Srimad Bhagavata Purana · Chapter 12
Skandha 12 — The Age of Deterioration
द्वादशस्कन्धः
Kali Yuga, dissolution, and the eternal Bhagavata-dharma.
427 verses
प्रद्योतसंज्ञं राजानं कर्ता यत्पालकः सुतः । विशाखयूपस्तत्पुत्रो भविता राजकस्ततः
pradyotasaṃjñaṃ rājānaṃ kartā yatpālakaḥ sutaḥ | viśākhayūpastatputro bhavitā rājakastataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The son of Rājaka will be Nandivardhana, and thus in the Pradyotana dynasty there will be five kings, who will enjoy the earth for 138 years.
नन्दिवर्धनस्तत्पुत्रः पञ्च प्रद्योतना इमे । अष्टत्रिंशोत्तरशतं भोक्ष्यन्ति पृथिवीं नृपाः
nandivardhanastatputraḥ pañca pradyotanā ime | aṣṭatriṃśottaraśataṃ bhokṣyanti pṛthivīṃ nṛpāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Nandivardhana will have a son named Śiśunāga, and his son will be known as Kākavarṇa. The son of Kākavarṇa will be Kṣemadharmā, and the son of Kṣemadharmā will be Kṣetrajña.
शिशुनागस्ततो भाव्यः काकवर्णस्तु तत्सुतः । क्षेमधर्मा तस्य सुतः क्षेत्रज्ञः क्षेमधर्मजः
śiśunāgastato bhāvyaḥ kākavarṇastu tatsutaḥ | kṣemadharmā tasya sutaḥ kṣetrajñaḥ kṣemadharmajaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The son of Kṣetrajña will be Vidhisāra, and his son will be Ajātaśatru. Ajātaśatru will have a son named Darbhaka, and his son will be Ajaya.
महापद्मपतिः कश्चिन्नन्दः क्षत्रविनाशकृत् । ततो नृपा भविष्यन्ति शूद्रप्रायास्त्वधार्मिकाः
mahāpadmapatiḥ kaścinnandaḥ kṣatravināśakṛt | tato nṛpā bhaviṣyanti śūdraprāyāstvadhārmikāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
That lord of Mahāpadma, King Nanda, will rule over the entire earth just like a second Paraśurāma, and no one will challenge his authority.
स एकच्छत्रां पृथिवीमनुल्लङ्घितशासनः । शासिष्यति महापद्मो द्वितीय इव भार्गवः
sa ekacchatrāṃ pṛthivīmanullaṅghitaśāsanaḥ | śāsiṣyati mahāpadmo dvitīya iva bhārgavaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
He will have eight sons, headed by Sumālya, who will control the earth as powerful kings for one hundred years.
तस्य चाष्टौ भविष्यन्ति सुमाल्यप्रमुखाः सुताः । य इमां भोक्ष्यन्ति महीं राजानः स्म शतं समाः
tasya cāṣṭau bhaviṣyanti sumālyapramukhāḥ sutāḥ | ya imāṃ bhokṣyanti mahīṃ rājānaḥ sma śataṃ samāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A certain brāhmaṇa [Cāṇakya] will betray the trust of King Nanda and his eight sons and will destroy their dynasty. In their absence the Mauryas will rule the world as the Age of Kali continues.
नवनन्दान् द्विजः कश्चित्प्रपन्नानुद्धरिष्यति । तेषामभावे जगतीं मौर्या भोक्ष्यन्ति वै कलौ
navanandān dvijaḥ kaścitprapannānuddhariṣyati | teṣāmabhāve jagatīṃ mauryā bhokṣyanti vai kalau
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This brāhmaṇa will enthrone Candragupta, whose son will be named Vārisāra. The son of Vārisāra will be Aśokavardhana.
स एव चन्द्रगुप्तं वै द्विजो राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति । तत्सुतो वारिसारस्तु ततश्चाशोकवर्धनः
sa eva candraguptaṃ vai dvijo rājye'bhiṣekṣyati | tatsuto vārisārastu tataścāśokavardhanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Aśokavardhana will be followed by Suyaśā, whose son will be Saṅgata. His son will be Śāliśūka, Śāliśūka’s son will be Somaśarmā, and Somaśarmā’s son will be Śatadhanvā. His son will be known as Bṛhadratha.
सुयशा भविता तस्य सङ्गतः सुयशः सुतः । शालिशूकस्ततस्तस्य सोमशर्मा भविष्यति
suyaśā bhavitā tasya saṅgataḥ suyaśaḥ sutaḥ | śāliśūkastatastasya somaśarmā bhaviṣyati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O best of the Kurus, these ten Maurya kings will rule the earth for 137 years of the Kali-yuga.
ततो भागवतस्तस्माद्देवभूतिरिति श्रुतः । शुङ्गा दशैते भोक्ष्यन्ति भूमिं वर्षशताधिकम्
tato bhāgavatastasmāddevabhūtiriti śrutaḥ | śuṅgā daśaite bhokṣyanti bhūmiṃ varṣaśatādhikam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Vasudeva, an intelligent minister coming from the Kāṇva family, will kill the last of the Śuṅga kings, a lusty debauchee named Devabhūti, and assume rulership himself.
ततः कण्वानियं भूमिर्यास्यत्यल्पगुणान् नृप । शुङ्गं हत्वा देवभूतिं कण्वोऽमात्यस्तु कामिनम्
tataḥ kaṇvāniyaṃ bhūmiryāsyatyalpaguṇān nṛpa | śuṅgaṃ hatvā devabhūtiṃ kaṇvo'mātyastu kāminam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The son of Vasudeva will be Bhūmitra, and his son will be Nārāyaṇa. These kings of the Kāṇva dynasty will rule the earth for 345 more years of the Kali-yuga.
स्वयं करिष्यते राज्यं वसुदेवो महामतिः । तस्य पुत्रस्तु भूमित्रस्तस्य नारायणः सुतः । नारायणस्य भविता सुशर्मा नाम विश्रुतः
svayaṃ kariṣyate rājyaṃ vasudevo mahāmatiḥ | tasya putrastu bhūmitrastasya nārāyaṇaḥ sutaḥ | nārāyaṇasya bhavitā suśarmā nāma viśrutaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The last of the Kāṇvas, Suśarmā, will be murdered by his own servant, Balī, a low-class śūdra of the Andhra race. This most degraded Mahārāja Balī will have control over the earth for some time.
मेदशिराः शिवस्कन्दो यज्ञश्रीस्तत्सुतस्ततः । विजयस्तत्सुतो भाव्यश्चन्द्रविज्ञः स लोमधिः
medaśirāḥ śivaskando yajñaśrīstatsutastataḥ | vijayastatsuto bhāvyaścandravijñaḥ sa lomadhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Then will follow seven kings of the Ābhīra race from the city of Avabhṛti, and then ten Gardabhīs. After them, sixteen kings of the Kaṅkas will rule and will be known for their excessive greed.
एते त्रिंशन्नृपतयश्चत्वार्यब्दशतानि च । षट्पञ्चाशच्च पृथिवीं भोक्ष्यन्ति कुरुनन्दन
ete triṃśannṛpatayaścatvāryabdaśatāni ca | ṣaṭpañcāśacca pṛthivīṃ bhokṣyanti kurunandana
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Eight Yavanas will then take power, followed by fourteen Turuṣkas, ten Guruṇḍas and eleven kings of the Maula dynasty.
तेषां त्रयोदश सुता भवितारश्च बाह्लिकाः । पुष्पमित्रोऽथ राजन्यो दुर्मित्रोऽस्य तथैव च
teṣāṃ trayodaśa sutā bhavitāraśca bāhlikāḥ | puṣpamitro'tha rājanyo durmitro'sya tathaiva ca
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
There will then appear a king of the Māgadhas named Viśvasphūrji, who will be like another Purañjaya. He will turn all the civilized classes into low-class, uncivilized men in the same category as the Pulindas, Yadus and Madrakas.
एककाला इमे भूपाः सप्तान्ध्राः सप्त कोसलाः । विदूरपतयो भाव्या निषधास्तत एव हि
ekakālā ime bhūpāḥ saptāndhrāḥ sapta kosalāḥ | vidūrapatayo bhāvyā niṣadhāstata eva hi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Foolish King Viśvasphūrji will maintain all the citizens in ungodliness and will use his power to completely disrupt the kṣatriya order. From his capital of Padmavatī he will rule that part of the earth extending from the source of the Gaṅgā to Prayāga.
मागधानां तु भविता विश्वस्फूर्जिः पुरञ्जयः । करिष्यत्यपरो वर्णान् पुलिन्दयदुमद्रकान्
māgadhānāṃ tu bhavitā viśvasphūrjiḥ purañjayaḥ | kariṣyatyaparo varṇān pulindayadumadrakān
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
At that time the brāhmaṇas of such provinces as Śaurāṣṭra, Avantī, Ābhīra, Śūra, Arbuda and Mālava will forget all their regulative principles, and the members of the royal order in these places will become no better than śūdras.
प्रजाश्चाब्रह्मभूयिष्ठाः स्थापयिष्यति दुर्मतिः । वीर्यवान् क्षत्रमुत्साद्य पद्मवत्यां स वै पुरि । अनुगङ्गामाप्रयागं गुप्तां भोक्ष्यति मेदिनीम्
prajāścābrahmabhūyiṣṭhāḥ sthāpayiṣyati durmatiḥ | vīryavān kṣatramutsādya padmavatyāṃ sa vai puri | anugaṅgāmāprayāgaṃ guptāṃ bhokṣyati medinīm
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The land along the Sindhu River, as well as the districts of Candrabhāgā, Kauntī and Kāśmīra, will be ruled by śūdras, fallen brāhmaṇas and meat-eaters. Having given up the path of Vedic civilization, they will have lost all spiritual strength.
सौराष्ट्रावन्त्याभीराश्च शूरा अर्बुदमालवाः । व्रात्या द्विजा भविष्यन्ति शूद्रप्राया जनाधिपाः
saurāṣṭrāvantyābhīrāśca śūrā arbudamālavāḥ | vrātyā dvijā bhaviṣyanti śūdraprāyā janādhipāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
There will be many such uncivilized kings ruling at the same time, O King Parīkṣit, and they will all be uncharitable, possessed of fierce tempers, and great devotees of irreligion and falsity.
स्त्रीबालगोद्विजघ्नाश्च परदारधनादृताः । उदितास्तमितप्राया अल्पसत्त्वाल्पकायुषः
strībālagodvijaghnāśca paradāradhanādṛtāḥ | uditāstamitaprāyā alpasattvālpakāyuṣaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The citizens governed by these low-class kings will imitate the character, behavior and speech of their rulers. Harassed by their leaders and by each other, they will all suffer ruination.
श्रीशुक उवाच । ततश्चानुदिनं धर्मः सत्यं शौचं क्षमा दया । कालेन बलिना राजन्नङ्क्ष्यत्यायुर्बलं स्मृतिः
śrīśuka uvāca | tataścānudinaṃ dharmaḥ satyaṃ śaucaṃ kṣamā dayā | kālena balinā rājannaṅkṣyatyāyurbalaṃ smṛtiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Then, O King, religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the Age of Kali.
वित्तमेव कलौ नॄणां जन्माचारगुणोदयः । धर्मन्यायव्यवस्थायां कारणं बलमेव हि
vittameva kalau nṝṇāṃ janmācāraguṇodayaḥ | dharmanyāyavyavasthāyāṃ kāraṇaṃ balameva hi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one’s power.
दाम्पत्येऽभिरुचिर्हेतुर्मायैव व्यावहारिके । स्त्रीत्वे पुंस्त्वे च हि रतिर्विप्रत्वे सूत्रमेव हि
dāmpatye'bhirucirheturmāyaiva vyāvahārike | strītve puṃstve ca hi ratirvipratve sūtrameva hi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brāhmaṇa just by his wearing a thread.
लिङ्गमेवाश्रमख्यातावन्योन्यापत्तिकारणम् । अवृत्त्या न्यायदौर्बल्यं पाण्डित्ये चापलं वचः
liṅgamevāśramakhyātāvanyonyāpattikāraṇam | avṛttyā nyāyadaurbalyaṃ pāṇḍitye cāpalaṃ vacaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols, and on that same basis people will change from one spiritual order to the next. A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar.
अनाढ्यतैवासाधुत्वे साधुत्वे दम्भ एव तु । स्वीकार एव चोद्वाहे स्नानमेव प्रसाधनम्
anāḍhyataivāsādhutve sādhutve dambha eva tu | svīkāra eva codvāhe snānameva prasādhanam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath.
दूरे वार्ययनं तीर्थं लावण्यं केशधारणम् । उदरम्भरता स्वार्थः सत्यत्वे धार्ष्ट्यमेव हि
dūre vāryayanaṃ tīrthaṃ lāvaṇyaṃ keśadhāraṇam | udarambharatā svārthaḥ satyatve dhārṣṭyameva hi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation.
दाक्ष्यं कुटुम्बभरणं यशोऽर्थे धर्मसेवनम् । एवं प्रजाभिर्दुष्टाभिराकीर्णे क्षितिमण्डले
dākṣyaṃ kuṭumbabharaṇaṃ yaśo'rthe dharmasevanam | evaṃ prajābhirduṣṭābhirākīrṇe kṣitimaṇḍale
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power.
ब्रह्मविट्क्षत्रशूद्राणां यो बली भविता नृपः । प्रजा हि लुब्धै राजन्यैर्निर्घृणैर्दस्युधर्मभिः
brahmaviṭkṣatraśūdrāṇāṃ yo balī bhavitā nṛpaḥ | prajā hi lubdhai rājanyairnirghṛṇairdasyudharmabhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests.
आच्छिन्नदारद्रविणा यास्यन्ति गिरिकाननम् । शाकमूलामिषक्षौद्रफलपुष्पाष्टिभोजनाः
ācchinnadāradraviṇā yāsyanti girikānanam | śākamūlāmiṣakṣaudraphalapuṣpāṣṭibhojanāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.
अनावृष्ट्या विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति दुर्भिक्षकरपीडिताः । शीतवातातपप्रावृड् हिमैरन्योन्यतः प्रजाः
anāvṛṣṭyā vinaṅkṣyanti durbhikṣakarapīḍitāḥ | śītavātātapaprāvṛḍ himairanyonyataḥ prajāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and severe anxiety.
क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां व्याधिभिश्चैव सन्तप्स्यन्ते च चिन्तया । त्रिंशद्विंशति वर्षाणि परमायुः कलौ नृणाम्
kṣuttṛḍbhyāṃ vyādhibhiścaiva santapsyante ca cintayā | triṃśadviṃśati varṣāṇi paramāyuḥ kalau nṛṇām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali-yuga will become fifty years.
चराचरगुरोर्विष्णोरीश्वरस्याखिलात्मनः । धर्मत्राणाय साधूनां जन्मकर्मापनुत्तये
carācaragurorviṣṇorīśvarasyākhilātmanaḥ | dharmatrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ janmakarmāpanuttaye
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lord Viṣṇu — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving living beings, and the Supreme Soul of all — takes birth to protect the principles of religion and to relieve His saintly devotees from the reactions of material work.
शम्भलग्राममुख्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मनः । भवने विष्णुयशसः कल्किः प्रादुर्भविष्यति
śambhalagrāmamukhyasya brāhmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | bhavane viṣṇuyaśasaḥ kalkiḥ prādurbhaviṣyati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent brāhmaṇa of Śambhala village, the great soul Viṣṇuyaśā.
अथ तेषां भविष्यन्ति मनांसि विशदानि वै । वासुदेवाङ्गरागाति पुण्यगन्धानिलस्पृशाम् । पौरजानपदानां वै हतेष्वखिलदस्युषु
atha teṣāṃ bhaviṣyanti manāṃsi viśadāni vai | vāsudevāṅgarāgāti puṇyagandhānilaspṛśām | paurajānapadānāṃ vai hateṣvakhiladasyuṣu
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
After all the impostor kings have been killed, the residents of the cities and towns will feel the breezes carrying the most sacred fragrance of the sandalwood paste and other decorations of Lord Vāsudeva, and their minds will thereby become transcendentally pure.
तेषां प्रजाविसर्गश्च स्थविष्ठः सम्भविष्यति । वासुदेवे भगवति सत्त्वमूर्तौ हृदि स्थिते
teṣāṃ prajāvisargaśca sthaviṣṭhaḥ sambhaviṣyati | vāsudeve bhagavati sattvamūrtau hṛdi sthite
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When Lord Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in their hearts in His transcendental form of goodness, the remaining citizens will abundantly repopulate the earth.
यदावतीर्णो भगवान् कल्किर्धर्मपतिर्हरिः । कृतं भविष्यति तदा प्रजा सूतिश्च सात्त्विकी
yadāvatīrṇo bhagavān kalkirdharmapatirhariḥ | kṛtaṃ bhaviṣyati tadā prajā sūtiśca sāttvikī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the Supreme Lord has appeared on earth as Kalki, the maintainer of religion, Satya-yuga will begin, and human society will bring forth progeny in the mode of goodness.
यदा चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च तथा तिष्यबृहस्पती । एकराशौ समेष्यन्ति भविष्यति तदा कृतम्
yadā candraśca sūryaśca tathā tiṣyabṛhaspatī | ekarāśau sameṣyanti bhaviṣyati tadā kṛtam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the moon, the sun and Bṛhaspatī are together in the constellation Karkaṭa, and all three enter simultaneously into the lunar mansion Puṣyā — at that exact moment the age of Satya, or Kṛta, will begin.
येऽतीता वर्तमाना ये भविष्यन्ति च पार्थिवाः । ते त उद्देशतः प्रोक्ता वंशीयाः सोमसूर्ययोः
ye'tītā vartamānā ye bhaviṣyanti ca pārthivāḥ | te ta uddeśataḥ proktā vaṃśīyāḥ somasūryayoḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Thus I have described all the kings — past, present and future — who belong to the dynasties of the sun and the moon.
आरभ्य भवतो जन्म यावन्नन्दाभिषेचनम् । एतद्वर्षसहस्रं तु शतं पञ्चदशोत्तरम्
ārabhya bhavato janma yāvannandābhiṣecanam | etadvarṣasahasraṃ tu śataṃ pañcadaśottaram
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
From your birth up to the coronation of King Nanda, 1,150 years will pass.
विष्णोर्भगवतो भानुः कृष्णाख्योऽसौ दिवं गतः । तदाविशत्कलिर्लोकं पापे यद्रमते जनः
viṣṇorbhagavato bhānuḥ kṛṣṇākhyo'sau divaṃ gataḥ | tadāviśatkalirlokaṃ pāpe yadramate janaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, is brilliant like the sun and is known as Kṛṣṇa. When He returned to the spiritual sky, Kali entered this world, and people then began to take pleasure in sinful activities.
यावत्स पादपद्माभ्यां स्पृशन्नास्ते रमापतिः । तावत्कलिर्वै पृथिवीं पराक्रान्तुं न चाशकत्
yāvatsa pādapadmābhyāṃ spṛśannāste ramāpatiḥ | tāvatkalirvai pṛthivīṃ parākrāntuṃ na cāśakat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
As long as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the husband of the goddess of fortune, touched the earth with His lotus feet, Kali was powerless to subdue this planet.
यदा देवर्षयः सप्त मघासु विचरन्ति हि । तदा प्रवृत्तस्तु कलिर्द्वादशाब्दशतात्मकः
yadā devarṣayaḥ sapta maghāsu vicaranti hi | tadā pravṛttastu kalirdvādaśābdaśatātmakaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the constellation of the seven sages is passing through the lunar mansion Maghā, the Age of Kali begins. It comprises twelve hundred years of the demigods.
यदा मघाभ्यो यास्यन्ति पूर्वाषाढां महर्षयः । तदा नन्दात्प्रभृत्येष कलिर्वृद्धिं गमिष्यति
yadā maghābhyo yāsyanti pūrvāṣāḍhāṃ maharṣayaḥ | tadā nandātprabhṛtyeṣa kalirvṛddhiṃ gamiṣyati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the great sages of the Saptarṣi constellation pass from Maghā to Pūrvāsāḍhā, Kali will have his full strength, beginning from King Nanda and his dynasty.
