> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 6:

> *******

> Chapter 9: Appearance of the Demon Vrtrâsura

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> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> tasyâsan visvarûpasya

> sirâmsi trîni bhârata

> soma-pîtham surâ-pîtham

> annâdam iti susruma

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; tasya--of him; âsan--there were; visvarûpasya--of Visvarûpa, the priest of the demigods; sirâmsi--heads; trîni--three; bhârata--O Mahârâja Parîksit; soma-pîtham--used for drinking the beverage soma; surâ-pîtham--used for have heard by the paramparâ system.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Visvarupa, who was engaged as the priest of the demigods, had three heads. He used one to drink the beverage soma-rasa, another to drink wine and the third to eat food. O King Pariksit, thus I have heard from authorities.

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> TEXT 2

> sa vai barhisi devebhyo

> bhâgam pratyaksam uccakaih

> adadad yasya pitaro

> devâh saprasrayam nrpa

> sah--he (Visvarûpa); vai--indeed; barhisi--in the sacrificial fire; devebhyah--unto the particular demigods; bhâgam--the proper share; pratyaksam--visibly; uccakaih--by loud chanting of the mantras; adadat--offered; yasya--of whom; pitarah--the fathers; devâh--demigods; sa-prasrayam--very humbly in a gentle voice; nrpa--O King Parîksit.

> TRANSLATION

> O Maharaja Pariksit, the demigods were related to Visvarupa from his father's side, and therefore he visibly offered clarified butter in the fire while chanting mantras such as indraya idam svaha ["this is meant for King Indra"] and idam agnaye ["this is for the demigod of fire"]. He loudly chanted these mantras and offered each of the demigods his proper share.

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> TEXT 3

> sa eva hi dadau bhâgam

> paroksam asurân prati

> yajamâno 'vahad bhâgam

> mâtr-sneha-vasânugah

> sah--he (Visvarûpa); eva--indeed; hi--certainly; dadau--offered; bhâgam--share; paroksam--without the knowledge of the demigods; asurân--the demons; prati--unto; yajamânah--performing sacrifice; avahat--offered; bhâgam--share; mâtr-sneha--by affection for his mother; vasa-anugah--being compelled.

> TRANSLATION

> Although offering clarified butter in the sacrificial fire in the name of the demigods, without the knowledge of the demigods he also offered oblations to the demons because they were his relatives through his mother.

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> TEXT 4

> tad deva-helanam tasya

> dharmâlîkam suresvarah

> âlaksya tarasâ bhîtas

> tac-chîrsâny acchinad rusâ

> tat--that; deva-helanam--offense to the demigods; tasya--of him (Visvarûpa); dharma-alîkam--cheating in religious principles (pretending to be the priest of the demigods, but secretly acting as the priest of the demons also); sura-îsvarah--the king of the demigods; âlaksya--observing; tarasâ--quickly; bhîtah--being afraid (that the demons would gain strength by being blessed by Visvarûpa); tat--his (Visvarûpa's); sîrsâni--heads; acchinat--cut off; rusâ--with great anger.

> TRANSLATION

> Once upon a time, however, the King of heaven, Indra, understood that Visvarupa was secretly cheating the demigods by offering oblations on behalf of the demons. He became extremely afraid of being defeated by the demons, and in great anger at Visvarupa he cut Visvarupa's three heads from his shoulders.

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> TEXT 5

> soma-pîtham tu yat tasya

> sira âsît kapinjalah

> kalavinkah surâ-pîtham

> annâdam yat sa tittirih

> soma-pîtham--used for drinking soma-rasa; tu--however; yat--which; tasya--of him (Visvarûpa); sirah--the head; âsît--became; kapinjalah--a francolin partridge; kalavinkah--a sparrow; surâ-pîtham--meant for drinking wine; anna-adam--used for eating food; yat--which; sah--that; tittirih--a common partridge.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, the head meant for drinking soma-rasa was transformed into a kapinjala [francolin partridge]. Similarly, the head meant for drinking wine was transformed into a kalavinka [sparrow], and the head meant for eating food became a tittiri [common partridge].

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> TEXT 6

> brahma-hatyâm anjalinâ

> jagrâha yad apîsvarah

> samvatsarânte tad agham

> bhûtânâm sa visuddhaye

> bhûmy-ambu-druma-yosidbhyas

> caturdhâ vyabhajad dharih

> brahma-hatyâm--the sinful reaction for killing a brâhmana; anjalinâ--with folded hands; jagrâha--assumed the responsibility for; yat api--although; îsvarah--very powerful; samvatsara-ante--after one year; tat agham--that sinful reaction; bhûtânâm--of the material elements; sah--he; visuddhaye--for purification; bhûmi--unto the earth; ambu--water; druma--trees; yosidbhyah--and unto women; caturdhâ--in four divisions; vyabhajat--divided; harih--King Indra.

> TRANSLATION

> Although Indra was so powerful that he could neutralize the sinful reactions for killing a brahmana, he repentantly accepted the burden of these reactions with folded hands. He suffered for one year, and then to purify himself he distributed the reactions for this sinful killing among the earth, water, trees and women.

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> TEXT 7

> bhûmis turîyam jagrâha

> khâta-pûra-varena vai

> îrinam brahma-hatyâyâ

> rûpam bhûmau pradrsyate

> bhûmih--the earth; turîyam--one fourth; jagrâha--accepted; khâta-pûra--of the filling of holes; varena--because of the benediction; vai--indeed; îrinam--the deserts; brahma-hatyâyâh--of the reaction for killing a brâhmana; rûpam--form; bhûmau--on the earth; pradrsyate--is visible.

> TRANSLATION

> In return for King Indra's benediction that ditches in the earth would be filled automatically, the land accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions for killing a brahmana. Because of those sinful reactions, we find many deserts on the surface of the earth.

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> TEXT 8

> turyam cheda-virohena

> varena jagrhur drumâh

> tesâm niryâsa-rûpena

> brahma-hatyâ pradrsyate

> turyam--one fourth; cheda--although being cut; virohena--of growing again; varena--because of the benediction; jagrhuh--accepted; drumâh--the trees; tesâm--of them; niryâsa-rûpena--by the liquid oozing from the trees; brahma-hatyâ--the reaction for killing a brâhmana; pradrsyate--is visible.

> TRANSLATION

> In return for Indra's benediction that their branches and twigs would grow back when trimmed, the trees accepted one fourth of the reactions for killing a brahmana. These reactions are visible in the flowing of sap from trees. [Therefore one is forbidden to drink this sap.]

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> TEXT 9

> sasvat-kâma-varenâmhas

> turîyam jagrhuh striyah

> rajo-rûpena tâsv amho

> mâsi mâsi pradrsyate

> sasvat--perpetual; kâma--of sexual desire; varena--because of the benediction; amhah--the sinful reaction for killing a brâhmana; turîyam--one fourth; jagrhuh--accepted; striyah--women; rajah-rûpena--in the form of the menstrual period; tâsu--in them; amhah--the sinful reaction; mâsi mâsi--every month; pradrsyate--is visible.

