> > 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 Seventeen: Maharaja Prthu Becomes Angry at the Earth

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > maitreya uvaca

> > evam sa bhagavan vainyah

> > khyapito guna-karmabhih

> > chandayam asa tan kamaih

> > pratipujyabhinandya ca

> > maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; evam--thus; sah--he; bhagavan--the Personality of Godhead; vainyah--in the form of the son of King Vena; khyapitah--being glorified; guna-karmabhih--by qualities and factual activities; chandayam asa--pacified; tan--those reciters; kamaih--by various presentations; pratipujya--offering all respects; abhinandya--offering prayers; ca--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya continued: In this way the reciters who were glorifying Maharaja Prthu readily described his qualities and chivalrous activities. At the end, Maharaja Prthu offered them various presentations with all due respect and worshiped them adequately.

> > *******

> > TEXT 2

> > brahmana-pramukhan varnan

> > bhrtyamatya-purodhasah

> > pauran jana-padan srenih

> > prakrtih samapujayat

> > brahmana-pramukhan--unto the leaders of the brahmana community; varnan--to the other castes; bhrtya--servants; amatya--ministers; purodhasah--to the priests; pauran--to the citizens; jana-padan--to his countrymen; srenih--to different communities; prakrtih--to the admirers; samapujayat--he gave proper respects.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Prthu thus satisfied and offered all respect to all the leaders of the brahmanas and other castes, to his servants, to his ministers and to the priests, citizens, general countrymen, people from other communities, admirers and others, and thus they all became happy.

> > *******

> > TEXT 3

> > vidura uvaca

> > kasmad dadhara go-rupam

> > dharitri bahu-rupini

> > yam dudoha prthus tatra

> > ko vatso dohanam ca kim

> > vidurah uvaca--Vidura inquired; kasmat--why; dadhara--took; go-rupam--the shape of a cow; dharitri--the earth; bahu-rupini--who has many other forms; yam--whom; dudoha--milked; prthuh--King Prthu; tatra--there; kah--who; vatsah--the calf; dohanam--the milking pot; ca--also; kim--what.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Vidura inquired from the great sage Maitreya: My dear brahmana, since mother earth can appear in different shapes, why did she take the shape of a cow? And when King Prthu milked her, who became the calf, and what was the milking pot?

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > prakrtya visama devi

> > krta tena sama katham

> > tasya medhyam hayam devah

> > kasya hetor apaharat

> > prakrtya--by nature; visama--not level; devi--the earth; krta--was made; tena--by him; sama--level; katham--how; tasya--his; medhyam--meant for offering in the sacrifice; hayam--horse; devah--the demigod Indra; kasya--for what; hetoh--reason; apaharat--stole.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The surface of the earth is by nature low in some places and high in others. How did King Prthu level the surface of the earth, and why did the King of heaven, Indra, steal the horse meant for the sacrifice ?

> > *******

> > TEXT 5

> > sanat-kumarad bhagavato

> > brahman brahma-vid-uttamat

> > labdhva jnanam sa-vijnanam

> > rajarsih kam gatim gatah

> > sanat-kumarat--from Sanat-kumara; bhagavatah--the most powerful; brahman--my dear brahmana; brahma-vit-uttamat--well versed in the Vedic knowledge; labdhva--after achieving; jnanam--knowledge; sa-vijnanam--for practical application; raja-rsih--the great saintly King; kam--which; gatim--destination; gatah--achieved.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great saintly King, Maharaja Prthu, received knowledge from Sanat-kumara, who was the greatest Vedic scholar. After receiving knowledge to be applied practically in his life, how did the saintly King attain his desired destination?

