> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > ******

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > ******

> > Chapter Fourteen: Brahmâ's Prayers to Lord Krishna

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-brahmovâca

> > naumîdya te 'bhra-vapushe tadid-ambarâya

> > gun'jâvatamsa-paripiccha-lasan-mukhâya

> > vanya-sraje kavala-vetra-vishâna-venu-

> > lakshma-s'riye mridu-pade pas'upângajâya

> > s'rî-brahmâ uvâca - Lord Brahmâ said; naumi - I offer praise; îdya - O most worshipable one; te - unto You; abhra - like a dark cloud; vapushe - whose body; tadit - like lightning; ambarâya - whose garment; gun'jâ - made of small berries; avatamsa - with ornaments (for the ears); paripiccha - and peacock feathers; lasat - resplendent; mukhâya - whose face; vanya-sraje - wearing garlands of forest flowers; kavala - a morsel of food; vetra - a stick; vishâna - a buffalo- horn bugle; venu - and a flute; lakshma - characterized by; s'riye - whose beauty; mridu - soft; pade - whose feet; pas'u-pa - of the cowherd (Nanda Mahârâja); anga- jâya - unto the son.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ said: My dear Lord, You are the only worshipable Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore I offer my humble obeisances and prayers just to please You. O son of the king of the cowherds, Your transcendental body is dark blue like a new cloud, Your garment is brilliant like lightning, and the beauty of Your face is enhanced by Your gun'jâ earrings and the peacock feather on Your head. Wearing garlands of various forest flowers and leaves, and equipped with a herding stick, a buffalo horn and a flute, You stand beautifully with a morsel of food in Your hand.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > asyâpi deva vapusho mad-anugrahasya

> > svecchâ-mayasya na tu bhûta-mayasya ko 'pi

> > nes'e mahi tv avasitum manasântarena

> > sâkshât tavaiva kim utâtma-sukhânubhûteh

> > asya - of this; api - even; deva - O Lord; vapushah - the body; mat- anugrahasya - which has shown mercy to me; sva-icchâ-mayasya - which appears in response to the desires of Your pure devotees; na - not; tu - on the other hand; bhûta-mayasya - a product of matter; kah - Brahmâ; api - even; na îs'e - I am not able; mahi - the potency; tu - indeed; avasitum - to estimate; manasâ - with my mind; antarena - which is controlled and withdrawn; sâkshât - directly; tava - Your; eva - indeed; kim uta - what to speak; âtma - within Yourself; sukha - of happiness; anubhûteh - of Your experience.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, neither I nor anyone else can estimate the potency of this transcendental body of Yours, which has shown such mercy to me and which appears just to fulfill the desires of Your pure devotees. Although my mind is completely withdrawn from material affairs, I cannot understand Your personal form. How, then, could I possibly understand the happiness You experience within Yourself?

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > jn'âne prayâsam udapâsya namanta eva

> > jîvanti san-mukharitâm bhavadîya-vârtâm

> > sthâne sthitâh s'ruti-gatâm tanu-vân-manobhir

> > ye prâyas'o 'jita jito 'py asi tais tri-lokyâm

> > jn'âne - for knowledge; prayâsam - the endeavor; udapâsya - giving up completely; namantah - offering obeisances; eva - simply; jîvanti - live; sat- mukharitâm - chanted by the pure devotees; bhavadîya-vârtâm - topics related to You; sthâne - in their material position; sthitâh - remaining; s'ruti- gatâm - received by hearing; tanu - with their body; vâk - words; manobhih - and mind; ye - who; prâyas'ah - for the most part; ajita - O unconquerable one; jitah - conquered; api - nevertheless; asi - You become; taih - by them; tri- lokyâm - within the three worlds.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Those who, even while remaining situated in their established social positions, throw away the process of speculative knowledge and with their body, words and mind offer all respects to descriptions of Your personality and activities, dedicating their lives to these narrations, which are vibrated by You personally and by Your pure devotees, certainly conquer Your Lordship, although You are otherwise unconquerable by anyone within the three worlds.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > s'reyah-sritim bhaktim udasya te vibho

> > klis'yanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye

> > teshâm asau kles'ala eva s'ishyate

> > nânyad yathâ sthûla-tushâvaghâtinâm

> > s'reyah - of supreme benefit; sritim - the path; bhaktim - devotional service; udasya - rejecting; te - they; vibho - O almighty Lord; klis'yanti - struggle; ye - who; kevala - exclusive; bodha - of knowledge; labdhaye - for the achievement; teshâm - for them; asau - this; kles'alah - botheration; eva - merely; s'ishyate - remains; na - nothing; anyat - other; yathâ - just as; sthûla-tusha - empty husks; avaghâtinâm - for those who are beating.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the best path for self- realization. If someone gives up that path and engages in the cultivation of speculative knowledge, he will simply undergo a troublesome process and will not achieve his desired result. As a person who beats an empty husk of wheat cannot get grain, one who simply speculates cannot achieve self- realization. His only gain is trouble.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > pureha bhûman bahavo 'pi yoginas

> > tvad-arpitehâ nija-karma-labdhayâ

> > vibudhya bhaktyaiva kathopanîtayâ

> > prapedire 'n'jo 'cyuta te gatim parâm

> > purâ - previously; iha - in this world; bhûman - O almighty Lord; bahavah - many; api - indeed; yoginah - followers of the path of yoga; tvat - unto You; arpita - having offered; îhâh - all their endeavors; nija-karma - by their prescribed duties; labdhayâ - which is achieved; vibudhya - coming to understand; bhaktyâ - by devotional service; eva - indeed; kathâ- upanîtayâ - cultivated through hearing and chanting topics about You; prapedire - they achieved by surrender; an'jah - easily; acyuta - O infallible one; te - Your; gatim - destination; parâm - supreme.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O almighty Lord, in the past many yogîs in this world achieved the platform of devotional service by offering all their endeavors unto You and faithfully carrying out their prescribed duties. Through such devotional service, perfected by the processes of hearing and chanting about You, they came to understand You, O infallible one, and could easily surrender to You and achieve Your supreme abode.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > tathâpi bhûman mahimâgunasya te

> > viboddhum arhaty amalântar-âtmabhih

> > avikriyât svânubhavâd arûpato

> > hy ananya-bodhyâtmatayâ na cânyathâ

> > tathâ api - nevertheless; bhûman - O limitless one; mahimâ - the potency; agunasya - of Him who has no material qualities; te - of You; viboddhum - to understand; arhati - one is able; amala - spotless; antah-âtmabhih - with mind and senses; avikriyât - not based on material differentiations; sva- anubhavât - by perception of the Supreme Soul; arûpatah - without attachment to material forms; hi - indeed; ananya-bodhya-âtmatayâ - as self-manifested, without the help of any other illuminating agent; na - not; ca - and; anyathâ - otherwise.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Nondevotees, however, cannot realize You in Your full personal feature. Nevertheless, it may be possible for them to realize Your expansion as the impersonal Supreme by cultivating direct perception of the Self within the heart. But they can do this only by purifying their mind and senses of all conceptions of material distinctions and all attachment to material sense objects. Only in this way will Your impersonal feature manifest itself to them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > gunâtmanas te 'pi gunân vimâtum