> TRANSLATION

> In return for Lord Indra's benediction that they would be able to enjoy lusty desires continuously, even during pregnancy for as long as sex is not injurious to the embryo, women accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions. As a result of those reactions, women manifest the signs of menstruation every month.

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> TEXT 10

> dravya-bhûyo-varenâpas

> turîyam jagrhur malam

> tâsu budbuda-phenâbhyâm

> drstam tad dharati ksipan

> dravya--other things; bhûyah--of increasing; varena--by the benediction; âpah--water; turîyam--one fourth; jagrhuh--accepted; malam--the sinful reaction; tâsu--in the water; budbuda-phenâbhyâm--by bubbles and foam; drstam--visible; tat--that; harati--one collects; ksipan--throwing away.

> TRANSLATION

> And in return for King Indra's benediction that water would increase the volume of other substances with which it was mixed, water accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions. Therefore there are bubbles and foam in water. When one collects water, these should be avoided.

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> TEXT 11

> hata-putras tatas tvastâ

> juhâvendrâya satrave

> indra-satro vivardhasva

> mâ ciram jahi vidvisam

> hata-putrah--who lost his son; tatah--thereafter; tvastâ--Tvastâ; juhâva--performed a sacrifice; indrâya--of Indra; satrave--for creating an enemy; indra-satro--O enemy of Indra; vivardhasva--increase; mâ--not; ciram--after a long time; jahi--kill; vidvisam--your enemy.

> TRANSLATION

> After Visvarupa was killed, his father, Tvasta, performed ritualistic ceremonies to kill Indra. He offered oblations in the sacrificial fire, saying, "O enemy of Indra, flourish to kill your enemy without delay."

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> TEXT 12

> athânvâhârya-pacanâd

> utthito ghora-darsanah

> krtânta iva lokânâm

> yugânta-samaye yathâ

> atha--thereafter; anvâhârya-pacanât--from the fire known as Anvâhârya; utthitah--arisen; ghora-darsanah--appearing very fearful; krtântah--personified annihilation; iva--like; lokânâm--of all the planets; yuga-anta--of the end of the millennium; samaye--at the time; yathâ--just as.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, from the southern side of the sacrificial fire known as Anvaharya came a fearful personality who looked like the destroyer of the entire creation at the end of the millennium.

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> TEXT 13-17

> visvag vivardhamânam tam

> isu-mâtram dine dine

> dagdha-saila-pratîkâsam

> sandhyâbhrânîka-varcasam

> tapta-tâmra-sikhâ-smasrum

> madhyâhnârkogra-locanam

> dedîpyamâne tri-sikhe

> sûla âropya rodasî

> nrtyantam unnadantam ca

> câlayantam padâ mahîm

> darî-gambhîra-vaktrena

> pibatâ ca nabhastalam

> lihatâ jihvayarksâni

> grasatâ bhuvana-trayam

> mahatâ raudra-damstrena

> jrmbhamânam muhur muhuh

> vitrastâ dudruvur lokâ

> vîksya sarve diso dasa

> visvak--all around; vivardhamânam--increasing; tam--him; isu-mâtram--an arrow's flight; dine dine--day after day; dagdha--burnt; saila--mountain; pratîkâsam--resembling; sandhyâ--in the evening; abhra-anîka--like an array of clouds; varcasam--having an effulgence;

> tapta--melted; tâmra--like copper; sikhâ--hair; smasrum--moustache and beard; madhyâhna--at midday; arka--like the sun; ugra-locanam--having powerful eyes;

> dedîpyamâne--blazing; tri-sikhe--three-pointed; sûle--on his spear; âropya--keeping; rodasî--heaven and earth; nrtyantam--dancing; unnadantam--shouting loudly; ca--and; câlayantam--moving; padâ--by his foot; mahîm--the earth;

> darî-gambhîra--as deep as a cave; vaktrena--by the mouth; pibatâ--drinking; ca--also; nabhastalam--the sky; lihatâ--licking up; jihvayâ--by the tongue; rksâni--the stars; grasatâ--swallowing; bhuvana-trayam--the three worlds;

> mahatâ--very great; raudra-damstrena--with fearful teeth; jrmbhamânam--yawning; muhuh muhuh--again and again; vitrastâh--fearful; dudruvuh--ran; lokâh--people; vîksya--seeing; sarve--all; disah dasa--ten directions.

> TRANSLATION

> Like arrows released in the four directions, the demon's body grew, day after day. Tall and blackish, he appeared like a burnt hill and was as lustrous as a bright array of clouds in the evening. The hair on the demon's body and his beard and moustache were the color of melted copper, and his eyes were piercing like the midday sun. He appeared unconquerable, as if holding the three worlds on the points of his blazing trident. Dancing and shouting with a loud voice, he made the entire surface of the earth tremble as if from an earthquake. As he yawned again and again, he seemed to be trying to swallow the whole sky with his mouth, which was as deep as a cave. He seemed to be licking up all the stars in the sky with his tongue and eating the entire universe with his long, sharp teeth. Seeing this gigantic demon, everyone, in great fear, ran here and there in all directions.

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> TEXT 18

> yenâvrtâ ime lokâs

> tapasâ tvâstra-mûrtinâ

> sa vai vrtra iti proktah

> pâpah parama-dârunah

> yena--by whom; âvrtâh--covered; ime--all these; lokâh--planets; tapasâ--by the austerity; tvâstra-mûrtinâ--in the form of the son of Tvastâ; sah--he; vai--indeed; vrtrah--Vrtra; iti--thus; proktah--called; pâpah--personified sin; parama-dârunah--very fearful.

> TRANSLATION

> That very fearful demon, who was actually the son of Tvasta, covered all the planetary systems by dint of austerity. Therefore he was named Vrtra, or one who covers everything.

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> TEXT 19

> tam nijaghnur abhidrutya

> saganâ vibudharsabhâh

> svaih svair divyâstra-sastraughaih

> so 'grasat tâni krtsnasah

> tam--him; nijaghnuh--struck; abhidrutya--running to; sa-ganâh--with soldiers; vibudha-rsabhâh--all the great demigods; svaih svaih--with their own respective; divya--transcendental; astra--bows and arrows; sastra-oghaih--different weapons; sah--he (Vrtra); agrasat--swallowed; tâni--them (the weapons); krtsnasah--all together.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods, headed by Indra, charged the demon with their soldiers, striking him with their own transcendental bows and arrows and other weapons but Vrtrasura swallowed all their weapons.

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> TEXT 20

> tatas te vismitâh sarve

> visannâ grasta-tejasah

> pratyancam âdi-purusam

> upatasthuh samâhitâh

> tatah--thereafter; te--they (the demigods); vismitâh--being struck with wonder; sarve--all; visannâh--being very morose; grasta-tejasah--having lost all their personal strength; pratyancam--to the Supersoul; âdi-purusam--the original person; upatasthuh--prayed; samâhitâh--all gathered together.

> TRANSLATION

> Struck with wonder and disappointment upon seeing the strength of the demon, the demigods lost their own strength. Therefore they all met together to try to please the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, by worshiping Him.

