; pumsah--of the great personality; hridayam--the heart; manasah--of the subtle body; padam--the place.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The impersonal feature of the Lord is the abode of great oceans, and His belly is the resting place for the materially annihilated living entities. His heart is the abode of the subtle material bodies of living beings. Thus it is known by the intelligent class of men.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > dharmasya mama tubhyam ca

> > kumârânâm bhavasya ca

> > vijn'ânasya ca sattvasya

> > parasyâtmâ parâyanam

> > dharmasya--of religious principles, or of Yamarâja; mama--mine; tubhyam--of yours; ca--and; kumârânâm--of the four Kumâras; bhavasya--Lord S'iva; ca--and also; vijn'ânasya--of transcendental knowledge; ca--also; sattvasya--of truth; parasya--of the great personality; âtmâ--consciousness; parâyanam--dependent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Also, the consciousness of that great personality is the abode of religious principles--mine, yours, and those of the four bachelors Sanaka, Sanâtana, Sanat-kumâra and Sanandana. That consciousness is also the abode of truth and transcendental knowledge.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13-16

> > aham bhavân bhavas' caiva

> > ta ime munayo 'grajâh

> > surâsura-narâ nâgâh

> > khagâ mriga-sarîsripâh

> > gandharvâpsaraso yakshâ

> > raksho-bhûta-ganoragâh

> > pas'avah pitarah siddhâ

> > vidyâdhrâs ' câranâ drumâh

> > anye ca vividhâ jîvâ

> > jala-sthala-nabhaukasah

> > graharksha-ketavas târâs

> > taditah stanayitnavah

> > sarvam purusha evedam

> > bhûtam bhavyam bhavac ca yat

> > tenedam âvritam vis'vam

> > vitastim adhitishthhati

> > aham--myself; bhavân--yourself; bhavah--Lord S'iva; ca--also; eva--certainly; te--they; ime--all; munayah--the great sages; agra jâh--born before you; sura--the demigods; asura--the demons; narâh--the human beings; nâgâh--the inhabitants of the Nâga planet; khagâh--birds; mriga--beasts; sarîsripâh--reptiles;

> > gandharva-apsarasah, yaksâh, rakshah-bhûta-gana-uragâh, pas'avah, pitarah, siddhâh, vidyâdhrâh, câranâh--all inhabitants of different planets; drumâh--the vegetable kingdom;

> > anye--many others; ca--also; vividhâh--of different varieties; jîvâh--living entities; jala--water; sthala--land; nabha-okasah--the inhabitants of the sky, or the birds; graha--the asteroids; riksha--the influential stars; ketavah--the comets; târâh--the luminaries; taditah--the lightning; stanayitnavah--the sound of the clouds;

> > sarvam--everything; purushah--the Personality of Godhead; eva idam--certainly all these; bhûtam--whatever is created; bhavyam--whatever will be created; bhavat--and whatever was created in the past; ca--also; yat--whatever; tena idam--it is all by Him; âvritam--covered; vis'vam--universally comprehending; vitastim--half a cubit; adhitishthhati--situated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Beginning from me [Brahmâ] down to you and Bhava [S'iva], all the great sages who were born before you, the demigods, the demons, the Nâgas, the human beings, the birds, the beasts, as well as the reptiles, etc., and all phenomenal manifestations of the universes, namely the planets, stars, asteroids, luminaries, lightning, thunder, and the inhabitants of the different planetary systems, namely the Gandharvas, Apsarâs, Yakshas, Râkshasas, Bhûtaganas, Uragas, Pas'us, Pitâs, Siddhas, Vidyâdharas, Câranas, and all other different varieties of living entities, including the birds, beasts, trees and everything that be, are all covered by the universal form of the Lord at all times, namely past, present and future, although He is transcendental to all of them, eternally existing in a form not exceeding nine inches.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > sva-dhishnyam pratapan prâno