> > hitâvatîrinasya ka îs'ire 'sya

> > kâlena yair vâ vimitâh su-kalpair

> > bhû-pâms'avah khe mihikâ dyu-bhâsah

> > guna-âtmanah - of the possessor of all superior qualities; te - You; api - certainly; gunân - the qualities; vimâtum - to count; hita-avatîrnasya - who have descended for the benefit of all living entities; ke - who; îs'ire - are able; asya - of the universe; kâlena - in due course of time; yaih - by whom; vâ - or; vimitâh - counted; su-kalpaih - by great scientists; bhû-pâms'avah - the atoms of an earthly planet; khe - in the sky; mihikâh - the particles of snow; dyu-bhâsah - the illumination of stars and planets.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In time, learned philosophers or scientists might be able to count all the atoms of the earth, the particles of snow, or perhaps even the shining molecules radiating from the sun, the stars and other luminaries. But among these learned men, who could possibly count the unlimited transcendental qualities possessed by You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have descended onto the surface of the earth for the benefit of all living entities?

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > tat te 'nukampâm su-samîkshamâno

> > bhun'jâna evâtma-kritam vipâkam

> > hrid-vâg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te

> > jîveta yo mukti-pade sa dâya-bhâk

> > tat - therefore; te - Your; anukampâm - compassion; su-samîkshamânah - earnestly hoping for; bhun'jânah - enduring; eva - certainly; âtma-kritam - done by himself; vipâkam - the fruitive results; hrit - with his heart; vâk - words; vapurbhih - and body; vidadhan - offering; namah - obeisances; te - unto You; jîveta - lives; yah - anyone who; mukti-pade - to the position of liberation; sah - he; dâya- bhâk - the rightful heir.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > pas'yes'a me 'nâryam ananta âdye

> > parâtmani tvayy api mâyi-mâyini

> > mâyâm vitatyekshitum âtma-vaibhavam

> > hy aham kiyân aiccham ivârcir agnau

> > pas'ya - just see; îs'a - O Lord; me - my; anâryam - contemptible behavior; anante - against the unlimited; âdye - the primeval; para-âtmani - the Supersoul; tvayi - You; api - even; mâyi-mâyini - for the masters of illusion; mâyâm - (my) illusory potency; vitatya - spreading; îkshitum - to see; âtma - Your; vaibhavam - power; hi - indeed; aham - I; kiyân - how much; aiccham - I desired; iva - just like; arcih - a small spark; agnau - in comparison to the whole fire.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My Lord, just see my uncivilized impudence! To test Your power I tried to extend my illusory potency to cover You, the unlimited and primeval Supersoul, who bewilder even the masters of illusion. What am I compared to You? I am just like a small spark in the presence of a great fire.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > atah kshamasvâcyuta me rajo-bhuvo

> > hy ajânatas tvat-prithag-îs'a-mâninah

> > ajâvalepândha-tamo-'ndha-cakshusha

> > esho 'nukampyo mayi nâthavân iti

> > atah - therefore; kshamasva - please excuse; acyuta - O infallible Lord; me - me; rajah-bhuvah - who have taken birth in the mode of passion; hi - indeed; ajânatah - being ignorant; tvat - from You; prithak - separate; îs'a - a controller; mâninah - presuming myself; aja - the unborn creator; avalepa - the covering; andha-tamah - by such darkness of ignorance; andha - blinded; cakshushah - my eyes; eshah - this person; anukampyah - should be shown mercy; mayi - Me; nâtha- vân - having as his master; iti - thus thinking.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore, O infallible Lord, kindly excuse my offenses. I have taken birth in the mode of passion and am therefore simply foolish, presuming myself a controller independent of Your Lordship. My eyes are blinded by the darkness of ignorance, which causes me to think of myself as the unborn creator of the universe. But please consider that I am Your servant and therefore worthy of Your compassion.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > kvâham tamo-mahad-aham-kha-carâgni-vâr-bhû-

> > samveshthitânda-ghatha-sapta-vitasti-kâyah

> > kvedrig-vidhâviganitânda-parânu-caryâ-

> > vâtâdhva-roma-vivarasya ca te mahitvam

> > kva - where; aham - I; tamah - the material nature; mahat - the total material energy; aham - false ego; kha - ether; cara - air; agni - fire; vâh - water; bhû - earth; samveshthita - surrounded by; anda-ghatha - a potlike universe; sapta- vitasti - seven spans; kâyah - body; kva - where; îdrik - such; vidhâ - like; aviganita - unlimited; anda - universes; para-anu - like the atomic dust; caryâ - moving; vâta-adhva - airholes; roma - of hair on the body; vivarasya - of the holes; ca - also; te - Your; mahitvam - greatness.

> > TRANSLATION

> > What am I, a small creature measuring seven spans of my own hand? I am enclosed in a potlike universe composed of material nature, the total material energy, false ego, ether, air, water and earth. And what is Your glory? Unlimited universes pass through the pores of Your body just as particles of dust pass through the openings of a screened window.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > utkshepanam garbha-gatasya pâdayoh

> > kim kalpate mâtur adhokshajâgase

> > kim asti-nâsti-vyapades'a-bhûshitam

> > tavâsti kuksheh kiyad apy anantah

> > utkshepanam - the kicking; garbha-gatasya - of a child in the womb; pâdayoh - of the legs; kim - what; kalpate - amounts to; mâtuh - for the mother; adhokshaja - O transcendental Lord; âgase - as an offense; kim - what; asti - it exists; na asti - it does not exist; vyapades'a - by the designations; bhûshitam - decorated; tava - Your; asti - there is, kuksheh - of the abdomen; kiyat - how much; api - even; anantah - external.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Lord Adhokshaja, does a mother take offense when the child within her womb kicks with his legs? And is there anything in existence - whether designated by various philosophers as real or as unreal - that is actually outside Your abdomen?

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > jagat-trayântodadhi-samplavode

> > nârâyanasyodara-nâbhi-nâlât

> > vinirgato 'jas tv iti vân na vai mrishâ

> > kintv îs'vara tvan na vinirgato 'smi

> > jagat-traya - of the three worlds; anta - in the dissolution; udadhi - of all the oceans; samplava - of the total deluge; ude - in the water; nârâyanasya - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nârâyana; udara - growing from the abdomen; nâbhi - from the navel; nâlât - out of the lotus stem; vinirgatah - came out; ajah - Brahmâ; tu - indeed; iti - thus speaking; vâk - the words; na - are not; vai - certainly; mrishâ - false; kintu - thus; îs'vara - O Lord; tvat - from You; na - not; vinirgatah - specifically emanated; asmi - am I.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, it is said that when the three planetary systems are merged into the water at the time of dissolution, Your plenary portion, Nârâyana, lies down on the water, gradually a lotus flower grows from His navel, and Brahmâ takes birth upon that lotus flower. Certainly, these words are not false. Thus am I not born from You?