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> TEXT 21

> srî-devâ ûcuh

> vâyv-ambarâgny-ap-ksitayas tri-lokâ

> brahmâdayo ye vayam udvijantah

> harâma yasmai balim antako 'sau

> bibheti yasmâd aranam tato nah

> srî-devâh ûcuh--the demigods said; vâyu--composed of air; ambara--sky; agni--fire; ap--water; ksitayah--and land; tri-lokâh--the three worlds; brahma-âdayah--beginning from Lord Brahmâ; ye--who; vayam--we; udvijantah--being very much afraid; harâma--offer; yasmai--unto whom; balim--presentation; antakah--the destroyer, death; asau--that; bibheti--fears; yasmât--from whom; aranam--shelter; tatah--therefore; nah--our.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods said: The three worlds are created by the five elements--namely ether, air, fire, water and earth--which are controlled by various demigods, beginning from Lord Brahma. Being very much afraid that the time factor will end our existence, we offer presentations unto time by performing our work as time dictates. The time factor himself, however, is afraid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore let us now worship that Supreme Lord, who alone can give us full protection.

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> TEXT 22

> avismitam tam paripûrna-kâmam

> svenaiva lâbhena samam prasântam

> vinopasarpaty aparam hi bâlisah

> sva-lângulenâtititarti sindhum

> avismitam--who is never struck with wonder; tam--Him; paripûrna-kâmam--who is fully satisfied; svena--by His own; eva--indeed; lâbhena--achievements; samam--equipoised; prasântam--very steady; vinâ--without; upasarpati--approaches; aparam--another; hi--indeed; bâlisah--a fool; sva--of a dog; lângulena--by the tail; atititarti--wants to cross; sindhum--the sea.

> TRANSLATION

> Free from all material conceptions of existence and never wonder-struck by anything, the Lord is always jubilant and fully satisfied by His own spiritual perfection. He has no material designations, and therefore He is steady and unattached. That Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only shelter of everyone. Anyone desiring to be protected by others is certainly a great fool who desires to cross the sea by holding the tail of a dog.

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> TEXT 23

> yasyoru-srnge jagatîm sva-nâvam

> manur yathâbadhya tatâra durgam

> sa eva nas tvâstra-bhayâd durantât

> trâtâsritân vâricaro 'pi nûnam

> yasya--of whom; uru--very strong and high; srnge--on the horn; jagatîm--in the form of the world; sva-nâvam--his own boat; manuh--Manu, King Satyavrata; yathâ--just as; âbadhya--binding; tatâra--crossed; durgam--the very difficult to cross (inundation); sah--He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); eva--certainly; nah--us; tvâstra-bhayât--from fear of the son of Tvastâ; durantât--endless; trâtâ--deliverer; âsritân--dependents (like us); vâri-carah api--although taking the form of a fish; nûnam--indeed.

> TRANSLATION

> The Manu named King Satyavrata formerly saved himself by tying the small boat of the entire world to the horn of the Matsya avatara, the fish incarnation. By the grace of the Matsya avatara, Mahu saved himself from the great danger of the flood. May that same fish incarnation save us from the great and fearful danger caused by the son of Tvasta.

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> TEXT 24

> purâ svayambhûr api samyamâmbhasy

> udîrna-vâtormi-ravaih karâle

> eko 'ravindât patitas tatâra

> tasmâd bhayâd yena sa no 'stu pârah

> purâ--formerly (during the time of creation); svayambhûh--Lord Brahmâ; api--also; samyama-ambhasi--in the water of inundation; udîrna--very high; vâta--of wind; ûrmi--and of waves; ravaih--by the sounds; karâle--very fearful; ekah--alone; aravindât--from the lotus seat; patitah--almost fallen; tatâra--escaped; tasmât--from that; bhayât--fearful situation; yena--by whom (the Lord); sah--He; nah--of us; astu--let there be; pârah--deliverance.

> TRANSLATION

> In the beginning of creation, a tremendous wind caused fierce waves of inundating water. The great waves made such a horrible sound that Lord Brahma almost fell from his seat on the lotus into the water of devastation, but he was saved with the help of the Lord. Thus we also expect the Lord to protect us from this dangerous condition.

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> TEXT 25

> ya eka îso nija-mâyayâ nah

> sasarja yenânusrjâma visvam

> vayam na yasyâpi purah samîhatah

> pasyâma lingam prthag îsa-mâninah

> yah--He who; ekah--one; îsah--controller; nija-mâyayâ--by His transcendental potency; nah--us; sasarja--created; yena--by whom (through whose mercy); anusrjâma--we also create; visvam--the universe; vayam--we; na--not; yasya--of whom; api--although; purah--in front of us; samîhatah--of Him who is acting; pasyâma--see; lingam--the form; prthak--separate; îsa--as controllers; mâninah--thinking of ourselves.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who created us by His external potency and by whose mercy we expand the creation of the universe, is always situated before us as the Supersoul, but we cannot see His form. We are unable to see Him because all of us think that we are separate and independent gods.

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> TEXT 26-27

> yo nah sapatnair bhrsam ardyamânân

> devarsi-tiryan-nrsu nitya eva

> krtâvatâras tanubhih sva-mâyayâ

> krtvâtmasât pâti yuge yuge ca

> tam eva devam vayam âtma-daivatam

> param pradhânam purusam visvam anyam

> vrajâma sarve saranam saranyam

> svânâm sa no dhâsyati sam mahâtmâ

> yah--He who; nah--us; sapatnaih--by our enemies, the demons; bhrsam--almost always; ardyamânân--being persecuted; deva--among the demigods; rsi--the saintly persons; tiryak--the animals; nrsu--and men; nityah--always; eva--certainly; krta-avatârah--appearing as an incarnation; tanubhih--with different forms; sva-mâyayâ--by His internal potency; krtvâ âtmasât--considering very near and dear to Him; pâti--protects; yuge yuge--in every millennium; ca--and;

> tam--Him; eva--indeed; devam--the Supreme Lord; vayam--all of us; âtma-daivatam--the Lord of all living entities; param--transcendental; pradhânam--the original cause of the total material energy; purusam--the supreme enjoyer; visvam--whose energy constitutes this universe; anyam--separately situated; vrajâma--we approach; sarve--all; saranam--shelter; saranyam--suitable as shelter; svânâm--unto His own devotees; sah--He; nah--unto us; dhâsyati--shall give; sam--good fortune; mahâtmâ--the Supersoul.

> TRANSLATION

> By His inconceivable internal potency, the Supreme Personality of Godhead expands into various transcendental bodies as Vamanadeva, the incarnation of strength among the demigods; Parasurama, the incarnation among saints; Nrsimhadeva and Varaha, incarnations among animals; and Matsya and Kurma, incarnations among aquatics. He accepts various transcendental bodies among all types of living entities, and among human beings He especially appears as Lord Krsna and Lord Rama. By His causeless mercy, He protects the demigods, who are always harassed by the demons. He is the supreme worshipable Deity of all living entities. He is the supreme cause, represented as the male and female creative energies. Although different from this universe, He exists in His universal form [virata-rupa]. In our fearful condition, let us take shelter of Him, for we are sure that the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Soul, will give us His protection.

