> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 2
> > 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)

> > ******

> > The Cosmic Manifestation

> > *******

> > Chapter Nine: Answers by Citing the Lord's Version

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > âtma-mâyâm rite râjan

> > parasyânubhavâtmanah

> > na ghathetârtha-sambandhah

> > svapna-drashthur ivân'jasâ

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca--S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; âtma--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mâyâm--energy; rite--without; râjan--O King; parasya--of the pure soul; anubhava-âtmanah--of the purely conscious; na--never; ghatheta--it can so happen; artha--meaning; sambandhah--relation with the material body; svapna--dream; drashthuh--of the seer; iva--like; an'jasâ--completely.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: O King, unless one is influenced by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no meaning to the relationship of the pure soul in pure consciousness with the material body. That relationship is just like a dreamer's seeing his own body working.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > bahu-rûpa ivâbhâti

> > mâyayâ bahu-rûpayâ

> > ramamâno guneshv asyâ

> > mamâham iti manyate

> > bahu-rûpah--multiforms; iva--as it were; âbhâti--manifested; mâyayâ--by the influence of the exterior energy; bahu-rûpayâ--in multifarious forms; ramamânah--enjoying as it were; guneshu--in the modes of different qualities; asyâh--of the external energy; mama--mine; aham--I; iti--thus; manyate--thinks.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The illusioned living entity appears in so many forms offered by the external energy of the Lord. While enjoying in the modes of material nature, the encaged living entity misconceives, thinking in terms of "I" and "mine."

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > yarhi vâca mahimni sve

> > parasmin kâla-mâyayoh

> > rameta gata-sammohas

> > tyaktvodâste tadobhayam

> > yarhi--at any time; vâva--certainly; mahimni--in the glory; sve--of himself; parasmin--in the Supreme; kâla--time; mâyayoh--of the material energy; rameta--enjoys; gata-sammohah--being freed from the misconception; tyaktvâ--giving up; udâste--in fullness; tadâ--then; ubhayam--both (the misconceptions of I and mine).

> > TRANSLATION

> > As soon as the living entity becomes situated in his constitutional glory and begins to enjoy the transcendence beyond time and material energy, he at once gives up the two misconceptions of life [I and mine] and thus becomes fully manifested as the pure self.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > âtma-tattva-vis'uddhy-artham

> > yad âha bhagavân ritam

> > brahmane dars'ayan rûpam

> > avyalîka-vratâdritah

> > âtma-tattva--the science of God or that of the living entity; vis'uddhi--purification; artham--goal; yat--that which; âha--said; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; ritam--in reality; brahmane--unto Lord Brahmâ; dars'ayan--by showing; rûpam--eternal form; avyalîka--without any deceptive motive; vrata--vow; âdritah--worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, the Personality of Godhead, being very much pleased with Lord Brahmâ because of his nondeceptive penance in bhakti-yoga, presented His eternal and transcendental form before Brahmâ. And that is the objective goal for purifying the conditioned soul.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > sa âdi-devo jagatâm paro guruh

> > svadhishnyam âsthâya sisrikshayaikshata

> > tâm nâdhyagacchad dris'am atra sammatâm

> > prapan'ca-nirmâna-vidhir yayâ bhavet

> > sah--he; âdi-devah--the first demigod; jagatâm--of the universe; parah--supreme; guruh--spiritual master; svadhishnyam--his lotus seat; âsthâya--to find the source of it; sisrikshayâ--for the matter of creating the universal affairs; aikshata--began to think; tâm--in that matter; na--could not; adhyagacchat--understand; dris'am--the direction; atra--therein; sammatâm--just the proper way; prapan'ca--material; nirmâna--construction; vidhih--process; yayâ--as much as; bhavet--should be.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ, the first spiritual master, supreme in the universe, could not trace out the source of his lotus seat, and while thinking of creating the material world, he could not understand the proper direction for such creative work, nor could he find out the process for such creation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > sa cintayan dvy-aksharam ekadâmbhasy

