> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 7
> 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 7: "The Science of God"

> *****

> Chapter Fourteen: Ideal Family Life

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> TEXT 1

> srî-yudhisthira uvâca

> grhastha etâm padavîm

> vidhinâ yena cânjasâ

> yâyâd deva-rse brûhi

> mâdrso grha-mûdha-dhîh

> srî-yudhisthirah uvâca--Yudhisthira Mahârâja said; grhasthah--a person living with his family; etâm--this (the process mentioned in the previous chapter); padavim--position of liberation; vidhinâ--according to the instructions of Vedic scripture; yena--by which; ca--also; anjasâ--easily; yâyât--may get; deva-rse--O great sage among the demigods; brûhi--kindly explain; mâdrsah--such as me; grha-mûdha-dhîh--completely ignorant of the goal of life.

> TRANSLATION

> Maharaja Yudhisthira inquired from Narada Muni: O my lord, O great sage, kindly explain how we who are staying at home without knowledge of the goal of life may also easily attain liberation, according to the instructions of the Vedas.

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> TEXT 2

> srî-nârada uvâca

> grhesv avasthito râjan

> kriyâh kurvan yathocitâh

> vâsudevârpanam sâksâd

> upâsîta mahâ-munîn

> srî-nâradah uvâca--Srî Nârada Muni replied; grhesu--at home; avasthitah--staying (a householder generally stays home with his wife and children); râjan--O King; kriyâh--activities; kurvan--performing; yathocitâh--suitable (as instructed by the guru and sâstra); vâsudeva--unto Lord Vâsudeva; arpanam--dedicating; sâksât--directly; upâsîta--should worship; mahâ-munîn--the great devotees.

> TRANSLATION

> Narada Muni replied: My dear King, those who stay at home as householders must act to earn their livelihood, and instead of trying to enjoy the results of their work themselves, they should offer these results to Krsna, Vasudeva. How to satisfy Vasudeva in this life can be perfectly understood through the association of great devotees of the Lord.

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> TEXTS 3-4

> srnvan bhagavato 'bhîksnam

> avatâra-kathâmrtam

> sraddadhâno yathâ-kâlam

> upasânta-janâvrtah

> sat-sangac chanakaih sangam

> âtma-jâyâtmajâdisu

> vimuncen mucyamânesu

> svayam svapnavad utthitah

> srnvan--hearing; bhagavatah--of the Lord; abhîksnam--always; avatâra--of the incarnations; kathâ--narrations; amrtam--the nectar; sraddadhânah--being very faithful in hearing about the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yathâ-kâlam--according to time (generally a grhastha can find time in the evening or in the afternoon); upasanta--completely relieved of material activities; jana--by persons; âvrtah--being surrounded; sat-sangât--from such good association; sanakaih--gradually; sangam--association; âtma--in the body; jâyâ--wife; âtma-ja-âdisu--as well as in children; vimuncet--one should get free from the attachment for such association; mucyamânesu--being severed (from him); svayam--personally; svapna-vat--like a dream; utthitah--awakened.

> TRANSLATION

> A grhastha must associate again and again with saintly persons, and with great respect he must hear the nectar of the activities of the Supreme Lord and His incarnations as these activities are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Puranas. Thus one should gradually become detached from affection for his wife and children, exactly like a man awakening from a dream.

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> TEXT 5

> yâvad-artham upâsîno

> dehe gehe ca panditah

> virakto raktavat tatra

> nr-loke naratâm nyaset

> yâvat-artham--as much endeavor for one's livelihood as necessary; upâsînah--earning; dehe--in the body; gehe--in family matters; ca--also; panditah--one who is learned; viraktah--not at all attached; rakta-vat--as if very much attached; tatra--in this; nr-loke--human society; naratâm--the human form of life; nyaset--one should depict.

> TRANSLATION

> While working to earn his livelihood as much as necessary to maintain body and soul together, one who is actually learned should live in human society unattached to family affairs, although externally appearing very much attached.

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> TEXT 6

> jnâtayah pitarau putrâ

> bhrâtarah suhrdo 'pare

> yad vadanti yad icchanti

> cânumodeta nirmamah

> jnâtayah--relatives, family members; pitarau--the father and mother; putrâh--children; bhrâtarah--brothers; suhrdah--friends; apare--and others; yat--whatever; vadanti--they suggest (in regard to one's means of livelihood); yat--whatever; icchanti--they wish; ca--and; anumodeta--he should agree; nirmamah--but without taking them seriously.