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> TEXT 28

> srî-suka uvâca

> iti tesâm mahârâja

> surânâm upatisthatâm

> pratîcyâm disy abhûd âvih

> sankha-cakra-gadâ-dharah

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti--thus; tesâm--of them; mahârâja--O King; surânâm--of the demigods; upatisthatâm--praying; pratîcyâm--inside; disi--in the direction; abhût--became; âvih--visible; sankha-cakra-gadâ-dharah--bearing the transcendental weapons: the conchshell, disc and club.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, when all the demigods offered Him their prayers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari, carrying His weapons, the conchshell, disc and club, appeared first within their hearts and then before them.

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> TEXT 29-30

> âtma-tulyaih sodasabhir

> vinâ srîvatsa-kaustubhau

> paryupâsitam unnidra-

> sarad-amburuheksanam

> drstvâ tam avanau sarva

> îksanâhlâda-viklavâh

> dandavat patitâ râjân

> chanair utthâya tustuvuh

> âtma-tulyaih--almost equal to Himself; sodasabhih--by sixteen (servants); vinâ--without; srîvatsa-kaustubhau--the Srîvatsa mark and Kaustubha jewel; paryupâsitam--being attended on all sides; unnidra--blooming; sarat--of the autumn; amburuha--like lotus flowers; îksanam--having eyes;

> drstvâ--seeing; tam--Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nârâyana); avanau--on the ground; sarve--all of them; îksana--from directly seeing; âhlâda--with happiness; viklavâh--being overwhelmed; danda-vat--like a stick; patitâh--fell; râjan--O King; sanaih--slowly; utthâya--standing up; tustuvuh--offered prayers.

> TRANSLATION

> Surrounding and serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, were sixteen personal attendants, decorated with ornaments and appearing exactly like Him but without the mark of Srivatsa and the Kaustubha jewel. O King, when all the demigods saw the Supreme Lord in that posture, smiling with eyes like the petals of lotuses grown in autumn, they were overwhelmed with happiness and immediately fell down like rods, offering dandavats. Then they slowly rose and pleased the Lord by offering Him prayers.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> srî-devâ ûcuh

> namas te yajna-vîryâya

> vayase uta te namah

> namas te hy asta-cakrâya

> namah supuru-hûtaye

> srî-devâh ûcuh--the demigods said; namah--obeisances; te--unto You; yajna-vîryâya--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is able to give the results of sacrifice; vayase--who is the time factor, which ends the results of yajna; uta--although; te--unto You; namah--obeisances; namah--obeisances; te--unto You; hi--indeed; asta-cakrâya--who throws the disc; namah--respectful obeisances; supuru-hûtaye--having varieties of transcendental names.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods said: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are competent to give the results of sacrifice, and You are also the time factor that destroys all such results in due course. You are the one who releases the cakra to kill the demons. O Lord, who possesses many varieties of names, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

> *******

> TEXT 32

> yat te gatînâm tisrnâm

> îsituh paramam padam

> nârvâcîno visargasya

> dhâtar veditum arhati

> yat--which; te--of You; gatînâm tisrnâm--of the three destinations (the heavenly planets, the earthly planets and hell); îsituh--who are the controller; paramam padam--the supreme abode, Vaikunthaloka; na--not; arvâcînah--a person appearing after; visargasya--the creation; dhâtah--O supreme controller; veditum--to understand; arhati--is able.

> TRANSLATION

> O supreme controller, You control the three destinations [promotion to the heavenly planets, birth as a human being, and condemnation in hell], yet Your supreme abode is Vaikuntha-dhama. Since we appeared after You created this cosmic manifestation, Your activities are impossible for us to understand. We therefore have nothing to offer You but our humble obeisances.

> *******

> TEXT 33

> om namas te 'stu bhagavan nârâyana vâsudevâdi-purusa mahâ-

> purusa mahânubhâva parama-mangala parama-kalyâna parama-

> kârunika kevala jagad-âdhâra lokaika-nâtha sarvesvara laksmî-nâtha

> paramahamsa-parivrâjakaih paramenâtma-yoga-samâdhinâ

> paribhâvita-parisphuta-pâramahamsya-dharmenodghâtita-tamah-

> kapâta-dvâre citte 'pâvrta âtma-loke svayam upalabdha-nija-sukhânubhavo bhavân.

> om--O Lord; namah--respectful obeisances; te--unto You; astu--let there be; bhagavan--O Supreme Personality of Godhead; nârâyana--the resort of all living entities, Nârâyana; vâsudeva--Lord Vâsudeva, Srî Krsna; âdi-purusa--the original person; mahâ-purusa--the most exalted personality; mahâ-anubhâva--the supremely opulent; parama-mangala--the most auspicious; parama-kalyâna--the supreme benediction; parama-kârunika--the supremely merciful; kevala--changeless; jagat-âdhâra--the support of the cosmic manifestation; loka-eka-nâtha--the only proprietor of all the planetary systems; sarva-îsvara--the supreme controller; laksmî-nâtha--the husband of the goddess of fortune; paramahamsa-parivrâjakaih--by the topmost sannyasîs wandering all over the world; paramena--by supreme; âtma-yoga-samâdhinâ--absorption in bhakti-yoga; paribhâvita--fully purified; parisphuta--and fully manifested; pâramahamsya-dharmena--by executing the transcendental process of devotional service; udghâtita--pushed open; tamah--of illusory existence; kapâta--in which the door; dvâre--existing as the entrance; citte--in the mind; apâvrte--without contamination; âtma-loke--in the spiritual world; svayam--personally; upalabdha--experiencing; nija--personal; sukha-anubhavah--perception of happiness; bhavân--Your Lordship.

> TRANSLATION

> O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Narayana, O Vasudeva, original person! O most exalted person, supreme experience, welfare personified! O supreme benediction, supremely merciful and changeless! O support of the cosmic manifestation, sole proprietor of all planetary systems, master of everything and husband of the goddess of fortune! Your Lordship is realized by the topmost sannyasis, who wander about the world to preach Krsna consciousness, fully absorbed in samadhi through bhakti-yoga. Because their minds are concentrated upon You, they can receive the conception of Your personality in their fully purified hearts. When the darkness in their hearts is completely eradicated and You are revealed to them, the transcendental bliss they enjoy is the transcendental form of Your Lordship. No one but such persons can realize You. Therefore we simply offer You our respectful obeisances.

> *******

> TEXT 34

> duravabodha iva tavâyam vihâra-yogo yad asarano 'sarîra idam

> anaveksitâsmat-samavâya âtmanaivâvikriyamânena sagunam agunah

> srjasi pâsi harasi.

> duravabodhah--difficult to understand; iva--quite; tava--Your; ayam--this; vihâra-yogah--engagement in the pastimes of material creation, maintenance and annihilation; yat--which; asaranah--not dependent on any other support; asarîrah--without having a material body; idam--this; anaveksita--without waiting for; asmat--of us; samavâyah--the cooperation; âtmanâ--by Your own self; eva--indeed; avikriyamânena--without being transformed; sa-gunam--the material modes of nature; agunah--although transcendental to such material qualities; srjasi--You create; pâsi--maintain; harasi--annihilate.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, You need no support, and although You have no material body, You do not need cooperation from us. Since You are the cause of the cosmic manifestation and You supply its material ingredients without being transformed, You create, maintain and annihilate this cosmic manifestation by Yourself. Nevertheless, although You appear engaged in material activity, You are transcendental to all material qualities. Consequently these transcendental activities of Yours are extremely difficult to understand.

