> > 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 Five: The Cause of All Causes

> > TEXT 1

> > nârada uvâca

> > deva-deva namas te 'stu

> > bhûta-bhâvana pûrvaja

> > tad vijânîhi yaj jnânam

> > âtma-tattva-nidars'anam

> > nâradah uvâca&emdash;S'rî Nârada said; deva--of all demigods; deva--the demigod; namah--obeisances; te--unto you as; astu--are; bhûta-bhâvana--the generator of all living beings; pûrva ja--the firstborn; tat vijânîhi--please explain that knowledge; yat jn'ânam--which knowledge; âtma-tattva--transcendental; nidars'anam--specifically directs.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî Nârada Muni asked Brahmâjî: O chief amongst the demigods, O firstborn living entity, I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Please tell me that transcendental knowledge which specifically directs one to the truth of the individual soul and the Supersoul.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > yad rûpam yad adhishthhânam

> > yatah srishtham idam prabho

> > yat samstham yat param yac ca

> > tat tattvam vada tattvatah

> > yat--what; rûpam--the symptoms of manifestation; yat--what; adhishthhânam--background; yatah--from where; srishtham--created; idam--this world; prabho--O my father; yat--in which; samstham--conserved; yat--what; param--under control; yat--what are; ca--and; tat--of this; tattvam--the symptoms; vada--please describe; tattvatah--factually.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear father, please describe factually the symptoms of this manifest world. What is its background? How is it created? How is it conserved? And under whose control is all this being done?

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > sarvam hy etad bhavân veda

> > bhûta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh

> > karâmalaka-vad vis'vam

> > vijn'ânâvasitam tava

> > sarvam--all and everything; hi--certainly; etat--this; bhavân--your good self; veda--know; bhûta--all that is created or born; bhavya--all that will be created or born; bhavat--all that is being created; prabhuh--you, the master of everything; kara-âmalaka-vat--just like a walnut within your grip; vis'vam--the universe; vijn'âna-avasitam--within your knowledge scientifically; tava--your.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear father, all this is known to you scientifically because whatever was created in the past, whatever will be created in the future, or whatever is being created at present, as well as everything within the universe, is within your grip, just like a walnut.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > yad-vijn'âno yad-âdhâro

> > yat-paras tvam yad-âtmakah

> > ekah srijasi bhûtâni

> > bhûtair evâtma-mâyayâ

> > yat-vijn'ânah--the source of knowledge; yat-âdhârah--under whose protection; yat-parah--under whose subordination; tvam--you; yat-âtmakah--in what capacity; ekah--alone; srijasi--you are creating; bhûtâni--the living entities; bhûtaih--with the help of the material elements; eva--certainly; âtma--self; mâyayâ--by potency.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear father, what is the source of your knowledge? Under whose protection are you standing? And under whom are you working? What is your real position? Do you alone create all entities with material elements by your personal energy?

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > âtman bhâvayase tâni

> > na parâbhâvayan svayam

> > âtma-s'aktim avashthabhya

> > ûrnanâbhir ivâklamah

> > âtman (âtmani)--by self; bhâvayase--manifest; tâni--all those; na--not; parâbhâvayan--being defeated; svayam--yourself; âtma-s'aktim--self-sufficient power; avashthabhya--being employed; ûrnanâbhih--the spider; iva--like; aklamah--without help.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As the spider very easily creates the network of its cobweb and manifests its power of creation without being defeated by others, so also you yourself, by employment of your self-sufficient energy, create without any other's help.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > nâham veda param hy asmin

> > nâparam na samam vibho

> > nâma-rûpa-gunair bhâvyam

> > sad-asat kin'cid anyatah

> > na--do not; aham--myself; veda--know; param--superior; hi--for; asmin--in this world; na--neither; aparam--inferior; na--nor; samam--equal; vibho--O great one; nâma--name; rûpa--characteristics; gunaih--by qualification; bhâvyam--all that is created; sat--eternal;asat--temporary; kin'cit--or anything like that; anyatah--from any other source.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Whatever we can understand by the nomenclature, characteristics and features of a particular thing--superior, inferior or equal, eternal or temporary--is not created from any source other than that of Your Lordship, thou so great.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > sa bhavân acarad ghoram