> TRANSLATION

> An intelligent man in human society should make his own program of activities very simple. If there are suggestions from his friends, children, parents, brothers or anyone else, he should externally agree, saying, "Yes, that is all right," but internally he should be determined not to create a cumbersome life in which the purpose of life will not be fulfilled.

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> TEXT 7

> divyam bhaumam cântarîksam

> vittam acyuta-nirmitam

> tat sarvam upayunjâna

> etat kuryât svato budhah

> divyam--easily obtained because of rainfall from the sky; bhaumam--obtained from the mines and the sea; ca--and; ântarîksam--obtained by chance; vittam--all property; acyuta-nirmitam--created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat--those things; sarvam--all; upayunjâna--utilizing (for all human society or all living beings); etat--this (maintaining body and soul together); kuryât--one must do; svatah--obtained of itself, without extra endeavor; budhah--the intelligent person.

> TRANSLATION

> The natural products created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be utilized to maintain the bodies and souls of all living entities. The necessities of life are of three types: those produced from the sky [from rainfall], from the earth [from the mines, the seas or the fields], and from the atmosphere [that which is obtained suddenly and unexpectedly].

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> TEXT 8

> yâvad bhriyeta jatharam

> tâvat svatvam hi dehinâm

> adhikam yo 'bhimanyeta

> sa steno dandam arhati

> yâvat--as much as; bhriyeta--may be filled; jatharam--the stomach; tâvat--that much; svatvam--proprietorship; hi--indeed; dehinâm--of the living entities; adhikam--more than that; yah--anyone who; abhimanyeta--may accept; sah--he; stenah--a thief; dandam--punishment; arhati--deserves.

> TRANSLATION

> One may claim proprietorship to as much wealth as required to maintain body and soul together, but one who desires proprietorship over more than that must be considered a thief, and he deserves to be punished by the laws of nature.

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> TEXT 9

> mrgostra-khara-markâkhu-

> sarîsrp khaga-maksikâh

> âtmanah putravat pasyet

> tair esâm antaram kiyat

> mrga--deer; ustra--camels; khara--asses; marka--monkeys; âkhu--mice; sarîsrp--snakes; khaga--birds; maksikâh--flies; âtmanah--of one's self; putra-vat--like the sons; pasyet--one should see; taih--with those sons; esâm--of these animals; antaram--difference; kiyat--how little.

> TRANSLATION

> One should treat animals such as deer, camels, asses, monkeys, mice, snakes, birds and flies exactly like one's own son. How little difference there actually is between children and these innocent animals.

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> TEXT 10

> tri-vargam nâtikrcchrena

> bhajeta grha-medhy api

> yathâ-desam yathâ-kâlam

> yâvad-daivopapâditam

> tri-vargam--three principles, namely religiosity, economic development and sense gratification; na--not; ati-krcchrena--by very severe endeavor; bhajeta--should execute; grha-medhî--a person interested only in family life; api--although; yathâ-desam--according to the place; yathâ-kâlam--according to the time; yâvat--as much as; daiva--by the grace of the Lord; upapâditam--obtained.

> TRANSLATION

> Even if one is a householder rather than a brahmacari, a sannyasi or a vanaprastha, one should not endeavor very hard for religiosity, economic development or satisfaction of the senses. Even in householder life, one should be satisfied to maintain body and soul together with whatever is available with minimum endeavor, according to place and time, by the grace of the Lord. One should not engage oneself in ugra-karma.

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> TEXT 11

> âsvâghânte 'vasâyibhyah

> kâmân samvibhajed yathâ

> apy ekâm âtmano dârâm

> nrnâm svatva-graho yatah

> â--even up to; sva--the dog; agha--sinful animals or living entities; ante avasâyibhyah--unto the candâlas, the lowest of men (dog-eaters and hog-eaters); kâmân--the necessities of life; samvibhajet--should divide; yathâ--as much as (deserved); api--even; ekâm--one; âtmanah--own; dârâm--the wife; nrnâm--of the people in general; svatva-grahah--the wife is accepted as being identical with one's self; yatah--because of which.

> TRANSLATION

> Dogs, fallen persons and untouchables, including candalas [dog-eaters], should all be maintained with their proper necessities, which should be contributed by the householders. Even one's wife at home, with whom one is most intimately attached, should be offered for the reception of guests and people in general.

