> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4
> > 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)

> > Canto 4 Part 1

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

> > Chapter Seven:The Sacrifice Performed by Daksa

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > maitreya uvaca

> > ity ajenanunitena

> > bhavena paritusyata

> > abhyadhayi maha-baho

> > prahasya sruyatam iti

> > maitreyah--Maitreya; uvaca--said; iti--thus; ajena--by Lord Brahma; anunitena--pacified; bhavena--by Lord Siva; paritusyata--fully satisfied; abhyadhayi--said; maha-baho--O Vidura; prahasya--smiling; sruyatam--listen; iti--thus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage Maitreya said: O mighty-armed Vidura, Lord Siva, being thus pacified by the words of Lord Brahma, spoke as follows in answer to Lord Brahma's request.

> > *******

> > TEXT 2

> > mahadeva uvaca

> > nagham prajesa balanam

> > varnaye nanucintaye

> > deva-mayabhibhutanam

> > dandas tatra dhrto maya

> > mahadevah--Lord Siva; uvaca--said; na--not; agham--offense; praja-ia--O lord of created beings; balanam--of the children; varnaye--I regard; na--not; anucintaye--I consider; deva-maya--the external energy of the Lord; abhibhutanam--of those deluded by; dandah--rod; tatra--there; dhrtah--used; maya--by me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Siva said: My dear father, Brahma, I do not mind the offenses created by the demigods. Because these demigods are childish and less intelligent, I do not take a serious view of their offenses, and I have punished them only in order to right them.

> > *******

> > TEXT 3

> > prajapater dagdha-sirsno

> > bhavatv aja-mukham sirah

> > mitrasya caksusekseta

> > bhagam svam barhis obhagah

> > prajapateh--of Prajapati Daksa; dagdha-sirsnah--whose head has been burned to ashes; bhavatu--let there be; aja-mukham--with the face of a goat; sirah--a head; mitrasya--of Mitra; caksusa--through the eyes; ikseta--may see; bhagam--share; svam--his own; barhisah--of the sacrifice; bhagah--Bhaga.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Siva continued: Since the head of Daksa has already been burned to ashes, he will have the head of a goat. The demigod known as Bhaga will be able to see his share of sacrifice through the eyes of Mitra.

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > pusa tu yajamanasya

> > dadbhir jaksatu pista-bhuk

> > devah prakrta-sarvanga

> > ye ma ucchesanam daduh

> > pusa--Pusa; tu--but; yajamanasya--of the performer of the sacrifice; dadbhih--with the teeth; jaksatu--chew; pista-bhuk--eating flour; devah--the demigods; prakrta--made; sarva-angah--complete; ye--who; me--unto me; ucchesanam--a share of the sacrifice; daduh--gave.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The demigod Pusa will be able to chew only through the teeth of his disciples, and if alone, he will have to satisfy himself by eating dough made from chickpea flour. But the demigods who have agreed to give me my share of the sacrifice will recover from all their injuries.

> > *******

> > TEXT 5

> > bahubhyam asvinoh pusno

> > hastabhyam krta-bahavah

> > bhavantv adhvaryavas canye

> > basta-smasrur bhrgur bhavet

> > bahubhyam--with two arms; asvinoh--of Asvini-kumara; pusnah--of Pusa; hastabhyam--with two hands; krta-bahavah--those in need of arms; bhavantu--they will have to; adhvaryavah--the priests; ca--and; anye--others; basta-smasruh--the beard of the goat; bhrguh--Bhrgu; bhavet--he may have.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Those who have had their arms cut off will have to work with the arms of Asvini-kumara, and those whose hands were cut off will have to do their work with the hands of Pusa. The priests will also have to act in that manner. As for Bhrgu, he will have the beard from the goat's head.

> > *******

> > TEXT 6

> > maitreya uvaca

> > tada sarvani bhutani

> > srutva midhustamoditam

> > paritustatmabhis tata

> > sadhu sadhv ity athabruvan

> > maitreyah--the sage Maitreya; uvaca--said; tada--at that time; sarvani--all; bhutani--personalities; srutva--after hearing; midhuhtama--the best of the benedictors (Lord Siva); uditam--spoken by; paritusta--being satisfied; atmabhih--by heart and soul; tata--my dear Vidura; sadhu sadhu--well done, well done; iti--thus; atha abruvan--as we have said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, all the personalities present were very much satisfied in heart and soul upon hearing the words of Lord Siva, who is the best among the benedictors.

> > *******

> > TEXT 7

> > tato midhvamsam amantrya

> > sunasirah saharsibhih

> > bhuyas tad deva-yajanam

> > sa-midhvad-vedhaso yayuh

> > tatah--thereafter; midhvamsam--Lord Siva; amantrya--inviting; sunasirah--the demigods headed by King Indra; saha rsibhih--with all the great sages, headed by Bhrgu; bhuyah--again; tat--that; deva-yajanam--place where the demigods are worshiped; sa-midhvat--with Lord Siva; vedhasah--with Lord Brahma; yayuh--went.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Bhrgu, the chief of the great sages, invited Lord Siva to come to the sacrificial arena. Thus the demigods, accompanied by the sages, Lord Siva, and Lord Brahma, all went to the place where the great sacrifice was being performed.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8

> > vidhaya kartsnyena ca tad

> > yad aha bhagavan bhavah

> > sandadhuh kasya kayena

> > savaniya-pasoh sirah

> > vidhaya--executing; kartsnyena--all in all; ca--also; tat--that; yat--which; aha--was said; bhagavan--the Lord; bhavah--Siva; sandadhuh--executed; kasya--of the living (Daksa); kayena--with the body; savaniya--meant for sacrifice; pasoh--of the animal; sirah--head.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After everything was executed exactly as directed by Lord Siva, Daksa's body was joined to the head of the animal meant to be killed in the sacrifice.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9

> > sandhiyamane sirasi

> > dakso rudrabhiviksitah

> > sadyah supta ivottasthau

> > dadrse cagrato mrdam

> > sandhiyamane--being executed; sirasi--by the head; daksah--King Daksa; rudra-abhiviksitah--having been seen by Rudra (Lord Siva); sadyah--immediately; supte--sleeping; iva--like; uttasthau--awakened; dadrse--saw; ca--also; agratah--in front; mrdam--Lord Siva.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the animal's head was fixed on the body of King Daksa, Daksa was immediately brought to consciousness, and as he awakened from sleep, the King saw Lord Siva standing before him.

> > *******

> > TEXT 10

> > tada vrsadhvaja-dvesa-

> > kalilatma prajapatih

> > sivavalokad abhavac

> > charad-dhrada ivamalah

> > tada--at that time; vrsa-dhvaja--Lord Siva, who rides on a bull; dvesa--envy; kalila-atma--polluted heart; prajapatih--King Daksa; siva--Lord Siva; avalokat--by seeing him; abhavat--became; sarat--in the autumn; hradah--lake; iva--like; amalah--cleansed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At that time, when Daksa saw Lord Siva, who rides upon a bull, his heart, which was polluted by envy of Lord Siva, was immediately cleansed, just as the water in a lake is cleansed by autumn rains.