> > *******

> > TEXT 6-7

> > yac canyad api krsnasya

> > bhavan bhagavatah prabhoh

> > sravah susravasah punyam

> > purva-deha-kathasrayam

> > bhaktaya me 'nuraktaya

> > tava cadhoksajasya ca

> > vaktum arhasi yo 'duhyad

> > vainya-rupena gam imam

> > yat--which; ca--and; anyat--other; api--certainly; krsnasya--of Krsna; bhavan--your good self; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prabhoh--powerful; sravah--glorious activities; su-sravasah--who is very pleasing to hear about; punyam--pious; purva-deha--of His previous incarnation; katha-asrayam--connected with the narration;

> > bhaktaya--unto the devotee; me--to me; anuraktaya--very much attentive; tava--of you; ca--and; adhoksajasya--of the Lord, who is known as Adhoksaja; ca--also; vaktum arhasi--please narrate; yah--one who; aduhyat--milked; vainya-rupena--in the form of the son of King Vena; gam--cow, earth; imam--this.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Prthu Maharaja was a powerful incarnation of Lord Krsna's potencies; consequently any narration concerning his activities is surely very pleasing to hear, and it produces all good fortune. As far as I am concerned, I am always your devotee as well as a devotee of the Lord, who is known as Adhoksaja. Please therefore narrate all the stories of King Prthu, who, in the form of the son of King Vena, milked the cow-shaped earth.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8

> > suta uvaca

> > codito vidurenaivam

> > vasudeva-katham prati

> > prasasya tam prita-mana

> > maitreyah pratyabhasata

> > sutah uvaca--Suta Gosvami said; coditah--inspired; vidurena--by Vidura; evam--thus; vasudeva--of Lord Krsna; katham--narration; prati--about; prasasya--praising; tam--him; prita-manah--being very pleased; maitreyah--the saint Maitreya; pratyabhasata--replied.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Suta Gosvami continued: When Vidura became inspired to hear of the activities of Lord Krsna in His various incarnations, Maitreya, also being inspired and being very pleased with Vidura, began to praise him. Then Maitreya spoke as follows.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9

> > maitreya uvaca

> > yadabhisiktah prthur anga viprair

> > amantrito janatayas ca palah

> > praja niranne ksiti-prstha etya

> > ksut-ksama-dehah patim abhyavocan

> > maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya said; yada--when; abhisiktah--was enthroned; prthuh--King Prthu; anga--my dear Vidura; vipraih--by the brahmanas; amantritah--was declared; janatayah--of the people; ca--also; palah--the protector; prajah--the citizens; niranne--being without food grains; ksiti-prsthe--the surface of the globe; etya--coming near; ksut--by hunger; ksama--skinny; dehah--their bodies; patim--to the protector; abhyavocan--they said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, at the time King Prthu was enthroned by the great sages and brahmanas and declared to be the protector of the citizens, there was a scarcity of food grains. The citizens actually became skinny due to starvation. Therefore they came before the King and informed him of their real situation.

> > *******

> > TEXT 10-11

> > vayam rajan jatharenabhitapta

> > yathagnina kotara-sthena vrksah

> > tvam adya yatah saranam saranyam

> > yah sadhito vrtti-karah patir nah

> > tan no bhavan ihatu ratave 'nnam

> > ksudharditanam naradeva-deva

> > yavan na nanksyamaha ujjhitorja

> > varta-patis tvam kila loka-palah

> > vayam--we; rajan--O King; jatharena--by the fire of hunger; abhitaptah--very much aggrieved; yatha--just as; agnina--by the fire; kotara-sthena--in the hollow of a tree; vrksah--trees; tvam--unto you; adya--today; yatah--we have come; saranam--shelter; saranyam--worth taking shelter of; yah--who; sadhitah--appointed; vrtti-karah--one who gives employment; patih--master; nah--our;

> > tat--therefore; nah--to us; bhavan--Your Majesty; ihatu--please try; ratave--to give; annam--food grains; ksudha--with hunger; arditanam--suffering; nara-deva-deva--O supreme master of all kings; yavat na--lest; nanksyamahe--we will perish; ujjhita--being bereft of; urjah--food grains; varta--of occupational engagements; patih--bestower; tvam--you; kila--indeed; loka-palah--the protector of the citizens.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dear King, just as a tree with a fire burning in the hollow of the trunk gradually dries up, we are drying up due to the fire of hunger in our stomachs. You are the protector of surrendered souls, and you have been appointed to give employment to us. Therefore we have all come to you for protection. You are not only a king, but the incarnation of God as well. Indeed, you are the king of all kings. You can give us all kinds of occupational engagements, for you are the master of our livelihood. Therefore, O king of all kings, please arrange to satisfy our hunger by the proper distribution of food grains. Please take care of us, lest we soon die for want of food.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > maitreya uvaca