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> TEXT 12

> jahyâd yad-arthe svân prânân

> hanyâd vâ pitaram gurum

> tasyâm svatvam striyâm jahyâd

> yas tena hy ajito jitah

> jahyât--one may give up; yat-arthe--for whom; svân--one's own; prânân--life; hanyât--one may kill; vâ--or; pitaram--the father; gurum--the teacher or spiritual master; tasyâm--unto her; svatvam--ownership; striyâm--unto the wife; jahyât--one must give up; yah--one who (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); tena--by him; hi--indeed; ajitah--cannot be conquered; jitah--conquered.

> TRANSLATION

> One so seriously considers one's wife to be his own that he sometimes kills himself for her or kills others, including even his parents or his spiritual master or teacher. Therefore if one can give up his attachment to such a wife, he conquers the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never conquered by anyone.

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> TEXT 13

> krmi-vid-bhasma-nisthântam

> kvedam tuccham kalevaram

> kva tadîya-ratir bhâryâ

> kvâyam âtmâ nabhas-chadih

> krmi--insects, germs; vit--stool; bhasma--ashes; nistha--attachment; antam--at the end; kva--what is; idam--this (body); tuccham--very insignificant; kalevaram--material tabernacle; kva--what is that; tadîya-ratih--attraction for that body; bhâryâ--wife; kva ayam--what is the value of this body; âtmâ--the Supreme Soul; nabhah-chadih--all-pervading like the sky.

> TRANSLATION

> Through proper deliberation, one should give up attraction to his wife's body because that body will ultimately be transformed into small insects, stool or ashes. What is the value of this insignificant body? How much greater is the Supreme Being, who is all-pervading like the sky?

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> TEXT 14

> siddhair yajnâvasistârthaih

> kalpayed vrttim âtmanah

> sese svatvam tyajan prâjnah

> padavîm mahatâm iyât

> siddhaih--things obtained by the grace of the Lord; yajnâ-avasista-arthaih--things obtained after a sacrifice is offered to the Lord or after the recommended panca-sûnâ yajna is performed; kalpayet--one should consider; vrttim--the means of livelihood; âtmanah--for the self; sese--at the end; svatvam--so-called proprietorship over one's wife, children, home, business and so on; tyajan--giving up; prâjnah--those who are wise; padavîm--the position; mahatâm--of the great personalities who are fully satisfied in spiritual consciousness; iyât--should achieve.

> TRANSLATION

> An intelligent person should be satisfied with eating prasada [food offered to the Lord] or with performing the five different kinds of yajna [panca-suna]. By such activities, one can give up attachment for the body and so-called proprietorship with reference to the body. When one is able to do this, he is firmly fixed in the position of a mahatma.

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> TEXT 15

> devân rsîn nr-bhûtâni

> pitrn âtmânam anvaham

> sva-vrttyâgata-vittena

> yajeta purusam prthak

> devân--unto the demigods; rsîn--unto the great sages; nr--unto human society; bhûtâni--unto the living entities in general; pitrn--unto the forefathers; âtmânam--one's self or the Supreme Self; anvaham--daily; sva-vrttyâ--by one's means of livelihood; âgata-vittena--money that automatically comes; yajeta--one should worship; purusam--the person situated in everyone's heart; prthak--separately.

> TRANSLATION

> Every day, one should worship the Supreme Being who is situated in everyone's heart, and on this basis one should separately worship the demigods, the saintly persons, ordinary human beings and living entities, one's forefathers and one's self. In this way one is able to worship the Supreme Being in the core of everyone's heart.

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> TEXT 16

> yarhy âtmano 'dhikârâdyâh

> sarvâh syur yajna-sampadah

> vaitânikena vidhinâ

> agni-hotrâdinâ yajet

> yarhi--when; âtmanah--of one's self; adhikâra-âdyâh--things possessed by him under full control; sarvâh--everything; syuh--becomes; yajna-sampadah--paraphernalia for performing yajna, or the means for pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vaitânikena--with authorized books that direct the performance of yajna; vidhinâ--according to regulative principles; agni-hotra-âdinâ--by offering sacrifices to the fire, etc.; yajet--one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> TRANSLATION

> When one is enriched with wealth and knowledge which are under his full control and by means of which he can perform yajna or please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one must perform sacrifices, offering oblations to the fire according to the directions of the sastras. In this way one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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> TEXT 17

