> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 7
> 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 7: "The Science of God"

> *****

> Chapter Three: Hiranyakasipu's Plan to Become Immortal

> *****

> TEXT 1

> srî-nârada uvâca

> hiranyakasipû râjann

> ajeyam ajarâmaram

> âtmânam apratidvandvam

> eka-râjam vyadhitsata

> srî-nâradah uvâca--Nârada Muni said; hiranyakasipuh--the demoniac king Hiranyakasipu; râjan--O King Yudhisthira; ajeyam--unconquerable by any enemy; ajara--without old age or disease; amaram--immortal; âtmânam--himself; apratidvandvam--without any rival or opponent; eka-râjam--the one king of the universe; vyadhitsata--desired to become.

> TRANSLATION

> Narada Muni said to Maharaja Yudhisthira: The demoniac king Hiranyakasipu wanted to be unconquerable and free from old age and dwindling of the body. He wanted to gain all the yogic perfections like anima and laghima, to be deathless, and to be the only king of the entire universe, including Brahmaloka.

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> TEXT 2

> sa tepe mandara-dronyâm

> tapah parama-dârunam

> ûrdhva-bâhur nabho-drstih

> pâdângusthâsritâvanih

> sah--he (Hiranyakasipu); tepe--performed; mandara-dronyâm--in a valley of Mandara Hill; tapah--austerity; parama--most; dârunam--difficult; ûrdhva--raising; bâhuh--arms; nabhah--toward the sky; drstih--his vision; pâda-angustha--with the big toes of his feet; âsrita--resting on; avanih--the ground.

> TRANSLATION

> In the valley of Mandara Hill, Hiranyakasipu began performing his austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. This position was extremely difficult, but he accepted it as a means to attain perfection.

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> TEXT 3

> jatâ-dîdhitibhî reje

> samvartârka ivâmsubhih

> tasmims tapas tapyamâne

> devâh sthânâni bhejire

> jatâ-dîdhitibhih--by the effulgence of the hair on his head; reje--was shining; samvarta-arkah--the sun at the time of destruction; iva--like; amsubhih--by the beams; tasmin--when he (Hiranyakasipu); tapah--austerities; tapyamâne--was engaged in; devâh--all the demigods who were wandering throughout the universe to see Hiranyakasipu's demoniac activities; sthânâni--to their own places; bhejire--returned.

> TRANSLATION

> From the hair on Hiranyakasipu's head there emanated an effulgent light as brilliant and intolerable as the rays of the sun at the time of dissolution. Seeing the performance of such austere penances, the demigods, who had been wandering throughout the planets, now returned to their respective homes.

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> TEXT 4

> tasya murdhnah samudbhutah

> sadhumo 'gnis tapomayah

> tiryag urdhvam adho lokan

> pratapad visvag iritah

> tasya--his; mûrdhnah--from the head; samudbhûtah--generated; sa-dhûmah--with smoke; agnih--fire; tapah-mayah--because of severe austerities; tîryak--sideways; ûrdhvam--upward; adhah--downward; lokân--all the planets; prâtapat--heated; visvak--all around; îritah--spreading.

> TRANSLATION

> Because of Hiranyakasipu's severe austerities, fire came from his head, and this fire and its smoke spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets, which all became extremely hot.

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> TEXT 5

> cuksubhur nady-udanvantah

> sadvîpâdris cacâla bhûh

> nipetuh sagrahâs târâ

> jajvalus ca diso dasa

> cuksubhuh--became agitated; nadî-udanvantah--the rivers and oceans; sa-dvîpa--with the islands; adrih--and mountains; cacâla--trembled; bhûh--the surface of the globe; nipetuh--fell; sa-grahâh--with the planets; târâh--the stars; jajvaluh--blazed; ca--also; disah dasa--the ten directions.

> TRANSLATION

> Because of the power of his severe austerities, all the rivers and oceans were agitated, the surface of the globe, with its mountains and islands, began trembling, and the stars and planets fell. All directions were ablaze.

