> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 12
> > 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 12: "The Age of Deterioration"

> > *****

> > Chapter Seven: The Purânic Literatures

> > *****

> > TEXT 1

> > sûta uvâca

> > atharva-vit sumantus' ca

> > s'ishyam adhyâpayat svakâm

> > samhitâm so 'pi pathyâya

> > vedadars'âya coktavân

> > sûtah uvâca-Sûta Gosvâmî said; atharva-vit-the expert knower of the Atharva Veda; sumantuh-Sumantu; ca-and; s'ishyam-to his disciple; adhyâpayat-instructed; svakâm-his own; samhitâm-collection; sah-he, the disciple of Sumantu; api-also; pathyâya-to Pathya; vedadars'âya-to Vedadars'a; ca-and; uktavân-spoke.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: Sumantu Rishi, the authority on the Atharva Veda, taught his samhitâ to his disciple Kabandha, who in turn spoke it to Pathya and Vedadars'a.

> > *****

> > TEXT 2

> > s'auklâyanir brahmabalir

> > modoshah pippalâyanih

> > vedadars'asya s'ishyâs te

> > pathya-s'ishyân atho s'rinu

> > kumudah s'unako brahman

> > jâjalis' câpy atharva-vit

> > s'auklâyanih brahmabalih-S'auklâyani and Brahmabali; modoshah pippalâyanih-Modosha and Pippalâyani; vedadars'asya-of Vedadars'a; s'ishyâh-the disciples; te-they; pathya-s'ishyân-the disciples of Pathya; atho-furthermore; s'rinu-please hear; kumudah s'unakah-Kumuda and S'unaka; brahman-O brâhmana, S'aunaka; jâjalih-Jâjali; ca-and; api-also; atharva-vit-full in knowledge of the Atharva Veda.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'auklâyani, Brahmabali, Modosha and Pippalâyani were disciples of Vedadars'a. Hear from me also the names of the disciples of Pathya. My dear brâhmana, they are Kumuda, S'unaka and Jâjali, all of whom knew the Atharva Veda very well.

> > PURPORT

> > According to S'rîla S'rîdhara Svâmî, Vedadars'a divided his edition of the Atharva Veda into four parts and instructed them to his four disciples. Pathya divided his edition into three parts and instructed it to the three disciples mentioned here.

> > *****

> > TEXT 3

> > babhruh s'ishyo 'thângirasah

> > saindhavâyana eva ca

> > adhîyetâm samhite dve

> > sâvarnâdyâs tathâpare

> > babhruh-Babhru; s'ishyah-the disciple; atha-then; angirasah-of S'unaka (also known as Angirâ); saindhavâyanah-Saindhavâyana; eva-indeed; ca-also; adhîyetâm-they learned; samhite-collections; dve-two; sâvarna-Sâvarna; âdyâh-headed by; tathâ-similarly; apare-other disciples.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Babhru and Saindhavâyana, disciples of S'unaka, studied the two divisions of their spiritual master's compilation of the Atharva Veda. Saindhavâyana's disciple Sâvarna and disciples of other great sages also studied this edition of the Atharva Veda.

> > *****

> > TEXT 4

> > nakshatrakalpah s'ântis' ca

> > kas'yapângirasâdayah

> > ete âtharvanâcâryâh

> > s'rinu paurânikân mune

> > nakshatrakalpah-Nakshatrakalpa; s'ântih-S'ântikalpa; ca-also; kas'yapa-ângirasa-âdayah-Kas'yapa, Ângirasa and others; ete-these; âtharvana-âcâryâh-spiritual masters of the Atharva Veda; s'rinu-now hear; paurânikân-the authorities of the Purânas; mune-O sage, S'aunaka.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Nakshatrakalpa, S'ântikalpa, Kas'yapa, Ângirasa and others were also among the âcâryas of the Atharva Veda. Now, O sage, listen as I name the authorities on Purânic literature.