> > *******

> > TEXT 11

> > bhava-stavaya krta-dhir

> > nasaknod anuragatah

> > autkanthyad baspa-kalaya

> > samparetam sutam smaran

> > bhava-stavaya--for praying to Lord Siva; krta-dhih--although decided; na--never; asaknot--was able; anuragatah--by feeling; autkanthyat--because of eagerness; baspa-kalaya--with tears in the eyes; samparetam--dead; sutam--daughter; smaran--remembering.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Daksa wanted to offer prayers to Lord Siva, but as he remembered the ill-fated death of his daughter Sati, his eyes filled with tears, and in bereavement his voice choked up, and he could not say anything.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > krcchrat samstabhya ca manah

> > prema-vihvalitah sudhih

> > sasamsa nirvyalikena

> > bhavenesam prajapatih

> > krcchrat--with great endeavor; samstabhya--pacifying; ca--also; manah--mind; prema-vihvalitah--bewildered by love and affection; su-dhih--one who has come to his real senses; sasamsa--praised; nirvyalikena--without duplicity, or with great love; bhavena--in feeling; iam--to Lord Siva; prajapatih--King Daksa.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At this time, King Daksa, afflicted by love and affection, was very much awakened to his real senses. With great endeavor, he pacified his mind, checked his feelings, and with pure consciousness began to offer prayers to Lord Siva.

> > *******

> > TEXT 13

> > daksa uvaca

> > bhuyan anugraha aho bhavata krto me

> > dandas tvaya mayi bhrto yad api pralabdhah

> > na brahma-bandhusu ca vam bhagavann avajna

> > tubhyam hares ca kuta eva dhrta-vratesu

> > daksah--King Daksa; uvaca--said; bhuyan--very great; anugrahah--favor; aho--alas; bhavata--by you; krtah--done; me--upon me; dandah--punishment; tvaya--by you; mayi--unto me; bhrtah--done; yat api--although; pralabdhah--defeated; na--neither; brahma-bandhusu--unto an unqualified brahmana; ca--also; vam--both of you; bhagavan--my lord; avajna--negligence; tubhyam--of you; hareh ca--of Lord Visnu; kutah--where; eva--certainly; dhrta-vratesu--one who is engaged in the performance of sacrifice.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Daksa said: My dear Lord Siva, I committed a great offense against you, but you are so kind that instead of withdrawing your mercy, you have done me a great favor by punishing me. You and Lord Visnu never neglect even useless, unqualified brahmanas. Why, then, should you neglect me, who am engaged in performing sacrifices?

> > *******

> > TEXT 14

> > vidya-tapo-vrata-dharan mukhatah sma vipran

> > brahmatma-tattvam avitum prathamam tvam asrak

> > tad brahmanan parama sarva-vipatsu pasi

> > palah pasun iva vibho pragrhita-dandah

> > vidya--learning; tapah--austerities; vrata--vows; dharan--the followers; mukhatah--from the mouth; sma--was; vipran--the brahmanas; brahma--Lord Brahma; atma-tattvam--self-realization; avitum--to disseminate; prathamam--first; tvam--you; asrak--created; tat--therefore; brahmanan--the brahmanas; parama--O great one; sarva--all; vipatsu--in dangers; pasi--you protect; palah--like the protector; pasun--the animals; iva--like; vibho--O great one; pragrhita--taking in hand; dandah--a stick.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear great and powerful Lord Siva, you were created first from the mouth of Lord Brahma in order to protect the brahmanas in pursuing education, austerities, vows and self-realization. As protector of the brahmanas, you always protect the regulative principles they follow, just as a cowherd boy keeps a stick in his hand to give protection to the cows.

> > *******

> > TEXT 15

> > yo 'sau mayavidita-tattva-drsa sabhayam

> > ksipto durukti-viikhair viganayya tan mam

> > arvak patantani a rhattama-nindayapad

> > drstyardraya sa bhagavan sva-krtena tusyet

> > yah--who; asau--that; maya--by me; avidita-tattva--without knowing the actual fact; drsa--by experience; sabhayam--in the assembly; ksiptah--was abused; durukti--unkind words; viikhaih--by the arrows of; viganayya--taking no notice of; tat--that; mam--me; arvak--downwards; patantam--gliding down to hell; arhat-tama--the most respectable; nindaya--by defamation; apat--saved; drstya--seeing; ardraya--out of compassion; sah--that; bhagavan--Your Lordship; sva-krtena--by your own mercy; tusyet--be satisfied.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I did not know your full glories. For this reason, I threw arrows of sharp words at you in the open assembly, although you did not take them into account. I was going down to hell because of my disobedience to you, who are the most respectable personality, but you took compassion upon me and saved me by awarding punishment. I request that you be pleased by your own mercy, since I cannot satisfy you by my words.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > maitreya uvaca

> > ksamapyaivam sa midhvamsam

> > brahmana canumantritah

> > karma santanayam asa

> > sopadhyayartvig-adibhih

> > maitreyah--the sage Maitreya; uvaca--said; ksama--forgiveness; apya--receiving; evam--thus; sah--King Daksa; midhvamsam--unto Lord Siva; brahmana--along with Lord Brahma; ca--also; anumantritah--being permitted; karma--the sacrifice; santanayam asa--began again; sa--along with; upadhyaya--learned sages; rtvik--the priests; adibhih--and others.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya said: Thus being pardoned by Lord Siva, King Daksa, with the permission of Lord Brahma, again began the performance of the yajna, along with the great learned sages, the priests and others.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > vaisnavam yajna-santatyai

> > tri-kapalam dvijottamah

> > purodasam niravapan

> > vira-samsa rga-suddhaye

> > vaisnavam--meant for Lord Visnu or His devotees; yajna--sacrifice; santatyai--for performances; tri-kapalam--three kinds of offerings; dvija-uttamah--the best of the brahmanas; purodasam--the oblation called purodasa; niravapan--offered; vira--Virabhadra and other followers of Lord Siva; samsarga--contamination (dosa) due to his touching; suddhaye--for purification.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, in order to resume the activities of sacrifice, the brahmanas first arranged to purify the sacrificial arena of the contamination caused by the touch of Virabhadra and the other ghostly followers of Lord Siva. Then they arranged to offer into the fire the oblations known as purodaa.

> > *******

> > TEXT 18

> > adhvaryunatta-havisa

> > yajamano visampate

> > dhiya viuddhaya dadhyau

> > tatha pradurabhud dharih

> > adhvaryuna--with the Yajur Veda; atta--taking; havisa--with clarified butter; yajamanah--King Daksa; visam-pate--O Vidura; dhiya--in meditation; viuddhaya--sanctified; dadhyau--offered; tatha--immediately; praduh--manifest; abhut--became; harih--Hari, the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya said to Vidura: My dear Vidura, as soon as King Daksa offered the clarified butter with Yajur Veda mantras in sanctified meditation, Lord Visnu appeared there in His original form as Narayana.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > tada sva-prabhaya tesam

> > dyotayantya diso dasa

> > musnams teja upanitas

> > tarksyena stotra-vajina

> > tada--at that time; sva-prabhaya--by His own effulgence; tesam--all of them; dyotayantya--by brightness; disah--directions; dasa--ten; musnan--diminishing; tejah--effulgence; upanitah--brought; tarksyena--by Garuda; stotra-vajina--whose wings are called Brhat and Rathantara.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Narayana was seated on the shoulder of Stotra, or Garuda, who had big wings. As soon as the Lord appeared, all directions were illuminated, diminishing the luster of Brahma and the others present.

