> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 3
> > 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)

> > (from verse 37 on without the ^ on the i and a letters)

> > Canto 3 Part 1

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

> > Chapter 9. Brahmâ's Prayers for Creative Energy.

> > Text 1

> > brahmovâca

> > jnâto 'si me 'dya sucirân nanu deha-bhâjam

> > na jnâyate bhagavato gatir ity avadyam

> > nânyat tvad asti bhagavann api tan na suddham

> > mâyâ-guna-vyatikarâd yad urur vibhâsi

> > brahmâ uvâca: Lord Brahmâ said; jnâtah: known; asi: You are; me: by me; adya: today; sucirât: after a long time; nanu: but; deha-bhâjâm: of one who has a material body; na: not; jnâyate: is known; bhagavatah: of the Personality of Godhead; gatih: course; iti: so it is; avadyam: great offense; na anyat: none beyond; tvat: You; asti: there is; bhagavan: O my Lord; api: even though there is; tat: anything that may be; na: never; suddham: absolute; mâyâ: material energy; guna-vyatikarât: because of the mixture of the modes of; yat: to which; uruh: transcendental; vibhâsi: You are.

> > Lord Brahmâ said: O my Lord, today, after many, many years of penance, I have come to know about You. Oh, how unfortunate the embodied living entities are that they are unable to know Your personality! My Lord, You are the only knowable object because there is nothing supreme beyond You. If there is anything supposedly superior to You, it is not the Absolute. You exist as the Supreme by exhibiting the creative energy of matter.

> > ******

> > Text 2

> > rûpam yad etad avabodha-rasodayena

> > sasvan-nivrtta-tamasah sad-anugrahâya

> > âdau grhîtam avatâra-sataika-bîjam

> > yan-nâbhi-padma-bhavanâd aham âvirâsam

> > rûpam: form; yat: which; etat: that; avabodha-rasa: of Your internal potency; udayena: with the manifestation; sasvat: forever; nivrtta: freed from; tamasah: material contamination; sat-anugrahâya: for the sake of the devotees; âdau: original in the creative energy of matter; grhîtam: accepted; avatâra: of incarnations; sata-eka-bîjam: the root cause of hundreds; yat: that which; nâbhi-padma: the navel lotus flower; bhavanât: from the home; aham: myself; âvirâsam: generated.

> > The form which I see is eternally freed from material contamination and has advented to show mercy to the devotees as a manifestation of internal potency. This incarnation is the origin of many other incarnations, and I am born from the lotus flower grown from Your navel home.

> > ******

> > Text 3

> > nâtah param parama yad bhavatah svarûpam

> > ânanda-mâtram avikalpam aviddha-varcah

> > pasyâmi visva-srjam ekam avisvam âtman

> > bhûtendriyâtmaka-madas ta upâsrito 'smi

> > na: do not; atah param: hereafter; parama: O Supreme; yat: that which; bhavatah: of Your Lordship; svarûpam: eternal form; ânanda-mâtram: impersonal Brahman effulgence; avikalpam: without changes; aviddha-varcah: without deterioration of potency; pasyâmi: do I see; visva-srjam: creator of the cosmic manifestation; ekam: one without a second; avisvam: and yet not of matter; âtman: O Supreme Cause; bhûta: body; indriya: senses; âtmaka: on such identification; madah: pride; te: unto You; upâsritah: surrendered; asmi: I am.

> > O my Lord, I do not see a form superior to Your present form of eternal bliss and knowledge. In Your impersonal Brahman effulgence in the spiritual sky, there is no occasional change and no deterioration of internal potency. I surrender unto You because whereas I am proud of my material body and senses. Your Lordship is the cause of the cosmic manifestations and yet You are untouched by matter.

> > *******

> > Text 4

> > tad vâ idam bhuvana-mangala mangalâya

> > dhyâne sma no darsitam ta upâsakânâm

> > tasmai namo bhagavate 'nuvidhema tubhyam

> > yo 'nâdrto naraka-bhâgbhir asat-prasangaih

> > tat: the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Srî Krsna; vâ: or; idam: this present form; bhuvana-mangala: O You who are all-auspicious for all the universes; mangalâya: for the sake of all prosperity; dhyâne: in meditation; sma: as it were; nah: unto us; darsitam: manifested; te: Your; upâsakânâm: of the devotees; tasmai: unto Him; namah: my respectful obeisances; bhagavate: unto the Personality of Godhead; anuvidhema: I perform; tubhyam: unto You; yah: which; anâ-drtah: is neglected; naraka-bhâgbhih: by persons destined for hell; asat-prasangaih: by material topics.

> > This present form, or any transcendental form expanded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Srî Krsna, is equally auspicious for all the universes. Since You have manifested this eternal personal form upon whom Your devotees meditate, I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Those who are destined to be dispatched to the path of hell neglect Your personal form because of speculating on material topics.