> na hy agni-mukhato 'yam vai

> bhagavân sarva-yajna-bhuk

> ijyeta havisâ râjan

> yathâ vipra-mukhe hutaih

> na--not; hi--indeed; agni--fire; mukhatah--from the mouth or the flames; ayam--this; vai--certainly; bhagavân--Lord Srî Krsna; sarva-yajna-bhuk--the enjoyer of the results of all kinds of sacrifices; ijyeta--is worshiped; havisâ--by offering of clarified butter; râjan--O King; yathâ--as much as; vipra-mukhe--through the mouth of a brâhmana; hutaih--by offering him first-class food.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is the enjoyer of sacrificial offerings. Yet although His Lordship eats the oblations offered in the fire, my dear King, He is still more satisfied when nice food made of grains and ghee is offered to Him through the mouths of qualified brahmanas.

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> TEXT 18

> tasmâd brâhmana-devesu

> martyâdisu yathârhatah

> tais taih kâmair yajasvainam

> ksetra-jnam brâhmanân anu

> tasmât--therefore; brâhmana-devesu--through the brâhmanas and the demigods; martya-âdisu--through ordinary human beings and other living entities; yathâ-arhatah--according to your ability; taih taih--with all those; kâmaih--various objects of enjoyment such as sumptuous food, flower garlands, sandalwood paste, etc.; yajasva--you should worship; enam--this; ksetra-jnam--Supreme Lord situated in the hearts of all beings; brâhmanân--the brâhmanas; anu--after.

> TRANSLATION

> Therefore, my dear King, first offer prasada unto the brahmanas and the demigods, and after sumptuously feeding them you may distribute prasada to other living entities according to your ability. In this way you will be able to worship all living entities--or, in other words, the supreme living entity within every living entity.

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> TEXT 19

> kuryâd apara-paksîyam

> mâsi praustha-pade dvijah

> srâddham pitror yathâ-vittam

> tad-bandhûnâm ca vittavân

> kuryât--one should perform; apara-paksîyam--during the fortnight of the dark moon; mâsi--in the month of Âsvina (October-November); praustha-pade--in the month of Bhâdra (August-September); dvijah--twice-born; srâddham--oblations; pitroh--unto the forefathers; yathâ-vittam--according to one's means of income; tat-bandhûnâm ca--as well as relatives of forefathers; vitta-vân--one who is sufficiently rich.

> TRANSLATION

> A brahmana who is sufficiently rich must offer oblations to the forefathers during the dark-moon fortnight in the latter part of the month of Bhadra. Similarly, he should offer oblations to the relatives of the forefathers during the mahalaya ceremonies in the month of Asvina.*

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> TEXTS 20-23

> ayane visuve kuryâd

> vyatîpâte dina-ksaye

> candrâdityoparâge ca

> dvâdasyâm sravanesu ca

> trtîyâyâm sukla-pakse

> navamyâm atha kârtike

> catasrsv apy astakâsu

> hemante sisire tathâ

> mâghe ca sita-saptamyâm

> maghâ-râkâ-samâgame

> râkayâ cânumatyâ ca

> mâsarksâni yutâny api

> dvâdasyâm anurâdhâ syâc

> chravanas tisra uttarâh

> tisrsv ekâdasî vâsu

> janmarksa-srona-yoga-yuk

> ayane--on the day when the sun begins to move north, or Makara-sankrânti, and on the day when the sun begins to move south, or Karkata-sankrânti; visuve--on the Mesa-sankrânti and on the Tulâ-sankrânti; kuryât--one should perform; vyatîpâte--in the yoga named Vyatîpâta; dina-ksaye--on that day in which three tithis are combined; candra-âditya-uparâge--at the time of the eclipse of either the moon or the sun; ca--and also; dvâdasyâm sravanesu--on the twelfth lunar day and in the naksatra named Sravana; ca--and; trtîyâyâm--on the Aksaya-trtîyâ day; sukla-pakse--in the bright fortnight of the month; navamyâm--on the ninth lunar day; atha--also; kârtike--in the month of Kârtika (October-November); catasrsu--on the four; api--also; astakâsu--on the Astakâs; hemante--before the winter season; sisire--in the winter season; tathâ--and also; mâghe--in the month of Mâgha (January-February); ca--and; sita-saptamyâm--on the seventh lunar day of the bright fortnight; maghâ-râkâ-samâgame--in the conjunction of Maghâ-naksatra and the full-moon day; râkayâ--with a day of the completely full moon; ca--and; anumatyâ--with a full-moon day when the moon is slightly less than completely full; ca--and; mâsa-rksâni--the naksatras that are the sources of the names of the various months; yutâni--are conjoined; api--also; dvâdasyâm--on the twelfth lunar day; anurâdhâ--the naksatra named Anurâdhâ; syât--may occur; sravanah--the naksatra named Sravana; tisrah--the three (naksatras); uttarâh--the naksatras named Uttarâ (Uttara-phalgunî, Uttarâsâdhâ and Uttara-bhâdrapadâ); tisrsu--on three; ekâdasî--the eleventh lunar day; vâ--or; âsu--on these; janma-rksa--of one's own janma-naksatra, or birth star; srona--of Sravana-naksatra; yoga--by a conjunction; yuk--having.