> > *******

> > TEXT 20

> > syamo hiranya-rasano 'rka-kirita-justo

> > nilalaka-bhramara-mandita-kundalasyah

> > sankhabja-cakra-sara-capa-gadasi-carma-

> > vyagrair hiranmaya-bhujair iva karnikarah

> > syamah--blackish; hiranya-rasanah--a garment like gold; arka-kirita-justah--with a helmet as dazzling as the sun; nila-alaka--bluish curls; bhramara--big black bees; manddita-kundala-asyah--having a face decorated with earrings; sankha--conchshell; abja--lotus flower; cakra--wheel; sara--arrows; capa--bow; gada--club; asi--sword; carma--shield; vyagraih--filled with; hiranmaya--golden (bracelets and bangles); bhujaih--with hands; iva--as; karnikarah--flower tree.

> > TRANSLATION

> > His complexion was blackish, His garment yellow like gold, and His helmet as dazzling as the sun. His hair was bluish, the color of black bees, and His face was decorated with earrings. His eight hands held a conchshell, wheel, club, lotus flower, arrow, bow, shield and sword, and they were decorated with golden ornaments such as bangles and bracelets. His whole body resembled a blossoming tree beautifully decorated with various kinds of flowers.

> > *******

> > TEXT 21

> > vaksasy adhirita-vadhur vana-maly udara-

> > hasavaloka-kalaya ramayams ca vinam

> > parsva-bhramad-vyajana-camara-raja-hamsah

> > svetatapatra-sasinopari rajyamanah

> > vaksasi--on the chest; adhirita--situated; vadhuh--a woman (the goddess of fortune, Laksmi); vana-mali--garlanded with forest flowers; udara--beautiful; hasa--smiling; avaloka--glance; kalaya--with a small part; ramayan--pleasing; ca--and; vinam--the whole world; parsva--side; bhramat--moving back and forth; vyajana-camara--white yak-tail hair for fanning; raja-hamsah--swan; sveta-atapatra-sasina--with a white canopy like the moon; upari--above; rajyamanah--looking beautiful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Visnu looked extraordinarily beautiful because the goddess of fortune and a garland were situated on His chest. His face was beautifully decorated with a smiling attitude which can captivate the entire world, especially the devotees. Fans of white hair appeared on both sides of the Lord like white swans, and the white canopy overhead looked like the moon.

> > *******

> > TEXT 22

> > tam upagatam alaksya

> > sarve sura-ganadayah

> > pranemuh sahasotthaya

> > brahmendra-tryaksa-nayakah

> > tam--Him; upagatam--arrived; alaksya--after seeing; sarve--all; sura-gana-adayah--the demigods and others; pranemuh--obeisances; sahasa--immediately; utthaya--after standing up; brahma--Lord Brahma; indra--Lord Indra; tri-aksa--Lord Siva (who has three eyes); nayakah--led by.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As soon as Lord Visnu was visible, all the demigods--Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, the Gandharvas and all present there--immediately offered their respectful obeisances by falling down straight before Him.

> > *******

> > TEXT 23

> > tat-tejasa hata-rucah

> > sanna jihvah sa-sadhvasah

> > murdhna dhrtanjali-puta

> > upatasthur adhoksajam

> > tat-tejasa--by the glaring effulgence of His body; hata-rucah--having faded lusters; sanna jihvah--having silent tongues; sa-sadhvasah--having fear of Him; murdhna--with the head; dhrta-anjali-putah--with hands touched to the head; upatasthuh--prayed; adhoksajam--to Adhoksaja, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the presence of the glaring effulgence of the bodily luster of Narayana, everyone else's luster faded away, and everyone stopped speaking. Fearful with awe and veneration, all present touched their hands to their heads and prepared to offer their prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Adhoksaja.

> > *******

> > TEXT 24

> > apy arvag-vrttayo yasya

> > mahi tv atmabhuv-adayah

> > yatha-mati grnanti sma

> > krtan ugraha-vigraham

> > api--still; arvak-vrttayah--beyond the mental activities; yasya--whose; mahi--glory; tu--but; atmabhu-adayah--Brahma, etc.; yatha--mati--according to their different capacities; grnanti sma--offered prayers; krta-anugraha--manifested by His grace; vigraham--transcendental form.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although the mental scope of even demigods like Brahma was unable to comprehend the unlimited glories of the Supreme Lord, they were all able to perceive the transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His grace. Only by such grace could they offer their respectful prayers according to their different capacities.

> > *******

> > TEXT 25

> > dakso grhitarhana-sadanottamam

> > yajnesvaram vina-srjam param gurum

> > sunanda-nandady-anugair vrtam muda

> > grnan prapede prayatah krtanjalih

> > daksah--Daksa; grhita--accepted; arhana--rightful; sadana-uttamam--sacrificial vessel; yajna-inaram--unto the master of all sacrifices; vina-srjam--of all the Prajapatis; param--the supreme; gurum--preceptor; sunanda-nanda-adi-anugaih--by associates like Sunanda and Nanda; vrtam--surrounded; muda--with great pleasure; grnan--offering respectful prayers; prapede--took shelter; prayatah--having a subdued mind; krta-anjalih--with folded hands.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Lord Visnu accepted the oblations offered in the sacrifice, Daksa, the Prajapati, began with great pleasure to offer respectful prayers unto Him. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the master of all sacrifices and preceptor of all the Prajapatis, and He is served even by such personalities as Nanda and Sunanda.

> > *******

> > TEXT 26

> > daksa uvaca

> > suddham sva-dhamny uparatakhila-buddhy-avastham

> > cin-matram ekam abhayam pratisidhya mayam

> > tisthams tayaiva purusatvam upetya tasyam

> > aste bhavan apariuddha ivatma-tantrah

> > daksah--Daksa; uvaca--said; suddham--pure; sva-dhamni--in Your own abode; uparata-akhila--completely turned back; buddhi-avastham--position of mental speculation; cit-matram--completely spiritual; ekam--one without a second; abhayam--fearless; pratis idhya--controlling; mayam--material energy; tisthan--being situated; taya--with her (Maya); eva--certainly; purusatvam--overseer; upetya--entering into; tasyam--in her; aste--is present; bhavan--Your Lordship; apariuddhah--impure; iva--as if; atma-tantrah--self-sufficient.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Daksa addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead: My dear Lord, You are transcendental to all speculative positions. You are completely spiritual, devoid of all fear, and You are always in control of the material energy. Even though You appear in the material energy, You are situated transcendentally. You are always free from material contamination because You are completely self-sufficient.

