> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 3
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 3 Part 2

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

> > Chapter Twenty-five: The Glories of Devotional Service

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > saunaka uvaca

> > kapilas tattva-sankhyata

> > bhagavan atma-mayaya

> > jatah svayam ajah saksad

> > atma-prajnaptaye nrnam

> > saunakah uvaca: Sri Saunaka said; kapilah: Lord Kapila; tattva: of the truth; sankhyata: the expounder; bhagavan: the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atma-mayaya: by His internal potency; jatah: took birth; svayam: Himself; ajah: unborn; saksat: in person; atma-prajnaptaye: to disseminate transcendental knowledge; nrnam: for the human race.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Saunaka said: Although He is unborn, the Supreme Personality of Godhead took birth as Kapila Muni by His internal potency. He descended to disseminate transcendental knowledge for the benefit of the whole human race.

> > *******

> > TEXT 2

> > na hy asya varsmanah pumsam

> > varimnah sarva-yoginam

> > visrutau sruta-devasya

> > bhuri trpyanti me 'savah

> > na: not; hi: indeed; asya: about Him; varsmanah: the greatest; pumsam: among men; varimnah: the foremost; sarva: all; yoginam: of yogis; visrutau: in hearing; sruta-devasya: the master of the Vedas; bhuri: repeatedly; trpyanti: are sated; me: my; asavah: senses.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Saunaka continued: There is no one who knows more than the Lord Himself. No one is more worshipable or more mature a yogi than He. He is therefore the master of the Vedas, and to hear about Him always is the actual pleasure of the senses.

> > *******

> > TEXT 3

> > yad yad vidhatte bhagavan

> > svaccha ndatmatma-mayaya

> > tani me sraddadhanasya

> > kirtanyany anukirtaya

> > yat yat: whatever; vidhatte: He performs; bhagavan: the personality of Godhead; sva-chanda-atma: full of self-desire; atma-mayaya: by His internal potency; tani: all of them; me: to me; sraddadhanasya: faithful; kirtanyani: worthy of praise; anukirtaya: please describe.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore please precisely describe all the activities and pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is full of self-desire and who assumes all these activities by His internal potency.

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > suta uvaca

> > dvaipayana-sakhas tv evam

> > maitreyo bhagavams tatha

> > prahedam viduram prita

> > anviksikyam pracoditah

> > sutah uvaca: Suta Gosvami said; dvaipayana-sakhah: friend of Vyasadeva; tu: then; evam: thus; maitreyah: Maitreya; bhagavan: worshipful; tatha: in that way; praha: spoke; idam: this; viduram: to Vidura; pritah: being pleased; anviksikyam: about transcendental knowledge; pracoditah: being asked.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Suta Gosvami said: The most powerful sage Maitreya was a friend of Vyasadeva. Being encouraged and pleased by Vidura's inquiry about transcendental knowledge, Maitreya spoke as follows.

> > *******

> > TEXT 5

> > maitreya uvaca

> > pitari prasthite 'ranyam

> > matuh priya-cikirsaya

> > tasmin bindusare 'vatsid

> > bhagavan kapilah kila

> > maitreyah uvaca: Maitreya said; pitari: when the father; prasthite: left; aranyam: for the forest; matuh: His mother; priya-cikirsaya: with a desire to please; tasmin: on that; bindusare: Lake Bindu-sarovara; avatsit: He stayed; bhagavan: the Lord; kapilah: Kapila; kila: indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maitreya said: When Kardama left for the forest, Lord Kapila stayed on the strand of the Bindu-sarovara to please His mother, Devahuti.