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> TEXT 6

> tena taptâ divam tyaktvâ

> brahmalokam yayuh surâh

> dhâtre vijnâpayâm âsur

> deva-deva jagat-pate

> daityendra-tapasâ taptâ

> divi sthâtum na saknumah

> tena--by that (fire of austerity); taptâh--burned; divam--their residential quarters in the upper planets; tyaktvâ--giving up; brahma-lokam--to the planet where Lord Brahmâ lives; yayuh--went; surâh--the demigods; dhâtre--unto the chief of this universe, Lord Brahmâ; vijnâpayâm âsuh--submitted; deva-deva--O chief of the demigods; jagat-pate--O master of the universe; daitya-indra-tapasâ--by the severe austerity performed by the King of the Daityas, Hiranyakasipu; taptâh--roasted; divi--on the heavenly planets; sthâtum--to stay; na--not; saknumah--we are able.

> TRANSLATION

> Scorched and extremely disturbed because of Hiranyakasipu's severe penances, all the demigods left the planets where they reside and went to the planet of Lord Brahma, where they informed the creator as follows: O lord of the demigods, O master of the universe, because of the fire emanating from Hiranyakasipu's head as a result of his severe austerities, we have become so disturbed that we could not stay in our planets but have come to you.

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> TEXT 7

> tasya copasamam bhûman

> vidhehi yadi manyase

> lokâ na yâvan nanksyanti

> bali-hârâs tavâbhibhûh

> tasya--of this; ca--indeed; upasamam--the cessation; bhûman--O great personality; vidhehi--please execute; yadi--if; manyase--you think it right; lokâh--all the inhabitants of the various planets; na--not; yâvat--as long as; nanksyanti--will be lost; bali-hârâh--who are obedient to the worship; tava--of you; abhibhûh--O chief of all the universe.

> TRANSLATION

> O great person, chief of the universe, if you think it proper, kindly stop these disturbances, meant to destroy everything, before all your obedient subjects are annihilated.

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> TEXT 8

> tasyâyam kila sankalpas

> carato duscaram tapah

> srûyatâm kim na viditas

> tavâthâpi niveditam

> tasya--his; ayam--this; kila--indeed; sankalpah--determination; caratah--who is executing; duscaram--very difficult; tapah--austerity; srûyatâm--let it be heard; kim--what; na--not; viditah--known; tava--of you; athâpi--still; niveditam--submitted.

> TRANSLATION

> Hiranyakasipu has undertaken a most severe type of austerity. Although his plan is not unknown to you, kindly listen as we submit his intentions.

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> TEXTS 9-10

> srstvâ carâcaram idam

> tapo-yoga-samâdhinâ

> adhyâste sarva-dhisnyebhyah

> paramesthî nijâsanam

> tad aham vardhamânena

> tapo-yoga-samâdhinâ

> kâlâtmanos ca nityatvât

> sâdhayisye tathâtmanah

> srstvâ--creating; cara--moving; acaram--and not moving; idam--this; tapah--of austerity; yoga--and mystic power; samâdhinâ--by practicing the trance; adhyâste--is situated in; sarva-dhisnyebhyah--than all the planets, including the heavenly planets; paramesthî--Lord Brahmâ; nija-âsanam--his own throne; tat--therefore; aham--I; vardhamânena--by dint of increasing; tapah--austerity; yoga--mystic powers; samâdhinâ--and trance; kâla--of time; âtmanoh--and of the soul; ca--and; nityatvât--from the eternality; sâdhayisye--shall achieve; tathâ--so much; âtmanah--for my personal self.

> TRANSLATION

> "The supreme person within this universe, Lord Brahma, has gotten his exalted post by dint of severe austerities, mystic power and trance. Consequently, after creating the universe, he has become the most worshipable demigod within it. Since I am eternal and time is eternal, I shall endeavor for such austerity, mystic power and trance for many, many births, and thus I shall occupy the same post occupied by Lord Brahma.

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> TEXT 11

> anyathedam vidhâsye 'ham

> ayathâ pûrvam ojasâ

> kim anyaih kâla-nirdhûtaih

> kalpânte vaisnavâdibhih

> anyathâ--just the opposite; idam--this universe; vidhâsye--shall make; aham--I; ayathâ--inappropriate; pûrvam--as it was before; ojasâ--by dint of the power of my austerity; kim--what use; anyaih--with other; kâla-nirdhûtaih--vanquished in due course of time; kalpa-ante--at the end of the millennium; vaisnava-âdibhih--with planets like Dhruvaloka or Vaikunthaloka.

> TRANSLATION

> "By dint of my severe austerities, I shall reverse the results of pious and impious activities. I shall overturn all the established practices within this world. Even Dhruvaloka will be vanquished at the end of the millennium. Therefore, what is the use of it? I shall prefer to remain in the position of Brahma."