> > *******

> > TEXT 27

> > rtvija ucuh

> > tattvam na te vayam ananjana rudra-sapat

> > karmany avagraha-dhiyo bhagavan vidamah

> > dharmopalaksanam idam trivrd adhvarakhyam

> > jnatam yad-artham adhidaivam ado vyavasthah

> > rtvijah--the priests; ucuh--began to say; tattvam--truth; na--not; te--of Your Lordship; vayam--all of us; ananjana--without material contamination; rudra--Lord Siva; sapat--by his curse; karmani--in fruitive activities; avagraha--being too much attached; dhiyah--of such intelligence; bhagavan--O Lord; vidamah--know; dharma--religion; upalaksanam--symbolized; idam--this; tri-vrt--the three departments of knowledge of the Vedas; adhvara--sacrifice; akhyam--of the name; jnatam--known to us; yat--that; artham--for the matter of; adhidaivam--for worshiping the demigods; adah--this; vyavasthah--arrangement.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The priests addressed the Lord, saying: O Lord, transcendental to material contamination, by the curse offered by Lord Siva's men we have become attached to fruitive activities, and thus we are now fallen and therefore do not know anything about You. On the contrary, we are now involved in the injunctions of the three departments of the Vedic knowledge under the plea of executing rituals in the name of yajna. We know that You have made arrangements for distributing the respective shares of the demigods.

> > *******

> > TEXT 28

> > sadasya ucuh

> > utpatty-adhvany asarana uru-klesa-durge 'ntakogra-

> > vyalanviste visaya-mrga-trsy atma-gehoru-bharah

> > dvandva-svabhre khala-mrga-bhaye soka-dave 'jna-sarthah

> > padaukas te saranada kada yati kamopasrstah

> > sadasyah--the members of the assembly; ucuh--said; utpatti--repeated birth and death; adhvani--on the path of; asarane--not having a place to take shelter; uru--great; klesa--troublesome; durge--in the formidable fort; antaka--termination; ugra--ferocious; vyala--snakes; anviste--being infested with; visaya--material happiness; mrga-trsi--mirage; atma--body; geha--home; uru--heavy; bharah--burden; dvandva--dual; svabhre--holes, ditches of so-called happiness and distress; khala--ferocious; mrga--animals; bhaye--being afraid of; soka-dave--the forest fire of lamentation; ajna-sa-arthah--for the interest of the rascals; pada-okah--shelter of Your lotus feet; te--unto You; sarana-da--giving shelter; kada--when; yati--went; kama-upasrstah--being afilicted by all sorts of desires.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The members of the assembly addressed the Lord: O exclusive shelter for all who are situated in troubled life, in this formidable fort of conditional existence the time element, like a snake, is always looking for an opportunity to strike. This world is full of ditches of so-called distress and happiness, and there are many ferocious animals always ready to attack. The fire of lamentation is always blazing, and the mirage of false happiness is always alluring, but one has no shelter from them. Thus foolish persons live in the cycle of birth and death, always overburdened in discharging their so-called duties, and we do not know when they will accept the shelter of Your lotus feet.

> > *******

> > TEXT 29

> > rudra uvaca

> > tava varada varanghrav asisehakhilarthe

> > hy api munibhir asaktair adarenarhaniye

> > yadi racita-dhiyam mavidya-loko 'paviddham

> > japati na ganaye tat tvat-paranugrahena

> > rudrah uvaca--Lord Siva said; tava--Your; vara-da--O supreme benefactor; vara-anghrau--precious lotus feet; asisa--by desire; iha--in the material world; akhila-arthe--for fulfillment; hi api--certainly; munibhih--by the sages; asaktaih--liberated; adarena--with care; arhaniye--worshipable; yadi--if; racita-dhiyam--mind fixed; ma--me; avidya-lokah--the ignorant persons; apaviddham--unpurified activity; japati--utters; na ganaye--do not value; tat--it; tvat-para-anugrahena--by compassion like Yours.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Siva said: My dear Lord, my mind and consciousness are always fixed on Your lotus feet, which, as the source of all benediction and the fulfillment of all desires, are worshiped by all liberated great sages because Your lotus feet are worthy of worship. With my mind fixed on Your lotus feet, I am no longer disturbed by persons who blaspheme me, claiming that my activities are not purified. I do not mind their accusations, and I excuse them out of compassion, just as You exhibit compassion toward all living entities.

> > *******

> > TEXT 30

> > bhrgur uvaca

> > yan mayaya gahanayapahrtatma-bodha

> > brahmadayas tanu-bhrtas tamasi svapantah

> > natman-sritam tava vidanty adhunapi tattvam

> > so 'yam prasidatu bhavan pranatatma-bandhuh

> > bhrguh uvaca--Sri Bhrgu said; yat--who; mayaya--by illusory energy; gahanaya--insurmountable; apahrta--stolen; atma-bodhah--knowledge of the constitutional position; brahma-adayah--Lord Brahma, etc.; tanu-bhrtah--embodied living entities; tamasi--in the darkness of illusion; svapantah--lying down; na--not; atman--in the living entity; sritam--situated in; tava--Your; vidanti--understand; adhuna--now; api--certainly; tattvam--absolute position; sah--You; ayam--this; prasidatu--be kind; bhavan--Your Lordship; pranata-atma--surrendered soul; bandhuh--friend.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Bhrgu said: My dear Lord, all living entities, beginning from the highest, namely Lord Brahma, down to the ordinary ant, are under the influence of the insurmountable spell of illusory energy, and thus they are ignorant of their constitutional position. Everyone believes in the concept of the body, and all are thus submerged in the darkness of illusion. They are actually unable to understand how You live in every living entity as the Supersoul, nor can they understand Your absolute position. But You are the eternal friend and protector of all surrendered souls. Therefore, please be kind toward us and forgive all our offenses.

> > *******

> > TEXT 31

> > brahmovaca

> > naitat svarupam bhavato 'sau padartha-

> > bheda-grahaih puruso yavad ikset

> > jnanasya carthasya gunasya casrayo

> > mayamayad vyatirikto matas tvam

> > brahma uvaca--Lord Brahma said; na--not; etat--this; svarupam--eternal form; bhavatah--Your; asau--that other; pada-artha--knowledge; bheda--different; grahaih--by the acquiring; purusah--person; yavat--as long as; ikset--wants to see; jnanasya--of knowledge; ca--also; arthasya--of the objective; gunasya--of the instruments of knowledge; ca--also; asrayah--the basis; maya-mayat--from being made of material energy; vyatiriktah--distinct; matah--regarded; tvam--You.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahma said: My dear Lord, Your personality and eternal form cannot be understood by any person who is trying to know You through the different processes of acquiring knowledge. Your position is always transcendental to the material creation, whereas the empiric attempt to understand You is material, as are its objectives and instruments.