> > *****

> > TEXT 5

> > trayyârunih kas'yapas' ca

> > sâvarnir akritavranah

> > vais'ampâyana-hârîtau

> > shad vai paurânikâ ime

> > trayyârunih kas'yapah ca-Trayyâruni and Kas'yapa; sâvarnih akrita-vranah-Sâvarni and Akritavrana; vais'ampâyana-hârîtau-Vais'ampâyana and Hârîta; shath-six; vai-indeed; paurânikâh-spiritual masters of the Purânas; ime-these.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Trayyâruni, Kas'yapa, Sâvarni, Akritavrana, Vais'ampâyana and Hârîta are the six masters of the Purânas.

> > *****

> > TEXT 6

> > adhîyanta vyâsa-s'ishyât

> > samhitâm mat-pitur mukhât

> > ekaikâm aham eteshâm

> > s'ishyah sarvâh samadhyagâm

> > adhîyanta-they have learned; vyâsa-s'ishyât-from the disciple of Vyâsadeva (Romaharshana); samhitâm-the collection of the Purânas; mat-pituh-of my father; mukhât-from the mouth; eka-ekâm-each learning one portion; aham-I; eteshâm-of these; s'ishyah-the disciple; sarvâh-all the collections; samadhyagâm-I have thoroughly learned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Each of them studied one of the six anthologies of the Purânas from my father, Romahârshana, who was a disciple of S'rîla Vyâsadeva. I became the disciple of these six authorities and thoroughly learned all their presentations of Puranic wisdom.

> > *****

> > TEXT 7

> > kas'yapo 'ham ca sâvarnî

> > râma-s'ishyo 'kritavranah

> > adhîmahi vyâsa-s'ishyâc

> > catvâro mûla-samhitâh

> > kas'yapah-Kas'yapa; aham-I; ca-and; sâvarnih-Sâvarni; râma-s'ishyah-a disciple of Râma; akritvranah-namely Akritavrana; adhîmahi-we have assimilated; vyâsa-s'ishyât-from the disciple of Vyâsa (Romaharshana); catvârah-four; mûla-samhitâh-basic collections.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Romaharshana, a disciple of Vedavyâsa, divided the Purânas into four basic compilations. The sage Kas'yapa and I, along with Sâvarni and Akritavrana, a disciple of Râma, learned these four divisions.

> > *****

> > TEXT 8

> > purâna-lakshanam brahman

> > brahmarshibhir nirûpitam

> > s'rinushva buddhim âs'ritya

> > veda-s'âstrânusâratah

> > purâna-lakshanam-the characteristics of a Purâna; brahman-O brâhmana, S'aunaka; brahma-rishibhih-by great learned brâhmanas; nirûpitam-ascertained; s'rinushva-please hear; buddhim-intelligence; âs'ritya-resorting to; veda-s'âstra-the Vedic scriptures; anusâratah-in accordance with.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O S'aunaka, please hear with attention the characteristics of a Purâna, which have been defined by the most eminent learned brâhmanas in accordance with Vedic literature.

> > *****

> > 9-10

> > sargo 'syâtha visargas' ca

> > vritti-rakshântarâni ca

> > vams'o vams'ânucarîtam

> > samsthâ hetur apâs'rayah

> > das'abhir lakshanair yuktam

> > purânam tad-vido viduh

> > kecit pan'ca-vidham brahman

> > mahad-alpa-vyavasthayâ

> > sargah-the creation; asya-of this universe; atha-then; visargah-the secondary creation; ca-and; vritti-maintenance; rakshâ-protection by sustenance; antarâni-the reigns of the Manus; ca-and; vams'ah-the dynasties of great kings; vams'a-anucaritam-the narrations of their activities; samsthâ-the annihilation; hetuh-the motivation (for the living entities' involvement in material activities); apâs'rayah-the supreme shelter;

> > das'abhih-with the ten; lakshanaih-characteristics; yuktam-endowed; purânam-a Purâna; tat-of this matter; vidah-those who know; viduh-they know; kecit-some authorities; pan'ca-vidham-fivefold; brahman-O brâhmana; mahat-of great; alpa-and lesser; vyavasthayâ-according to the distinction.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O brâhmana, authorities on the matter understand a Purâna to contain ten characteristic topics: the creation of this universe, the subsequent creation of worlds and beings, the maintenance of all living beings, their sustenance, the rule of various Manus, the dynasties of great kings, the activities of such kings, annihilation, motivation and the supreme shelter. Other scholars state that the great Purânas deal with these ten topics, while lesser Purânas may deal with five.