> > ******

> > Text 5

> > ye tu tvadîya-caranâmbuja-kosa-gandham

> > jighranti karna-vivaraih sruti-vâta-nîtam

> > bhaktyâ grhîta-caranah parayâ ca tesâm

> > nâpaisi nâtha hrdayâmburuhât sva-pumsam

> > ye: those who; tu: but; tvadîya: Your; carana-ambuja: lotus feet; kosa: inside; gandham: flavor; jighranti: smell; karna-vivaraih: through the channel of the ears; sruti-vâta-nîtam: carried by the air of Vedic sound; bhaktyâ: by devotional service; grhîta-caranah: accepting the lotus feet; parayâ: transcendental; ca: also; tesâm: for them; na: never; apaisi: separate; nâtha: O my Lord; hrdaya: heart; ambu-ruhât: from the lotus of; sva-pumsâm: of Your own devotees.

> > O my Lord, persons who smell the aroma of Your lotus feet, carried by the air of Vedic sound through the holes of the ears, accept Your devotional service. For them You are never separated from the lotus of their hearts.

> > ******

> > Text 6

> > tâvad bhayam dravina-deha-suhrn-nimittam

> > sokah sprhâ paribhavo vipulas ca lobhah

> > tâvan mamety asad-avagraha ârti-mûlam

> > yâvan na te 'nghrim abhayam pravrnîta lokah

> > tâvat: until then; bhayam: fear; dravina: wealth; deha: body; suhrt: relatives; nimittam: for the matter of; sokah: lamentation; sprhâ: desire; paribhavah: paraphernalia; vipulah: very great; ca: also; lobhah: avarice; tâvat: up to that time; mama: mine; iti: thus; asat: perishable; avagrahah: undertaking; ârti-mûlam: full of anxieties; yâvat: as long as; na: do not; te: Your; anghrim abhayam: safe lotus feet; pravrnîta: take shelter; lokah: the people of the world.

> > O my lord, the people of the world are embarrassed by all material anxieties-they are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body and friends, they are filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and paraphernalia, and they avariciously base their undertakings on the perishable conceptions of "my" and "mine." As long as they do not take shelter of Your safe lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties.

> > ******

> > Text 7

> > daivena te hata-dhiyo bhavatah prasangât

> > sarvâsubhopasamanâd vimukhendriyâ ye

> > kurvanti kâma-sukha-lesa-lavâya dînâ

> > lobhâbhibhûta-manaso 'kusalâni sasvat

> > daivena: by fate of misfortune; te: they; hata-dhiyah: bereft of memory; bhavatah: of You; prasangât: from the topics; sarva: all; asubha: inauspiciousness; upasamanât: curbing down; vimukha: turned against; indriyâh: senses; ye: those; kurvanti: act; kâma: sense gratification; sukha: happiness; lesa: brief; lavâya: for a moment only; dînâh: poor fellows; lobha-abhibhûta: overwhelmed by greed; manasah: of one whose mind; akusalâni: inauspicious activities; sasvat: always.

> > O my Lord, persons who are bereft of the all-auspicious performance of chanting and hearing about Your transcendental activities are certainly unfortunate and are also bereft of good sense. They engage in inauspicious activities, enjoying sense gratification for a very little while.

> > ******

> > Text 8

> > ksut-trt-tridhâtubhir imâ muhur ardyamânâh

> > sîtosna-vâta-varasair itaretarâc ca

> > kâmâgninâcyuta-rusâ ca sudurbharena

> > sampasyato mana urukrama sîdate me

> > ksut: hunger; trt: thirst; tri-dhâtubhih: three humors, namely mucus, bile and wind; imâh: all of them; muhuh: always; ardyamânâh: perplexed; sîta: winter; usna: summer; vâta: wind; varasaih: by rains; itara-itarât: and many other disturbances; ca: also; kâma-agninâ: by strong sex urges; acyuta-rusâ: indefatigable anger; ca: also; sudurbharena: most unbearable; sampasyatah: so observing; manah: mind; urukrama: O great actor; sîdate: becomes despondent; me: my.

> > O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on them, and I am very much aggrieved for them.

> > ******

> > Text 9

> > yâvat prthaktvam idam âtmana indriyârtha-

> > mâyâ-balam bhagavato jana îsa pasyet

> > tâvan na samsrtir asau pratisankrameta

> > vyarthâpi duhkha-nivaham vahatî kriyârthâ

> > yâvat: as long as; prthaktvam: separatism; idam: this; âtmanah: of the body; indriya-artha: for sense gratification; mâyâ-balam: influence of external energy; bhagavatah: of the Personality of Godhead; janah: a person; îsa: O my Lord; pasyet: sees; tâvat: to long; na: not; samsrtih: the influence of material existence; asau: that man; pratisankrameta: can overcome; vyarthâ api: although without meaning; duhkha-nivaham: multiple miseries; vahatî: bringing; kriyâ-arthâ: for fruitive activities.

> > O my Lord, the material miseries are without factual existence for the soul. Yet as long as the conditioned soul sees the body as meant for sense enjoyment, he cannot get out of the entanglement of material miseries, being influenced by Your external energy.

