> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 3
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda

> Canto 3 Part 1

> **************

> Chapter 6. Creation of the Universal Form.

> Text 1

> rsir uvâca

> iti tâsâm sva-daktînâm

> satînâm asametya sah

> prasupta-loka-tantrânâm

> nisâmya gatim îsvarah

> rsih uvâca: the Rsi Maitreya said; iti: thus; tâsâm: their; sva-saktînâm: own potency; satînâm: so situated; asametya: without combination; sah: He (the Lord); prasupta: suspended; loka-tan-trânâm: in the universal creations; nisâmya: hearing; gatim: progress; îsvarah: the Lord.

> The Rsi Maitreya said: The Lord thus heard about the suspension of the progressive creative functions of the universe due to the noncombination of His potencies, such as the mahat-tattva.

> ******

> Text 2

> kâla-sanjnâm tadâ devîm

> bibhrac-chaktim urukramah

> trayovimsati tattvânâm

> ganam yugapad âvisat

> kâla-sanjnâm: known as Kalî; tadâ: at that time; devîm: the goddess; bibhrat: destructive; saktim: potency; urukramah: the supreme powerful; trayah-vimsati: twenty-three; tattvânâm: of the elements; ganam: all of them; yugapat: simultaneously; âvisat: entered.

> The Supreme Powerful Lord then simultaneously entered into the twenty-three elements with the goddess Kâli, His external energy, who alone amalgamates all the different elements.

> ******

> Text 3

> so 'nupravisto bhagavâms

> cestârûpena tam ganam

> bhinnam samyojayâm âsa

> suptam karma prabodhayan

> sah: that; anupravistah: thus entering later on; bhagavân: the Personality of Godhead; cestâ-rûpena: by His representations of attempt, Kâlî; tam: them; ganam: all the living entities, including the demigods; bhinnam: separately; samyojayâm âsa: engaged to work; suptam: sleeping; karma: work; prabodhayan: enlightening.

> Thus when the Personality of Godhead entered into the elements by His energy, all the living entities were enlivened into different activities, just as one is engaged in his work after awakening from sleep.

> *******

> Text 4

> prabuddha-karmâ daivena

> trayovimsatiko ganah

> prerito 'janayat svâbhir

> mâtrâbhir adhipûrusam

> prabuddha: awakened; karmâ: activities; daivena: by the will of the Supreme; trayah-vimsatikah: by the twenty-three principal ingredients; ganah: the combination; preritah: induced by; ajanayat: manifested; svâbhih: by His personal; mâtrâbhih: plenary expansion; adhipûrusam: the gigantic universal form (visva-rûpa).

> When the twenty-three principal elements were set in action by the will of the Supreme, the gigantic universal form, or the visvarûpa body of the Lord, came into existence.

> ******

> Text 5

> parena visatâ svasmin

> mâtrayâ visva-srg-ganah

> cuksobhânyonyam âsâdya

> yasmin lokâs carâcarâh

> parena: by the Lord; visatâ: thus entering; svasmin: by His own self; mâtrayâ: by a plenary portion; visva-srk: the elements of universal creation; ganah: all; cuksobha: transformed; anyonyam: one another; âsâdya: having obtained; yasmin: in which; lokâh: the planets; cara-acarâh: movable and immovable.

> As the Lord, in His plenary portion, entered into the elements of the universal creation, they transformed into the gigantic form in which all the planetary systems and all movable and immovable creations rest.

> ******

> Text 6

> hiranmayah sa purusah

> sahasra-parivatsarân

> ânda-kosa uvâsâpsu

> sarva-sattvopabrmhitah

> hiranmayah: the Garbhodakasâyi Visnu, who also assumes the virât-rûpa; sah: He; purusah: incarnation of Godhead; sahasra: one thousand; parivatsarân: celestial years; ânda-kose: within the global universe; uvâsa: resided; apsu: on the water; sarva-sattva: all living entities lying with Him; upabrmhitah: so spread.