> > yat tapah susamâhitah

> > tena khedayase nas tvam

> > parâ-s'ankâm ca yacchasi

> > sah--he; bhavân--your good self; acarat--undertook; ghoram--severe; yat tapah--meditation; su-samâhitah--in perfect discipline; tena--for that reason; khedayase--gives pain; nah--ourselves; tvam--your good self; parâ--the ultimate truth; s'ankâm--doubts; ca--and; yacchasi--giving us a chance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Yet we are moved to wonder about the existence of someone more powerful than you when we think of your great austerities in perfect discipline, although your good self is so powerful in the matter of creation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > etan me pricchatah sarvam

> > sarva jn'a sakales'vara

> > vijânîhi yathaivedam

> > aham budhye 'nus'âsitah

> > etat--all those; me--unto me; pricchatah--inquisitive; sarvam--all that is inquired; sarva-jn'a--one who knows everything; sakala--over all; îs'vara--the controller; vijânîhi--kindly explain; yathâ--as; eva--they are; idam--this; aham--myself; budhye--can understand; anus'âsitah--just learning from you.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear father, you know everything, and you are the controller of all. Therefore may all that I have inquired from you be kindly instructed to me so that I may be able to understand it as your student.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > brahmovâca

> > samyak kârunikasyedam

> > vatsa te vicikitsitam

> > yad aham coditah saumya

> > bhagavad-vîrya-dars'ane

> > brahmâ uvâca--Lord Brahmâ said; samyak--perfectly; kâruni-kasya--of you, who are very kind; idam--this; vatsa--my dear boy; te--your; vicikitsitam--inquisitiveness; yat--by which; aham--myself; coditah--inspired; saumya--O gentle one; bhagavat--of the Personality of Godhead; vîrya--prowess; dars'ane--in the matter of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahmâ said: My dear boy Nârada, being merciful to all (including me) you have asked all these questions because I have been inspired to see into the prowess of the Almighty Personality of Godhead.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > nânritam tava tac câpi

> > yathâ mâm prabravîshi bhoh

> > avijn'âya param matta

> > etâvat tvam yato hi me

> > na--not; anritam--false; tava--of yours; tat--that; ca--also; api--as you have stated; yathâ--in the matter of; mâm--of myself; prabravîshi--as you describe; bhoh--O my son; avijn'âya--without knowing; param--the Supreme; mattah--beyond myself; etâvat--all that you have spoken; tvam--yourself; yatah--for the reason of; hi--certainly; me--about me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Whatever you have spoken about me is not false because unless and until one is aware of the Personality of Godhead, who is the ultimate truth beyond me, one is sure to be illusioned by observing my powerful activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > yena sva-rocishâ vis'vam

> > rocitam rocayâmy aham

> > yathârko 'gnir yathâ somo

> > yatharksha-graha-târakâh

> > yena--by whom; sva-rocishâ--by His own effulgence; vis'vam--all the world; rocitam--already created potentially; rocayâmi--do manifest; aham--I; yathâ--as much; arkah--the sun; agnih--fire; yathâ--as; somah--the moon; yathâ--as also; riksha--the firmament; graha--the influential planets; târakâh--the stars.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I create after the Lord's creation by His personal effulgence [known as the brahmajyoti], just as when the sun manifests its fire, the moon, the firmament, the influential planets and the twinkling stars also manifest their brightness.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > tasmai namo bhagavate

> > vâsudevâya dhîmahi

> > yan-mâyayâ durjayayâ

> > mâm vddanti jagad-gurum

> > tasmai--unto Him; namah--offer my obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Personality of Godhead; vâsudevâya--unto Lord Krsna; dhîmahi--do meditate upon Rim; yat--by whose; mâyayâ--potencies; durjayayâ--invincible; mâm--unto me; vadanti--they say; jagat--the world; gurum--the master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I offer my obeisances and meditate upon Lord Krishna [Vâsudeva], the Personality of Godhead, whose invincible potency influences them [the less intelligent class of men] to call me the supreme controller.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > vilajjamânayâ yasya

> > sthâtum îksâ-pathe 'muyâ

> > vimohitâ vikatthante

> > mamâham iti durdhiyah

> > vilajjamânayâ--by one who is ashamed; yasya--whose; sthâtum--to stay; îkshâ-pathe--in front; amuyâ--by the bewildering energy; vimohitâh--those who are bewildered; vikatthante--talk nonsense; mama--it is mine; aham--I am everything; iti--thus vituperating; durdhiyah--thus ill conceived.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The illusory energy of the Lord cannot take precedence, being ashamed of her position, but those who are bewildered by her always talk nonsense, being absorbed in thoughts of "It is I" and "It is mine."