यस्मिन् कृष्णो दिवं यातस्तस्मिन्नेव तदाहनि । प्रतिपन्नं कलियुगमिति प्राहुः पुराविदः
yasmin kṛṣṇo divaṃ yātastasminneva tadāhani | pratipannaṃ kaliyugamiti prāhuḥ purāvidaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Those who scientifically understand the past declare that on the very day that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa departed for the spiritual world, the influence of the Age of Kali began.
दिव्याब्दानां सहस्रान्ते चतुर्थे तु पुनः कृतम् । भविष्यति यदा नॄणां मन आत्मप्रकाशकम्
divyābdānāṃ sahasrānte caturthe tu punaḥ kṛtam | bhaviṣyati yadā nṝṇāṃ mana ātmaprakāśakam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
After the one thousand celestial years of Kali-yuga, the Satya-yuga will manifest again. At that time the minds of all men will become self-effulgent.
इत्येष मानवो वंशो यथा सङ्ख्यायते भुवि । तथा विट्शूद्रविप्राणां तास्ता ज्ञेया युगे युगे
ityeṣa mānavo vaṃśo yathā saṅkhyāyate bhuvi | tathā viṭśūdraviprāṇāṃ tāstā jñeyā yuge yuge
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Thus I have described the royal dynasty of Manu, as it is known on this earth. One can similarly study the history of the vaiśyas, śūdras and brāhmaṇas living in the various ages.
एतेषां नामलिङ्गानां पुरुषाणां महात्मनाम् । कथामात्रावशिष्टानां कीर्तिरेव स्थिता भुवि
eteṣāṃ nāmaliṅgānāṃ puruṣāṇāṃ mahātmanām | kathāmātrāvaśiṣṭānāṃ kīrtireva sthitā bhuvi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
These personalities, who were great souls, are now known only by their names. They exist only in accounts from the past, and only their fame remains on the earth.
देवापिः शन्तनोर्भ्राता मरुश्चेक्ष्वाकुवंशजः । कलापग्राम आसाते महायोगबलान्वितौ
devāpiḥ śantanorbhrātā maruścekṣvākuvaṃśajaḥ | kalāpagrāma āsāte mahāyogabalānvitau
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Devāpi, the brother of Mahārāja Śāntanu, and Maru, the descendant of Ikṣvāku, both possess great mystic strength and are living even now in the village of Kalāpa.
ताविहैत्य कलेरन्ते वासुदेवानुशिक्षितौ । वर्णाश्रमयुतं धर्मं पूर्ववत्प्रथयिष्यतः
tāvihaitya kalerante vāsudevānuśikṣitau | varṇāśramayutaṃ dharmaṃ pūrvavatprathayiṣyataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
At the end of the Age of Kali, these two kings, having received instruction directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, will return to human society and reestablish the eternal religion of man, characterized by the divisions of varṇa and āśrama, just as it was before.
कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चतुर्युगम् । अनेन क्रमयोगेन भुवि प्राणिषु वर्तते
kṛtaṃ tretā dvāparaṃ ca kaliśceti caturyugam | anena kramayogena bhuvi prāṇiṣu vartate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The cycle of four ages — Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — continues perpetually among living beings on this earth, repeating the same general sequence of events.
राजन्नेते मया प्रोक्ता नरदेवास्तथापरे । भूमौ ममत्वं कृत्वान्ते हित्वेमां निधनं गताः
rājannete mayā proktā naradevāstathāpare | bhūmau mamatvaṃ kṛtvānte hitvemāṃ nidhanaṃ gatāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear King Parīkṣit, all these kings I have described, as well as all other human beings, come to this earth and stake their claims, but ultimately they all must give up this world and meet their destruction.
कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञान्ते राजनाम्नोऽपि यस्य च । भूतध्रुक् तत्कृते स्वार्थं किं वेद निरयो यतः
kṛmiviḍbhasmasaṃjñānte rājanāmno'pi yasya ca | bhūtadhruk tatkṛte svārthaṃ kiṃ veda nirayo yataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Even though a person’s body may now have the designation “king,” in the end its name will be “worms,” “stool” or “ashes.” What can a person who injures other living beings for the sake of his body know about his own self-interest, since his activities are simply leading him to hell?
कथं सेयमखण्डा भूः पूर्वैर्मे पुरुषैर्धृता । मत्पुत्रस्य च पौत्रस्य मत्पूर्वा वंशजस्य वा
kathaṃ seyamakhaṇḍā bhūḥ pūrvairme puruṣairdhṛtā | matputrasya ca pautrasya matpūrvā vaṃśajasya vā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
[The materialistic king thinks:] “This unbounded earth was held by my predecessors and is now under my sovereignty. How can I arrange for it to remain in the hands of my sons, grandsons and other descendants?”
तेजोबन्नमयं कायं गृहीत्वाऽऽत्मतयाबुधाः । महीं ममतया चोभौ हित्वान्तेऽदर्शनं गताः
tejobannamayaṃ kāyaṃ gṛhītvā''tmatayābudhāḥ | mahīṃ mamatayā cobhau hitvānte'darśanaṃ gatāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Although the foolish accept the body made of earth, water and fire as “me” and this earth as “mine,” in every case they have ultimately abandoned both their body and the earth and passed away into oblivion.
ये ये भूपतयो राजन् भुञ्जन्ति भुवमोजसा । कालेन ते कृताः सर्वे कथामात्राः कथासु च
ye ye bhūpatayo rājan bhuñjanti bhuvamojasā | kālena te kṛtāḥ sarve kathāmātrāḥ kathāsu ca
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear King Parīkṣit, all these kings who tried to enjoy the earth by their strength were reduced by the force of time to nothing more than historical accounts.
श्रीशुक उवाच । दृष्ट्वाऽऽत्मनि जये व्यग्रान् नृपान् हसति भूरियम् । अहो मा विजिगीषन्ति मृत्योः क्रीडनका नृपाः
śrīśuka uvāca | dṛṣṭvā''tmani jaye vyagrān nṛpān hasati bhūriyam | aho mā vijigīṣanti mṛtyoḥ krīḍanakā nṛpāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Seeing the kings of this earth busy trying to conquer her, the earth herself laughed. She said: “Just see how these kings, who are actually playthings in the hands of death, are desiring to conquer me.
काम एष नरेन्द्राणां मोघः स्याद्विदुषामपि । येन फेनोपमे पिण्डे येऽतिविश्रम्भिता नृपाः
kāma eṣa narendrāṇāṃ moghaḥ syādviduṣāmapi | yena phenopame piṇḍe ye'tiviśrambhitā nṛpāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
“Great rulers of men, even those who are learned, meet frustration and failure because of material lust. Driven by lust, these kings place great hope and faith in the dead lump of flesh called the body, even though the material frame is as fleeting as bubbles of foam on water.
समुद्रावरणां जित्वा मां विशन्त्यब्धिमोजसा । कियदात्मजयस्यैतन्मुक्तिरात्मजये फलम्
samudrāvaraṇāṃ jitvā māṃ viśantyabdhimojasā | kiyadātmajayasyaitanmuktirātmajaye phalam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
“After conquering all the land on my surface, these proud kings forcibly enter the ocean to conquer the sea itself. What is the use of their self-control, which is aimed at political exploitation? The actual goal of self-control is spiritual liberation.”
यां विसृज्यैव मनवस्तत्सुताश्च कुरूद्वह । गता यथागतं युद्धे तां मां जेष्यन्त्यबुद्धयः
yāṃ visṛjyaiva manavastatsutāśca kurūdvaha | gatā yathāgataṃ yuddhe tāṃ māṃ jeṣyantyabuddhayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O best of the Kurus, the earth continued as follows: “Although in the past great men and their descendants have left me, departing from this world in the same helpless way they came into it, even today foolish men are trying to conquer me.
मत्कृते पितृपुत्राणां भ्रातॄणां चापि विग्रहः । जायते ह्यसतां राज्ये ममताबद्धचेतसाम्
matkṛte pitṛputrāṇāṃ bhrātṝṇāṃ cāpi vigrahaḥ | jāyate hyasatāṃ rājye mamatābaddhacetasām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
“For the sake of conquering me, materialistic persons fight one another. Fathers oppose their sons, and brothers fight one another, because their hearts are bound to possessing political power.
ममैवेयं मही कृत्स्ना न ते मूढेति वादिनः । स्पर्धमाना मिथो घ्नन्ति म्रियन्ते मत्कृते नृपाः
mamaiveyaṃ mahī kṛtsnā na te mūḍheti vādinaḥ | spardhamānā mitho ghnanti mriyante matkṛte nṛpāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
“Political leaders challenge one another: ‘All this land is mine! It’s not yours, you fool!’ Thus they attack one another and die.
कथा इमास्ते कथिता महीयसां विताय लोकेषु यशः परेयुषाम् । विज्ञानवैराग्यविवक्षया विभो वचो विभूतीर्न तु पारमार्थ्यम्
kathā imāste kathitā mahīyasāṃ vitāya lokeṣu yaśaḥ pareyuṣām | vijñānavairāgyavivakṣayā vibho vaco vibhūtīrna tu pāramārthyam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O mighty Parīkṣit, I have related to you the narrations of all these great kings, who spread their fame throughout the world and then departed. My real purpose was to teach transcendental knowledge and renunciation. Stories of kings lend power and opulence to these narrations but do not in themselves constitute the ultimate aspect of knowledge.
यस्तूत्तमश्लोकगुणानुवादः सङ्गीयतेऽभीक्ष्णममङ्गलघ्नः । तमेव नित्यं शृणुयादभीक्ष्णं कृष्णेऽमलां भक्तिमभीप्समानः
yastūttamaślokaguṇānuvādaḥ saṅgīyate'bhīkṣṇamamaṅgalaghnaḥ | tameva nityaṃ śṛṇuyādabhīkṣṇaṃ kṛṣṇe'malāṃ bhaktimabhīpsamānaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The person who desires pure devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa should hear the narrations of Lord Uttamaḥśloka’s glorious qualities, the constant chanting of which destroys everything inauspicious. The devotee should engage in such listening in regular daily assemblies and should also continue his hearing throughout the day.
राजोवाच । केनोपायेन भगवन् कलेर्दोषान् कलौ जनाः । विधमिष्यन्त्युपचितांस्तन्मे ब्रूहि यथा मुने
rājovāca | kenopāyena bhagavan kalerdoṣān kalau janāḥ | vidhamiṣyantyupacitāṃstanme brūhi yathā mune
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
King Parīkṣit said: My lord, how can persons living in the Age of Kali rid themselves of the cumulative contamination of this age? O great sage, please explain this to me.
युगानि युगधर्मांश्च मानं प्रलयकल्पयोः । कालस्येश्वररूपस्य गतिं विष्णोर्महात्मनः
yugāni yugadharmāṃśca mānaṃ pralayakalpayoḥ | kālasyeśvararūpasya gatiṃ viṣṇormahātmanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please explain the different ages of universal history, the special qualities of each age, the duration of cosmic maintenance and destruction, and the movement of time, which is the direct representation of the Supreme Soul, the Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu.
श्रीशुक उवाच । कृते प्रवर्तते धर्मश्चतुष्पात्तज्जनैर्धृतः । सत्यं दया तपो दानमिति पादा विभोर्नृप
śrīśuka uvāca | kṛte pravartate dharmaścatuṣpāttajjanairdhṛtaḥ | satyaṃ dayā tapo dānamiti pādā vibhornṛpa
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, in the beginning, during Satya-yuga, the age of truth, religion is present with all four of its legs intact and is carefully maintained by the people of that age. These four legs of powerful religion are truthfulness, mercy, austerity and charity.
सन्तुष्टाः करुणा मैत्राः शान्ता दान्तास्तितिक्षवः । आत्मारामाः समदृशः प्रायशः श्रमणा जनाः
santuṣṭāḥ karuṇā maitrāḥ śāntā dāntāstitikṣavaḥ | ātmārāmāḥ samadṛśaḥ prāyaśaḥ śramaṇā janāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The people of Satya-yuga are for the most part self-satisfied, merciful, friendly to all, peaceful, sober and tolerant. They take their pleasure from within, see all things equally and always endeavor diligently for spiritual perfection.
त्रेतायां धर्मपादानां तुर्यांशो हीयते शनैः । अधर्मपादैरनृतहिंसासन्तोषविग्रहैः
tretāyāṃ dharmapādānāṃ turyāṃśo hīyate śanaiḥ | adharmapādairanṛtahiṃsāsantoṣavigrahaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In Tretā-yuga each leg of religion is gradually reduced by one quarter by the influence of the four pillars of irreligion — lying, violence, dissatisfaction and quarrel.
तदा क्रिया तपो निष्ठा नातिहिंस्रा न लम्पटाः । त्रैवर्गिकास्त्रयीवृद्धा वर्णा ब्रह्मोत्तरा नृप
tadā kriyā tapo niṣṭhā nātihiṃsrā na lampaṭāḥ | traivargikāstrayīvṛddhā varṇā brahmottarā nṛpa
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In the Tretā age people are devoted to ritual performances and severe austerities. They are not excessively violent or very lusty after sensual pleasure. Their interest lies primarily in religiosity, economic development and regulated sense gratification, and they achieve prosperity by following the prescriptions of the three Vedas. Although in this age society evolves into four separate classes, O King, most people are brāhmaṇas.
तपःसत्यदयादानेष्वर्धं ह्रसति द्वापरे । हिंसातुष्ट्यनृतद्वेषैर्धर्मस्याधर्मलक्षणैः
tapaḥsatyadayādāneṣvardhaṃ hrasati dvāpare | hiṃsātuṣṭyanṛtadveṣairdharmasyādharmalakṣaṇaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In Dvāpara-yuga the religious qualities of austerity, truth, mercy and charity are reduced to one half by their irreligious counterparts — dissatisfaction, untruth, violence and enmity.
यशस्विनो महाशालाः स्वाध्यायाध्ययने रताः । आढ्याः कुटुम्बिनो हृष्टा वर्णाः क्षत्रद्विजोत्तराः
yaśasvino mahāśālāḥ svādhyāyādhyayane ratāḥ | āḍhyāḥ kuṭumbino hṛṣṭā varṇāḥ kṣatradvijottarāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In the Dvāpara age people are interested in glory and are very noble. They devote themselves to the study of the Vedas, possess great opulence, support large families and enjoy life with vigor. Of the four classes, the kṣatriyas and brāhmaṇas are most numerous.
कलौ तु धर्महेतुनां तुर्यांशोऽधर्महेतुभिः । एधमानैः क्षीयमाणो ह्यन्ते सोऽपि विनङ्क्ष्यति
kalau tu dharmahetunāṃ turyāṃśo'dharmahetubhiḥ | edhamānaiḥ kṣīyamāṇo hyante so'pi vinaṅkṣyati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In the Age of Kali only one fourth of the religious principles remains. That last remnant will continuously be decreased by the ever-increasing principles of irreligion and will finally be destroyed.
तस्मिन् लुब्धा दुराचारा निर्दयाः शुष्कवैरिणः । दुर्भगा भूरितर्षाश्च शूद्रदाशोत्तराः प्रजाः
tasmin lubdhā durācārā nirdayāḥ śuṣkavairiṇaḥ | durbhagā bhūritarṣāśca śūdradāśottarāḥ prajāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In the Kali age people tend to be greedy, ill-behaved and merciless, and they fight one another without good reason. Unfortunate and obsessed with material desires, the people of Kali-yuga are almost all śūdras and barbarians.
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति दृश्यन्ते पुरुषे गुणाः । कालसञ्चोदितास्ते वै परिवर्तन्त आत्मनि
sattvaṃ rajastama iti dṛśyante puruṣe guṇāḥ | kālasañcoditāste vai parivartanta ātmani
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The material modes — goodness, passion and ignorance — whose permutations are observed within a person’s mind, are set into motion by the power of time.
प्रभवन्ति यदा सत्त्वे मनोबुद्धीन्द्रियाणि च । तदा कृतयुगं विद्याज्ज्ञाने तपसि यद्रुचिः
prabhavanti yadā sattve manobuddhīndriyāṇi ca | tadā kṛtayugaṃ vidyājjñāne tapasi yadruciḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the mind, intelligence and senses are solidly fixed in the mode of goodness, that time should be understood as Satya-yuga, the age of truth. People then take pleasure in knowledge and austerity.
यदा धर्मार्थकामेषु भक्तिर्भवति देहिनाम् । तदा त्रेता रजो वृत्तिरिति जानीहि बुद्धिमन्
yadā dharmārthakāmeṣu bhaktirbhavati dehinām | tadā tretā rajo vṛttiriti jānīhi buddhiman
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O most intelligent one, when the conditioned souls are devoted to their duties but have ulterior motives and seek personal prestige, you should understand such a situation to be the age of Tretā, in which the functions of passion are prominent.
यदा लोभस्त्वसन्तोषो मानो दम्भोऽथ मत्सरः । कर्मणां चापि काम्यानां द्वापरं तद्रजस्तमः
yadā lobhastvasantoṣo māno dambho'tha matsaraḥ | karmaṇāṃ cāpi kāmyānāṃ dvāparaṃ tadrajastamaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When greed, dissatisfaction, false pride, hypocrisy and envy become prominent, along with attraction for selfish activities, such a time is the age of Dvāpara, dominated by the mixed modes of passion and ignorance.
यदा मायानृतं तन्द्रा निद्रा हिंसा विषादनम् । शोको मोहो भयं दैन्यं स कलिस्तामसः स्मृतः
yadā māyānṛtaṃ tandrā nidrā hiṃsā viṣādanam | śoko moho bhayaṃ dainyaṃ sa kalistāmasaḥ smṛtaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When there is a predominance of cheating, lying, sloth, sleepiness, violence, depression, lamentation, bewilderment, fear and poverty, that age is Kali, the age of the mode of ignorance.
यस्मात्क्षुद्रदृशो मर्त्याः क्षुद्रभाग्या महाशनाः । कामिनो वित्तहीनाश्च स्वैरिण्यश्च स्त्रियोऽसतीः
yasmātkṣudradṛśo martyāḥ kṣudrabhāgyā mahāśanāḥ | kāmino vittahīnāśca svairiṇyaśca striyo'satīḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Because of the bad qualities of the Age of Kali, human beings will become shortsighted, unfortunate, gluttonous, lustful and poverty-stricken. The women, becoming unchaste, will freely wander from one man to the next.
दस्यूत्कृष्टा जनपदा वेदाः पाखण्डदूषिताः । राजानश्च प्रजाभक्षाः शिश्नोदरपरा द्विजाः
dasyūtkṛṣṭā janapadā vedāḥ pākhaṇḍadūṣitāḥ | rājānaśca prajābhakṣāḥ śiśnodaraparā dvijāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Cities will be dominated by thieves, the Vedas will be contaminated by speculative interpretations of atheists, political leaders will virtually consume the citizens, and the so-called priests and intellectuals will be devotees of their bellies and genitals.
अव्रता वटवोऽशौचा भिक्षवश्च कुटुम्बिनः । तपस्विनो ग्रामवासा न्यासिनोऽत्यर्थलोलुपाः
avratā vaṭavo'śaucā bhikṣavaśca kuṭumbinaḥ | tapasvino grāmavāsā nyāsino'tyarthalolupāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The brahmacārīs will fail to execute their vows and become generally unclean, the householders will become beggars, the vānaprasthas will live in the villages, and the sannyāsīs will become greedy for wealth.
ह्रस्वकाया महाहारा भूर्यपत्या गतह्रियः । शश्वत्कटुकभाषिण्यश्चौर्यमायोरुसाहसाः
hrasvakāyā mahāhārā bhūryapatyā gatahriyaḥ | śaśvatkaṭukabhāṣiṇyaścauryamāyorusāhasāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Women will become much smaller in size, and they will eat too much, have more children than they can properly take care of, and lose all shyness. They will always speak harshly and will exhibit qualities of thievery, deceit and unrestrained audacity.