> TRANSLATION

> One should perform the sraddha ceremony on the Makara-sankranti [the day when the sun begins to move north] or on the Karkata-sankranti [the day when the sun begins to move south]. One should also perform this ceremony on the Mesa-sankranti day and the Tula-sankranti day, in the yoga named Vyatipata, on that day in which three lunar tithis are conjoined, during an eclipse of either the moon or the sun, on the twelfth lunar day, and in the Sravana-naksatra. One should perform this ceremony on the Aksaya-trtiya day, on the ninth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika, on the four astakas in the winter season and cool season, on the seventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magha, during the conjunction of Magha-naksatra and the full-moon day, and on the days when the moon is completely full, or not quite completely full, when these days are conjoined with the naksatras from which the names of certain months are derived. One should also perform the sraddha ceremony on the twelfth lunar day when it is in conjunction with any of the naksatras named Anuradha, Sravana, Uttara-phalguni, Uttarasadha or Uttara-bhadrapada. Again, one should perform this ceremony when the eleventh lunar day is in conjunction with either Uttara-phalguni, Uttarasadha or Uttara-bhadrapada. Finally, one should perform this ceremony on days conjoined with one's own birth star [janma-naksatra] or with Sravana-naksatra.

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> TEXT 24

> ta ete sreyasah kâlâ

> nrnâm sreyo-vivardhanâh

> kuryât sarvâtmanaitesu

> sreyo 'mogham tad-âyusah

> te--therefore; ete--all these (descriptions of astronomical calculations); sreyasah--of auspiciousness; kâlâh--times; nrnâm--for human beings; sreyah--auspiciousness; vivardhanâh--increase; kuryât--one should perform; sarva-âtmanâ--by other activities (not only the srâddha ceremony); etesu--in these (seasons); sreyah--(causing) auspiciousness; amogham--and success; tat--of a human being; âyusah--of the duration of life.

> TRANSLATION

> All of these seasonal times are considered extremely auspicious for humanity. At such times, one should perform all auspicious activities, for by such activities a human being attains success in his short duration of life.

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> TEXT 25

> esu snânam japo homo

> vratam deva-dvijârcanam

> pitr-deva-nr-bhûtebhyo

> yad dattam tad dhy anasvaram

> esu--in all these (seasonal times); snânam--bathing in the Ganges, Yamunâ or any other sacred places; japah--chanting; homah--performing fire sacrifices; vratam--executing vows; deva--the Supreme Lord; dvija-arcanam--worshiping the brâhmanas or Vaisnavas; pitr--unto the forefathers; deva--demigods; nr--human beings in general; bhûtebhyah--and all other living entities; yat--whatever; dattam--offered; tat--that; hi--indeed; anasvaram--permanently beneficial.

> TRANSLATION

> During these periods of seasonal change, if one bathes in the Ganges, in the Yamuna or in another sacred place, if one chants, offers fire sacrifices or executes vows, or if one worships the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the forefathers, the demigods and the living entities in general, whatever he gives in charity yields a permanently beneficial result.

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> TEXT 26

> samskâra-kâlo jâyâyâ

> apatyasyâtmanas tathâ

> preta-samsthâ mrtâhas ca

> karmany abhyudaye nrpa

> samskâra-kâlah--at the proper time indicated for Vedic reformatory performances; jâyâyâh--for the wife; apatyasya--for the children; âtmanah--and one's own self; tathâ--as well as; preta-samsthâ--funeral ceremonies; mrta-ahah--annual death ceremonies; ca--and; karmani--of fruitive activity; abhyudaye--for furtherance; nrpa--O King.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Yudhisthira, at the time prescribed for reformatory ritualistic ceremonies for one's self, one's wife or one's children, or during funeral ceremonies and annual death ceremonies, one must perform the auspicious ceremonies mentioned above in order to flourish in fruitive activities.