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > dravyam karma ca kâlas' ca

> > svabhâvo jîva eva ca

> > vâsudevât paro brahman

> > na cânyo 'rtho 'sti tattvatah

> > dravyam--the ingredients (earth, water, fire, air and sky); karma--the interaction; ca--and; kâlah--eternal time; ca--also; sva-bhâvah--intuition or nature; jîvah--the living being; eva--certainly; ca--and; vâsudevât--from Vâsudeva; parah--differentiated parts; brahman--o brâhmana; na--never; ca--also; anyah--separate; arthah--value; asti--there is; tattvatah--in truth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The five elementary ingredients of creation, the interaction thereof set up by eternal time, and the intuition or nature of the individual living beings are all differentiated parts and parcels of the Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva, and in truth there is no other value in them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > nârâyana-parâ vedâ

> > devâ nârâyanângajâh

> > nârâyana-parâ lokâ

> > nârâyana-parâ makhâh

> > nârâyana--the Supreme Lord; parâh--is the cause and is meant for; vedâh--knowledge; devâh--the demigods; nârâyana--the Supreme Lord; anga-jâh--assisting hands; nârâyana--the personality of Godhead; parâh--for the sake of; lokâh--the planets; nârâyana--the Supreme Lord; parâh--just to please Him; makhâh--all sacrifices.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Vedic literatures are made by and are meant for the Supreme Lord, the demigods are also meant for serving the Lord as parts of His body, the different planets are also meant for the sake of the Lord, and different sacrifices are performed just to please Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > nârâyana-paro yogo

> > nârâyana-param tapah

> > nârâyana-param jn'ânam

> > nârâyana-parâ gatih

> > nârâyana-parah--just to know Nârâyana; yogah--concentration of mind; nârâyana-param--just with an aim to achieve Nârâyana; tapah--austerity; nârâyana-param--just to realize a glimpse of Nârâyana; jn'ânam--culture of transcendental knowledge; nârâyana-parâ--the path of salvation ends by entering the kingdom of Nârâyana; gatih--progressive path.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All different types of meditation or mysticism are means for realizing Nârâyana. All austerities are aimed at achieving Nârâyana. Culture of transcendental knowledge is for getting a glimpse of Nârâyana, and ultimately salvation is entering the kingdom of Nârâyana.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > tasyâpi drashthur îs'aya

> > kûtha-sthasyâkhilâtmanah

> > srijyam srjâmi srishtho 'ham

> > îkshayaivâbhicoditah

> > tasya--His; api--certainly; drashthuh--of the seer; îs'asya--of the controller; kûta-sthasya--of the one who is over everyone's intelligence; akhila-âtmanah--of the Supersoul; srijyam--that which is already created; srijâmi--do I discover; srishthah--created; aham--myself; îkshayâ--by glance over; eva--exactly; abhicoditah--being inspired by Him.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Inspired by Him only, I discover what is already created by Him [Nârâyana] under His vision as the all-pervading Supersoul, and I also am created by Him only.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > sattvam rajas tama iti

> > nirgunasya gunâs trayah

> > sthiti-sarga-nirodheshu

> > grihîtâ mâyayâ vibhoh

> > sattvam--the mode of goodness; rajah--the mode of passion; tamah--the mode of ignorance; iti--all these; nirgunasya--of the Transcendence; gunâh trayah--are three qualities; sthiti--maintenance; sarga--creation; nirodheshu--in destruction; grihîtâh--accepted; mâyayâ--by the external energy; vibhoh--of the Supreme.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Lord is pure spiritual form, transcendental to all material qualities, yet for the sake of the creation of the material world and its maintenance and annihilation, He accepts through His external energy the material modes of nature called goodness, passion and ignorance.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > kârya-kârana-kartritve

> > dravya jn'âna-kriyâs'rayâh

> > badhnanti nityadâ muktam

> > mâyinam purusham gunâh

> > kârya--effect; kârana--cause; kartritve--in activities; dravya--material; jn'âna--knowledge; kriyâ-âs'rayâh--manifested by such symptoms; badhnanti--conditions; nityadâ--eternally; muktam--transcendental; mâyinam--affected by material energy; purusham--the living entity; gunâh--the material modes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > These three modes of material nature, being further manifested as matter, knowledge and activities, put the eternally transcendental living entity under conditions of cause and effect and make him responsible for such activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > sa esha bhagavân lingais