> > *******

> > TEXT 6

> > tam asinam akarmanam

> > tattva-margagra-da rsanam

> > sva-sutam devahuty aha

> > dhatuh samsmarati vacah

> > tam: to Him (Kapila); asinam: seated; akarmanam: at leisure; tattva: of the Absolute Truth; marga-agra: the ultimate goal; darsanam: who could show; sva-sutam: her son; devahutih: Devahuti; aha: said; dhatuh: of Brahma; samsma rati: remembering; vacah: the words.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Kapila, who could show her the ultimate goal of the Absolute Truth, was sitting leisurely before her, Devahuti remembered the words Brahma had spoken to her, and she therefore began to question Kapila as follows.

> > *******

> > TEXT 7

> > devahutir uvaca

> > nirvinna-nitaram bhumann

> > asad-ind riya-ta rsanat

> > yena sambhavyamanena

> > prapannandham tamah prabho

> > devahutih uvaca: Devahuti said; nirvinna: disgusted; nitaram: very; bhuman: O my Lord; asat: impermanent; indriya: of the senses; tarsanat: from agitation; yena: by which; sambhavyamanena: being prevalent; prapanna: I have fallen; andham tamah: into the abyss of ignorance; prabho: O my Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Devahuti said: I am very sick of the disturbance caused by my material senses, for because of this sense disturbance, my Lord, I have fallen into the abyss of ignorance.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8

> > tasya tvam tamaso 'ndhasya

> > dusparasyadya paragam

> > sac-caksur janmanam ante

> > labdham me tvad-anugrahat

> > tasya: that; tvam: You; tamasah: ignorance; andhasya: darkness; dusparasya: difficult to cross; adya: now; para-gam: crossing over; sat: transcendental; caksuh: eye; janmanam: of births; ante: at the end; labdham: attained; me: my; tvat-anugrahat: by Your mercy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Your Lordship is my only means of getting out of this darkest region of ignorance because You are my transcendental eye, which, by Your mercy only, I have attained after many, many births.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9

> > ya adyo bhagavan pumsam

> > isvaro vai bhavan kila

> > lokasya tamasandhasya

> > caksuh surya ivoditah

> > yah: He who; adyah: the origin; bhagavan: the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pumsam: of all living entities; isvarah: the Lord; vai: in fact; bhavan: You; kila: indeed; lokasya: of the universe; tamasa: by the darkness of ignorance; andhasya: blinded; caksuh: eye; suryah: the sun; iva: like; uditah: risen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin and Supreme Lord of all living entities. You have arisen to disseminate the rays of the sun in order to dissipate the darkness of the ignorance of the universe.

> > *******

> > TEXT 10

> > atha me deva sammoham

> > apakrastum tvam arhasi

> > yo 'vagraho 'ham mametity

> > etasmin yojitas tvaya

> > atha: now; me: my; deva: O Lord; sammoham: delusion; apakrastum: to dispel; tvam: You; arhasi: be pleased; yah: which; avagrahah: misconception; aham: I; mama: mine; iti: thus; iti: thus; etasmin: in this; yojitah: engaged; tvaya: by You.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now be pleased, my Lord, to dispel my great delusion. Due to my feeling of false ego, I have been engaged by Your maya and have identified myself with the body and consequent bodily relations.

> > *******

> > TEXT 11

> > tam tva gataham saranam saranyam

> > sva-bhrtya-samsara-taroh kutharam

> > jijaa-sayaham prakrteh purusasya

> > namami sad-dharma-vidam varistham

> > tam: that person; tva: unto You; gata: have gone; aham: I; saranam: shelter; saranyam: worth taking shelter of; sva-bhrtya: for Your dependents; samsara: of material existence; taroh: of the tree; kutharam: the ax; jijaasaya: with the desire to know; aham: I; prakrteh: of matter (woman); purusasya: of spirit (man); namami: I offer obeisances; sat-dharma: of the eternal occupation; vidam: of the knowers; varistham: unto the greatest.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Devahuti continued: I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet because You are the only person of whom to take shelter. You are the ax which can cut the tree of material existence. I therefore offer my obeisances unto You, who are the greatest of all transcendentalists, and I inquire from You as to the relationship between man and woman and between spirit and matter.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > maitreya uvaca