> > upâs'rinod dvir-gaditam vaco vibhuh

> > spars'eshu yat shodas'am ekavims'am

> > nishkin'canânâm nripa yad dhanam viduh

> > sah--he; cintayan--while thus thinking; dvi--two; aksharam--syllables; ekadâ--once upon a time; ambhasi--in the water; upâs'rinot--heard it nearby; dvih--twice; gaditam--uttered; vacah--words; vibhuh--the great; spars'eshu--in the spars'a letters; yat--which; sodas'am--the sixteenth; ekavims'am--and the twenty-first; nishkin'canânâm--of the renounced order of life; nripa--O King; yat--what is; dhanam--wealth; viduh--as it is known.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While thus engaged in thinking, in the water, Brahmâjî heard twice from nearby two syllables joined together. One of the syllables was taken from the sixteenth and the other from the twenty-first of the spars'a alphabets, and both joined to become the wealth of the renounced order of life.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > nis'amya tad-vaktri-didriksayâ dis'o

> > vilokya tatrânyad apas'yamânah

> > svadhishnyam âsthâya vimris'ya tad-dhitam

> > tapasy upâdishtha ivâdadhe manah

> > nis'amya--after hearing; tat--that; vaktri--the speaker; didrikshayâ--just to find out who spoke; dis'ah--all sides; vilokya--seeing; tatra--there; anyat--any other; apas'yamânah--not to be found; svadhishnyam--on his lotus seat; âsthâya--sit down; vimris'ya--thinking; tat--it; hitam--welfare; tapasi--in penance; upâdishthah--as he was instructed; iva--in pursuance of; âdadhe--gave; manah--attention.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When he heard the sound, he tried to find the speaker, searching on all sides. But when he was unable to find anyone besides himself, he thought it wise to sit down on his lotus seat firmly and give his attention to the execution of penance, as he was instructed.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > divyam sahasrâbdam amogha-dars'ano

> > jitânilâtmâ vijitobhayendriyah

> > atapyata smâkhila-loka-tâpanam

> > tapas tapîyâms tapatâm samâhitah

> > divyam--pertaining to the demigods in the higher planets; sahasra--one thousand; abdam--years; amogha--spotless, without a tinge of impurity; dars'anah--one who has such a vision of life; jita--controlled; anila--life; âtmâ--mind; vijita--controlled over; u bhaya--both; indriyah--one who has such senses; atapyata--executed penance; sma--in the past; akhila--all; loka--planet; tâpanam--enlightening; tapah--penance; tapîyân--extremely hard penance; tapatâm--of all the executors of penances; samâhitah--thus situated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ underwent penances for one thousand years by the calculations of the demigods. He heard this transcendental vibration from the sky, and he accepted it as divine. Thus he controlled his mind and senses, and the penances he executed were a great lesson for the living entities. Thus he is known as the greatest of all ascetics.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > tasmai sva-lokam bhagavân sabhâjitah

> > sandars'ayâm âsa param na yat-param

> > vyapeta-sankles'a-vimoha-sâdhvasam

> > sva-drishthavadbhir purushair abhishthutam

> > tasmai--unto him; sva-lokam--His own planet or abode; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; sabhâjitah--being pleased by the penance of Brahmâ; sandars'ayâm âsa--manifested; param--the supreme; na--not; yat--of which; param--further supreme; vyapeta--completely given up; sankles'a--five kinds of material afflictions; vimoha--without illusion; sâdhvasam--fear of material existence; sva-drishtha-vadbhih--by those who have perfectly realized the self; purushaih--by persons; abhishthutam--worshiped by.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead, being thus very much satisfied with the penance of Lord Brahmâ, was pleased to manifest His personal abode, Vaikunthha, the supreme planet above all others. This transcendental abode of the Lord is adored by all self-realized persons freed from all kinds of miseries and fear of illusory existence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > pravartate yatra rajas tamas tayoh

> > sattvam ca mis'ram na ca kâla-vikramah

> > na yatra mâyâ kim utâpare harer

> > anuvratâ yatra surâsurârcitâh

> > pravartate--prevail; yatra--wherein; rajah tamah--the modes of passion and ignorance; tayoh--of both of them; sattvam--the mode of goodness; ca--and; mis'ram--mixture; na--never; ca--and; kâla--time; vikramah--influence; na--neither; yatra--therein; mâyâ--illusory, external energy; kim--what; uta--there is; apare--others; hareh--of the Personality of Godhead; anuvratâh--devotees; yatra--wherein; sura--by the demigods; asura--and the demons; arcitâh--worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In that personal abode of the Lord, the material modes of ignorance and passion do not prevail, nor is there any of their influence in goodness. There is no predominance of the influence of time, so what to speak of the illusory, external energy; it cannot enter that region. Without discrimination, both the demigods and the demons worship the Lord as devotees.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > s'yâmâvadâtâh s'ata-patra-locanâh