> > ******

> > Text 10

> > ahny âprtârta-karanâ nisi nihsayânâ

> > nânâ-manoratha-dhiyâ ksana-bhagna-nidrâh

> > daivâhatârtha-racanâ rsayo 'pi deva

> > yusmat-prasanga-vimukhâ iha samsaranti

> > ahni: during the daytime; âprta: engaged; ârta: distressing engagement; karanâh: senses; nisi: at night; nihsayânâh: insomnia; nânâ: various; manoratha: mental speculations; dhiyâ: by intelligence; ksana: constantly; bhagna: broken; nidrâh: sleep; daiva: superhuman; âhata-artha: frustrated; racanâh: plans; rsayah: great sages; api: also; deva: O my Lord; yusmat: Your Lordship's; prasanga: topic; vimukhâh: turned against; iha: in this (material world); samsaranti: do rotate.

> > Such nondevotees engage their senses in very troublesome and extensive work, and they suffer insomnia at night because their intelligence constantly breaks their sleep with various mental speculations. They are frustrated in all their various plans by supernatural power. Even great sages, if they are against Your transcendental topics, must rotate in this material world.

> > ******

> > Text 11

> > tvam bhakti-yoga-paribhâvita-hrt-saroja

> > âsse sruteksita-patho nanu nâtha pumsâm

> > yad-yad-dhiyâ ta urugâya vibhâvayanti

> > tat-tad-vapuh pranayase sad-anugrahâya

> > tvam: unto You; bhakti-yoga: in devotional service; paribhâvita: being one hundred percent engaged; hrt: of the heart; saroje: on the lotus; âsse: You reside; sruta-îksita: seen through the ear; pathah: the path; nanu: now; nâtha: O my Lord; pumsâm: of the devotees; yat-yat: whichever; dhiyâ: by meditating; te: Your; urugâya: O multiglorious; vibhâvayanti: they specifically think of; tat-tat: the very same; vapuh: transcendental form; pranayase: do You manifest; sat-anugrahâya: to show Your causeless mercy.

> > O my Lord, Your devotees can see You through the ears by the process of bona fide hearing, and thus their hearts become cleansed, and You take Your seat there. You are so merciful to Your devotees that You manifest Yourself in the particular eternal form of transcendence in which they always think of You.

> > ******

> > Text 12

> > nâtiprasîdati tathopacitopacârair

> > ârâdhitah sura-ganair hrdi baddha-kâmaih

> > yat sarva-bhûta-dayayâsad-alabhyayaiko

> > nânâ-janesv avahitah suhrd anat-âtmâ

> > na: never; ati: very much; prasîdati: become satisfied; tathâ: as much as; upacita: by pompous arrangement; upacâraih: with much worshipable paraphernalia; ârâdhitah: being worshiped; sura-ganaih: by the celestial demigods; hrdi baddha-kâmaih: with hearts full of all sorts of material desires; yat: that which; sarva: all; bhûta: living entities; dayayâ: to show them causeless mercy; asat: non-devotee; alabhyayâ: not being achieved; ekah: one without a second; nânâ: various; janesu: in living entities; avahitah: perceived; suhrt: well-wishing friend; antah: within; âtmâ: Supersoul.

> > My Lord, You are not very much satisfied by the worship of the demigods, who arrange for Your worship very pompously, with various paraphernalia, but who are full of material hankerings. You are situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul just to show Your causeless mercy, and You are the eternal well-wisher, but You are unavailable for the nondevotee.

> > ******

> > Text 13

> > pumsâm ato vividha-karmabhir adhvarâdyair

> > dânena cogra-tapasâ paricaryayâ ca

> > ârâdhanam bhagavathas tava sat-kriyârtho

> > dharmo 'rpitah karhicid mriyate na yatra

> > pumsâm: of the people; atah: therefore; vividha-karmabhih: by various fruitive activities; adhvara-âdyaih: by performance of Vedic rituals; dânena: by charities; ca: and; ugra: very hard; tapasâ: austerity; paricaryayâ: by transcendental service; ca: also; ârâdhanam: worship; bhagavatah: of the Personality of Godhead; tava: Your; sat-kriyâ-arthah: simply for pleasing Your Lordship; dharmah: religion; arpitah: so offered; karhicit: at any time; mriyate: vanquishes; na: never; yatra: there.

> > But the pious activities of the people, such as performance of Vedic rituals, charity, austere penances, and transcendental service, performed with a view to worship You and satisfy You by offering You the fruitive results, are also beneficial. Such acts of religion never go in vain.

> > ******

> > Text 14

> > sasvat svarûpa-mahasaiva nipîta-bheda-

> > mohâya bodha-dhisanâya namah parasmai

> > visvodbhava-sthiti-layesu nimitta-lîlâ-

> > râsâya te nama idam cakrmesvarâya

> > sasvat: eternally; svarûpa: transcendental form; mahasâ: by the glories; eva: certainly; nipîta: distinguished; bheda: differentiation; mohâya: unto the illusory conception; bodha: self-knowledge; dhisanâya: intelligence; namah: obeisances; parasmai: unto the Transcendence; visva-udbhava: creation of the cosmic manifestation; sthiti: maintenance; layesu: also destruction; nimitta: for the matter of; lîlâ: by such pastimes; râsâya: for enjoyment; te: unto You; namah: obeisances; idam: this; cakrma: do I perform; îsvarâya: unto the Supreme.