> > iti sva-matur niravadyam ipsitam nisamya pumsam apavarga-vardhanam dhiyabhinandyatmavatam satam gatir

> > babhasa isat-smita-sobhitananah

> > maitreyah uvaca: Maitreya said; iti: thus; sva-matuh: of His mother; niravadyam: uncontaminated; ipsitam: desire; nisamya: after hearing; pumsam: of people; apavarga: cessation of bodily existence; vardhanam: increasing; dhiya: mentally; abhinandya: having thanked; atma-vatam: interested in self-realization; satam: of the transcendentalists; gatih: the path; babhase: He explained; isat: slightly; smita: smiling; sobhita: beautiful; ananah: His face.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maitreya said: After hearing of His mother's uncontaminated desire for transcendental realization, the Lord thanked her within Himself for her questions, and thus, His face smiling, He explained the path of the transcendentalists, who are interested in self-realization.

> > *******

> > TEXT 13

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca

> > yoga adhyatmikah pumsam

> > mato nihsreyasaya me

> > atyantoparatir yatra

> > duhkhasya ca sukhasya ca

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca: the Personality of Godhead said; yogah: the yoga system; adhyatmikah: relating to the soul; pumsam: of living entities; matah: is approved; nihsreyasaya: for the ultimate benefit; me: by Me; atyanta: complete; uparatih: detachment; yatra: where; duhkhasya: from distress; ca: and; sukhasya: from happiness; ca: and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead answered: The yoga system which relates to the Lord and the individual soul, which is meant for the ultimate benefit of the living entity, and which causes detachment from all happiness and distress in the material world, is the highest yoga system.

> > *******

> > TEXT 14

> > tam imam te pravaksyami

> > yam avocam puranaghe

> > rsinam srotu-kamanam

> > yogam sarvanga-naipunam

> > tam imam: that very; te: to you; pravaksyami: I shall explain; yam: which; avocam: I explained; pura: formerly; anaghe: O pious mother; rsinam: to the sages; srotu-kamanam: eager to hear; yogam: yoga system; sarva-anga: in all respects; naipunam: serviceable and practical.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O most pious mother, I shall now explain unto you the ancient yoga system, which I explained formerly to the great sages. It is serviceable and practical in every way.

> > *******

> > TEXT 15

> > cetah khalv asya bandhaya

> > muktaye catmano matam

> > gunesu saktam bandhaya

> > ratam va pumsi muktaye

> > cetah: consciousness; khalu: indeed; asya: of him; bandhaya: for bondage; muktaye: for liberation; ca: and; atmanah: of the living entity; matam: is considered; gunesu: in the three modes of nature; saktam: attracted; bandhaya: for conditional life; ratam: attached; va: or; pumsi: in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; muktaye: for liberation.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > aham mamabhimanotthaih

> > kama-lobhadibhir malaih

> > vitam yada manah suddham

> > aduhkham asukham samam

> > aham: I; mama: mine; abhimana: from the misconception; utthaih: produced; kama: lust; lobha: greed; adibhih: and so on; malaih: from the impurities; vitam: freed; yada: when; manah: the mind; suddham: pure; aduhkham: without distress; asukham: without happiness; samam: equipoised.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When one is completely cleansed of the impurities of lust and greed produced from the false identification of the body as "I" and bodily possessions as "mine," one's mind becomes purified. In that pure state he transcends the stage of so-called material happiness and distress.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > tada purusa atmanam

> > kevalam prakrteh param

> > nirantaram svayam-jyotir

> > animanam akhanditam

> > tada: then; purusah: the individual soul; atmanam: himself; kevalam: pure; prakrteh param: transcendental to material existence; nirantaram: nondifferent; svayam jyotih: self-effulgent; animanam: infinitesimal; akhanditam: not fragmented.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At that time the soul can see himself to be transcendental to material existence and always self-effulgent, never fragmented, although very minute in size.