> > pis'anga-vastrâh surucah supes'asah

> > sarve catur-bâhava unmishan-mani-

> > praveka-nishkâbharanâh suvarcasah

> > s'yâma--sky-bluish; avadâtâh--glowing; s'ata-patra--lotus flower; locanâh--eyes; pis'anga--yellowish; vastrâh--clothing; su-rucah--greatly attractive; su-pes'asah--growing youthful; sarve--all of them; catuh--four; bâhavah--hands; unmishan--rising luster; mani--pearls; praveka--superior quality; nishka-âbharanâh--ornamental medallions; su-varcasah--effulgent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The inhabitants of the Vaikunthha planets are described as having a glowing sky-bluish complexion. Their eyes resemble lotus flowers, their dress is of yellowish color, and their bodily features very attractive. They are just the age of growing youths, they all have four hands, they are all nicely decorated with pearl necklaces with ornamental medallions, and they all appear to be effulgent.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > pravâla-vaidûrya-mrinâla-varcasah

> > parisp hurat-kundala-mauli-mâlinah

> > pravâla--coral; vaidûrya--a special diamond; mrinâla--celestial lotus; varcasah--rays; parisphurat--blooming; kundala--earring; mauli--heads; mâlinah--with garlands.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Some of them are effulgent like coral and diamonds in complexion and have garlands on their heads, blooming like lotus flowers, and some wear earrings.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > bhrâjishnubhir yah parito virâjate

> > lasad-vimânâvalibhir mahâtmanâm

> > vidyotamânah pramadottamâdyubhih

> > savidyud abhrâvalibhir yathâ nabhah

> > bhrâjishnubhih--by the glowing; yah--the Vaikunthhalokas; paritah--surrounded by; virâjate--thus situated; lasat--brilliant; vimâna--airplanes; avalibhih--assemblage; mahâ-âtmanâm--of the great devotees of the Lord; vidyotamânah--beautiful like lightning; pramada--ladies; uttama--celestial; adyubhih--by complexion; sa-vidyut--with electric lightning; abhrâvalibhih--with clouds in the sky; yathâ--as it were; nabhah--the sky.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Vaikunthha planets are also surrounded by various airplanes, all glowing and brilliantly situated. These airplanes belong to the great mahâtmâs or devotees of the Lord. The ladies are as beautiful as lightning because of their celestial complexions, and all these combined together appear just like the sky decorated with both clouds and lightning.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > s'rîr yatra rûpiny urugâya-pâdayoh

> > karoti mânam bahudhâ vibhûtibhih

> > prenkham s'ritâ yâ kusumâkarânugair

> > vigîyamânâ priya-karma gâyatî

> > s'rîh--the goddess of fortune; yatra--in the Vaikunthha planets; rûpinî--in her transcendental form; urugâya--the Lord, who is sung of by the great devotees; pâdayoh--under the lotus feet of the Lord; karoti--does; mânam--respectful services; bahudhâ--in diverse paraphernalia; vibhûtibhih--accompanied by her personal associates; prenkham--movement of enjoyment; s'ritâ--taken shelter of; yâ--who; kusumâkara--spring; anugaih--by the black bees; vigîyamânâ--being followed by the songs; priya-karma--activities of the dearmost; gâyatî--singing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The goddess of fortune in her transcendental form is engaged in the loving service of the Lord's lotus feet, and being moved by the black bees, followers of spring, she is not only engaged in variegated pleasure--service to the Lord, along with her constant companions--but is also engaged in singing the glories of the Lord's activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > dadars'a tatrâkhila-sâtvatâm patim

> > s'riyah patim yajn'a-patim jagat-patim

> > sunanda-nanda-prabalârhanâdibhih

> > sva-pârshadâgraih parisevitam vibhum

> > dadars'a--Brahmâ saw; tatra--there (in Vaikunthhaloka); akhila--entire; sâtvatâm--of the great devotees; patim--the Lord; s'riyah--of the goddess of fortune; patim--the Lord; yajn'a--of sacrifice; patim--the Lord; jagat--of the universe; patim--the Lord; sunanda--Sunanda; nanda--Nanda; prabala--Prabala; arhana--Arhana; âdibhih--by them; sva-pârshada--own associates; agraih--by the foremost; parisevitam--being served in transcendental love; vibhum--the great Almighty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ saw in the Vaikunthha planets the Personality of Godhead, who is the Lord of the entire devotee community, the Lord of the goddess of fortune, the Lord of all sacrifices, and the Lord of the universe, and who is served by the foremost servitors like Nanda, Sunanda, Prabala and Arhana, His immediate associates.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > bhritya-prasâdâbhimukham drig-âsavam