> > Let me offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Transcendence, who is eternally distinguished by His internal potency. His indistinguishable impersonal feature is realized by intelligence for self-realization. I offer my obeisances unto Him who by His pastimes enjoys the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic manifestation.

> > ******

> > Text 15

> > yasyâvatâra-guna-karma-vidambanâni

> > nâmâni ye 'su-vigame vivasâ grnanti

> > te 'naika-janma-samalam sahasaiva hitvâ

> > samyânty apâvrtâmrtam tam ajam prapadye

> > yasya: whose; avatâra: incarnations; guna: transcendental qualities; karma: activities; vidambanâni: all mysterious; nâmâni: transcendental names; ye: those; asu-vigame: while quitting this life; vivasâh: automatically; grnanti: invoke; te: they; anaika: many; janma: births; samalam: accumulated sins; sahasâ: immediately; eva: certainly; hitvâ: giving up; samyânti: obtain; apâvrta: open; amrtam: immortality; tam: Him; ajam: the unborn; prapadye: I take shelter.

> > Let me take shelter of the lotus feet of Him whose incarnations, qualities and activities are mysterious imitations of worldly affairs. One who invokes His transcendental names, even unconsciously, at the time he quits this life, is certainly washed immediately of the sins of many, many births and attains Him without fail.

> > ******

> > Text 16

> > yo vâ aham ca girisas ca vibhuh svayam ca

> > sthity-udbhava-pralaya-hetava âtma-mûlam

> > bhittvâ tri-pâd vavrdha eka uru-prarohas

> > tasmai namo bhagavate bhuvana-drumâya

> > yah: one who; vai: certainly; aham ca: also I; girisah ca: also Siva; vibhuh: the Almighty; svayam: personality (as Visnu); ca: and; sthiti: maintenance; udbhava: creation; pralaya: dissolution; hetavah: the causes; âtma-mûlam: self-rooted; bhittvâ: having penetrated; tri-pât: three trunks; vavrdhe: grew; ekah: one without a second; uru: many; prarohah: branches; tasmai: unto Him; namah: obeisances; bhagavate: unto the Personality of Godhead; bhuvana-drumâya: unto the tree of the planetary system.

> > Your Lordship is the prime root of the tree of the planetary systems. This tree has grown by first penetrating the material nature in three trunks-as me, Siva and You, the Almighty - for creation, maintenance and dissolution, and we three have grown with many branches. Therefore I offer my obeisances unto You, the tree of the cosmic manifestation.

> > ******

> > Text 17

> > loko vikarma-niratah kusale pramattah

> > karmany ayam tvad-udite bhavad-arcane sve

> > yas tâvad asya balavân iha jîvitâsâm

> > sadyas chinatty animisâya namo 'stu tasmai

> > lokah: people in general; vikarma: work without sense; niratah: engaged in; kusale: in beneficial activity; pramattah: negligent; karmani: in activity; ayam: this; tvat: by You; udite: enunciated; bhavat: of You; arcane: in worship; sve: their own; yah: who; tâvat: as long as; asya: of the people in general; balavân: very strong; iha: this; jîvita-âsâm: struggle for existence; sadyah: directly; chinatti: is cut to pieces; anumisâya: by the eternal time; namah: my obeisances; astu: let there be; tasmai: unto Him.

> > People in general all engage in foolish acts; not in the really beneficial activities enunciated directly by You for their guidance. As long as their tendency for foolish work remains powerful, all their plans in the struggle for existence will be cut to pieces. I therefore offer my obeisances unto Him who acts as eternal time.

> > ******

> > Text 18

> > yasmâd bibhemy aham api dviparârdha-dhisnyam

> > adhyâsitah sakala-loka-namaskrtam yat

> > tepe tapo bahu-savo 'varurutsamânas

> > tasmai namo bhagavate 'dhimakhâya tubhyam

> > yasmât: from whom; bibhemi: fear; aham: I; api: also; dvi-para-ardha: up to the limit of 4,300,000,000 x 2 x 30 x 12 x 100 solar years; dhisnyam: place; adhyâsitah: situated in; sakala-loka: all other planets; namaskrtam: honored by; yat: that; tepe: underwent; tapah: penances; bahu-savah: many, many years; avarurut-samânah: desiring to obtain You; tasmai: unto Him; namah: I do offer my obeisances; bhagavate: unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhimakhâya: unto Him who is the enjoyer of all sacrifices; tubhyam: unto Your Lordship.

> > Your Lordship, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You who are indefatigable time and the enjoyer of all sacrifices. Although I am situated in an abode which will continue to exist for a time duration of two parârdhas, although I am the leader of all other planets in the universe, and although I have undergone many, many years of penance for self-realization, still I offer my respects unto You.

> > ******

> > Text 19

> > tiryak-manusya-vibhudhâdisu jîva-yonisv

> > âtmecchayâtma-krta-setu-parîpsayâ yah

> > reme nirasta-visayo 'py avaruddha-dehas

> > tasmai namo bhagavate purusottamâya

> > tiryak: animals lower than human beings; manusya: human beings, etc.; vibudha-âdisu: amongst the demigods; jîva-yonisu: in different species of life; âtma: self; icchayâ: by the will; âtma-krta: selfcreated; setu: obligations; parîpsayâ: desiring to preserve; yah: who; reme: performing transcendental pastimes; nirasta: not being affected; visayah: material contamination; api: certainly; avaruddha: manifested; dehah: transcendental body; tasmai: unto Him; namah: my obeisances; bhagavate: unto the Personality of Godhead; purusottamâya: the primeval Lord.