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > nârâyanas tvam na hi sarva-dehinâm

> > âtmâsy adhîs'âkhila-loka-sâkshî

> > nârâyano 'ngam nara-bhû-jalâyanât

> > tac câpi satyam na tavaiva mâyâ

> > nârâyanah - the Supreme Lord Nârâyana; tvam - You; na - not; hi - whether; sarva - of all; dehinâm - embodied living beings; âtmâ - the Supersoul; asi - You are; adhîs'a - O supreme controller; akhila - of all; loka - planets; sâkshî - the witness; nârâyanah - Lord S'rî Nârâyana; angam - the expanded plenary portion; nara - from the Supreme Personality; bhû - originating; jala - of the water; ayanât - because of being the manifesting source; tat - that (expansion); ca - and; api - indeed; satyam - true; na - not; tava - Your; eva - at all; mâyâ - illusory energy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Are You not the original Nârâyana, O supreme controller, since You are the Soul of every embodied being and the eternal witness of all created realms? Indeed, Lord Nârâyana is Your expansion, and He is called Nârâyana because He is the generating source of the primeval water of the universe. He is real, not a product of Your illusory Mâyâ.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > tac cej jala-stham tava saj jagad-vapuh

> > kim me na drishtham bhagavams tadaiva

> > kim vâ su-drishtham hridi me tadaiva

> > kim no sapady eva punar vyadars'i

> > tat - that; cet - if; jala-stham - situated upon the water; tava - Your; sat - real; jagat - sheltering the entire universe; vapuh - the transcendental body; kim - why; me - by me; na drishtham - was not seen; bhagavan - O Supreme Lord; tadâ eva - at that very time; kim - why; vâ - or; su-drishtham - perfectly seen; hridi - within the heart; me - by me; tadâ eva - just then; kim - why; na - not; u - on the other hand; sapadi - suddenly; eva - indeed; punah - again; vyadars'i - was seen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, if Your transcendental body, which shelters the entire universe, is actually lying upon the water, then why were You not seen by me when I searched for You? And why, though I could not envision You properly within my heart, did You then suddenly reveal Yourself?

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > atraiva mâyâ-dhamanâvatâre

> > hy asya prapan'casya bahih sphuthasya

> > kritsnasya cântar jathhare jananyâ

> > mâyâtvam eva prakathî-kritam te

> > atra - in this; eva - indeed; mâyâ-dhamana - O subduer of Mâyâ; avatâre - in the incarnation; hi - certainly; asya - of this; prapan'casya - created material manifestation; bahih - externally; sphuthasya - which is visible; kritsnasya - entire; ca - and; antah - within; jathhare - Your abdomen; jananyâh - unto Your mother; mâyâtvam - Your bewildering potency; eva - indeed; prakathî- kritam - has been demonstrated; te - by You.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, in this incarnation You have proved that You are the supreme controller of Mâyâ. Although You are now within this universe, the whole universal creation is within Your transcendental body - a fact You demonstrated by exhibiting the universe within Your abdomen before Your mother, Yas'odâ.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > yasya kukshâv idam sarvam

> > sâtmam bhâti yathâ tathâ

> > tat tvayy apîha tat sarvam

> > kim idam mâyayâ vinâ

> > yasya - of whom; kukshau - within the abdomen; idam - this cosmic manifestation; sarvam - all; sa-âtmam - including Yourself; bhâti - is manifested; yathâ - as; tathâ - so; tat - that; tvayi - within You; api - although; iha - here externally; tat - that cosmic manifestation; sarvam - whole; kim - what; idam - this; mâyayâ - the influence of Your inconceivable energy; vinâ - without.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Just as this entire universe, including You, was exhibited within Your abdomen, so it is now manifested here externally in the same exact form. How could such things happen unless arranged by Your inconceivable energy?

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > adyaiva tvad rite 'sya kim mama na te mâyâtvam âdars'itam

> > eko 'si prathamam tato vraja-suhrid-vatsâh samastâ api

> > tâvanto 'si catur-bhujâs tad akhilaih sâkam mayopâsitâs

> > tâvanty eva jaganty abhûs tad amitam brahmâdvayam s'ishyate

> > adya - today; eva - just; tvat rite - apart from You; asya - of this universe; kim - what; mama - to me; na - not; te - by You; mâyâtvam - the basis in Your inconceivable potency; âdars'itam - shown; ekah - alone; asi - You are; prathamam - first of all; tatah - then; vraja-suhrit - Your cowherd boyfriends of Vrindâvana; vatsâh - and the calves; samastâh - all; api - even; tâvantah - of the same number; asi - You became; catuh-bhujâh - four-handed forms of Lord Vishnu; tat - then; akhilaih - by all; sâkam - together with; mayâ - myself; upâsitâh - being worshiped; tâvanti - of the same number; eva - also; jaganti - universes; abhûh - You became; tat - then; amitam - the unlimited; brahma - Absolute Truth; advayam - one without a second; s'ishyate - You now remain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Have You not shown me today that both You Yourself and everything within this creation are manifestations of Your inconceivable potency? First You appeared alone, and then You manifested Yourself as all of Vrindâvana's calves and cowherd boys, Your friends. Next You appeared as an equal number of four-handed Vishnu forms, who were worshiped by all living beings, including me, and after that You appeared as an equal number of complete universes. Finally, You have now returned to Your unlimited form as the Supreme Absolute Truth, one without a second.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > ajânatâm tvat-padavîm anâtmany

> > âtmâtmanâ bhâsi vitatya mâyâm

> > srishthâv ivâham jagato vidhâna

> > iva tvam esho 'nta iva trinetrah

> > ajânatâm - to persons who are in ignorance; tvat-padavîm - of Your transcendental position; anâtmani - in the material energy; âtmâ - Yourself; âtmanâ - by Yourself; bhâsi - appear; vitatya - expanding; mâyâm - Your inconceivable energy; srishthau - in the matter of creation; iva - as if; aham - I, Brahmâ; jagatah - of the universe; vidhâne - in the maintenance; iva - as if; tvam eshah - Yourself; ante - in the annihilation; iva - as if; tri-netrah - Lord S'iva.

> > TRANSLATION

> > To persons ignorant of Your actual transcendental position, You appear as part of the material world, manifesting Yourself by the expansion of Your inconceivable energy. Thus for the creation of the universe You appear as me [Brahmâ], for its maintenance You appear as Yourself [Vishnu], and for its annihilation You appear as Lord Trinetra [S'iva].

