> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 2
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > ******

> > The Cosmic Manifestation

> > *******

> > Chapter Eight: Questions by King Pariksit

> > TEXT 1

> > râjovâca

> > brahmanâ codito brahman

> > gunakhyane 'gunasya ca

> > yasmai yasmai yathâ prâha

> > nârado deva-dars'anah

> > râjâ--the King; uvâca--inquired; brahmana--by Lord Brahmâ; coditah--being instructed; brahman--O learned brâhmana (S'ukadeva Gosvâmî); guna-âkhyâne--in narrating the transcendental qualities; agunasya--of the Lord, who is without material qualities; ca--and; yasmai yasmai--and whom; yathâ--as much as; prâha--explained; nâradah--Nârada Muni; deva-dars'anah--one whose audience is as good as that of any demigod.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Parîkshit inquired from S'ukadeva Gosvâmî: How did Nârada Muni, whose hearers are as fortunate as those instructed by Lord Brahmâ, explain the transcendental qualitiesof the Lord, who is without material qualities, and before whom did he speak?

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > etad veditum icchâmi

> > tattvam tattva-vidâm vara

> > harer adbhuta-vîryasya

> > kathâ loka-sumangalâh

> > etat--this; veditum--to understand; icchâmi--I wish; tattvam--truth; tattva-vidâm--of those who are well versed in the Absolute Truth; vara--O best; hareh--of the Lord; adbhuta-vîryasya--of the one who possesses wonderful potencies; kathâh--narrations; loka--for all planets; su-mangalâh--auspicious.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The King said: I wish to know. Narrations concerning the Lord, who possesses wonderful potencies, are certainly auspicious for living beings in all planets.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > kathayasva mahâbhâga

> > yathâham akhilâtmani

> > krishne nives'ya nihsangam

> > manas tyakshye kalevaram

> > kathayasva--please continue speaking; mahâbhâga--O greatly fortunate one; yathâ--as much as; aham--I; akhila-âtmani--unto the Supreme Soul; krishne--unto Lord S'rî Krishna; nives'ya--having placed; nihsangam--being freed from material qualities; manah--mind; tyaksye--may relinquish; kalevaram--body.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O greatly fortunate S'ukadeva Gosvâmî, please continue narrating S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam so that I can place my mind upon the Supreme Soul, Lord Krishna, and, being completely freed from material qualities, thus relinquish this body.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > s'rinvatah s'raddhayâ nityam

> > grinatas' ca sva-ceshthitam

> > kâlena nâtidîrghena

> > bhagavân vis'ate hridi

> > s'rinvatah--of those who hear; s'raddhayâ--in earnestness; nityam--regularly, always; grinatah--taking the matter; ca--also; sva-ceshthitam--seriously by one's own endeavor; kâlena--duration; na--not; atidîrghena--very prolonged time; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead S'rî Krishna; vis'ate--becomes manifest; hridi--within one's heart.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Persons who hear S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead S'rî Krishna manifested in their hearts within a short time.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > pravishthah karna-randhrena

> > svânâm bhâva-saroruham

> > dhunoti s'amalam krishnah

> > salilasya yathâ s'arat

> > pravishthah--thus being entered; karna-randhrena--through the holes of the ears; svânâm--according to one's liberated position; bhâva--constitutional relationship; sarah-ruham--the lotus flower; dhunoti--cleanses; s'amalam--material qualities like lust, anger, avarice and hankering; krishnah--Lord Krishna, the Supreme personality of Godhead; salilasya--of the reservoir of waters; yathâ--as it were; s'arat--the autumn season.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sound incarnation of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Soul [i.e. S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam], enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering. Thus it acts like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > dhautâtmâ purushah krishna-

> > pâda-mûlam na mun'cati

> > mukta-sama-parikles'ah

> > pânthah sva-s'aranam yathâ

> > dhauta-âtmâ--whose heart has been cleansed; purushah--the living being; krishna--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pâda-mûlam--the shelter of the lotus feet; na--never; mun'cati--gives up; mukta--liberated; sarva--all; parikles'ah--of all miseries of life; pânthah--the traveler; sva-s'aranam--in his own abode; yathâ--as it were.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A pure devotee of the Lord whose heart has once been cleansed by the process of devotional service never relinquishes the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, for they fully satisfy him, as a traveler is satisfied at home after a troubled journey.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > yad adhâtu-mato brahman