> *******

> TEXT 35

> atha tatra bhavân kim devadattavad iha guna-visarga-patitah

> pâratantryena sva-krta-kusalâkusalam phalam upâdadâty âhosvid

> âtmârâma upasama-sîlah samanjasa-darsana udâsta iti ha

> vâva na vidâmah.

> atha--therefore; tatra--in that; bhavân--Your Lordship; kim--whether; deva-datta-vat--like an ordinary human being, forced by the fruits of his activities; iha--in this material world; guna-visarga-patitah--fallen in a material body impelled by the modes of material nature; pâratantryena--by dependence on the conditions of time, space, activity and nature; sva-krta--executed by oneself; kusala--auspicious; akusalam--inauspicious; phalam--results of action; upâdadâti--accepts; âhosvit--or; âtmârâmah--completely self-satisfied; upasama-sîlah--self-controlled in nature; samanjasa-darsanah--not deprived of full spiritual potencies; udâste--remains neutral as the witness; iti--thus; ha vâva--certainly; na vidâmah--we do not understand.

> TRANSLATION

> These are our inquiries. The ordinary conditioned soul is subject to the material laws, and he thus receives the fruits of his actions. Does Your Lordship, like an ordinary human being, exist within this material world in a body produced by the material modes? Do You enjoy or suffer the good or bad results of actions under the influence of time, past work and so forth? Or, on the contrary, are You present here only as a neutral witness who is self-sufficient, free from all material desires, and always full of spiritual potency? We certainly cannot understand Your actual position.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> na hi virodha ubhayam bhagavaty aparimita-guna-gana îsvare

> 'navagâhya-mâhâtmye 'rvâcîna-vikalpa-vitarka-vicâra-pramânâ-

> bhâsa-kutarka-sâstra-kalilântahkaranâsraya-duravagraha-vâdinâm

> vivâdânavasara uparata-samasta-mâyâmaye kevala evâtma-mâyâm

> antardhâya ko nv artho durghata iva bhavati svarûpa-dvayâbhâvât.

> na--not; hi--certainly; virodhah--contradiction; ubhayam--both; bhagavati--in the Supreme personality of Godhead; aparimita--unlimited; guna-gane--whose transcendental attributes; îsvare--in the supreme controller; anavagâhya--possessing; mâhâtmye--unfathomable ability and glories; arvâcîna--recent; vikalpa--full of equivocal calculations; vitarka--opposing arguments; vicâra--judgments; pramâna-âbhâsa--imperfect evidence; kutarka--useless arguments; sâstra--by unauthorized scriptures; kalila--agitated; antahkarana--minds; âsraya--whose shelter; duravagraha--with wicked obstinacies; vâdinâm--of theorists; vivâda--of the controversies; anavasare--not within the range; uparata--withdrawn; samasta--from whom all; mâyâ-maye--illusory energy; kevale--without a second; eva--indeed; âtma-mâyâm--the illusory energy, which can do and undo the inconceivable; antardhâya--placing between; kah--what; nu--indeed; arthah--meaning; durghatah--impossible; iva--as it were; bhavati--is; sva-rûpa--natures; dvaya--of two; abhâvât--due to the absence.

> TRANSLATION

> O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all contradictions can be reconciled in You. O Lord, since You are the Supreme Person, the reservoir of unlimited spiritual qualities, the supreme controller, Your unlimited glories are inconceivable to the conditioned souls. Many modern theologians argue about right and wrong without knowing what is actually right. Their arguments are always false and their judgments inconclusive because they have no authorized evidence with which to gain knowledge of You. Because their minds are agitated by scriptures containing false conclusions, they are unable to understand the truth concerning You. Furthermore, because of polluted eagerness to arrive at the right conclusion, their theories are incapable of revealing You, who are transcendental to their material conceptions. You are one without a second, and therefore in You contradictions like doing and not doing, happiness and distress, are not contradictory. Your potency is so great that it can do and undo anything as You like. With the help of that potency, what is impossible for You? Since there is no duality in Your constitutional position, You can do everything by the influence of Your energy.

> *******

> TEXT 37

> sama-visama-matînâm matam anusarasi yathâ rajju-khandah

> sarpâdi-dhiyâm.

> sama--equal or proper; visama--and unequal or mistaken; matînâm--of those having intelligence; matam--conclusion; anusarasi--You follow; yathâ--just as; rajju-khandah--a piece of rope; sarpa-âdi--a snake, etc.; dhiyâm--of those who perceive.

> TRANSLATION

> A rope causes fear for a bewildered person who considers it a snake, but not for a person with proper intelligence who knows it to be only a rope. Similarly, You, as the Supersoul in everyone's heart, inspire fear or fearlessness according to one's intelligence, but in You there is no duality.

> *******

> TEXT 38

> sa eva hi punah sarva-vastuni vastu-svarûpah sarvesvarah sakala-

> jagat-kârana-kârana-bhûtah sarva-pratyag-âtmatvât sarva-

> gunâbhâsopalaksita eka eva paryavasesitah.

> sah--He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); eva--indeed; hi--certainly; punah--again; sarva-vastuni--in everything, material and spiritual; vastu-svarûpah--the substance; sarva-îsvarah--the controller of everything; sakala jagat--of the whole universe; kârana--of the causes; kârana-bhûtah--existing as the cause; sarva-pratyak-âtmatvât--because of being the Supersoul of every living being, or being present in everything, even the atom; sarva-guna--of all the effects of the material modes of nature (such as intelligence and the senses); âbhâsa--by the manifestations; upalaksitah--perceived; ekah--alone; eva--indeed; paryavasesitah--left remaining.

> TRANSLATION

> With deliberation, one will see that the Supreme Soul, although manifested in different ways, is actually the basic principle of everything. The total material energy is the cause of the material manifestation, but the material energy is caused by Him. Therefore He is the cause of all causes, the manifester of intelligence and the senses. He is perceived as the Supersoul of everything. Without Him, everything would be dead. You, as that Supersoul, the supreme controller, are the only one remaining.

> *******

> TEXT 39

> atha ha vâva tava mahimâmrta-rasa-samudra-viprusâ sakrd avalîdhayâ

> sva-manasi nisyandamânânavarata-sukhena vismârita-drsta-sruta-

> visaya-sukha-lesâbhâsâh parama-bhâgavatâ ekântino bhagavati sarva-

> bhûta-priya-suhrdi sarvâtmani nitarâm nirantaram nirvrta-manasah

> katham u ha vâ ete madhumathana punah svârtha-kusalâ hy âtma-

> priya-suhrdah sâdhavas tvac-caranâmbujânusevâm visrjanti na yatra

> punar ayam samsâra-paryâvartah.