> The gigantic virât-purusa, known as Hiranmaya, lived for one thousand celestial years on the water of the universe, and all the living entities lay with Him.

> ******

> Text 7

> sa vai visva-srjâm garbho

> deva-karmâtma-saktimân

> vibabhâjâtmanâtmânam

> ekadhâ dasadhâ tridhâ

> sah: that; vai: certainly; visva-srjâm: of the gigantic virât form; garbhah: total energy; deva: living energy; karma: activity of life; âtma: self; saktimân: full with potencies; vibabhâja: divided; âtmanâ: by Himself; âtmânam: Himself; ekadhâ: in oneness; dasadhâ: in ten; tridhâ: and in three.

> The total energy of the mahat-tattvam, in the form of the gigantic virât-rûpa, divided Himself by Himself into the consciousness of the living entities, the life of activity, and self-identification, which are subdivided into one, ten and three respectively.

> ******

> Text 8

> esa hy asesa-sattvânâm

> âtmâmsah paramâtmanah

> âdyo 'vatâro yatrâsau

> bhûta-grâmo vibhâvyate

> esah: this; hi: certainly; asesa: unlimited; sattvânâm: living entities; âtmâ: Self; amsah: part; parama-âtmanah: of the Supersoul; âdyah: the first; avatârah: incarnation; yatra: whereupon; asau: all those; bhûta-grâmah: the aggregate creations; vibhâvyate: flourish.

> The gigantic universal form of the Supreme Lord is the first incarnation and plenary portion of the Supersoul. He is the Self of an unlimited number of living entities, and in Him rests the aggregate creation, which thus flourishes.

> ******

> Text 9

> sâdhyâtmah sâdhidaivas ca

> sâdhibhûta iti tridhâ

> virât prâno dasa-vidha

> ekadhâ hrdayena ca

> sa-âdhyâtmah: the body and mind with all the senses; sa-âdhidaivah: and controlling demigods of the senses; ca: and; sa-âdhibhûtah: the present objectives; iti: thus; tridhâ: three; virât: gigantic; prânah: moving force; dasa-vidhah: ten kinds; ekadhâ: one only; hrdayena: living energy; ca: also.

> The gigantic universal form is represented by three, ten and one in the sense that He is the body and the mind and the senses. He is the dynamic force for all movements by ten kinds of life energy, and He is the one heart where life energy is generated.

> ******

> Text 10

> smaran visva-srjâm îso

> vijnâpitam adhoksajah

> virâjam atapat svena

> tejasaisâm vivrttaye

> smaran: remembering; visva-srjâm: of the demigods entrusted with the task of cosmic construction; îsah: the Supreme Lord; vijnâpitam: as He was prayed for; adhoksajah: the Transcendence; virâjam: the gigantic universal form; atapat: considered thus; svena: by His own; tejasa: energy; esâm: for them; vivrttaye: for understanding.

> The Supreme Lord is the Supersoul of all the demigods entrusted with the task of constructing the cosmic manifestation. Being thus prayed to [by the demigods], He thought to Himself and thus manifested the gigantic form for their understanding.

> ******

> Text 11

> atha tasyâbhitaptasya

> katidhâyatanâni ha

> nirabhidyanta devânâm

> tâni me gadatah srnu

> atha: therefore; tasya: His; abhitaptasya: in terms of His contemplation; katidhâ: how many; âyatanâni: embodiments; ha: there were; nirabhidyanta: by separated parts;devânâm: of the demigods; tâni: all those; me gadatah: described by me; srnu: just hear.

> Maitreya said: You may now hear from me how the Supreme Lord separated Himself into the diverse forms of the demigods after the manifestation of the gigantic universal form.

