> > 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 Eleven: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > baddho mukta iti vyâkhyâ

> > gunato me na vastutah

> > gunasya mâyâ-mûlatvân

> > na me moksho na bandhanam

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; baddhah - in bondage; muktah - liberated; iti - thus; vyâkhyâ - the explanation of the living entity; gunatah - due to the modes of material nature; me - which are My potency; na - not; vastutah - in reality; gunasya - of the modes of material nature; mâyâ - My illusory energy; mûlatvât - because of being the cause; na - not; me - of Me; mokshah - liberation; na - nor; bandhanam - bondage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, due to the influence of the material modes of nature, which are under My control, the living entity is sometimes designated as conditioned and sometimes as liberated. In fact, however, the soul is never really bound up or liberated, and since I am the supreme Lord of mâyâ, which is the cause of the modes of nature, I also am never to be considered liberated or in bondage.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > s'oka-mohau sukham duhkham

> > dehâpattis' ca mâyayâ

> > svapno yathâtmanah khyâtih

> > samsritir na tu vâstavî

> > s'oka - lamentation; mohau - and illusion; sukham - happiness; duhkham - distress; deha-âpattih - accepting a material body; ca - also; mâyayâ - by the influence of mâyâ; svapnah - a dream; yathâ - just as; âtmanah - of the intelligence; khyâtih - merely an idea; samsritih - material existence; na - is not; tu - indeed; vâstavî - real.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Just as a dream is merely a creation of one's intelligence but has no actual substance, similarly, material lamentation, illusion, happiness, distress and the acceptance of the material body under the influence of mayâ are all creations of My illusory energy. In other words, material existence has no essential reality.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > vidyâvidye mama tanû

> > viddhy uddhava s'arîrinâm

> > moksha-bandha-karî âdye

> > mâyayâ me vinirmite

> > vidyâ- knowledge; avidye - and ignorance; mama - My; tanû - manifested energies; viddhi - please understand; uddhava - O Uddhava; s'arîrinâm - of the embodied living entities; moksha - liberation;-bandha- bondage; karî - causing; âdye - original, eternal; mâyayâ by the potency; me - My; vinirmite - produced.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Uddhava, both knowledge and ignorance, being products of mâyâ, are expansions of My potency. Both knowledge and ignorance are beginningless and perpetually award libertation and bondage to embodied living beings.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > ekasyaiva mamâms'asya

> > jîvasyaiva mahâ-mate

> > bandho 'syâvidyayânâdir

> > vidyayâ ca tathetarah

> > ekasya - of the one; eva - certainly; mama - My; ams'asya - part and parcel; jîvasya - of the living entity; eva - certainly; mahâ-mate - o most intelligent one; bandhah - bondage; asya - of him; avidyayâ - by ignorance; anâdih - beginningless; vidyayâ - by knowledge; ca - and; tathâ - similarly; itarah - the opposite of bondage, liberation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O most intelligent Uddhava, the living entity, called jîva, is part and parcel of Me, but due to ignorance he has been suffering in material bondage since time immemorial. By knowledge, however, he can be liberated.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > atha baddhasya muktasya

> > vailakshanyam vadâmi te

> > viruddha-dharminos tâta

> > sthitayor eka-dharmini

> > atha - thus; baddhasya - of the condioned soul; muktasya - of the liberated Personality of Godhead; vailakshanyam - different characteristics; vadâmi - I will now speak; te - unto you; viruddha - opposing; dharminoh - whose two natures; tâta - My dear Uddhava; sthitayoh - of the two who are situated; eka-dharmini - in the one body which manifests their different characteristics.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus, My dear Uddhava, in the same material body we find opposing characteristics, such as great happiness and misery. That is because both the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is eternally liberated, as well as the conditioned soul are within the body. I shall now speak to you about their different characteristics.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > suparnâv etau sadris'au sakhâyau

> > yadricchayaitau krita-nîdau ca vrikshe

> > ekas tayoh khâdati pippalânnam

> > anyo niranno 'pi balena bhûyân

> > suparnau - two birds; etau - these; sadris'au - similar; - sakhâyau - friends; yadricchayâ - by chance; etau - these two; krita - made; nîdau - a nest; ca - and; vrikshe - in a tree; ekah - one; tayoh - of the two; khâdati - is eating; pippala - of the tree; annam - the fruits; anyah - the other; nirannah - not eating; api - although; balena - by strength; bhûyân - He is superior.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By chance, two birds have made a nest together in the same tree. The two birds are friends and are of a similar nature. One of them, however, is eating the fruits of the tree, whereas the other, who does not eat the fruits, is in a superior position due to His potency.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > âtmânam anyam ca sa veda vidvân