> > *******

> > TEXT 32

> > indra uvaca

> > idam apy acyuta vina-bhavanam

> > vapur ananda-karam mano-drsam

> > sura-vidvit-ksapanair udayudhair

> > bhuja-dandair upapannam astabhih

> > indrah uvaca--King Indra said; idam--this; api--certainly; acyuta--O infallible one; vina-bhavanam--for the welfare of the universe; vapuh--transcendental form; ananda-karam--a cause of pleasure; manah-drsam--to the mind and the eye; sura-vidvit--envious of Your devotees; ksapanaih--by punishment; ud-ayudhaih--with uplifted weapons; bhuja-dandaih--with arms; upapannam--possessed of; astabhih--with eight.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Indra said: My dear Lord, Your transcendental form with eight hands and weapons in each of them appears for the welfare of the entire universe, and it is very pleasing to the mind and eyes. In such a form, Your Lordship is always prepared to punish the demons, who are envious of Your devotees.

> > *******

> > TEXT 33

> > patnya ucuh

> > yajno 'yam tava yajanaya kena srsto

> > vidhvastah pasupatinadya daksa-kopat

> > tam nas tvam sava-sayanabha-santa-medham

> > yajnatman nalina-ruca drsa punihi

> > patnyah ucuh--the wives of the executors of the sacrifice said; yajnah--the sacrifice; ayam--this; tava--Your; yajanaya--worshiping; kena--by Brahma; srstah--arranged; vidhvastah--devastated; pasupatina--by Lord Siva; adya--today; daksa-kopat--from anger at Daksa; tam--it; nah--our; tvam--You; sava-sayana--dead bodies; abha--like; santa-medham--the still sacrificial animals; yajna-atman--O Lord of sacrifice; nalina--lotus; ruca--beautiful; drsa--by the vision of Your eyes; punihi--sanctify.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The wives of the performers of the sacrifice said: My dear Lord, this sacrifice was arranged under the instruction of Brahma, but unfortunately Lord Siva, being angry at Daksa, devastated the entire scene, and because of his anger the animals meant for sacrifice are lying dead. Therefore the preparations of the yajna have been lost. Now, by the glance of Your lotus eyes, the sanctity of this sacrificial arena may be again invoked.

> > *******

> > TEXT 34

> > rsaya ucuh

> > ananvitam te bhagavan vicestitam

> > yad atmana carasi hi karma najyase

> > vibhutaye yata upasedur inarim

> > na manyate svayam anuvartatim bhavan

> > rsayah--the sages; ucuh--prayed; ananvitam--wonderful; te--Your; bhagavan--O possessor of all opulences; vicestitam--activities; yat--which; atmana--by Your potencies; carasi--You execute; hi--certainly; karma--to such activities; na ajyase--You are not attached; vibhutaye--for her mercy; yatah--from whom; upaseduh--worshiped; inarim--Laksmi, the goddess of fortune; na manyate--are not attached; svayam--Yourself; anuvartatim--to Your obedient servant (Laksmi); bhavan--Your Lordship.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sages prayed: Dear Lord, Your activities are most wonderful, and although You do everything by Your different potencies, You are not at all attached to such activities. You are not even attached to the goddess of fortune, who is worshiped by the great demigods like Brahma, who pray to achieve her mercy.

> > *******

> > TEXT 35

> > siddha ucuh

> > ayam tvat-katha-mrsta-piyusa-nadyam

> > mano-varanah klesa-davagni-dagdhah

> > trsarto 'vagadho na sasmara davam

> > na niskramati brahma-sampannavan nah

> > siddhah--the Siddhas; ucuh--prayed; ayam--this; tvat-katha--Your pastimes; mrsta--pure; piyusa--of nectar; nadyam--in the river; manah--of the mind; varanah--the elephant; klesa--sufferings; davaagni--by the forest fire; dagdhah--burned; trsa--thirst; artah--afflicted; avagadhah--being immersed; na sasmara--does not remember; davam--the forest fire or the miseries; na niskramati--not come out; brahma--the Absolute; sampanna-vat--like having merged; nah--our.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Siddhas prayed: Like an elephant that has suffered in a forest fire but can forget all its troubles by entering a river, our minds, O Lord, always merge in the nectarean river of Your transcendental pastimes, and they desire never to leave such transcendental bliss, which is as good as the pleasure of merging in the Absolute.

> > *******

> > TEXT 36

> > yajamany uvaca

> > svagatam te prasidesa tubhyam namah

> > srinivasa sriya kantaya trahi nah

> > tvam rte 'dhia nangair makhah sobhate

> > sirsa-hinah ka-bandho yatha purusah

> > yajamani--the wife of Daksa; uvaca--prayed; su-agatam--auspicious appearance; te--Your; prasida--become pleased; ia--my dear Lord; tubhyam--unto You; namah--respectful obeisances; srinivasa--O abode of the goddess of fortune; sriya--with Laksmi; kantaya--Your wife; trahi--protect; nah--us; tvam--You; rte--without; adhia--O supreme controller; na--not; angaih--with bodily limbs; makhah--the sacrificial arena; sobhate--is beautiful; sirsa-hinah--without the head; ka-bandhah--possessed of only a body; yatha--as; purusah--a person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The wife of Daksa prayed as follows: My dear Lord, it is very fortunate that You have appeared in this arena of sacrifice. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, and I request that You be pleased on this occasion. The sacrificial arena is not beautiful without You, just as a body is not beautiful without the head.

> > *******

> > TEXT 37

> > lokapala ucuh

> > drstah kim no drgbhir asad-grahais tvam

> > pratyag-drasta drsyate yena vinam

> > maya hy esa bhavadiya hi bhuman

> > yas tvam sasthah pancabhir bhasi bhutaih

> > loka-palah--the governors of the different planets; ucuh--said; drstah--seen; kim--whether; nah--by us; drgbhih--by the material senses; asat-grahaih--revealing the cosmic manifestation; tvam--You; pratyak-drasta--inner witness; drsyate--is seen; yena--by whom; vinam--the universe; maya--material world; hi--because; esa--this; bhavadiya--Your; hi--certainly; bhuman--O possessor of the universe; yah--because; tvam--You; sasthah--the sixth; pancabhih--with the five; bhasi--appear; bhutaih--with the elements.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The governors of various planets spoke as follows: Dear Lord, we believe only in our direct perception, but under the circumstances we do not know whether we have actually seen You with our material senses. By our material senses we can simply perceive the cosmic manifestation, but You are beyond the five elements. You are the sixth. We see You, therefore, as a creation of the material world.