> > tribhir etair adhokshajah

> > svalakshita-gatir brahman

> > sarveshâm mama ces'varah

> > sah--He; eshah--this; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; lingaih--by the symptoms; tribhih--by the three; etaih--by all these; adhokshajah--the Superseer Transcendence; su-alakshita--veritably unseen; gatih--movement; brahman--o Nârada; sarveshâm--of everyone; mama--mine; ca--as also; îs'varah--the controller.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O brâhmana Nârada, the Superseer, the transcendent Lord, is beyond the perception of the material senses of the living entities because of the above-mentioned three modes of nature. But He is the controller of everyone, including me.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > kâlam karma svabhâvam ca

> > mâyes'o mâyayâ svayâ

> > âtman yadricchayâ prâptam

> > vibubhûshur upâdade

> > kâlam--eternal time; karma--the fate of the living entity; svabhâvam--nature; ca--also; mâyâ--potency; îs'ah--the controller; mâyayâ--by the energy; svayâ--of His own; âtman (âtmani)--unto His Self; yadricchayâ--independently; prâptam--being merged in; vibubhûsuh--appearing differently; upâdade--accepted for being created again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord, who is the controller of all energies, thus creates, by His own potency, eternal time, the fate of all living entities, and their particular nature, for which they were created, and He again merges them independently.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > kâlâd guna-vyatikarah

> > parinâmah svabhâvatah

> > karmano janma mahatah

> > purushâdhishthhitâd abhût

> > kâlât--from eternal time; guna-vyatikarah--transformation of the modes by reaction; parinâmah--transformation; svabhâvatah--from the nature; karmanah--of activities; janma--creation; mahatah--of the mahat-tattva; purusha-adhishthhitât--because of the purusha incarnation of the Lord; abhût--it took place.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After the incarnation of the first purusha [Kâranârnavas'âyî Vishnu], the mahat-tattva, orthe principles of material creation, take place, and then time is manifested, and in course of time the three qualities appear. Nature means the three qualitative appearances. They transform into activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > mahatas tu vikurvânâd

> > rajah-sattvopabrimhitât

> > tamah-pradhânas tv abhavad

> > dravya jn'âna-kriyâtmakah

> > mahatah--of the mahat-tattva; tu--but; vikurvânât--being transformed; rajah--the material mode of passion; sattva--the mode of goodness; upabrimhitât--because of being increased; tamah--the mode of darkness; pradhânah--being prominent; tu--but; abhavat--took place; dravya--matter; jn'âna--material knowledge; kriyâ-âtmakah--predominantly material activities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Material activities are caused by the mahat-tattva's being agitated. At first there is transformation of the modes of goodness and passion, and later--due to the mode of ignorance--matter, its knowledge, and different activities of material knowledge come into play.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > so 'hankâra iti prokto

> > vikurvan samabhût tridhâ

> > vaikârikas taijasas' ca

> > tâmasas' ceti yad-bhidâ

> > dravya-s'aktih kriyâ-s'aktir

> > jn'âna-s'aktir iti prabho

> > sah--the very same thing; ahankârah--ego; iti--thus; proktah--said; vikurvan--being transformed; samabhût--became manifested; tridhâ--in three features; vaikârikah--in the mode of goodness; taijasah--in the mode of passion; ca--and; tâmasah--in the mode of ignorance: ca--also; iti--thus; yat--what is; bhidâ--divided; dravya-s'aktih--powers that evolve matter; kriya-saktih--initiation that creates; jn'âna-s'aktih--intelligence that guides; iti--thus; prabho--o master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The self-centered materialistic ego, thus being transformed into three features, becomes known as the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance in three divisions, namely the powers that evolve matter, knowledge of material creations, and the intelligence that guides such materialistic activities. Nârada, you are quite competent to understand this.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > tâmasâd api bhûtâder