> > apippalâdo na tu pippalâdah

> > yo 'vidyayâ yuk sa tu nitya-baddho

> > vidyâ-mayo yah sa tu nitya-muktah

> > âtmânam - Himself; anyam - the other; ca - also; sah - He; veda - knows; vidvân - being omniscient; apippala-adah - not eating the fruits of the tree; na - not; tu - but; pippala-adah - the one who is eating the fruits of the tree; yah - who; avidyayâ - with ignorance; yuk - filled; sah - he; tu -indeed; nitya - eternally; baddhah - conditioned; vidyâ mayah - full of perfect knowledge; yah - who; sah - he; tu - indeed; nitya - eternally; muktah - liberated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The bird who does not eat the fruits of the tree is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who by His omniscience perfectly understands His own position and that of the conditioned living entity, represented by the eating bird. That living entity, on the other hand, does not understand himself or the Lord. He is covered by ignorance and is thus called eternally conditioned, whereas the Personality of Godhead, being full of perfect knowledge, is eternally liberated.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > deha-stho 'pi na deha-stho

> > vidvân svapnâd yathotthitah

> > adeha-stho 'pi deha-sthah

> > kumatih svapna-drig yathâ

> > deha - in the material body; sthah - situated; api - although; na - not; deha - in the body; sthah - situated; vidvân - an an elightened person; svapnât - from a dream; yatha - just as; utthitah - having risen; adeha - not in the body; sthah - situated; api - although; deha - in the body;sthah - situated; ku-matih - a foolish person; svapna - a dream; drik - seeing; yathâ - just as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One who is enlightened in self-realization, although living within the material body, sees himself as transcendental to the body, just as one who has arisen from a dream gives up identification with the dream body. A foolish person, however, although not identical with his material body but transcendental to it, thinks himself to be situated in the body, just as one who is dreaming sees himself as situated in an imaginary body.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > indriyair indriyârtheshu

> > gunair api guneshu ca

> > grihyamânesv aham' kuryân

> > na vidvân yas tv avikriyah

> > indriyaih - by the senses; indriya - of the senses;artheshu - in the objects; gunaih - by those generated from the modes of nature; api - even; guneshu - in those generated by the same modes; ca - also; grihyamâneshu - as they are being accepted; aham - false ego; kuryât - should create; na - not; vidvân - one who is enlightened; yah - who; tu - indeed; avikriyah - is not affected by material desire.

> > TRANSLATION

> > An enlightened person who is free from the contamination of material desire does not consider himself to be the performer of bodily activities; rather, he knows that in all such activities it is only the senses, born of the modes of nature, that are contacting sense objects born of the same modes of nature.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > daivâdhîne s'arîre 'smin

> > guna-bhâvyena karmanâ

> > vartamâno 'budhas tatra

> > kartâsmîti nibadhyate

> > daiva - of one's previous fruitive activities; adhîne - which is under the influence; s'arîre - in the material body; asmin - in this; guna - by the modes of nature; bhâvyena - which are produced; karmanâ - by fruitive activities; vartamânah - being situated; abudhah - one who is foolish; tatra - within the bodily functions; kartâ - the doer; asmi - I am; iti - thus; nibadhyate - is bound up.

> > TRANSLATION

> > An unintelligent person situated within the body created by his previous fruitive activities thinks, "I am the performer of action." Bewildered by false ego, such a foolish person is therefore bound up by fruitive activities, which are in fact carried out by the modes of nature.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > evam' viraktah s'ayana

> > âsanâthana-majjane

> > dars'ana-spars'ana-ghrâna-

> > bhojana-s'ravanâdishu

> > na tathâ badhyate vidvân

> > tatra tatrâdayan gunân

> > evam - thus; viraktah - detached from material enjoyment; s'ayana - in lying or sleeping; âsana - in sitting;atana - walking; majjane - or in bathing; dars'ana -in seeing; spars'ana - touching; ghrâna - smelling; bhojana -eating; s'ravana - hearing; âdishu - and so on; na - not; tathâ - in that way; badhyate - is bound; vidvân - an intelligent person; tatra tatra - wherever he goes; âdayan - causing to experience; gunân - the senses, born of the modes of nature.

> > TRANSLATION

> > An enlightened person fixed in detachment engages his body in lying down, sitting, walking, bathing, seeing, touching, smelling, eating, hearing and so on, but is never entangled by such activities. Indeed, remaining as a witness to all bodily functions, he merely engages his bodily senses with their objects and does not become entangled like an unintelligent person.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12-13

> > prakriti-stho 'py asam'sakto

> > yathâ kham' savitânilah

> > vais'âradyekshayâsanga-

> > s'itayâ chinna-sam's'ayah

> > pratibuddha iva svapnân

> > nânâtvâd vinivartate

> > prakriti - in the material world; sthah - situated; api - even though; asam'saktah - completely detached from sense gratification; yathâ - just as; kham - the sky; savitâ - the sun; anilah - the wind; vais'âradyâ - by most expert;îkshyâ - vision; asanga - through detachment; s'itayâ - sharpened; chinna - cut to pieces; sam's'ayah - doubts;