> > prthuh prajanam karunam

> > nisamya paridevitam

> > dirgham dadhyau kurusrestha

> > nimittam so 'nvapadyata

> > maitreyah uvaca--the great saint Maitreya said; prthuh--King Prthu; prajanam--of the citizens; karunam--pitiable condition; nisamya--hearing; paridevitam--lamentation; dirgham--for a long time; dadhyau--contemplated; kuru-srestha--O Vidura; nimittam--the cause; sah--he; anvapadyata--found out.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After hearing this lamentation and seeing the pitiable condition of the citizens, King Prthu contemplated this matter for a long time to see if he could find out the underlying causes.

> > *******

> > TEXT 13

> > iti vyavasito buddhya

> > pragrhita-sarasanah

> > sandadhe visikham bhumeh

> > kruddhas tripura-ha yatha

> > iti--thus; vyavasitah--having arrived at the conclusion; buddhya--by intelligence; pragrhita--having taken up; sarasanah--the bow; sandadhe--fixed; visikham--an arrow; bhumeh--at the earth; krudhah--angry; tri-pura-ha--Lord Siva; yatha--like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Having arrived at a conclusion, the King took up his bow and arrow and aimed them at the earth, exactly like Lord Siva, who destroys the whole world out of anger.

> > *******

> > TEXT 14

> > pravepamana dharani

> > nisamyodayudham ca tam

> > gauh saty apadravad bhita

> > mrgiva mrgayu-druta

> > pravepamana--trembling; dharani--the earth; nisamya--seeing; udayudham--having taken his bow and arrow; ca--also; tam--the King; gauh--a cow; sati--becoming; apadravat--began to flee; bhita--very much afraid; mrgi iva--like a deer; mrgayu--by a hunter; druta--being followed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the earth saw that King Prthu was taking his bow and arrow to kill her, she became very much afraid and began to tremble. She then began to flee, exactly like a deer, which runs very swiftly when followed by a hunter. Being afraid of King Prthu, she took the shape of a cow and began to run.

> > *******

> > TEXT 15

> > tam anvadhavat tad vainyah

> > kupito 'tyaruneksanah

> > saram dhanusi sandhaya

> > yatra yatra palayate

> > tam--the cow-shaped earth; anvadhavat--he chased; tat--then; vainyah--the son of King Vena; kupitah--being very much angry; ati-aruna--very red; iksanah--his eyes; saram--an arrow; dhanusi--on the bow; sandhaya--placing; yatra yatra--wherever; palayate--she flees.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing this, Maharaja Prthu became very angry, and his eyes became as red as the early-morning sun. Placing an arrow on his bow, he chased the cow-shaped earth wherever she would run.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > sa diso vidiso devi

> > rodasi cantaram tayoh

> > dhavanti tatra tatrainam

> > dada rsanudyatayudham

> > sa--the cow-shaped earth; disah--in the four directions; vidisah--randomly in other directions; devi--the goddess; rodasi--towards heaven and earth; ca--also; antaram--between; tayoh--them; dhavanti--fleeing; tatra tatra--here and there; enam--the King; dadarsa--she saw; anu--behind; udyata--taken up; ayudham--his weapons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The cow-shaped earth ran here and there in outer space between the heavenly planets and the earth, and wherever she ran, the King chased her with his bow and arrows.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > loke navindata tranam

> > vainyan mrtyor iva prajah

> > trasta tada nivavrte

> > hrdayena viduyata

> > loke--within the three worlds; na--not; avindata--could obtain; tranam--release; vainyat--from the hand of the son of King Vena; mrtyoh--from death; iva--like; prajah--men; trasta--being very much afraid; tada--at that time; nivavrte--turned back; hrdayena--within her heart; viduyata--very much aggrieved.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Just as a man cannot escape the cruel hands of death, the cow-shaped earth could not escape the hands of the son of Vena. At length the earth, fearful, her heart aggrieved, turned back in helplessness.