पणयिष्यन्ति वै क्षुद्राः किराटाः कूटकारिणः । अनापद्यपि मंस्यन्ते वार्तां साधु जुगुप्सिताम्
paṇayiṣyanti vai kṣudrāḥ kirāṭāḥ kūṭakāriṇaḥ | anāpadyapi maṃsyante vārtāṃ sādhu jugupsitām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Businessmen will engage in petty commerce and earn their money by cheating. Even when there is no emergency, people will consider any degraded occupation quite acceptable.
पतिं त्यक्ष्यन्ति निर्द्रव्यं भृत्या अप्यखिलोत्तमम् । भृत्यं विपन्नं पतयः कौलं गाश्चापयस्विनीः
patiṃ tyakṣyanti nirdravyaṃ bhṛtyā apyakhilottamam | bhṛtyaṃ vipannaṃ patayaḥ kaulaṃ gāścāpayasvinīḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Servants will abandon a master who has lost his wealth, even if that master is a saintly person of exemplary character. Masters will abandon an incapacitated servant, even if that servant has been in the family for generations. Cows will be abandoned or killed when they stop giving milk.
पितृभ्रातृसुहृज्ज्ञातीन् हित्वा सौरतसौहृदाः । ननान्दृश्यालसंवादा दीनाः स्त्रैणाः कलौ नराः
pitṛbhrātṛsuhṛjjñātīn hitvā sauratasauhṛdāḥ | nanāndṛśyālasaṃvādā dīnāḥ straiṇāḥ kalau narāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In Kali-yuga men will be wretched and controlled by women. They will reject their fathers, brothers, other relatives and friends and will instead associate with the sisters and brothers of their wives. Thus their conception of friendship will be based exclusively on sexual ties.
शूद्राः प्रतिग्रहीष्यन्ति तपोवेषोपजीविनः । धर्मं वक्ष्यन्त्यधर्मज्ञा अधिरुह्योत्तमासनम्
śūdrāḥ pratigrahīṣyanti tapoveṣopajīvinaḥ | dharmaṃ vakṣyantyadharmajñā adhiruhyottamāsanam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of austerity and wearing a mendicant’s dress. Those who know nothing about religion will mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles.
कलौ काकिणिकेऽप्यर्थे विगृह्य त्यक्तसौहृदाः । त्यक्ष्यन्ति च प्रियान् प्राणान् हनिष्यन्ति स्वकानपि
kalau kākiṇike'pyarthe vigṛhya tyaktasauhṛdāḥ | tyakṣyanti ca priyān prāṇān haniṣyanti svakānapi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In Kali-yuga men will develop hatred for each other even over a few coins. Giving up all friendly relations, they will be ready to lose their own lives and kill even their own relatives.
न रक्षिष्यन्ति मनुजाः स्थविरौ पितरावपि । पुत्रान् सर्वार्थकुशलान् क्षुद्राः शिश्नोदरम्भराः
na rakṣiṣyanti manujāḥ sthavirau pitarāvapi | putrān sarvārthakuśalān kṣudrāḥ śiśnodarambharāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Men will no longer protect their elderly parents, their children or their respectable wives. Thoroughly degraded, they will care only to satisfy their own bellies and genitals.
कलौ न राजन् जगतां परं गुरुं त्रिलोकनाथानतपादपङ्कजम् । प्रायेण मर्त्या भगवन्तमच्युतं यक्ष्यन्ति पाखण्डविभिन्नचेतसः
kalau na rājan jagatāṃ paraṃ guruṃ trilokanāthānatapādapaṅkajam | prāyeṇa martyā bhagavantamacyutaṃ yakṣyanti pākhaṇḍavibhinnacetasaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O King, in the Age of Kali people’s intelligence will be diverted by atheism, and they will almost never offer sacrifice to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme spiritual master of the universe. Although the great personalities who control the three worlds all bow down to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, the petty and miserable human beings of this age will not do so.
यन्नामधेयं म्रियमाण आतुरः पतन् स्खलन् वा विवशो गृणन् पुमान् । विमुक्तकर्मार्गल उत्तमां गतिं प्राप्नोति यक्ष्यन्ति न तं कलौ जनाः
yannāmadheyaṃ mriyamāṇa āturaḥ patan skhalan vā vivaśo gṛṇan pumān | vimuktakarmārgala uttamāṃ gatiṃ prāpnoti yakṣyanti na taṃ kalau janāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Terrified, about to die, a man collapses on his bed. Although his voice is faltering and he is hardly conscious of what he is saying, if he utters the holy name of the Supreme Lord he can be freed from the reaction of his fruitive work and achieve the supreme destination. But still people in the Age of Kali will not worship the Supreme Lord.
पुंसां कलिकृतान् दोषान् द्रव्यदेशात्मसम्भवान् । सर्वान् हरति चित्तस्थो भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः
puṃsāṃ kalikṛtān doṣān dravyadeśātmasambhavān | sarvān harati cittastho bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In the Kali-yuga, objects, places and even individual personalities are all polluted. The almighty Personality of Godhead, however, can remove all such contamination from the life of one who fixes the Lord within his mind.
श्रुतः सङ्कीर्तितो ध्यातः पूजितश्चादृतोऽपि वा । नृणां धुनोति भगवान् हृत्स्थो जन्मायुताशुभम्
śrutaḥ saṅkīrtito dhyātaḥ pūjitaścādṛto'pi vā | nṛṇāṃ dhunoti bhagavān hṛtstho janmāyutāśubham
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
If a person hears about, glorifies, meditates upon, worships or simply offers great respect to the Supreme Lord, who is situated within the heart, the Lord will remove from his mind the contamination accumulated during many thousands of lifetimes.
यथा हेम्नि स्थितो वह्निर्दुर्वर्णं हन्ति धातुजम् । एवमात्मगतो विष्णुर्योगिनामशुभाशयम्
yathā hemni sthito vahnirdurvarṇaṃ hanti dhātujam | evamātmagato viṣṇuryogināmaśubhāśayam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Just as fire applied to gold removes any discoloration caused by traces of other metals, Lord Viṣṇu within the heart purifies the minds of the yogīs.
विद्यातपःप्राणनिरोधमैत्री तीर्थाभिषेकव्रतदानजप्यैः । नात्यन्तशुद्धिं लभतेऽन्तरात्मा यथा हृदिस्थे भगवत्यनन्ते
vidyātapaḥprāṇanirodhamaitrī tīrthābhiṣekavratadānajapyaiḥ | nātyantaśuddhiṃ labhate'ntarātmā yathā hṛdisthe bhagavatyanante
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
By one’s engaging in the processes of demigod worship, austerities, breath control, compassion, bathing in holy places, strict vows, charity and chanting of various mantras, one’s mind cannot attain the same absolute purification as that achieved when the unlimited Personality of Godhead appears within one’s heart.
तस्मात्सर्वात्मना राजन् हृदिस्थं कुरु केशवम् । म्रियमाणो ह्यवहितस्ततो यासि परां गतिम्
tasmātsarvātmanā rājan hṛdisthaṃ kuru keśavam | mriyamāṇo hyavahitastato yāsi parāṃ gatim
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Therefore, O King, endeavor with all your might to fix the Supreme Lord Keśava within your heart. Maintain this concentration upon the Lord, and at the time of death you will certainly attain the supreme destination.
म्रियमाणैरभिध्येयो भगवान् परमेश्वरः । आत्मभावं नयत्यङ्ग सर्वात्मा सर्वसंश्रयः
mriyamāṇairabhidhyeyo bhagavān parameśvaraḥ | ātmabhāvaṃ nayatyaṅga sarvātmā sarvasaṃśrayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear King, the Personality of Godhead is the ultimate controller. He is the Supreme Soul and the supreme shelter of all beings. When meditated upon by those about to die, He reveals to them their own eternal spiritual identity.
कलेर्दोषनिधे राजन्नस्ति ह्येको महान् गुणः । कीर्तनादेव कृष्णस्य मुक्तसङ्गः परं व्रजेत्
kalerdoṣanidhe rājannasti hyeko mahān guṇaḥ | kīrtanādeva kṛṣṇasya muktasaṅgaḥ paraṃ vrajet
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.
कृते यद्ध्यायतो विष्णुं त्रेतायां यजतो मखैः । द्वापरे परिचर्यायां कलौ तद्धरिकीर्तनात्
kṛte yaddhyāyato viṣṇuṃ tretāyāṃ yajato makhaiḥ | dvāpare paricaryāyāṃ kalau taddharikīrtanāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
श्रीशुक उवाच । कालस्ते परमाण्वादिर्द्विपरार्धावधिर्नृप । कथितो युगमानं च शृणु कल्पलयावपि
śrīśuka uvāca | kālaste paramāṇvādirdviparārdhāvadhirnṛpa | kathito yugamānaṃ ca śṛṇu kalpalayāvapi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, I have already described to you the measurements of time, beginning from the smallest fraction measured by the movement of a single atom up to the total life span of Lord Brahmā. I have also discussed the measurement of the different millennia of universal history. Now hear about the time of Brahmā’s day and the process of annihilation.
चतुर्युगसहस्रं च ब्रह्मणो दिनमुच्यते । स कल्पो यत्र मनवश्चतुर्दश विशाम्पते
caturyugasahasraṃ ca brahmaṇo dinamucyate | sa kalpo yatra manavaścaturdaśa viśāmpate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One thousand cycles of four ages constitute a single day of Brahmā, known as a kalpa. In that period, O King, fourteen Manus come and go.
तदन्ते प्रलयस्तावान् ब्राह्मी रात्रिरुदाहृता । त्रयो लोका इमे तत्र कल्पन्ते प्रलयाय हि
tadante pralayastāvān brāhmī rātrirudāhṛtā | trayo lokā ime tatra kalpante pralayāya hi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
After one day of Brahmā, annihilation occurs during his night, which is of the same duration. At that time all the three planetary systems are subject to destruction.
एष नैमित्तिकः प्रोक्तः प्रलयो यत्र विश्वसृक् । शेतेऽनन्तासनो विश्वमात्मसात्कृत्य चात्मभूः
eṣa naimittikaḥ proktaḥ pralayo yatra viśvasṛk | śete'nantāsano viśvamātmasātkṛtya cātmabhūḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This is called the naimittika, or occasional, annihilation, during which the original creator, Lord Nārāyaṇa, lies down upon the bed of Ananta Śeṣa and absorbs the entire universe within Himself while Lord Brahmā sleeps.
द्विपरार्धे त्वतिक्रान्ते ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः । तदा प्रकृतयः सप्त कल्पन्ते प्रलयाय वै
dviparārdhe tvatikrānte brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ | tadā prakṛtayaḥ sapta kalpante pralayāya vai
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the two halves of the lifetime of Lord Brahmā, the most elevated created being, are complete, the seven basic elements of creation are annihilated.
एष प्राकृतिको राजन् प्रलयो यत्र लीयते । आण्डकोशस्तु सङ्घातो विघात उपसादिते
eṣa prākṛtiko rājan pralayo yatra līyate | āṇḍakośastu saṅghāto vighāta upasādite
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O King, upon the annihilation of the material elements, the universal egg, comprising the elemental amalgamation of creation, is confronted with destruction.
पर्जन्यः शतवर्षाणि भूमौ राजन् न वर्षति । तदा निरन्ने ह्यन्योन्यं भक्षमाणाः क्षुधार्दिताः
parjanyaḥ śatavarṣāṇi bhūmau rājan na varṣati | tadā niranne hyanyonyaṃ bhakṣamāṇāḥ kṣudhārditāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
As annihilation approaches, O King, there will be no rain upon the earth for one hundred years. Drought will lead to famine, and the starving populace will literally consume one another. The inhabitants of the earth, bewildered by the force of time, will gradually be destroyed.
क्षयं यास्यन्ति शनकैः कालेनोपद्रुताः प्रजाः । सामुद्रं दैहिकं भौमं रसं सांवर्तको रविः
kṣayaṃ yāsyanti śanakaiḥ kālenopadrutāḥ prajāḥ | sāmudraṃ daihikaṃ bhaumaṃ rasaṃ sāṃvartako raviḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The sun in its annihilating form will drink up with its terrible rays all the water of the ocean, of living bodies and of the earth itself. But the devastating sun will not give any rain in return.
रश्मिभिः पिबते घोरैः सर्वं नैव विमुञ्चति । ततः सांवर्तको वह्निः सङ्कर्षणमुखोत्थितः
raśmibhiḥ pibate ghoraiḥ sarvaṃ naiva vimuñcati | tataḥ sāṃvartako vahniḥ saṅkarṣaṇamukhotthitaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Next the great fire of annihilation will flare up from the mouth of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa. Carried by the mighty force of the wind, this fire will burn throughout the universe, scorching the lifeless cosmic shell.
दहत्यनिलवेगोत्थः शून्यान् भूविवरानथ । उपर्यधः समन्ताच्च शिखाभिर्वह्निसूर्ययोः
dahatyanilavegotthaḥ śūnyān bhūvivarānatha | uparyadhaḥ samantācca śikhābhirvahnisūryayoḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Burned from all sides — from above by the blazing sun and from below by the fire of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa — the universal sphere will glow like a burning ball of cow dung.
दह्यमानं विभात्यण्डं दग्धगोमयपिण्डवत् । ततः प्रचण्डपवनो वर्षाणामधिकं शतम्
dahyamānaṃ vibhātyaṇḍaṃ dagdhagomayapiṇḍavat | tataḥ pracaṇḍapavano varṣāṇāmadhikaṃ śatam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A great and terrible wind of destruction will begin to blow for more than one hundred years, and the sky, covered with dust, will turn gray.
परः सांवर्तको वाति धूम्रं खं रजसाऽऽवृतम् । ततो मेघकुलान्यङ्ग चित्रवर्णान्यनेकशः
paraḥ sāṃvartako vāti dhūmraṃ khaṃ rajasā''vṛtam | tato meghakulānyaṅga citravarṇānyanekaśaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
After that, O King, groups of multicolored clouds will gather, roaring terribly with thunder, and will pour down floods of rain for one hundred years.
शतं वर्षाणि वर्षन्ति नदन्ति रभसस्वनैः । तत एकोदकं विश्वं ब्रह्माण्डविवरान्तरम्
śataṃ varṣāṇi varṣanti nadanti rabhasasvanaiḥ | tata ekodakaṃ viśvaṃ brahmāṇḍavivarāntaram
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
At that time, the shell of the universe will fill up with water, forming a single cosmic ocean.
तदा भूमेर्गन्धगुणं ग्रसन्त्याप उदप्लवे । ग्रस्तगन्धा तु पृथिवी प्रलयत्वाय कल्पते
tadā bhūmergandhaguṇaṃ grasantyāpa udaplave | grastagandhā tu pṛthivī pralayatvāya kalpate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
As the entire universe is flooded, the water will rob the earth of its unique quality of fragrance, and the element earth, deprived of its distinguishing quality, will be dissolved.
लयः प्राकृतिको ह्येष पुरुषाव्यक्तयोर्यदा । शक्तयः सम्प्रलीयन्ते विवशाः कालविद्रुताः
layaḥ prākṛtiko hyeṣa puruṣāvyaktayoryadā | śaktayaḥ sampralīyante vivaśāḥ kālavidrutāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This is the annihilation called prākṛtika, during which the energies belonging to the Supreme Person and His unmanifest material nature, disassembled by the force of time, are deprived of their potencies and merge together totally.
बुद्धीन्द्रियार्थरूपेण ज्ञानं भाति तदाश्रयम् । दृश्यत्वाव्यतिरेकाभ्यामाद्यन्तवदवस्तु यत्
buddhīndriyārtharūpeṇa jñānaṃ bhāti tadāśrayam | dṛśyatvāvyatirekābhyāmādyantavadavastu yat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
It is the Absolute Truth alone who manifests in the forms of intelligence, the senses and the objects of sense perception, and who is their ultimate basis. Whatever has a beginning and an end is insubstantial because of being an object perceived by limited senses and because of being nondifferent from its own cause.
दीपश्चक्षुश्च रूपं च ज्योतिषो न पृथग्भवेत् । एवं धीः खानि मात्राश्च न स्युरन्यतमादृतात्
dīpaścakṣuśca rūpaṃ ca jyotiṣo na pṛthagbhavet | evaṃ dhīḥ khāni mātrāśca na syuranyatamādṛtāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A lamp, the eye that views by the light of that lamp, and the visible form that is viewed are all basically nondifferent from the element fire. In the same way, intelligence, the senses and sense perceptions have no existence separate from the supreme reality, although that Absolute Truth remains totally distinct from them.
बुद्धेर्जागरणं स्वप्नः सुषुप्तिरिति चोच्यते । मायामात्रमिदं राजन् नानात्वं प्रत्यगात्मनि
buddherjāgaraṇaṃ svapnaḥ suṣuptiriti cocyate | māyāmātramidaṃ rājan nānātvaṃ pratyagātmani
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The three states of intelligence are called waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep. But, my dear King, the variegated experiences created for the pure living entity by these different states are nothing more than illusion.
यथा जलधरा व्योम्नि भवन्ति न भवन्ति च । ब्रह्मणीदं तथा विश्वमवयव्युदयाप्ययात्
yathā jaladharā vyomni bhavanti na bhavanti ca | brahmaṇīdaṃ tathā viśvamavayavyudayāpyayāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Just as clouds in the sky come into being and are then dispersed by the amalgamation and dissolution of their constituent elements, this material universe is created and destroyed within the Absolute Truth by the amalgamation and dissolution of its elemental, constituent parts.
सत्यं ह्यवयवः प्रोक्तः सर्वावयविनामिह । विनार्थेन प्रतीयेरन् पटस्येवाङ्ग तन्तवः
satyaṃ hyavayavaḥ proktaḥ sarvāvayavināmiha | vinārthena pratīyeran paṭasyevāṅga tantavaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear King, it is stated [in the Vedānta-sūtra] that the ingredient cause that constitutes any manifested product in this universe can be perceived as a separate reality, just as the threads that make up a cloth can be perceived separately from their product.
यत्सामान्यविशेषाभ्यामुपलभ्येत सभ्रमः । अन्योन्यापाश्रयात्सर्वमाद्यन्तवदवस्तु यत्
yatsāmānyaviśeṣābhyāmupalabhyeta sabhramaḥ | anyonyāpāśrayātsarvamādyantavadavastu yat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Anything experienced in terms of general cause and specific effect must be an illusion, because such causes and effects exist only relative to each other. Indeed, whatever has a beginning and an end is unreal.
विकारः ख्यायमानोऽपि प्रत्यगात्मानमन्तरा । न निरूप्योऽस्त्यणुरपि स्याच्चेच्चित्सम आत्मवत्
vikāraḥ khyāyamāno'pi pratyagātmānamantarā | na nirūpyo'styaṇurapi syācceccitsama ātmavat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Although perceived, the transformation of even a single atom of material nature has no ultimate definition without reference to the Supreme Soul. To be accepted as factually existing, something must possess the same quality as pure spirit — eternal, unchanging existence.
न हि सत्यस्य नानात्वमविद्वान् यदि मन्यते । नानात्वं छिद्रयोर्यद्वज्ज्योतिषोर्वातयोरिव
na hi satyasya nānātvamavidvān yadi manyate | nānātvaṃ chidrayoryadvajjyotiṣorvātayoriva
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
There is no material duality in the Absolute Truth. The duality perceived by an ignorant person is like the difference between the sky contained in an empty pot and the sky outside the pot, or the difference between the reflection of the sun in water and the sun itself in the sky, or the difference between the vital air within one living body and that within another body.
यथा हिरण्यं बहुधा समीयते नृभिः क्रियाभिर्व्यवहारवर्त्मसु । एवं वचोभिर्भगवानधोक्षजो व्याख्यायते लौकिकवैदिकैर्जनैः
yathā hiraṇyaṃ bahudhā samīyate nṛbhiḥ kriyābhirvyavahāravartmasu | evaṃ vacobhirbhagavānadhokṣajo vyākhyāyate laukikavaidikairjanaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
According to their different purposes, men utilize gold in various ways, and gold is therefore perceived in various forms. In the same way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is inaccessible to material senses, is described in various terms, both ordinary and Vedic, by different types of men.