> > pratibuddha - awakened; iva - like; svapnât - from a dream; nânâtvât - from the duality of variety of the material world; vinivartate - one turns away or renounces.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although the sky, or space, is the resting place of everything, the sky does not mix with anything, nor is it entangled. Similarly, the sun is not at all attached to the water in which it is reflected within innumerable reservoirs, and the mighty wind blowing everywhere is not affected by the innumerable aromas and atmospheres through which it passes. In the same way, a self-realized soul is completely detached from the material body and the material world around it. He is like a person who has awakened and arisen from a dream. With expert vision sharpened by detachment, the self-realized soul cuts all doubts to pieces through knowledge of the self and completely withdraws his consciousness from the expansion of material variety.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > yasya syur vîta-san'kalpâh

> > prânendriya-rnano-dhiyâm

> > vrittayah sa vinirmukto

> > deha-stho 'pi hi tad-gunaih

> > yasya - of whom; syuh - they are; vîta - freed from; san'kalpâh - material desire; prâna - of the vital energy; indriya - the senses; manah - the mind; dhiyâm - and of intelligence; vrittayah - the functions; sah - such a person; vinirmuktah - completely freed; deha - in the body; sthah - situated; api - even though; hi - certainly; tat - of the body; gunaih - from all the qualities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A person is considered to be completely liberated from the gross and subtle material bodies when all the functions of his vital energy, senses, mind and intelligence are performed without material desire. Such a person, although situated within the body, is not entangled.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > yasyâtmâ him'syate him'srair

> > yena kin'cid yadricchayâ

> > arcyate vâ kvacit tatra

> > na vyatikriyate budhah

> > yasya - of whom; âtmâ - the body; him'syate - is attacked; him'sraih - by sinful people or violent animals; yena - by someone; kin'cit - somewhat; yadricchayâ - somehow or other; arcyate - is worshiped; vâ - or; kvacit - somewhere; tatra - therein; na - not; vyatikriyate - is transformed or affected; budhah - one who is intelligent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sometimes for no apparent reason one's body is attacked by cruel people or violent animals. At other times and in other places, one will suddenly be offered great respect or worship. One who becomes neither angry when attacked nor satisfied when worshiped is actually intelligent.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > na stuvîta na nindeta

> > kurvatah sâdhv asâdhu vâ

> > vadato guna-dosâbhyâm'

> > varjitah sama-drin munih

> > na stuvîta - does not praise; na nindeta - does not criticize; kurvatah - those who are working; sâdhu - very nicely; asâdhu - very badly; vâ - or; vadatah - those who are speaking; guna-doshâbhyâm - from good and bad qualities; varjitah - freed; sama-drik - seeing things equally; munih - a saintly sage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A saintly sage sees with equal vision and therefore is not affected by that which is materially good or bad. Indeed, although he observes others performing good and bad work and speaking properly and improperly, the sage does not praise or criticize anyone.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > na kuryân na vadet kin'cin

> > na dhyâyet sâdhv asâdhu vâ

> > âtmârâmo 'nayâ vrittyâ

> > vicarej jada-van munih

> > na kuryât - should not do; na vadet - should not speak; kin'cit - anything; na dhyâyet - should not contemplate; sâdhu asâdhu vâ - either good or bad things; âtma-ârâmah - one who is taking pleasure in self-realization; anayâ - with this; vrittyâ - life-style; vicaret - he should wander; jada-vat - just like a stunted person; munih - a saintly sage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For the purpose of maintaining his body, a liberated sage should not act, speak or contemplate in terms of material good or bad. Rather, he should be detached in all material circumstances, and taking pleasure in self-realization, he should wander about engaged in this liberated life-style, appearing like a retarded person to outsiders.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > s'abda-brahmani nishnâto

> > na nishnâyât pare yadi

> > s'ramas tasya s'rama-phalo

> > hy adhenum iva rakshatah

> > s'abda-brahmani - in the Vedic literature; nishnâtah - expert through complete study; na nishnâyât - does not absorb the mind; pare - in the Supreme; yadi - if; s'ramah - labor; tasya - his; s'rama - of great endeavor; phalah - the fruit; hi - certainly; adhenum - a cow that gives no milk; iva - like; rakshatah - of one who is taking care of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If through meticulous study one becomes expert in reading Vedic literature but makes no endeavor to fix one's mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then one's endeavor is certainly like that of a man who works very hard to take care of a cow that gives no milk. In other words, the fruit of one's laborious study of Vedic knowledge will simply be the labor itself. There will be no other tangible result.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > gâm' dugdha-dohâm asatîm' ca bhâryâm'

> > deham' parâdhînam asat-prajâm' ca

> > vittam' tv atîrthî-kritam anga vâcam'