> > O my Lord, by Your own will You appear in the various species of living entities, among animals lower than human beings as well as among the demigods, to perform Your transcendental pastimes. You are not affected by material contamination. You come just to fulfill the obligations of Your own principles of religion, and therefore, O Supreme Personality, I offer my obeisances unto You for manifesting such different forms.

> > ******

> > Text 20

> > yo 'vidyayânupahato 'pi dasârdha-vrttyâ

> > nidrâm uvâha jatharî-krta-loka-yâtrah

> > antar-jale 'hi-kasipu-sparsânukûlâm

> > bhîmormi-mâlini janasya sukham vivrnvan

> > yah: one; avidyayâ: influenced by nescience; anupahatah: without being affected; api: in spite of; dasa-ardha: five; vrttyâ: interaction; nidrâm: sleep; uvâha: accepted; jatharî: within the abdomen; krta: doing so; loka-yâtrah: maintenance of the different entities; antah-jale: within the water of devastation; ahi-kasipu: on the snake bed; sparsa-anukûlâm: happy for the touch; bhîma-ûrmi: violent waves; mâlini: chain of; janasya: of the intelligent person; sukham: happiness; vivrnvan: showing.

> > My Lord, You accept de pleasure of sleeping in the water of devastation, where there are violent waves, and You enjoy pleasure on the bed of snakes, showing the happiness of Your sleep to intelligent persons. At that time, all the universal planets are stationed within Your abdomen.

> > ******

> > Text 21

> > yan-nâbhi-padma-bhavanâd aham âsam îdya

> > loka-trayopakarano yad-anugrahena

> > tasmai namas ta udara-stha-bhavâya yoga-

> > nidrâvasâna-vikasan-nalineksanâya

> > yat: whose; nâbhi: navel; padma: lotus; bhavanât: from the house of; aham: I; âsam: became manifested; îdya: O worshipable one; loka-traya: the three worlds; upakaranah: helping in the creation of; yat: whose; anugrahena: by the mercy; tasmai: unto Him; namah: my obeisances; te: unto You; udara-stha: situated within the abdomen; bhavâya: having the universe; yoga-nidrâ-avasâna: after the end of that transcendental sleep; vikasat: blossoming; nalina-îksanâya: unto Him whose opening eyes are like lotuses.

> > O object of my worship, I am born from the house of Your lotus navel for the purpose of creating the universe by Your mercy. All these planets of the universe were stationed within Your transcendental abdomen while You were enjoying sleep. Now, Your sleep having ended, Your eyes are open like blossoming lotuses in the morning.

> > ******

> > Text 22

> > so 'yam samasta-jagatâm suhrd eka âtmâ

> > sattvena yan mrdayate bhagavân bhagena

> > tenaiva me drsam anusprsatâd yathâham

> > sraksyâmi pûrvavad idam pranata-priyo 'sau

> > sah: He; ayam: the Lord; samasta-jagatâm: of all the universes; suhrt ekah: the one friend and philosopher; âtmâ: the Supersoul; sattvena: by the mode of goodness; yat: one who; mrdayate: causes happiness; bhagavân: the Personality of Godhead; bhagena: with six opulences; tena: by Him; eva: certainly; me: to me; drsam: power of introspection; anuspratât: let Him give; yathâ: as; aham: I; sraksyâmi: will be able to create; pûrva-vat: as before; idam: this universe; pranata: surrendered; priyah: dear; asau: He (the Lord).

> > Let the Supreme Lord be merciful towards me. He is the one friend and soul of all living entities in the world, and He maintains all, for their ultimate happiness, by His six transcendental opulences. May He be merciful towards me so that I, as before, may be empowered with the introspection to create, for I am also one of the surrendered souls who are dear to the Lord.

> > ******

> > Text 23

> > esa prapanna-varado ramayâtma-saktyâ

> > yad yat karisyati grhîta-gunâvatârah

> > tasmin sva-vikramam idam srjato 'pi ceto

> > yunjîta karma-samalam ca yathâ vijahyâm

> > esah: this; prapanna: one who is surrendered; vara-dah: benefactor; ramayâ: enjoying always with the goddess of fortune (Laksmî); âtma-saktyâ: with His internal potency; yat yat: whatever; karisyati: He may act; grhîta: accepting; guna-avatârah: incarnation of the mode of goodness; tasmin: unto Him; sva-vikramam: with omnipotency; idam: this cosmic manifestation; srjatah: creating; api: in spite of; cetah: heart; yunjîta: be engaged; karma: work; samalam: material affections; ca: also; yathâ: as much as; vijahyâm: I can give up.

> > The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, is always the benefactor of the surrendered souls. His activities are always enacted through His internal potency, Tamâ, or the goddess of fortune. I pray only to engage in His service in the creation of the material world, and I pray that I not be materially affected by my works, for thus I may be able to give up the false prestige of being the creator.