> ******

> Text 12

> tasyâgnir âsyam nirbhinnam

> loka-pâlo 'visat padam

> vâcâ svâmsena vaktavyam

> yayâsau pratipadyate

> tasya: His; agnih: fire; âsyam: mouth; nirbhinnam: thus separated; loka-pâlah: the directors of material affairs; avisat: entered; padam: respective positions; vâcâ: by words; sva-amsena: by one's own part; vaktavyam: speeches; yayâ: by which; asau: they; pratipadyate: express.

> Agni, or heat, separated from His mouth, and all the directors of material affairs entered into it in their respective positions. By that energy the living entity expresses himself in words.

> ******

> Text 13

> nirbhinnam tâlu varuno

> loka-pâlo 'visad dhareh

> jihvayâmsena ca rasam

> yayâsau pratipadyate

> nirbhinnam: separated; tâlu: palate; varunah: the deity controlling air; loka-pâlah: director of the planets; avisat: entered; hareh: of the Lord; jihvayâ amsena: with the part of the tongue; ca: also; rasam: tastes; yayâ: by which; asau: the living entity; pratipad-yate: expresses.

> When the palate of the gigantic form was separately manifested, Varuna, the director of air in the planetary systems, entered therein, and thus the living entity has the facility to taste everything with his tongue.

> ******

> Text 14

> nirbhinne asvinau nâse

> visnor âvisatâm padam

> ghrânenâmsena gandhasya

> pratipattir yato bhavet

> nirbhinne: thus being separated; asvinau: the dual Asvinîs; nâse: of the two nostrils; visnoh: of the Lord; âvisatâm: entering; padam: post; ghrânena amsena: by partially smelling; gandhasya: aroma; pratipattih: experience; yatah: whereupon: bhavet: becomes.

> When the Lord's two nostrils separately manifested themselves, the dual Asvini-kumâras entered them in their proper positions, and because of this the living entities can smell the aroma of everything.

> ******
> Text 15

> nirbhinne aksinî tvastâ

> loka-pâlo 'visad vibhoh

> caksusâmsena rûpânâm

> pratipattir yato bhavet

> nirbhinne: thus being separated; aksinî: the eyes; tvastâ: the sun; loka-pâlah: director of light; avisat: entered; vibhoh: of the great; caksusâ amsena: by the part of the eyesight; rûpânâm: of the forms; pratipattih: experience; yatah: by which; bhavet: becomes.

> Thereafter, the two eyes of the gigantic form of the Lord were separately manifested. The sun, the director of light, entered them with the partial representation of eyesight, and thus the living entities can have vision of forms.

> ******

> Text 16

> nirbhinnâny asya carmâni

> loka-pâlo 'nilo 'visat

> prânenâmsena samsparsam

> yenâsau pratipadyate

> nirbhinnâni: being separated; asay: of the gigantic form; carmâni: skin; loka-pâlah: the director; anilah: air; avisat: entered; prânena amsena: the part of the breathing; samsparsam: touch; yena: by which; asau: the living entity; pratipadyate: can experience.

> When there was a manifestation of skin separated from the gigantic form, Anila, the deity directing the wind, entered with partial touch, and thus the living entities can realize tactile knowledge.

> ******

> Text 17

> karnâv asya vinirbhinnau

> dhisnyam svam vivisur disah

> srotrenâmsena sabdasya

> siddhim yena prapadyate

> karnau: the ears; asya: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnau: being thus separated; dhisnyam: the controlling deity; svam: own; vivisuh: entered; disah: of the directions; srotrena amsena: with the hearing principles; sabdasya: of the sound; siddhim: perfection; yena: by which; prapadyate: is experienced.

> When the ears of the gigantic form became manifested, all the controlling deities of the directions entered into them with the hearing principles, by which all the living entities hear and take advantage of sound.

> ******

> Text 18

> tvacam asya vinirbhinnâm

> vivisur dhisnyam osadhîh

> amsena romabhih kandûm

> yair asau pratipadyate

> tvacam: skin; asya: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnâm: being separately manifested; vivisuh: entered; dhisnyam: the controlling deity; osadhîh: sensations; amsena: with parts; romabhih: through the hairs on the body; kandûm: itching; yaih: by which; asau: the living entity; pratipadyate: experiences.