यथा घनोऽर्कप्रभवोऽर्कदर्शितो ह्यर्कांशभूतस्य च चक्षुषस्तमः । एवं त्वहं ब्रह्म गुणस्तदीक्षितो ब्रह्मांशकस्यात्मन आत्मबन्धनः
yathā ghano'rkaprabhavo'rkadarśito hyarkāṃśabhūtasya ca cakṣuṣastamaḥ | evaṃ tvahaṃ brahma guṇastadīkṣito brahmāṃśakasyātmana ātmabandhanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Although a cloud is a product of the sun and is also made visible by the sun, it nevertheless creates darkness for the viewing eye, which is another partial expansion of the sun. Similarly, material false ego, a particular product of the Absolute Truth made visible by the Absolute Truth, obstructs the individual soul, another partial expansion of the Absolute Truth, from realizing the Absolute Truth.
घनो यदार्कप्रभवो विदीर्यते चक्षुः स्वरूपं रविमीक्षते तदा । यदा ह्यहङ्कार उपाधिरात्मनो जिज्ञासया नश्यति तर्ह्यनुस्मरेत्
ghano yadārkaprabhavo vidīryate cakṣuḥ svarūpaṃ ravimīkṣate tadā | yadā hyahaṅkāra upādhirātmano jijñāsayā naśyati tarhyanusmaret
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the cloud originally produced from the sun is torn apart, the eye can see the actual form of the sun. Similarly, when the spirit soul destroys his material covering of false ego by inquiring into the transcendental science, he regains his original spiritual awareness.
यदैवमेतेन विवेकहेतिना मायामयाहङ्करणात्मबन्धनम् । छित्त्वाच्युतात्मानुभवोऽवतिष्ठते तमाहुरात्यन्तिकमङ्ग सम्प्लवम्
yadaivametena vivekahetinā māyāmayāhaṅkaraṇātmabandhanam | chittvācyutātmānubhavo'vatiṣṭhate tamāhurātyantikamaṅga samplavam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear Parīkṣit, when the illusory false ego that binds the soul has been cut off with the sword of discriminating knowledge and one has developed realization of Lord Acyuta, the Supreme Soul, this is called the ātyantika, or ultimate, annihilation of material existence.
नित्यदा सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मादीनां परन्तप । उत्पत्तिप्रलयावेके सूक्ष्मज्ञाः सम्प्रचक्षते
nityadā sarvabhūtānāṃ brahmādīnāṃ parantapa | utpattipralayāveke sūkṣmajñāḥ sampracakṣate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Experts in the subtle workings of nature, O subduer of the enemy, have declared that there are continuous processes of creation and annihilation that all created beings, beginning with Brahmā, constantly undergo.
कालस्रोतो जवेनाशु ह्रियमाणस्य नित्यदा । परिणामिनामवस्थास्ता जन्मप्रलयहेतवः
kālasroto javenāśu hriyamāṇasya nityadā | pariṇāmināmavasthāstā janmapralayahetavaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
All material entities undergo transformation and are constantly and swiftly eroded by the mighty currents of time. The various stages of existence that material things exhibit are the perpetual causes of their generation and annihilation.
अनाद्यन्तवतानेन कालेनेश्वरमूर्तिना । अवस्था नैव दृश्यन्ते वियति ज्योतिषामिव
anādyantavatānena kāleneśvaramūrtinā | avasthā naiva dṛśyante viyati jyotiṣāmiva
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
These stages of existence created by beginningless and endless time, the impersonal representative of the Supreme Lord, are not visible, just as the infinitesimal momentary changes of position of the planets in the sky cannot be directly seen.
नित्यो नैमित्तिकश्चैव तथा प्राकृतिको लयः । आत्यन्तिकश्च कथितः कालस्य गतिरीदृशी
nityo naimittikaścaiva tathā prākṛtiko layaḥ | ātyantikaśca kathitaḥ kālasya gatirīdṛśī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In this way the progress of time is described in terms of the four kinds of annihilation — continuous, occasional, elemental and final.
एताः कुरुश्रेष्ठ जगद्विधातुः नारायणस्याखिलसत्त्वधाम्नः । लीलाकथास्ते कथिताः समासतः कार्त्स्न्येन नाजोऽप्यभिधातुमीशः
etāḥ kuruśreṣṭha jagadvidhātuḥ nārāyaṇasyākhilasattvadhāmnaḥ | līlākathāste kathitāḥ samāsataḥ kārtsnyena nājo'pyabhidhātumīśaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O best of the Kurus, I have related to you these narrations of the pastimes of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the creator of this world and the ultimate reservoir of all existence, presenting them to you only in brief summary. Even Lord Brahmā himself would be incapable of describing them entirely.
संसारसिन्धुमतिदुस्तरमुत्तितीर्षो- र्नान्यः प्लवो भगवतः पुरुषोत्तमस्य । लीलाकथारसनिषेवणमन्तरेण पुंसो भवेद्विविधदुःखदवार्दितस्य
saṃsārasindhumatidustaramuttitīrṣo- rnānyaḥ plavo bhagavataḥ puruṣottamasya | līlākathārasaniṣevaṇamantareṇa puṃso bhavedvividhaduḥkhadavārditasya
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
For a person who is suffering in the fire of countless miseries and who desires to cross the insurmountable ocean of material existence, there is no suitable boat except that of cultivating devotion to the transcendental taste for the narrations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s pastimes.
पुराणसंहितामेतामृषिर्नारायणोऽव्ययः । नारदाय पुरा प्राह कृष्णद्वैपायनाय सः
purāṇasaṃhitāmetāmṛṣirnārāyaṇo'vyayaḥ | nāradāya purā prāha kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāya saḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Long ago this essential anthology of all the Purāṇas was spoken by the infallible Lord Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi to Nārada, who then repeated it to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa.
स वै मह्यं महाराज भगवान् बादरायणः । इमां भागवतीं प्रीतः संहितां वेदसम्मिताम्
sa vai mahyaṃ mahārāja bhagavān bādarāyaṇaḥ | imāṃ bhāgavatīṃ prītaḥ saṃhitāṃ vedasammitām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, that great personality Śrīla Vyāsadeva taught me this same scripture, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is equal in stature to the four Vedas.
एतां वक्ष्यत्यसौ सूतः ऋषिभ्यो नैमिषालये । दीर्घसत्रे कुरुश्रेष्ठ सम्पृष्टः शौनकादिभिः
etāṃ vakṣyatyasau sūtaḥ ṛṣibhyo naimiṣālaye | dīrghasatre kuruśreṣṭha sampṛṣṭaḥ śaunakādibhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O best of the Kurus, the same Sūta Gosvāmī who is sitting before us will speak this Bhāgavatam to the sages assembled in the great sacrifice at Naimiṣāraṇya. This he will do when questioned by the members of the assembly, headed by Śaunaka.
श्रीशुक उवाच । अत्रानुवर्ण्यतेऽभीक्ष्णं विश्वात्मा भगवान् हरिः । यस्य प्रसादजो ब्रह्मा रुद्रः क्रोधसमुद्भवः
śrīśuka uvāca | atrānuvarṇyate'bhīkṣṇaṃ viśvātmā bhagavān hariḥ | yasya prasādajo brahmā rudraḥ krodhasamudbhavaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: This Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has elaborately described in various narrations the Supreme Soul of all that be — the Personality of Godhead, Hari — from whose satisfaction Brahmā is born and from whose anger Rudra takes birth.
त्वं तु राजन् मरिष्येति पशुबुद्धिमिमां जहि । न जातः प्रागभूतोऽद्य देहवत्त्वं न नङ्क्ष्यसि
tvaṃ tu rājan mariṣyeti paśubuddhimimāṃ jahi | na jātaḥ prāgabhūto'dya dehavattvaṃ na naṅkṣyasi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O King, give up the animalistic mentality of thinking, “I am going to die.” Unlike the body, you have not taken birth. There was not a time in the past when you did not exist, and you are not about to be destroyed.
न भविष्यसि भूत्वा त्वं पुत्रपौत्रादिरूपवान् । बीजाङ्कुरवद्देहादेर्व्यतिरिक्तो यथानलः
na bhaviṣyasi bhūtvā tvaṃ putrapautrādirūpavān | bījāṅkuravaddehādervyatirikto yathānalaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
You will not take birth again in the form of your sons and grandsons, like a sprout taking birth from a seed and then generating a new seed. Rather, you are entirely distinct from the material body and its paraphernalia, in the same way that fire is distinct from its fuel.
स्वप्ने यथा शिरश्छेदं पञ्चत्वाद्यात्मनः स्वयम् । यस्मात्पश्यति देहस्य तत आत्मा ह्यजोऽमरः
svapne yathā śiraśchedaṃ pañcatvādyātmanaḥ svayam | yasmātpaśyati dehasya tata ātmā hyajo'maraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In a dream one can see his own head being cut off and thus understand that his actual self is standing apart from the dream experience. Similarly, while awake one can see that his body is a product of the five material elements. Therefore it is to be understood that the actual self, the soul, is distinct from the body it observes and is unborn and immortal.
घटे भिन्ने यथाऽऽकाश आकाशः स्याद्यथा पुरा । एवं देहे मृते जीवो ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते पुनः
ghaṭe bhinne yathā''kāśa ākāśaḥ syādyathā purā | evaṃ dehe mṛte jīvo brahma sampadyate punaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When a pot is broken, the portion of sky within the pot remains as the element sky, just as before. In the same way, when the gross and subtle bodies die, the living entity within resumes his spiritual identity.
मनः सृजति वै देहान् गुणान् कर्माणि चात्मनः । तन्मनः सृजते माया ततो जीवस्य संसृतिः
manaḥ sṛjati vai dehān guṇān karmāṇi cātmanaḥ | tanmanaḥ sṛjate māyā tato jīvasya saṃsṛtiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The material bodies, qualities and activities of the spirit soul are created by the material mind. That mind is itself created by the illusory potency of the Supreme Lord, and thus the soul assumes material existence.
स्नेहाधिष्ठानवर्त्यग्निसंयोगो यावदीयते । ततो दीपस्य दीपत्वमेवं देहकृतो भवः । रजःसत्त्वतमोवृत्त्या जायतेऽथ विनश्यति
snehādhiṣṭhānavartyagnisaṃyogo yāvadīyate | tato dīpasya dīpatvamevaṃ dehakṛto bhavaḥ | rajaḥsattvatamovṛttyā jāyate'tha vinaśyati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A lamp functions as such only by the combination of its fuel, vessel, wick and fire. Similarly, material life, based on the soul’s identification with the body, is developed and destroyed by the workings of material goodness, passion and ignorance, which are the constituent elements of the body.
न तत्रात्मा स्वयञ्ज्योतिर्यो व्यक्ताव्यक्तयोः परः । आकाश इव चाधारो ध्रुवोऽनन्तोपमस्ततः
na tatrātmā svayañjyotiryo vyaktāvyaktayoḥ paraḥ | ākāśa iva cādhāro dhruvo'nantopamastataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The soul within the body is self-luminous and is separate from the visible gross body and invisible subtle body. It remains as the fixed basis of changing bodily existence, just as the ethereal sky is the unchanging background of material transformation. Therefore the soul is endless and without material comparison.
एवमात्मानमात्मस्थमात्मनैवामृश प्रभो । बुद्ध्यानुमानगर्भिण्या वासुदेवानुचिन्तया
evamātmānamātmasthamātmanaivāmṛśa prabho | buddhyānumānagarbhiṇyā vāsudevānucintayā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear King, by constantly meditating upon the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva, and by applying clear and logical intelligence, you should carefully consider your true self and how it is situated within the material body.
चोदितो विप्रवाक्येन न त्वां धक्ष्यति तक्षकः । मृत्यवो नोपधक्ष्यन्ति मृत्यूनां मृत्युमीश्वरम्
codito vipravākyena na tvāṃ dhakṣyati takṣakaḥ | mṛtyavo nopadhakṣyanti mṛtyūnāṃ mṛtyumīśvaram
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The snake-bird Takṣaka, sent by the curse of the brāhmaṇa, will not burn your true self. The agents of death will never burn such a master of the self as you, for you have already conquered all dangers on your path back to Godhead.
एतत्ते कथितं तात यदात्मा पृष्टवान् नृप । हरेर्विश्वात्मनश्चेष्टां किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
etatte kathitaṃ tāta yadātmā pṛṣṭavān nṛpa | harerviśvātmanaśceṣṭāṃ kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Beloved King Parīkṣit, I have narrated to you the topics you originally inquired about — the pastimes of Lord Hari, the Supreme Soul of the universe. Now, what more do you wish to hear?
सूत उवाच । एतन्निशम्य मुनिनाभिहितं परीक्षिद्- व्यासात्मजेन निखिलात्मदृशा समेन । तत्पादमूलमुपसृत्य नतेन मूर्ध्ना बद्धाञ्जलिस्तमिदमाह स विष्णुरातः
sūta uvāca | etanniśamya muninābhihitaṃ parīkṣid- vyāsātmajena nikhilātmadṛśā samena | tatpādamūlamupasṛtya natena mūrdhnā baddhāñjalistamidamāha sa viṣṇurātaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: After hearing all that was narrated to him by the self-realized and equipoised Śukadeva, the son of Vyāsadeva, Mahārāja Parīkṣit humbly approached his lotus feet. Bowing his head down upon the sage’s feet, the King, who had lived his entire life under the protection of Lord Viṣṇu, folded his hands in supplication and spoke as follows.
राजोवाच । सिद्धोऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि भवता करुणात्मना । श्रावितो यच्च मे साक्षादनादिनिधनो हरिः
rājovāca | siddho'smyanugṛhīto'smi bhavatā karuṇātmanā | śrāvito yacca me sākṣādanādinidhano hariḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mahārāja Parīkṣit said: I have now achieved the purpose of my life, because a great and merciful soul like you has shown such kindness to me. You have personally spoken to me this narration of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is without beginning or end.
नात्यद्भुतमहं मन्ये महतामच्युतात्मनाम् । अज्ञेषु तापतप्तेषु भूतेषु यदनुग्रहः
nātyadbhutamahaṃ manye mahatāmacyutātmanām | ajñeṣu tāpatapteṣu bhūteṣu yadanugrahaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I do not consider it at all amazing that great souls such as yourself, whose minds are always absorbed in the infallible Personality of Godhead, show mercy to the foolish conditioned souls, tormented as we are by the problems of material life.
पुराणसंहितामेतामश्रौष्म भवतो वयम् । यस्यां खलूत्तमश्लोको भगवाननुवर्ण्यते
purāṇasaṃhitāmetāmaśrauṣma bhavato vayam | yasyāṃ khalūttamaśloko bhagavānanuvarṇyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I have heard from you this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the perfect summary of all the Purāṇas and which perfectly describes the Supreme Lord, Uttamaḥśloka.
भगवंस्तक्षकादिभ्यो मृत्युभ्यो न बिभेम्यहम् । प्रविष्टो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमभयं दर्शितं त्वया
bhagavaṃstakṣakādibhyo mṛtyubhyo na bibhemyaham | praviṣṭo brahmanirvāṇamabhayaṃ darśitaṃ tvayā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My lord, I now have no fear of Takṣaka or any other living being, or even of repeated deaths, because I have absorbed myself in that purely spiritual Absolute Truth, which you have revealed and which destroys all fear.
अनुजानीहि मां ब्रह्मन् वाचं यच्छाम्यधोक्षजे । मुक्तकामाशयं चेतः प्रवेश्य विसृजाम्यसून्
anujānīhi māṃ brahman vācaṃ yacchāmyadhokṣaje | muktakāmāśayaṃ cetaḥ praveśya visṛjāmyasūn
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇa, please give me permission to resign my speech and the functions of all my senses unto Lord Adhokṣaja. Allow me to absorb my mind, purified of lusty desires, within Him and to thus give up my life.
अज्ञानं च निरस्तं मे ज्ञानविज्ञाननिष्ठया । भवता दर्शितं क्षेमं परं भगवतः पदम्
ajñānaṃ ca nirastaṃ me jñānavijñānaniṣṭhayā | bhavatā darśitaṃ kṣemaṃ paraṃ bhagavataḥ padam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
You have revealed to me that which is most auspicious, the supreme personal feature of the Lord. I am now fixed in knowledge and self-realization, and my ignorance has been eradicated.
सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तस्तमनुज्ञाप्य भगवान् बादरायणिः । जगाम भिक्षुभिः साकं नरदेवेन पूजितः
sūta uvāca | ityuktastamanujñāpya bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ | jagāma bhikṣubhiḥ sākaṃ naradevena pūjitaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus requested, the saintly son of Śrīla Vyāsadeva gave his permission to King Parīkṣit. Then, after being worshiped by the King and all the sages present, Śukadeva departed from that place.
तक्षकः प्रहितो विप्राः क्रुद्धेन द्विजसूनुना । हन्तुकामो नृपं गच्छन् ददर्श पथि कश्यपम्
takṣakaḥ prahito viprāḥ kruddhena dvijasūnunā | hantukāmo nṛpaṃ gacchan dadarśa pathi kaśyapam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O learned brāhmaṇas, the snake-bird Takṣaka, who had been sent by the angry son of a brāhmaṇa, was going toward the King to kill him when he saw Kaśyapa Muni on the path.
तं तर्पयित्वा द्रविणैर्निवर्त्य विषहारिणम् । द्विजरूपप्रतिच्छन्नः कामरूपोऽदशन्नृपम्
taṃ tarpayitvā draviṇairnivartya viṣahāriṇam | dvijarūpapraticchannaḥ kāmarūpo'daśannṛpam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Takṣaka flattered Kaśyapa by presenting him with valuable offerings and thereby stopped the sage, who was expert in counteracting poison, from protecting Mahārāja Parīkṣit. Then the snake-bird, who could assume any form he wished, disguised himself as a brāhmaṇa, approached the King and bit him.
ब्रह्मभूतस्य राजर्षेर्देहोऽहिगरलाग्निना । बभूव भस्मसात्सद्यः पश्यतां सर्वदेहिनाम्
brahmabhūtasya rājarṣerdeho'higaralāgninā | babhūva bhasmasātsadyaḥ paśyatāṃ sarvadehinām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
While living beings all over the universe looked on, the body of the great self-realized saint among kings was immediately burned to ashes by the fire of the snake’s poison.
हाहाकारो महानासीद्भुवि खे दिक्षु सर्वतः । विस्मिता ह्यभवन् सर्वे देवासुरनरादयः
hāhākāro mahānāsīdbhuvi khe dikṣu sarvataḥ | vismitā hyabhavan sarve devāsuranarādayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
There arose a terrible cry of lamentation in all directions on the earth and in the heavens, and all the demigods, demons, human beings and other creatures were astonished.
देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्गन्धर्वाप्सरसो जगुः । ववृषुः पुष्पवर्षाणि विबुधाः साधुवादिनः
devadundubhayo nedurgandharvāpsaraso jaguḥ | vavṛṣuḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi vibudhāḥ sādhuvādinaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Kettledrums sounded in the regions of the demigods, and the celestial Gandharvas and Apsarās sang. The demigods showered flowers and spoke words of praise.
जनमेजयः स्वपितरं श्रुत्वा तक्षकभक्षितम् । यथा जुहाव सङ्क्रुद्धो नागान् सत्रे सह द्विजैः
janamejayaḥ svapitaraṃ śrutvā takṣakabhakṣitam | yathā juhāva saṅkruddho nāgān satre saha dvijaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Hearing that his father had been fatally bitten by the snake-bird, Mahārāja Janamejaya became extremely angry and had brāhmaṇas perform a mighty sacrifice in which he offered all the snakes in the world into the sacrificial fire.
सर्पसत्रे समिद्धाग्नौ दह्यमानान् महोरगान् । दृष्ट्वेन्द्रं भयसंविग्नस्तक्षकः शरणं ययौ
sarpasatre samiddhāgnau dahyamānān mahoragān | dṛṣṭvendraṃ bhayasaṃvignastakṣakaḥ śaraṇaṃ yayau
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When Takṣaka saw even the most powerful serpents being burned in the blazing fire of that snake sacrifice, he was overwhelmed with fear and approached Lord Indra for shelter.