> > bahis ' ca pratapaty asau

> > evam virâjam pratapams

> > tapaty antar bahih pumân

> > sva-dhishnyam--radiation; pratapan--by expansion; prânah--living energy; bahih--external; ca--also; pratapati--illuminated; asau--the sun; evam--in the same way; virâjam--the universal form; pratapan--by expansion of; tapati--enlivens; antah--internally; bahih--externally; pumân--the Supreme Personality.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sun illuminates both internally and externally by expanding its radiation; similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by expanding His universal form, maintains everything in the creation both internally and externally.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > so 'mritasyâbhayasyes'o

> > martyam annam yad atyagât

> > mahimaisha tato brahman

> > purushasya duratyayah

> > sah--He (the Lord); amritasya--of deathlessness; abhayasya--of fearlessness; îs'ah--the controller; martyam--dying; annam--fruitive action; yat--one who has; atyagât--has transcended; mahimâ--the glories; eshah--of Him; tatah--therefore; brahman--o brâhmana Nârada; purushasya--of the Supreme Personality; duratyayah--immeasurable.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the controller of immortality and fearlessness, and He is transcendental to death and the fruitive actions of the material world. O Nârada, o brâhmana, it is therefore difficult to measure the glories of the Supreme Person.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > pâdeshu sarva-bhûtâni

> > pumsah sthiti-pado viduh

> > amritam kshemam abhayam

> > tri-mûrdhno 'dhâyi mûrdhasu

> > pâdeshu--in the one fourth; sarva--all; bhûtâni--living entities; pumsah--of the Supreme Person; sthiti-padah--the reservoir of all material opulence; viduh--you should know; amritam--deathlessness; kshemam--all happiness, free from the anxiety of old age, diseases, etc.; abhayam--fearlessness; tri-mûrdhnah--beyond the three higher planetary systems; adhâyi--exist; mûrdhasu--beyond the material coverings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead is to be known as the supreme reservoir of all material opulences by the one fourth of His energy in which all the living entities exist. Deathlessness, fearlessness and freedom from the anxieties of old age and disease exist in the kingdom of God, which is beyond the three higher planetary systems and beyond the material coverings.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > pâdâs trayo bahis' câsann

> > aprajânâm ya âs'ramâh

> > antas tri-lokyâs tv aparo

> > griha-medho 'brihad-vratah

> > pâdâh trayah--the cosmos of three fourths of the Lord's energy; bahih--thus situated beyond; ca--and for all; âsan--were; aprajânâm--of those who are not meant for rebirth; ye--those; âs'ramâh--status of life; antah--within; tri-lokyâh--of the three worlds; tu--but; aparah--others; griha-medhah--attached to family life; abrihat-vratah--without strictly following a vow of celibacy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The spiritual world, which consists of three fourths of the Lord's energy, is situated beyond this material world, and it is especially meant for those who will never be reborn. Others, who are attached to family life and who do not strictly follow celibacy vows, must live within the three material worlds.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > sritî vicakrame vis'van

> > sâs'anânas'ane ubhe

> > yad avidyâ ca vidyâ ca

> > purushas tûbhayâs'rayah

> > sritî--the destination of the living entities; vicakrame--exists comprehensively; vis'van--the all-pervading Personality of Godhead; sâs'ana--activities of lording it over; anas'ane--activities in devotional service; ubhe--both; yat--what is; avidyâ--nescience; ca--as well as; vidyâ--factual knowledge; ca--and; purushah--the Supreme Person; tu--but; ubhaya--for both of them; âs'rayah--the master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By His energies, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead is thus comprehensively the master in the activities of controlling and in devotional service. He is the ultimate master of both nescience and factual knowledge of all situations.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > yasmâd andam virâd jajn'e

> > bhûtendriya-gunâtmakah

> > tad dravyam atyagâd vis'vam

> > gobhih sûrya ivâtapan

> > yasmât--from whom; andam--the universal globes; virât--and the gigantic universal form; jajn'e--appeared; bhûta--elements; indriya--senses; guna-âtmakah--qualitative; tat dravyam--the universes and the universal form, etc.; atyagât--surpassed; vis'vam--all the universes; gobhih--by the rays; sûryah--the sun; iva--like; âtapan--distributed rays and heat.

