> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> 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 6

> *******

> Chapter Seven: Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Brhaspati.

> *******

> TEXT 1

> srî-râjovâca

> kasya hetoh parityaktâ

> âcâryenâtmanah surâh

> etad âcaksva bhagavan

> chisyânâm akramam gurau

> srî-râjâ uvâca--the King inquired; kasya hetoh--for what reason; parityaktâh--rejected; âcâryena--by the spiritual master, Brhaspati; âtmanah--of himself; surâh--all the demigods; etat--this; âcaksva--kindly describe; bhagavan--O great sage (Sukadeva Gosvâmî); sisyânâm--of the disciples; akramam--the offense; gurau--unto the spiritual master.

> TRANSLATION

> Maharaja Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: O great sage, why did the spiritual master of the demigods, Brhaspati, reject the demigods, who were his own disciples? What offense did the demigods commit against their spiritual master? Please describe to me this incident.

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> TEXT 2-8

> Srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> indras tribhuvanaisvarya-

> madollanghita-satpathah

> marudbhir vasubhî rudrair

> âdityair rbhubhir nrpa

> visvedevais ca sâdhyais ca

> nâsatyâbhyâm parisritah

> siddha-cârana-gandharvair

> munibhir brahmavâdibhih

> vidyâdharâpsarobhis ca

> kinnaraih patagoragaih

> nisevyamâno maghavân

> stûyamânas ca bhârata

> upagîyamâno lalitam

> âsthânâdhyâsanâsritah

> pândurenâtapatrena

> candra-mandala-cârunâ

> yuktas cânyaih pâramesthyais

> câmara-vyajanâdibhih

> virâjamânah paulamyâ

> sahârdhâsanayâ bhrsam

> sa yadâ paramâcâryam

> devânâm âtmanas ca ha

> nâbhyanandata samprâptam

> pratyutthânâsanâdibhih

> vâcaspatim muni-varam

> surâsura-namaskrtam

> noccacâlâsanâd indrah

> pasyann api sabhâgatam

> srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî replied; indrah--King Indra; tri-bhuvana-aisvarya--because of possessing all the material opulences of the three worlds; mada--due to pride; ullanghita--who has transgressed; sat-pathah--the path of Vedic civilization; marudbhih--by the wind demigods, known as the Maruts; vasubhih--by the eight Vasus; rudraih--by the eleven Rudras; âdityaih--by the Âdityas; rbhubhih--by the Rbhus; nrpa--O King;

> visvedevaih ca--and by the Visvadevas; sâdhyaih--by the Sâdhyas; ca--also; nâsatyâbhyâm--by the two Asvinî-kumâras; parisritah--surrounded; siddha--by the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; cârana--the Câranas; gandharvaih--and the Gandharvas; munibhih--by the great sages; brahmavâdibhih--by greatly learned impersonalist scholars; vidyâdhara-apsarobhih ca--and by the Vidyâdharas and Apsarâs; kinnaraih--by the Kinnaras;

> pataga-uragaih--by the Patagas (birds) and Uragas (snakes): nisevyamânah--being served; maghavân--King Indra; stûyamânah ca--and being offered prayers; bhârata--O Mahârâja Parîksit; upagîyamânah--being sung before; lalitam--very sweetly;

> âsthâna--in his assembly; adhyâsana-âsritah--situated on the throne; pândurena--white; âtapatrena--with an umbrella over the head; candra-mandala-cârunâ--as beautiful as the circle of the moon; yuktah--endowed; ca anyaih--and by other; pâramesthyaih--symptoms of an exalted king;

> câmara--by yak-tail; vyajana-âdibhih--fans and other paraphernalia; virâjamânah--shining; paulamyâ--his wife, Sacî; saha--with; ardha-âsanayâ--who occupied half the throne; bhrsam--greatly; sah--he (Indra); yadâ--when; parama-âcâryam--the most exalted âcârya, spiritual master;