> > hînâm' mayâ rakshati duhkha-duhkhî

> > gâm - a cow; dugdha - whose milk; dohâm - already taken; asatîm - unchaste; ca - also;bhâryâm - a wife; deham - a body; para - upon others; adhînam - always dependent; asat - useless; prajâm - children; ca - also; vittam - wealth; tu - but; atîrthî-kritam - not given to the proper recipient; anga - o Uddhava; vâcam - Vedic knowledge; hînâm - devoid; mayâ - of knowledge of Me; rakshati - he takes care of; duhkha-duhkhî - he who suffers one misery after another.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, that man is certainly most miserable who takes care of a cow that gives no milk, an unchaste wife, a body totally dependent on others, useless children or wealth not utilized for the right purpose. Similarly, one who studies Vedic knowledge devoid of My glories is also most miserable.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > yasyâm' na me pâvanam anga karma

> > sthity-udbhava-prâna-nirodham asya

> > lîlâvatârepsita-janma vâ syâd

> > vandhyâm' giram' tâm' bibhriyân na dhîrah

> > yasyâm - in which (literature); na - not; me - My; pâvanam - puryfying; anga - o Uddhava; karma - activities; sthiti - maintenance; udbhava - creation; prâna-nirodham - and annihilation; asya - of the material world; lîlâ-avatâra - among the pastime incarnations; îpsita - desired; janma - appearance; vâ - or; syât - is; vandhyâm - barren; giram - vibration; tâm - this; bibhriyât - should support; na - not; dhîrah - an intelligent person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, an intelligent person should never take to literatures that do not contain descriptions of My activities, which purify the whole universe. Indeed, I create, maintain and annihilate the entire material manifestation. Among all My pastime incarnations, the most beloved are Krishna and Balarâma. Any so-called knowledge that does not recognize these activities of Mine is simply barren and is not acceptable to those who are actually intelligent.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > evam' jijn'âsayâpohya

> > nânâtva-bhramam âtmani

> > upârameta virajam'

> > mano mayy arpya sarva-ge

> > evam - thus (as I have now concluded); jijn'âsayâ - by analytic study; apohya - giving up; nânâtva - of material variety; bhramam - the mistake of rotating; âtmani - in the self; upârameta - one should cease from material life; virajam - pure; manah - the mind; mayi - in Me; arpya - fixing; sarva-ge - who am all-pervading.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Coming to this conclusion of all knowledge, one should give up the false conception of material variety that one imposes upon the soul and thus cease one's material existence. The mind should be fixed on Me, since I am all-pervading.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > yady anîs'o dhârayitum'

> > mano brahmani nis'calam

> > mayi sarvâni karmâni

> > nirapekshah samâcara

> > yadi - if; anîs'ah - incapable; dhârayitum - to fix; manah - the mind; brahmani - on the spiritual platform; nis'calam - free from sense gratification; mayi - in Me; sarvâni - all; karmâni - activities; nirapekshah - without trying to enjoy the fruits; samâcara - execute.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, if you are not able to free your mind from all material disturbance and thus absorb it completely on the spiritual platform, then perform all your activities as an offering to Me, without trying to enjoy the fruits.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23-24

> > s'raddhâlur mat-kathâh s'rinvan

> > su-bhadrâ loka-pâvanîh

> > gâyann anusmaran karma

> > janma câbhinayan muhuh

> > mad-arthe dharma-kâmârthân

> > âcaran mad-apâs'rayah

> > labhate nis'calâm' bhaktim'

> > mayy uddhava sanâtane

> > s'raddhâluh - a faithful person; mat-kathâh - narrations about Me; s'rinvan - hearing; su-bhadrâh - which are all-auspicious; loka - the entire world; pâvanîh - purifying; gâyan - singing; anusmaran - remembering constantly; karma - My activities; janma - My birth; ca - also; abhinayan - reliving through dramatical performances, etc.; muhuh - again and again;

> > mat-arthe - for My pleasure; dharma - religious activities; kâma - sense activities; arthân - and commercial activities; âcaran - performing; mat - in Me; apâs'rayah - having one's shelter; labhate - one obtains; nis'calâm - without deviation; bhaktim - devotional service; mayi - to Me; uddhava - O Uddhava; sanâtane - dedicated to My eternal form.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, narrations of My pastimes and qualities are all-auspicious and purify the entire universe. A faithful person who constantly hears, glorifies and remembers such transcendental activities, who through dramatic performances relives My pastimes, beginning with My appearance, and who takes full shelter of Me, dedicating his religious, sensual and occupational activities for My satisfaction, certainly obtains unflinching devotional service to Me, the eternal Personality of Godhead.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > sat-sanga-labdhayâ bhaktyâ

> > mayi mâm' sa upâsitâ

> > sa vai me dars'itam' sadbhir

> > an'jasâ vindate padam

> > sat - of the devotees of the Lord; sanga - by the association; labdhayâ - obtained; bhaktyâ - by devotion; mayi - to Me; mâm - of Me; sah - he; upâsitâ - worshiper; sah - that very person; vai - undoubtedly; me - My; dars'itam - revealed; sadbhih - by My pure devotees; an'jasâ - very easily; vindate - achieves; padam - My lotus feet or My eternal abode.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One who has obtained pure devotional service by association with My devotees always engages in worshiping Me. Thus he very easily goes to My abode, which is revealed by My pure devotees.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26-27