> > *****

> > TEXT 11

> > avyâkrita-guna-kshobhân

> > mahatas tri-vrito 'hamah

> > bhûta-sûkshmendriyârthânâm

> > sambhavah sarga ucyate

> > avyâkrita-of the unmanifest stage of nature; guna-kshobhât-by the agitation of the modes; mahatah-from the basic mahat-tattva; tri-vritah-threefold; ahamah-from the false ego; bhûta-sûkshma-of the subtle forms of perception; indriya-of the senses; arthânâm-and the objects of sense perception; sambhavah-the generation; sargah-creation; ucyate-is called.

> > TRANSLATION

> > From the agitation of the original modes within the unmanifest material nature, the mahat-tattva arises. From the mahat-tattva comes the element false ego, which divides into three aspects. This threefold false ego further manifests as the subtle forms of perception, as the senses and as the gross sense objects. The generation of all these is called creation.

> > *****

> > TEXT 12

> > purushânugrihîtânâm

> > eteshâm vâsanâ-mayah

> > visargo 'yam samâhâro

> > bîjâd bîjam carâcaram

> > purusha-of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His pastime role of creation; anugrihîtânâm-which have received the mercy; eteshâm-of these elements; vâsanâ-mayah-consisting predominantly of the remnants of past desires of the living entities; visargah-the secondary creation; ayam-this; samâhârah-manifest amalgamation; bîjât-from a seed; bîjam-another seed; cara-moving beings; acaram-and nonmoving beings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The secondary creation, which exists by the mercy of the Lord, is the manifest amalgamation of the desires of the living entities. Just as a seed produces additional seeds, activities that promote material desires in the performer produce moving and nonmoving life forms.

> > *****

> > TEXT 13

> > vrittir bhûtâni bhûtânâm

> > carânâm acarâni ca

> > kritâ svena nrinâm tatra

> > kâmâc codanayâpi vâ

> > vrittih-the sustenance; bhûtâni-living beings; bhûtânâm-of living beings; carânâm-of those that move; acarâni-those that do not move; ca-and; kritâ-executed; svena-by one's own conditioned nature; nrinâm-for human beings; tatra-therein; kâmât-out of lust; codanayâ-in pursuit of Vedic injunction; api-indeed; vâ-or.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Vritti means the process of sustenance, by which the moving beings live upon the nonmoving. For a human, vritti specifically means acting for one's livelihood in a manner suited to his personal nature. Such action may be carried out either in pursuit of selfish desire or in accordance with the law of God.

> > *****

> > TEXT 14

> > rakshâcyutâvatârehâ

> > vis'vasyânu yuge yuge

> > tiryan-martyarshi-deveshu

> > hanyante yais trayî-dvishah

> > rakshâ-protection; acyuta-avatâra-of the incarnations of Lord Acyuta; îhâ-the activities; vis'vasya-of this universe; anu yuge yuge-in each age; tiryak-among the animals; martya-human beings; rishi-sages; deveshu-and demigods; hanyante-are killed; yaih-by which incarnations; trayî-dvishah-the Daityas, who are enemies of Vedic culture.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In each age, the infallible Lord appears in this world among the animals, human beings, sages and demigods. By His activities in these incarnations He protects the universe and kills the enemies of Vedic culture.