> devânâm--of all the demigods; âtmanah--of himself; ca--and; ha--indeed; na--not; abhyanandata--welcomed; samprâptam--having appeared in the assembly; pratyutthâna--by getting up from the throne; âsana-âdibhih--and by a seat and other greetings; vâcaspatim--the priest of the demigods, Brhaspati; muni-varam--the best of all the sages;

> sura-asura-namaskrtam--who is respected by both the demigods and the asuras; na--not; uccacâla--did get up; âsanât--from the throne; indrah--Indra; pasyan api--although seeing; sabhâ-âgatam--entering the assembly.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, once upon a time, the King of heaven, Indra, being extremely proud because of his great opulence of the three worlds, transgressed the law of Vedic etiquette. Seated on his throne, he was surrounded by the Maruts, Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Rbhus, Visvadevas, Sadhyas, Asvini-kumaras, Siddhas, Caranas and Gandharvas and by great saintly persons. Also surrounding him were the Vidyadharas, Apsaras, Kinnaras, Patagas [birds] and Uragas [snakes]. All of them were offering Indra their respects and services, and the Apsaras and Gandharvas were dancing and singing with very sweet musical instruments. Over Indra's head was a white umbrella as effulgent as the full moon. Fanned by yak-tail whisks and served with all the paraphernalia of a great king, Indra was sitting with his wife, Sacidevi, who occupied half the throne, when the great sage Brhaspati appeared in that assembly. Brhaspati, the best of the sages, was the spiritual master of Indra and the demigods and was respected by the demigods and demons alike. Nevertheless, although Indra saw his spiritual master before him, he did not rise from his own seat or offer a seat to his spiritual master, nor did Indra offer him a respectful welcome. Indra did nothing to show him respect.

> *******

> TEXT 9

> tato nirgatya sahasâ

> kavir ângirasah prabhuh

> âyayau sva-grham tûsnîm

> vidvân srî-mada-vikriyâm

> tatah--thereafter; nirgatya--going out; sahasâ--suddenly; kavih--the great learned sage; ângirasah--Brhaspati; prabhuh--the master of the demigods; âyayau--returned; sva-grham--to his home; tûsnîm--being silent; vidvân--having known; srî-mada-vikriyâm--deterioration because of madness due to opulence.

> TRANSLATION

> Brhaspati knew everything that would happen in the future. Seeing Indra's transgression of etiquette, he completely understood that Indra was puffed up by his material opulence. Although able to curse Indra, he did not do so. Instead, he left the assembly and in silence returned to his home.

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> TEXT 10

> tarhy eva pratibudhyendro

> guru-helanam âtmanah

> garhayâm âsa sadasi

> svayam âtmânam âtmanâ

> tarhi--then, immediately; eva--indeed; pratibudhya--realizing; indrah--King Indra; guru-helanam--disrespect to the spiritual master; âtmanah--his own; garhayâm âsa--reproached; sadasi--in that assembly; svayam--personally; âtmânam--himself; âtmânâ--by himself.

> TRANSLATION

> Indra, the King of heaven, could immediately understand his mistake. Realizing he had disrespected his spiritual master, he condemned himself in the presence of all the members of the assembly.

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> TEXT 11

> aho bata mayâsâdhu

> krtam vai dabhra-buddhinâ

> yan mayaisvarya-mattena

> guruh sadasi kâtkrtah

> aho--alas: bata--indeed; mayâ--by me; asâdhu--disrespectful; krtam--the action done; vai--certainly; dabhra-buddhinâ--being of less intelligence; yat--because; mayâ--by me; aisvarya-mattena--being very proud of material opulence; guruh--the spiritual master: sadasi--in this assembly; kât-krtah--mistreated.

> TRANSLATION

> Alas, what a regrettable deed I have committed because of my lack of intelligence and my pride in my material opulences. I failed to show respect to my spiritual master when he entered this assembly, and thus I have insulted him.