> > *******

> > TEXT 38

> > yogesvara ucuh

> > preyan na te 'nyo 'sty amutas tvayi prabho

> > vinatmaniksen na prthag ya atmanah

> > athapi bhaktyesa tayopadhavatam

> > ananya-vrttyanugrhana vatsala

> > yoga-inarah--the great mystics; ucuh--said; preyan--very dear; na--not; te--of You; anyah--another; asti--there is; amutah--from that; tvayi--in You; prabho--dear Lord; vina-atmani--in the Supersoul of all living entities; ikset--see; na--not; prthak--different; yah--who; atmanah--the living entities; atha api--so much more; bhaktya--with devotion; ia--O Lord; taya--with it; upadhavatam--of those who worship; ananya-vrttya--unfailing; anugrhana--favor; vatsala--O favorable Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great mystics said: Dear Lord, persons who see You as nondifferent from themselves, knowing that You are the Supersoul of all living entities, are certainly very, very dear to You. You are very favorable toward those who engage in devotional service, accepting You as the Lord and themselves as the servants. By Your mercy, You are always inclined in their favor.

> > *******

> > TEXT 39

> > jagad-udbhava-sthiti-layesu daivato

> > bahu-bhidyamana-gunayatma-mayaya

> > racitatma-bheda-mataye sva-samsthaya

> > vinivartita-bhrama-gunatmane namah

> > jagat--the material world; udbhava--creation; sthiti--maintenance; layesu--in annihilation; daivatah--destiny; bahu--many; bhidyamana--being variegated; gunaya--by material qualities; atma-mayaya--by His material energy; racita--produced; atma--in the living entities; bheda-mataye--who produced different inclinations; sva-samsthaya--by His internal potency; vinivartita--caused to stop; bhrama--interaction; guna--of material modes; atmane--unto Him in His personal form; namah--obeisances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > We offer our respectful obeisances unto the Supreme, who has created varieties of manifestations and put them under the spell of the three qualities of the material world in order to create, maintain and annihilate them. He Himself is not under the control of the external energy; in His personal feature He is completely devoid of the variegated manifestation of material qualities, and He is under no illusion of false identification.

> > *******

> > TEXT 40

> > brahmovaca

> > namas te srita-sattvaya

> > dharmadinam ca sutaye

> > nirgunaya ca yat-kastham

> > naham vedapare 'pi ca

> > brahma--the personified Vedas; uvaca--said; namah--respectful obeisances; te--unto You; srita-sattvaya--the shelter of the quality of goodness; dharma-adinam--of all religion, austerity and penance; ca--and; sutaye--the source; nirgunaya--transcendental to material qualities; ca--and; yat--of whom (of the Supreme Lord); kastham--the situation; na--not; aham--I; veda--know; apare--others; api--certainly; ca--and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The personified Vedas said: We offer our respectful obeisances unto You, the Lord, the shelter of the quality of goodness and therefore the source of all religion, austerity and penance, for You are transcendental to all material qualities and no one knows You or Your actual situation.

> > *******

> > TEXT 41

> > agnir uvaca

> > yat-tejasaham susamiddha-teja

> > havyam vahe svadhvara ajya-siktam

> > tam yajniyam panca-vidham ca pancabhih

> > svistam yajurbhih pranato 'smi yajnam

> > agnih--the fire-god; uvaca--said; yat-tejasa--by whose effulgence; aham--I; su-samiddha-tejah--as luminous as blazing fire; havyam--offerings; vahe--I am accepting; su-adhvare--in the sacrifice; ajya-siktam--mixed with butter; tam--that; yajniyam--the protector of the sacrifice; panca-vidham--five; ca--and; pancabhih--by five; svistam--worshiped; yajurbhih--Vedic hymns; pranatah--offer respectful obeisances; asmi--I; yajnam--to Yajna (Visnu).

> > TRANSLATION

> > The fire-god said: My dear Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because by Your favor I am as luminous as blazing fire and I accept the offerings mixed with butter and offered in sacrifice. The five kinds of offerings according to the Yajur Veda are all Your different energies, and You are worshiped by five kinds of Vedic hymns. Sacrifice means Your Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 42

> > deva ucuh

> > pura kaipapaye sva-krtam udari-krtya vikrtam

> > tvam evadyas tasmin salila uragendradhiayane

> > puman sese siddhair hrdi vimrsitadhyatma-padavih

> > sa evadyaksnor yah pathi carasi bhrtyan avasi nah

> > devah--the demigods; ucuh--said; pura--formerly; kalpa-apaye--at the devastation of the kalpa; sva-krtam--self-produced; udari-krtya--having drawn within Your abdomen; vikrtam--effect; tvam--You; eva--certainly; adyah--original; tasmin--in that; salile--water; uraga-indra--on Sesa; adhiayane--on the bed; puman--personality; sese--taking rest; siddhaih--by the liberated souls (like Sanaka, etc.); hrdi--in the heart; vimrsita--meditated on; adhyatma-padavih--the path of philosophical speculation; sah--He; eva--certainly; adya--now; aksnoh--of both eyes; yah--who; pathi--on the path; carasi--You move; bhrtyan--servants; avasi--protect; nah--us.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The demigods said: Dear Lord, formerly, when there was a devastation, You conserved all the different energies of material manifestation. At that time, all the inhabitants of the higher planets, represented by such liberated souls as Sanaka, were meditating on You by philosophical speculation. You are therefore the original person, and You rest in the water of devastation on the bed of the Sesa snake. Now, today, You are visible to us, who are all Your servants. Please give us protection.

> > *******

> > TEXT 43

> > gandharva ucuh

> > amsamsas te deva maricy-adaya ete

> > brahmendradya deva-gana rudra-purogah

> > krida-bhandam vinam idam yasya vibhuman

> > tasmai nityam natha namas te karavama

> > gandharvah--the Gandharvas; ucuh--said; amsa-amsah--parts and parcels of Your body; te--Your; deva--dear Lord; marici-adayah--Marici and the great sages; ete--these; brahma-indra-adyah--headed by Brahma and Indra; deva-ganah--the demigods; rudra-purogah--having Lord Siva as the chief; krida-bhandam--a plaything; vinam--the whole creation; idam--this; yasya--of whom; vibhuman--the Supreme Almighty Great; tasmai--unto Him; nityam--always; natha--O Lord; namah--respectful obeisances; te--unto You; karavama--we offer.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Gandharvas said: Dear Lord, all the demigods, including Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Indra and Marici and the great sages, are all only differentiated parts and parcels of Your body. You are the Supreme Almighty Great; the whole creation is just like a plaything for You. We always accept You as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

> > *******

> > TEXT 44

> > vidyadhara ucuh

> > tvan-mayayartham abhipadya kalevare 'smin

> > krtva mamaham iti durmatir utpathaih svaih

> > ksipto 'py asad-visaya-lalasa atma-moham

> > yusmat-kathamrta-nisevaka udvyudasyet

> > vidyadharah--the Vidyadharas; ucuh--said; tvat-mayaya--by Your external potency; artham--the human body; abhipadya--after obtaining; kalevare--in the body; asmin--in this; krtva--having misidentified; mama--mine; aham--I; iti--thus; durmatih--the ignorant person; utpathaih--by wrong roads; svaih--by one's own belongings; ksiptah--distracted; api--even; asat--temporary; visaya-lakisah--having his happiness in sense objects; atma-moham--the illusion of the body as the self; yusmat--Your; katha--topics; amrta--nectar; nisevakah--relishing; ut--from a long distance; vyudasyet--can be delivered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Vidyadharas said: Dear Lord, this human form of body is meant for attaining the highest perfectional objective, but, impelled by Your external energy, the living entity misidentifies himself with his body and with the material energy, and therefore, influenced by maya, he wants to become happy by material enjoyment. He is misled and always attracted by temporary, illusory happiness. But Your transcendental activities are so powerful that if one engages in the hearing and chanting of such topics, he can be delivered from illusion.