> > ******

> > Text 24

> > nâbhi-hradâd iha sato 'mbhasi yasya pumso

> > vijnâna-saktir aham âsam anata-sakteh

> > rûpam vicitram idam asya vivrnvato me

> > mâ rîrisîsta nigamasya girâm visargah

> > nâbhi-hradât: from the navel lake; iha: in this millennium; satah: lying; ambhasi: in the water; yasya: one whose; pumsah: of the Personality of Godhead; vijnâna: of the total universe; saktih: energy; aham: I; âsam: was born; ananta: unlimited; sakteh: of the powerful; rûpam: form; vicitram: variegated; idam: this; asya: His; vivrnvatah: manifesting; me: unto me; mâ: may not; rîrisîsta: vanish; nigamasya: of the Vedas; girâm: of the sounds; visargah: vibration.

> > The Lord's potencies are innumerable. As He lies down in the water of devastation, I am born as the total universal energy from the navel lake in which the lotus sprouts. I am now engaged in manifesting His diverse energies in the form of the cosmic manifestation. I therefore pray that in the course of my material activities I may not be deviated from the vibration of the Vedic hymns.

> > *******

> > Text 25

> > so 'sâv adabhra-karuno bhagavân vivrddha-

> > prema-smitena nayanâmburuham vijrmbhan

> > utthâya visva-vijayâya ca no visâdam

> > mâdhvyâ girâpanayatât purusah purânah

> > sah: He (the Lord); asau: that; adabhra: unlimited; karunah: merciful; bhagavân: the Personality of Godhead; vivrddha: excessive; prema: love; smitena: by smiling; nayana-amburuham: the lotus eyes; vijrmbhan: by opening; utthâya: for flourishing; visva-vijayâya: for glorifying the cosmic creation; ca: as also; nah: our; visâdam: dejection; mâdhvyâ: by sweet; girâ: words; apanayatât: let Him kindly remove; purusah: the Supreme; purânah: oldest.

> > The Lord, who is supreme and is the oldest of all, is unlimitedly merciful. I wish that He may smilingly bestow His benediction upon me by opening His lotus eyes. He can uplift the entire cosmic creation and remove our dejection by kindly speaking His directions.

> > ******

> > Text 26

> > maitreya uvâca

> > sva-sambhavam nisamyaivam

> > tapo-vidyâ-samâdhibhih

> > yâvan mano-vacah stutvâ

> > virarâma sa khinnavat

> > maitreyah uvâca: the great sage Maitreya said; sva-sambhavam: the source of his appearance; nisâmya: by seeing; evam: thus; tapah: penance; vidyâ: knowledge; samâdhibhih: as also by concentration of the mind; yâvat: as far as possible; manah: mind; vacah: words; stutvâ: having prayed; virarâma: became silent; sah: he (Brahmâ); khinna-vat: as if tired.

> > The sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, after observing the source of his appearance, namely the Personality of Godhead, Brahmâ prayed for His mercy as far as his mind and words would permit him. Thus having prayed, he became silent, as if tired from his activities of penance, knowledge and mental concentration.

> > ******

> > Text 27 and Text 28

> > athâbhipretam anvîksya

> > brahmano madhusûdanah

> > visanna-cetasam tena

> > kalpa-vyatikarâmbhasâ

> > loka-samsthâna-vijnâna

> > âtmanah parikhidyatah

> > tam âhâgâdhayâ vâcâ

> > kasmalam samayann iva

> > atha: thereupon; abhipretam: intention; anvîksya: observing; brahmanah: of Brahmâ; madhusûdhana: the killer of the Madhu demon; visanna: depressed; cetasam: of the heart; tena: by him; kalpa: millennium; vyatikara-ambhasâ: devastating water; loka-samsthâna: situation of the planetary system; vijnâne: in the science; âtmanah: of himself; parikhidyatah: sufficiently anxious; tam: unto him; âha: said; agâdhayâ: deeply thoughtful; vâcâ: by words; kasmalam: impurities; samayan: removing; iva: like that.

> > The Lord saw that Brahmâ was very anxious about the planning and construction of the different planetary systems and was depressed upon seeing the devastating water. He could understand the intention of Brahmâ, and thus He spoke in deep, thoughtful words, removing all the illusion that had arisen.

> > ******

> > Text 29

> > srî-bhagavân uvâca

> > mâ veda-garbha gâs tandrîm

> > sarga udyamam âvaha

> > tan mayâpâditam hy agre

> > yan mâm prâthayate bhavân

> > srî-bhagavân uvâca: the Lord, the Personality of Godhead, said; mâ: do not; veda-garbha: O You who have the depth of all Vedic wisdom; gâh tandrîm: become dejected; sarge: for creation; udyamam: enterprises; âvaha: you just undertake; tat: that (which you want); mayâ: by Me; âpâditam: executed; hi: certainly; agre: previously; yat: which; mâm: from Me; prârthayate: begging; bhavân: you.

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead then said; O Brahmâ, O depth of Vedic wisdom, be neither depressed nor anxious about the execution of creation. What you are begging from Me has already been granted before.