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> TEXT 12

> iti susruma nirbandham

> tapah paramam âsthitah

> vidhatsvânantaram yuktam

> svayam tri-bhuvanesvara

> iti--in this way; susruma--we have heard; nirbandham--strong determination; tapah--austerity; paramam--very severe; âsthitah--is situated in; vidhatsva--please take steps; anantaram--as soon as possible; yuktam--befitting; svayam--yourself; tri-bhuvana-îsvara--O master of the three worlds.

> TRANSLATION

> O lord, we have heard from reliable sources that in order to obtain your post, Hiranyakasipu is now engaged in severe austerity. You are the master of the three worlds. Please, without delay, take whatever steps you deem appropriate.

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> TEXT 13

> tavâsanam dvija-gavâm

> pâramesthyam jagat-pate

> bhavâya sreyase bhûtyai

> ksemâya vijayâya ca

> tava--your; âsanam--position on the throne; dvija--of the brahminical culture or the brâhmanas; gavâm--of the cows; pâramesthyam--supreme; jagat-pate--O master of the whole universe; bhavâya--for improvement; sreyase--for the ultimate happiness; bhûtyai--for increasing the opulence; ksemâya--for the maintenance and good fortune; vijayâya--for the victory and increasing prestige; ca--and.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord Brahma, your position within this universe is certainly most auspicious for everyone, especially the cows and brahmanas. Brahminical culture and the protection of cows can be increasingly glorified, and thus all kinds of material happiness, opulence and good fortune will automatically increase. But unfortunately, if Hiranyakasipu occupies your seat, everything will be lost.

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> TEXT 14

> iti vijnâpito devair

> bhagavân âtmabhûr nrpa

> parito bhrgu-daksâdyair

> yayau daityesvarâsramam

> iti--thus; vijnâpitah--informed; devaih--by all the demigods; bhagavân--the most powerful; âtma-bhûh--Lord Brahmâ, who was born from the lotus flower; nrpa--O King; paritah--being surrounded; bhrgu--by Bhrgu; daksa--Daksa; âdyaih--and others; yayau--went; daitya-îsvara--of Hiranyakasipu, the King of the Daityas; âsramam--to the place of austerity.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, being thus informed by the demigods, the most powerful Lord Brahma, accompanied by Bhrgu, Daksa and other great sages, immediately started for the place where Hiranyakasipu was performing his penances and austerities.

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> TEXTS 15-16

> na dadarsa praticchannam

> valmîka-trna-kîcakaih

> pipîlikâbhir âcîrnam

> medas-tvan-mâmsa-sonitam

> tapantam tapasâ lokân

> yathâbhrâpihitam ravim

> vilaksya vismitah prâha

> hasams tam hamsa-vâhanah

> na--not; dadarsa--saw; praticchannam--covered; valmîka--by an anthill; trna--grass; kîcakaih--and bamboo sticks; pipîlikâbhih--by the ants; âcîrnam--eaten all around; medah--whose fat; tvak--skin; mâmsa--the flesh; sonitam--and blood;

> tapantam--heating; tapasâ--by a severe type of penance; lokân--all the three worlds; yathâ--just as; abhra--by clouds; apihitam--covered; ravim--the sun; vilaksya--seeing; vismitah--struck with wonder; prâha--said; hasan--smiling; tam--to him; hamsa-vâhanah--Lord Brahmâ, who rides a swan airplane.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Brahma, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first could not see where Hiranyakasipu was, for Hiranyakasipu's body was covered by an anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. Because Hiranyakasipu had been there for a long time, the ants had devoured his skin, fat, flesh and blood. Then Lord Brahma and the demigods spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun, heating all the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahma began to smile and then addressed him as follows.

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> TEXT 17

> srî-brahmovâca

> uttisthottistha bhadram te

> tapah-siddho 'si kâsyapa

> varado 'ham anuprâpto

> vriyatâm îpsito varah

> srî-brahmâ uvâca--Lord Brahma said; uttistha--please get up; uttistha--get up; bhadram--good fortune; te--unto you; tapah-siddhah--perfect in executing austerities; asi--you are; kâsyapa--O son of Kasyapa; vara-dah--the giver of benediction; aham--I; anuprâptah--arrived; vriyatâm--let it be submitted; îpsitah--desired; varah--benediction.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Brahma said: O son of Kasyapa Muni, please get up, please get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the performance of your austerities, and therefore I may give you a benediction. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfill your wish.