> > vikurvânâd abhûn nabhah

> > tasya mâtrâ gunah s'abdo

> > lingam yad drashthri-dris'yayoh

> > tâmasât--from the darkness of false ego; api--certainly; bhûta-âdeh--of the material elements; vikurvânât--because of transformation; abhût--generated; nabhah--the sky; tasya--its; mâtrâ--subtle form; gunah--quality; s'abdah--sound; lingam--characteristics; yat--as its; drashthri--the seer; dris'yayoh--of what is seen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > From the darkness of false ego, the first of the five elements, namely the sky, is generated. Its subtle form is the quality of sound, exactly as the seer is in relationship with the seen.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26-29

> > nabhaso 'tha vikurvânâd

> > abhût spars'a-guno 'nilah

> > parânvayâc chabdavâms' ca

> > prâna ojah saho balam

> > vâyor api vikurvânât

> > kâla-karma-svabhâvatah

> > udapadyata tejo vai

> > rûpavat spars'a-s'abdavat

> > tejasas tu vikurvânâd

> > âsîd ambho rasâtmakam

> > rûpavat spars'avac câmbho

> > ghoshavac ca parânvayât

> > vis'eshas tu vikurvânâd

> > ambhaso gandhavân abhût

> > parânvayâd rasa-spars'a-

> > s'abda-rûpa-gunânvitah

> > nabhasah--of the sky; atha--thus; vikurvânât--being transformed; abhût--generated; spars'a--touch; gunah--quality; anilah--air; para--previous; anvayât--by succession; s'abdavân--full of sound; ca--also; prânah--life; ojah--sense perception; sahah--fat; balam--strength; vâyoh--of the air; api--also; vikurvânât--by transformation; kâla--time; karma--reaction of the past; svabhâvatah--on the basis of nature; udapadyata--generated; tejah--fire; vai--duly; rûpavat--with form; spars'a--touch; s'abdavat--with sound also; tejasah--of the fire; tu--but; vikurvânât--on being transformed; âsît--it so happened; ambhah--water; rasa-âtmakam--composed of juice; rûpavat--with form; spars'avat--with touch; ca--and; ambhah--water; ghos'avat--with sound; ca--and; para--previous; anvayât--by succession; vis'eshah--variegatedness; tu--but; vikurvânât--by transformation; ambhasah--of water; gandhavân--odorous; abhût--became; para--previous; anvayât--by succession; rasa--juice; spars'a--touch; s'abda--sound; rûpa-guna-anvitah--qualitative.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because the sky is transformed, the air is generated with the quality of touch, and by previous succession the air is also full of sound and the basic principles of duration of life: sense perception, mental power and bodily strength. When the air is transformed in course of time and nature's course, fire is generated, taking shape with the sense of touchand sound. Since fire is also transformed, there is a manifestation of water, full of juice and taste. As previously, it also has form and touch and is also full of sound. And water, being transformed from all variegatedness on earth, appears odorous and, as previously, becomes qualitatively full of juice, touch, sound and form respectively.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > vaikârikân mano jajn'e

> > devâ vaikârikâ das'a

> > dig-vâtârka-praceto 'svi-

> > vahnîndropendra-mitra-kâh

> > vaikârikât--from the mode of goodness; manah--the mind; jajn'e--generated; devâh--demigods; vaikârikâh--in the mode of goodness; das'a--ten; dik--the controller of directions; vâta--the controller of air; arka--the sun; pracetah--Varuna; as'vi--the As'vinî-kumâras; vahni--the fire-god; indra--the King of heaven; upendra--the deity in heaven; mitra--one of the twelve Âdityas; kâh--Prajâpati Brahmâ.

> > TRANSLATION

> > From the mode of goodness the mind is generated and becomes manifest, as also the ten demigods controlling the bodily movements. Such demigods are known as the controller of directions, the controller of air, the sun-god, the father of Daksha Prajâpati, the As'vinî-kumâras, the fire-god, the King of heaven, the worshipable deity in heaven, the chief of the Âdityas, and Brahmâjî, the Prajâpati. All come into existence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > taijasât tu vikurvânâd