> > *******

> > TEXT 18

> > uvaca ca maha-bhagam

> > dharma jnapanna-vatsala

> > trahi mam api bhutanam

> > palane 'vasthito bhavan

> > uvaca--she said; ca--and; maha-bhagam--unto the great, fortunate King; dharma jna--O knower of the principles of religion; apanna-vatsala--O shelter of the surrendered; trahi--save; mam--me; api--indeed; bhutanam--of living entities; palane--in protection; avasthitah--situated; bhavan--Your Majesty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Addressing the great, opulent King Prthu as the knower of religious principles and shelter of the surrendered, she said: Please save me. You are the protector of all living entities. Now you are situated as the King of this planet.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > sa tvam jighamsase kasmad

> > dinam akrta-kilbisam

> > ahanisyat katham yosam

> > dharma jna iti yo matah

> > sah--that very person; tvam--you; jighamsase--want to kill; kasmat--why; dinam--poor; akrta--without having done; kilbisam--any sinful activities; ahanisyat--would kill; katham--how; yosam--a woman; dharma jnah--the knower of religious principles; iti--thus; yah--one who; matah--is considered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The cow-shaped earth continued to appeal to the King: I am very poor and have not committed any sinful activities. I do not know why you want to kill me. Since you are supposed to be the knower of all religious principles, why are you so envious of me, and why are you so anxious to kill a woman?

> > *******

> > TEXT 20

> > praharanti na vai strisu

> > krtagahsv api jantavah

> > kim uta tvad-vidha rajan

> > karuna dina-vatsalah

> > praharanti--strike; na--never; vai--certainly; strisu--women; krta-agahsu--having committed sinful activities; api--although; jantavah--human beings; kim uta--then what to speak of; tvat-vidhah--personalities like you; rajan--O King; karunah--merciful; dina-vatsalah--affectionate to the poor.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Even if a woman does commit some sinful activity, no one should place his hand upon her. And what to speak of you, dear King, who are so merciful. You are a protector, and you are affectionate to the poor.

> > *******

> > TEXT 21

> > mam vipatyajaram navam

> > yatra visvam pratisthitam

> > atmanam ca prajas cemah

> > katham ambhasi dhasyasi

> > mam--me; vipatya--breaking to pieces; ajaram--very strong; navam--boat; yatra--where; visvam--all worldly paraphernalia; pratisthitam--standing; atmanam--yourself; ca--and; prajah--your subjects; ca--also; imah--all these; katham--how; ambhasi--in the water; dhasyasi--you will hold.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The cow-shaped earth continued: My dear King, I am just like a strong boat, and all the paraphernalia of the world is standing upon me. If you break me to pieces, how can you protect yourself and your subjects from drowning?

> > *******

> > TEXT 22

> > prthur uvaca

> > vasudhe tvam vadhisyami

> > mac-chasana-paran-mukhim

> > bhagam barhisi ya vrnkte

> > na tanoti ca no vasu

> > prthuh uvaca--King Prthu replied; vasu-dhe--my dear earthly planet; tvam--you; vadhisyami--I shall kill; mat--my; sasana--rulings; parak-mukhim--disobedient to; bhagam--your share; barhisi--in the yajna; ya--who; vrnkte--accepts; na--not; tanoti--does deliver; ca--and; nah--to us; vasu--produce.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Prthu replied to the earthly Planet: My dear earth, you have disobeyed my orders and rulings. In the form of a demigod you accepted your share of the yajnas we performed, but in return you have not produced sufficient food grains. For this reason I must kill you.