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> TEXT 12

> ko grdhyet pandito laksmîm

> tripistapa-pater api

> yayâham âsuram bhâvam

> nîto 'dya vibudhesvarah

> kah--who; grdhyet--would accept; panditah--a learned man; laksmîm--opulences; tri-pista-pa-pateh api--although I am the King of the demigods; yayâ--by which; aham--I; âsuram--demoniac; bhâvam--mentality; nîtah--carried to; adya--now; vibudha--of the demigods, who are in the mode of goodness; îsvarah--the King.

> TRANSLATION

> Although I am King of the demigods, who are situated in the mode of goodness, I was proud of a little opulence and polluted by false ego. Under the circumstances, who in this world would accept such riches at the risk of falling down ? Alas! I condemn my wealth and opulence.

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> TEXT 13

> yah pâramesthyam dhisanam

> adhitisthan na kancana

> pratyuttisthed iti brûyur

> dharmam te na param viduh

> yah--anyone who; pâramesthyam--royal; dhisanam--throne; adhitisthan--sitting on; na--not; kancana--anyone; pratyuttisthet--should rise before; iti--thus; brûyuh--those who say; dharmam--the codes of religion; te--they; na--not; param--higher: viduh--know.

> TRANSLATION

> If a person says, "One who is situated on the exalted throne of a king should not stand up to show respect to another king or a brahmana," it is to be understood that he does not know the superior religious principles.

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> TEXT 14

> tesâm kupatha-destrnâm

> patatâm tamasi hy adhah

> ye sraddadhyur vacas te vai

> majjanty asma-plavâ iva

> tesâm--of them (the misleaders); ku-patha-destrnâm--who show the path of danger; patatâm--themselves falling; tamasi--in darkness; hi--indeed; adhah--down; ye--anyone who; sraddadhyuh--place faith in; vacah--the words; te--they; vai--indeed; majjanti--sink; asma-plavâh--boats made of stone; iva--like.

> TRANSLATION

> Leaders who have fallen into ignorance and who mislead people by directing them to the path of destruction [as described in the previous verse] are, in effect, boarding a stone boat, and so too are those who blindly follow them. A stone boat would be unable to float and would sink in the water with its passengers. Similarly, those who mislead people go to hell, and their followers go with them.

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> TEXT 15

> athâham amarâcâryam

> agâdha-dhisanam dvijam

> prasâdayisye nisathah

> sîrsnâ tac-caranam sprsan

> atha--therefore; aham--I; amara-âcâryam--the spiritual master of the demigods; agâdha-dhisanam--whose spiritual knowledge is deep; dvijam--the perfect brâhmana; prasâdayisye--I shall please; nisathah--without duplicity; sîrsnâ--with my head; tat-caranam--his lotus feet; sprsan--touching.

> TRANSLATION

> King Indra said: Therefore with great frankness and without duplicity I shall now bow my head at the lotus feet of Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods. Because he is in the mode of goodness, he is fully aware of all knowledge and is the best of the brahmanas. Now I shall touch his lotus feet and offer my obeisances unto him to try to satisfy him.

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> TEXT 16

> evam cintayatas tasya

> maghono bhagavân grhât

> brhaspatir gato 'drstâm

> gatim adhyâtma-mâyayâ

> evam--thus; cintayatah--while thinking very seriously; tasya--he; maghonah--Indra; bhagavân--the most powerful; grhât--from his home; brhaspatih--Brhaspati; gatah--went; adrstâm--invisible; gatim--to a state; adhyâtma--due to being highly elevated in spiritual consciousness; mâyayâ--by his potency.

> TRANSLATION

> While Indra, the King of the demigods, thought in this way and repented in his own assembly, Brhaspati, the most powerful spiritual master, understood his mind. Thus he became invisible to Indra and left home, for Brhaspati was spiritually more powerful than King Indra.

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> TEXT 17

> guror nâdhigatah samjnâm

> parîksan bhagavân svarât

> dhyâyan dhiyâ surair yuktah

> sarma nâlabhatâtmanah

> guroh--of his spiritual master; na--not; adhigatah--finding; samjnâm--trace; parîksan--searching vigorously all around; bhagavân--the most powerful Indra; svarât--independent; dhyâyan--meditating; dhiyâ--by wisdom; suraih--by the demigods; yuktah--surrounded; sarma--peace; na--not; alabhata--obtained; âtmanah--of the mind.