> > *******

> > TEXT 18

> > jnana-vairagya-yukte na

> > bhakti-yuktena catmana

> > paripasyaty udasinam

> > prakrtim ca hataujasam

> > jnana: knowledge; vairagya: renunciation; yuktena: equipped with; bhakti: devotional service; yuktena: equipped with; ca: and; atmana: by the mind; paripasyati: one sees; udasinam: indifferent; prakrtim: material existence; ca: and; hata-ojasam: reduced in strength.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In that position of self-realization, by practice of knowledge and renunciation in devotional service, one sees everything in the right perspective; he becomes indifferent to material existence, and the material influence acts less powerfully upon him.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > na yujyamanaya bhaktya

> > bhagavaty akhilatmani

> > sadrso 'sti sivah pantha-

> > yoginam brahma-siddhaye

> > na: not; yujyamanaya: being performed; bhaktya: devotional service; bhagavati: towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akhila-atmani: the Supersoul; sadrsah: like; asti: there is; sivah: auspicious; panthah: path; yoginam: of the yogis; brahma-siddhaye: for perfection in self-realization.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Perfection in self-realization cannot be attained by any kind of yogi unless he engages in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for that is the only auspicious path.

> > *******

> > TEXT 20

> > prasangam ajaram pasam

> > atmanah kavayo viduh

> > sa eva sadhusu krto

> > moksa-dvaram apavrtam

> > prasangam: attachment; ajaram: strong; pasam: entanglement; atmanah: of the soul; kavayah: learned men; viduh: know; sah eva: that same; sadhusu: to the devotees; krtah: applied; moksa-dvaram: the door of liberation; apavrtam: opened.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Every learned man knows very well that attachment for the material is the greatest entanglement of the spirit soul. But that same attachment, when applied to the self-realized devotees, opens the door of liberation.

> > *******

> > TEXT 21

> > titiksavah karunikah

> > suhrdah sarva-dehinam

> > ajata-satravah santah

> > sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah

> > titiksavah: tolerant; karunikah: merciful; suhrdah: friendly; sarva-dehinam: to all living entities; ajata-satravah: inimical to none; santah: peaceful; sadhavah: abiding by scriptures; sadhu-bhusanah: adorned with sublime characteristics.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.

> > *******

> > TEXT 22

> > mayy ananyena bhavena

> > bhaktim kurvanti ye drdham

> > mat-krte tyakta-karmanas

> > tyakta-svajana-bandhavah

> > mayi: unto Me; ananyena bhavena: with undeviated mind; bhaktim: devotional service; kurvanti: perform; ye: those who; drdham: staunch; mat-krte: for My sake; tyakta: renounced; kamaanah: activities; tyakta: renounced; sva jana: family relationships; bandhavah: friendly acquaintances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Such a sadhu engages in staunch devotional service to the Lord without deviation. For the sake of the Lord he renounces all other connections, such as family relationships and friendly acquaintances within the world.

> > *******

> > TEXT 23

> > mad-asrayah katha mrstah

> > srnvanti kathayanti ca

> > tapanti vividhas tapa

> > naitan mad-gata-cetasah

> > mat-asrayah: about Me; kathah: stories; mrstah: delightful; srnvanti: they hear; kathayanti: they chant; ca: and; tapanti: inflict suffering; vividhah: various; tapah: the material miseries; na: do not; etan: unto them; mat-gata: fixed on Me; cetasah: their thoughts.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sadhus do not suffer from material miseries because they are always filled with thoughts of My pastimes and activities.

> > *******

> > TEXT 24

> > ta ete sadhavah sadhvi

> > sarva-sanga-vivarjitah

> > sangas tesv atha te prarthyah

> > sanga-dosa-hara hi te

> > te ete: those very; sadhavah: devotees; sadhvi: virtuous lady; sarva: all; sanga: attachments; vivarjitah: freed from; sangah: attachment; tesu: unto them; atha: hence; te: by you; prarthyah: must be sought; sanga-dosa: the pernicious effects of material attachment; harah: counteracters of; hi: indeed; te: they.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O My mother, O virtuous lady, these are the qualities of great devotees who are free from all attachment. You must seek attachment to such holy men, for this counteracts the pernicious effects of material attachment.