> > prasanna-hâsâruna-locanânanam

> > kirîthinam kundalinam catur-bhujam

> > pitâms'ukam vakshasi lakshitam s'riyâ

> > bhritya--the servitor; prasâda--affection; abhimukham--favorably facing; drik--the very sight; âsavam--an intoxication; prasanna--very much pleased; hâsa--smile; aruna--reddish; locana--eyes; ânanam--face; kirîthinam--with helmet; kundalinam--with earrings; catuh-bhujam--with four hands; pîta--yellow; ams'ukam--dress; vakshasi--on the chest; lakshitam--marked; s'riyâ--with the goddess of fortune.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead, seen leaning favorably towards His loving servitors, His very sight intoxicating and attractive, appeared to be very much satisfied. He had a smiling face decorated with an enchanting reddish hue. He was dressed in yellow robes and wore earrings and a helmet on his head. He had four hands, and His chest was marked with the lines of the goddess of fortune.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > adhyarhanîyâsanam âsthitam param

> > vritam catuh-shodas'a-pan'ca-s'aktibhih

> > yuktam bhagaih svair itaratra câdhruvaih

> > sva eva dhâman ramamânam îs'varam

> > adhyarhanîya--greatly worshipable; âsanam--throne; âsthitam--seated on it; param--the Supreme; vritam--surrounded by; catuh--four, namely prakriti, purusha, mahat and ego; sodas'a--the sixteen; pan'ca--the five; s'aktibhih--by the energies; yuktam--empowered with; bhagaih--His opulences; svaih--personal; itaratra--other minor prowesses; ca--also; adhruvaih--temporary; sve--own; eva--certainly; dhâman--abode; ramamânam--enjoying; îs'varam--the Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord was seated on His throne and was surrounded by different energies like the four, the sixteen, the five, and the six natural opulences, along with other insignificant energies of the temporary character. But He was the factual Supreme Lord, enjoying His own abode.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > tad-dars'anâhlâda-pariplutântaro

> > hrishyat-tanuh prema-bharâs'ru-locanah

> > nanâma pâdâmbujam asya vis'va-srig

> > yat pâramahamsyena pathâdhigamyate

> > tat--by that audience of the Lord; dars'ana--audience; âhlâda--joy; pa ripluta--overwhelmed; antarah--within the heart; hrishyat--full in ecstasy; tanuh--body; prema-bhara--in full transcendental love; as'ru--tears; locanah--in the eyes; nanâma--bowed down; pâda-ambujam--under the lotus feet; asya--of the Lord; vis'va-srik--the creator of the universe; yat--which; pâramahamsyena--by the great liberated soul; pathâ--the path; adhigamyate--is followed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ, thus seeing the Personality of Godhead in His fullness, was overwhelmed with joy within his heart, and thus in full transcendental love and ecstasy, his eyes filled with tears of love. He thus bowed down before the Lord. That is the way of the highest perfection for the living being [paramahamsa].

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > tam prîyamânam samupasthitam kavim

> > prajâ-visarge nija-s'âsanârhanam

> > babhâsha îshat-smita-s'ocishâ girâ

> > priyah priyam prîta-manâh kare spris'an

> > tam--unto Lord Brahmâ; prîyamânam--worthy of being dear; samupasthitam--present before; kavim--the great scholar; prajâ--living entities; visarge--in the matter of creation; nija--His own; s'âsana--control; arhanam--just suitable; babhâshe--addressed; îshat--mild; smita--smiling; s'ocishâ--with enlightening; girâ--words; priyah--the beloved; priyam--the counterpart of love; prîta-manâh--being very much pleased; kare--by the hand; spris'an--shaking.