> TRANSLATION

> Although Indra searched vigorously with the assistance of the other demigods, he could not find Brhaspati. Then Indra thought, "Alas, my spiritual master has become dissatisfied with me, and now I have no means of achieving good fortune." Although Indra was surrounded by demigods, he could not find peace of mind.

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> TEXT 18

> tac chrutvaivâsurâh sarva

> âsrityausanasam matam

> devân pratyudyamam cakrur

> durmadâ âtatâyinah

> tat srutvâ--hearing that news; eva--indeed; asurâh--the demons; sarve--all; âsritya--taking shelter of; ausanasam--of Sukrâcârya; matam--the instruction; devân--the demigods; pratyudyamam--action against; cakruh--performed; durmadâh--not very intelligent; âtatâyinah--equipped with arms for fighting.

> TRANSLATION

> Hearing of the pitiable condition of King Indra, the demons, following the instructions of their guru, Sukracarya, equipped themselves with weapons and declared war against the demigods.

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> TEXT 19

> tair visrstesubhis tîksnair

> nirbhinnângoru-bâhavah

> brahmânam saranam jagmuh

> sahendrâ nata-kandharâh

> taih--by them (the demons); visrsta--thrown; isubhih--by the arrows; tîksnaih--very sharp; nirbhinna--pierced all over; anga--bodies; uru--thighs; bâhavah--and arms; brahmânam--of Lord Brahmâ; saranam--the shelter; jagmuh--approached; saha-indrâh--with King Indra; nata-kandharâh--their heads bent downward.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods' heads, thighs and arms and the other parts of their bodies were injured by the sharp arrows of the demons. The demigods, headed by Indra, saw no other course than to immediately approach Lord Brahma with bowed heads for shelter and proper instruction.

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> TEXT 20

> tâms tathâbhyarditân vîksya

> bhagavân âtmabhûr ajah

> krpayâ parayâ deva

> uvâca parisântvayan

> tân--them (the demigods); tathâ--in that way; abhyarditân--afflicted by the weapons of the demons; vîksya--seeing; bhagavân--the most powerful; âtma-bhûh--Lord Brahmâ; ajah--who was not born like an ordinary human being; krpayâ--out of causeless mercy; parayâ--great; devah--Lord Brahmâ; uvâca--said; parisântvayan--pacifying them.

> TRANSLATION

> When the most powerful Lord Brahma saw the demigods coming toward him, their bodies gravely injured by the arrows of the demons, he pacified them by his great causeless mercy and spoke as follows.

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> TEXT 21

> srî-brahmovâca

> aho bata sura-sresthâ

> hy abhadram vah krtam mahat

> brahmistham brâhmanam dântam

> aisvaryân nâbhyanandata

> srî-brahmâ uvâca--Lord Brahmâ said; aho--alas; bata--it is very astonishing; sura-sresthâh--O best of the demigods; hi--indeed; abhadram--injustice; vah--by you; krtam--done; mahat--great: brahmistham--a person fully obedient to the Supreme Brahman: brâhmanam--a brâhmana; dântam--who has fully controlled the mind and senses; aisvaryât--because of your material opulence; na--not: abhyanandata--welcomed properly.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Brahma said: O best of the demigods, unfortunately, because of madness resulting from your material opulence, you failed to receive Brhaspati properly when he came to your assembly. Because he is aware of the Supreme Brahman and fully in control of his senses, he is the best of the brahmanas. Therefore it is very astonishing that you have acted impudently toward him.

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> TEXT 22

> tasyâyam anayasyâsît

> parebhyo vah parâbhavah

> praksînebhyah sva-vairibhyah

> samrddhânâm ca yat surâh

> tasya--that; ayam--this; anayasya--of your ungrateful activity; âsît--was; parebhyah--by others; vah--of all of you; parâbhavah--the defeat; praksînebhyah--although they were weak; sva-vairibhyah--by your own enemies, who were previously defeated by you; samrddhânâm--being yourselves very opulent; ca--and; yat--which; surâh--O demigods.