> > *******

> > TEXT 25

> > satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah taj josanad asv apavarga-vartmani sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

> > satam: of pure devotees; prasangat: through the association; mama: My; virya: wonderful activities; samvidah: by discussion of; bhavanti: become; hrt: to the heart; karna: to the ear; rasa-ayanah: pleasing; kathah: the stories; tat: of that; josanat: by cultivation; asu: quickly; apavarga: of liberation; vartmani: on the path; sraddha: firm faith; ratih: attraction; bhaktih: devotion; anukramisyati: will follow in order.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.

> > *******

> > TEXT 26

> > bhaktya puman jata-viraga aindriyad

> > drsta-srutan mad-racananucintaya cittasya yatto grahane yoga-yukto

> > yatisyate rjubhir yoga-margaih

> > bhaktya: by devotional service; puman: a person; jata-viragah: having developed distaste; aindriyat: for sense gratification; drsta: seen (in this world); srutat: heard (in the next world); mat-racana: My activities of creation and so on; anucintaya: by constantly thinking about; cittasya: of the mind; yattah: engaged; grahane: in the control; yoga-yuktah: situated in devotional service; yatisyate: will endeavor; rjubhih: easy; yoga-margaih: by the processes of mystic power.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus consciously engaged in devotional service in the association of devotees, a person gains distaste for sense gratification, both in this world and in the next, by constantly thinking about the activities of the Lord. This process of Krsna consciousness is the easiest process of mystic power; when one is actually situated on that path of devotional service, he is able to control the mind.

> > *******

> > TEXT 27

> > asevayayam prakrter gunanam

> > jnanena vairagya-vijrmbhitena

> > yogena mayy arpitaya ca bhaktya

> > mam pratyag-atmanam ihavarundhe

> > asevaya: by not engaging in the service; ayam: this person; prakrteh gunanam: of the modes of material nature; jnanena: by Knowledge; vairagya: with renunciation; vijrmbhitena: developed; yogena: by practicing yoga; mayi: unto Me; arpitaya: fixed; ca: and; bhaktya: with devotion; mam: unto Me; pratyak-atmanam: the Absolute Truth; iha: in this very life; avarundhe: one attains.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus by not engaging in the service of the modes of material nature but by developing Krsna consciousness, knowledge in renunciation, and by practicing yoga, in which the mind is always fixed in devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one achieves My association in this very life, for I am the Supreme Personality, the Absolute Truth.

> > *******

> > TEXT 28

> > devahutir uvaca

> > kacit tvayy ucita bhaktih

> > kidrsi mama gocara

> > yaya padam te nirvanam

> > anjasanvasnava aham

> > devahutih uvaca: Devahuti said; kacit: what; tvayi: unto You; ucita: proper; bhaktih: devotional service; kidrsi: what kind; mama: by me; go-cara: fit to be practiced; yaya: by which; padam: feet; te: Your; nirvanam: liberation; anjasa: immediately; anvasnavai: shall attain; aham: I.

> > TRANSLATION

> > On hearing this statement of the Lord, Devahuti inquired: What kind of devotional service is worth developing and practicing to help me easily and immediately attain the service of Your lotus feet?

> > *******

> > TEXT 29

> > yo yogo bhagavad-bano

> > nirvanatmams tvayoditah

> > kidrsah kati cangani

> > yatas tattvavabodhanam

> > yah: which; yogah: mystic yoga process; bhagavat-banah: aiming at the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nirvana-atman: O embodiment of nirvana; tvaya: by You; uditah: explained; kidrsah: of what nature; kati: how many; ca: and; angani: branches; yatah: by which; tattva: of the truth; avabodhanam: understanding.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The mystic yoga system, as You have explained, aims at the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is meant for completely ending material existence. Please let me know the nature of that yoga system. How many ways are there by which one can understand in truth that sublime yoga?