> > TRANSLATION

> > And seeing Brahmâ present before Him, the Lord accepted him as worthy to create living beings, to be controlled as He desired, and thus being much satisfied with him, the Lord shook hands with Brahmâ and, slightly smiling, addressed him thus.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > tvayâham toshitah samyag

> > veda-garbha sisrikshayâ

> > ciram bhritena tapasâ

> > dustoshah kûta-yoginâm

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca--the all-beautiful Personality of Godhead said; tvayâ--by you; aham--I am; toshitah--pleased; samyak--complete; veda-garbha--impregnated with the Vedas; sisrikshayâ--for creating; ciram--for a long time; bhritena--accumulated; tapasâ--by penance; dustoshah--very hard to please; kûtha-yoginâm--for the pseudo mystics.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The beautiful Personality of Godhead addressed Lord Brahmâ: O Brahmâ, impregnated with the Vedas, I am very much pleased with your long accumulated penance with the desire for creation. Hardly am I pleased with the pseudo mystics.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > varam varaya bhadram te

> > vares'am mâbhivân'chitam

> > brahman' chreyah-paris'râmah

> > pumsâm mad-dars'anâvadhih

> > varam--benediction; varaya--just ask from; bhadram--auspicious; te--unto you; vara-îs'am--the giver of all benediction; mâ (mam)--from Me; abhivân'chitam--wishing; brahman--O Brahmâ; s'reyah--the ultimate success; paris'râmah--for all penances; pumsâm--for everyone; mat--My; dars'ana--realization; avadhih--up to the limit of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I wish you good luck. O Brahmâ, you may ask from Me, the giver of all benediction, all that you may desire. You may know that the ultimate benediction, as the result of all penances, is to see Me by realization.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > manîshitânubhâvo 'yam

> > mama lokâvalokanam

> > yad upas'rutya rahasi

> > cakartha paramam tapah

> > manîshita--ingenuity; anubhâvah--perception; ayam--this; mama--My; loka--abode; avalokanam--seeing by actual experience; yat--because; upas'rutya--hearing; rahasi--in great penance; cakartha--having performed; paramam--highest; tapah--penance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The highest perfectional ingenuity is the personal perception of My abodes, and this has been possible because of your submissive attitude in the performance of severe penance according to My order.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > pratyâdishtham mayâ tatra

> > tvayi karma-vimohite

> > tapo me hridayam sâkshâd

> > âtmâham tapaso 'nagha

> > pratyâdishtham--ordered; mayâ--by Me; tatra--because of; tvayi--unto you; karma--duty; vimohite--being perplexed; tapah--penance; me--Me; hridayam--heart; sâkshât--directly; âtmâ--life and soul; aham--Myself; tapasah--of one who is engaged in penance; anagha--O sinless one.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O sinless Brahmâ, you may know from Me that it was I who first ordered you to undergo penance when you were perplexed in your duty. Such penance is My heart and soul, and therefore penance and I are nondifferent.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > srijâmi tapasaivedam

> > grasâmi tapasâ punah

> > bibharmi tapasâ vis'vam

> > vîryam me dus'caram tapah

> > srijâmi--I create; tapasâ--by the same energy of penance; eva--certainly; idam--this; grasâmi tapasâ--I do withdraw also by the same energy; punah--again; bibharmi--do maintain; tapasâ--by penance; vis'vam--the cosmos; vîryam--potency; me--My; dus'caram--severe; tapah--penance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I create this cosmos by such penance, I maintain it by the same energy, and I withdraw it all by the same energy. Therefore the potential power is penance only.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > brahmovâca

> > bhagavân sarva-bhûtânâm

> > adhyaksho 'vasthito guhâm

> > veda hy apratiruddhena

> > prajn'ânena cikîrshitam

> > brahmâ uvâca--Lord Brahmâ said; bhagavân--O my Lord; sarva bhûtânâm--of all living entities; adhyakshah--director; avasthitah--situated; guhâm--within the heart; veda--know; hi--certainly; apratiruddhena--without hindrance; prajn'ânena--by superintelligence; cikîrshitam--endeavors.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ said: O Personality of Godhead, You are situated in every living entity's heart as the supreme director, and therefore You are aware of all endeavors by Your superior intelligence, without any hindrance whatsoever.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > tathâpi nâthamânasya

> > nâtha nâthaya nâthitam

> > parâvare yathâ rûpe

> > jânîyâm te tv arûpinah

> > tathâ api--in spite of that; nâthamânasya--of the one who is asking for; nâtha--O Lord; nâthaya--please award; nâthitam--as it is desired; para-avare--in the matter of mundane and transcendental; yathâ--as it is; rûpe--in the form; jânîyâm--may it be known; te--Your; tu--but; arûpinah--one who is formless.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In spite of that, my Lord, I am praying to You to kindly fulfill my desire. May I please be informed how, in spite of Your transcendental form, You assume the mundane form, although You have no such form at all.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > yathâtma-mâyâ-yogena

> > nânâ-s'akty-upabrimhitam

> > vilumpan visrijan grihnan

> > bibhrad âtmânam âtmanâ

> > yathâ--as much as; âtma--own; mâyâ--potency; yogena--by combination; nânâ--various; s'akti--energy; upabrimhitam--by combination and permutation; vilumpan--in the matter of annihilation; visrijan--in the matter of generation; grihnan--in the matter of acceptance; bibhrat--in the matter of maintenance; âtmânam--own self; âtmanâ--by the self.