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > sureshv rishishv îs'a tathaiva nrishv api

> > tiryakshu yâdahsv api te 'janasya

> > janmâsatâm durmada-nigrahâya

> > prabho vidhâtah sad-anugrahâya ca

> > sureshu - among the demigods; rishishu - among the great sages; îs'a - O Lord; tathâ - as well as; eva - indeed; nrishu - among the human beings; api - and; tiryakshu - among animals; yâdahsu - among aquatics; api - also; te - of You; ajanasya - who never takes material birth; janma - the birth; asatâm - of the nondevotees; durmada - the false pride; nigrahâya - for the purpose of subduing; prabho - O master; vidhâtah - O creator; sat - to the faithful devotees; anugrahâya - for the purpose of showing mercy; ca - and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Lord, O supreme creator and master, You have no material birth, yet to defeat the false pride of the faithless demons and show mercy to Your saintly devotees, You take birth among the demigods, sages, human beings, animals and even the aquatics.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > ko vetti bhûman bhagavan parâtman

> > yoges'varotîr bhavatas tri-lokyâm

> > kva vâ katham vâ kati vâ kadeti

> > vistârayan krîdasi yoga-mâyâm

> > kah - who; vetti - knows; bhûman - O supreme great one; bhagavan - O Supreme Personality of Godhead; para-âtman - O Supreme Soul; yoga-îs'vara - O master of mystic power; ûtîh - the pastimes; bhavatah - of Your Lordship; tri-lokyâm - in the three worlds; kva - where; vâ - or; katham - how; vâ - or; kati - how many; vâ - or; kadâ - when; iti - thus; vistârayan - expanding; krîdasi - You play; yoga- mâyâm - Your spiritual energy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O supreme great one! O Supreme Personality of Godhead! O Supersoul, master of all mystic power! Your pastimes are taking place continuously in these three worlds, but who can estimate where, how and when You are employing Your spiritual energy and performing these innumerable pastimes? No one can understand the mystery of how Your spiritual energy acts.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > tasmâd idam jagad as'esham asat-svarûpam

> > svapnâbham asta-dhishanam puru-duhkha-duhkham

> > tvayy eva nitya-sukha-bodha-tanâv anante

> > mâyâta udyad api yat sad ivâvabhâti

> > tasmât - therefore; idam - this; jagat - cosmic manifestation; as'esham - entire; asat-svarûpam - whose existence is unreal in the sense of temporary; svapna- âbham - like a dream; asta-dhishanam - wherein awareness becomes covered over; puru-duhkha-duhkham - full of repeated miseries; tvayi - within You; eva - indeed; nitya - eternal; sukha - happy; bodha - conscious; tanau - whose personal appearances; anante - who is unlimited; mâyâtah - by the illusory energy; udyat - coming forth; api - although; yat - which; sat - real; iva - as if; avabhâti - appears.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore this entire universe, which like a dream is by nature unreal, nevertheless appears real, and thus it covers one's consciousness and assails one with repeated miseries. This universe appears real because it is manifested by the potency of illusion emanating from You, whose unlimited transcendental forms are full of eternal happiness and knowledge.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > ekas tvam âtmâ purushah purânah

> > satyah svayam-jyotir ananta âdyah

> > nityo 'ksharo 'jasra-sukho niran'janah

> > pûrnâdvayo mukta upâdhito 'mritah

> > ekah - one; tvam - You; âtmâ - the Supreme Soul; purushah - the Supreme Person; purânah - the oldest; satyah - the Absolute Truth; svayam-jyotih - self- manifested; anantah - without end; âdyah - without beginning; nityah - eternal; aksharah - indestructible; ajasra-sukhah - whose happiness cannot be obstructed; niran'janah - devoid of contamination; pûrna - complete; advayah - without a second; muktah - free; upâdhitah - from all material designations; amritah - deathless.

> > TRANSLATION

> > You are the one Supreme Soul, the primeval Supreme Personality, the Absolute Truth - self-manifested, endless and beginningless. You are eternal and infallible, perfect and complete, without any rival and free from all material designations. Your happiness can never be obstructed, nor have You any connection with material contamination. Indeed, You are the indestructible nectar of immortality.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > evam-vidham tvâm sakalâtmanâm api

> > svâtmânam âtmâtmatayâ vicakshate

> > gurv-arka-labdhopanishat-sucakshushâ

> > ye te tarantîva bhavânritâmbudhim

> > evam-vidham - as thus described; tvâm - You; sakala - of all; âtmanâm - souls; api - indeed; sva-âtmânam - the very Soul; âtma-âtmatayâ - as the Supersoul; vicakshate - they see; guru - from the spiritual master; arka - who is like the sun; labdha - received; upanishat - of confidential knowledge; su-cakshushâ - by the perfect eye; ye - who; te - they; taranti - cross over; iva - easily; bhava - of material existence; anrita - which is not real; ambudhim - the ocean.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Those who have received the clear vision of knowledge from the sunlike spiritual master can see You in this way, as the very Soul of all souls, the Supersoul of everyone's own self. Thus understanding Your original personality, they are able to cross over the ocean of illusory material existence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > âtmânam evâtmatayâvijânatâm

> > tenaiva jâtam nikhilam prapan'citam

> > jn'ânena bhûyo 'pi ca tat pralîyate

> > rajjvâm aher bhoga-bhavâbhavau yathâ

> > âtmânam - Yourself; eva - indeed; âtmatayâ - as the Supreme Soul; avijânatâm - for those who do not understand; tena - by that; eva - alone; jâtam - is generated; nikhilam - the entire; prapan'citam - material existence; jn'ânena - by knowledge; bhûyah api - once again; ca - and; tat - that material existence; pralîyate - disappears; rajjvâm - within a rope; aheh - of a snake; bhoga - of the body; bhava-abhavau - the apparent appearance and disappearance; yathâ - just as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A person who mistakes a rope for a snake becomes fearful, but he then gives up his fear upon realizing that the so-called snake does not exist. Similarly, for those who fail to recognize You as the Supreme Soul of all souls, the expansive illusory material existence arises, but knowledge of You at once causes it to subside.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > ajn'âna-samjn'au bhava-bandha-mokshau

> > dvau nâma nânyau sta rita-jn'a-bhâvât

> > ajasra-city âtmani kevale pare

> > vicâryamâne taranâv ivâhanî

> > ajn'âna - manifesting from ignorance; samjn'au - which designations; bhava- bandha - bondage to material existence; mokshau - and liberation; dvau - the two; nâma - indeed; na - not; anyau - separate; stah - are; rita - true; jn'a-bhâvât - from knowledge; ajasra-citi - whose awareness is unimpeded; âtmani - the spirit soul; kevale - who is separate from matter; pare - who is pure; vicâryamâne - when he is properly distinguished; taranau - within the sun; iva - just as; ahanî - day and night.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The conception of material bondage and the conception of liberation are both manifestations of ignorance. Being outside the scope of true knowledge, they cease to exist when one correctly understands that the pure spirit soul is distinct from matter and always fully conscious. At that time bondage and liberation no longer have any significance, just as day and night have no significance from the perspective of the sun.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > tvâm âtmânam param matvâ

> > param âtmânam eva ca

> > âtmâ punar bahir mrigya

> > aho 'jn'a-janatâjn'atâ

> > tvâm - You; âtmânam - the real self; param - something else; matvâ - thinking; param - something else; âtmânam - Yourself; eva - indeed; ca - also; âtmâ - the Supreme Self; punah - again; bahih - outside; mrigyah - must be searched out; aho - oh; ajn'a - ignorant; janatâ - of persons; ajn'atâ - the ignorance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Just see the foolishness of those ignorant persons who consider You to be some separated manifestation of illusion and who consider the self, which is actually You, to be something else, the material body. Such fools conclude that the supreme soul is to be searched for somewhere outside Your supreme personality.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > antar-bhave 'nanta bhavantam eva