> atha ha--therefore; vâva--indeed; tava--Your; mahima--of glories; amrta--of the nectar; rasa--of the mellow; samudra--of the ocean; viprusâ--by a drop; sakrt--only once; avalîdhayâ--tasted; sva-manasi--in his mind; nisyandamâna--flowing; anavarata--continuously; sukhena--by the transcendental bliss; vismârita--forgotten; drsta--from material sight; sruta--and sound; visaya-sukha--of the material happiness; lesa-âbhâsâh--the dim reflection of a tiny portion; parama-bhâgavatâh--great, exalted devotees; ekântinah--who have faith only in the Supreme Lord and nothing else; bhagavati--in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-bhûta--to all living entities; priya--who is dearmost; suhrdi--the friend; sarva-âtmani--the Supersoul of all; nitarâm--completely; nirantaram--continuously; nirvrta--with happiness; manasah--those whose minds; katham--how; u ha--then; vâ--or; ete--these; madhu-mathana--O killer of the Madhu demon; punah--again; sva-artha-kusalâh--who are expert in the interest of life; hi--indeed; âtma-priya-suhrdah--who have accepted You as the Supersoul, dearmost lover and friend; sâdhavah--the devotees; tvat-carana-ambuja-anusevâm--service to the lotus feet of Your Lordship; visrjanti--can give up; na--not; yatra--wherein; punah--again; ayam--this; samsâra-paryâvartah--repetition of birth and death within the material world.

> TRANSLATION

> Therefore, O killer of the Madhu demon, incessant transcendental bliss flows in the minds of those who have even once tasted but a drop of the nectar from the ocean of Your glories. Such exalted devotees forget the tiny reflection of so-called material happiness produced from the material senses of sight and sound. Free from all desires, such devotees are the real friends of all living entities. Offering their minds unto You and enjoying transcendental bliss, they are expert in achieving the real goal of life. O Lord, You are the soul and dear friend of such devotees, who never need return to this material world. How could they give up engagement in Your devotional service?

> *******

> TEXT 40

> tri-bhuvanâtma-bhavana trivikrama tri-nayana tri-loka-

> manoharânubhâva tavaiva vibhûtayo ditija-danujâdayas câpi tesâm

> upakrama-samayo 'yam iti svâtma-mâyayâ sura-nara-mrga-misrita-

> jalacarâkrtibhir yathâparâdham dandam danda-dhara dadhartha evam

> enam api bhagavan jahi tvâstram uta yadi manyase.

> tri-bhuvana-âtma-bhavana--O Lord, You are the shelter of the three worlds because You are the Supersoul of the three worlds; tri-vikrama--O Lord, who assumes the form of Vâmana, Your power and opulence are distributed throughout the three worlds; tri-nayana--O maintainer and seer of the three worlds; tri-loka-manohara-anubhâva--O You who are perceived as the most beautiful within the three worlds; tava--of You; eva--certainly; vibhûtayah--the expansions of energy; ditija-danuja-âdayah--the demoniac sons of Diti, and the Dânavas, another type of demon; ca--and; api--also (the human beings); tesâm--of all of them; upakrama-samayah--the time of enterprise; ayam--this; iti--thus; sva-âtma-mâyayâ--by Your own energy; sura-nara-mrga-misrita-jalacara-âkrtibhih--with different forms like those of the demigods, human beings, animals, mixtures and aquatics (the incarnations Vâmana, Lord Râmacandra, Krsna, Varâha, Hayagrîva, Nrsimha, Matsya and Kûrma); yathâ-aparâdham--according to their offenses; dandam--punishment; danda-dhara--O supreme chastiser; dadhartha--You awarded; evam--thus; enam--this one (Vrtrâsura); api--also; bhagavan--O Supreme Personality of Godhead; jahi--kill; tvâstram--the son of Tvastâ; uta--indeed; yadi manyase--if You think it proper.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, O personified three worlds, father of the three worlds! O strength of the three worlds, in the form of the Vamana incarnation! O three-eyed form of Nrsimhadeva! O most beautiful person within the three worlds! Everything and everyone, including human beings and even the Daitya demons and the Danavas, is but an expansion of Your energy. O supremely powerful one, You have always appeared in Your forms as the various incarnations to punish the demons as soon as they become very powerful. You appear as Lord Vamanadeva, Lord Rama and Lord Krsna. You appear sometimes as an animal like Lord Boar, sometimes a mixed incarnation like Lord Nrsimhadeva and Lord Hayagriva, and sometimes an aquatic like Lord Fish and Lord Tortoise. Assuming such various forms, You have always punished the demons and Danavas. We therefore pray that Your Lordship appear today as another incarnation, if You so desire, to kill the great demon Vrtrasura.

> *******

> TEXT 41

> asmâkam tâvakânâm tatatata natânâm hare tava carana-nalina-

> yugala-dhyânânubaddha-hrdaya-nigadânâm sva-linga-

> vivaranenâtmasât-krtânâm anukampânuranjita-visada-rucira-sisira-

> smitâvalokena vigalita-madhura-mukha-rasâmrta-kalayâ cântas tâpam

> anaghârhasi samayitum.

> asmâkam--of us; tâvakânâm--who are wholly and solely dependent upon You; tata-tata--O grandfather, father of the father; natânâm--who are fully surrendered unto You; hare--O Lord Hari; tava--Your; carana--on the feet; nalina-yugala--like two blue lotus flowers; dhyâna--by meditation; anubaddha--bound; hrdaya--in the heart; nigadânâm--whose chains; sva-linga-vivaranena--by manifesting Your own form; âtmasât-krtânâm--of those You have accepted as Your own; anukampâ--by compassion; anuranjita--being colored; visada--bright; rucira--very pleasing; sisira--cool; smita--with a smile; avalokena--by Your glance; vigalita--melted with compassion; madhura-mukha-rasa--of the very sweet words from Your mouth; amrta-kalayâ--by the drops of nectar; ca--and; antah--within the cores of our hearts; tâpam--the great pain; anagha--O supreme pure; arhasi--You deserve; samayitum--to curb.

> TRANSLATION

> O supreme protector, O grandfather, O supreme pure, O Lord! We are all surrendered souls at Your lotus feet. Indeed, our minds are bound to Your lotus feet in meditation by chains of love. Now please manifest Your incarnation. Accepting us as Your own eternal servants and devotees, be pleased with us and sympathetic toward us. By Your love-filled glance, with its cool and pleasing smile of sympathy, and by the sweet, nectarean words emanating from Your beautiful face, free us from the anxiety caused by this Vrtrasura, who always pains the cores of our hearts.

> *******

> TEXT 42

> atha bhagavams tavâsmâbhir akhila jagad-utpatti-sthiti-laya-

> nimittâyamâna-divya-mâyâ-vinodasya sakala jîva-nikâyânâm antar-

> hrdayesu bahir api ca brahma-pratyag-âtma-svarûpena

> pradhâna-rûpena ca yathâ-desa-kâla-dehâvasthâna-visesam

> tadupâdânopalambhakatayânubhavatah sarva-pratyaya-sâksina âkâsa-

> sarîrasya sâksât para-brahmanah paramâtmanah kiyân iha vârtha-

> viseso vijnâpanîyah syâd visphulingâdibhir iva hiranya-retasah.