अपश्यंस्तक्षकं तत्र राजा पारीक्षितो द्विजान् । उवाच तक्षकः कस्मान्न दह्येतोरगाधमः
apaśyaṃstakṣakaṃ tatra rājā pārīkṣito dvijān | uvāca takṣakaḥ kasmānna dahyetoragādhamaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When King Janamejaya did not see Takṣaka entering his sacrificial fire, he said to the brāhmaṇas : Why is not Takṣaka, the lowest of all serpents, burning in this fire?
तं गोपायति राजेन्द्र शक्रः शरणमागतम् । तेन संस्तम्भितः सर्पस्तस्मान्नाग्नौ पतत्यसौ
taṃ gopāyati rājendra śakraḥ śaraṇamāgatam | tena saṃstambhitaḥ sarpastasmānnāgnau patatyasau
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The brāhmaṇas replied: O best of kings, the snake Takṣaka has not fallen into the fire because he is being protected by Indra, whom he has approached for shelter. Indra is holding him back from the fire.
पारीक्षित इति श्रुत्वा प्राहर्त्विज उदारधीः । सहेन्द्रस्तक्षको विप्रा नाग्नौ किमिति पात्यते
pārīkṣita iti śrutvā prāhartvija udāradhīḥ | sahendrastakṣako viprā nāgnau kimiti pātyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The intelligent King Janamejaya, hearing these words, replied to the priests: Then, my dear brāhmaṇas, why not make Takṣaka fall into the fire, along with his protector, Indra?
तच्छ्रुत्वाऽऽजुहुवुर्विप्राः सहेन्द्रं तक्षकं मखे । तक्षकाशु पतस्वेह सहेन्द्रेण मरुत्वता
tacchrutvā''juhuvurviprāḥ sahendraṃ takṣakaṃ makhe | takṣakāśu patasveha sahendreṇa marutvatā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Hearing this, the priests then chanted this mantra for offering Takṣaka together with Indra as an oblation into the sacrificial fire: O Takṣaka, fall immediately into this fire, together with Indra and his entire host of demigods!
इति ब्रह्मोदिताक्षेपैः स्थानादिन्द्रः प्रचालितः । बभूव सम्भ्रान्तमतिः सविमानः सतक्षकः
iti brahmoditākṣepaiḥ sthānādindraḥ pracālitaḥ | babhūva sambhrāntamatiḥ savimānaḥ satakṣakaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When Lord Indra, along with his airplane and Takṣaka, was suddenly thrown from his position by these insulting words of the brāhmaṇas, he became very disturbed.
तं पतन्तं विमानेन सह तक्षकमम्बरात् । विलोक्याङ्गिरसः प्राह राजानं तं बृहस्पतिः
taṃ patantaṃ vimānena saha takṣakamambarāt | vilokyāṅgirasaḥ prāha rājānaṃ taṃ bṛhaspatiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bṛhaspati, the son of Aṅgirā Muni, seeing Indra falling from the sky in his airplane along with Takṣaka, approached King Janamejaya and spoke to him as follows.
नैष त्वया मनुष्येन्द्र वधमर्हति सर्पराट् । अनेन पीतममृतमथ वा अजरामरः
naiṣa tvayā manuṣyendra vadhamarhati sarparāṭ | anena pītamamṛtamatha vā ajarāmaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O King among men, it is not fitting that this king of snakes meet death at your hands, for he has drunk the nectar of the immortal demigods. Consequently he is not subject to the ordinary symptoms of old age and death.
जीवितं मरणं जन्तोर्गतिः स्वेनैव कर्मणा । राजंस्ततोऽन्यो नास्त्यस्य प्रदाता सुखदुःखयोः
jīvitaṃ maraṇaṃ jantorgatiḥ svenaiva karmaṇā | rājaṃstato'nyo nāstyasya pradātā sukhaduḥkhayoḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The life and death of an embodied soul and his destination in the next life are all caused by himself through his own activity. Therefore, O King, no other agent is actually responsible for creating one’s happiness and distress.
सर्पचौराग्निविद्युद्भ्यः क्षुत्तृट्व्याध्यादिभिर्नृप । पञ्चत्वमृच्छते जन्तुर्भुङ्क्त आरब्धकर्म तत्
sarpacaurāgnividyudbhyaḥ kṣuttṛṭvyādhyādibhirnṛpa | pañcatvamṛcchate janturbhuṅkta ārabdhakarma tat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When a conditioned soul is killed by snakes, thieves, fire, lightning, hunger, disease or anything else, he is experiencing the reaction to his own past work.
तस्मात्सत्रमिदं राजन् संस्थीयेताभिचारिकम् । सर्पा अनागसो दग्धा जनैर्दिष्टं हि भुज्यते
tasmātsatramidaṃ rājan saṃsthīyetābhicārikam | sarpā anāgaso dagdhā janairdiṣṭaṃ hi bhujyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Therefore, my dear King, please stop this sacrificial performance, which was initiated with the intent of doing harm to others. Many innocent snakes have already been burned to death. Indeed, all persons must suffer the unforeseen consequences of their past activities.
सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तः स तथेत्याह महर्षेर्मानयन् वचः । सर्पसत्रादुपरतः पूजयामास वाक्पतिम्
sūta uvāca | ityuktaḥ sa tathetyāha maharṣermānayan vacaḥ | sarpasatrāduparataḥ pūjayāmāsa vākpatim
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī continued: Advised in this manner, Mahārāja Janamejaya replied, “So be it.” Honoring the words of the great sage, he desisted from performing the snake sacrifice and worshiped Bṛhaspati, the most eloquent of sages.
सैषा विष्णोर्महामायाबाध्ययालक्षणा यया । मुह्यन्त्यस्यैवात्मभूता भूतेषु गुणवृत्तिभिः
saiṣā viṣṇormahāmāyābādhyayālakṣaṇā yayā | muhyantyasyaivātmabhūtā bhūteṣu guṇavṛttibhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This is indeed the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu’s illusory energy, which is unstoppable and difficult to perceive. Although the individual spirit souls are part and parcel of the Lord, through the influence of this illusory energy they are bewildered by their identification with various material bodies.
परं पदं वैष्णवमामनन्ति तद्- यन्नेति नेतीत्यतदुत्सिसृक्षवः । विसृज्य दौरात्म्यमनन्यसौहृदा हृदोपगुह्यावसितं समाहितैः
paraṃ padaṃ vaiṣṇavamāmananti tad- yanneti netītyatadutsisṛkṣavaḥ | visṛjya daurātmyamananyasauhṛdā hṛdopaguhyāvasitaṃ samāhitaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Those who desire to give up all that is not essentially real move systematically, by negative discrimination of the extraneous, to the supreme position of Lord Viṣṇu. Giving up petty materialism, they offer their love exclusively to the Absolute Truth within their hearts and embrace that highest truth in fixed meditation.
त एतदधिगच्छन्ति विष्णोर्यत्परमं पदम् । अहं ममेति दौर्जन्यं न येषां देहगेहजम्
ta etadadhigacchanti viṣṇoryatparamaṃ padam | ahaṃ mameti daurjanyaṃ na yeṣāṃ dehagehajam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Such devotees come to understand the supreme transcendental situation of the Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, because they are no longer polluted by the concepts of “I” and “my,” which are based on body and home.
अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत नावमन्येत कञ्चन । न चेमं देहमाश्रित्य वैरं कुर्वीत केनचित्
ativādāṃstitikṣeta nāvamanyeta kañcana | na cemaṃ dehamāśritya vairaṃ kurvīta kenacit
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One should tolerate all insults and never fail to show proper respect to any person. Avoiding identification with the material body, one should not create enmity with anyone.
नमो भगवते तस्मै कृष्णायाकुण्ठमेधसे । यत्पादाम्बुरुहध्यानात्संहितामध्यगामिमाम्
namo bhagavate tasmai kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭhamedhase | yatpādāmburuhadhyānātsaṃhitāmadhyagāmimām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I offer my obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the invincible Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Simply by meditating upon His lotus feet I have been able to study and appreciate this great literature.
शौनक उवाच । पैलादिभिर्व्यासशिष्यैर्वेदाचार्यैर्महात्मभिः । वेदाश्च कथिता व्यस्ता एतत्सौम्याभिधेहि नः
śaunaka uvāca | pailādibhirvyāsaśiṣyairvedācāryairmahātmabhiḥ | vedāśca kathitā vyastā etatsaumyābhidhehi naḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śaunaka Ṛṣi said: O gentle Sūta, please narrate to us how Paila and the other greatly intelligent disciples of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, who are known as the standard authorities of Vedic wisdom, spoke and edited the Vedas.
सूत उवाच । समाहितात्मनो ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः । हृद्याकाशादभून्नादो वृत्तिरोधाद्विभाव्यते
sūta uvāca | samāhitātmano brahman brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ | hṛdyākāśādabhūnnādo vṛttirodhādvibhāvyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: O brāhmaṇa, first the subtle vibration of transcendental sound appeared from the sky of the heart of the most elevated Lord Brahmā, whose mind was perfectly fixed in spiritual realization. One can perceive this subtle vibration when one stops all external hearing.
यदुपासनया ब्रह्मन् योगिनो मलमात्मनः । द्रव्यक्रियाकारकाख्यं धूत्वा यान्त्यपुनर्भवम्
yadupāsanayā brahman yogino malamātmanaḥ | dravyakriyākārakākhyaṃ dhūtvā yāntyapunarbhavam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
By worship of this subtle form of the Vedas, O brāhmaṇa, mystic sages cleanse their hearts of all contamination caused by impurity of substance, activity and doer, and thus they attain freedom from repeated birth and death.
ततोऽभूत्त्रिवृदोङ्कारो योऽव्यक्तप्रभवः स्वराट् । यत्तल्लिङ्गं भगवतो ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः
tato'bhūttrivṛdoṅkāro yo'vyaktaprabhavaḥ svarāṭ | yattalliṅgaṃ bhagavato brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
From that transcendental subtle vibration arose the oṁkāra composed of three sounds. The oṁkāra has unseen potencies and manifests automatically within a purified heart. It is the representation of the Absolute Truth in all three of His phases — the Supreme Personality, the Supreme Soul and the supreme impersonal truth.
तस्य ह्यासंस्त्रयो वर्णा अकाराद्या भृगूद्वह । धार्यन्ते यैस्त्रयो भावा गुणनामार्थवृत्तयः
tasya hyāsaṃstrayo varṇā akārādyā bhṛgūdvaha | dhāryante yaistrayo bhāvā guṇanāmārthavṛttayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Oṁkāra exhibited the three original sounds of the alphabet — A, U and M. These three, O most eminent descendant of Bhṛgu, sustain all the different threefold aspects of material existence, including the three modes of nature, the names of the Ṛg, Yajur and Sāma Vedas, the goals known as the Bhūr, Bhuvar and Svar planetary systems, and the three functional platforms called waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep.
ततोऽक्षरसमाम्नायमसृजद्भगवानजः । अन्तस्थोष्मस्वरस्पर्शह्रस्वदीर्घादिलक्षणम्
tato'kṣarasamāmnāyamasṛjadbhagavānajaḥ | antasthoṣmasvarasparśahrasvadīrghādilakṣaṇam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
From that oṁkāra Lord Brahmā created all the sounds of the alphabet — the vowels, consonants, semivowels, sibilants and others — distinguished by such features as long and short measure.
तेनासौ चतुरो वेदांश्चतुर्भिर्वदनैर्विभुः । सव्याहृतिकान् सोङ्कारांश्चातुर्होत्रविवक्षया
tenāsau caturo vedāṃścaturbhirvadanairvibhuḥ | savyāhṛtikān soṅkārāṃścāturhotravivakṣayā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
All-powerful Brahmā made use of this collection of sounds to produce from his four faces the four Vedas, which appeared together with the sacred oṁkāra and the seven vyāhṛti invocations. His intention was to propagate the process of Vedic sacrifice according to the different functions performed by the priests of each of the four Vedas.
पुत्रानध्यापयत्तांस्तु ब्रह्मर्षीन् ब्रह्मकोविदान् । ते तु धर्मोपदेष्टारः स्वपुत्रेभ्यः समादिशन्
putrānadhyāpayattāṃstu brahmarṣīn brahmakovidān | te tu dharmopadeṣṭāraḥ svaputrebhyaḥ samādiśan
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Brahmā taught these Vedas to his sons, who were great sages among the brāhmaṇas and experts in the art of Vedic recitation. They in turn took the role of ācāryas and imparted the Vedas to their own sons.
ते परम्परया प्राप्तास्तत्तच्छिष्यैर्धृतव्रतैः । चतुर्युगेष्वथ व्यस्ता द्वापरादौ महर्षिभिः
te paramparayā prāptāstattacchiṣyairdhṛtavrataiḥ | caturyugeṣvatha vyastā dvāparādau maharṣibhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In this way, throughout the cycles of four ages, generation after generation of disciples — all firmly fixed in their spiritual vows — have received these Vedas by disciplic succession. At the end of each Dvāpara-yuga the Vedas are edited into separate divisions by eminent sages.
क्षीणायुषः क्षीणसत्त्वान् दुर्मेधान् वीक्ष्य कालतः । वेदान् ब्रह्मर्षयो व्यस्यन् हृदिस्थाच्युतचोदिताः
kṣīṇāyuṣaḥ kṣīṇasattvān durmedhān vīkṣya kālataḥ | vedān brahmarṣayo vyasyan hṛdisthācyutacoditāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Observing that people in general were diminished in their life span, strength and intelligence by the influence of time, great sages took inspiration from the Personality of Godhead sitting within their hearts and systematically divided the Vedas.
ऋगथर्वयजुःसाम्नां राशीरुद्धृत्य वर्गशः । चतस्रः संहिताश्चक्रे मन्त्रैर्मणिगणा इव
ṛgatharvayajuḥsāmnāṃ rāśīruddhṛtya vargaśaḥ | catasraḥ saṃhitāścakre mantrairmaṇigaṇā iva
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrīla Vyāsadeva separated the mantras of the Ṛg, Atharva, Yajur and Sāma Vedas into four divisions, just as one sorts out a mixed collection of jewels into piles. Thus he composed four distinct Vedic literatures.
तासां स चतुरः शिष्यानुपाहूय महामतिः । एकैकां संहितां ब्रह्मन्नेकैकस्मै ददौ विभुः
tāsāṃ sa caturaḥ śiṣyānupāhūya mahāmatiḥ | ekaikāṃ saṃhitāṃ brahmannekaikasmai dadau vibhuḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The most powerful and intelligent Vyāsadeva called four of his disciples, O brāhmaṇa, and entrusted to each of them one of these four saṁhitās.
शाकल्यस्तत्सुतः स्वां तु पञ्चधा व्यस्य संहिताम् । वात्स्यमुद्गलशालीयगोखल्यशिशिरेष्वधात्
śākalyastatsutaḥ svāṃ tu pañcadhā vyasya saṃhitām | vātsyamudgalaśālīyagokhalyaśiśireṣvadhāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The son of Māṇḍūkeya, named Śākalya, divided his own collection into five, entrusting one subdivision each to Vātsya, Mudgala, Śālīya, Gokhalya and Śiśira.
जातूकर्ण्यश्च तच्छिष्यः सनिरुक्तां स्वसंहिताम् । बलाकपैजवैतालविरजेभ्यो ददौ मुनिः
jātūkarṇyaśca tacchiṣyaḥ saniruktāṃ svasaṃhitām | balākapaijavaitālavirajebhyo dadau muniḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The sage Jātūkarṇya was also a disciple of Śākalya, and after dividing the saṁhitā he received from Śākalya into three parts, he added a fourth section, a Vedic glossary. He taught one of these parts to each of four disciples — Balāka, the second Paila, Jābāla and Viraja.
बाष्कलिः प्रतिशाखाभ्यो वालखिल्याख्यसंहिताम् । चक्रे वालायनिर्भज्यः कासारश्चैव तां दधुः
bāṣkaliḥ pratiśākhābhyo vālakhilyākhyasaṃhitām | cakre vālāyanirbhajyaḥ kāsāraścaiva tāṃ dadhuḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bāṣkali assembled the Vālakhilya-saṁhitā, a collection from all the branches of the Ṛg Veda. This collection was received by Vālāyani, Bhajya and Kāśāra.
बह्वृचाः संहिता ह्येता एभिर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिर्धृताः । श्रुत्वैतच्छन्दसां व्यासं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
bahvṛcāḥ saṃhitā hyetā ebhirbrahmarṣibhirdhṛtāḥ | śrutvaitacchandasāṃ vyāsaṃ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Thus these various saṁhitās of the Ṛg Veda were maintained through disciplic succession by these saintly brāhmaṇas. Simply by hearing of this distribution of the Vedic hymns, one will be freed from all sins.
वैशम्पायनशिष्या वै चरकाध्वर्यवोऽभवन् । यच्चेरुर्ब्रह्महत्यांहः क्षपणं स्वगुरोर्व्रतम्
vaiśampāyanaśiṣyā vai carakādhvaryavo'bhavan | yaccerurbrahmahatyāṃhaḥ kṣapaṇaṃ svagurorvratam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The disciples of Vaiśampāyana became authorities in the Atharva Veda. They were known as the Carakas because they executed strict vows to free their guru from his sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.
याज्ञवल्क्यश्च तच्छिष्य आहाहो भगवन् कियत् । चरितेनाल्पसाराणां चरिष्येऽहं सुदुश्चरम्
yājñavalkyaśca tacchiṣya āhāho bhagavan kiyat | caritenālpasārāṇāṃ cariṣye'haṃ suduścaram
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Once Yājñavalkya, one of the disciples of Vaiśampāyana, said: O master, how much benefit will be derived from the feeble endeavors of these weak disciples of yours? I will personally perform some outstanding penance.
इत्युक्तो गुरुरप्याह कुपितो याह्यलं त्वया । विप्रावमन्त्रा शिष्येण मदधीतं त्यजाश्विति
ityukto gururapyāha kupito yāhyalaṃ tvayā | viprāvamantrā śiṣyeṇa madadhītaṃ tyajāśviti
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Addressed thus, the spiritual master Vaiśampāyana became angry and said: Go away from here! Enough of you, O disciple who insults brāhmaṇas! Furthermore, you must immediately give back everything I have taught you.
याज्ञवल्क्यस्ततो ब्रह्मंश्छन्दांस्यधिगवेषयन् । गुरोरविद्यमानानि सूपतस्थेऽर्कमीश्वरम्
yājñavalkyastato brahmaṃśchandāṃsyadhigaveṣayan | guroravidyamānāni sūpatasthe'rkamīśvaram
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear brāhmaṇa Śaunaka, Yājñavalkya then desired to find out new yajur-mantras unknown to even his spiritual master. With this in mind he offered attentive worship to the powerful lord of the sun.
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच । ओं नमो भगवते आदित्यायाखिलजगता- मात्मस्वरूपेण कालस्वरूपेण चतुर्विध- भूतनिकायानां ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्ताना- मन्तर्हृदयेषु बहिरपि चाकाश इवोपाधिना- व्यवधीयमानो भवानेक एव क्षणलव- निमेषावयवोपचितसंवत्सरगणेनापामादान- विसर्गाभ्यामिमां लोकयात्रामनुवहति
yājñavalkya uvāca | oṃ namo bhagavate ādityāyākhilajagatā- mātmasvarūpeṇa kālasvarūpeṇa caturvidha- bhūtanikāyānāṃ brahmādistambaparyantānā- mantarhṛdayeṣu bahirapi cākāśa ivopādhinā- vyavadhīyamāno bhavāneka eva kṣaṇalava- nimeṣāvayavopacitasaṃvatsaragaṇenāpāmādāna- visargābhyāmimāṃ lokayātrāmanuvahati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrī Yājñavalkya said: I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as the sun. You are present as the controller of the four kinds of living entities, beginning from Brahmā and extending down to the blades of grass. Just as the sky is present both inside and outside every living being, you exist both within the hearts of all as the Supersoul and externally in the form of time. Just as the sky cannot be covered by the clouds present within it, you are never covered by any false material designation. By the flow of years, which are made up of the tiny fragments of time called kṣaṇas, lavas and nimeṣas, you alone maintain this world, drying up the waters and giving them back as rain.