> > s'rî-uddhava uvâca

> > sâdhus tavottama-s'loka

> > matah kîdrig-vidhah prabho

> > bhaktis tvayy upayujyeta

> > kîdris'î sadbhir âdritâ

> > etan me purushâdhyaksha

> > lokâdhyaksha jagat-prabho

> > pranatâyânuraktâya

> > prapannâya ca kathyatâm

> > s'rî-uddhavah uvâca - S'rî Uddhava said; sâdhuh - a saintly person; tava - in Your; uttama-s'loka - my dear Lord; matah - opinion; kîdrik-vidhah - what kind would he be; prabho - my dear Personality of Godhead; bhaktih - devotional service; tvayi - unto Your Lordship; upayujyeta - deserves to be executed;

> > kîdrs'î - what type is it; sadbhih - by Your pure devotees such as Nârada; âdritâ - honored; etat - this; me - to me; purusha-adhyaksha - O ruler of the universal controllers; loka-adhyaksha - O Supreme Lord of Vaikunthha; jagat-prabho - O God of the universe; pranatâya - unto Your surrendered devotee; anuraktâya - who loves You; prapannâya - who has no other shelter than You; ca - also; kathyatâm - let this be spoken.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî Uddhava said: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, what type of person do You consider to be a true devotee, and what type of devotional service is approved by great devotees as worthy of being offered to Your Lordship? My dear ruler of the universal controllers, O Lord of Vaikunthha and almighty God of the universe, I am Your devotee, and because I love You I have no other shelter than You. Therefore please explain this to me.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > tvam' brahma paramam' vyoma

> > purushah prakriteh parah

> > avatîrno 'si bhagavan

> > svecchopâtta-prithag-vapuh

> > tvam - You; brahma paramam - the Absolute Truth; vyoma - like the sky (You are detached from everything); purushah - the Personality of Godhead; prakriteh - to material nature; parah - transcendental; avatîrnah - incarnated; asi - You are; bhagavan - the Lord; sva - of Your own (devotees); icchâ - according to the desire; upâtta - accepted; prithak - different; vapuh - bodies.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, as the Absolute Truth You are transcendental to material nature, and like the sky You are never entangled in any way. Still, being controlled by Your devotees' love, You accept many different forms, incarnating according to Your devotees' desires.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29-32

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > kripâlur akrita-drohas

> > titikshuh sarva-dehinâm

> > satya-sâro 'navadyâtmâ

> > samah sarvopakârakah

> > kâmair ahata-dhîr dânto

> > mriduh s'ucir akin'canah

> > anîho mita-bhuk s'ântah

> > sthiro mac-charano munih

> > apramatto gabhîrâtmâ

> > dhritimân jita-shad-gunah

> > amânî mâna-dah kalyo

> > maitrah kârunikah kavih

> > âjn'âyaivam' gunân doshân

> > mayâdishthân api svakân

> > dharmân santyajya yah sarvân

> > mâm' bhajeta sa tu sattamah

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; kripâluh - unable to tolerate the suffering of others; akrita-drohah - never injuring others; titikshuh - forgiving; sarva-dehinâm - toward all living entities; satya-sârah - one who lives by truth and whose strength and firmness come from truthfulness; anavadya-âtmâ - a soul free from envy, jealousy, etc.;

> > samah - whose consciousness is equal both in happiness and in distress; sarva-upakârakah - always endeavoring as far as possible for the welfare of all others; kâmaih - by material desires; ahata - undisturbed; dhîh - whose intelligence; dântah - controlling the external senses; mriduh - without a harsh mentality; s'ucih - always well-behaved; akin'canah - without possessiveness; anîhah - free from worldly activities; mita-bhuk - eating austerely; s'ântah - controlling the mind;

> > sthirah - remaining steady in one's prescribed duty; mat-s'aranah - accepting Me as the only shelter; munih - thoughtful; apramattah - cautious and sober; gabhîra-âtmâ - not superficial, and thus unchanging; dhriti-mân - not weak or miserable even in distressing circumstances; jita - having conquered; shath-gunah - the six material qualities, namely hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age and death; amânî - without desire for prestige; mâna-dah - offering all respects to others; kalyah - expert in reviving the Krishna consciousness of others;