> atha--therefore; bhagavan--O Lord; tava--of You; asmâbhih--by us; akhila--all; jagat--of the material world; utpatti--of the creation; sthiti--maintenance; laya--and annihilation; nimittâyamâna--being the cause; divya-mâyâ--with the spiritual energy; vinodasya--of You, who amuse Yourself; sakala--all; jîva-nikâyânâm--of the hordes of living entities; antah-hrdayesu--in the cores of the hearts; bahih api--externally also; ca--and; brahma--of impersonal Brahman, or the Absolute Truth; pratyak-âtma--of the Supersoul; sva-rûpena--by Your forms; pradhâna-rûpena--by Your form as the external ingredients; ca--also; yathâ--according to; desa-kâla-deha-avasthâna--of country, time, body and position; visesam--the particulars; tat--of them; upâdâna--of the material causes; upalambhakatayâ--by being the exhibitor; anubhavatah--witnessing; sarva-pratyaya-sâksinah--the witness of all different activities; âkâsa-sarîrasya--the Supersoul of the whole universe; sâksât--directly; para-brahmanah--the Supreme Absolute Truth; paramâtmanah--the Supersoul; kiyân--of what extent; iha--herein; vâ--or; artha-visesah--special necessity; vijnâpanîyah--to be informed; syât--may be; visphulinga-âdibhih--by the sparks of the fire; iva--like; hiranya-retasah--to the original fire.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, as the small sparks of a fire cannot possibly perform the actions of the whole fire, we sparks of Your Lordship cannot inform You of the necessities of our lives. You are the complete whole. Therefore, of what do we need to inform You? You know everything because You are the original cause of the cosmic manifestation, the maintainer and the annihilator of the entire universal creation. You always engage in Your pastimes with Your spiritual and material energies, for You are the controller of all these varied energies. You exist within all living entities, within the cosmic manifestation, and also beyond them. You exist internally as Parabrahman and externally as the ingredients of the material creation. Therefore, although manifested in various stages, at different times and places, and in various bodies, You, the Personality of Godhead, are the original cause of all causes. Indeed, You are the original element. You are the witness of all activities, but because You are as great as the sky, You are never touched by any of them. You are the witness of everything as Parabrahman and Paramatma. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, nothing is unknown to You.

> *******

> TEXT 43

> ata eva svayam tad upakalpayâsmâkam bhagavatah parama-guros tava

> carana-sata-palâsac-châyâm vividha-vrjina-samsâra-

> parisramopasamanîm upasrtânâm vayam yat-kâmenopasâditâh.

> ata eva--therefore; svayam--Yourself; tat--that; upakalpaya--please arrange; asmâkam--of us; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parama-guroh--the supreme spiritual master; tava--of You; carana--of the feet; sata-palâsat--like lotus flowers with hundreds of petals; châyâm--the shade; vividha--various; vrjina--with dangerous positions; samsâra--of this conditioned life; parisrama--the pain; upasamanîm--relieving; upasrtânâm--the devotees who have taken shelter at Your lotus feet; vayam--we; yat--for which; kâmena--by the desires; upasâditâh--caused to come near (the shelter of Your lotus feet).

> TRANSLATION

> Dear Lord, You are omniscient, and therefore You know very well why we have taken shelter at Your lotus feet, which provide shade that gives relief from all material disturbances. Since You are the supreme spiritual master and You know everything, we have sought shelter of Your lotus feet for instruction. Please give us relief by counteracting our present distress. Your lotus feet are the only shelter for a fully surrendered devotee and are the only means for subduing all the tribulations of this material world.

> *******

> TEXT 44

> atho îsa jahi tvâstram

> grasantam bhuvana-trayam

> grastâni yena nah krsna

> tejâmsy astrâyudhâni ca

> atho--therefore; îsa--O supreme controller; jahi--kill; tvâstram--the demon Vrtrâsura, son of Tvastâ; grasantam--who is devouring; bhuvana-trayam--the three worlds; grastâni--devoured; yena--by whom; nah--our; krsna--O Lord Krsna; tejâmsi--all strength and prowess; astra--arrows; âyudhâni--and other weapons; ca--also.

> TRANSLATION

> Therefore, O Lord, O supreme controller, O Lord Krsna, please annihilate this dangerous demon Vrtrasura, Tvasta's son, who has already swallowed all our weapons, our paraphernalia for fighting, and our strength and influence.

> *******

> TEXT 45

> hamsâya dahra-nilayâya nirîksakâya

> krsnâya mrsta-yasase nirupakramâya

> sat-samgrahâya bhava-pântha-nijâsramâptâv

> ante parîsta-gataye haraye namas te

> hamsâya--unto the most exalted and pure (pavitram paramam, the supreme pure); dahra--in the core of the heart; nilayayâ--whose abode; nirîksakâya--supervising the activities of the individual soul; krsnâya--unto the Supersoul, who is a partial manifestation of Krsna; mrsta-yasase--whose reputation is very bright; nirupakramâya--who has no beginning; sat-samgrahâya--understood only by pure devotees; bhava-pântha-nija-âsrama-âptau--being obtainment of the shelter of Krsna for persons within this material world; ante--at the ultimate end; parîsta-gataye--unto Him who is the ultimate goal, the highest success of life; haraye--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; namah--respectful obeisances; te--unto You.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, O supreme pure, You live within the core of everyone's heart and observe all the desires and activities of the conditioned souls. O Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Lord Krsna, Your reputation is bright and illuminating. You have no beginning, for You are the beginning of everything. This is understood by pure devotees because You are easily accessible to the pure and truthful. When the conditioned souls are liberated and sheltered at Your lotus feet after roving throughout the material world for many millions of years, they attain the highest success of life. Therefore, O Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, we offer our respectful obeisances at Your lotus feet.

> *******

> TEXT 46

> srî-suka uvâca

> athaivam îdito râjan

> sâdaram tri-dasair harih

> svam upasthânam âkarnya

> prâha tân abhinanditah

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; atha--thereafter; evam--in this way; îditah--being worshiped and offered obeisances; râjan--O King; sa-âdaram--with proper respect; tri-dasaih--by all the demigods from the higher planetary systems; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svam upasthânam--their prayer glorifying Him; âkarnya--hearing; prâha--replied; tân--unto them (the demigods); abhinanditah--being pleased.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King Pariksit, when the demigods offered the Lord their sincere prayers in this way, the Lord listened by His causeless mercy. Being pleased, He then replied to the demigods.

> *******

> TEXT 47

> srî-bhagavân uvâca

> prîto 'ham vah sura-sresthâ

> mad-upasthâna-vidyayâ

> âtmaisvarya-smrtih pumsâm

> bhaktis caiva yayâ mayi

> sri-bhagavân uvâca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; prîtah--pleased; aham--I; vah--of you; sura-sresthâh--O best of the demigods; mat-upasthâna-vidyayâ--by the highly advanced knowledge and prayers offered unto Me; âtma-aisvarya-smrtih--remembrance of the exalted transcendental position of Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pumsâm--of men; bhaktih--devotional service; ca--and; eva--certainly; yayâ--by which; mayi--unto Me.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O beloved demigods, you have offered your prayers to Me with great knowledge, and I am certainly most pleased with you. A person is liberated by such knowledge, and thus he remembers My exalted position, which is above the conditions of material life. Such a devotee is fully purified by offering prayers in full knowledge. This is the source of devotional service to Me.