> > dehârambho 'sya dhâtubhih

> > yadricchayâ hetunâ vâ

> > bhavanto jânate yathâ

> > yat--as it is; adhâtu-matah--without being materially constituted; brahman--O learned brâhmana; deha--the material body; ârambhah--the beginning of; asya--of the living being; dhâtubhih--by matter; yadricchayâ--without cause, accidental; hetunâ--due to some cause; vâ--either; bhavantah--your good self; jânate--as you may know it; yathâ--so you inform me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O learned brâhmana, the transcendental spirit soul is different from the material body. Does he acquire the body accidentally or by some cause? Will you kindly explain this, for it is known to you.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > âsîd yad-udarât padmam

> > loka-samsthana-lakshanam

> > yâvân ayam vai purusha

> > iyattâvayavaih prithak

> > tâvân asâv iti proktah

> > samsthâvayavavân iva

> > âsît--as it grew; yat-udarât--from whose abdomen; padmam--lotus flower; loka--world; samsthâna--situation; lakshanam--possessed of; yâvân--as it were; ayam--this; vai--certainly; purushah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; iyattâ--measurement; avayavaih--by embodiments; prithak--different; tâvân--so; asau--that; iti proktah--it is so said; samsthâ--situation; avayavavân--embodiment; iva--like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whose abdomen the lotus stem sprouted, is possessed of a gigantic body according to His own caliber and measurement, then what is the specific difference between the body of the Lord and those of common living entities?

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > ajah srijati bhûtâni

> > bhûtâtmâ yad-anugrahât

> > dadris'e yena tad-rûpam

> > nâbhi-padma-samudbhavah

> > ajah--one who is born without a material source; srijati--creates; bhûtâni--all those materially born; bhûta-âtmâ--having a body of matter; yat--whose; anugrahât--by the mercy of; dadris'e--could see; yena--by whom; tat-rûpam--His form of body; nâbhi--navel; padma--lotus flower; samudbhavah--being born of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Brahmâ, who was not born of a material source but of the lotus flower coming out of the navel abdomen of the Lord, is the creator of all those who are materially born. Of course, by the grace of the Lord, Brahmâ was able to see the form of the Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > sa câpi yatra purusho

> > vis'va-sthity-udbhavâpyayah

> > muktvâtma-mâyâm mâyes'ah

> > s'ete sarva-guhâs'ayah

> > sah--He; ca--also; api--as He is; yatra--where; purushah--the Personality of Godhead; vis'va--the material worlds; sthiti--maintenance; udbhava--creation; apyayah--annihilation; muktvâ--without being touched; âtma-mâyâm--own energy; mâyâ-îs'ah--the Lord of all energies; s'ete--does lie on; sarva-guhâ-s'ayah--one who lies in everyone s heart.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Please also explain the Personality of Godhead, who lies in every heart as the Supersoul, and as the Lord of all energies, but is untouched by His external energy.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > purushâvayavair lokâh

> > sapâlâh pûrva-kalpitâh

> > lokair amushyâvayavâh

> > sa-pâlair iti s'us'ruma

> > purusha--the universal form of the Lord (virât-purushah); avayavaih--by different parts of the body; lokâh--the planetary system; sa-pâlâh--with respective governors; pûrva--formerly; kalpitâh--discussed; lokaih--by the different planetary systems; amushya--His; avayavâh--different parts of the body; sa-pâlaih--with the governors; iti--thus; s'us'ruma--I heard.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O learned brâhmana, it was formerly explained that all the planets of the universe with their respective governors are situated in the different parts of the gigantic body of the virât-purusha. I have also heard that the different planetary systems are supposed to be in the gigantic body of the virât-purusha. But what is their actual position ? Will you please explain that?