> > hy atat tyajanto mrigayanti santah

> > asantam apy anty ahim antarena

> > santam gunam tam kim u yanti santah

> > antah-bhave - within the body; ananta - O unlimited Lord; bhavantam - Yourself; eva - indeed; hi - certainly; atat - everything separate from You; tyajantah - rejecting; mrigayanti - search out; santah - the saintly devotees; asantam - unreal; api - even; anti - present nearby; ahim - (the illusion of) a snake; antarena - without (negating); santam - real; gunam - the rope; tam - that; kim u - whether; yanti - appreciate; santah - persons who are spiritually situated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O unlimited Lord, the saintly devotees seek You out within their own bodies by rejecting everything separate from You. Indeed, how can discriminating persons appreciate the real nature of a rope lying before them until they refute the illusion that it is a snake.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > athâpi te deva padâmbuja-dvaya-

> > prasâda-les'ânugrihîta eva hi

> > jânâti tattvam bhagavan-mahimno

> > na cânya eko 'pi ciram vicinvan

> > atha - therefore; api - indeed; te - Your; deva - my Lord; pada-ambuja-dvaya - of the two lotus feet; prasâda - of the mercy; les'a - by only a trace; anugrihîtah - favored; eva - certainly; hi - indeed; jânâti - one knows; tattvam - the truth; bhagavat - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mahimnah - of the greatness; na - never; ca - and; anyah - another; ekah - one; api - although; ciram - for a long period; vicinvan - speculating.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > tad astu me nâtha sa bhûri-bhâgo

> > bhave 'tra vânyatra tu vâ tiras'câm

> > yenâham eko 'pi bhavaj-janânâm

> > bhûtvâ nisheve tava pâda-pallavam

> > tat - therefore; astu - may it be; me - my; nâtha - O master; sah - that; bhûri- bhâgah - greatest good fortune; bhave - in the birth; atra - this; vâ - or; anyatra - in some other birth; tu - indeed; vâ - or; tiras'câm - among the animals; yena - by which; aham - I; ekah - one; api - even; bhavat - or Your; janânâm - devotees; bhûtvâ - becoming; nisheve - I may fully engage in serving; tava - Your; pâda-pallavam - lotus feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, I therefore pray to be so fortunate that in this life as Lord Brahmâ or in another life, wherever I take my birth, I may be counted as one of Your devotees. I pray that wherever I may be, even among the animal species, I can engage in devotional service to Your lotus feet.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > aho 'ti-dhanyâ vraja-go-ramanyah

> > stanyâmritam pîtam atîva te mudâ

> > yâsâm vibho vatsatarâtmajâtmanâ

> > yat-triptaye 'dyâpi na câlam adhvarâh

> > aho - oh; ati-dhanyâh - most fortunate; vraja - of Vrindâvana; go - the cows; ramanyah - and the gopîs; stanya - the breast-milk; amritam - which is like nectar; pîtam - has been drunk; atîva - fully; te - by You; mudâ - with satisfaction; yâsâm - of whom; vibho - O almighty Lord; vatsatara-âtmaja- âtmanâ - in the form of the calves and the sons of the cowherd women; yat - whose; triptaye - for the satisfaction; adya api - even until now; na - not; ca - and; alam - sufficient; adhvarâh - the Vedic sacrifices.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O almighty Lord, how greatly fortunate are the cows and ladies of Vrindâvana, the nectar of whose breast-milk You have happily drunk to Your full satisfaction, taking the form of their calves and children! All the Vedic sacrifices performed from time immemorial up to the present day have not given You as much satisfaction.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > aho bhâgyam aho bhâgyam

> > nanda-gopa-vrajaukasâm

> > yan-mitram paramânandam

> > pûrnam brahma sanâtanam

> > aho - what great; bhâgyam - fortune; aho - what great; bhâgyam - fortune; nanda - of Mahârâja Nanda; gopa - of the other cowherd men; vraja-okasâm - of the inhabitants of Vrajabhûmi; yat - of whom; mitram - the friend; parama- ânandam - the supreme bliss; pûrnam - complete; brahma - the Absolute Truth; sanâtanam - eternal.

> > TRANSLATION

> > How greatly fortunate are Nanda Mahârâja, the cowherd men and all the other inhabitants of Vrajabhûmi! There is no limit to their good fortune, because the Absolute Truth, the source of transcendental bliss, the eternal Supreme Brahman, has become their friend.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > eshâm tu bhâgya-mahimâcyuta tâvad âstâm

> > ekâdas'aiva hi vayam bata bhûri-bhâgâh

> > etad-dhrishîka-cashakair asakrit pibâmah

> > s'arvâdayo 'nghry-udaja-madhv-amritâsavam te

> > eshâm - of these (residents of Vrindâvana); tu - however; bhâgya - of the good fortune; mahimâ - the greatness; acyuta - O infallible Supreme Lord; tâvat - so much; âstâm - let it be; ekâdas'a - the eleven; eva hi - indeed; vayam - we; bata - oh; bhûri-bhâgâh - are most fortunate; etat - of these devotees; hrishîka - by the senses; cashakaih - (which are like) drinking cups; asakrit - repeatedly; pibâmah - we are drinking; s'arva-âdayah - Lord S'iva and the other chief demigods; anghri-udaja - of the lotus feet; madhu - the honey; amrita- âsavam - which is a nectarean, intoxicating beverage; te - of You.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Yet even though the extent of the good fortune of these residents of Vrindâvana is inconceivable, we eleven presiding deities of the various senses, headed by Lord S'iva, are also most fortunate, because the senses of these devotees of Vrindâvana are the cups through which we repeatedly drink the nectarean, intoxicating beverage of the honey of Your lotus feet.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > tad bhûri-bhâgyam iha janma kim apy athavyâm

> > yad gokule 'pi katamânghri-rajo-'bhishekam

> > yaj-jîvitam tu nikhilam bhagavân mukundas

> > tv adyâpi yat-pada-rajah s'ruti-mrigyam eva

> > tat - that; bhûri-bhâgyam - the greatest good fortune; iha - here; janma - the birth; kim api - any whatsoever; athavyâm - in the forest (of Vrindâvana); yat - which; gokule - in Gokula; api - even; katama - of any (of the devotees); anghri - of the feet; rajah - by the dust; abhishekam - bathing; yat - whose; jîvitam - life; tu - indeed; nikhilam - whole; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mukundah - Lord Mukunda; tu - but; adya api - even until now; yat - whose; pâda-rajah - dust of the feet; s'ruti - by the Vedas; mrigyam - sought after; eva - certainly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My greatest possible good fortune would be to take any birth whatever in this forest of Gokula and have my head bathed by the dust falling from the lotus feet of any of its residents. Their entire life and soul is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, the dust of whose lotus feet is still being searched for in the Vedic mantras.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > eshâm ghosha-nivâsinâm uta bhavân kim deva râteti nas'