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> TEXTS 27-28

> atha desân pravaksyâmi

> dharmâdi-sreya-âvahân

> sa vai punyatamo desah

> sat-pâtram yatra labhyate

> bimbam bhagavato yatra

> sarvam etac carâcaram

> yatra ha brâhmana-kulam

> tapo-vidyâ-dayânvitam

> atha--thereafter; desân--places; pravaksyâmi--I shall describe; dharma-âdi--religious performances, etc.; sreya--auspiciousness; âvahân--which can bring; sah--that; vai--indeed; punya-tamah--the most sacred; desah--place; sat-pâtram--a Vaisnava; yatra--wherein; labhyate--is available; bimbam--the Deity (in the temple); bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (who is the support); yatra--where; sarvam etat--of this entire cosmic manifestation; cara-acaram--with all the moving and nonmoving living entities; yatra--wherein; ha--indeed; brâhmana-kulam--association with brâhmanas; tapah--austerities; vidyâ--education; dayâ--mercy; anvitam--endowed with.

> TRANSLATION

> Narada Muni continued: Now I shall describe the places where religious performances may be well executed. Any place where a Vaisnava is available is an excellent place for all auspicious activities. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the support of this entire cosmic manifestation, with all its moving and nonmoving living entities, and the temple where the Deity of the Lord is installed is a most sacred place. Furthermore, places where learned brahmanas observe Vedic principles by means of austerity, education and mercy are also most auspicious and sacred.

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> TEXT 29

> yatra yatra harer arcâ

> sa desah sreyasâm padam

> yatra gangâdayo nadyah

> purânesu ca visrutâh

> yatra yatra--wherever; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; arcâ--the Deity is worshiped; sah--that; desah--place, country or neighborhood; sreyasâm--of all auspiciousness; padam--the place; yatra--wherever; gangâ-âdayah--like the Ganges, Yamunâ, Narmadâ and Kâverî; nadyah--sacred rivers; purânesu--in the Purânas (supplementary Vedic literature); ca--also; visrutâh--are celebrated.

> TRANSLATION

> Auspicious indeed are the places where there is a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, in which He is duly worshiped, and also the places where there flow the celebrated sacred rivers mentioned in the Puranas, the supplementary Vedic literatures. Anything spiritual done there is certainly very effective.

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> TEXTS 30-33

> sarâmsi puskarâdîni

> ksetrâny arhâsritâny uta

> kuruksetram gaya-sirah

> prayâgah pulahâsramah

> naimisam phâlgunam setuh

> prabhâso 'tha kusa-sthalî

> vârânasî madhu-purî

> pampâ bindu-saras tathâ

> nârâyanâsramo nandâ

> sîtâ-râmâsramâdayah

> sarve kulâcalâ râjan

> mahendra-malayâdayah

> ete punyatamâ desâ

> harer arcâsritâs ca ye

> etân desân niseveta

> sreyas-kâmo hy abhîksnasah

> dharmo hy atrehitah pumsâm

> sahasrâdhi-phalodayah

> sarâmsi--lakes; puskara-âdîni--such as Puskara; ksetrâni--sacred places (like Kuruksetra, Gayâksetra and Jagannâtha Purî); arha--for worshipable, saintly persons; âsritâni--places of shelter; uta--celebrated; kuruksetram--a particular sacred place (dharma-ksetra); gaya-sirah--the place known as Gayâ, where Gayâsura took shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Visnu; prayâgah--Allahabad, at the confluence of the two sacred rivers Ganges and Yamunâ; pulaha-âsramah--the residence of Pulaha Muni; naimisam--the place known as Naimisâranya (near Lucknow); phâlgunam--the place where the Phâlgu River flows; setuh--Setubandha, where Lord Râmacandra constructed a bridge between India and Lankâ; prabhâsah--Prabhâsaksetra; atha--as well as; kusa-sthalî--Dvâravatî, or Dvârakâ; vârânasî--Benares; madhu-purî--Mathurâ; pampâ--a place where there is a lake called Pampâ; bindu-sarah--the place where Bindu-sarovara is situated; tathâ--there; nârâyana-âsramah--known as Badarikâsrama; nandâ--the place where the Nandâ River flows; sîtâ-râma--of Lord Râmacandra and mother Sîtâ; âsrama-âdayah--places of shelter like Citrakûta; sarve--all (such places); kulâcalâh--hilly tracts of land; râjan--O King; mahendra--known as Mahendra; malaya-âdayah--and others, like Malayâcala; ete--all of them; punya-tamâh--extremely sacred; desâh--places; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; arca-âsritâh--places where the Deity of Radha-Krsna is worshiped (such as big American cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and European cities like London and Paris, or wherever there are centers of Krsna consciousness); ca--as well as; ye--those which; etân desân--all these countries; niseveta--should worship or visit; sreyah-kâmah--one who desires auspiciousness; hi--indeed; abhîksnasah--again and again; dharmah--religious activities; hi--from which; atra--in these places; îhitah--performed; pumsâm--of the persons; sahasra-adhi--more than a thousand times; phala-udayah--effective.