> > TRANSLATION

> > From that Personality of Godhead, all the universal globes and the universal form with all material elements, qualities and senses are generated. Yet He is aloof from such material manifestations, like the sun, which is separate from its rays and heat.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > yadâsya nâbhyân nalinâd

> > aham âsam mahâtmanah

> > nâvidam yajn'a-sambhârân

> > purushâvayavân rite

> > yadâ --at the time of; asya--His; nâbhyât--from the abdomen; nalinât--from the lotus flower; aham--myself; âsam--took my birth; mahâ-âtmanah--of the great person; na avidam--did not know; yajn'a--sacrificial; sambhârân--ingredients; purusha--of the Lord; avayavân--personal bodily limbs; rite--except.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When I was born from the abdominal lotus flower of the Lord [Mahâ-Vishnu], the great person, I had no ingredients for sacrificial performances except the bodily limbs of the great Personality of Godhead.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > teshu yajn'asya pas'avah

> > savanaspatayah kus'âh

> > idam ca deva-yajanam

> > kâlas ' coru-gunânvitah

> > teshu--in such sacrifices; yajn'asya--of the sacrificial performance; pas'avah--the animals or the sacrificial ingredients; sa-vanaspatayah--along with flowers and leaves; kus'âh--the straw; idam--all these; ca--as also; deva-yajanam--the sacrificial altar; kâlah--a suitable time; ca--as also; uru--great; guna-anvitah--qualified.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For performing sacrificial ceremonies, one requires sacrificial ingredients, such as flowers, leaves and straw, along with the sacrificial altar and a suitable time [spring].

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > vastûny oshadhayah snehâ

> > rasa-loha-mrido jalam

> > rico yajûmshi sâmâni

> > câtur-hotram ca sattama

> > vastûni--utensils; oshadhayah--grains; snehâh--clarified butter; rasa-loha-mridah--honey, gold and earth; jalam--water; ricah--the Rig Veda; yajûmsi--the Yajur Veda; sâmâni--the Sâma Veda; câtuh-hotram--four persons conducting the performance; ca--all these; sattama--o most pious one.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Other requirements are utensils, grains, clarified butter, honey, gold, earth, water, the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sâma Veda and four priests to perform the sacrifice.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > nâma-dheyâni mantrâs' ca

> > dakshinâs ' ca vratâni ca

> > devatânukramah kalpah

> > sankalpas tantram eva ca

> > nâma-dheyâni--invoking the names of the demigods; mantrâh--specific hymns to offer to a particular demigod; ca--also; dakshinâh--reward; ca--and; vratâni--vows; ca--and; devatâ-anukramah--one demigod after another; kalpah--the specific scripture; sankalpah--the specific purpose; tantram--a particular process; eva--as they are; ca--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Other necessities include invoking the different names of the demigods by specific hymns and vows of recompense, in accordance with the particular scripture, for specific purposes and by specific processes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > gatayo matayas' caiva

> > prâyas'cittam samarpanam

> > purushâvayavair ete

> > sambhârâh sambhritâ mayâ

> > gatayah--progress to the ultimate goal (Vishnu); matayah--worshiping the demigods; ca--as also; eva--certainly; prâyas'cittam--compensation; samarpanam--ultimate offering; purusha--the Personality of Godhead; avayavaih--from the parts of the body of the Personality of Godhead; ete--these; sambhârâh--the ingredients; sambhritâh--were arranged; mayâ--by me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus I had to arrange all these necessary ingredients and paraphernalia of sacrifice from the personal bodily parts of the Personality of Godhead. By invocation of the demigods' names, the ultimate goal, Vishnu, was gradually attained, and thus compensation and ultimate offering were complete.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > iti sambhrita-sambhârah