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> TEXT 18

> adrâksam aham etam te

> hrt-sâram mahad-adbhutam

> damsa-bhaksita-dehasya

> prânâ hy asthisu serate

> adrâksam--have personally seen; aham--I; etam--this; te--your; hrt-sâram--power of endurance; mahat--very great; adbhutam--wonderful; damsa-bhaksita--eaten by worms and ants; dehasya--whose body; prânâh--the life air; hi--indeed; asthisu--in the bones; serate--is taking shelter.

> TRANSLATION

> I have been very much astonished to see your endurance. In spite of being eaten and bitten by all kinds of worms and ants, you are keeping your life air circulating within your bones. Certainly this is wonderful.

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> TEXT 19

> naitat pûrvarsayas cakrur

> na karisyanti câpare

> nirambur dhârayet prânân

> ko vai divya-samâh satam

> na--not; etat--this; pûrva-rsayah--the sages before you, such as Bhrgu; cakruh--executed; na--nor; karisyanti--will execute; ca--also; apare--others; nirambuh--without drinking water; dhârayet--can sustain; prânân--the life air; kah--who; vai--indeed; divya-samâh--celestial years; satam--one hundred.

> TRANSLATION

> Even saintly persons like Bhrgu, born previously, could not perform such severe austerities, nor will anyone in the future be able to do so. Who within these three worlds can sustain his life without even drinking water for one hundred celestial years?

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> TEXT 20

> vyavasâyena te 'nena

> duskarena manasvinâm

> tapo-nisthena bhavatâ

> jito 'ham diti-nandana

> vyavasâyena--by determination; te--your; anena--this; duskarena--difficult to perform; manasvinâm--even for great sages and saintly persons; tapah-nisthena--aimed at executing austerity; bhavatâ--by you; jitah--conquered; aham--I; diti-nandana--O son of Diti.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear son of Diti, with your great determination and austerity you have done what was impossible even for great saintly persons, and thus I have certainly been conquered by you.

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> TEXT 21

> tatas ta âsisah sarvâ

> dadâmy asura-pungava

> martasya te hy amartasya

> darsanam nâphalam mama

> tatah--because of this; te--unto you; âsisah--benedictions; sarvâh--all; dadâmi--I shall give; asura-pungava--O best of the asuras; martasya--of one who is destined to die; te--such as you; hi--indeed; amartasya--of one who does not die; darsanam--the audience; na--not; aphalam--without results; mama--my.

> TRANSLATION

> O best of the asuras, for this reason I am now prepared to give you all benedictions, according to your desire. I belong to the celestial world of demigods, who do not die like human beings. Therefore, although you are subject to death, your audience with me will not go in vain.

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> TEXT 22

> srî-nârada uvâca

> ity uktvâdi-bhavo devo

> bhaksitângam pipîlikaih

> kamandalu-jalenauksad

> divyenâmogha-râdhasâ

> srî-nâradah uvâca--Srî Nârada Muni said; iti--thus; uktvâ--saying; âdi-bhavah--Lord Brahmâ, the original living creature within this universe; devah--the principal demigod; bhaksita-angam--Hiranyakasipu's body, which had been almost completely eaten; pipîlikaih--by the ants; kamandalu--from the special waterpot in the hands of Lord Brahmâ; jalena--by water; auksat--sprinkled; divyena--which was spiritual, not ordinary; amogha--wihout fail; râdhasâ--whose power.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Narada Muni continued: After speaking these words to Hiranyakasipu, Lord Brahma, the original being of this universe, who is extremely powerful, sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual water from his kamandalu upon Hiranyakasipu's body, which had been eaten away by ants and moths. Thus he enlivened Hiranyakasipu.

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> TEXT 23

> sa tat kîcaka-valmîkât

> saha-ojo-balânvitah

> sarvâvayava-sampanno

> vajra-samhanano yuvâ

> utthitas tapta-hemâbho

> vibhâvasur ivaidhasah

> sah--Hiranyakasipu; tat--that; kîcaka-valmîkât--from the anthill and bamboo grove; sahah--mental strength; ojah--strength of the senses; bala--and sufficient bodily strength; anvitah--endowed with; sarva--all; avayava--the limbs of the body; sampannah--fully restored; vajra-samhananah--having a body as strong as a thunderbolt; yuvâ--young; utthitah--arisen; tapta-hema-âbhah--whose bodily luster became like molten gold; vibhâvasuh--fire; iva--like; edhasah--from fuel wood.