> > *******

> > TEXT 30

> > tad etan me vijanihi

> > yathaham manda-dhir hare

> > sukham buddhyeya durbodham

> > yosa bhavad-anugrahat

> > tat etat: that same; me: to me; vijanihi: please explain; yatha: so that; aham: I; manda: slow; dhih: whose intelligence; hare: O my Lord; sukham: easily; buddhyeya: may understand; durbodham: very difficult to understand; yosa: a woman; bhavat-anugrahat: by Your grace.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear son, Kapila, after all, I am a woman. It is very difficult for me to understand the Absolute Truth because my intelligence is not very great. But if You will kindly explain it to me, even though I am not very intelligent, I can understand it and thereby feel transcendental happiness.

> > *******

> > TEXT 31

> > maitreya uvaca

> > viditvartham kapilo matur ittham

> > jata-sneho yatra tanvabhijatah tattvamnayam yat pravadanti sankhyam

> > provaca vai bhakti-vitana-yogam

> > maitreyah uvaca: Maitreya said; viditva: having known; artham: purpose; kapilah: Lord Kapila; matuh: of His mother; ittham: thus; jata-snehah: became compassionate; yatra: upon her; tanva: from her body; abhijatah: born; tattva-amnayam: truths received by disciplic succession; yat: which; pravadanti: they call; sankhyam: Sankhya philosophy; provaca: He described; vai: in fact; bhakti: devotional service; vitana: spreading; yogam: mystic yoga.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Maitreya said: After hearing the statement of His mother, Kapila could understand her purpose, and He became compassionate towards her because of being born of her body. He described the Sankhya system of philosophy, which is a combination of devotional service and mystic realization, as received by disciplic succession.

> > *******

> > TEXT 32

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca

> > devanam guna-linganam

> > anusravika-karmanam

> > sattva evaika-manaso

> > vrttih svabhaviki tu ya

> > animitta bhagavati

> > bhaktih siddher gariyasi

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca: the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; devanam: of the senses or of the presiding deities of the senses; guna-linganam: which detect sense objects; anusravika: according to scripture; karmanam: which work; sattve: unto the mind or unto the Lord; eva: only; eka-manasah: of a man of undivided mind; vrttih: inclination; svabhaviki: natural; tu: in fact; ya: which; animitta: without motive; bhagavati: to the Personality of Godhead; bhaktih: devotional service; siddheh: than salvation; gariyasi: better.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Kapila said: The senses are symbolic representations of the demigods, and their natural inclination is to work under the direction of the Vedic injunctions. As the senses are representatives of the demigods, so the mind is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mind's natural duty is to serve. When that service spirit is engaged in devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, without any motive, that is far better even than salvation.

> > *******

> > TEXT 33

> > jarayaty asu ya kosam

> > nigirnam analo yatha

> > jarayati: dissolves; asu: quickly; ya: which; kosam: the subtle body; nigirnam: things eaten; analah: fire; yatha: as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body of the living entity without separate effort, just as fire in the stomach digests all that we eat.

> > *******

> > TEXT 34

> > naikatmatam me sprhayanti kecin

> > mat-pada-sevabhirata mad-ihah

> > ye 'nyonyato bhagavatah prasajya

> > sabhajayante mama paurusani

> > na: never; eka-atmatam: merging into oneness; me: My; sprhayanti: they desire; kecit: any; mat-pada-seva: the service of My lotus feet; abhiratah: engaged in; mat-ihah: endeavoring to attain Me; ye: those who; anyonyatah: mutually; bhagavatah: pure devotees; prasajya: assembling; sabhajayante: glorify; mama: My; paurusani: glorious activities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A pure devotee, who is attached to the activities of devotional service and who always engages in the service of My lotus feet, never desires to become one with Me. Such a devotee, who is unflinchingly engaged, always glorifies My pastimes and activities.