> > purushâvayavair aham

> > tam eva purusham yajn'am

> > tenaivâyajam îs'varam

> > iti--thus; sambhrita--executed; sambhârah--equipped myself well; purusha--the Personality of Godhead; avayavaih--by the parts and parcels; aham--I; tam eva--unto Him; purusham--the Personality of Godhead; yajn'am--the enjoyer of all sacrifices; tena eva--by all those; ayajam--worshiped; îs'varam--the supreme controller.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus I created the ingredients and paraphernalia for offering sacrifice out of the parts of the body of the Supreme Lord, the enjoyer of the sacrifice, and I performed the sacrifice to satisfy the Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > tatas te bhrâtara ime

> > prajânâm patayo nava

> > ayajan vyaktam avyaktam

> > purusham su-samâhitâh

> > tatah--thereafter; te--your; bhrâtarah--brothers; ime--these; prajânâm--of the living creatures; patayah--masters; nava--nine; ayajan--performed; vyaktam--manifested; avyaktam--nonmanifested; purusham--personalities; su-samâhitâh--with proper rituals.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear son, thereafter your nine brothers, who are the masters of living creatures, performed the sacrifice with proper rituals to satisfy both the manifested and nonmanifested personalities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > tatas ' ca manavah kâle

> > îjire risayo 'pare

> > pitaro vibudhâ daityâ

> > manushyâh kratubhir vibhum

> > tatah--thereafter; ca--also; manavah--the Manus, the fathers of mankind; kâle--in due course of time; îjire--worshiped; rishayah--great sages; apare--others; pitarah--the forefathers; vibudhâh--the learned scholars; daityâh--great devotees of the demigods; manushyâh--mankind; kratubhih vibhum--by performance of sacrifices to please the Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, the Manus, the fathers of mankind, the great sages, the forefathers, the learned scholars, the Daityas and mankind performed sacrifices meant to please the Supreme Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > nârâyane bhagavati

> > tad iclam vis'vam âhitam

> > grihîta-mâyoru-gunah

> > sargâdâv agunah svatah

> > nârâyane--unto Nârâyana; bhagavati--the Personality of Godhead; tat idam--all these material manifestations; vis'vam--all the universes; âhitam--situated; grihîta--having accepted; mâyâ--material energies; uru-gunah--greatly powerful; sarga-âdau--in creation, maintenance and destruction; agunah--without affinity for the material modes; svatah--self-sufficiently.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All the material manifestations of the universes are therefore situated in His powerful material energies, which He accepts self-sufficiently, although He is eternally without affinity for the material modes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > srijâmi tan-niyukto 'ham

> > haro harati tad-vas'ah

> > vis'vam purusha-rûpena

> > paripâti tri-s'akti-dhrik

> > srijâmi--do create; tat--by His; niyuktah--appointment; aham--I; harah--Lord S'iva; harati--destroys; tat-vas'ah--under His subordination; vis'vam--the whole universe; purusha--the Personality of Godhead; rûpena--by His eternal form; paripâti--maintains; tri-s'akti-dhrik--the controller of three energies.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By His will, I create, Lord S'iva destroys, and He Himself, in His eternal form as the Personality of Godhead, maintains everything. He is the powerful controller of these three energies.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > iti te 'bhihitam tâta

> > yathedam anupricchasi

> > nânyad bhagavatah kin'cid

> > bhâvyam sad-asad-âtmakam

> > iti--thus; te--unto you; abhihitam--explained; tâta--my dear son; yathâ--as; idam--all these; anupricchasi--as you have inquired; na--never; anyat--anything else; bhagavatah--beyond the Personality of Godhead; kin'cit--nothing; bhâvyam--to be thought ever; sat--cause; asat--effect; âtmakam--in the matter of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear son, whatever you inquired from me I have thus explained unto you, and you must know for certain that whatever there is (either as cause or as effect, both in the material and spiritual worlds) is dependent on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > na bhâratî me 'nga mrishopalakshyate