> > ******

> > Text 30

> > bhûyas tvam tapa âtistha

> > vidyâm caiva mad-âsrayâm

> > tâbhyâm antar-hrdi brahman

> > lokân draksyasy apâvrtân

> > bhûyah: again; tvam: yourself; tapah: penance; âtistha: be situated; vidyâm: in the knowledge; ca: also; eva: certainly; mat: My; âsrayâm: under the protection; tâbhyâm: by those qualifications; antah: within; hrdi: in the heart; brahman: O brâhmana; lokân: all the worlds; draksyasi: you will see; apâvrtân: all disclosed.

> > O Brahmâ, situate yourself in penance and meditation and follow the principles of knowledge to receive My favor. By these actions you will be able to understand everything from within your heart.

> > ******

> > Text 31

> > tata âtmani loke ca

> > bhakti-yuktah samâhitah

> > drastâsi mâm tatam brahman

> > mayi lokâms tvam âtmanah

> > tatah: thereafter; âtmani: in yourself; loke: in the universe; ca: also; bhakti-yuktah: being situated in devotional service; samâhitah: being completely absorbed; drastâ asi: you shall see; mâm: Me; tatam: spread throughout; brahman: O Brahmâ: mayi: in Me; lokân: all the universe; tvam: you; âtmanah: the living entities.

> > O Brahmâ, when you are absorbed in devotional service, in the course of your creative activities, you will see Me in you and throughout the universe, and you will see that you yourself, the universe and the living entities are all in Me.

> > ******

> > Text 32

> > yadâ tu sarva-bhûtesu

> > dârusv agnim iva sthitam

> > praticaksîta mâm loko

> > jahyât tarhy eva kasmalam

> > yadâ: when; tu: but; sarva: all; bhûtesu: in the living entities; dârusu: in wood; agnim: fire; iva: like; sthitam: situated; praticaksîta: you shall see; mâm: Me; lokah: and the universe; jahyât: can give up; tarhi: then at once; eva: certainly; kasmalam: illusion.

> > You will see Me in all living entities as well as all over the universe, just as fire is situated in wood. Only in that state of transcendental vision will you be able to be free from all kinds of illusion.

> > ******

> > Text 33

> > Yadâ rahitam âtmânam

> > Bhûtendriya-gunâsayaih

> > Svarûpena mayopetam

> > Pasyan svârâjyam rcchati

> > Yadâ: when; rahitam: freed from; âtmânam: self; bhûta: material elements; indriya: material senses; guna-âsayaih: under the influence of the material modes of nature; svarûpena: in pure existence; mayâ: by Me; upetam: approaching; pasyan: by seeing; svârâjyam: spiritual kingdom; rcchati: enjoy.

> > When you are free from the conception of gross and subtle bodies and when your senses are free from all influences of the modes of material nature, you will realize your pure form in My association. At that time you will be situated in pure consciousness.

> > ******

> > Text 34

> > nânâ-karma-vitânena

> > prajâ bahvîh sisrksatah

> > nâtmâvasîdaty asmims te

> > varsîyân mad-anugrahah

> > nânâ-karma: varieties of service; vitânena: by expansion of; prajâh: population; bahvîh: innumerable; sisrksatah: desiring to increase; na: never; âtmâ: self; avasîdati: will be bereaved; asmin: in the matter; te: of you; varsîyân: always increasing; mat: My; anugrahah: causeless mercy.

> > Since you have desired to increase the population innumerably and expand your varieties of service, you shall never be deprived in this matter because My causeless mercy upon you will always increase for all time.

> > ******

> > Text 35

> > rsim âdyam na badhnâti

> > pâpîyâms tvâm rajo-gunah

> > yan mano mayi nirbaddham

> > prajâh samsrjato 'pi te

> > rsim: unto the great sage; âdyam: the first of the kind; na: never; badhnâti: encroaches; pâpîyân: vicious; tvâm: you; rajah-gunah: the material mode of passion; yat: because; manah: mind; mayi: in Me; nirbaddham: compact in; prajâh: progeny; samsrjatah: generating; api: in spite of; te: your.

> > You are the original rsi, and because your mind is always fixed on Me, even though you will be engaged in generating various progeny, the vicious mode of passion will never encroach upon you.

> > ******

> > Text 36

> > jnâto 'ham bhavatâ tv adya

> > durvijneyo 'pi dehinâm

> > yan mâm tvam manyase yuktam

> > bhûtendriya-gunâtmabhih

> > jnâtah: known; aham: Myself; bhavatâ: by you; tu: but; adya: today; duh: difficult; vijneyah: to be known; api: in spite of; dehinâm: for the conditioned soul; yat: because; mâm: Me; tvam: you; manyase: understand; ayuktam: without being made of; bhûta: material elements; indriya: material senses; guna: material modes; âtmabhih: and false ego like the conditioned soul.

> > Although I am not easily knowable by the conditioned soul, you have known Me today because you know that My personality is not constituted of anything material, and specifically not of the five gross and three subtle elements.

> > ******

> > Text 37

> > tubhyam mad-vicikitsayam

> > atma me darsito 'bahih

> > nalena salile mulam

> > puskarasya vicinvatah

> > tubhyam: unto you; mat: Me; vicikitsayam: on your trying to know; atma: self; me: of Myself; darsitah: exhibited; abahih: from within; nalena: through the stem; salile: in the water; mulam: root; puskarasya: of the lotus, the primeval source; vicinvatah: contemplating.