> TRANSLATION

> Because of your misbehavior toward Brhaspati, you have been defeated by the demons. My dear demigods, since the demons were weak, having been defeated by you several times, how else could you, who were so advanced in opulence, be defeated by them?

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> TEXT 23

> maghavan dvisatah pasya

> praksînân gurv-atikramât

> sampraty upacitân bhûyah

> kâvyam ârâdhya bhaktitah

> âdadîran nilayanam

> mamâpi bhrgu-devatâh

> maghavan--O Indra; dvisatah--your enemies; pasya--just see; praksînân--being very weak (formerly); guru-atikramât--because of disrespecting their guru, Sukrâcârya; samprati--at the present moment; upacitân--powerful; bhûyah--again; kâvyam--their spiritual master, Sukrâcârya; ârâdhya--worshiping; bhaktitah--with great devotion; âdadîran--may take away; nilayanam--the abode, Satyaloka: mama--my; api--even; bhrgu-devatâh--who are now strong devotees of Sukrâcârya, the disciple of Bhrgu.

> TRANSLATION

> O Indra, your enemies, the demons, were extremely weak because of their disrespect toward Sukracarya, but since they have now worshiped Sukracarya with great devotion, they have again become powerful. By their devotion to Sukracarya, they have increased their strength so much that now they are even able to easily seize my abode from me.

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> TEXT 24

> tripistapam kim ganayanty abhedya-

> mantrâ bhrgûnâm anusiksitârthâh

> na vipra-govinda-gav-îsvarânâm

> bhavanty abhadrâni naresvarânâm

> tri-pista-pam--all the demigods, including Lord Brahmâ; kim--what; ganayanti--they care for; abhedya-mantrâh--whose determination to carry out the orders of the spiritual master is unbreakable; bhrgûnâm--of the disciples of Bhrgu Muni like Sukrâcârya; anusi-ksita-arthâh--deciding to follow the instructions; na--not; vipra--the brahmanas; govinda--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; go--the cows; îsvarânâm--of persons favoring or considering worshipable; bhavanti--are; abhadrâni--any misfortunes; nara-îsvarânâm--or of kings who follow this principle.

> TRANSLATION

> Because of their firm determination to follow the instructions of Sukracarya, his disciples, the demons, are now unconcerned about the demigods. In fact, kings or others who have determined faith in the mercy of brahmanas, cows and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and who always worship these three are always strong in their position.

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> TEXT 25

> tad visvarûpam bhajatâsu vipram

> tapasvinam tvâstram athâtmavantam

> sabhâjito 'rthân sa vidhâsyate vo

> yadi ksamisyadhvam utâsya karma

> tat--therefore; visvarûpam--Visvarûpa; bhajata--just worship as guru; âsu--immediately; vipram--who is a perfect brâhmana; tapasvinam--undergoing great austerities and penances; tvâstram--the son of Tvastâ; atha--as well as; âtma-vantam--very independent; sabhâjitah--being worshiped; arthân--the interests; sah--he; vidhâsyate--will execute; vah--of all of you; yadi--if; ksamisyadhvam--you tolerate; uta--indeed; asya--his; karma--activities (to support the Daityas).

> TRANSLATION

> O demigods, I instruct you to approach Visvarupa, the son of Tvasta, and accept him as your guru. He is a pure and very powerful brahmana undergoing austerity and penances. Pleased by your worship, he will fulfill your desires, provided that you tolerate his being inclined to side with the demons.

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> TEXT 26

> srî-suka uvâca

> ta evam uditâ râjan

> brahmanâ vigata jvarâh

> rsim tvâstram upavrajya

> parisvajyedam abruvan

> srî-sukah uvâca--Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; te--all the demigods; evam--thus; uditâh--being advised; râjan--O King Parîksit; brahmanâ--by Lord Brahmâ; vigata jvarâh--being relieved from the aggrievement caused by the demons; rsim--the great sage; tvâstram--to the son of Tvastâ; upavrajya--going; parisvajya--embracing; idam--this; abruvan--spoke.