> > *******

> > TEXT 23

> > yavasam jagdhy anudinam

> > naiva dogdhy audhasam payah

> > tasyam evam hi dustayam

> > dando natra na sasyate

> > yavasam--green grass; jagdhi--you eat; anudinam--daily; na--never; eva--certainly; dogdhi--you yield; audhasam--in the milk bag; payah--milk; tasyam--when a cow; evam--thus; hi--certainly; dusta--yam--being offensive; dandah--punishment; na--not; atra--here; na--not; sasyate--is advisable.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although you are eating green grass every day, you are not filling your milk bag so we can utilize your milk. Since you are willfully committing offenses, it cannot be said that you are not punishable due to your assuming the form of a cow.

> > *******

> > TEXT 24

> > tvam khalv osadhi-bijani

> > prak srstani svayambhuva

> > na muncasy atma-ruddhani

> > mam avajnaya manda-dhih

> > tvam--you; khalu--certainly; osadhi--of herbs, plants and grains; bijani--the seeds; prak--formerly; srstani--created; svayambhuva--by Lord Brahma; na--do not; muncasi--deliver; atma-ruddhani--hidden within yourself; mam--me; avajnaya--disobeying; manda-dhih--less intelligent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > You have so lost your intelligence that, despite my orders, you do not deliver the seeds of herbs and grains formerly created by Brahma and now hidden within yourself.

> > *******

> > TEXT 25

> > amusam ksut-paritanam

> > artanam paridevitam

> > samayisyami mad-banair

> > bhinnayas tava medasa

> > amusam--of all of them; ksut-paritanam--suffering from hunger; artanam--of the distressed; paridevitam--the lamentation; samayisyami--I shall pacify; mat-banaih--by my arrows; bhinnayah--being cut to pieces; tava--of you; medasa--by the flesh.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now, with the help of my arrows, I shall cut you to pieces and with your flesh satisfy the hunger-stricken citizens, who are now crying for want of grains. Thus I shall satisfy the crying citizens of my kingdom.

> > *******

> > TEXT 26

> > puman yosid uta kliba

> > atma-sambhavano 'dhamah

> > bhutesu niranukroso

> > nrpanam tad-vadho 'vadhah

> > puman--a man; yosit--a woman; uta--also; klibah--a eunuch; atma-sambhavanah--interested in self -maintenance; adhamah--lowest of humankind; bhutesu--to other living entities; niranukrosah--without compassion; nrpanam--for the kings; tat--of him; vadhah--killing; avadhah--not killing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Any cruel person--be he a man, woman or impotent eunuch--who is only interested in his personal maintenance and has no compassion for other living entities may be killed by the king. Such killing can never be considered actual killing.

> > *******

> > TEXT 27

> > tvam stabdham durmadam nitva

> > maya-gam tilasah saraih

> > atma-yoga-balenema-

> > dharayisyamy aham prajah

> > tvam--you; stabdham--very much puffed up; durmadam--mad; nitva--bringing into such a condition; maya-gam--false cow; tilasah--into small particles like grains; saraih--by my arrows; atma--personal; yoga-balena--by mystic power; imah--all these; dharayisyami--shall uphold; aham--I; prajah--all the citizens, or all the living entities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > You are very much puffed up with pride and have become almost insane. Presently you have assumed the form of a cow by your mystic powers. Nonetheless I shall cut you into small pieces like grain, and I will uphold the entire population by my personal mystic powers.

> > *******

> > TEXT 28

> > evam manyumayim murtim

> > krtantam iva bibhratam

> > pranata pranjalih praha

> > mahi sanjata-vepathuh

> > evam--thus; manyu-mayim--very much angry; murtim--form; krta-antam--death personified, Yamaraja; iva--like; bibhratam--possessing; pranata--surrendered; pranjalih--with folded hands; praha--said; mahi--the planet earth; sanjata--arisen; vepathuh--trembling in her body.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At this time Prthu Maharaja became exactly like Yamaraja, and his whole body appeared very angry. In other words, he was anger personified. After hearing him, the planet earth began to tremble. She surrendered, and with folded hands began to speak as follows.