> When there was a separate manifestation of skin, the controlling deities of sensations and their different parts entered into it, and thus the living entities feel itching and happiness due to touch.

> ******

> Text 19

> medhram tasya vinirbhinnam

> sva-dhisnyam ka upâvisat

> retasâmsena yenâsâv

> ânandam pratipadyate

> medhram: genitals; tasya: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnam: being separated; sva-dhisnyam: own position; kah: Brahmâ, the original living creature; upâvisat: entered; retasâ amsena: with the part of the semen; yena: by which; asau: the living entity; ânandam: sex pleasure; pratipadyate: experiences.

> When the genitals of the gigantic form separately became manifest, then Prajâpati, the original living creature, entered into them with his partial semen, and thus the living entities can enjoy sex pleasure.

> ******

> Text 20

> gudam pumso vinirbhinnam

> mitro lokesa âvisat

> pâyunâmsena yenâsau

> visargam pratipadyate

> gudam: evacuating outlet; pumsah: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnam: being separately manifested; mitrah: the sun-god; loka-îsah: the director named Mitra; âvisat: entered; pâyunâ amsena: with the partial evacuation process; yena: by which; asau: the living entity; visargam: evacuation; pratipadyate: performs.

> The evacuating channel separately became manifest, and the director named Mitra entered into it with partial organs of evacuation. Thus the living entities are able to pass stool and urine.

> ******

> Text 21

> hastâv asya vinirbhinnâv

> indrah svar-patir âvisat

> vârtayâmsena puruso

> yayâ vrttim prapadyate

> hastau: hands; asya: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnau: being separately manifested; indrah: the King of heaven; svah-patih: the ruler of heavenly planets; dvisat: entered into it; vârtayâ amsena: with partial mercantile principles; purusah: the living entity; yayâ: by which; vrttim: business of livelihood; prapadyate: transacts.

> Thereafter, when the hands of the gigantic form separately became manifested, Indra, the ruler of the heavenly planets, entered into them, and thus the living entity is able to transact business for his livelihood.

> ******

> Text 22

> pâdâv asya vinirbhinnau

> lokeso visnur âvisat

> gatyâ svâmsena puruso

> yayâ prâpyam prapadyate

> pâdau: the legs; asya: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnau: being manifested separately; loka-îsah visnuh: the demigod Visnu (not the Personality of Godhead); âvisat: entered; gatyâ: by the power of movement; sva-amsena: with his own parts; purusah: living entity; yayâ: by which; prâpyam: destination; prapadyate: reaches.

> Thereafter the legs of the gigantic form separately became manifest, and the demigod named Visnu [not the Personality of Godhead] entered with partial movement. This helps the living entity move to his destination.

> ******

> Text 23

> buddhim câsya vinirbhinnâm

> vâg-îso dhisnyam âvisat

> bodhenâmsena boddhavyam

> pratipattir yato bhavet

> buddhim: intelligence; ca: also; asya: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnâm: being separately manifested; vâk-îsah: Brahmâ, lord of the Vedas; dhisnyam: the controlling power; âvisat: entered in; bodhena amsena: with his part of intelligence; boddhavyam: the matter of understanding; pratipattih: understood; yatah: by which; bhavet: so becomes.

> When the intelligence of the gigantic form separately became manifest, Brahmâ, the lord of the Vedas, entered into it with the partial power of understanding, and thus an object of understanding is experienced by the living entities.

> ******

> Text 24

> hrdayatm câsya nirbhinnam

> candramâ dhisnyam âvisat

> manasâmsena yenâsau

> vikriyâm pratipadyate

> hrdayam: heart; ca: also; asya: of the gigantic form; nirbhinnam: being manifested separately; candramâ: the moon demigod; dhisnyam: with controlling power; âvisat: entered into; manasâ amsena: partly with mental activity; yena: by which; asau: the living entity; vikriyâm: resolution; pratipadyate: transacts.