> > maitrah - never cheating anyone, and thus a true friend; kârunikah - acting always due to compassion, not personal ambition; kavih - completely learned; âjn'âya - knowing; evam - thus; gunân - good qualities; doshân - bad qualities; mayâ - by Me; âdishthân - taught; api - even; svakân - one's own; dharmân - religious principles; santyajya - giving up; yah - one who; sarvân - all; mâm - Me; bhajeta - worships; sah - he; tu - indeed; sat-tamah - the best among saintly persons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Uddhava, a saintly person is merciful and never injures others. Even if others are aggressive he is tolerant and forgiving toward all living entities. His strength and meaning in life come from the truth itself, he is free from all envy and jealousy, and his mind is equal in material happiness and distress. Thus, he dedicates his time to work for the welfare of all others. His intelligence is never bewildered by material desires, and he has controlled his senses. His behavior is always pleasing, never harsh and always exemplary, and he is free from possessiveness. He never endeavors in ordinary, worldly activities, and he strictly controls his eating. He therefore always remains peaceful and steady. A saintly person is thoughtful and accepts Me as his only shelter. Such a person is very cautious in the execution of his duties and is never subject to superficial transformations, because he is steady and noble, even in a distressing situation. He has conquered over the six material qualities - namely hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age and death. He is free from all desire for prestige and offers honor to others. He is expert in reviving the Krishna consciousness of others and therefore never cheats anyone. Rather, he is a well-wishing friend to all, being most merciful. Such a saintly person must be considered the most learned of men. He perfectly understands that the ordinary religious duties prescribed by Me in various Vedic scriptures possess favorable qualities that purify the performer, and he knows that neglect of such duties constitutes a discrepancy in one's life. Having taken complete shelter at My lotus feet, however, a saintly person ultimately renounces such ordinary religious duties and worships Me alone. He is thus considered to be the best among all living entities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > jn'âtvâjn'âtvâtha ye vai mâm

> > yâvân yas' câsmi yâdris'ah

> > bhajanty ananya-bhâvena

> > te me bhaktatamâ matâh

> > jn'âtvâ - knowing; ajn'âtvâ - not knowing; atha - thus; ye - those who; vai - certainly; mâm - Me; yâvân - as; yah - who; ca - also; asmi - I am; yâdris'ah - how I am; bhajanti - worship; ananya-bhâvena - with exclusive devotion; te - they; me - by Me; bhakta-tamâh - the best devotees; matâh - are considered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My devotees may or may not know exactly what I am, who I am and how I exist, but if they worship Me with unalloyed love, then I consider them to be the best of devotees.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34-41

> > mal-linga-mad-bhakta-jana-

> > dars'ana-spars'anârcanam

> > paricaryâ stutih prahva-

> > guna-karmânukîrtanam

> > mat-kathâ-s'ravane s'raddhâ

> > mad-anudhyânam uddhava

> > sarva-lâbhopaharanam'

> > dâsyenâtma-nivedanam

> > maj-janma-karma-kathanam'

> > mama parvânumodanam

> > gîta-tândava-vâditra-

> > goshthhîbhir mad-grihotsavah

> > yâtrâ bali-vidhânam' ca

> > sarva-vârshika-parvasu

> > vaidikî tântrikî dîkshâ

> > madîya-vrata-dhâranam

> > mamârcâ-sthâpane s'raddhâ

> > svatah sam'hatya codyamah

> > udyânopavanâkrîda-

> > pura-mandira-karmani

> > sammârjanopalepâbhyâm

> > seka-mandala-vartanaih

> > griha-s'us'rûshanam' mahyam'

> > dâsa-vad yad amâyayâ

> > amânitvam adambhitvam'

> > kritasyâparikîrtanam

> > api dîpâvalokam' me

> > nopayun'jyân niveditam

> > yad yad ishthatamam' loke

> > yac câti-priyam âtmanah

> > tat tan nivedayen mahyam'

> > tad ânantyâya kalpate

> > mat-linga - My appearance in this world as the Deity, etc.; mat-bhakta jana - My devotees; dars'ana - seeing; spars'ana - touching; arcanam - and worshiping; paricaryâ - rendering personal service; stutih - offering prayers of glorification; prahva - obeisances; guna - My qualities; karma - and activities; anukîrtanam - constantly glorifying;

> > mat-kathâ - topics about Me; s'ravane - in hearing; s'raddhâ - faith due to love; mat-anudhyânam - always meditating on Me; uddhava - O Uddhava; sarva-lâbha - all that one acquires; upaharanam - offering; dâsyena - by accepting oneself as My servant; âtma-nivedanam - self-surrender;

> > mat-janma-karma-kathanam - glorifying My birth and activities; mama - My; parva - in festivals such as Janmâshthamî; anumodanam - taking great pleasure; gîta - by songs; tândava - dancing; vâditra - musical instruments; goshthîbhih - and discussions among devotees; mat-griha - in My temple; utsavah - festivals;

> > yâtrâ - celebrations; bali-vidhânam - making offerings; ca - also; sarva - in all; vârshika - annual; parvasu - in the celebrations; vaidikî - mentioned in the Vedas; tântrikî - mentioned in literatures such as the Pan'carâtra; dîkshâ - initiation; madîya - in relation to Me; vrata - vows; dhâranam - observing;