> > *******

> > TEXT 29

> > dharovaca

> > namah parasmai purusaya mayaya

> > vinyasta-nana-tanave gunatmane

> > namah svarupanubhavena nirdhuta-

> > dravya-kriya-karaka-vibhramormaye

> > dhara--the planet earth; uvaca--said; namah--I offer my obeisances; parasmai--unto the Transcendence; purusaya--unto the person; mayaya--by the material energy; vinyasta--expanded; nana--various; tanave--whose forms; guna-atmane--unto the source of the three modes of material nature; namah--I offer my obeisances; svarupa--of the real form; anubhavena--by understanding; nirdhuta--not affected by; dravya--matter; kriya--action; karaka--doer; vibhrama--bewilderment; urmaye--the waves of material existence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The planet earth spoke: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are transcendental in Your position, and by Your material energy You have expanded Yourself in various forms and species of life through the interaction of the three modes of material nature. Unlike some other masters, You always remain in Your transcendental position and are not affected by the material creation, which is subject to different material interactions. Consequently You are not bewildered by material activities.

> > *******

> > TEXT 30

> > yenaham atmayatanam vinirmita

> > dhatra yato 'yam guna-sarga-sangrahah

> > sa eva mam hantum udayudhah svarad

> > upasthito 'nyam saranam kam asraye

> > yena--by whom; aham--I; atma-ayatanam--resting place of all living entities; vinirmita--was created; dhatra--by the Supreme Lord; yatah--on account of whom; ayam--this; guna-sarga-sangrahah--combination of different material elements; sah--He; eva--certainly; mam--me; hantum--to kill; udayudhah--prepared with weapons; svarat--completely independent; upasthitah--now present before me; anyam--other; saranam--shelter; kam--unto whom; asraye--I shall resort to.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The planet earth continued: My dear Lord, You are the complete conductor of the material creation. You have created this cosmic manifestation and the three material qualities, and therefore You have created me, the planet earth, the resting place of all living entities. Yet You are always fully independent, my Lord. Now that You are present before me and ready to kill me with Your weapons, let me know where I should go to take shelter, and tell me who can give me protection.

> > *******

> > TEXT 31

> > ya etad adav asrjac caracaram

> > sva-mayayatmasrayayavitarkyaya

> > tayaiva so 'yam kila goptum udyatah

> > katham nu mam dharma-paro jighamsati

> > yah--one who; etat--these; adau--in the beginning of creation; asrjat--created; cara-acaram--moving and nonmoving living entities; svamayaya--by His own potency; atma-asrayaya--sheltered under His own protection; avitarkyaya--inconceivable; taya--by that same maya; eva--certainly; sah--he; ayam--this King; kila--certainly; goptum udyatah--prepared to give protection; katham--how; nu--then; mam--me; dharma-parah--one who is strictly following religious principles; jighamsati--desires to kill.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the beginning of creation You created all these moving and nonmoving living entities by Your inconceivable energy. Through this very same energy You are now prepared to protect the living entities. Indeed, You are the supreme protector of religious principles. Why are You so anxious to kill me, even though I am in the form of a cow?

> > *******

> > TEXT 32

> > nunam batesasya samihitam janais

> > tan-mayaya durjayayakrtatmabhih

> > na laksyate yas tv akarod akarayad

> > yo 'neka ekah paratas ca isvarah

> > nunam--surely; bata--certainly; isasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; samihitam--activities, plan; janaih--by people; tatmayaya--by His potency; durjayaya--which is unconquerable; akrta-atmabhih--who are not sufficiently experienced; na--never; laksyate--are seen; yah--he who; tu--then; akarot--created; akarayat--caused to create; yah--one who; anekah--many; ekah--one; paratah--by His inconceivable potencies; ca--and; isvarah--controller.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, although You are one, by Your inconceivable potencies You have expanded Yourself in many forms. Through the agency of Brahma, You have created this universe. You are therefore directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are not sufficiently experienced cannot understand Your transcendental activities because these persons are covered by Your illusory energy.