> TRANSLATION

> As soon as he was sprinkled with the water from Lord Brahma's waterpot, Hiranyakasipu arose, endowed with a full body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunderbolt. With physical strength and a bodily luster resembling molten gold, he emerged from the anthill a completely young man, just as fire springs from fuel wood.

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> TEXT 24

> sa nirîksyâmbare devam

> hamsa-vâham upasthitam

> nanâma sirasâ bhûmau

> tad-darsana-mahotsavah

> sah--he (Hiranyakasipu); nirîksya--seeing; ambare--in the sky; devam--the supreme demigod; hamsa-vâham--who rides a swan airplane; upasthitam--situated before him; nanâma--offered obeisances; sirasâ--with his head; bhûmau--on the ground; tat-darsana--by seeing Lord Brahmâ; mahâ-utsavah--very much pleased.

> TRANSLATION

> Seeing Lord Brahma present before him in the sky, carried by his swan airplane, Hiranyakasipu was extremely pleased. He immediately fell flat with his head on the ground and began to express his obligation to the lord.

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> TEXT 25

> utthâya prânjalih prahva

> îksamâno drsâ vibhum

> harsâsru-pulakodbhedo

> girâ gadgadayâgrnât

> utthâya--getting up; prânjalih--with folded hands; prahvah--in a humble manner; îksamânah--seeing; drsâ--with his eyes; vibhum--the supreme person within this universe; harsa--of jubilation; asru--with tears; pulaka--with hairs standing on the body; udbhedah--enlivened; girâ--by words; gadgadayâ--faltering; agrnât--prayed.

> TRANSLATION

> Then, getting up from the ground and seeing Lord Brahma before him, the head of the Daityas was overwhelmed by jubilation. With tears in his eyes, his whole body shivering, he began praying in a humble mood, with folded hands and a faltering voice, to satisfy Lord Brahma.

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> TEXTS 26-27

> srî-hiranyakasipur uvâca

> kalpânte kâla-srstena

> yo 'ndhena tamasâvrtam

> abhivyanag jagad idam

> svayanjyotih sva-rocisâ

> âtmanâ tri-vrtâ cedam

> srjaty avati lumpati

> rajah-sattva-tamo-dhâmne

> parâya mahate namah

> srî-hiranyakasipuh uvâca--Hiranyakasipu said; kalpa-ante--at the end of every day of Lord Brahmâ; kâla-srstena--created by the time factor; yah--he who; andhena--by dense darkness; tamasâ--by ignorance; âvrtam--covered; abhivyanak--manifested; jagat--cosmic manifestation; idam--this; svayam-jyotih--self-effulgent; sva-rocisâ--by his bodily rays;

> âtmanâ--by himself; tri-vrtâ--conducted by the three modes of material nature; ca--also; idam--this material world; srjati--creates; avati--maintain s; lumpati--annihilates; rajah--of the mode of passion; sattva--the mode of goodness; tamah--and the mode of ignorance; dhâmne--unto the supreme lord; parâya--unto the supreme; mahate--unto the great; namah--my respectful obeisances.

> TRANSLATION

> Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the supreme lord within this universe. At the end of each day of his life, the universe is fully covered with dense darkness by the influence of time, and then again, during his next day, that self-effulgent lord, by his own effulgence, manifests, maintains and destroys the entire cosmic manifestation through the material energy, which is invested with the three modes of material nature. He, Lord Brahma, is the shelter of those modes of nature--sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna.

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> TEXT 28

> nama âdyâya bîjâya

> jnâna-vijnâna-mûrtaye

> prânendriya-mano-buddhi-

> vikârair vyaktim îyuse

> namah--I offer my respectful obeisances; âdyâya--unto the original living creature; bîjâya--the seed of the cosmic manifestation; jnâna--of knowledge; vijnâna--and of practical application; mûrtaye--unto the deity or form; prâna--of the life air; indriya--of the senses; manah--of the mind; buddhi--of the intelligence; vikâraih--by transformations; vyaktim--manifestation; îyuse--who has obtained.

> TRANSLATION

> I offer my obeisances to the original personality within this universe, Lord Brahma, who is cognizant and who can apply his mind and realized intelligence in creating this cosmic manifestation. It is because of his activities that everything within the universe is visible. He is therefore the cause of all manifestations.