यदु ह वाव विबुधर्षभ सवितरदस्तप- त्यनुसवनमहरहराम्नायविधिनोप- तिष्ठमानानामखिलदुरितवृजिन- बीजावभर्जन भगवतः समभिधीमहि तपनमण्डलम्
yadu ha vāva vibudharṣabha savitaradastapa- tyanusavanamaharaharāmnāyavidhinopa- tiṣṭhamānānāmakhiladuritavṛjina- bījāvabharjana bhagavataḥ samabhidhīmahi tapanamaṇḍalam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O glowing one, O powerful lord of the sun, you are the chief of all the demigods. I meditate with careful attention on your fiery globe, because for those who offer prayers to you three times daily according to the Vedic method passed down through authorized disciplic succession, you burn away all sinful activities, all consequent suffering and even the original seed of desire.
य इह वाव स्थिरचरनिकराणां निजनिकेतनानां मन इन्द्रियासु- गणाननात्मनः स्वयमात्मान्तर्यामी प्रचोदयति
ya iha vāva sthiracaranikarāṇāṃ nijaniketanānāṃ mana indriyāsu- gaṇānanātmanaḥ svayamātmāntaryāmī pracodayati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
You are personally present as the indwelling lord in the hearts of all moving and nonmoving beings, who depend completely on your shelter. Indeed, you animate their material minds, senses and vital airs to act.
य एवेमं लोकमतिकरालवदना- न्धकारसंज्ञाजगरग्रहगिलितं मृतकमिव विचेतनमवलोक्या- नुकम्पया परमकारुणिक ईक्षयैवोत्थाप्याहरहरनुसवनं श्रेयसि स्वधर्माख्यात्मावस्थाने प्रवर्तयति
ya evemaṃ lokamatikarālavadanā- ndhakārasaṃjñājagaragrahagilitaṃ mṛtakamiva vicetanamavalokyā- nukampayā paramakāruṇika īkṣayaivotthāpyāharaharanusavanaṃ śreyasi svadharmākhyātmāvasthāne pravartayati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The world has been seized and swallowed by the python of darkness in its horrible mouth and has become unconscious, as if dead. But mercifully glancing upon the sleeping people of the world, you raise them up with the gift of sight. Thus you are most magnanimous. At the three sacred junctures of each day, you engage the pious in the path of ultimate good, inducing them to perform religious duties that situate them in their spiritual position.
अवनिपतिरिवासाधूनां भय- मुदीरयन्नटति परित आशा- पालैस्तत्र तत्र कमलकोशा- ञ्जलिभिरुपहृतार्हणः
avanipatirivāsādhūnāṃ bhaya- mudīrayannaṭati parita āśā- pālaistatra tatra kamalakośā- ñjalibhirupahṛtārhaṇaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Just like an earthly king, you travel about everywhere spreading fear among the unholy as the powerful deities of the directions offer you in their folded palms lotus flowers and other respectful presentations.
अथ ह भगवंस्तव चरणनलिनयुगलं त्रिभुवनगुरुभिरभिवन्दितमहमयात- यामयजुष्काम उपसरामीति
atha ha bhagavaṃstava caraṇanalinayugalaṃ tribhuvanagurubhirabhivanditamahamayāta- yāmayajuṣkāma upasarāmīti
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Therefore, my lord, I am prayerfully approaching your lotus feet, which are honored by the spiritual masters of the three worlds, because I hope to receive from you mantras of the Yajur Veda unknown to anyone else.
सूत उवाच । एवं स्तुतः स भगवान् वाजिरूपधरो हरिः । यजूंष्ययातयामानि मुनयेऽदात्प्रसादितः
sūta uvāca | evaṃ stutaḥ sa bhagavān vājirūpadharo hariḥ | yajūṃṣyayātayāmāni munaye'dātprasāditaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Satisfied by such glorification, the powerful sun-god assumed the form of a horse and presented to the sage Yājñavalkya yajur-mantras previously unknown in human society.
यजुर्भिरकरोच्छाखा दशपञ्च शतैर्विभुः । जगृहुर्वाजसन्यस्ताः काण्वमाध्यन्दिनादयः
yajurbhirakarocchākhā daśapañca śatairvibhuḥ | jagṛhurvājasanyastāḥ kāṇvamādhyandinādayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
From these countless hundreds of mantras of the Yajur Veda, the powerful sage compiled fifteen new branches of Vedic literature. These became known as the Vājasaneyi-saṁhitā because they were produced from the hairs of the horse’s mane, and they were accepted in disciplic succession by the followers of Kāṇva, Mādhyandina and other ṛṣis.
जैमिनेः सामगस्यासीत्सुमन्तुस्तनयो मुनिः । सुन्वांस्तु तत्सुतस्ताभ्यामेकैकां प्राह संहिताम्
jaimineḥ sāmagasyāsītsumantustanayo muniḥ | sunvāṃstu tatsutastābhyāmekaikāṃ prāha saṃhitām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Jaimini Ṛṣi, the authority of the Sāma Veda, had a son named Sumantu, and the son of Sumantu was Sutvān. The sage Jaimini spoke to each of them a different part of the Sāma-veda-saṁhitā.
उदीच्याः सामगाः शिष्या आसन् पञ्चशतानि वै । पौष्यञ्ज्यावन्त्ययोश्चापि तांश्च प्राच्यान् प्रचक्षते
udīcyāḥ sāmagāḥ śiṣyā āsan pañcaśatāni vai | pauṣyañjyāvantyayoścāpi tāṃśca prācyān pracakṣate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The five hundred disciples of Pauṣyañji and Āvantya became known as the northern singers of the Sāma Veda, and in later times some of them also became known as eastern singers.
लौगाक्षिर्माङ्गलिः कुल्यः कुशीदः कुक्षिरेव च । पौष्यञ्जिशिष्या जगृहुः संहितास्ते शतं शतम्
laugākṣirmāṅgaliḥ kulyaḥ kuśīdaḥ kukṣireva ca | pauṣyañjiśiṣyā jagṛhuḥ saṃhitāste śataṃ śatam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Five other disciples of Pauṣyañji, namely Laugākṣi, Māṅgali, Kulya, Kuśīda and Kukṣi, each received one hundred saṁhitās.
कृतो हिरण्यनाभस्य चतुर्विंशति संहिताः । शिष्य ऊचे स्वशिष्येभ्यः शेषा आवन्त्य आत्मवान्
kṛto hiraṇyanābhasya caturviṃśati saṃhitāḥ | śiṣya ūce svaśiṣyebhyaḥ śeṣā āvantya ātmavān
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Kṛta, the disciple of Hiraṇyanābha, spoke twenty-four saṁhitās to his own disciples, and the remaining collections were passed down by the self-realized sage Āvantya.
सूत उवाच । अथर्ववित्सुमन्तुश्च शिष्यमध्यापयत्स्वकाम् । संहितां सोऽपि पथ्याय वेददर्शाय चोक्तवान्
sūta uvāca | atharvavitsumantuśca śiṣyamadhyāpayatsvakām | saṃhitāṃ so'pi pathyāya vedadarśāya coktavān
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Sumantu Ṛṣi, the authority on the Atharva Veda, taught his saṁhitā to his disciple Kabandha, who in turn spoke it to Pathya and Vedadarśa.
शौक्लायनिर्ब्रह्मबलिर्मोदोषः पिप्पलायनिः । वेददर्शस्य शिष्यास्ते पथ्यशिष्यानथो शृणु । कुमुदः शुनको ब्रह्मन् जाजलिश्चाप्यथर्ववित्
śauklāyanirbrahmabalirmodoṣaḥ pippalāyaniḥ | vedadarśasya śiṣyāste pathyaśiṣyānatho śṛṇu | kumudaḥ śunako brahman jājaliścāpyatharvavit
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śauklāyani, Brahmabali, Modoṣa and Pippalāyani were disciples of Vedadarśa. Hear from me also the names of the disciples of Pathya. My dear brāhmaṇa, they are Kumuda, Śunaka and Jājali, all of whom knew the Atharva Veda very well.
बभ्रुः शिष्योऽथाङ्गिरसः सैन्धवायन एव च । अधीयेतां संहिते द्वे सावर्णाद्यास्तथापरे
babhruḥ śiṣyo'thāṅgirasaḥ saindhavāyana eva ca | adhīyetāṃ saṃhite dve sāvarṇādyāstathāpare
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Babhru and Saindhavāyana, disciples of Śunaka, studied the two divisions of their spiritual master’s compilation of the Atharva Veda. Saindhavāyana’s disciple Sāvarṇa and disciples of other great sages also studied this edition of the Atharva Veda.
नक्षत्रकल्पः शान्तिश्च कश्यपाङ्गिरसादयः । एते आथर्वणाचार्याः शृणु पौराणिकान् मुने
nakṣatrakalpaḥ śāntiśca kaśyapāṅgirasādayaḥ | ete ātharvaṇācāryāḥ śṛṇu paurāṇikān mune
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Nakṣatrakalpa, Śāntikalpa, Kaśyapa, Āṅgirasa and others were also among the ācāryas of the Atharva Veda. Now, O sage, listen as I name the authorities on Purāṇic literature.
त्रय्यारुणिः कश्यपश्च सावर्णिरकृतव्रणः । वैशम्पायनहारीतौ षड् वै पौराणिका इमे
trayyāruṇiḥ kaśyapaśca sāvarṇirakṛtavraṇaḥ | vaiśampāyanahārītau ṣaḍ vai paurāṇikā ime
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Trayyāruṇi, Kaśyapa, Sāvarṇi, Akṛtavraṇa, Vaiśampāyana and Hārīta are the six masters of the Purāṇas.
अधीयन्त व्यासशिष्यात्संहितां मत्पितुर्मुखात् । एकैकामहमेतेषां शिष्यः सर्वाः समध्यगाम्
adhīyanta vyāsaśiṣyātsaṃhitāṃ matpiturmukhāt | ekaikāmahameteṣāṃ śiṣyaḥ sarvāḥ samadhyagām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Each of them studied one of the six anthologies of the Purāṇas from my father, Romaharṣaṇa, who was a disciple of Śrīla Vyāsadeva. I became the disciple of these six authorities and thoroughly learned all their presentations of Purāṇic wisdom.
कश्यपोऽहं च सावर्णी रामशिष्योऽकृतव्रणः । अधीमहि व्यासशिष्याच्चत्वारो मूलसंहिताः
kaśyapo'haṃ ca sāvarṇī rāmaśiṣyo'kṛtavraṇaḥ | adhīmahi vyāsaśiṣyāccatvāro mūlasaṃhitāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Romaharṣaṇa, a disciple of Vedavyāsa, divided the Purāṇas into four basic compilations. The sage Kaśyapa and I, along with Sāvarṇi and Akṛtavraṇa, a disciple of Rāma, learned these four divisions.
पुराणलक्षणं ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मर्षिभिर्निरूपितम् । शृणुष्व बुद्धिमाश्रित्य वेदशास्त्रानुसारतः
purāṇalakṣaṇaṃ brahman brahmarṣibhirnirūpitam | śṛṇuṣva buddhimāśritya vedaśāstrānusārataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O Śaunaka, please hear with attention the characteristics of a Purāṇa, which have been defined by the most eminent learned brāhmaṇas in accordance with Vedic literature.
अव्याकृतगुणक्षोभान्महतस्त्रिवृतोऽहमः । भूतमात्रेन्द्रियार्थानां सम्भवः सर्ग उच्यते
avyākṛtaguṇakṣobhānmahatastrivṛto'hamaḥ | bhūtamātrendriyārthānāṃ sambhavaḥ sarga ucyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
From the agitation of the original modes within the unmanifest material nature, the mahat-tattva arises. From the mahat-tattva comes the element false ego, which divides into three aspects. This threefold false ego further manifests as the subtle forms of perception, as the senses and as the gross sense objects. The generation of all these is called creation.
पुरुषानुगृहीतानामेतेषां वासनामयः । विसर्गोऽयं समाहारो बीजाद्बीजं चराचरम्
puruṣānugṛhītānāmeteṣāṃ vāsanāmayaḥ | visargo'yaṃ samāhāro bījādbījaṃ carācaram
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The secondary creation, which exists by the mercy of the Lord, is the manifest amalgamation of the desires of the living entities. Just as a seed produces additional seeds, activities that promote material desires in the performer produce moving and nonmoving life forms.
वृत्तिर्भूतानि भूतानां चराणामचराणि च । कृता स्वेन नृणां तत्र कामाच्चोदनयापि वा
vṛttirbhūtāni bhūtānāṃ carāṇāmacarāṇi ca | kṛtā svena nṛṇāṃ tatra kāmāccodanayāpi vā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Vṛtti means the process of sustenance, by which the moving beings live upon the nonmoving. For a human, vṛtti specifically means acting for one’s livelihood in a manner suited to his personal nature. Such action may be carried out either in pursuit of selfish desire or in accordance with the law of God.
रक्षाच्युतावतारेहा विश्वस्यानु युगे युगे । तिर्यङ्मर्त्यर्षिदेवेषु हन्यन्ते यैस्त्रयीद्विषः
rakṣācyutāvatārehā viśvasyānu yuge yuge | tiryaṅmartyarṣideveṣu hanyante yaistrayīdviṣaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In each age, the infallible Lord appears in this world among the animals, human beings, sages and demigods. By His activities in these incarnations He protects the universe and kills the enemies of Vedic culture.
मन्वन्तरं मनुर्देवा मनुपुत्राः सुरेश्वराः । ऋषयोंऽशावताराश्च हरेः षड्विधमुच्यते
manvantaraṃ manurdevā manuputrāḥ sureśvarāḥ | ṛṣayoṃ'śāvatārāśca hareḥ ṣaḍvidhamucyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In each reign of Manu, six types of personalities appear as manifestations of Lord Hari: the ruling Manu, the chief demigods, the sons of Manu, Indra, the great sages and the partial incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
राज्ञां ब्रह्मप्रसूतानां वंशस्त्रैकालिकोऽन्वयः । वंशानुचरितं तेषां वृत्तं वंशधराश्च ये
rājñāṃ brahmaprasūtānāṃ vaṃśastraikāliko'nvayaḥ | vaṃśānucaritaṃ teṣāṃ vṛttaṃ vaṃśadharāśca ye
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Dynasties are lines of kings originating with Lord Brahmā and extending continuously through past, present and future. The accounts of such dynasties, especially of their most prominent members, constitute the subject of dynastic history.
नैमित्तिकः प्राकृतिको नित्य आत्यन्तिको लयः । संस्थेति कविभिः प्रोक्तश्चतुर्धास्य स्वभावतः
naimittikaḥ prākṛtiko nitya ātyantiko layaḥ | saṃstheti kavibhiḥ proktaścaturdhāsya svabhāvataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
There are four types of cosmic annihilation — occasional, elemental, continuous and ultimate — all of which are effected by the inherent potency of the Supreme Lord. Learned scholars have designated this topic dissolution.
हेतुर्जीवोऽस्य सर्गादेरविद्याकर्मकारकः । यं चानुशयिनं प्राहुरव्याकृतमुतापरे
heturjīvo'sya sargāderavidyākarmakārakaḥ | yaṃ cānuśayinaṃ prāhuravyākṛtamutāpare
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Out of ignorance the living being performs material activities and thereby becomes in one sense the cause of the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe. Some authorities call the living being the personality underlying the material creation, while others say he is the unmanifest self.
व्यतिरेकान्वयो यस्य जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तिषु । मायामयेषु तद्ब्रह्म जीववृत्तिष्वपाश्रयः
vyatirekānvayo yasya jāgratsvapnasuṣuptiṣu | māyāmayeṣu tadbrahma jīvavṛttiṣvapāśrayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Supreme Absolute Truth is present throughout all the stages of awareness — waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep — throughout all the phenomena manifested by the illusory energy, and within the functions of all living entities, and He also exists separate from all these. Thus situated in His own transcendence, He is the ultimate and unique shelter.
पदार्थेषु यथा द्रव्यं सन्मात्रं रूपनामसु । बीजादिपञ्चतान्तासु ह्यवस्थासु युतायुतम्
padārtheṣu yathā dravyaṃ sanmātraṃ rūpanāmasu | bījādipañcatāntāsu hyavasthāsu yutāyutam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Although a material object may assume various forms and names, its essential ingredient is always present as the basis of its existence. Similarly, both conjointly and separately, the Supreme Absolute Truth is always present with the created material body throughout its phases of existence, beginning with conception and ending with death.
विरमेत यदा चित्तं हित्वा वृत्तित्रयं स्वयम् । योगेन वा तदाऽऽत्मानं वेदेहाया निवर्तते
virameta yadā cittaṃ hitvā vṛttitrayaṃ svayam | yogena vā tadā''tmānaṃ vedehāyā nivartate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Either automatically or because of one’s regulated spiritual practice, one’s mind may stop functioning on the material platform of waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep. Then one understands the Supreme Soul and withdraws from material endeavor.
एवं लक्षणलक्ष्याणि पुराणानि पुराविदः । मुनयोऽष्टादश प्राहुः क्षुल्लकानि महान्ति च
evaṃ lakṣaṇalakṣyāṇi purāṇāni purāvidaḥ | munayo'ṣṭādaśa prāhuḥ kṣullakāni mahānti ca
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sages expert in ancient histories have declared that the Purāṇas, according to their various characteristics, can be divided into eighteen major Purāṇas and eighteen secondary Purāṇas.
ब्रह्मन्निदं समाख्यातं शाखाप्रणयनं मुनेः । शिष्यशिष्यप्रशिष्याणां ब्रह्मतेजोविवर्धनम्
brahmannidaṃ samākhyātaṃ śākhāpraṇayanaṃ muneḥ | śiṣyaśiṣyapraśiṣyāṇāṃ brahmatejovivardhanam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I have thoroughly described to you, O brāhmaṇa, the expansion of the branches of the Vedas by the great sage Vyāsadeva, his disciples and the disciples of his disciples. One who listens to this narration will increase in spiritual strength.
शौनक उवाच । सूत जीव चिरं साधो वद नो वदतां वर । तमस्यपारे भ्रमतां नॄणां त्वं पारदर्शनः
śaunaka uvāca | sūta jīva ciraṃ sādho vada no vadatāṃ vara | tamasyapāre bhramatāṃ nṝṇāṃ tvaṃ pāradarśanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrī Śaunaka said: O Sūta, may you live a long life! O saintly one, best of speakers, please continue speaking to us. Indeed, only you can show men the path out of the ignorance in which they are wandering.
सूत उवाच । प्रश्नस्त्वया महर्षेऽयं कृतो लोकभ्रमापहः । नारायणकथा यत्र गीता कलिमलापहा
sūta uvāca | praśnastvayā maharṣe'yaṃ kṛto lokabhramāpahaḥ | nārāyaṇakathā yatra gītā kalimalāpahā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: O great sage Śaunaka, your very question will help remove everyone’s illusion, for it leads to the topics of Lord Nārāyaṇa, which cleanse away the contamination of this Kali age.
ब्रह्मा भृगुर्भवो दक्षो ब्रह्मपुत्राश्च येऽपरे । नृदेवपितृभूतानि तेनासन्नतिविस्मिताः
brahmā bhṛgurbhavo dakṣo brahmaputrāśca ye'pare | nṛdevapitṛbhūtāni tenāsannativismitāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lord Brahmā, Bhṛgu Muni, Lord Śiva, Prajāpati Dakṣa, the great sons of Brahmā, and many others among the human beings, demigods, forefathers and ghostly spirits — all were astonished by the achievement of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi.
इत्थं बृहद्व्रतधरस्तपःस्वाध्यायसंयमैः । दध्यावधोक्षजं योगी ध्वस्तक्लेशान्तरात्मना
itthaṃ bṛhadvratadharastapaḥsvādhyāyasaṃyamaiḥ | dadhyāvadhokṣajaṃ yogī dhvastakleśāntarātmanā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In this way the devotional mystic Mārkaṇḍeya maintained rigid celibacy through penance, study of the Vedas and self-discipline. With his mind thus free of all disturbances, he turned it inward and meditated on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who lies beyond the material senses.