> > ceto vis'va-phalât phalam tvad-aparam kutrâpy ayan muhyati

> > sad-veshâd iva pûtanâpi sa-kulâ tvâm eva devâpitâ

> > yad-dhâmârtha-suhrit-priyâtma-tanaya-prânâs'ayâs tvat-krite

> > eshâm - to these; ghosha-nivâsinâm - residents of the cowherd community; uta - indeed; bhavân - Your Lordship; kim - what; deva - O Supreme Personality of Godhead; râtâ - will give; iti - thinking thus; nah - our; cetah - mind; vis'va- phalât - than the supreme source of all benedictions; phalam - a reward; tvat - than You; aparam - other; kutra api - anywhere; ayat - considering; muhyati - becomes bewildered; sat-veshât - by disguising herself as a devotee; iva - indeed; pûtanâ - the demoness Pûtanâ; api - even; sa-kulâ - along with her family members, Bakâsura and Aghâsura; tvâm - You; eva - certainly; deva - O Lord; âpitâ - was made to attain; yat - whose; dhâma - homes; artha - wealth; suhrit - friends; priya - dear relatives; âtma - bodies; tanaya - children; prâna - life air; âs'ayâh - and minds; tvat-krite - dedicated to You.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My mind becomes bewildered just trying to think of what reward other than You could be found anywhere. You are the embodiment of all benedictions, which You bestow upon these residents of the cowherd community of Vrindâvana. You have already arranged to give Yourself to Pûtanâ and her family members in exchange for her disguising herself as a devotee. So what is left for You to give these devotees of Vrindâvana, whose homes, wealth, friends, dear relations, bodies, children and very lives and hearts are all dedicated only to You?

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > tâvad râgâdayah stenâs

> > tâvat kârâ-griham griham

> > tâvan moho 'nghri-nigado

> > yâvat krishna na te janâh

> > tâvat - for that long; râga-âdayah - material attachment and so on; stenâh - thieves; tâvat - for that long; kârâ-griham - a prison; griham - one's home; tâvat - for that long; mohah - the bewilderment of family affection; anghri - upon their feet; nigadah - shackles; yâvat - as long as; krishna - O Lord Krishna; na - do not become; te - Your (devotees); janâh - any persons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord Krishna, until people become Your devotees, their material attachments and desires remain thieves, their homes remain prisons, and their affectionate feelings for their family members remain foot-shackles.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > prapan'cam nishprapan'co 'pi

> > vidambayasi bhû-tale

> > prapanna-janatânanda-

> > sandoham prathitum prabho

> > prapan'cam - that which is material; nishprapan'cah - completely transcendental to material existence; api - although; vidambayasi - You imitate; bhû-tale - on the surface of the earth; prapanna - who are surrendered; janatâ - of people; ânanda-sandoham - the great variety of different kinds of ecstasies; prathitum - in order to spread; prabho - O master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear master, although You have nothing to do with material existence, You come to this earth and imitate material life just to expand the varieties of ecstatic enjoyment for Your surrendered devotees.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > jânanta eva jânantu

> > kim bahûktyâ na me prabho

> > manaso vapusho vâco

> > vaibhavam tava go-carah

> > jânantah - persons who think they are aware of Your unlimited potency; eva - certainly; jânantu - let them think like that; kim - what is the use; bahu- uktyâ - with many words; na - not; me - my; prabho - O Lord; manasah - of the mind; vapushah - of the body; vâcah - of the words; vaibhavam - opulences; tava - Your; go- carah - within the range.

> > TRANSLATION

> > There are people who say, "I know everything about Krishna." Let them think that way. As far as I am concerned, I do not wish to speak very much about this matter. O my Lord, let me say this much: As far as Your opulences are concerned, they are all beyond the reach of my mind, body and words.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > anujânîhi mâm krishna

> > sarvam tvam vetsi sarva-drik

> > tvam eva jagatâm nâtho

> > jagad etat tavârpitam

> > anujânîhi - please give leave; mâm - to me; krishna - O Lord Krishna; sarvam - everything; tvam - You; vetsi - know; sarva-drik - all-seeing; tvam - You; eva - alone; jagatâm - of all the universes; nâthah - the master; jagat - universe; etat - this; tava - to You; arpitam - is offered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Krishna, I now humbly request permission to leave. Actually, You are the knower and seer of all things. Indeed, You are the Lord of all the universes, and yet I offer this one universe unto You.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > s'rî-krishna vrishni-kula-pushkara-josha-dâyin

> > kshmâ-nirjara-dvija-pas'ûdadhi-vriddhi-kârin

> > uddharma-s'ârvara-hara kshiti-râkshasa-dhrug

> > â-kalpam ârkam arhan bhagavan namas te

> > s'rî-krishna - O Lord Krishna; vrishni-kula - of the Yadu dynasty; pushkara - to the lotus; josha - pleasure; dâyin - O You who bestow; kshmâ - of the earth; nirjara - the demigods; dvija - the brâhmanas; pas'u - and of the animals; udadhi - of the great oceans; vriddhi - the increase; kârin - O You who cause; uddharma - of atheistic principles; s'ârvara - of the darkness; hara - O dispeller; kshiti - upon the earth; râkshasa - of the demons; dhruk - the opponent; â-kalpam - until the end of the universe; â-arkam - as long as the sun shines; arhan - O supremely worshipable Deity; bhagavan - O Supreme Personality of Godhead; namah - I offer my respectful obeisances; te - unto You.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear S'rî Krishna, You bestow happiness upon the lotuslike Vrishni dynasty and expand the great oceans consisting of the earth, the demigods, the brâhmanas and the cows. You dispel the dense darkness of irreligion and oppose the demons who have appeared on this earth. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, as long as this universe exists and as long as the sun shines, I will offer my obeisances unto You.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > ity abhishthûya bhûmânam

> > trih parikramya pâdayoh

> > natvâbhîshtham jagad-dhâtâ

> > sva-dhâma pratyapadyata

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - thus; abhishthûya - offering praise; bhûmânam - to the unlimited Supreme Lord; trih - three times; parikramya - circumambulating; pâdayoh - at His feet; natvâ - bowing down; abhîshtham - desired; jagat - of the universe; dhâtâ - the creator; sva-dhâma - to his personal abode; pratyapadyata - returned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Having thus offered his prayers, Brahmâ circumambulated his worshipable Lord, the unlimited Personality of Godhead, three times and then bowed down at His lotus feet. The appointed creator of the universe then returned to his own residence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > tato 'nujn'âpya bhagavân

> > sva-bhuvam prâg avasthitân

> > vatsân pulinam âninye

> > yathâ-pûrva-sakham svakam

> > tatah - then; anujn'âpya - giving permission; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; sva- bhuvam - to His own son (Brahmâ); prâk - from before; avasthitân - situated; vatsân - the calves; pulinam - to the shore of the river; âninye - He brought; yathâ-pûrva - just as before; sakham - where the friends were present; svakam - His own.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After granting His son Brahmâ permission to leave, the Supreme Personality of Godhead took the calves, who were still where they had been a year earlier, and brought them to the riverbank, where He had been taking His meal and where His cowherd boyfriends remained just as before.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > ekasminn api yâte 'bde

> > prânes'am cântarâtmanah

> > krishna-mâyâhatâ râjan

> > kshanârdham menire 'rbhakâh

> > ekasmin - one; api - although; yâte - having passed; abde - year; prâna-îs'am - the Lord of their lives; ca - and; antarâ - without; âtmanah - of themselves; krishna - of Lord Krishna; mâyâ - by the illusory potency; âhatâh - covered; râjan - O King; kshana-ardham - half a moment; menire - they thought; arbhakâh - the boys.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, although the boys had passed an entire year apart from the Lord of their very lives, they had been covered by Lord Krishna's illusory potency and thus considered that year merely half a moment.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > kim kim na vismarantîha

> > mâyâ-mohita-cetasah

> > yan-mohitam jagat sarvam

> > abhîkshnam vismritâtmakam

> > kim kim - what indeed; na vismaranti - persons do not forget; iha - in this world; mâyâ-mohita - bewildered by illusion; cetasah - whose minds; yat - by which; mohitam - bewildered; jagat - the world; sarvam - entire; abhîkshnam - constantly; vismrita-âtmakam - making one forget even one's own self.