> > mama - My; arcâ - of the Deity form; sthâpane - in the installation; s'raddhâ - being faithfully attached; svatah - by oneself; sam'hatya - with others; ca - also; udyamah - endeavor; udyâna - of flower gardens; upavana - orchards; âkrîda - places of pastimes; pura - devotional cities; mandira - and temples; karmani - in the construction;

> > sammârjana - by thoroughly sweeping and dusting; upalepâbhyâm - then by smearing water and cow dung; seka - by sprinkling scented water; mandala-vartanaih - by construction of mandalas; griha - of the temple, which is My home; s'us'rûshanam - service; mahyam - for My sake; dâsa-vat - being like a servant; yat - which; amâyayâ - without duplicity;

> > amânitvam - being without false prestige; adambhitvam - being prideless; kritasya - one's devotional activities; aparikîrtanam - not advertising; api - moreover; dîpa - of lamps; avalokam - the light; me - which belong to Me; na - not; upayun'jyât - one should engage; niveditam - things already offered to others;

> > yat yat - anything; ishtha-tamam - most desired; loke - in the material world; yat ca - and anything; ati-priyam - most dear; âtmanah - of oneself; tat tat - that very thing; nivedayet - one should offer; mahyam - unto Me; tat - that offering; ânantyâya - for immortality; kalpate - qualifies one.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, one can give up false pride and prestige by engaging in the following devotional activities. One may purify oneself by seeing, touching, worshiping, serving, and offering prayers of glorification and obeisances to My form as the Deity and to My pure devotees. One should also glorify My transcendental qualities and activities, hear with love and faith the narrations of My glories and constantly meditate on Me. One should offer to Me whatever one acquires, and accepting oneself as My eternal servant, one should give oneself completely to Me. One should always discuss My birth and activities and enjoy life by participating in festivals, such as Janmâshthamî, which glorify My pastimes. In My temple, one should also participate in festivals and ceremonies by singing, dancing, playing musical instruments and discussing Me with other Vaishnavas. One should observe all the regularly celebrated annual festivals by attending ceremonies, pilgrimages and making offerings. One should also observe religious vows such as Ekâdas'î and take initiation by the procedures mentioned in the Vedas, Pan'carâtra and other, similar literatures. One should faithfully and lovingly support the installation of My Deity, and individually or in cooperation with others one should work for the construction of Krishna conscious temples and cities as well as flower gardens, fruit gardens and special areas to celebrate My pastimes. One should consider oneself to be My humble servant, without duplicity, and thus should help to clean the temple, which is My home. First one should sweep and dust thoroughly, and then one should further cleanse with water and cow dung. Having dried the temple, one should sprinkle scented water and decorate the temple with mandalas. One should thus act just like My servant. A devotee should never advertise his devotional activities; therefore his service will not be the cause of false pride. One should never use lamps that are offered to Me for other purposes simply because there is need of illumination, and similarly, one should never offer to Me anything that has been offered to or used by others. Whatever is most desired by one within this material world, and whatever is most dear to oneself &emdash; one should offer that very thing to Me. Such an offering qualifies one for eternal life.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > sûryo 'gnir brâhmanâ gâvo

> > vaishnavah kham' maruj jalam

> > bhûr âtmâ sarva-bhûtânî

> > bhadra pûjâ-padâni me

> > sûryah - the sun; agnih - fire; brâhmanâh - the brâhmanas; gâvah - the cows; vaishnavah - the devotee of the Lord; kham - the sky; marut - the wind; jalam - water; bhûh - the earth; âtmâ - the individual soul; sarva-bhûtânî - all living entities; bhadra - O saintly Uddhava; pûjâ - of worship; padâni - the places; me - of Me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O saintly Uddhava, please know that you may worship Me in the sun, fire, brâhmanas, cows, Vaishnavas, sky, wind, water, earth, individual soul and all living entities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43-45

> > sûrye tu vidyayâ trayyâ

> > havishâgnau yajeta mâm

> > âtithyena tu viprâgrye

> > goshv anga yavasâdinâ

> > vaishnave bandhu-sat-krityâ

> > hridî khe dhyâna-nishthhayâ

> > vâyau mukhya-dhiyâ toye

> > dravyais toya-purahsaraih

> > sthandile mantra-hridayair

> > bhogair âtmânam âtmani

> > kshetra-jn'am' sarva-bhûteshu

> > samatvena yajeta mâm

> > sûrye - in the sun; tu - indeed; vidyayâ trayyâ - by offering selected Vedic hymns of praise, worship and obeisances; havishâ - with offerings of clarified butter; agnau - in the fire; yajeta - one should worship; mâm - Me; âtithyena - by respectfully receiving them as guests even when uninvited; tu - indeed; vipra - of brâhmanas; agrye - in the best; gosu - in the cows; anga - O Uddhava; yavasa-âdinâ - by offering grass and other paraphernalia for their maintenance;