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > yâvân kalpo vikalpo vâ

> > yathâ kâlo 'numîyate

> > bhûta-bhavya-bhavac-chabda

> > âyur-mânam ca yat satah

> > yâvân--as it is; kalpah--the duration of time between creation and annihilation; vikalpah--subsidiary creation and annihilation; vâ--either; yathâ--as also; kâlah--the time; anumîyate--is measured; bhûta--past; bhavya--future; bhavat--present; s'abdah--sound; âyuh--duration of life; mânam--measurement; ca--also; yat--which; satah--of all living beings in all planets.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Also please explain the duration of time between creation and annihilation, and that of other subsidiary creations, as well as the nature of time, indicated by the sound of past, present and future. Also, please explain the duration and measurement of life of the different living beings known as the demigods, the human beings, etc., in different planets of the universe.

> > TEXT 13

> > kâlasyânugatir yâ tu

> > lakshyate 'nvî brihaty api

> > yâvatyah karma-gatayo

> > yâdris'ir dvija-sattama

> > kâlasya--of eternal time; anugatih--beginning; yâ tu--as they are; lakshyate--experienced; anvî--small; brihatî--great; api--even; yâvatyah--as long as; karma-gatayah--in terms of the work performed; yâdris'îh--as it may; dvija-sattama--o purest of all brâhmanas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O purest of the brâhmanas, please also explain the cause of the different durations of time, both short and long, as well as the beginning of time, following the course of action.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > yasmin karma-samâvâyo

> > yathâ yenopagrihyate

> > gunânâm guninâm caiva

> > parinâmam abhîpsatâm

> > yasmin--in which; karma--actions; samâvâyah--accumulation; yathâ--as far as; yena--by which; upagrihyate--takes over; gunânâm--of the different modes of material nature; guninâm--of the living beings; ca--also; eva--certainly; parinâmam--resultant; abhîpsatâm--of the desires.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then again, kindly describe how the proportionate accumulation of the reactions resulting from the different modes of material nature act upon the desiring living being, promoting or degrading him among the different species of life, beginning from the demigods down to the most insignificant creatures.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > bhû-pâtâla-kakub-vyoma-

> > graha-nakshatra-bhûbhritâm

> > sarit-samudra-dvîpânâm

> > sambhavas' caitad-okasâm

> > bhû-pâtâla--underneath the land; kakup--the four sides of the heavens; vyoma--the sky; graha--the planets; nakshatra--the stars; bhûbhritâm--of the hills; sarit--the river; samudra--the sea; dvîpânâm--of the islands; sambhavah--appearance; ca--also; etat--their; okasâm-of the inhabitants.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O best of the brâmanas, please also describe how the creation of the globes throughout the universe, the four directions of the heavens, the sky, the planets, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, the seas and the islands, as well as their different kinds of inhabitants, takes place.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > pramânam anda-kos'asya

> > bâhyâbhyantara-bhedatah

> > mahatâm cânucaritam

> > varnâs'rama-vinis'cayah

> > pramânam--extent and measurement; anda-kos'asya--of the universe; bâhya--outer space; abhyantara--inner space; bhedatah--by division of; mahatâm--of the great souls; ca--also; anucaritam--character and activities; varna--castes; âs'rama--orders of life; vinis'cayah--specifically describe.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Also, please describe the inner and outer space of the universe by specific divisions, as well as the character and activities of the great souls, and also the characteristics of the different classifications of the castes and orders of social life.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > yugâni yuga-mânam ca

> > dharmo yas' ca yuge yuge

> > avatârânucaritam

> > yad âsc'aryatamam hareh

> > yugâni--the different ages; yuga-mânam--the duration of each age; ca--as well as; dharmah--the particular occupational duty; yah ca--and which; yuge yuge--in each and every yuga, or particular age; avatâra--the incarnation; anucaritam--and the activities of the incarnation; yat--which; âs'aryatamam--the most wonderful activities; hareh--of the Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Please explain all the different ages in the duration of the creation, and also the duration of such ages. Also tell me about the different activities of the different incarnations of the Lord in different ages.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > nrinâm sâdhârano dharmah