> > *****

> > TEXT 15

> > manvantaram manur devâ

> > manu-putrâh sures'varâh

> > rshayo 'ms'âvatârâs' ca

> > hareh shad-vidham ucyate

> > manu-antaram-the reign of each Manu; manuh-the Manu; devâh-the demigods; manu-putrâh-the sons of Manu; sura-îs'varâh-the different Indras; rishayah-the chief sages; ams'a-avatârâh-the incarnations of portions of the Supreme Lord; ca-and; hareh-of Lord Hari; shath-vidham-sixfold; ucyate-is said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In each reign of Manu, six types of personalities appear as manifestations of Lord Hari: the ruling Manu, the chief demigods, the sons of Manu, Indra, the great sages and the partial incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *****

> > TEXT 16

> > râjn'âm brahma-prasûtânâm

> > vams'as trai-kâliko 'nvayah

> > vams'ânucaritam teshâm

> > vrittam vams'a-dharâs ca ye

> > râjn'âm-of the kings; brahma-prasûtânâm-born originally from Brahmâ; vams'ah-dynasty; trai-kâlikah-extending into the three phases of time (past, present and future); anvayah-the series; vams'a-anucaritam-histories of the dynasties; teshâm-of these dynasties; vrittam-the activities; vams'a dharâh-the prominent members of the dynasties; ca-and; ye-which.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dynasties are lines of kings originating with Lord Brahmâ and extending continuously through past, present and future. The accounts of such dynasties, especially of their most prominent members, constitute the subject of dynastic history.

> > *****

> > TEXT 17

> > naimittikah prâkritiko

> > nitya âtyantiko layah

> > samstheti kavibhih proktas'

> > caturdhâsya svabhâvatah

> > naimittikah-occasional; prâkritikah-elemental; nityah-continuous; âtyantikah-ultimate; layah-annihilation; samsthâ-the dissolution; iti-thus; kavibhih-by learned scholars; proktah-described; caturdhâ-in four aspects; asya-of this universe; svabhâvatah-by the inherent energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > There are four types of cosmic annihilation-occasional, elemental, continuous and ultimate-all of which are effected by the inherent potency of the Supreme Lord. Learned scholars have designated this topic dissolution.

> > *****

> > TEXT 18

> > hetur jîvo 'sya sargâder

> > avidyâ-karma-kârakah

> > yam cânus'âyinam prâhur

> > avyâkritam utâpare

> > hetuh-the cause; jîvah-the living being; asya-of this universe; sarga-âdeh-of the creation, maintenance and destruction; avidyâ-out of ignorance; karma-kârakah-the performer of material activities; yam-whom; ca-and; anus'âyinam-the underlying personality; prâhuh-they call; avyâkritam-the unmanifest; uta-indeed; apare-others.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Out of ignorance the living being performs material activities and thereby becomes in one sense the cause of the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe. Some authorities call the living being the personality underlying the material creation, while others say he is the unmanifest self.

> > *****

> > TEXT 19

> > vyatirekânvayo yasya

> > jâgrat-svapna-sushuptishu

> > mâyâ-mayeshu tad brahma

> > jîva-vrittishv apâs'rayah

> > vyatireka-the presence as separate; anvayah-and as conjoint; yasya-of which; jâgrat-within waking consciousness; svapna-sleep; sushuptishu-and deep sleep; mâyâ-mayeshu-within the products of the illusory energy; tat-that; brahma-the Absolute Truth; jîva-vrittishu-within the functions of the living entities; apâs'rayah-the unique shelter.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Absolute Truth is present throughout all the stages of awareness-waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep-throughout all the phenomena manifested by the illusory energy, and within the functions of all living entities, and He also exists separate from all these. Thus situated in His own transcendence, He is the ultimate and unique shelter.

> > *****

> > TEXT 20

> > padârtheshu yathâ dravyam

> > san-mâtram rûpa-nâmasu

> > bîjâdi-pan'catântâsu

> > hy avasthâsu yutâyutam

> > pada-artheshu-within material objects; yathâ-just as; dravyam-the basic substance; sat-mâtram-the sheer existence of things; rûpa-nâmasu-among their forms and names; bîja-âdi-beginning from the seed (i.e., from the time of conception); pan'catâ-antâsu-ending with death; hi-indeed; avasthâsu-throughout the various phases of bodily existence; yuta-ayutam-both conjoined and separate.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although a material object may assume various forms and names, its essential ingredient is always present as the basis of its existence. Similarly, both conjointly and separately, the Supreme Absolute Truth is always present with the created material body throughout its phases of existence, beginning with conception and ending with death.