> After that, the heart of the gigantic form separately manifested itself, and into it entered the moon demigod with partial mental activity. Thus the living entity can conduct his mental speculations.

> *******

> Text 25

> âtmânam câsya nirbhinnam

> abhimâno 'visat padam

> karmanâmsena yenâsau

> kartavyam pratipadyate

> âtmânam: false ego; ca: also; asya: of the gigantic form; nirbhinnam: being separately manifested; abhimânah: false identification; avisat: entered; padam: in position; karmanâ: activities; amsena: by the part; yena: by which; asau: the living entity; kartavyam: objective activities; pratipadyate: takes in.

> Thereafter the materialistic ego of the gigantic form separately manifested itself, and into it entered Rudra, the controller of false ego, with his own partial activities, by which the living entity transacts his objective actions.

> ******

> Text 26

> sattvam câsya vinirbhinnam

> mahân dhisnyam upâvisat

> cittenâmsena yenâsau

> vijnânam pratipadyate

> sattvam: consciousness; ca: also; asya: of the gigantic form; vinirbhinnam: being separately manifested; mahân: the total energy, mahat-tattva; dhisnyam: with control; upâvisat: entered into; cittena amsena: along with His part of consciousness; yena: by which; asau: the living entity; vijnânam: specific knowledge; pratipadyate: cultivates.

> Therefore, when His consciousness separately manifested itself, the total energy, mahat-tattva, entered with His conscious part. Thus the living entity is able to conceive specific knowledge.

> ******

> Text 27

> sîrsno 'sya dyaur dharâ padbhyâm

> kham nâbher udapadyata

> gunânâm vrttayo yesu

> pratîyante surâdayah

> sîrsnah: head; asya: of the gigantic form; dyauh: the heavenly planets; dharâ: eartly planets; padbhyâm: on His legs; kham: the sky; nâbheh: from the abdomen; udapadyata: became manifested; gunânâm: of the three modes of nature; vrttayah: reactions; yesu: in which; pratîyante: manifest; sura-âdayah: the demigods and others.

> Thereafter, from the head of the gigantic form, the heavenly planets were manifested, and from His legs the earthly planets and from His abdomen the sky separately manifested themselves. Within them the demigods and others also were manifested in terms of the modes of material nature.

> ******

> Text 28

> âtyantikena sattvena

> divam devâh prapedire

> dharâm rajah-svabhâvena

> panayo ye ca tân anu

> âtyantikena: excessive; sattvena: by the mode of goodness; divam: in the higher planets; devâh: the demigods; prapedire: have been situated; dharâm: on the earth; rajah: the mode of passion; svabhâvena: by nature; panayah: the human being; ye: all those; ca: also; tân: their; anu: subordinate.

> The demigods, qualified by the superexcellent quality of the mode of goodness, are situated in the heavenly planets, whereas the human being, because of their nature in the mode of passion, live on the earth in company with their subordinates.

> ******

> Text 29

> târtîyena svabhâvena

> bhagavan-nâbhim âsritâh

> ubhayor antaram vyoma

> ye rudra-pârsadâm gunâh

> târtîyena: by excessive development of the third mode of material nature, the mode of ignorance; svabhâvena: by such nature; bhagavat-nâbhim: the abdominal navel of the gigantic form of the Personality of Godhead; âsritâh: those who are so situated; ubhayoh: between the two; antaram: in between; vyoma: the sky; ye: all of whom; rudra-pârsadâm: associates of Rudra; ganâh: population.

> Living entities who are associates of Rudra develop in the third mode of material nature, or ignorance. They are situated in the sky between the earthly planets and the heavenly planets.