> > indriyâni das'âbhavan

> > jn'âna-s'aktih kriyâ-s'aktir

> > buddhih prânas' ca taijasau

> > s'rotram tvag-ghrâna-drig jihvâ

> > vâg-dor-medhrânghri-pâyavah

> > taijasât--by the passionate egoism; tu--but; vikurvânât--transformation of; indriyâni--the senses; das'a--ten; abhavan--generated; jn'âna-s'aktih--the five senses for acquiring knowledge; kriyâ-s'aktih--the five senses of activities; buddhih--intelligence; prânah--the living energy; ca--also; taijasau--all products of the mode of passion; s'rotram--the sense for hearing; tvak--the sense for touching; ghrâna--the sense for smelling; drik--the sense for seeing; jihvâh--the sense for tasting; vâk--the sense for speaking; doh--the sense for handling; medhra--the genitals; anghri--the legs; pâyavah--the sense for evacuating.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By further transformation of the mode of passion, the sense organs like the ear, skin, nose, eyes, tongue, mouth, hands, genitals, legs, and the outlet for evacuating, together with intelligence and living energy, are all generated.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > yadaite 'sangatâ bhâvâ

> > bhûtendriya-mano-gunâh

> > yadâyatana-nirmâne

> > na s'ekur brahma-vittama

> > yadâ--as long as; ete--all these; asangatâh--without being assembled; bhâvâh--remained so situated; bhûta--elements; indriya--senses; manah--mind; gunâh--modes of nature; yadâ--so long; âyatana--the body; nirmâne--in being formed; na s'ekuh--was not possible; brahma-vit-tama--o Nârada, the best knower of transcendental knowledge.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Nârada, best of the transcendentalists, the forms of the body cannot take place as long as these created parts, namely the elements, senses, mind and modes of nature, are not assembled.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > tadâ samhatya cânyonyam

> > bhagavac-chakti-coditâh

> > sad-asattvam upâdâya

> > cobhayam sasrjur hy adah

> > tadâ--all those; samhatya--being assembled; ca--also; anyonyam--one another; bhagavat--by the Personality of Godhead; s'akti--energy; coditâh--being applied; sat-asattvam--primarily and secondarily; upâdâya--accepting; ca--also; ubhayam--both; sasrijuh--came into existence; hi--certainly; adah--this universe.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus when all these became assembled by force of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this universe certainly came into being by accepting both the primary and secondary causes of creation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > varsha-pûga-sahasrânte

> > tad andam udake s'ayam

> > kâla-karma-svabhâva-stho

> > jîvo 'jîvam ajîvayat

> > varsha-pûga--many years; sahasra-ante--of thousands of years; tat--that; andam--the universal globe; udake--in the causal water; s'ayam--being drowned; kâla--eternal time; karma--action; svabhâva-sthah--according to the modes of nature; jîvah--the Lord of the living beings; ajîvam--nonanimated; ajîvayat--caused to be animated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus all the universes remained thousands of eons within the water [the Causal Ocean], and the Lord of living beings, entering in each of them, caused them to be fully animated.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > sa eva purushas tasmâd

> > andam nirbhidya nirgatah

> > sahasrorv-anghri-bâhv-akshah

> > sahasrânana-s'îrshavân

> > sah--He (the Lord); eva--Himself; purushah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tasmât--from within the universe; andam--Hiranyagarbha; nirbhidya--dividing; nirgatah--came out; sahasra--thousands; ûru--thighs; anghri--legs; bâhu--arms; aksah--eyes; sahasra--thousands of; ânana--mouths; s'îrshavân--with heads also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord [Mahâ-Vishnu], although lying in the Causal Ocean, came out of it, and dividing Himself as Hiranyagarbha, He entered into each universe and assumed the virât-rûpa, with thousands of legs, arms, mouths, heads, etc.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > yasyehâvayavair lokân

> > kalpayanti manîshinah

> > katy-âdibhir adhah sapta

> > saptordhvam jaghanâdibhih

> > yasya--whose; iha--in the universe; avayavaih--by the limbs of the body; lokân--all the planets; kalpayanti--imagine; manîshinah--great philosophers; kathi-âdibhih--down from the waist; adhah--downwards; sapta--seven systems; sapta ûrdham--and seven systems upwards; jaghana-âdibhih--front portion.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Great philosophers imagine that the complete planetary systems in the universe are displays of the different upper and lower limbs of the universal body of the Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > purushasya mukham brahma

> > kshatram etasya bâhavah

> > ûrvor vais'yo bhagavatah

> > padbhyâm s'ûdro vyajâyata

> > purushasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mukham--mouth; brahma--is the brâhmanas; kshatram--the royal order; etasya--of Him; bâhavah--the arms; ûrvoh--the thighs; vais'yah--are the mercantile men; bhagavatah--of the Personality of Godhead; padbhyâm--from His legs; s'ûdrah--the laborer class; vyajâyata--became manifested.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The brâhmanas represent His mouth, the kshatriyas His arms, the vais'yas His thighs, and the s'ûdras are born of His legs.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > bhûrlokah kalpitah padbhyâm