> > *******

> > TEXT 45

> > brahmana ucuh

> > tvam kratus tvam havis tvam hutasah svayam

> > tvam hi mantrah samid-darbha-patrani ca

> > tvam sadasyartvijo dampati devata

> > agnihotram svadha soma ajyam pasuh

> > brahmanah--the brahmanas; ucuh--said; tvam--You; kratuh--sacrifice; tvam--You; havih--offering of clarified butter; tvam--You; huta-asah--fire; svayam--personified; tvam--You; hi--for; mantrah--the Vedic hymns; samit-darbha-patrani--the fuel, the kusa grass and the sacrificial pots; ca--and; tvam--You; sadasya--the members of the assembly; rtvijah--the priests; dampati--the chief person of the sacrifice and his wife; devata--demigods; agni-hotram--the sacred fire ceremony; svadha--the offering to the forefathers; somah--the soma plant; ajyam--the clarified butter; pasuh--the sacrificial animal.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The brahmanas said: Dear Lord, You are sacrifice personified. You are the offering of clarified butter, You are the fire, You are the chanting of Vedic hymns by which the sacrifice is conducted, You are the fuel, You are the flame, You are the kusa grass, and You are the sacrificial pots. You are the priests who perform the yajna, You are the demigods headed by Indra, and You are the sacrificial animal. Everything that is sacrificed is You or Your energy.

> > *******

> > TEXT 46

> > tvam pura gam rasaya maha-sukaro

> > damstraya padminim varanendro yatha

> > stuyamano nadal lilaya yogibhir

> > vyujjahartha trayi-gatra yajna-kratuh

> > tvam--You; pura--in the past; gam--the earth; rasayah--from within the water; maha-sukarah--the great boar incarnation; damstraya--with Your tusk; padminim--a lotus; varana-indrah--an elephant; yatha--as; stuyamanah--being offered prayers; nadan--vibrating; lilaya--very easily; yogibhih--by great sages like Sanaka, etc.; vyujjahartha--picked up; trayi-gatra--O personified Vedic knowledge; yajna-kratuh--having the form of sacrifice.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dear Lord, O personified Vedic knowledge, in the past millennium, long, long ago, when You appeared as the great boar incarnation, You picked up the world from the water, as an elephant picks up a lotus flower from a lake. When You vibrated transcendental sound in that gigantic form of a boar, the sound was accepted as a sacrificial hymn, and great sages like Sanaka meditated upon it and offered prayers for Your glorification.

> > *******

> > TEXT 47

> > sa prasida tvam asmakam akanksatam

> > darsanam te paribhrasta-sat-karmanam

> > kirtyamane nrbhir namni yajnesa te

> > yajna-vighnah ksayam yanti tasmai namah

> > sah--that same person; prasida--be pleased; tvam--You; asmakam--upon us; akanksatam--awaiting; darsanam--audience; te--Your; paribhrasta--fallen down; sat-karmanam--of whom the performance of sacrifice; kirtyamane--being chanted; nrbhih--by persons; namni--Your holy name; yajna-ia--O Lord of sacrifice; te--Your; yajna-vighnah--obstacles; ksayam--destruction; yanti--attain; tasmai--unto You; namah--respectful obeisances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dear Lord, we were awaiting Your audience because we have been unable to perform the yajnas according to the Vedic rituals. We pray unto You, therefore, to be pleased with us. Simply by chanting Your holy name, one can surpass all obstacles. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You in Your presence.

> > *******

> > TEXT 48

> > maitreya uvaca

> > iti daksah kavir yajnam

> > bhadra rudrabhimarsitam

> > kirtyamane hrsikese

> > sanninye yajna-bhavane

> > maitreyah--Maitreya; uvaca--said; iti--thus; daksah--Daksa; kavih--being purified in consciousness; yajnam--the sacrifice; bhadra--O Vidura; rudra-abhimarsitam--devastated by Virabhadra; kirtyamane--being glorified; hrsikese--Hrsikesa (Lord Visnu); sanninye--arranged for restarting; yajna-bhavane--the protector of sacrifice.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Maitreya said: After Lord Visnu was glorified by all present, Daksa, his consciousness purified, arranged to begin again the yajna which had been devastated by the followers of Lord Siva.

> > *******

> > TEXT 49

> > bhagavan svena bhagena

> > sarvatma sarva-bhaga-bhuk

> > daksam babhasa abhasya

> > priyamana ivanagha

> > bhagavan--Lord Visnu; svena--with His own; bhagena--with the share; sarva-atma--the Supersoul of all living entities; sarva-bhaga-bhuk--the enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices; daksam--Daksa; babhase--said; abhasya--addressing; priyamanah--being satisfied; iva--as; anagha--O sinless Vidura.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maitreya continued: My dear sinless Vidura, Lord Visnu is actually the enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices. Yet because of His being the Supersoul of all living entities, He was satisfied simply with His share of the sacrificial offerings. He therefore addressed Daksa in a pleasing attitude.

> > *******

> > TEXT 50

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca

> > aham brahma ca sarvas ca

> > jagatah karanam param

> > atmesvara upadrasta

> > svayan-drg avisesanah

> > sri-bhagavan--Lord Visnu; uvaca--said; aham--I; brahma--Brahma; ca--and; sarvah--Lord Siva; ca--and; jagatah--of the material manifestation; karanam--cause; param--supreme; atma-isvarah--the Supersoul; upadmsta--the witness; svayam-drk--selfsufficient; avisesanah--there is no difference.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Visnu replied: Brahma, Lord Siva and I are the supreme cause of the material manifestation. I am the Supersoul, the self sufficient witness. But impersonally there is no difference between Brahma, Lord Siva and Me.

> > *******

> > TEXT 51

> > atma-mayam samavisya

> > so 'ham gunamayim dvija

> > srjan raksan haran vinam

> > dadhre samjnam kriyocitam

> > atma-mayam--My energy; samavisya--having entered; sah--Myself; aham--I; guna-mayim--composed of the modes of material nature; dvi ja--O twice-born Daksa; srjan--creating; raksan--maintaining; haran--annihilating; vinam--the cosmic manifestation; dadhre--I cause to be born; samjnam--a name; kriya-ucitam--according to the activity.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord continued: My dear Daksa Dvija, I am the original Personality of Godhead, but in order to create, maintain and annihilate this cosmic manifestation, I act through My material energy, and according to the different grades of activity, My representations are differently named.