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> TEXT 29

> tvam îsise jagatas tasthusas ca

> prânena mukhyena patih prajânâm

> cittasya cittair mana-indriyânâm

> patir mahân bhûta-gunâsayesah

> tvam--you; îsise--actually control; jagatah--of the moving being; tasthusah--of the being that is dull or stationed in one place; ca--and; prânena--by the living force; mukhyena--the origin of all activities; patih--master; prajânâm--of all living entities; cittasya--of the mind; cittaih--by the consciousness; manah--of the mind; indriyânâm--and of the two kinds of senses (acting and knowledge-gathering); patih--the master; mahân--great; bhûta--of the material elements; guna--and the qualities of the material elements; âsaya--of desires; îsah--the supreme master.

> TRANSLATION

> Your Lordship, being the origin of the life of this material world, is the master and controller of the living entities, both moving and stationary, and you inspire their consciousness. You maintain the mind and the acting and knowledge-acquiring senses, and therefore you are the great controller of all the material elements and their qualities, and you are the controller of all desires.

> *****

> TEXT 30

> tvam sapta-tantûn vitanosi tanvâ

> trayyâ catur-hotraka-vidyayâ ca

> tvam eka âtmâtmavatâm anâdir

> ananta-pârah kavir antarâtmâ

> tvam--you; sapta-tantûn--the seven kinds of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies, beginning from the agnistoma-yajna; vitanosi--spread; tanvâ--by your body; trayyâ--the three Vedas; catuh-hotraka--of the four kinds of Vedic priests, known as hotâ, adhvaryu, brahma and udgâtâ; vidyayâ--by the necessary knowledge; ca--also; tvam--you; ekah--one; âtmâ--the Supersoul; âtma-vatâm--of all living entities; anâdih--without beginning; ananta-pârah--without end; kavih--the supreme inspirer; antah-âtmâ--the Supersoul within the core of the heart.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear lord, by your form as the Vedas personified and through knowledge relating to the activities of all the yajnic brahmanas, you spread the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies of the seven kinds of sacrifices, headed by agnistoma. Indeed, you inspire the yajnic brahmanas to perform the rituals mentioned in the three Vedas. Being the Supreme Soul, the Supersoul of all living entities, you are beginningless, endless and omniscient, beyond the limits of time and space.

> *****

> TEXT 31

> tvam eva kâlo 'nimiso janânâm

> âyur lavâdy-avayavaih ksinosi

> kûta-stha âtmâ paramesthy ajo mahâms

> tvam jîva-lokasya ca jîva âtmâ

> tvam--you; eva--indeed; kâlah--unlimited time; animisah--unblinking; janânâm--of all living entities; âyuh--the duration of life; lava-âdi--consisting of seconds, moments, minutes and hours; avayavaih--by different parts; ksinosi--reduce; kûta-sthah--without being affected by anything; âtmâ--the Supersoul; paramesthî--the Supreme Lord; ajah--the unborn; mahân--the great; tvam--you; jîva-lokasya--of this material world; ca--also; jîvah--the cause of life; âtmâ--the Supersoul.

> TRANSLATION

> O my lord, Your Lordship is eternally awake, seeing everything that happens. As eternal time, you reduce the duration of life for all living entities through your different parts, such as moments, seconds, minutes and hours. Nonetheless, you are unchanged, resting in one place as the Supersoul, witness and Supreme Lord, the birthless, all-pervading controller who is the cause of life for all living entities.

> *****

> TEXT 32

> tvattah param nâparam apy anejad

> ejac ca kincid vyatiriktam asti

> vidyâh kalâs te tanavas ca sarvâ

> hiranyagarbho 'si brhat tri-prsthah

> tvattah--from you; param--higher; na--not; aparam--lower; api--even; anejat--not moving; ejat--moving; ca--and; kincit--anything; vyatiriktam--separate; asti--there is; vidyâh--knowledge; kalâh--its parts; te--of you; tanavah--features of the body; ca--and; sarvâh--all; hiranya-garbhah--the one who keeps the universe within his abdomen; asi--you are; brhat--greater than the greatest; tri-prsthah--transcendental to the three modes of material nature.

> TRANSLATION

> There is nothing separate from you, whether it be better or lower, stationary or moving. The knowledge derived from the Vedic literatures like the Upanisads, and from all the sub-limbs of the original Vedic knowledge, form your external body. You are Hiranyagarbha, the reservoir of the universe, but nonetheless, being situated as the supreme controller, you are transcendental to the material world, which consists of the three modes of material nature.