> > bhuvarloko 'sya nâbhitah

> > hridâ svarloka urasâ

> > maharloko mahâtmanah

> > bhûh--the lower planetary systems up to the stratum of the earth; lokah--the planets; kalpitah--it is so imagined or said; padbhyâm--out of the legs; bhuvah--the upper; lokah--the planetary system; asya--of Him (the Lord); nâbhitah--from the navel abdomen; hridâ--by the heart; svarlokah--the planetary systems occupied by the demigods; urasâ--by the chest; maharlokah--the planetary system occupied by great sages and saints; mahâ-âtmanah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The lower planetary systems, up to the limit of the earthly stratum, are said to be situated in His legs. The middle planetary systems, beginning from Bhuvarloka, are situated in His navel. And the still higher planetary systems, occupied by the demigods and highly cultured sages and saints, are situated in the chest of the Supreme Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > grîvâyâm janaloko 'sya

> > tapolokah stana-dvayât

> > mûrdhabhih satyalokas tu

> > brahmalokah sanâtanah

> > grîvâyâm--up to the neck; janalokah--the Janaloka planetary system; asya--of Him; tapolokah--the Tapoloka planetary system; stana-dvayât--beginning from the breast; mûrdhabhih--by the head; satyalokah--the Satyaloka planetary system; tu--but; brahmalokah--the spiritual planets; sanâtanah--eternal.

> > TRANSLATION

> > From the forefront of the chest up to the neck of the universal form of the Lord are situated the planetary systems named Janaloka and Tapoloka, whereas Satyaloka, the topmost planetary system, is situated on the head of the form. The spiritual planets, however, are eternal.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40-41

> > tat-katyâm câtalam klptam

> > ûrubhyâm vitalam vibhoh

> > jânubhyâm sutalam s'uddham

> > janghâbhyâm tu talâtalam

> > mahâtalam tu gulphâbhyâm

> > prapadâbhyâm rasâtalam

> > pâtâlam pâda-talata

> > iti lokamayah pumân

> > tat--in His; katyâm--waist; ca--also; atalam--the first planetary system below the earth; klptam--situated; ûrubhyâm--on the thighs; vitalam--the second planetary system below; vibhoh--of the Lord; jânubhyâm--on the ankles; sutalam--the third planetary system below; s'uddham--purified; janghâbhyâm--on the joints; tu--but; talâtalam--the fourth planetary system below; mahâtalam--the fifth planetary system below; tu--but; gulphâbhyâm--situated on the calves; prapadâbhyâm--on the upper or front portion of the feet; rasâtalam--the sixth planetary system below; pâtâlam--the seventh planetary system below; pâda-talatah--on the bottom or soles of the feet; iti--thus; loka-mayah--full of planetary systems; pumân--the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear son Nârada, know from me that there are seven lower planetary systems out of the total fourteen. The first planetary system, known as Atala, is situated on the waist; the second, Vitala, is situated on the thighs; the third, Sutala, on the knees; the fourth, Talâtala, on the shanks; the fifth, Mahâtala, on the ankles; the sixth, Rasâtala, on the upper portion of the feet; and the seventh, Pâtâla, on the soles of the feet. Thus the virât form of the Lord is full of all planetary systems.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > bhûrlokah kalpitah padbhyâm

> > bhuvarloko 'sya nâbhitah

> > svarlokah kalpito mûrdhnâ

> > iti vâ loka-kalpanâ

> > bhûrlokah--the entire planetary system from Pâtâla to the earthly planetary system; kalpitah--imagined; padbhyâm--situated on the legs; bhuvarlokah--the Bhuvarloka planetary system; asya--of the universal form of the Lord; nâbhitah--out of the navel abdomen; svarlokah--the higher planetary system, beginning with the heavenly planets; kalpitah--imagined; mûrdhnâ--from the chest to the head: iti--thus; vâ--either; loka--the planetary systems; kalpanâ--imagination.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Others may divide the whole planetary system into three divisions, namely the lower planetary systems on the legs [up to the earth], the middle planetary systems on the navel, and the upper planetary systems [Svarloka] from the chest to the head of the Supreme Personality.

> > Back to the running text