> > TRANSLATION

> > What indeed is not forgotten by those whose minds are bewildered by the Lord's illusory potency? By that power of Mâyâ, this entire universe remains in perpetual bewilderment, and in this atmosphere of forgetfulness no one can understand his own identity.

> > ******

> > TEXT 45

> > ûcus' ca suhridah krishnam

> > sv-âgatam te 'ti-ramhasâ

> > naiko 'py abhoji kavala

> > ehîtah sâdhu bhujyatâm

> > ûcuh - they spoke; ca - and; suhridah - the friends; krishnam - to Lord Krishna; su- âgatam - have come all the way back; te - You; ati-ramhasâ - very quickly; na - not; ekah - one; api - even; abhoji - has been eaten; kavalah - morsel; ehi - please come; itah - here; sâdhu - properly; bhujyatâm - take Your meal.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The cowherd boyfriends said to Lord Krishna: You have returned so quickly! We have not eaten even one morsel in Your absence. Please come here and take Your meal without distraction.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > tato hasan hrishîkes'o

> > 'bhyavahritya sahârbhakaih

> > dars'ayams' carmâjagaram

> > nyavartata vanâd vrajam

> > tatah - then; hasan - smiling; hrishîkes'ah - Lord Krishna, the master of everyone's senses; abhyavahritya - taking lunch; saha - along with; arbhakaih - the cowherd boys; dars'ayan - showing; carma - the skin; âjagaram - of the python Aghâsura; nyavartata - He returned; vanât - from the forest; vrajam - to the village of Vraja.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then Lord Hrishîkes'a, smiling, finished His lunch in the company of His cowherd friends. While they were returning from the forest to their homes in Vraja, Lord Krishna showed the cowherd boys the skin of the dead serpent Aghâsura.

> > ******

> > TEXT 47

> > barha-prasûna-vana-dhâtu-vicitritângah

> > proddâma-venu-dala-s'ringa-ravotsavâdhyah

> > vatsân grinann anuga-gîta-pavitra-kîrtir

> > gopî-drig-utsava-dris'ih pravives'a goshthham

> > barha - with peacock feathers; prasûna - flowers; vana-dhâtu - and forest minerals; vicitrita - decorated; angah - His transcendental body; proddâma - great; venu-dala - a flute made from the branch of a bamboo tree; s'ringa - of the buffalo horn; rava - by the resounding; utsava - with a festival; âdhyah - resplendent; vatsân - the calves; grinan - calling; anuga - by His companions; gîta - sung; pavitra - purifying; kîrtih - His glories; gopî - of the cowherd women; drik - for the eyes; utsava - a festival; dris'ih - the vision of Him; pravives'a - He entered; goshthham - the cow pasture.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Krishna's transcendental body was decorated with peacock feathers and flowers and painted with forest minerals, and His bamboo flute loudly and festively resounded. As He called out to His calves by name, His cowherd boyfriends purified the whole world by chanting His glories. Thus Lord Krishna entered the cow pasture of His father, Nanda Mahârâja, and the sight of His beauty at once produced a great festival for the eyes of all the cowherd women.

> > ******

> > TEXT 48

> > adyânena mahâ-vyâlo

> > yas'odâ-nanda-sûnunâ

> > hato 'vitâ vayam câsmâd

> > iti bâlâ vraje jaguh

> > adya - today; anena - by Him; mahâ-vyâlah - a great serpent; yas'odâ - of Yas'odâ; nanda - and Mahârâja Nanda; sûnunâ - by the son; hatah - has been killed; avitâh - have been saved; vayam - we; ca - and; asmât - from that demon; iti - thus; bâlâh - the boys; vraje - in Vrindâvana; jaguh - sang.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As the cowherd boys reached the village of Vraja, they sang, "Today Krishna saved us by killing a great serpent!" Some of the boys described Krishna as the son of Yas'odâ, and others as the son of Nanda Mahârâja.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > s'rî-râjovâca

> > brahman parodbhave krishne

> > iyân premâ katham bhavet

> > yo 'bhûta-pûrvas tokeshu

> > svodbhaveshv api kathyatâm

> > s'rî-râjâ uvâca - the King said; brahman - O brâhmana, S'ukadeva; para- udbhave - for the offspring of another; krishne - Lord Krishna; iyân - so much; premâ - love; katham - how; bhavet - can be; yah - which; abhûta- pûrvah - unprecedented; tokeshu - for the children; sva-udbhaveshu - their own offspring; api - even; kathyatâm - please explain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Parîkchit said: O brâhmana, how could the cowherd women have developed for Krishna, someone else's son, such unprecedented pure love - love they never felt even for their own children? Please explain this.

> > ******

> > TEXT 50

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > sarveshâm api bhûtânâm

> > nripa svâtmaiva vallabhah

> > itare 'patya-vittâdyâs

> > tad-vallabhatayaiva hi

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; sarveshâm - for all; api - indeed; bhûtânâm - created living beings; nripa - O King; sva-âtmâ - one's own self; eva - certainly; vallabhah - dearmost; itare - others; apatya - children; vitta - wealth; âdyâh - and so on; tat - of that self; vallabhatayâ - based on the dearness; eva hi - indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: O King, for every created being the dearmost thing is certainly his own self. The dearness of everything else - children, wealth and so on - is due only to the dearness of the self.

> > ******

> > TEXT 51

> > tad râjendra yathâ snehah

> > sva-svakâtmani dehinâm

> > na tathâ mamatâlambi-

> > putra-vitta-grihâdishu

> > tat - therefore; râja-indra - O best of kings; yathâ - as; snehah - the affection; sva-svaka - of each individual; âtmani - for the self; dehinâm - of the embodied beings; na - not; tathâ - thus; mamatâ-âlambi - for that which one identifies with as his possessions; putra - sons; vitta - wealth; griha - homes; âdishu - and so on.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For this reason, O best of kings, the embodied soul is self-centered: he is more attached to his own body and self than to his so-called possessions like children, wealth and home.

> > ******

> > TEXT 52

> > dehâtma-vâdinâm pumsâm

> > api râjanya-sattama

> > yathâ dehah priyatamas

> > tathâ na hy anu ye ca tam

> > deha-âtma-vâdinâm - who ascribe to the view that the body is the self; pumsâm - for persons; api - indeed; râjanya-sat-tama - O best of kings; yathâ - as; dehah - the body; priya-tamah - most dear; tathâ - thus; na - not; hi - certainly; anu - relative; ye - which things; ca - and; tam - to that.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Indeed, for persons who think the body is the self, O best of kings, those things whose importance lies only in their relationship to the body are never as dear as the body itself.