> ******

> Text 30

> mukhato 'vartata brahma

> purusasya kurûdvaha

> yas tûnmukhatvâd varnânâm

> mukhyo 'bhûd brâhmano guruh

> mukhatah: from the mouth; avartata: generated; brahma: the Vedic wisdom; purusasya: of the virât-purusa, the gigantic form; kuru-udvaha: O chief of the Kuru dynasty; yah: who are; tu: due to; unmukhatvât: inclined to; varnânâm: of the orders of society; mukhyah: the chief; abhût: so became; brâhmanah: called the brâhmanas: guruh: the recofnized teacher or spiritual master.

> O chief of the Kuru dynasty, the Vedic wisdom became manifested from the mouth of the virât, the gigantic form. Those who are inclined to this Vedic knowledge are called brâhmanas, and they are the natural teachers and spiritual masters of all the orders of society.

> ******

> Text 31

> bâhubhyo 'vartata ksatram

> ksatriyas tad anuvratah

> yo jâtas trâyate varnân

> paurusah kantaka-ksatât

> bâhubhyah: from the arms; avartata: generated; ksatram: the power of protection; ksatriyah: in relation to the power of protection; tat: that; anuvratah: followers; yah: one who; jâtah: so becomes; trâyate: delivers; varnân: the other occupations; paurusah: representative of the Personality of Godhead; kantaka: of disturbing elements like thieves and debauchess; ksatât: from the mischief.

> Thereafter the power of protection was generated from the arms of the gigantic virât form, and in relation to such power the ksatriyas also came into existence by following the ksatriya principle of protecting society from the disturbance of thieves and miscreants.

> ******

> Text 32

> viso 'vartanta tasyorvor

> loka-vrttikarîr vibhoh

> vaisyas tad-udbhavo vârtâm

> nrnâm yah samavartayat

> visah: means of living by production and distribution; avartanta: generated; tasya: His (the gigantic form's); ûrvoh: from the thighs; loka-vrttikarîh: means of livelihood; vibhoh: of the Lord; vaisyah: the mercantile community; tat: their; udbhavah: orientation; vârtâm: means of living; nrnâm: of all men; yah: one who; samavartayat: executed.

> The means of livelihood of all persons, namely production of grains and their distribution to the prajâs, was generated from the thighs of the Lord's gigantic form. The mercantile men who take charge of such execution are called vaisyas.

> ******

> Text 33

> padbhyâm bhagavato jajne

> susrûsâ dharma-siddhaye

> tasyâm jâtah purâ sûdro

> yad-vrttyâ tusyate harih

> padbhyâm: from the legs; bhagavatah: of the Personality of Godhead; jajne: became manifested; susrûsâ: service; dharma: occupational duty; siddhaye: for the matter of; tasyâm: in that; jâtah: being generated; purâ: formerly; sûdrah: the servitors; yat:vrttyâ: the occupation by which; tusyate: becomes satisfied; harih: the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> Thereafter, service was manifested from the legs of the Personality of Godhead for the sake of perfecting the religious function. Situated on the legs are the sûdras, who satisfy the Lord by service.

> ******

> Text 34

> ete varnâh sva-dharmena

> yajanti sva-gurum harim

> sraddhayâtma-visuddhy-artham

> yaj-jâtâh sana vrttibhih

> ete: all these; varnâh: orders of society; sva-dharmena: by one's own occupational duties; yajanti: worship; sva-gurum: with the spiritual master; harim: the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sraddhayâ: with faith and devotion; âtma: self; visuddhi-artham: for purifying; yat: from whom; jâtâh: born; saha: along with; vrttibhih: occupational duty.

> All these different social divisions are born, with their occupational duties and living conditions, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus for unconditional life and self-realization one has to worship the Supreme Lord under the direction of the spiritual master.

> ******

> Text 35

> etat ksattar bhagavato

> daiva-karmâtma-rûpinah

> kah sraddadhyâd upâkartum

> yogamâyâ-balodayam

> etat: this; ksattah: O Vidura; bhagavatah: of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; daiva-karma-âtma-rûpinah: of the gigantic form of transcendental work, time and nature; kah: who else; sraddadhyât: can aspire; upâkartum: measure in totality; yogamâyâ: internal potency; bala-udayam: manifested by the strength of.