> *******

> TEXT 48

> kim durâpam mayi prîte

> tathâpi vibudharsabhâh

> mayy ekânta-matir nânyan

> matto vânchati tattva-vit

> kim--what; durâpam--difficult to obtain; mayi--when 1; prîte--satisfied; tathâpi--still; vibudha-rsabhâh--O best of the intelligent demigods; mayi--in Me; ekânta--exclusively fixed; matih--whose attention; na anyat--not anything other; mattah--than Me; vânchati--desires; tattva-vit--one who knows the truth.

> TRANSLATION

> O best of the intelligent demigods, although it is true that nothing is difficult for one to obtain when I am pleased with him, a pure devotee, whose mind is exclusively fixed upon Me, does not ask Me for anything but the opportunity to engage in devotional service.

> *******

> TEXT 49

> na veda krpanah sreya

> âtmano guna-vastu-drk

> tasya tân icchato yacched

> yadi so 'pi tathâ-vidhah

> na--not; veda--knows; krpanah--a miserly living entity; sreyah--the ultimate necessity; âtmanah--of the soul; guna-vastu-drk--who is attracted by the creation of the modes of material nature; tasya--of him; tân--things created by the material energy; icchatah--desiring; yacchet--one bestows; yadi--if; sah api--he also; tathâ-vidhah--of the kind (a foolish krpana who does not know his real self-interest).

> TRANSLATION

> Those who think material assets to be everything or to be the ultimate goal of life are called misers [krpanas]. They do not know the ultimate necessity of the soul. Moreover, if one awards that which is desired by such fools, he must also be considered foolish.

> *******

> TEXT 50

> svayam nihsreyasam vidvân

> na vakty ajnâya karma hi

> na râti rogino 'oathyam

> vânchato 'pi bhisaktamah

> svayam--personally; nihsreyasam--the supreme goal of life, namely the means of obtaining ecstatic love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vit-vân--one who is accomplished in devotional service; na--not; vakti--teaches; ajnâya--unto a foolish person not conversant with the ultimate goal of life; karma--fruitive activities; hi--indeed; na--not; râti--administers; roginah--unto the patient; apathyam--something unconsumable; vânchatah--desiring; api--although; bhisak-tamah--an experienced physician.

> TRANSLATION

> A pure devotee who is fully accomplished in the science of devotional service will never instruct a foolish person to engage in fruitive activities for material enjoyment, not to speak of helping him in such activities. Such a devotee is like an experienced physician, who never encourages a patient to eat food injurious to his health, even if the patient desires it.

> *******

> TEXT 51

> maghavan yâta bhadram vo

> dadhyancam rsi-sattamam

> vidyâ-vrata-tapah-sâram

> gâtram yâcata mâ ciram

> maghavan--O Indra; yâta--go; bhadram--good fortune; vah--to all of you; dadhyancam--to Dadhyanca; rsi-sat-tamam--the most exalted saintly person; vidyâ--of education; vrata--vow; tapah--and austerities; sâram--the essence; gâtram--his body; yâcata--ask for; mâ ciram--without delay.

> TRANSLATION

> O Maghavan [Indra], all good fortune unto you. I advise you to approach the exalted saint Dadhyanca [Dadhici]. He has become very accomplished in knowledge, vows and austerities, and his body is very strong. Go ask him for his body without delay.

> *******

> TEXT 52

> sa vâ adhigato dadhyan

> asvibhyâm brahma niskalam

> yad vâ asvasiro nâma

> tayor amaratâm vyadhât

> sah--he; vâ--certainly; adhigatah--having obtained; dadhyan--Dadhyanca; asvibhyâm--to the two Asvinî-kumâras; brahma--spiritual knowledge; niskalam--pure; yat vâ--by which; asvasirah--Asvasira; nâma--named; tayoh--of the two; amaratâm--liberation in one's life; vyadhât--awarded.

> TRANSLATION

> That saintly Dadhyanca, who is also known as Dadhici, personally assimilated the spiritual science and then delivered it to the Asvini-kumaras. It is said that Dadhyanca gave them mantras through the head of a horse. Therefore the mantras are called Asvasira. After obtaining the mantras of spiritual science from Dadhici, the Asvini-kumaras became jivan-mukta, liberated even in this life.

> *******

> TEXT 53

> dadhyann âtharvanas tvastre

> varmâbhedyam mad-âtmakam

> visvarûpâya yat prâdât

> tvastâ yat tvam adhâs tatah

> dadhyan--Dadhyanca; âtharvanah--the son of Atharvâ; tvastre--unto Tvastâ; varma--the protective covering known as Nârâyana-kavaca; abhedyam--invincible; mat-âtmakam--consisting of Myself; visvarûpâya--unto Visvarûpa; yat--which; prâdât--delivered; tvastâ--Tvastâ; yat--which; tvam--you; adhâh--received; tatah--from him.

> TRANSLATION

> Dadhyanca's invincible protective covering known as the Narayana-kavaca was given to Tvasta, who delivered it to his son Visvarupa, from whom you have received it. Because of this Narayana-kavaca, Dadhici's body is now very strong. You should therefore beg him for his body.

> *******

> TEXT 54

> yusmabhyam yâcito 'svibhyâm

> dharma jno 'ngâni dâsyati

> tatas tair âyudha-srestho

> visvakarma-vinirmitah

> yena vrtra-siro hartâ

> mat-teja-upabrmhitah

> yusmabhyam--for all of you; yâcitah--being asked; asvibhyâm--by the Asvinî-kumâras; dharma jnah--Dadhîci, who knows the principles of religion; angâni--his limbs; dâsyati--will give; tatah--after that; taih--by those bones; âyudha--of weapons; sresthah--the most powerful (the thunderbolt); visvakarma-vinirmitah--manufactured by Visvakarmâ; yena--by which; vrtra-sirah--the head of Vrtrâsura; hartâ--will be taken away; mat-tejah--by My strength; upabrmhitah--increased.

> TRANSLATION

> When the Asvini-kumaras beg for Dadhyanca's body on your behalf, he will surely give it because of affection. Do not doubt this, for Dadhyanca is very experienced in religious understanding. When Dadhyanca awards you his body, Visvakarma will prepare a thunderbolt from his bones. This thunderbolt will certainly kill Vrtrasura because it will be invested with My power.

> *******

> TEXT 55

> tasmin vinihate yûyam

> tejo-'strâyudha-sampadah

> bhûyah prâpsyatha bhadram vo

> na himsanti ca mat-parân

> tasmin--when he (Vrtrâsura); vinihate--is killed; yûyam--all of you; tejah--power; astra--arrows; âyudha--other weapons; sampadah--and opulence; bhûyah--again; prâpsyatha--will obtain; bhadram--all good fortune; vah--unto you; na--not; himsanti--hurt; ca--also; mat-parân--My devotees.

> TRANSLATION

> When Vrtrasura is killed because of My spiritual strength, you will regain your strength, weapons and wealth. Thus there will be all good fortune for all of you. Although Vrtrasura can destroy all the three worlds, do not fear that he will harm you. He is also a devotee and will never be envious of you.

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