तस्यैवं युञ्जतश्चित्तं महायोगेन योगिनः । व्यतीयाय महान् कालो मन्वन्तरषडात्मकः
tasyaivaṃ yuñjataścittaṃ mahāyogena yoginaḥ | vyatīyāya mahān kālo manvantaraṣaḍātmakaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
While the mystic sage thus concentrated his mind by powerful yoga practice, the tremendous period of six lifetimes of Manu passed by.
एतत्पुरन्दरो ज्ञात्वा सप्तमेऽस्मिन् किलान्तरे । तपोविशङ्कितो ब्रह्मन्नारेभे तद्विघातनम्
etatpurandaro jñātvā saptame'smin kilāntare | tapoviśaṅkito brahmannārebhe tadvighātanam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇa, during the seventh reign of Manu, the current age, Lord Indra came to know of Mārkaṇḍeya’s austerities and became fearful of his growing mystic potency. Thus he tried to impede the sage’s penance.
गन्धर्वाप्सरसः कामं वसन्तमलयानिलौ । मुनये प्रेषयामास रजस्तोकमदौ तथा
gandharvāpsarasaḥ kāmaṃ vasantamalayānilau | munaye preṣayāmāsa rajastokamadau tathā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
To ruin the sage’s spiritual practice, Lord Indra sent Cupid, beautiful celestial singers, dancing girls, the season of spring and the sandalwood-scented breeze from the Malaya Hills, along with greed and intoxication personified.
ते वै तदाश्रमं जग्मुर्हिमाद्रेः पार्श्व उत्तरे । पुष्पभद्रानदी यत्र चित्राख्या च शिला विभो
te vai tadāśramaṃ jagmurhimādreḥ pārśva uttare | puṣpabhadrānadī yatra citrākhyā ca śilā vibho
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O most powerful Śaunaka, they went to Mārkaṇḍeya’s hermitage, on the northern side of the Himālaya Mountains where the Puṣpabhadrā River passes by the famous peak Citrā.
उद्यच्चन्द्रनिशावक्त्रः प्रवालस्तबकालिभिः । गोपद्रुमलताजालैस्तत्रासीत्कुसुमाकरः
udyaccandraniśāvaktraḥ pravālastabakālibhiḥ | gopadrumalatājālaistatrāsītkusumākaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Springtime then appeared in Mārkaṇḍeya’s āśrama. Indeed, the evening sky, glowing with the light of the rising moon, became the very face of spring, and sprouts and fresh blossoms virtually covered the multitude of trees and creepers.
अन्वीयमानो गन्धर्वैर्गीतवादित्रयूथकैः । अदृश्यतात्तचापेषुः स्वःस्त्रीयूथपतिः स्मरः
anvīyamāno gandharvairgītavāditrayūthakaiḥ | adṛśyatāttacāpeṣuḥ svaḥstrīyūthapatiḥ smaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Cupid, the master of many heavenly women, then came there holding his bow and arrows. He was followed by groups of Gandharvas playing musical instruments and singing.
हुत्वाग्निं समुपासीनं ददृशुः शक्रकिङ्कराः । मीलिताक्षं दुराधर्षं मूर्तिमन्तमिवानलम्
hutvāgniṃ samupāsīnaṃ dadṛśuḥ śakrakiṅkarāḥ | mīlitākṣaṃ durādharṣaṃ mūrtimantamivānalam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
These servants of Indra found the sage sitting in meditation, having just offered his prescribed oblations into the sacrificial fire. His eyes closed in trance, he seemed invincible, like fire personified.
ननृतुस्तस्य पुरतः स्त्रियोऽथो गायका जगुः । मृदङ्गवीणापणवैर्वाद्यं चक्रुर्मनोरमम्
nanṛtustasya purataḥ striyo'tho gāyakā jaguḥ | mṛdaṅgavīṇāpaṇavairvādyaṃ cakrurmanoramam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The women danced before the sage, and the celestial singers sang to the charming accompaniment of drums, cymbals and vīṇās.
सन्दधेऽस्त्रं स्वधनुषि कामः पञ्चमुखं तदा । मधुर्मनो रजस्तोक इन्द्रभृत्या व्यकम्पयन्
sandadhe'straṃ svadhanuṣi kāmaḥ pañcamukhaṃ tadā | madhurmano rajastoka indrabhṛtyā vyakampayan
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
While the son of passion [greed personified], spring and the other servants of Indra all tried to agitate Mārkaṇḍeya’s mind, Cupid drew his five-headed arrow and fixed it upon his bow.
विससर्ज तदा बाणं मत्वा तं स्वजितं स्मरः । सर्वं तत्राभवन्मोघमनीशस्य यथोद्यमः
visasarja tadā bāṇaṃ matvā taṃ svajitaṃ smaraḥ | sarvaṃ tatrābhavanmoghamanīśasya yathodyamaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Cupid, thinking he had conquered the sage, then shot his arrow. But all these attempts to seduce Mārkaṇḍeya proved futile, just like the useless endeavors of an atheist.
त इत्थमपकुर्वन्तो मुनेस्तत्तेजसा मुने । दह्यमाना निववृतुः प्रबोध्याहिमिवार्भकाः
ta itthamapakurvanto munestattejasā mune | dahyamānā nivavṛtuḥ prabodhyāhimivārbhakāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O learned Śaunaka, while Cupid and his followers tried to harm the sage, they felt themselves being burned alive by his potency. Thus they stopped their mischief, just like children who have aroused a sleeping snake.
इतीन्द्रानुचरैर्ब्रह्मन् धर्षितोऽपि महामुनिः । यन्नागादहमो भावं न तच्चित्रं महत्सु हि
itīndrānucarairbrahman dharṣito'pi mahāmuniḥ | yannāgādahamo bhāvaṃ na taccitraṃ mahatsu hi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇa, the followers of Lord Indra had impudently attacked the saintly Mārkaṇḍeya, yet he did not succumb to any influence of false ego. For great souls such tolerance is not at all surprising.
दृष्ट्वा निस्तेजसं कामं सगणं भगवान् स्वराट् । श्रुत्वानुभावं ब्रह्मर्षेर्विस्मयं समगात्परम्
dṛṣṭvā nistejasaṃ kāmaṃ sagaṇaṃ bhagavān svarāṭ | śrutvānubhāvaṃ brahmarṣervismayaṃ samagātparam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The mighty King Indra was most astonished when he heard of the mystic prowess of the exalted sage Mārkaṇḍeya and saw how Cupid and his associates had become powerless in his presence.
तस्यैवं युञ्जतश्चित्तं तपःस्वाध्यायसंयमैः । अनुग्रहायाविरासीन्नरनारायणो हरिः
tasyaivaṃ yuñjataścittaṃ tapaḥsvādhyāyasaṃyamaiḥ | anugrahāyāvirāsīnnaranārāyaṇo hariḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Desiring to bestow His mercy upon the saintly Mārkaṇḍeya, who had perfectly fixed his mind in self-realization through penance, Vedic study and observance of regulative principles, the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally appeared before the sage in the forms of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
ते वै भगवतो रूपे नरनारायणावृषी । दृष्ट्वोत्थायादरेणोच्चैर्ननामाङ्गेन दण्डवत्
te vai bhagavato rūpe naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī | dṛṣṭvotthāyādareṇoccairnanāmāṅgena daṇḍavat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
These two sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, were the direct personal forms of the Supreme Lord. When Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi saw Them, he immediately stood up and then with great respect offered Them obeisances by falling down flat on the ground like a stick.
स तत्सन्दर्शनानन्दनिर्वृतात्मेन्द्रियाशयः । हृष्टरोमाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो न सेहे तावुदीक्षितुम्
sa tatsandarśanānandanirvṛtātmendriyāśayaḥ | hṛṣṭaromāśrupūrṇākṣo na sehe tāvudīkṣitum
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The ecstasy of seeing Them completely satisfied Mārkaṇḍeya’s body, mind and senses and caused the hairs on his body to stand on end and his eyes to fill with tears. Overwhelmed, Mārkaṇḍeya found it difficult to look at Them.
उत्थाय प्राञ्जलिः प्रह्व औत्सुक्यादाश्लिषन्निव । नमो नम इतीशानौ बभाषे गद्गदाक्षरः
utthāya prāñjaliḥ prahva autsukyādāśliṣanniva | namo nama itīśānau babhāṣe gadgadākṣaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Standing with his hands folded in supplication and his head bowed in humility, Mārkaṇḍeya felt such eagerness that he imagined he was embracing the two Lords. In a voice choked with ecstasy, he repeatedly said, “I offer You my humble obeisances.”
तयोरासनमादाय पादयोरवनिज्य च । अर्हणेनानुलेपेन धूपमाल्यैरपूजयत्
tayorāsanamādāya pādayoravanijya ca | arhaṇenānulepena dhūpamālyairapūjayat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
He gave Them sitting places and washed Their feet, and then he worshiped Them with presentations of arghya, sandalwood pulp, fragrant oils, incense and flower garlands.
सुखमासनमासीनौ प्रसादाभिमुखौ मुनी । पुनरानम्य पादाभ्यां गरिष्ठाविदमब्रवीत्
sukhamāsanamāsīnau prasādābhimukhau munī | punarānamya pādābhyāṃ gariṣṭhāvidamabravīt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi once again bowed down at the lotus feet of those two most worshipable sages, who were sitting at ease, ready to bestow all mercy upon him. He then addressed Them as follows.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच । किं वर्णये तव विभो यदुदीरितोऽसुः संस्पन्दते तमनु वाङ्मन इन्द्रियाणि । स्पन्दन्ति वै तनुभृतामजशर्वयोश्च स्वस्याप्यथापि भजतामसि भावबन्धुः
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | kiṃ varṇaye tava vibho yadudīrito'suḥ saṃspandate tamanu vāṅmana indriyāṇi | spandanti vai tanubhṛtāmajaśarvayośca svasyāpyathāpi bhajatāmasi bhāvabandhuḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: O Almighty Lord, how can I possibly describe You? You awaken the vital air, which then impels the mind, senses and power of speech to act. This is true for all ordinary conditioned souls and even for great demigods like Brahmā and Śiva. So it is certainly true for me. Nevertheless, You become the intimate friend of those who worship You.
मूर्ती इमे भगवतो भगवंस्त्रिलोक्याः क्षेमाय तापविरमाय च मृत्युजित्यै । नानाबिभर्ष्यवितुमन्यतनूर्यथेदं सृष्ट्वा पुनर्ग्रससि सर्वमिवोर्णनाभिः
mūrtī ime bhagavato bhagavaṃstrilokyāḥ kṣemāya tāpaviramāya ca mṛtyujityai | nānābibharṣyavitumanyatanūryathedaṃ sṛṣṭvā punargrasasi sarvamivorṇanābhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O Supreme Personality of Godhead, these two personal forms of Yours have appeared to bestow the ultimate benefit for the three worlds — the cessation of material misery and the conquest of death. My Lord, although You create this universe and then assume many transcendental forms to protect it, You also swallow it up, just like a spider who spins and later withdraws its web.
तस्यावितुः स्थिरचरेशितुरङ्घ्रिमूलं यत्स्थं न कर्मगुणकालरजः स्पृशन्ति । यद्वै स्तुवन्ति निनमन्ति यजन्त्यभीक्ष्णं ध्यायन्ति वेदहृदया मुनयस्तदाप्त्यै
tasyāvituḥ sthiracareśituraṅghrimūlaṃ yatsthaṃ na karmaguṇakālarajaḥ spṛśanti | yadvai stuvanti ninamanti yajantyabhīkṣṇaṃ dhyāyanti vedahṛdayā munayastadāptyai
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Because You are the protector and the supreme controller of all moving and nonmoving beings, anyone who takes shelter of Your lotus feet can never be touched by the contamination of material work, material qualities or time. Great sages who have assimilated the essential meaning of the Vedas offer their prayers to You. To gain Your association, they bow down to You at every opportunity and constantly worship You and meditate upon You.
नान्यं तवाङ्घ्र्युपनयादपवर्गमूर्तेः क्षेमं जनस्य परितो भिय ईश विद्मः । ब्रह्मा बिभेत्यलमतो द्विपरार्धधिष्ण्यः कालस्य ते किमुत तत्कृतभौतिकानाम्
nānyaṃ tavāṅghryupanayādapavargamūrteḥ kṣemaṃ janasya parito bhiya īśa vidmaḥ | brahmā bibhetyalamato dviparārdhadhiṣṇyaḥ kālasya te kimuta tatkṛtabhautikānām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear Lord, even Lord Brahmā, who enjoys his exalted position for the entire duration of the universe, fears the passage of time. Then what to speak of those whom Brahmā creates, the conditioned souls. They encounter fearful dangers at every step of their lives. I do not know of any relief from this fear except shelter at Your lotus feet, which are the very form of liberation.
तद्वै भजाम्यृतधियस्तव पादमूलं हित्वेदमात्मच्छदि चात्मगुरोः परस्य । देहाद्यपार्थमसदन्त्यमभिज्ञमात्रं विन्देत ते तर्हि सर्वमनीषितार्थम्
tadvai bhajāmyṛtadhiyastava pādamūlaṃ hitvedamātmacchadi cātmaguroḥ parasya | dehādyapārthamasadantyamabhijñamātraṃ vindeta te tarhi sarvamanīṣitārtham
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Therefore I worship Your lotus feet, having renounced my identification with the material body and everything else that covers my true self. These useless, insubstantial and temporary coverings are merely presumed to be separate from You, whose intelligence encompasses all truth. By attaining You — the Supreme Godhead and the master of the soul — one attains everything desirable.
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इतीश तवात्मबन्धो मायामयाः स्थितिलयोदयहेतवोऽस्य । लीलाधृता यदपि सत्त्वमयी प्रशान्त्यै नान्ये नृणां व्यसनमोहभियश्च याभ्याम्
sattvaṃ rajastama itīśa tavātmabandho māyāmayāḥ sthitilayodayahetavo'sya | līlādhṛtā yadapi sattvamayī praśāntyai nānye nṛṇāṃ vyasanamohabhiyaśca yābhyām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O my Lord, O supreme friend of the conditioned soul, although for the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this world You accept the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, which constitute Your illusory potency, You specifically employ the mode of goodness to liberate the conditioned souls. The other two modes simply bring them suffering, illusion and fear.
तस्मात्तवेह भगवन्नथ तावकानां शुक्लां तनुं स्वदयितां कुशला भजन्ति । यत्सात्वताः पुरुषरूपमुशन्ति सत्त्वं लोको यतोभयमुतात्मसुखं न चान्यत्
tasmāttaveha bhagavannatha tāvakānāṃ śuklāṃ tanuṃ svadayitāṃ kuśalā bhajanti | yatsātvatāḥ puruṣarūpamuśanti sattvaṃ loko yatobhayamutātmasukhaṃ na cānyat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O Lord, because fearlessness, spiritual happiness and the kingdom of God are all achieved through the mode of pure goodness, Your devotees consider this mode, but never passion and ignorance, to be a direct manifestation of You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Intelligent persons thus worship Your beloved transcendental form, composed of pure goodness, along with the spiritual forms of Your pure devotees.
तस्मै नमो भगवते पुरुषाय भूम्ने विश्वाय विश्वगुरवे परदैवतायै । नारायणाय ऋषये च नरोत्तमाय हंसाय संयतगिरे निगमेश्वराय
tasmai namo bhagavate puruṣāya bhūmne viśvāya viśvagurave paradaivatāyai | nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye ca narottamāya haṃsāya saṃyatagire nigameśvarāya
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I offer my humble obeisances to Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the all-pervading and all-inclusive form of the universe, as well as its spiritual master. I bow down to Lord Nārāyaṇa, the supremely worshipable Deity appearing as a sage, and also to the saintly Nara, the best of human beings, who is fixed in perfect goodness, fully in control of his speech, and the propagator of the Vedic literatures.
यं वै न वेद वितथाक्षपथैर्भ्रमद्धीः सन्तं स्वकेष्वसुषु हृद्यपि दृक्पथेषु । तन्माययाऽऽवृतमतिः स उ एव साक्षा- दाद्यस्तवाखिलगुरोरुपसाद्य वेदम्
yaṃ vai na veda vitathākṣapathairbhramaddhīḥ santaṃ svakeṣvasuṣu hṛdyapi dṛkpatheṣu | tanmāyayā''vṛtamatiḥ sa u eva sākṣā- dādyastavākhilagurorupasādya vedam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A materialist, his intelligence perverted by the action of his deceptive senses, cannot recognize You at all, although You are always present within his own senses and heart and also among the objects of his perception. Yet even though one’s understanding has been covered by Your illusory potency, if one obtains Vedic knowledge from You, the supreme spiritual master of all, he can directly understand You.
यद्दर्शनं निगम आत्मरहःप्रकाशं मुह्यन्ति यत्र कवयोऽजपरा यतन्तः । तं सर्ववादविषयप्रतिरूपशीलं वन्दे महापुरुषमात्मनिगूढबोधम्
yaddarśanaṃ nigama ātmarahaḥprakāśaṃ muhyanti yatra kavayo'japarā yatantaḥ | taṃ sarvavādaviṣayapratirūpaśīlaṃ vande mahāpuruṣamātmanigūḍhabodham
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear Lord, the Vedic literatures alone reveal confidential knowledge of Your supreme personality, and thus even such great scholars as Lord Brahmā himself are bewildered in their attempt to understand You through empirical methods. Each philosopher understands You according to his particular speculative conclusions. I worship that Supreme Person, knowledge of whom is hidden by the bodily designations covering the conditioned soul’s spiritual identity.
सूत उवाच । संस्तुतो भगवानित्थं मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता । नारायणो नरसखः प्रीत आह भृगूद्वहम्
sūta uvāca | saṃstuto bhagavānitthaṃ mārkaṇḍeyena dhīmatā | nārāyaṇo narasakhaḥ prīta āha bhṛgūdvaham
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: The Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, the friend of Nara, was satisfied by the proper glorification offered by the intelligent sage Mārkaṇḍeya. Thus the Lord addressed that excellent descendant of Bhṛgu.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । भो भो ब्रह्मर्षिवर्योऽसि सिद्ध आत्मसमाधिना । मयि भक्त्यानपायिन्या तपःस्वाध्यायसंयमैः
śrībhagavānuvāca | bho bho brahmarṣivaryo'si siddha ātmasamādhinā | mayi bhaktyānapāyinyā tapaḥsvādhyāyasaṃyamaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Mārkaṇḍeya, you are indeed the best of all learned brāhmaṇas. You have perfected your life by practicing fixed meditation upon the Supreme Soul, as well as by focusing upon Me your undeviating devotional service, your austerities, your study of the Vedas and your strict adherence to regulative principles.
वयं ते परितुष्टाः स्म त्वद्बृहद्व्रतचर्यया । वरं प्रतीच्छ भद्रं ते वरदेशादभीप्सितम्
vayaṃ te parituṣṭāḥ sma tvadbṛhadvratacaryayā | varaṃ pratīccha bhadraṃ te varadeśādabhīpsitam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
We are perfectly satisfied with your practice of lifelong celibacy. Please choose whatever benediction you desire, since I can grant your wish. May you enjoy all good fortune.
ऋषिरुवाच । जितं ते देव देवेश प्रपन्नार्तिहराच्युत । वरेणैतावतालं नो यद्भवान् समदृश्यत
ṛṣiruvāca | jitaṃ te deva deveśa prapannārtiharācyuta | vareṇaitāvatālaṃ no yadbhavān samadṛśyata
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The sage said: O Lord of lords, all glories to You! O Lord Acyuta, You remove all distress for the devotees who surrender unto You. That you have allowed me to see You is all the benediction I want.
गृहीत्वाजादयो यस्य श्रीमत्पादाब्जदर्शनम् । मनसा योगपक्वेन स भवान् मेऽक्षिगोचरः
gṛhītvājādayo yasya śrīmatpādābjadarśanam | manasā yogapakvena sa bhavān me'kṣigocaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Such demigods as Lord Brahmā achieved their exalted positions simply by seeing Your beautiful lotus feet after their minds had become mature in yoga practice. And now, my Lord, You have personally appeared before me.