> O Vidura, who can estimate or measure the transcendental time, work and potency of the gigantic form manifested by the internal potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

> ******

> Text 36

> tathâpi kîrtayâmy anga

> yathâ-mati yathâ-srutam

> kîrtim hareh svâm sat-kartum

> giram anyâbhidhâsatîm

> tathâ: therefore; api: although it is so; kîrtayâmi: I do describe; anga: O Vidura; yathâ: as much as; mati: intelligence; yathâ: as much as; srutam: heard; kîrtim: glories; hareh: of the Lord; svâm: own; sat-kartum: just purify; giram: speeches; anyâbhidhâ: otherwise; asatim: unchaste.

> In spite of my inability, whatever I have been able to hear [from the spiritual master] and whatever I could assimilate I am now describing in glorification of the Lord by pure speech, for otherwise my power of speaking would remain unchaste.

> ******

> Text 37

> ekânta-lâbham vacaso nu pumsâm

> susloka-mauler guna-vâdam âhuh

> srutes ca vidvadbhir upâkrtâyâm

> kathâ-dudhâyâm upasamprayogam

> eka-anta: the one which has no comparison; lâbham: gain; vacasah: by discussions; nu pumsâm: after the Supreme Person; susloka: pious; mauleh: activities; guna-vâdam: glorification; âhuh: it is so said; sruteh: of the ear; ca: also; vidvadbhih: by the learned; upâkrtâyâm: being so edited; kathâ-sudhâyâm: in the nectar of such a transcendental message; upasamprayogam: serves the real purpose, being nearer to.

> The highest perfectional gain of humanity is to engage in discussions of the activities and glories of the Pious Actor. Such activities are so nicely arranged in writing by the greatly learned sages that the actual purpose of the ear is served just by being near them.

> ******

> Text 38

> âtmano 'vasito vatsa

> mahimâ kavinâdinâ

> samvatsara-sahasrânte

> dhiya yoga-vipakkayâ

> âtmanah: of the Supreme Soul; avasitah: known; vatsa: O my dear son; mahimâ: glories; kavinâ: by the poet Brahmâ; âdinâ: original; samvatsara: celestial years; sahasra-ante: at the end of one thousand; dhiyâ: by intelligence; yoga-vipakkayâ: by matured meditation.

> O my son, the original poet, Brahmâ, after mature meditation for one thousand celestial years, could know only that the glories of the Supreme Soul are inconceivable.

> ******

> Text 39

> ato bhagavato mâyâ

> mâyinâm api mohinî

> yat svayam câtma-vartmâtmâ

> na veda kim utâpare

> atah: therefore; bhagavatah: godly; mâyâ: potencies; mâyinâm: of the jugglers; api: even; mohinî: enchanting; yat: that which; svayam: personality; ca: also; âtma-vartma: self-sufficient; âtmâ: self; na: does not; veda: know; kim: what; uta: to speak of; apare: others.

> The wonderful potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is bewildering even to the jugglers. That potential power is unknown even to the self-sufficient Lord, so it is certainly unknown to others.

> ******

> Text 40

> yato 'prâpya nyavartanta

> vâcas ca manasâ saha

> aham cânya ime devâs

> tasmai bhagavate namah

> yatah: from whom; aprâpya: being unable to measure; nyavartanta: cease to try; vâcah: words; ca: also; manasâ: with the mind; saha: with; aham ca: also the ego; anye: other; ime: all these; devâh: demigods; tasmai: unto Him; bhagavate: unto the Personality of Godhead; namah: offer obeisances.

> Words, mind and ego, with their respective controlling demigods, have failed to achieve success in knowing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, we simply have to offer our respectful obeisances unto Him as a matter of sanity.

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