> TRANSLATION

> The sacred lakes like Puskara and places where saintly persons live, like Kuruksetra, Gaya, Prayaga, Pulahasrama, Naimisaranya, the banks of the Phalgu River, Setubandha, Prabhasa, Dvaraka, Varanasi, Mathura, Pampa, Bindu-sarovara, Badarikasrama [Narayanasrama], the places where the Nanda River flows, the places where Lord Ramacandra and mother Sita took shelter, such as Citrakuta, and also the hilly tracts of land known as Mahendra and Malaya--all of these are to be considered most pious and sacred. Similarly, places outside India where there are centers of the Krsna consciousness movement and where Radha-Krsna Deities are worshiped must all be visited and worshiped by those who want to be spiritually advanced. One who intends to advance in spiritual life may visit all these places and perform ritualistic ceremonies to get results a thousand times better than the results of the same activities performed in any other place.

> *****

> TEXT 34

> pâtram tv atra niruktam vai

> kavibhih pâtra-vittamaih

> harir evaika urvîsa

> yan-mayam vai carâcaram

> pâtram--the true person to whom charity must be given; tu--but; atra--in the world; niruktam--decided; vai--indeed; kavibhih--by learned scholars; pâtra-vittamaih--who are expert in finding the actual person to whom charity must be given; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva--indeed; ekah--only one; urvî-îsa--O King of the earth; yat-mayam--in whom everything is resting; vai--from whom everything is coming; cara-acaram--all that is moving or nonmoving within this universe.

> TRANSLATION

> O King of the earth, it has been decided by expert, learned scholars that only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, in whom all that is moving or nonmoving within this universe is resting and from whom everything is coming, is the best person to whom everything must be given.

> *****

> TEXT 35

> devarsy-arhatsu vai satsu

> tatra brahmâtmajâdisu

> râjan yad agra-pûjâyâm

> matah pâtratayâcyutah

> deva-rsi--among the demigods and great saintly persons, including Nârada Muni; arhatsu--the most venerable and worshipable personalities; vai--indeed; satsu--the great devotees; tatra--there (at the Râjasûya-yajna); brahma-âtma-jâdisu--and the sons of Lord Brahmâ (such as Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat and Sanâtana); râjan--O King; yat--from whom; agra-pûjâyâm--the first to be worshiped; matah--decision; pâtratayâ--selected as the best person to preside over the Râjasûya-yajna; acyutah--Krsna.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Yudhisthira, the demigods, many great sages and saints including even the four sons of Lord Brahma, and I myself were present at your Rajasuya sacrificial ceremony, but when there was a question of who should be the first person worshiped, everyone decided upon Lord Krsna, the Supreme Person.

> *****

> TEXT 36

> jiva-râsibhir âkîrna

> anda-kosânghripo mahân

> tan-mûlatvâd acyutejyâ

> sarva-jîvâtma-tarpanam

> jîva-râsibhih--by millions and millions of living entities; âkîrnah--filled up or spread over; anda-kosa--the whole universe; anghripah--like a tree; mahân--very, very great; tat-mûlatvât--because of being the root of this tree; acyuta-ijyâ--worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva--of all; jîva-âtma--living entities; tarpanam--satisfaction.

> TRANSLATION

> The entire universe, which is full of living entities, is like a tree whose root is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Acyuta [Krsna]. Therefore simply by worshiping Lord Krsna one can worship all living entities.

> *****

> TEXT 37

> purâny anena srstâni

> nr-tiryag-rsi-devatâh

> sete jîvena rûpena

> puresu puruso hy asau

> purâni--residential places or bodies; anena--by Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); srstâni--among those creations; nr--man; tiryak--other than human beings (animals, birds, etc); rsi--saintly persons; devatâh--and demigods; sete--lies down; jîvena--with the living entities; rûpena--in the form of Paramâtmâ; puresu--within these residential places or bodies; purusah--the Supreme Lord; hi--indeed; asau--He (the Personality of Godhead).