> > vaishnave - in the Vaishnava; bandhu - with loving friendship; sat-krityâ - by honoring; hridi - within the heart; kje - within the inner space; dhyâna - in meditation; nishthhayâ - by being fixed; vâyau - in the air; mukhya - the most important; dhiyâ - considering by intelligence; toye - in water; dravyaih - by material elements; toya-purah-saraih - by water, etc.;

> > sthandile - in the earth; mantra-hridayaih - by application of confidential mantras; bhogaih - by offering of materially enjoyable objects; âtmânam - the jîva soul; âtmani - within the body; kshetra-jn'am - the Supersoul; sarva-bhüteshu - within all living beings; samatvena - seeing Him equally everywhere; yajeta - one should worship; mâm - Me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, one should worship Me within the sun by chanting selected Vedic mantras and by performing worship and offering obeisances. One may worship Me within fire by offering oblations of ghee, and one may worship Me among the brâhmanas by respectfully receiving them as guests, even when uninvited. I can be worshiped within the cows by offerings of grass and other suitable grains and paraphernalia for the pleasure and health of the cows, and one may worship Me within the Vaishnavas by offering loving friendship to them and honoring them in all respects. Through steady meditation I am worshiped within the inner space of the heart, and within the air I can be worshiped by knowledge that prâna, the life air, is the chief among elements. I am worshiped within water by offerings of water itself, along with other elements such as flowers and tulas? leaves, and one may worship Me within the earth by proper application of confidential seed mantras. One may worship Me within the individual living entity by offering food and other enjoyable substances, and one may worship Me within all living entities by seeing the Supersoul within all of them, thus maintaining equal vision.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > dhishnyeshv ity eshu mad-rûpam'

> > s'ankha-cakra-gadâmbujaih

> > yuktam' catur-bhujam' s'ântam'

> > dhyâyann arcet samâhitah

> > dhishnyeshu - in the previously mentioned places of worship; iti - thus (by the previously mentioned processes); eshu - in them; mat-rûpam - My transcendental form; s'ankha - with the conchshell; cakra - Sudars'ana disc; gadâ - club; ambujaih - and lotus flower; yuktam - equipped; catuh-bhujam - with four arms; s'ântam - peaceful; dhyâyan - meditating; arcet - one should worship; samâhitah - with complete attention.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus, in the previously mentioned places of worship and according to the processes I have described, one should meditate on My peaceful, transcendental form with four arms holding a conchshell, Sudars'ana disc, club and lotus flower. In this way, one should worship Me with fixed attention.

> > ******

> > TEXT 47

> > ishthâ-pûrtena mâm evam'

> > yo yajeta samâhitah

> > labhate mayi sad-bhaktim'

> > mat-smritih sâdhu-sevayâ

> > ishthâ - by sacrificial performances for one's own benefit; pûrtena - and pious works for the benefit of others, such as digging wells; mâm - Me; evam - thus; yah - one who; yajeta - worships; samâhitah - with mind fixed in Me; labhate - such a person obtains; mayi - in Me; sat-bhaktim - unflinching devotional service; mat-smritih - realized knowledge of Me; sâdhu - with all superior qualities; sevayâ - by service.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One who has executed sacrificial performances and pious works for My satisfaction, and who thus worships Me with fixed attention, obtains unflinching devotional service unto Me. By the excellent quality of his service such a worshiper obtains realized knowledge of Me.

> > ******

> > TEXT 48

> > prâyena bhakti-yogena

> > sat-sangena vinoddhava

> > nopâyo vidyate samyak

> > prâyanam' hi satâm aham

> > prâyena - for all practical purposes; bhakti-yogena - devotional service unto Me; sat-sangena - which is made possible by association with My devotees; vinâ - without; uddhava - O Uddhava; na - not;upâyah - any means; vidyate - there is; samyak - that actually works; prâyanam - the true path of life or actual shelter; hi - because; satâm - of liberated souls; aham - I.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, I am personally the ultimate shelter and way of life for saintly liberated persons, and thus if one does not engage in My loving devotional service, which is made possible by associating with My devotees, then for all practical purposes, one possesses no effective means for escaping from material existence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > athaitat parama' guhyam'

> > s'rinvato yadu-nandana

> > su-gopyam api vakshyâmi

> > tvam' me bhrityah suhrit sakhâ

> > atha - thus; etat - this; paramam - supreme; guhyam - secret; s'rinvatah - to you who are listening; yadu-nandana - O beloved of the Yadu dynasty; su-gopyam - most confidential; api - even; vakshyâmi - I will speak; tvam - you; me - of Me; bhrityah - are the servant; su-hrit - well-wisher; sakhâ - and friend.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Uddhava, O beloved of the Yadu dynasty, because you are My servant, well-wisher and friend, I shall now speak to you the most confidential knowledge. Please hear as I explain these great mysteries to you.

> > Back to the running text