> > ******

> > TEXT 53

> > deho 'pi mamatâ-bhâk cet

> > tarhy asau nâtma-vat priyah

> > yaj jîryaty api dehe 'smin

> > jîvitâs'â balîyasî

> > dehah - the body; api - also; mamatâ - of possessiveness; bhâk - the focus; cet - if; tarhi - then; asau - that body; na - not; âtma-vat - in the same way as the soul; priyah - dear; yat - because; jîryati - when it is growing old; api - even; dehe - the body; asmin - this; jîvita-âs'â - the desire to remain living; balîyasî - very strong.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If a person comes to the stage of considering the body "mine" instead of "me," he will certainly not consider the body as dear as his own self. After all, even as the body is growing old and useless, one's desire to continue living remains strong.

> > ******

> > TEXT 54

> > tasmât priyatamah svâtmâ

> > sarveshâm api dehinâm

> > tad-artham eva sakalam

> > jagad etac carâcaram

> > tasmât - therefore; priya-tamah - most dear; sva-âtmâ - one's own self; sarveshâm - for all; api - indeed; dehinâm - embodied living beings; tat- artham - for the sake of it; eva - certainly; sakalam - all; jagat - the created universe; etat - this; cara-acaram - with its moving and nonmoving entities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore it is his own self that is most dear to every embodied living being, and it is simply for the satisfaction of this self that the whole material creation of moving and nonmoving entities exists.

> > ******

> > TEXT 55

> > krishnam enam avehi tvam

> > âtmânam akhilâtmanâm

> > jagad-dhitâya so 'py atra

> > dehîvâbhâti mâyayâ

> > krishnam - Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; enam - this; avehi - just try to understand; tvam - you; âtmânam - the Soul; akhila-âtmanâm - of all living entities; jagat-hitâya - for the benefit of the whole universe; sah - He; api - certainly; atra - here; dehî - a human being; iva - like; âbhâti - appears; mâyayâ - by His internal potency.

> > TRANSLATION

> > You should know Krishna to be the original Soul of all living entities. For the benefit of the whole universe, He has, out of His causeless mercy, appeared as an ordinary human being. He has done this by the strength of His internal potency.

> > ******

> > TEXT 56

> > vastuto jânatâm atra

> > krishnam sthâsnu carishnu ca

> > bhagavad-rûpam akhilam

> > nânyad vastv iha kin'cana

> > vastutah - in fact; jânatâm - for those who understand; atra - in this world; krishnam - Lord Krishna; sthâsnu - stationary; carishnu - moving; ca - and; bhagavat- rûpam - the manifest forms of the Personality of Godhead; akhilam - everything; na - nothing; anyat - else; vastu - substance; iha - here; kin'cana - at all.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Those in this world who understand Lord Krishna as He is see all things, whether stationary or moving, as manifest forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such enlightened persons recognize no reality apart from the Supreme Lord Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 57

> > sarveshâm api vastûnâm

> > bhâvârtho bhavati sthitah

> > tasyâpi bhagavân krishnah

> > kim atad vastu rûpyatâm

> > sarveshâm - of all; api - indeed; vastûnâm - entities; bhâva-arthah - the original, unmanifested causal phase of material nature; bhavati - is; sthitah - established; tasya - of that unmanifest nature; api - even; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krishnah - Lord Krishna; kim - what; atat - separate from Him; vastu - thing; rûpyatâm - may be ascertained.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The original, unmanifested form of material nature is the source of all material things, and the source of even that subtle material nature is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. What, then, could one ascertain to be separate from Him?

> > ******

> > TEXT 58

> > samâs'ritâ ye pada-pallava-plavam

> > mahat-padam punya-yas'o murâreh

> > bhavâmbudhir vatsa-padam param padam

> > padam padam yad vipadâm na teshâm

> > samâs'ritâh - having taken shelter; ye - those who; pada - of the feet; pallava - like flower buds; plavam - which are a boat; mahat - of the total material creation, or of the great souls; padam - the shelter; punya - supremely pious; yas'ah - whose fame; mura-areh - of the enemy of the demon Mura; bhava - of the material existence; ambudhih - the ocean; vatsa- padam - the hoof-print of a calf; param padam - the supreme abode, Vaikunthha; padam padam - at every step; yat - where; vipadâm - of material miseries; na - none; teshâm - for them.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murâri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's hoof-print. Their goal is param padam, Vaikunthha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.

> > ******

> > TEXT 59

> > etat te sarvam âkhyâtam

> > yat prishtho 'ham iha tvayâ

> > tat kaumâre hari-kritam

> > paugande parikîrtitam

> > etat - this; te - unto you; sarvam - all; âkhyâtam - described; yat - which; prishthah - requested; aham - I; iha - in this regard; tvayâ - by you; tat - that; kaumâre - in His early childhood (up to the end of His fifth year); hari- kritam - performed by Lord Hari; paugande - in later childhood (beginning with His sixth year); parikîrtitam - glorified.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Since you inquired from me, I have fully described to you those activities of Lord Hari that were performed in His fifth year but not celebrated until His sixth.

> > ******

> > TEXT 60

> > etat suhridbhis' caritam murârer

> > aghârdanam s'âdvala-jemanam ca

> > vyaktetarad rûpam ajorv-abhishthavam

> > s'rinvan grinann eti naro 'khilârthân

> > etat - these; suhridbhih - along with the cowherd friends; caritam - pastimes; murâreh - of Lord Murâri; agha-ardanam - the subduing of the demon Aghâsura; s'âdvala - on the grass in the forest; jemanam - the taking of lunch; ca - and; vyakta-itarat - supramundane; rûpam - the transcendental form of the Lord; aja - by Lord Brahmâ; uru - elaborate; abhishthavam - the offering of prayers; s'rinvan - hearing; grinan - chanting; eti - attains; narah - any person; akhila- arthân - all desirable things.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Any person who hears or chants these pastimes Lord Murâri performed with His cowherd friends - the killing of Aghâsura, the taking of lunch on the forest grass, the Lord's manifestation of transcendental forms, and the wonderful prayers offered by Lord Brahmâ - is sure to achieve all his spiritual desires.

> > ******

> > TEXT 61

> > evam vihâraih kaumâraih

> > kaumâram jahatur vraje

> > nilâyanaih setu-bandhair

> > markathotplavanâdibhih

> > evam - thus; vihâraih - with pastimes; kaumâraih - of boyhood; kaumâram - the childhood age up to five years; jahatuh - they passed; vraje - in the land of Vrindâvana; nilâyanaih - with sports of chasing about; setu-bandhaih - with the building of bridges; markatha-utplavana - with the jumping around of monkeys; âdibhih - and so on.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this way the boys spent their childhood in the land of Vrindâvana playing hide-and-go-seek, building play bridges, jumping about like monkeys and engaging in many other such games.

> > Back to the running text