> TRANSLATION

> Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus advised by Lord Brahma and relieved of their anxiety, all the demigods went to the sage Visvarupa, the son of Tvasta. My dear King, they embraced him and spoke as follows.

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> TEXT 27

> Srî-devâ ûcuh

> vayam te 'tithayah prâptâ

> âsramam bhadram astu te

> kâmah sampâdyatâm tâta

> pitrnâm samayocitah

> srî-devâh ûcuh--the demigods said; vayam--we; te--your; atithayah--guests; prâptâh--arrived at; âsramam--your abode; bhadram--good fortune; astu--let there be; te--unto you; kâmah--the desire; sampâdyatâm--let it be executed; tâta--O darling; pitrnâm--of us, who are just like your fathers; samayocitah--suitable to the present time.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods said: Beloved Visvarupa, may there be all good fortune for you. We, the demigods, have come to your asrama as your guests. Please try to fulfill our desires according to the time, since we are on the level of your parents.

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> TEXT 28

> putrânâm hi paro dharmah

> pitr-susrûsanam satâm

> api putravatâm brahman

> kim uta brahmacârinâm

> putrânâm--of sons; hi--indeed; parah--superior; dharmah--religious principle; pitr-susrûsanam--the service of the parents; satâm--good; api--even; putra-vatâm--of those who have sons; brahman--O dear brâhmana; kim uta--what to speak; brahmacârinâm--of brahmacârî's.

> TRANSLATION

> O brahmana, the highest duty of a son, even though he has sons of his own, is to serve his parents, and what to speak of a son who is a brahmacari?

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> TEXT 29-30

> âcâryo brahmano mûrtih

> pitâ mûrtih prajâpateh

> bhrâtâ marutpater mûrtir

> mâtâ sâksât ksites tanuh

> dayâyâ bhaginî mûrtir

> dharmasyâtmâtithih svayam

> agner abhyâgato mûrtih

> sarva-bhûtâni câtmanah

> âcâryah--the teacher or spiritual master who instructs Vedic knowledge by his personal behavior; brahmanah--of all the Vedas; mûrtih--the personification; pitâ--the father; mûrtih--the personification; prajâpateh--of Lord Brahmâ; bhrâtâ--the brother; marut-pateh mûrtih--the personification of Indra; mâtâ--the mother; sâksât--directly; ksiteh--of the earth; tanuh--the body;

> dayâyâh--of mercy; bhaginî--the sister; mûrtih--the personification; dharmasya--of religious principles; âtma--the self; atithih--the guest; svayam--personally; agneh--of the fire-god; abhyâgatah--the invited guest; mûrtih--the personification; sarva-bhûtâni--all living entities; ca--and; âtmanah--of the Supreme Lord Visnu.

> TRANSLATION

> The acarya, the spiritual master who teaches all the Vedic knowledge and gives initiation by offering the sacred thread, is the personification of all the Vedas. Similarly, a father personifies Lord Brahma; a brother, King Indra; a mother, the planet earth; and a sister, mercy. A guest personifies religious principles, an invited guest personifies the demigod Agni, and all living entities personify Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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> TEXT 31

> tasmât pitrnâm ârtânâm

> ârtim para-parâbhavam

> tapasâpanayams tâta

> sandesam kartum arhasi

> tasmât--therefore; pitrnâm--of the parents; ârtânâm--who are in distress; ârtim--the grief; para-parâbhavam--being defeated by the enemies; tapasâ--by the strength of your austerities; apanayan--taking away; tâta--O dear son; sandesam--our desire; kartum arhasi--you deserve to execute.

> TRANSLATION

> Dear son, we have been defeated by our enemies, and therefore we are very much aggrieved. Please mercifully fulfill our desires by relieving our distress through the strength of your austerities. Please fulfill our prayers.