> > *******

> > TEXT 35

> > pasyanti te me rucirany amba santah

> > prasanna-vaktraruna-locanani

> > rupani divyani vara-pradani

> > sakam vacam sprhaniyam vadanti

> > pasyanti: see; te: they; me: My; rucirani: beautiful; amba: O mother; santah: devotees; prasanna: smiling; vaktra: face; aruna: like the morning sun; locanani: eyes; rupani: forms; divyani: transcendental; vara-pradani: benevolent; sakam: with Me; vacam: words; sprhaniyam: favorable; vadanti: they speak.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O My mother, My devotees always see the smiling face of My form, with eyes like the rising morning sun. They like to see My various transcendental forms, which are all benevolent, and they also talk favorably with Me.

> > *******

> > TEXT 36

> > tair darsaniyavayavair udara-

> > vilasa-haseksita-vama-suktaih

> > hrtatmano hrta-pranams ca bhaktir

> > anicchato me gatim anvim prayunkte

> > taih: by those forms; darsaniya: charming; avayavaih: whose limbs; udara: exalted; vilasa: pastimes; hasa: smiling; iksita: glances; vama: pleasing; suktaih: whose delightful words; hrta: captivated; atmanah: their minds; hrta: captivated; prana-n: their senses; ca: and; bhaktih: devotional service; anicchatah: unwilling; me: My; gatim: abode; anvim: subtle; prayunkte: secures.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon seeing the charming forms of the Lord, smiling and attractive, and hearing His very pleasing words, the pure devotee almost loses all other consciousness. His senses are freed from all other engagements, and he becomes absorbed in devotional service. Thus in spite of his unwillingness, he attains liberation without separate endeavor.

> > *******

> > TEXT 37

> > atho vibhutim mama mayavinas tam

> > aisvaryam astangam anupravrttam sriyam bhagavatim vasprhayanti bhadram

> > parasya me te 'snuvate tu loke

> > atho: then; vibhutim: opulence; mama: of Me; mayavinah: of the Lord of maya; tam: that; aisvaryam: mystic perfection; asta-angam: consisting of eight parts; anupravrttam: following; sriyam: splendor; bhagavatim: of the kingdom of God; va: or; asprhayanti: they do not desire; bhadram: blissful; parasya: of the Supreme Lord; me: of Me; te: those devotees; asnuvate: enjoy; tu: but; loke: in this life.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus because he is completely absorbed in thought of Me, the devotee does not desire even the highest benediction obtainable in the upper planetary systems, including Satyaloka. He does not desire the eight material perfections obtained from mystic yoga, nor does he desire to be elevated to the kingdom of God. Yet even without desiring them, the devotee enjoys, even in this life, all the offered benedictions.

> > *******

> > TEXT 38

> > na karhicin mat-parah santa-rupe nanksyanti no me 'nimiso ledhi hetih

> > yesam aham priya atma sutas ca

> > sakha guruh suhrdo daivam istam

> > na: not; karhicit: ever; mat-parah: My devotees; santa-rupe: O mother; nanksyanti: will lose; no: not; me: My; animisah: time; ledhi: destroys; hetih: weapon; yesam: of whom; aham: I; priyah: dear; atma: self; sutah: son; ca: and; sakha: friend; guruh: preceptor; suhrdah: benefactor; daivam: Deity; istam: chosen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord continued: My dear mother, devotees who receive such transcendental opulences are never bereft of them; neither weapons nor the change of time can destroy such opulences. Because the devotees accept Me as their friend, their relative, their son, preceptor, benefactor and Supreme Deity, they cannot be deprived of their possessions at any time.