> > TRANSLATION

> > And [please inform me] how You, by Your own Self, manifest different energies for annihilation, generation, acceptance and maintenance by combination and permutation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > krîdasy amogha-sankalpa

> > ûrnanâbhir yathornute

> > tathâ tad-vishayâm dhehi

> > manîshâm mayi mâdhava

> > krîdasi--as You play; amogha--infallible; sankalpa--determination; ûrnanâbhih--the spider; yathâ--as much as; ûrnute--covers; tathâ--so and so; tat-vishayâm--in the subject of all those; dhehi--do let me know; manîshâm--philosophically; mayi--unto me; mâdhava--o master of all energies.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O master of all energies, please tell me philosophically all about them. You play like a spider that covers itself by its own energy, and Your determination is infallible.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > bhagavac-chikshitam aham

> > karavâni hy atandritah

> > nehamânah prajâ-sargam

> > badhyeyam yad-anugrahât

> > bhagavat--by the Personality of Godhead; s'ikshitam--taught; aham--myself; karavâni--by acting; hi--certainly; atandritah--instrumental; na--never; ihamânah--although acting; prajâ-sargam--generation of the living entities; badhyeyam--be conditioned; yat--as a matter of fact; anugrahât--by the mercy of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Please tell me so that I may be taught in the matter by the instruction of the Personality of Godhead and may thus act instrumentally to generate living entities, without being conditioned by such activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > yâvat sakhâ sakhyur ives'a te kritah

> > prajâ-visarge vibhajâmi bho janam

> > aviklavas te parikarmani sthito

> > mâ me samunnaddha-mado 'ja mâninah

> > yâvat--as it is; sakhâ--friend; sakhyuh--unto the friend; iva--like that; îs'a--o Lord; te--You; kritah--have accepted; prajâ--the living entities; visarge--in the matter of creation; vibhajâmi--as I shall do it differently; bhoh--O my Lord; janam--those who are born; aviklavah--without being perturbed; te--Your; parikarmani--in the matter of service; sthitah--thus situated; mâ--may it never be; me--unto me; samunnaddha--resulting arise; madah--madness; aja--o unborn one; mâninah--thus being thought of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O my Lord, the unborn, You have shaken hands with me just as a friend does with a friend [as if equal in position]. I shall be engaged in the creation of different types of living entities, and I shall be occupied in Your service. I shall have no perturbation, but I pray that all this may not give rise to pride, as if I were the Supreme.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > jn'ânam parama-guhyam me

> > yad vijn'âna-samanvitam

> > sarahasyam tad-angam ca

> > grihâna gaditam mayâ

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca--the personality of Godhead said; jn'ânam--knowledge acquired; parama--extremely; guhyam--confidential; me--of Me; yat--which is; vijn'âna--realization; samanvitam--coordinated; sa-rahasyam--with devotional service; tat--of that; angam ca--necessary paraphernalia; grihâna--just try to take up; gaditam--explained; mayâ--by Me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead said: Knowledge about Me as described in the scriptures is very confidential, and it has to be realized in conjunction with devotional service. The necessary paraphernalia for that process is being explained by Me. You may take it up carefully.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > yâvân aham yathâ-bhâvo

> > yad-rûpa-guna-karmakah

> > tathaiva tattva-vijn'ânam

> > astu te mad-anugrahât

> > yâvân--as I am in eternal form; aham--Myself; yathâ--as much as; bhâvah--transcendental existence; yat--those; rûpa--various forms and colors; guna--qualities; karmakah--activities; tathâ--so and so; eva--certainly; tattva-vijn'ânam--factual realization; astu--let it be; te--unto you; mat--My; anugrahât--by causeless mercy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All of Me, namely My actual eternal form and My transcendental existence, color, qualities and activities--let all be awakened within you by factual realization, out of My causeless mercy.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > aham evâsam evâgre