> > na vai kvacin me manaso mrishâ gatih

> > na me hrishîkâni patanty asat-pathe

> > yan me hridautkanthhyavatâ dhrito harih

> > na--never; bhâratî--statements; me--mind; anga--o Nârada; mrishâ--untruth; upalakshyate--prove to be; na--never; vai--certainly; kvacit--at any time; me--mine; manasah--of the mind; mrishâ--untruth; gatih--progress; na--nor; me--mine; hrishîkâni--senses; patanti--degrades; asat-pathe--in temporary matter; yat--because; me--mine; hridâ--heart; autkanthhyavatâ--by great earnestness; dhritah--caught hold of; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Nârada, because I have caught hold of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, with great zeal, whatever I say has never proved to have been false. Nor is the progress of my mind ever deterred. Nor are my senses ever degraded by temporary attachment to matter.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > so 'ham samâmnâyamayas tapomayah

> > prajâpatînâm abhivanditah patih

> > âsthâya yogam nipunam samâhitas

> > tam nâdhyagaccham yata âtma-sambhavah

> > sah aham--myself (the great Brahmâ); samâmnâya-mayah--in the chain of disciplic succession of Vedic wisdom; tapah-mayah--successfully having undergone all austerities; prajâpatînâm--of all the forefathers of living entities; abhivanditah--worshipable; patih--master; âsthâya--successfully practiced; yogam--mystic powers; nipunam--very expert; samâhitah--self-realized; tam--the Supreme Lord; na--did not; adhyagaccham--properly understood; yatah--from whom; âtma--self; sambhavah--generated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although I am known as the great Brahmâ, perfect in the disciplic succession of Vedic wisdom, and although I have undergone all austerities and am an expert in mystic powers and self-realization, and although I am recognized as such by the great forefathers of the living entities, who offer me respectful obeisances, still I cannot understand Him, the Lord, the very source of my birth.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > nato 'smy aham tac-caranam samîyushâm

> > bhavac-chidam svasty-ayanam sumangalam

> > yo hy âtma-mâyâ-vibhavam sma paryagâd

> > yathâ nabhah svântam athâpare kutah

> > natah--let me offer my obeisances; asmi--am; aham--I; tat--the Lord's; caranam--feet; samîyushâm--of the surrendered soul; bhavat-chidam--that which stops repetition of birth and death; svasti-ayanam--perception of all happiness; su-mangalam--all-auspicious; yah--one who; hi--exactly; âtma-mâyâ--personal energies; vibhavam--potency; sma--certainly; paryagât--cannot estimate; yathâ--as much as; nabhah--the sky; sva-antam--its own limit; atha--therefore; apare--others; kutah--how.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore it is best for me to surrender unto His feet, which alone can deliver one from the miseries of repeated birth and death. Such surrender is all-auspicious and allows one to perceive all happiness. Even the sky cannot estimate the limits of its own expansion. So what can others do when the Lord Himself is unable to estimate His own limits?

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > nâham na yûyam yad-ritâm gatim vidur

> > na vâmadevah kim utâpare surâh

> > tan-mâyayâ mohita-buddhayas tv idam

> > vinirmitam câtma-samam vicakshmahe

> > na--neither; aham--I; yûyam--all you sons; yat--whose; ritâm--factual; gatim--movements; viduh--do know; na--nor; vâmadevah--Lord S'iva; kim--what; uta--else; apare--others; surâh--demigods; tat--by His; mâyayâ--by the illusory energy; mohita--bewildered; buddhayah--with such intelligence; tu--but; idam--this; vinirmitam--what is created; ca--also; âtma-samam--by dint of one's personal ability; vicakshmahe--observe.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Since neither Lord S'iva nor you nor I could ascertain the limits of spiritual happiness, how can other demigods know it? And because all of us are bewildered by the illusory external energy of the Supreme Lord, we can see only this manifested cosmos according to our individual ability.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > yasyâvatâra-karmâni

> > gâyanti hy asmad-âdayah

> > na yam vidanti tattvena

> > tasmai bhagavate namah

> > yasya--whose; avatâra--incarnation; karmâni--activities; gâyanti--chant in glorification; hi--indeed; asmat-âdayah--persons like us; na--do not; yam--whom; vidanti--know; tattvena--cent percent as He is; tasmai--unto Him; bhagavate--unto the personality of Godhead S'rî Krishna; namah--respectful obeisances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose incarnations and activities are chanted by us for glorification, though He can hardly be fully known as He is.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > sa esha âdyah purushah