> > savis'eshas' ca yâdris'ah

> > s'renînâm râjarshînâm ca

> > dharmah kricchreshu jîvatâm

> > nrinâm--of human society; sâdhâranah--general; dharmah--religious affiliation; sa-vis'eshah--specific; ca--also; yâdris'ah--as they are; s'renînâm--of the particular three classes; râjarshînâm--of the saintly royal order; ca--also; dharmah--occupational duty; kricchreshu--in the matter of distressed conditions; jîvatâm--of the living beings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Please also explain what may generally be the common religious affiliations of human society, as well as their specific occupational duties in religion, the classification of the social orders as well as the administrative royal orders, and the religious principles for one who may be in distress.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > tattvânâm parisankhyânam

> > lakshanam hetu-lakshanam

> > purushârâdhana-vidhir

> > yogasyâdhyâtmikasya ca

> > tattvânâm--of the elements that constitute the creation; parisankhyânam--of the number of such elements; lakshanam--symptoms; hetu-lakshanam--the symptoms of the causes; purusha--of the Lord; ârâdhana--of devotional service; vidhih--rules and regulations; yogasya--of cultivation of the yoga system; adhyâtmikasya--spiritual methods leading to devotional service; ca--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Kindly explain all about the elementary principles of creation, the number of such elementary principles, their causes, and their development, and also the process of devotional service and the method of mystic powers.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > yoges'varais'varya-gatir

> > linga-bhangas tu yoginâm

> > vedopaveda-dharmânâm

> > itihâsa-purânayoh

> > yoga-îs'vara--of the master of the mystic powers; ais'varya--opulence; gatih--advancement; linga--astral body; bhangah--detachment; tu--but; yoginâm--of the mystics; vecal--transcendental knowledge; upaveda--knowledge in pursuance of the Vedaindirectly; dharmânâm--of the religiosities; itihâsa--history; purânayoh--of the purânas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > What are the opulences of the great mystics, and what is their ultimate realization? How does the perfect mystic become detached from the subtle astral body? What is the basic knowledge of the Vedic literatures, including the branches of history and the supplementary Purânas?

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > samplavah sarva-bhûtânâm

> > vikramah pratisankramah

> > ishthâ-pûrtasya kâmyânâm

> > tri-vargasya ca yo vidhih

> > samplavah--the perfect means or complete devastation; sarva-bhûtânâm--of all living beings; vikramah--specific power or situation; pratisankramah--ultimate destruction; ishthâ--performance of Vedic rituals; pûrtasya--pious acts in terms of religion; kâmyânâm--rituals for economic development; tri-vargasya--the three means of religion, economic development and sense satisfaction; ca--also; yah--whatsoever; vidhih--procedures.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Please explain unto me how the living beings are generated, how they are maintained, and how they are annihilated. Tell me also of the advantages and disadvantages of discharging devotional service unto the Lord. What are the Vedic rituals and injunctions of the supplementary Vedic rites, and what are the procedures of religion, economic development and sense satisfaction?

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > yo vânus'âyinâm sargah

> > pâshandasya ca sambhavah

> > âtmano bandha-mokshau ca

> > vyavasthânam sva-rûpatah

> > yah--all those; vâ--either; anus'âyinâm--merged into the body of the Lord; sargah--creation; pâsandasya--of the infidels; ca--and; sambhavah--appearance; âtmanah--of the living beings; bandha--conditioned; mokshau--being liberated; ca--also; vyavasthânam--being situated; sva-rûpatah--in an unconditioned state.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Please also explain how, merged in the body of the Lord, living beings are created, and how the infidels appear in the world. Also please explain how the unconditioned living entities exist.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > yathâtma-tantro bhagavân

> > vikrîdaty âtma-mâyayâ

> > visrijya vâ yathâ mâyâm

> > udâste sâkshivad vibhuh

> > yathâ--as; âtma-tantrah--independent; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; vikrîdati--enjoys His pastimes; âtma-mâyayâ--by His internal potency; visrijya--giving up; vâ--as also; yathâ--as He desires; mâyâm--the external potency; udâste--remains; sâkshivat--just as the witness; vibhuh--the almighty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The independent Personality of Godhead enjoys His pastimes by His internal potency and at the time of annihilation gives them up to the external potency, and He remains a witness to it all.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > sarvam etac ca bhagavan