> > When you were contemplating whether there was a source to the stem of the lotus of your birth and you even entered into that stem, you could not trace out anything. But at that time I manifested My form from within.

> > ******

> > Text 38

> > yac cakarthanga mat-stotram

> > mat-kathabhyudayankitam

> > yad va tapasi te nistha

> > sa esa mad-anugrahah

> > yat: that which; cakartha: performed; anga: O Brahma; mat-stotram: prayers for Me; mat-katha: words regarding My activities; abhyudaya-ankitam: enumerating My transcendental glories; yat: or that; va: either; tapasi: in penance; te: your; nistha: faith; sah: that; esah: all these; mat: My; anugrahah: causeless mercy.

> > O Brahma, the prayers that you have chanted praising the glories of My transcendental activities, the penances you have undertaken to understand Me, and your firm faith in Me: all these are to be considered My causeless mercy.

> > ******

> > Text 39

> > prito 'ham astu bhadram te

> > lokanam vijayecchaya

> > yad astausir gunamayam

> > nirgunam manuvarnayan

> > pritah: pleased; aham: Myself; astu: let it be so; bhadram: all benediction; te: unto you; lokanam: of the planets; vijaya: for glorification; icchaya: by your desire; yat: that which; astausih: you prayed for; guna-mayam: describing all transcendental qualities; nirgunam: although I am free from all material qualities; ma: Me; anuvarnayan: nicely describing.

> > I am very much pleased by your description of Me in terms of My transcendental qualities, which appear mundane to the mundaners. I grant you all benedictions in your desire to glorify all the planets by your activities.

> > ******

> > Text 40

> > ya etena puman nityam

> > stutva stotrena mam bhajet

> > tasyasu samprasideyam

> > sarva-kama-varesvarah

> > yah: anyone who; etena: by this; puman: human being; nityam: regularly; stutva: praying; stotrena: by the verses; mam: Me; bhajet: may worship; tasya: his; asu: very soon; samprasideyam: I shall fulfill; sarva: all; kama: desires; vara-isvarah: the Lord of all benediction.

> > Any human being who prays like Brahmâ, and who thus worships Me, shall very soon be blessed with the fulfillment of all his desires, for I am the Lord of all benediction.

> > ******

> > Text 41

> > purtena tapasa yajnair

> > danair yoga-samadhina

> > raddham nihsreyasam pumsam

> > mat-pritis tattvavin-matam

> > purtena: by traditional good work; tapasa: by penances; yajnaih: by sacrifices; danaih: by charities; yoga: by mysticism; samadhina: by trance; raddham: success; nihsreyasam: ultimately beneficial; pumsam: of the human being; mat: of Me; pritih: satisfaction; tattva-vit: expert transcendentalist; matam: opinion.

> > It is the opinion of expert transcendentalists that the ultimate goal of performing all traditional good works, penances, sacrifices, charities, mystic activities, trances, etc., is to invoke My satisfaction.

> > ******

> > Text 42

> > aham atmatmanam dhatah

> > presthah san preyasam api

> > ato mayi ratim kuryad

> > dehadir yat-krte priyah

> > aham: I am; atma: the Supersoul; atmanam: of all other souls; dhatah: director; presthah: the dearest; san: being; preyasam: of all dear things; api: certainly; atah: therefore; mayi: unto Me; ratim: attachment; kuryat: one should do; deha-adih: the body and mind; yat-krte: on whose account; priyah: very dear.

> > I am the Supersoul of every individual. I am the supreme director and the dearest. People are wrongly attached to the gross and subtle bodies, but they should be attached to Me only.

> > *******

> > Text 43

> > sarva-veda-mayenedam

> > atmanatmatma-yonina

> > prajah srja yatha-purvam

> > yas ca mayy anuserate

> > sarva: all; veda-mayena: under complete Vedic wisdom; idam: this; atmana: by the body; atma: you; atma-yonina: directly born of the Lord; prajah: living entities; srja: generate; yatha-purvam: as it was hereinbefore; yah: which; ca: also; mayi: in Me; anuserate: lie.

> > By following My instructions you can now generate the living entities as before, by dint of your complete Vedic wisdom and the body you have directly received from Me, the supreme cause of everything.

> > *******

> > Text 44

> > maitreya uvaca

> > tasma evam jagat-srastre

> > pradhana-purusesvarah

> > vyajyedam svena rupena

> > kanja-nabhas tirodadhe

> > maitreyah uvaca: the sage Maitreya said; tasmai: unto him; evam: thus; jagat-srastre: unto the creator of the universe; pradhana-purusa-isvarah: the primeval Lord, the Personality of Godhead; vyajya idam: after instructing this; svena: in His person; rupena: by the form; kanja-nabhah: the Personality of Godhead Narayana; tirodadhe: disappeared.

> > The sage Maitreya said: After instructing Brahma, the creator of the universe, to expand, the primeval Lord, the Personality of Godhead in His personal form as Narayana, disappeared.

> > Back to the running text