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> TEXT 32

> vrnimahe tvopâdhyâyam

> brahmistham brâhmanam gurum

> yathânjasâ vijesyâmah

> sapatnâms tava tejasâ

> vrnimahe--we choose; tvâ--you; upâdhyâyam--as teacher and spiritual master; brahmistham--being perfectly aware of the Supreme Brahman; brâhmanam--a qualified brâhmana; gurum--the perfect spiritual master; yathâ--so that; anjasâ--very easily; vijesyâmah--we shall defeat; sapatnân--our rivals; tava--your; tejasâ--by the power of austerity.

> TRANSLATION

> Since you are completely aware of the Supreme Brahman, you are a perfect brahmana, and therefore you are the spiritual master of all orders of life. We accept you as our spiritual master and director so that by the power of your austerity we may easily defeat the enemies who have conquered us.

> *******

> TEXT 33

> na garhayanti hy arthesu

> yavisthânghry-abhivâdanam

> chandobhyo 'nyatra na brahman

> vayo jyaisthyasya kâranam

> na--not; garhayanti--forbid; hi--indeed; arthesu--in acquiring interests; yavistha-anghri--at the lotus feet of a junior; abhivâdanam--offering obeisances; chandobhyah--the Vedic mantras; anyatra--apart from; na--not; brahman--O brâhmana; vayah--age; jyaisthyasya--of seniority; kâranam--the cause.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods continued: Do not fear criticism for being younger than us. Such etiquette does not apply in regard to Vedic mantras. Except in relationship to Vedic mantras, seniority is determined by age, but one may offer respectful obeisances even to a younger person who is advanced in chanting Vedic mantras. Therefore although you are junior in relationship to us, you may become our priest without hesitation.

> *******

> TEXT 34

> srî-rsir uvâca

> abhyarthitah sura-ganaih

> paurahitye mahâ-tapâh

> sa visvarûpas tân âha

> prasannah slaksnayâ girâ

> srî-rsih uvâca--Sukadeva Gosvâmî continued to speak; abhyarthitah--being requested; sura-ganaih--by the demigods; paurahitye--in accepting the priesthood; mahâ-tapâh--highly advanced in austerity and penances; sah--he; visvarûpah--Visvarûpa; tân--to the demigods; âha--spoke; prasannah--being satisfied; slaksnayâ--sweet; girâ--with words.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When all the demigods requested the great Visvarupa to be their priest, Visvarupa, who was advanced in austerities, was very pleased. He replied to them as follows.

> *******

> TEXT 35

> srî-visvarûpa uvâca

> vigarhitam dharma-sîlair

> brahmavarca-upavyayam

> katham nu mad-vidho nâthâ

> lokesair abhiyâcitam

> pratyâkhyâsyati tac-chisyah

> sa eva svârtha ucyate

> srî-visvarûpah uvâca--Srî Visvarûpa said; vigarhitam--condemned; dharma-sîlaih--by persons respectful to the religious principles; brahma-varcah--of brahminical strength or power; upavyayam--causes loss; katham--how; nu--indeed; mat-vidhah--a person like me; nâthâh--O lords; loka-îsaih--by the ruling powers of different planets; abhiyâcitam--request; pratyâkhyâsyati--will refuse; tat-sisyah--who is on the level of their disciple; sah--that; eva--indeed; sva-arthah--real interest; ucyate--is described as.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Visvarupa said: O demigods, although the acceptance of priesthood is decried as causing the loss of previously acquired brahminical power, how can someone like me refuse to accept your personal request? You are all exalted commanders of the entire universe. I am your disciple and must take many lessons from you. Therefore I cannot refuse you. I must agree for my own benefit.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> akincanânâm hi dhanam silonchanam

> teneha nirvartita-sâdhu-satkriyah

> katham vigarhyam nu karomy adhîsvarâh

> paurodhasam hrsyati yena durmatih

> akincanânâm--of persons who have taken to austerities and penances to become detached from worldly possessions; hi--certainly; dhanam--the wealth: sila--the collecting of grains left in the field; unchanam--and the collecting of grains left in the wholesale marketplace; tena--by that means; iha--here; nirvartita--accomplishing; sâdhu--of the exalted devotees; sat-kriyah--all the pious activities; katham--how; vigarhyam--reproachable; nu--indeed; karomi--I shall execute; adhîsvarâh--O great governors of the planetary systems; paurodhasam--the duty of priesthood; hrsyati--is pleased; yena--by which; durmatih--one who is less intelligent.