> > nânyad yat sad-asat param

> > pas'câd aham yad etac ca

> > yo 'vas'ishyeta so 'smy aham

> > aham--I, the Personality of Godhead; eva--certainly; âsam--existed; eva--only; agre--before the creation; na--never; anyat--anything else; yat--all those; sat--the effect; asat--the cause; param--the supreme; pas'cât--at the end; aham--I, the Personality of Godhead; yat--all these; etat--creation; ca--also; yah--everything; avas'ishyeta--remains; sah--that; asmi--I am; aham--I, the Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Brahmâ, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > rite 'rtham yat pratîyeta

> > na pratîyeta câtmani

> > tad vidyâd âtmano mâyâm

> > yathâbhâso yathâ tamah

> > rite--without; artham--value; yat--that which; pratîyeta--appears to be; na--not; pratîyeta--appears to be; ca--and; âtmani--in relation to Me; tat--that; vidyât--you must know; âtmanah--My; mâyâm--illusory energy; yathâ--just as; âbhâsah--the reflection; yathâ--as; tamah--the darkness.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Brahmâ, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > yathâ mahânti bhûtâni

> > bhûteshûccâvaceshv anu

> > pravishthâny apravishthâni

> > tathâ teshu na teshv aham

> > yathâ--just as; mahânti--the universal; bhûtâni--elements; bhûteshu ucca-avaceshu--in the minute and gigantic; anu--after; pravishthâni--entered; apravishthâni--not entered; tathâ--so; teshu--in them; na--not; teshu--in them; aham--Myself.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Brahmâ, please know that the universal elements enter into the cosmos and at the same time do not enter into the cosmos; similarly, I Myself also exist within everything created, and at the same time I am outside of everything.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > etâvad eva jijn'âsyam

> > tattva jijn'âsunâtmanah

> > anvaya-vyatirekâbhyâm

> > yat syât sarvatra sarvadâ

> > etâvat--up to this; eva--certainly; jijn'âsyam--is to be inquired; tattva--the Absolute Truth; jijn'âsunâ--by the student; âtmanah--of the Self; anvaya--directly; vyatirekâbhyâm--indirectly; yat--whatever; syât--it may be; sarvatra--in all space and time; sarvadâ--in all circumstances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A person who is searching after the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, most certainly search for it up to this, in all circumstances, in all space and time, and both directly and indirectly.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > etan matam samâtishthha

> > paramena samâdhinâ

> > bhavân kalpa-vikalpeshu

> > na vimuhyati karhicit

> > etat--this; matam--the conclusion; samâtishthha--remain fixed; paramena--by the supreme; samâdhinâ--concentration of the mind; bhavân--yourself; kalpa--intermediate devastation; vikalpeshu--in the final devastation; na vimuhyati--will never bewilder; karhicit--anything like complacence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Brahmâ, just follow this conclusion by fixed concentration of mind, and no pride will disturb you, neither in the partial nor in the final devastation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > sampradis'yaivam ajano

> > janânâm parameshthhinam

> > pas'yatas tasya tad rûpam

> > âtmano nyarunad dharih

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca--S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; sampradis'ya--fully instructing Brahmâjî; evam--thus; ajanah--the Supreme Lord; janânâm--of the living entities; parameshthhinam--unto the supreme leader, Brahmâ; pas'yatah--while he was seeing; tasya--His; tat rûpam--that transcendental form; âtmanah--of the Absolute; nyarunat--disappeared; harih--the Lord, the Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said to Mahârâja Parîkshit: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, after being seen in His transcendental form, instructing Brahmâjî, the leader of the living entities, disappeared.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > anta rhitendriyârthâya

> > haraye vihitân'jalih

> > sarva-bhûtamayo vis'vam

> > sasarjedam sa pûrvavat

> > antarhita--on the disappearance; indriya-arthâya--unto the Personality of Godhead, the objective of all senses; haraye--unto the Lord; vihita-an'jalih--in folded hands; sarva-bhûta--all living entities; mayah--full of; vis'vam--the universe; sasarja--created; idam--this; sah--he (Brahmâjî); pûrva-vat--exactly like before.