> *****

> TEXT 33

> vyaktam vibho sthûlam idam sarîram

> yenendriya-prâna-mano-gunâms tvam

> bhunkse sthito dhâmani pâramesthye

> avyakta âtmâ purusah purânah

> vyaktam--manifested; vibho--O my lord; sthûlam--cosmic manifestation; idam--this; sarîram--external body; yena--by which; indriya--the senses; prâna--the life air; manah--the mind; gunân--transcendental qualities; tvam--you; bhunkse--enjoy; sthitah--situated; dhâmani--in your own abode; pâramesthye--the supreme; avyaktah--not manifested through ordinary knowledge; âtmâ--the soul; purusah--the supreme person; purânah--the oldest.

> TRANSLATION

> O my lord, being changelessly situated in your own abode, you expand your universal form within this cosmic manifestation, thus appearing to taste the material world. You are Brahman, the Supersoul, the oldest, the Personality of Godhead.

> *****

> TEXT 34

> anantâvyakta-rûpena

> yenedam akhilam tatam

> cid-acic-chakti-yuktâya

> tasmai bhagavate namah

> ananta-avyakta-rûpena--by the unlimited, unmanifested form; yena--by which; idam--this; akhilam--total aggregate; tatam--expanded; cit--with spiritual; acit--and material; sakti--potency; yuktâya--unto he who is endowed; tasmai--unto him; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; namah--I offer my respectful obeisances.

> TRANSLATION

> Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme, who in his unlimited, unmanifested form has expanded the cosmic manifestation, the form of the totality of the universe. He possesses external and internal energies and the mixed energy called the marginal potency, which consists of all the living entities.

> *****

> TEXT 35

> yadi dâsyasy abhimatân

> varân me varadottama

> bhûtebhyas tvad-visrstebhyo

> mrtyur mâ bhûn mama prabho

> yadi--if; dâsyasi--you will give; abhimatân--the desired; varân--benedictions; me--unto me; varada-uttama--O best of all benedictors; bhûtebhyah--from living entities; tvat--by you; visrstebhyah--who are created; mrtyuh--death; mâ--not; bhût--let there be; mama--my; prabho--O my lord.

> TRANSLATION

> O my lord, O best of the givers of benediction, if you will kindly grant me the benediction I desire, please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you.

> *****

> TEXT 36

> nântar bahir divâ naktam

> anyasmâd api câyudhaih

> na bhûmau nâmbare mrtyur

> na narair na mrgair api

> na--not; antah--inside (the palace or home); bahih--outside the home; divâ--during the daytime; naktam--during the night; anyasmât--from any others beyond Lord Brahmâ; api--even; ca--also; ayudhaih--by any weapons used within this material world; na--nor; bhûmau--on the ground; na--not; ambare--in the sky; mrtyuh--death; na--not; naraih--by any men; na--nor; mrgaih--by any animal; api--also.

> TRANSLATION

> Grant me that I not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death not be brought by any being other than those created by you, nor by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal.

> *****

> TEXTS 37-38

> vyasubhir vâsumadbhir vâ

> surâsura-mahoragaih

> apratidvandvatâm yuddhe

> aika-patyam ca dehinâm

> sarvesâm loka-pâlânâm

> mahimânam yathâtmanah

> tapo-yoga-prabhâvânâm

> yan na risyati karhicit

> vyasubhih--by things that have no life; vâ--or; asumadbhih--by entities that have life; vâ--or; sura--by the demigods; asura--the demons; mahâ-uragaih--by the great serpents who live on the lower planets; apratidvandvatâm--without a rival; yuddhe--in battle; aika-patyam--supremacy; ca--and; dehinâm--over those who have material bodies;

> sarvesâm--of all; loka-pâlânâm--the predominating deities of all planets; mahimânam--the glory; yathâ--just as; âtmanah--of yourself; tapah-yoga-prabhâvânâm--of those whose power is obtained by austerities and the practice of mystic yoga; yat--which; na--never; risyati--is destroyed; karhicit--at any time.

> TRANSLATION

> Grant me that I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving. Grant me, further, that I not be killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets. Since no one can kill you in the battlefield, you have no competitor. Therefore, grant me the benediction that I too may have no rival. Give me sole lordship over all the living entities and presiding deities, and give me all the glories obtained by that position. Furthermore, give me all the mystic powers attained by long austerities and the practice of yoga, for these cannot be lost at any time.

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