> > *******

> > TEXT 33

> > sargadi yo 'syanurunaddhi saktibhir

> > dravya-kriya-karaka-cetanatmabhih

> > tasmai samunnaddha-niruddha-saktaye

> > namah parasmai purusaya vedhase

> > sarga-adi--creation, maintenance and dissolution; yah--one who; asya--of this material world; anurunaddhi--causes; saktibhih--by His own potencies; dravya--physical elements; kriya--senses; karaka--controlling demigods; cetana--intelligence; atmabhih--consisting of false ego; tasmai--unto Him; samunnaddha--manifest; niruddha--potential; saktaye--one who possesses these energies; namah--obeisances; parasmai--unto the transcendental; purusaya--Supreme Personality of Godhead; vedhase--unto the cause of all causes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, by Your own potencies You are the original cause of the material elements, as well as the performing instruments (the senses), the workers of the senses (the controlling demigods), the intelligence and the ego, as well as everything else. By Your energy You manifest this entire cosmic creation, maintain it and dissolve it. Through Your energy alone everything is sometimes manifest and sometimes not manifest. You are therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

> > *******

> > TEXT 34

> > sa vai bhavan atma-vinirmitam jagad

> > bhutendriyantah-karanatmakam vibho

> > samsthapayisyann aja mam rasatalad

> > abhyujjaharambhasa adi-sukarah

> > sah--He; vai--certainly; bhavan--Yourself; atma--by Yourself; vinirmitam--manufactured; jagat--this world; bhuta--the physical elements; indriya--senses; antah-karana--mind, heart; atmakam--consisting of; vibho--O Lord; samsthapayisyan--maintaining; aja--O unborn; mam--me; rasatalat--from the plutonic region; abhyujjahara--took out; ambhasah--from the water; adi--original; sukarah--the boar.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, You are always unborn. Once, in the form of the original boar, You rescued me from the waters in the bottom of the universe. Through Your own energy You created all the physical elements, the senses and the heart, for the maintenance of the world.

> > *******

> > TEXT 35

> > apam upasthe mayi navy avasthitah

> > praja bhavan adya riraksisuh kila

> > sa vira-murtih samabhud dhara-dharo

> > yo mam payasy ugra-saro jighamsasi

> > apam--of the water; upasthe--situated on the surface; mayi--in me; navi--in a boat; avasthitah--standing; prajah--living entities; bhavan--Yourself; adya--now; riraksisuh--desiring to protect; kila--indeed; sah--He; vira-murtih--in the form of a great hero; samabhut--became; dhara-dharah--the protector of the planet earth; yah--one who; mam--me; payasi--for the sake of milk; ugra-sarah--with sharpened arrows; jighamsasi--you desire to kill.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, in this way You once protected me by rescuing me from the water, and consequently Your name has been famous as Dharadhara--He who holds the planet earth. Yet at the present moment, in the form of a great hero, You are about to kill me with sharpened arrows. I am, however, just like a boat on the water, keeping everything afloat.

> > *******

> > TEXT 36

> > nunam janair ihitam isvaranam

> > asmad-vidhais tad-guna-sarga-mayaya

> > na jnayate mohita-citta-vartmabhis

> > tebhyo namo vira-yasas-karebhyah

> > nunam--surely; janaih--by the people in general; ihitam--activities; isvaranam--of the controllers; asmat-vidhaih--like me; tat--of the Personality of Godhead; guna--of the modes of material nature; sarga--which brings forth creation; mayaya--by Your energy; na--never; jnayate--are understood; mohita--bewildered; citta--whose minds; vartmabhih--way; tebhyah--unto them; namah--obeisances; vira-yasah-karebhyah--who bring renown to heroes themselves.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, I am also the creation of one of Your energies, composed of the three modes of material nature. Consequently I am bewildered by Your activities. Even the activities of Your devotees cannot be understood, and what to speak of Your pastimes. Thus everything appears to us to be contradictory and wonderful.

> > Back to the running text