> > kalpe kalpe srijaty ajah

> > âtmâtmany âtmanâtmânam

> > sa samyacchati pâti ca

> > sah--He; eshah--the very; âdyah--the original Personality of Godhead; purushah--the Mahâ-Vishnu incarnation, a plenary portion of Govinda, Lord Krishna; kalpe kalpe--in each and every millennium; srijati--creates; ajah--the unborn; âtmâ--self; âtmani--upon the self; âtmanâ--by His own self; âtmânam--own self; sah--He; samyacchati--absorbs; pâti--maintains; ca--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > That supreme original Personality of Godhead, Lord S'ri Krishna, expanding His plenary portion as Mahâ-Vishnu, the first incarnation, creates this manifested cosmos, but He is unborn. The creation, however, takes place in Him, and the material substance and manifestations are all Himself . He maintains them for some time and absorbs them into Himself again.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40-41

> > vis'uddham kevalam jn'ânam

> > pratyak samyag avasthitam

> > satyam pûrnam anâdy-antam

> > nirgunam nityam advayam

> > rishe vidanti munayah

> > pras'ântâtmendriyâs'ayâh

> > yadâ tad evâsat-tarkais

> > tirodhîyeta viplutam

> > vis'uddham--without any material tinge; kevalam--pure and perfect; jn'ânam--knowledge; pratyak--all-pervading; samyak--in fullness; avasthitam--situated; satyam--truth; pûrnam--absolute; anâdi--without any beginning; antam--and so also without any end; nirgunam--devoid of material modes; nityam--eternal; advayam--without any rival;

> > rishe--o Nârada, o great sage; vidanti--they can only understand; munayah--the great thinkers; pras'ânta--pacified; âtma--self; indriya--senses; âs'ayâh--sheltered; yadâ--while; tat--that; eva--certainly; asat--untenable; tarkaih--arguments; tirah-dhîyeta--disappears; viplutam--distorted.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead is pure, being free from all contaminations of material tinges. He is the Absolute Truth and the embodiment of full and perfect knowledge. He is all-pervading, without beginning or end, and without rival. O Nârada, o great sage, the great thinkers can know Him when completely freed from all material hankerings and when sheltered under undisturbed conditions of the senses. Otherwise, by untenable arguments, all is distorted, and the Lord disappears from our sight.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > âdyo 'vatârah purushah parasya

> > kâlah svabhâvah sad-asan-manas' ca

> > dravyam vikâro guna indriyâni

> > virât svarât sthâsnu carishnu bhûmnah

> > âdyah--first; avatârah--incarnation; purushah&emdash;Kâranârnavas'âyî Vishnu; parasya--of the Lord; kâlah--time; svabhâvah--space; sat--result; asat--cause; manah--mind; ca--also; dravyum--elements; vikârah--material ego; gunah--modes of nature; indriyâni--senses; virât--the complete whole body; svarât&emdash;Garbhodakas'âyî Vishnu; sthâsnu--immovable; carishnu--movable; bhûmnah--of the Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Kâranârnavas'âyî Vishnu is the first incarnation of the Supreme Lord, and He is the master of eternal time, space, cause and effects, mind, the elements, the material ego, the modes of nature, the senses, the universal form of the Lord, Garbhodakas'âyî Vishnu, and the sum total of all living beings, both moving and nonmoving.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43-45