> > *****

> > TEXT 21

> > virameta yadâ cittam

> > hitvâ vritti-trayam svayam

> > yogerla vâ tadâtmânam

> > vedehâyâ nivartate

> > virameta-desists; yadâ-when; cittam-the mind; hitvâ-giving up; vritti-trayam-the functions of material life in the three phases of waking, sleep and deep sleep; svayam-automatically; yogena-by regulated spiritual practice; vâ-or; tadâ-then; âtmânam-the Supreme Soul; veda-he knows; îhâyâh-from material endeavor; nivartate-he ceases.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Either automatically or because of one's regulated spiritual practice, one's mind may stop functioning on the material platform of waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep. Then one understands the Supreme Soul and withdraws from material endeavor.

> > *****

> > TEXT 22

> > evam lakshana-lakshyâni

> > purânâni purâ-vidah

> > munayo 'shthâdas'a prâhuh

> > kshullakâni mahânti ca

> > evam-in this way; lakshana-lakshyâni-symptomized by their characteristics; purânâni-the Purânas; purâ-vidah-those who are expert in such ancient histories; munayah-the sages; ashthâdas'a-eighteen; prâhuh-say; kshullakâni-minor; mahânti-great; ca-also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sages expert in ancient histories have declared that the Purânas, according to their various characteristics, can be divided into eighteen major Purânas and eighteen secondary Purânas.

> > *****

> > 23-24

> > brâhmam pâdmam vaishnavam ca

> > s'aivam laingam sa-gârudam

> > nâradîyam bhâgavatam

> > âgneyam skânda-samjn'itam

> > bhavishyam brahma-vaivartam

> > mârkandeyam sa-vâmanam

> > vârâham mâtsyam kaurmam ca

> > brahmândâkhyam iti tri-shath

> > brâhmam-the Brahmâ Purâna; pâdmam-the Padma Purâna; vaishnavam-the Vishnu Purâna; ca-and; s'aivam-the S'iva Purâna; laingam-the Linga Purâna; sa-gârudam-along with the Garuda Purâna; nâradîyam-the Nârada Purâna; bhâgavatam-the Bhâgavata Purâna; âgneyam-the Agni Purâna; skânda-the Skanda Purâna; samjn'itam-known as;

> > bhavishyam-the Bhavishya Purâna; brahma-vaivartam-the Brahma-vaivarta Purâna; mârkandeyam-the Mârkandeya Purâna; sa-vâmanam-together with the Vâmana Purâna; vârâham-the Varâha Purâna; mâtsyam-the Matsya Purâna; kaurmam-the Kûrma Purâna; ca-and; brahmânda-âkhyam-known as the Brahmânda Purâna; iti-thus; tri-shath-three times six.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The eighteen major Purânas are the Brahmâ, Padma, Vishnu, S'iva, Linga, Garuda, Nârada, Bhâgavata, Agni, Skanda, Bhavishya, Brahma-vaivarta, Mârkandeya, Vâmana, Varâha, Matsya, Kûrma and Brahmânda Purânas.

> > *****

> > SB 12.7.25

> > TEXT 25

> > brahmann idam samâkhyâtam

> > s'âkhâ-pranayanam muneh

> > s'ishya-s'ishya-pras'ishyânâm

> > brahma-tejo-vivardhanam

> > brahman-O brâhmana; idam-this; samâkhyâtam-thoroughly described; s'âkhâ-pranayanam-the expansion of the branches; muneh-of the sage (S'rîla Vyâsadeva); s'ishya-of the disciples; s'ishya-pras'ishyânâm-and the subsequent disciples of his disciples; brahma-tejah-spiritual potency; vivardhanam-which increases.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I have thoroughly described to you, O brâhmana, the expansion of the branches of the Vedas by the great sage Vyâsadeva, his disciples and the disciples of his disciples. One who listens to this narration will increase in spiritual strength.

> > *****

> > Back to the running text