> TRANSLATION

> O exalted governors of various planets, the true brahmana, who has no material possessions, maintains himself by the profession of accepting silonchana. In other words, he picks up grains left in the field and on the ground in the wholesale marketplace. By this means, householder brahmanas who actually abide by the principles of austerity and penance maintain themselves and their families and perform all necessary pious activities. A brahmana who desires to achieve happiness by gaining wealth through professional priesthood must certainly have a very low mind. How shall I accept such priesthood?

> *******

> TEXT 37

> tathâpi na pratibrûyâm

> gurubhih prârthitam kiyat

> bhavatâm prârthitam sarvam

> prânair arthais ca sâdhaye

> tathâ api--still; na--not; pratibrûyâm--I may refuse; gurubhih--by persons on the level of my spiritual master; prârthitam--request; kiyat--of small value; bhavatâm--of all of you; prârthitam--the desire; sarvam--whole; prânaih--by my life; arthaih--by my possessions; ca--also; sâdhaye--I shall execute.

> TRANSLATION

> All of you are my superiors. Therefore although accepting priesthood is sometimes reproachable, I cannot refuse even a small request from you. I agree to be your priest. I shall fulfill your request by dedicating my life and possessions.

> *******

> TEXT 38

> srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> tebhya evam pratisrutya

> visvarûpo mahâ-tapâh

> paurahityam vrtas cakre

> paramena samâdhinâ

> srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; tebhyah--unto them (the demigods); evam--thus; pratisrutya--promising; visvarûpah--Visvarûpa; mahâ-tapâh--the most exalted personality; paurahityam--the priesthood; vrtah--surrounded by them; cakre--executed; paramena--supreme; samâdhinâ--with attention.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King, after making this promise to the demigods, the exalted Visvarupa, surrounded by the demigods, performed the necessary priestly activities with great enthusiasm and attention.

> *******

> TEXT 39

> sura-dvisâm sriyam guptâm

> ausanasyâpi vidyayâ

> âcchidyâdân mahendrâya

> vaisnavyâ vidyayâ vibhuh

> sura-dvisâm--of the enemies of the demigods; sriyam--the opulence; guptâm--protected; ausanasya--of Sukrâcârya; api--although; vidyayâ--by the talents; âcchidya--collecting; adât--delivered; mahâ-indrâya--unto King Indra; vaisnavyâ--of Lord Visnu; vidyayâ--by a prayer; vibhuh--the most powerful Visvarûpa.

> TRANSLATION

> The opulence of the demons, who are generally known as the enemies of the demigods, was protected by the talents and tactics of Sukracarya, but Visvarupa, who was most powerful, composed a protective prayer known as the Narayana-kavaca. By this intelligent mantra, he took away the opulence of the demons and gave it to Mahendra, the King of heaven.

> *******

> TEXT 40

> yayâ guptah sahasrâkso

> jigye 'sura-camûr vibhuh

> tâm prâha sa mahendrâya

> visvarûpa udâra-dhîh

> yayâ--by which; guptah--protected; sahasra-aksah--the thousand-eyed demigod, Indra; jigye--conquered; asura--of the demons; camûh--military power; vibhuh--becoming very powerful; tâm--that; prâha--spoke; sah--he; mahendrâya--unto the King of heaven, Mahendra; visvarûpah--Visvarûpa; udâra-dhîh--very broad-minded.

> TRANSLATION

> Visvarupa, who was most liberal, spoke to King Indra [Sahasraksa] the secret hymn that protected Indra and conquered the military power of the demons.

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