> > aham bhavo yajn'a ime prajes'â

> > dakshâdayo ye bhavad-âdayas' ca

> > svarloka-pâlâh khagaloka-pâlâ

> > nriloka-pâlâs talaloka-pâlâh

> > gandharva-vidyâdhara-câranes'â

> > ye yaksha-rakshoraga-nâga-nâthâh

> > ye vâ rishînâm rishabhâh pitrinâm

> > daityendra-siddhes'vara-dânavendrâh

> > anye ca ye preta-pis'âca-bhûta-

> > kûshmânda-yâdo-mriga-pakshy-adhîs'âh

> > yat kin'ca loke bhagavan mahasvad

> > ojah-sahasvad balavat ksamâvat

> > s'rî -hrî-vibhûty-âtmavad adbhutârnam

> > tattvam param rûpavad asva-rûpam

> > aham--myself (Brahmâjî); bhavah--Lord S'iva; yajn'ah--Lord Vishnu; ime--all these; prajâ-îs'âh--the father of the living beings; daksha-âdayah--Daksha, Marîci, Manu, etc.; ye--those; bhavat--yourself; âdayah ca--and the bachelors (Sanat-kumâra and his brothers); svarloka-pâlâh--the leaders of the heavenly planets; khagaloka-pâlâh--the leaders of space travelers; nriloka-pâlâh--the leaders of mankind; talaloka-pâlâh--the leaders of the lower planets;

> > gandharva--the residents of Gandharvaloka; vidyâdhara--the residents of the Vidyâdhara planet; cârana-îs'âh--the leaders of the Câranas; ye--as also others; yaksha--the leaders of the Yakshas; raksha--demons; uraga--snakes; nâga-nâthâh--the leaders of Nâgaloka (below the earth); ye--others; vâ--also; rishînâm--of the sages; rishabhâh--the chief; pitrinâm--of the forefathers; daitya-indra--leaders of the atheists; siddha-îs'vara--leaders of the Siddhaloka planets (spacemen); dânava-indrâh--leaders of the non-Âryans;

> > anye--besides them; ca--also; ye--those; preta--dead bodies; pis'âca--evil spirits; bhûta--jinn; kûsmânda--a special type of evil spirit; yâdah--aquatics; mriga--animals; pakshi-adhîs'âh--giant eagles; yat--anything; kim ca--and everything; loke--in the world; bhagavat--possessed of bhaga, or extraordinary power; mahasvat--of a special degree; ojah-sahasvat--specific mental and sensual dexterity; balavat--possessed of strength; kshamâvat--possessed of forgiveness; s'rî--beauty; hrî--ashamed of impious acts; vibhûti--riches; âtmavat--possessed of intelligence; adbhuta--wonderful; arnam--race; tattvam--specific truth; param--transcendental; rûpavat--as if the form of; asva-rûpam--not the form of the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I myself [Brahmâ], Lord S'iva, Lord Vishnu, great generators of living beings like Daksha and Prajâpati, yourselves [Nârada and the Kumâras], heavenly demigods like Indra and Candra, the leaders of the Bhûrloka planets, the leaders of the earthly planets, the leaders of the lower planets, the leaders of the Gandharva planets, the leaders of the Vidyâdhara planets, the leaders of the Câranaloka planets, the leaders of the Yakshas, Rakshas and Uragas, the great sages, the great demons, the great atheists and the great spacemen, as well as the dead bodies, evil spirits, satans, jinn, kûsmândas, great aquatics, great beasts and great birds, etc.--in other words, anything and everything which is exceptionally possessed of power, opulence, mental and perceptual dexterity, strength, forgiveness, beauty, modesty, opulence, and breeding, whether in form or formless--may appear to be the specific truth and the form of the Lord, but actually they are not so. They are only a fragment of the transcendental potency of the Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > prâdhânyato yân risha âmananti

> > lîlâvatârân purushasya bhûmnah

> > âpîyatâm karna-kashâya-s'oshân

> > anukramishye ta imân supes'ân

> > prâdhânyatah--chiefly; yân--all those; rishe--o Nârada; âmananti--worship; lîlâ--pastimes; avatârân--incarnations; purushasya--of the personality of Godhead; bhûmnah--the Supreme; âpîyatâm--in order to be relished by you; karna--ears; kashâya--foul matter; s'oshân--that which evaporates; anukramishye--shall state one after another; te--they; imân--as they are in my heart; su-pes'ân--all pleasing to hear.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Nârada, now I shall state, one after another, the transcendental incarnations of the Lord known as lîlâ-avatâras. Hearing of their activities counteracts all foul matters accumulated in the ear. These pastimes are pleasing to hear and are to be relished. Therefore they are in my heart.

> > Back to the running text