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead has created many residential places like the bodies of human beings, animals, birds, saints and demigods. In all of these innumerable bodily forms, the Lord resides with the living being as Paramatma. Thus He is known as the purusavatara.

> *****

> TEXT 38

> tesv eva bhagavân râjams

> târatamyena vartate

> tasmât pâtram hi puruso

> yâvân âtmâ yatheyate

> tesu--among the different types of bodies (demigod, human, animal, bird, etc.); eva--indeed; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Paramâtmâ feature; râjan--O King; târatamyena--comparatively, more or less; vartate--is situated; tasmât--therefore; pâtram--the Supreme Person; hi--indeed; purusah--Paramâtmâ; yâvân--as far as; âtmâ--the degree of understanding; yathâ--development of austerity and penance; îyate--is manifest.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Yudhisthira, the Supersoul in every body gives intelligence to the individual soul according to his capacity for understanding. Therefore the Supersoul is the chief within the body. The Supersoul is manifested to the individual soul according to the individual's comparative development of knowledge, austerity, penance and so on.

> *****

> TEXT 39

> drstvâ tesâm mitho nrnâm

> avajnânâtmatâm nrpa

> tretâdisu harer arcâ

> kriyâyai kavibhih krtâ

> drstvâ--after practically seeing; tesâm--among the brâhmanas and Vaisnavas; mithah--mutually; nrnâm--of human society; avajnâna-âtmatâm--the mutually disrespectful behavior; nrpa--O King; tretâ-âdisu--beginning from Tretâ-yuga; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; arcâ--the Deity worship (in the temple); kriyâyai--for the purpose of introducing the method of worship; kavibhih--by learned persons; krtâ--has been done.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear King, when great sages and saintly persons saw mutually disrespectful dealings at the beginning of Treta-yuga, Deity worship in the temple was introduced with all paraphernalia.

> *****

> TEXT 40

> tato 'rcâyâm harim kecit

> samsraddhâya saparyayâ

> upâsata upâstâpi

> nârthadâ purusa-dvisâm

> tatah--thereafter; arcâyâm--the Deity; harim--who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (the form of the Lord being identical with the Lord); kecit--someone; samsraddhâya--with great faith; saparyayâ--and with the required paraphernalia; upâsate--worships; upâstâ api--although worshiping the Deity (with faith and regularity); na--not; artha-dâ--beneficial; purusa-dvisâm--for those who are envious of Lord Visnu and His devotees.

> TRANSLATION

> Sometimes a neophyte devotee offers all the paraphernalia for worshiping the Lord, and he factually worships the Lord as the Deity, but because he is envious of the authorized devotees of Lord Visnu, the Lord is never satisfied with his devotional service.

> *****

> TEXT 41

> purusesv api râjendra

> supâtram brâhmanam viduh

> tapasâ vidyayâ tustyâ

> dhatte vedam hares tanum

> purusesu--among persons; api--indeed; râja-indra--O best of kings; su-pâtram--the best person; brâhmanam--the qualified brâhmana; viduh--one should know; tapasâ--due to austerity; vidyayâ--education; tustyâ--and satisfaction; dhatte--he assumes; vedam--the transcendental knowledge known as Veda; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tanum--body, or representation.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear King, of all persons a qualified brahmana must be accepted as the best within this material world because such a brahmana, by practicing austerity, Vedic studies and satisfaction, becomes the counterpart body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> *****

> TEXT 42

> nanv asya brâhmanâ râjan

> krsnasya jagad-âtmanah

> punantah pâda-rajasâ

> tri-lokîm daivatam mahat

> nanu--but; asya--by Him; brâhmanâh--the qualified brâhmanas; râjan--O King; krsnasya--by Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jagat-âtmanah--who is the life and soul of the whole creation; punantah--sanctifying; pâda-rajasâ--by the dust of their lotus feet; tri-lokîm--the three worlds; daivatam--worshipable; mahat--most exalted.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear King Yudhisthira, the brahmanas, especially those engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord throughout the entire world, are recognized and worshiped by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the heart and soul of all creation. The brahmanas, by their preaching, sanctify the three worlds with the dust of their lotus feet, and thus they are worshipable even for Krsna.

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