> > *******

> > TEXT 52

> > tasmin brahmany advitiye

> > kevale paramatmani

> > brahma-rudrau ca bhutani

> > bhedenajno 'nupasyati

> > tasmin--Him; brahmani--the Supreme Brahman; advitiye--without a second; kevale--being one; parama-atmani--the Supersoul; brahma-rudrau--both Brahma and Siva; ca--and; bhutani--the living entities; bhedena--with separation; ajnah--one who is not properly conversant; anupasyati--thinks.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord continued: One who is not in proper knowledge thinks that demigods like Brahma and Siva are independent, or he even thinks that the living entities are independent.

> > *******

> > TEXT 53

> > yatha puman na svangesu

> > sirah-pany-adisu kvacit

> > parakya-buddhim kurute

> > evam bhutesu mat-parah

> > yatha--as; puman--a person; na--not; sva-angesu--in his own body; sirah-pani-adisu--between the head and the hands and other parts of the body; kvacit--sometimes; parakya-buddhim--differentiation; kurute--make; evam--thus; bhutesu--among living entities; mat-parah--My devotee.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A person with average intelligence does not think the head and other parts of the body to be separate. Similarly, My devotee does not differentiate Visnu, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, from any thing or any living entity.

> > *******

> > TEXT 54

> > trayanam eka-bhavanam

> > yo na pasyati vai bhidam

> > sarva-bhutatmanam brahman

> > sa santim adhigacchati

> > trayanam--of the three; eka-bhavanam--having one nature; yah--who; na pasyati--does not see; vai--certainly; bhidam--separateness; sarva-bhuta-atmanam--of the Supersoul of all living entities; brahman--O Daksa; sah--he; santim--peace; adhigacchati--realizes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord continued: One who does not consider Brahma, Visnu, Siva or the living entities in general to be separate from the Supreme, and who knows Brahman, actually realizes peace; others do not.

> > *******

> > TEXT 55

> > maitreya uvaca

> > evam bhagavatadistah

> > prajapati-patir harim

> > arcitva kratuna svena

> > devan ubhayato 'yajat

> > maitreyah--Maitreya; uvaca--said; evam--thus; bhagavata--by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adistah--having been instructed; prajapati-patih--the head of all the Prajapatis; harim--Hari; arcitva--after worshiping; kratuna--with the sacrificial ceremonies; svena--his own; devan--the demigods; ubhayatah--separately; ayajat--worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage Maitreya said: Thus Daksa, the head of all Prajapatis, having been nicely instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, worshiped Lord Visnu. After worshiping Him by performing the prescribed sacrificial ceremonies, Daksa separately worshiped Lord Brahma and Lord Siva.

> > *******

> > TEXT 56

> > rudram ca svena bhagena

> > hy upadhavat samahitah

> > karmanodavasanena

> > somapan itaran api

> > udavasya sahartvigbhih

> > sasnav avabhrtham tatah

> > rudram--Lord Siva; ca--and; svena--with his own; bhagena--share; hi--since; upadhavat--he worshiped; samahitah--with concentrated mind; karmana--by the performance; udavasanena--by the act of finishing; soma-pan--demigods; itaran--other; api--even; udavasya--after finishing; saha--along with; rtvigbhih--with the priests; sasnau--bathed; avabhrtham--the avabhrtha bath; tatah--then.

> > TRANSLATION

> > With all respect, Daksa worshiped Lord Siva with his share of the remnants of the yajna. After finishing the ritualistic sacrificial activities, he satisfied all the other demigods and the other people assembled there. Then, after finishing all these duties with the priests, he took a bath and was fully satisfied.

> > *******

> > TEXT 57

> > tasma apy anubhavena

> > svenaivavapta-radhase

> > dharma eva matim dattva

> > tridasas te divam yayuh

> > tasmai--unto him (Daksa); api--even; anubhavena--by worshiping the Supreme Lord; svena--by his own; eva--certainly; avapta-radhase--having attained perfection; dharme--in religion; eva--certainly; matim--intelligence; dattva--having given; tridasah--demigods; te--those; divam--to the heavenly planets; yayuh--went.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus worshiping the Supreme Lord Visnu by the ritualistic performance of sacrifice, Daksa was completely situated on the religious path. Moreover, all the demigods who had assembled at the sacrifice blessed him that he might increase his piety, and then they left.

> > *******

> > TEXT 58

> > evam daksayani hitva

> > sati purva-kalevaram

> > jajne himavatah ksetre

> > menayam iti susruma

> > evam--thus; daksayani--the daughter of Daksa; hitva--after giving up; sati--Sati; purva-kalevaram--her former body; jajne--was born; himavatah--of the Himalayas; ksetre--in the wife; menayam--in Mena; iti--thus; susruma--I have heard.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maitreya said: I have heard that after giving up the body she had received from Daksa, Daksayani (his daughter) took her birth in the kingdom of the Himalayas. She was born as the daughter of Mena. I heard this from authoritative sources.

> > *******

> > TEXT 59

> > tam eva dayitam bhuya

> > avrnkte patim ambika

> > ananya-bhavaika-gatim

> > saktih supteva purusam

> > tam--him (Lord Siva); eva--certainly; dayitam--beloved; bhuyah--again; avrnkte--accepted; patim--as her husband; ambika--Ambika, or Sati; ananya-bhava--without attachment for others; eka-gatim--the one goal; saktih--the feminine (marginal and external) energies; supta--lying dormant; iva--as; purusam--the masculine (Lord Siva, as representative of the Supreme Lord).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Ambika [goddess Durga], who was known as Daksayini [Sati], again accepted Lord Siva as her husband, just as different energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead act during the course of a new creation.

> > *******

> > TEXT 60

> > etad bhagavatah sambhoh

> > karma daksadhvara-druhah

> > srutam bhagavatac chisyad

> > uddhavan me brhaspateh

> > etat--this; bhagavatah--of the possessor of all opulences; sambhoh--of Sambhu (Lord Siva); karma--story; daksa-adhvara-druhah--who devastated the sacrifice of Daksa; srutam--was heard; bhagavatat--from a great devotee; sisyat--from the disciple; uddhavat--from Uddhava; me--by me; brhaspateh--of Brhaspati.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, I heard this story of the Daksa yajna, which was devastated by Lord Siva, from Uddhava, a great devotee and a disciple of Brhaspati.

> > *******

> > TEXT 61

> > idam pavitram param ia-cestitam

> > yasasyam ayusyam aghaugha-marsanam

> > yo nityadakarnya naro 'nukirtayed

> > dhunoty agham kaurava bhakti-bhavatah

> > idam--this; pavitram--pure; param--supreme; ia-cestitam--pastime of the Supreme Lord; yasasyam--fame; ayusyam--long duration of life; agha-ogha-marsanam--destroying sins; yah--who; nityada--always; akarnya--after hearing; narah--a person; anukirtayet--should narrate; dhunoti--clears off; agham--material contamination; kaurava--O descendant of Kuru; bhakti-bhavatah--with faith and devotion.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya concluded: If one hears and again narrates, with faith and devotion, this story of the Daksa yajna as it was conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, then certainly one is cleared of all contamination of material existence, O son of Kuru.

> > Back to the running text