> > TRANSLATION

> > On the disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is the object of transcendental enjoyment for the senses of devotees, Brahmâ, with folded hands, began to re-create the universe, full with living entities, as it was previously.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > prajâpatir dharma-patir

> > ekadâ niyamân yamân

> > bhadram prajânâm anvicchann

> > âtishthhat svârtha-kâmyayâ

> > prajâ-patih--the forefather of all living entities; dharma-patih--the father of religious life; ekadâ--once upon a time; niyamân--rules and regulations; yamân--principles of control; bhadram--welfare; prajânâm--of the living beings; anvicchan--desiring; âtishthhat--situated; sva-artha--own interest; kâmyayâ--so desiring.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus once upon a time the forefather of living entities and the father of religiousness, Lord Brahmâ, situated himself in acts of regulative principles, desiring self-interest for the welfare of all living entities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > tam nâradah priyatamo

> > rikthâdânâm anuvratah

> > s'us'rûshamânah s'îlena

> > pras'rayena damena ca

> > tam--unto him; nâradah--the great sage Nârada; priyatamah--very dear; riktha-âdânâm--of the inheritor sons; anuvratah--very obedient; s'us'rûshamânah--always ready to serve; s'îlena--by good behavior; pras'rayena--by meekness; damena--by sense control; ca--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Nârada, the most dear of the inheritor sons of Brahmâ, always ready to serve his father, strictly follows the instructions of his father by his mannerly behavior, meekness and sense control.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > mâyâm vividishan vishnor

> > mâyes'asya mahâ-munih

> > mahâ-bhâgavato râjan

> > pitaram paryatoshayat

> > mâyâm--energies; vividishan--desiring to know; vishnoh--of the Personality of Godhead; mâyâ-îs'asya--of the master of all energies; mahâ-munih--the great sage; mahâ-bhâgavatah--the first-class devotee of the Lord; râjan--O King; pitaram--unto his father; paryatoshayat--very much pleased.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Nârada very much pleased his father and desired to know all about the energies of Vishnu, the master of all energies, for Nârada was the greatest of all sages and greatest of all devotees, O King.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > tushtham nis'âmya pitaram

> > lokânâm prapitâmaham

> > devarshih paripapraccha

> > bhavân yan mânupricchati

> > tushtham--satisfied; nis'âmya--after seeing; pitaram--the father; lokânâm--of the whole universe; prapitâmaham--the great-grandfather; devarshih--the great sage Nârada; paripapraccha--inquired; bhavân--yourself; yat--as it is; mâ--from me; anupricchati--inquiring.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Nârada also inquired in detail from his father, Brahmâ, the great-grandfather of all the universe, after seeing him well satisfied.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > tasmâ idam bhâgavatam

> > purânam das'a-lakshanam

> > proktam bhagavatâ prâha

> > prîtah putrâya bhûta-krit

> > tasmai--thereupon; idam--this; bhâgavatam--the glories of the Lord or the science of the Lord; purânam--Vedic supplement; das'a-lakshanam--ten characteristics; proktam--described; bhagavatâ--by the Personality of Godhead; prâha--said; prîtah--in satisfaction; putrâya--unto the son; bhûta-krit--the creator of the universe.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereupon the supplementary Vedic literature, S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam, which was described by the Personality of Godhead and which contains ten characteristics, was told with satisfaction by the father [Brahmâ] to his son Nârada.

> > ******

> > TEXT 45

> > nâradah prâha munaye

> > sarasvatyâs tathe nripa

> > dhyâyate brahma paramam

> > vyâsâyâmita-tejase

> > nâradah--the great sage Nârada; prâha--instructed; munaye--unto the great sage; sarasvatyâh--of the River Sarasvatî; tate--on the bank; nripa--O King; dhyâyate--unto the meditative; brahma--Absolute Truth; paramam--the Supreme; vyâsâya--unto S'rîla Vyâsadeva; amita--unlimited; tejase--unto the powerful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In succession, O King, the great sage Nârada instructed S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam unto the unlimitedly powerful Vyâsadeva, who meditated in devotional service upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, on the bank of the River Sarasvatî.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > yad utâham tvayâ prishtho

> > vairâjât purushâd idam

> > yathâsit tad upâkhyâste

> > pras'nân anyâms ca kritsnas'ah

> > yat--what; uta--is, however; aham--I; tvayâ--by you; prishthah--I am asked; vairâjât--from the universal form; purushât--from the Personality of Godhead; idam--this world; yathâ--as it; âsît--was; tat--that; upâkhyâste--I shall explain; pras'nân--all the questions; anyân--others; ca--as well as; kritsnasâh--in great detail.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, your questions as to how the universe became manifested from the gigantic form of the Personality of Godhead, as well as other questions, I shall answer in detail by explanation of the four verses already mentioned.

> > ******

> Back to the running text