> > pricchato me 'nupûrvas'ah

> > tattvato 'rhasy udâhartum

> > prapannâya mahâ-mune

> > sarvam--all these; etat--inquiries; ca--also that I have not been able to ask; bhagavan--O great sage; pricchatah--of the inquisitive; me--myself; anupûrvas'ah--from the beginning; tattvatah--just in accordance with the truth; arhasi--may kindly be explained; udâhartum--as you will let know; prapannâya--one who is surrounded; mahâ-mune--O great sage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O great sage, representative of the Lord, kindly satisfy my inquisitiveness in all that I have inquired from you and all that I may not have inquired from you from the very beginning of my questionings. Since I am a soul surrendered unto you, please impart full knowledge in this connection.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > atra pramânam hi bhavân

> > parameshthhî yathâtma-bhûh

> > apare cânutishthhanti

> > pûrveshâm pûrva jaih kritam

> > atra--in this matter; pramânam--evidential facts; hi--certainly; bhavân--yourself; parameshthhî--Brahmâ, the creator of the universe; yathâ--as; âtma-bhûh--born directly from the Lord; apare--others; ca--only; anutishthhanti--just to follow; pûrveshâm--as a matter of custom; pûrva jaih--knowledge suggested by a previous philosopher; kritam--having been done.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O great sage, you are as good as Brahmâ, the original living being. Others follow custom only, as followed by the previous philosophical speculators.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > na me 'savah parâyanti

> > brahmann anas'anâd amî

> > pibato 'cyuta-pîyûsam

> > tad-vâkyâbdhi-vinihsritam

> > na--never; me--mine; asavah--life; parâyanti--becomes exhausted; brahman--o learned brâhmana; anas'anât amî--because of fasting; pibatah--because of my drinking; acyuta--of the infallible; pîyûsham--nectar; tat--your; vâkya-abdhi--ocean of speech; vinihsritam--flowing down from.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O learned brâhmana, because of my drinking the nectar of the message of the infallible Personality of Godhead, which is flowing down from the ocean of your speeches, I do not feel any sort of exhaustion due to my fasting.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > sûta uvâca

> > sa upâmantrito râjn'â

> > kathâyâm iti sat-pateh

> > brahmarâto bhris'am prîto

> > vishnurâtena samsadi

> > sûtah uvâca--S'rîla Sûta Gosvâmî said; sah--he (S'ukadeva Gosvâmî); upâmantritah--thus being inquired; râjn'â--by the King; kathâyâm--in the topics, iti--thus; sat-pateh--of the highest truth; brahmâratah--S'ukadeva Gosvâmî; bhris'am--very much; prîtah--pleased; vishnu-râtena--by Mahârâja Parîkshit; samsadi--in the meeting.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: Thus S'ukadeva Gosvâmî, being invited by Mahârâja Parîkshit to speak on topics of the Lord S'rî Krishna with the devotees, was very much pleased.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > prâha bhâgavatam nâma

> > purânam brahma-sammitam

> > brahmane bhagavat-proktam

> > brahma-kalpa upâgate

> > prâha--he said; bhâgavatam--the science of the Personality of Godhead; nâma--of the name; purânam--the supplement of the Vedas; brahma-sammitam--just in pursuance of the Vedas; brahmane--unto Lord Brahmâ; bhagavat-proktam--was spoken by the Personality of Godhead; brahma-kalpe--the millennium in which Brahmâ was first generated; upâgate--just in the beginning.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He began to reply to the inquiries of Mahârâja Parîkshit by saying that the science of the Personality of Godhead was spoken first by the Lord Himself to Brahmâ when he was first born. S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam is the supplementary Vedic literature, and it is just in pursuance of the Vedas.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > yad yat parîkshid rishabhah

> > pândûnâm anupricchati

> > ânupûrvyena tat sarvam

> > âkyâtum upacakrame

> > yat yat--whatsoever; Parîkshit--the King; rishabhah--the best; pândûnâm--in the dynasty of Pându; anupricchati--goes on inquiring; ânupûrvyena--the beginning to the end; tat--all those; sarvam--fully; âkhyâtum--to describe; upacakrame--he just prepared himself.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He also prepared himself to reply to all that King Parîkshit had inquired from him. Mahârâja Parîkshit was the best in the dynasty of the Pandus, and thus he was able to ask the right questions from the right person.

> Back to the running text