> > *******

> > TEXT 39-40

> > imam lokam tathaivamum

> > atmanam ubhayayinam

> > atmanam anu ye ceha

> > ye rayah pasavo grhah

> > visrjya sarvan anyams ca

> > mam evam visvato-mukham

> > bhajanty ananyaya bhaktya

> > tan mrtyor atiparaye

> > imam: this; lokam: world; tatha: accordingly; eva: certainly; amum: that world; atmanam: the subtle body; ubhaya: in both; ayinam: traveling; atmanam: the body; anu: in relationship with; ye: those who; ca: also; iha: in this world; ye: that which; rayah: wealth; pasavah: cattle; grhah: houses; visrjya: having given up; sarvan: all; anyan: other; ca: and; mam: Me; evam: thus; visvatah-mukham: the all-pervading Lord of the universe; bhajanti: they worship; ananyaya: unflinching; bhaktya: by devotional service; tan: them; mrtyoh: of death; atiparaye: I take to the other side.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus the devotee who worships Me, the all-pervading Lord of the universe, in unflinching devotional service, gives up all aspirations to be promoted to heavenly planets or to become happy in this world with wealth, children, cattle, home or anything in relationship with the body. I take him to the other side of birth and death.

> > *******

> > TEXT 41

> > nanyatra mad bhagavatah

> > pradhana-purusesvarat

> > atmanah sarva-bhutanam

> > bhayam tivram nivartate

> > na: not; anyatra: otherwise; mat: than Myself; bhagavatah: the Supreme personality of Godhead; pradhana-purusa-isvarat: the Lord of both prakrti and purusa; atmanah: the soul; sarva-bhutanam: of all living beings; bhayam: fear; tivram: terrible; nivartate: is forsaken.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The terrible fear of birth and death can never be forsaken by anyone who resorts to any shelter other than Myself, for I am the almighty Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original source of all creation, and also the Supreme Soul of all souls.

> > *******

> > TEXT 42

> > mad-bhayad vati vato 'yam

> > suryas tapati mad-bhayat

> > varsatindro dahaty agnir

> > mrtyus carati mad-bhayat

> > mat-bhayat: out of fear of Me; vati: blows; vatah: wind; ayam: this; suryah: the sun; tapati: shines; mat-bhayat: out of fear of Me; varsati: showers rain; indrah: Indra; dahati: burns; agnih: fire; mrtyuh: death; carati: goes; mat-bhayat: out of fear of Me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It is because of My supremacy that the wind blows, out of fear of Me; the sun shines out of fear of Me, and the lord of the clouds, Indra, sends forth showers out of fear of Me. Fire burns out of fear of Me, and death goes about taking its toll out of fear of Me.

> > *******

> > TEXT 43

> > jaana-vairagya-yuktena

> > bhakti-yogena yoginah

> > ksemaya pada-mulam me

> > pravisanty akuto-bhayam

> > jaana: with knowledge; vairagya: and renunciation; yuktena: equipped; bhakti-yogena: by devotional service; yoginah: the yogis; ksemaya: for eternal benefit; pada-mulam: feet; me: My; pravisanti: take shelter of; akutah-bhayam: without fear.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The yogis, equipped with transcendental knowledge and renunciation and engaged in devotional service for their eternal benefit, take shelter of My lotus feet, and since I am the Lord, they are thus eligible to enter into the kingdom of Godhead without fear.

> > *******

> > TEXT 44

> > etavan eva loke 'smin

> > pumsam nihsreyasodayah

> > tivrena bhakti-yogena

> > mano mayy arpitam sthiram

> > etavan eva: only so far; loke asmin: in this world; pumsam: of men; nihsreyasa: final perfection of life; udayah: the attainment of; tivrena: intense; bhakti-yogena: by practice of devotional service; manah: mind; mayi: in Me; arpitam: fixed; sthiram: steady.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore persons whose minds are fixed on the Lord engage in the intensive practice of devotional service. That is the only means for attainment of the final perfection of life.

> > Back to the running text