अथाप्यम्बुजपत्राक्ष पुण्यश्लोकशिखामणे । द्रक्ष्ये मायां यया लोकः सपालो वेद सद्भिदाम्
athāpyambujapatrākṣa puṇyaślokaśikhāmaṇe | drakṣye māyāṃ yayā lokaḥ sapālo veda sadbhidām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O lotus-eyed Lord, O crest jewel of renowned personalities, although I am satisfied simply by seeing You, I do wish to see Your illusory potency, by whose influence the entire world, together with its ruling demigods, considers reality to be materially variegated.
सूत उवाच । इतीडितोऽर्चितः काममृषिणा भगवान् मुने । तथेति स स्मयन् प्रागाद्बदर्याश्रममीश्वरः
sūta uvāca | itīḍito'rcitaḥ kāmamṛṣiṇā bhagavān mune | tatheti sa smayan prāgādbadaryāśramamīśvaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: O wise Śaunaka, thus satisfied by Mārkaṇḍeya’s praise and worship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, smiling, replied, “So be it,” and then departed for His hermitage at Badarikāśrama.
तस्यैकदा भृगुश्रेष्ठ पुष्पभद्रातटे मुनेः । उपासीनस्य सन्ध्यायां ब्रह्मन् वायुरभून्महान्
tasyaikadā bhṛguśreṣṭha puṣpabhadrātaṭe muneḥ | upāsīnasya sandhyāyāṃ brahman vāyurabhūnmahān
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇa Śaunaka, best of the Bhṛgus, one day while Mārkaṇḍeya was performing his evening worship on the bank of the Puṣpabhadrā, a great wind suddenly arose.
तं चण्डशब्दं समुदीरयन्तं बलाहका अन्वभवन् करालाः । अक्षस्थविष्ठा मुमुचुस्तडिद्भिः स्वनन्त उच्चैरभिवर्षधाराः
taṃ caṇḍaśabdaṃ samudīrayantaṃ balāhakā anvabhavan karālāḥ | akṣasthaviṣṭhā mumucustaḍidbhiḥ svananta uccairabhivarṣadhārāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
That wind created a terrible sound and brought in its wake fearsome clouds that were accompanied by lightning and roaring thunder and that poured down on all sides torrents of rain as heavy as wagon wheels.
ततो व्यदृश्यन्त चतुःसमुद्राः समन्ततः क्ष्मातलमाग्रसन्तः । समीरवेगोर्मिभिरुग्रनक्र- महाभयावर्तगभीरघोषाः
tato vyadṛśyanta catuḥsamudrāḥ samantataḥ kṣmātalamāgrasantaḥ | samīravegormibhirugranakra- mahābhayāvartagabhīraghoṣāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Then the four great oceans appeared on all sides, swallowing up the surface of the earth with their wind-tossed waves. In these oceans were terrible sea monsters, fearful whirlpools and ominous rumblings.
अन्तर्बहिश्चाद्भिरतिद्युभिः खरैः शतह्रदाभीरुपतापितं जगत् । चतुर्विधं वीक्ष्य सहात्मना मुनि- र्जलाप्लुतां क्ष्मां विमनाः समत्रसत्
antarbahiścādbhiratidyubhiḥ kharaiḥ śatahradābhīrupatāpitaṃ jagat | caturvidhaṃ vīkṣya sahātmanā muni- rjalāplutāṃ kṣmāṃ vimanāḥ samatrasat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The sage saw all the inhabitants of the universe, including himself, tormented within and without by the harsh winds, the bolts of lightning, and the great waves rising beyond the sky. As the whole earth flooded, he grew perplexed and fearful.
तस्यैवमुद्वीक्षत ऊर्मिभीषणः प्रभञ्जनाघूर्णितवार्महार्णवः । आपूर्यमाणो वरषद्भिरम्बुदैः क्ष्मामप्यधाद्द्वीपवर्षाद्रिभिः समम्
tasyaivamudvīkṣata ūrmibhīṣaṇaḥ prabhañjanāghūrṇitavārmahārṇavaḥ | āpūryamāṇo varaṣadbhirambudaiḥ kṣmāmapyadhāddvīpavarṣādribhiḥ samam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Even as Mārkaṇḍeya looked on, the rain pouring down from the clouds filled the ocean more and more until that great sea, its waters violently whipped into terrifying waves by hurricanes, covered up all the earth’s islands, mountains and continents.
सक्ष्मान्तरिक्षं सदिवं सभागणं त्रैलोक्यमासीत्सह दिग्भिराप्लुतम् । स एक एवोर्वरितो महामुनि- र्बभ्राम विक्षिप्य जटा जडान्धवत्
sakṣmāntarikṣaṃ sadivaṃ sabhāgaṇaṃ trailokyamāsītsaha digbhirāplutam | sa eka evorvarito mahāmuni- rbabhrāma vikṣipya jaṭā jaḍāndhavat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The water inundated the earth, outer space, heaven and the celestial region. Indeed, the entire expanse of the universe was flooded in all directions, and out of all its inhabitants only Mārkaṇḍeya remained. His matted hair scattered, the great sage wandered about alone in the water as if dumb and blind.
क्षुत्तृट्परीतो मकरैस्तिमिङ्गिलै- रुपद्रुतो वीचिनभस्वता हतः । तमस्यपारे पतितो भ्रमन् दिशो न वेद खं गां च परिश्रमेषितः
kṣuttṛṭparīto makaraistimiṅgilai- rupadruto vīcinabhasvatā hataḥ | tamasyapāre patito bhraman diśo na veda khaṃ gāṃ ca pariśrameṣitaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Tormented by hunger and thirst, attacked by monstrous makaras and timiṅgila fish and battered by the wind and waves, he moved aimlessly through the infinite darkness into which he had fallen. As he grew increasingly exhausted, he lost all sense of direction and could not tell the sky from the earth.
अयुतायुतवर्षाणां सहस्राणि शतानि च । व्यतीयुर्भ्रमतस्तस्मिन् विष्णुमायावृतात्मनः
ayutāyutavarṣāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi śatāni ca | vyatīyurbhramatastasmin viṣṇumāyāvṛtātmanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Countless millions of years passed as Mārkaṇḍeya wandered about in that deluge, his mind bewildered by the illusory energy of Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
स कदाचिद्भ्रमंस्तस्मिन् पृथिव्याः ककुदि द्विजः । न्यग्रोधपोतं ददृशे फलपल्लवशोभितम्
sa kadācidbhramaṃstasmin pṛthivyāḥ kakudi dvijaḥ | nyagrodhapotaṃ dadṛśe phalapallavaśobhitam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Once, while wandering in the water, the brāhmaṇa Mārkaṇḍeya discovered a small island, upon which stood a young banyan tree bearing blossoms and fruits.
प्रागुत्तरस्यां शाखायां तस्यापि ददृशे शिशुम् । शयानं पर्णपुटके ग्रसन्तं प्रभया तमः
prāguttarasyāṃ śākhāyāṃ tasyāpi dadṛśe śiśum | śayānaṃ parṇapuṭake grasantaṃ prabhayā tamaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Upon a branch of the northeast portion of that tree he saw an infant boy lying within a leaf. The child’s effulgence was swallowing up the darkness.
तद्दर्शनाद्वीतपरिश्रमो मुदा प्रोत्फुल्लहृत्पद्मविलोचनाम्बुजः । प्रहृष्टरोमाद्भुतभावशङ्कितः प्रष्टुं पुरस्तं प्रससार बालकम्
taddarśanādvītapariśramo mudā protphullahṛtpadmavilocanāmbujaḥ | prahṛṣṭaromādbhutabhāvaśaṅkitaḥ praṣṭuṃ purastaṃ prasasāra bālakam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
As Mārkaṇḍeya beheld the child, all his weariness vanished. Indeed, so great was his pleasure that the lotus of his heart, along with his lotus eyes, fully blossomed and the hairs on his body stood on end. Confused as to the identity of the wonderful infant, the sage approached Him.
तावच्छिशोर्वै श्वसितेन भार्गवः सोऽन्तःशरीरं मशको यथाऽऽविशत् । तत्राप्यदो न्यस्तमचष्ट कृत्स्नशो यथा पुरामुह्यदतीव विस्मितः
tāvacchiśorvai śvasitena bhārgavaḥ so'ntaḥśarīraṃ maśako yathā''viśat | tatrāpyado nyastamacaṣṭa kṛtsnaśo yathā purāmuhyadatīva vismitaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Just then the child inhaled, drawing Mārkaṇḍeya within His body like a mosquito. There the sage found the entire universe arrayed as it had been before its dissolution. Seeing this, Mārkaṇḍeya was most astonished and perplexed.
हिमालयं पुष्पवहां च तां नदीं निजाश्रमं यत्र ऋषीनपश्यत् । विश्वं विपश्यञ्छ्वसिताच्छिशोर्वै बहिर्निरस्तो न्यपतल्लयाब्धौ
himālayaṃ puṣpavahāṃ ca tāṃ nadīṃ nijāśramaṃ yatra ṛṣīnapaśyat | viśvaṃ vipaśyañchvasitācchiśorvai bahirnirasto nyapatallayābdhau
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
He saw before him the Himālaya Mountains, the Puṣpabhadrā River, and his own hermitage, where he had had the audience of the sages Nara-Nārāyaṇa. Then, as Mārkaṇḍeya beheld the entire universe, the infant exhaled, expelling the sage from His body and casting him back into the ocean of dissolution.
तावत्स भगवान् साक्षाद्योगाधीशो गुहाशयः । अन्तर्दधे ऋषेः सद्यो यथेहानीशनिर्मिता
tāvatsa bhagavān sākṣādyogādhīśo guhāśayaḥ | antardadhe ṛṣeḥ sadyo yathehānīśanirmitā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
At that moment the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original master of all mysticism and who is hidden within everyone’s heart, became invisible to the sage, just as the achievements of an incompetent person can suddenly vanish.
तमन्वथ वटो ब्रह्मन् सलिलं लोकसम्प्लवः । तिरोधायि क्षणादस्य स्वाश्रमे पूर्ववत्स्थितः
tamanvatha vaṭo brahman salilaṃ lokasamplavaḥ | tirodhāyi kṣaṇādasya svāśrame pūrvavatsthitaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
After the Lord disappeared, O brāhmaṇa, the banyan tree, the great water and the dissolution of the universe all vanished as well, and in an instant Mārkaṇḍeya found himself back in his own hermitage, just as before.
सूत उवाच । स एवमनुभूयेदं नारायणविनिर्मितम् । वैभवं योगमायायास्तमेव शरणं ययौ
sūta uvāca | sa evamanubhūyedaṃ nārāyaṇavinirmitam | vaibhavaṃ yogamāyāyāstameva śaraṇaṃ yayau
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: The Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa had arranged this opulent display of His bewildering potency. Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, having experienced it, took shelter of the Lord.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच । प्रपन्नोऽस्म्यङ्घ्रिमूलं ते प्रपन्नाभयदं हरे । यन्माययापि विबुधा मुह्यन्ति ज्ञानकाशया
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | prapanno'smyaṅghrimūlaṃ te prapannābhayadaṃ hare | yanmāyayāpi vibudhā muhyanti jñānakāśayā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: O Lord Hari, I take shelter of the soles of Your lotus feet, which bestow fearlessness upon all who surrender to them. Even the great demigods are bewildered by Your illusory energy, which appears to them in the guise of knowledge.
सूत उवाच । तमेवं निभृतात्मानं वृषेण दिवि पर्यटन् । रुद्राण्या भगवान् रुद्रो ददर्श स्वगणैर्वृतः
sūta uvāca | tamevaṃ nibhṛtātmānaṃ vṛṣeṇa divi paryaṭan | rudrāṇyā bhagavān rudro dadarśa svagaṇairvṛtaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Lord Rudra, traveling in the sky on his bull and accompanied by his consort, Rudrāṇī, as well as his personal associates, observed Mārkaṇḍeya in trance.
अथोमा तमृषिं वीक्ष्य गिरिशं समभाषत । पश्येमं भगवन् विप्रं निभृतात्मेन्द्रियाशयम्
athomā tamṛṣiṃ vīkṣya giriśaṃ samabhāṣata | paśyemaṃ bhagavan vipraṃ nibhṛtātmendriyāśayam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Goddess Umā, seeing the sage, addressed Lord Giriśa: My lord, just see this learned brāhmaṇa, his body, mind and senses motionless in trance.
निभृतोदझषव्रातं वातापाये यथार्णवम् । कुर्वस्य तपसः साक्षात्संसिद्धिं सिद्धिदो भवान्
nibhṛtodajhaṣavrātaṃ vātāpāye yathārṇavam | kurvasya tapasaḥ sākṣātsaṃsiddhiṃ siddhido bhavān
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
He is as calm as the waters of the ocean when the wind has ceased and the fish remain still. Therefore, my lord, since you bestow perfection on the performers of austerity, please award this sage the perfection that is obviously due him.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । नैवेच्छत्याशिषः क्वापि ब्रह्मर्षिर्मोक्षमप्युत । भक्तिं परां भगवति लब्धवान् पुरुषेऽव्यये
śrībhagavānuvāca | naivecchatyāśiṣaḥ kvāpi brahmarṣirmokṣamapyuta | bhaktiṃ parāṃ bhagavati labdhavān puruṣe'vyaye
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lord Śiva replied: Surely this saintly brāhmaṇa does not desire any benediction, not even liberation itself, for he has attained pure devotional service unto the inexhaustible Personality of Godhead.
अथापि संवदिष्यामो भवान्येतेन साधुना । अयं हि परमो लाभो नृणां साधुसमागमः
athāpi saṃvadiṣyāmo bhavānyetena sādhunā | ayaṃ hi paramo lābho nṛṇāṃ sādhusamāgamaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Still, my dear Bhavānī, let us talk with this saintly personality. After all, association with saintly devotees is man’s highest achievement.
सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तमुपेयाय भगवान् स सतां गतिः । ईशानः सर्वविद्यानामीश्वरः सर्वदेहिनाम्
sūta uvāca | ityuktvā tamupeyāya bhagavān sa satāṃ gatiḥ | īśānaḥ sarvavidyānāmīśvaraḥ sarvadehinām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Having spoken thus, Lord Śaṅkara — the shelter of pure souls, master of all spiritual sciences and controller of all embodied living beings — approached the sage.
तयोरागमनं साक्षादीशयोर्जगदात्मनोः । न वेद रुद्धधीवृत्तिरात्मानं विश्वमेव च
tayorāgamanaṃ sākṣādīśayorjagadātmanoḥ | na veda ruddhadhīvṛttirātmānaṃ viśvameva ca
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Because Mārkaṇḍeya’s material mind had stopped functioning, the sage failed to notice that Lord Śiva and his wife, the controllers of the universe, had personally come to see him. Mārkaṇḍeya was so absorbed in meditation that he was unaware of either himself or the external world.
भगवांस्तदभिज्ञाय गिरीशो योगमायया । आविशत्तद्गुहाकाशं वायुश्छिद्रमिवेश्वरः
bhagavāṃstadabhijñāya girīśo yogamāyayā | āviśattadguhākāśaṃ vāyuśchidramiveśvaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Understanding the situation very well, the powerful Lord Śiva employed his mystic power to enter within the sky of Mārkaṇḍeya’s heart, just as the wind passes through an opening.
नेत्रे उन्मील्य ददृशे सगणं सोमयाऽऽगतम् । रुद्रं त्रिलोकैकगुरुं ननाम शिरसा मुनिः
netre unmīlya dadṛśe sagaṇaṃ somayā''gatam | rudraṃ trilokaikaguruṃ nanāma śirasā muniḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Opening his eyes, the sage saw Lord Rudra, the spiritual master of the three worlds, together with Umā and Rudra’s followers. Mārkaṇḍeya then offered his respectful obeisances by bowing his head.
तस्मै सपर्यां व्यदधात्सगणाय सहोमया । स्वागतासनपाद्यार्घ्यगन्धस्रग्धूपदीपकैः
tasmai saparyāṃ vyadadhātsagaṇāya sahomayā | svāgatāsanapādyārghyagandhasragdhūpadīpakaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mārkaṇḍeya worshiped Lord Śiva, along with Umā and Śiva’s associates, by offering them words of welcome, sitting places, water for washing their feet, scented drinking water, fragrant oils, flower garlands and ārati lamps.
आह चात्मानुभावेन पूर्णकामस्य ते विभो । करवाम किमीशान येनेदं निर्वृतं जगत्
āha cātmānubhāvena pūrṇakāmasya te vibho | karavāma kimīśāna yenedaṃ nirvṛtaṃ jagat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mārkaṇḍeya said: O mighty lord, what can I possibly do for you, who are fully satisfied by your own ecstasy? Indeed, by your mercy you satisfy this entire world.
नमः शिवाय शान्ताय सत्त्वाय प्रमृडाय च । रजोजुषेऽप्यघोराय नमस्तुभ्यं तमोजुषे
namaḥ śivāya śāntāya sattvāya pramṛḍāya ca | rajojuṣe'pyaghorāya namastubhyaṃ tamojuṣe
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Again and again I offer my obeisances unto you, O all-auspicious transcendental personality. As the lord of goodness you give pleasure, in contact with the mode of passion you appear most fearful, and you also associate with the mode of ignorance.
सूत उवाच । एवं स्तुतः स भगवानादिदेवः सतां गतिः । परितुष्टः प्रसन्नात्मा प्रहसंस्तमभाषत
sūta uvāca | evaṃ stutaḥ sa bhagavānādidevaḥ satāṃ gatiḥ | parituṣṭaḥ prasannātmā prahasaṃstamabhāṣata
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Lord Śiva, the foremost demigod and the shelter of the saintly devotees, was satisfied by Mārkaṇḍeya’s praise. Pleased, he smiled and addressed the sage.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । वरं वृणीष्व नः कामं वरदेशा वयं त्रयः । अमोघं दर्शनं येषां मर्त्यो यद्विन्दतेऽमृतम्
śrībhagavānuvāca | varaṃ vṛṇīṣva naḥ kāmaṃ varadeśā vayaṃ trayaḥ | amoghaṃ darśanaṃ yeṣāṃ martyo yadvindate'mṛtam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lord Śiva said: Please ask me for some benediction, since among all givers of benedictions, we three — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and I — are the best. Seeing us never goes in vain, because simply by seeing us a mortal achieves immortality.
न ते मय्यच्युतेऽजे च भिदामण्वपि चक्षते । नात्मनश्च जनस्यापि तद्युष्मान् वयमीमहि
na te mayyacyute'je ca bhidāmaṇvapi cakṣate | nātmanaśca janasyāpi tadyuṣmān vayamīmahi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
These devotees do not differentiate between Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and me, nor do they differentiate between themselves and other living beings. Therefore, because you are this kind of saintly devotee, we worship you.
न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवाश्चेतनोज्झिताः । ते पुनन्त्युरुकालेन यूयं दर्शनमात्रतः
na hyammayāni tīrthāni na devāścetanojjhitāḥ | te punantyurukālena yūyaṃ darśanamātrataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mere bodies of water do not constitute holy places, nor are lifeless statues of the demigods actual worshipable deities. Because external vision fails to appreciate the higher essence of the holy rivers and the demigods, these purify only after a considerable time. But devotees like you purify immediately, just by being seen.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्यामो येऽस्मद्रूपं त्रयीमयम् । बिभ्रत्यात्मसमाधानतपःस्वाध्यायसंयमैः
brāhmaṇebhyo namasyāmo ye'smadrūpaṃ trayīmayam | bibhratyātmasamādhānatapaḥsvādhyāyasaṃyamaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
By meditating upon the Supreme Soul, performing austerities, engaging in Vedic study and following regulative principles, the brāhmaṇas sustain within themselves the three Vedas, which are nondifferent from Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and me. Therefore I offer my obeisances unto the brāhmaṇas.
श्रवणाद्दर्शनाद्वापि महापातकिनोऽपि वः । शुध्येरन्नन्त्यजाश्चापि किमु सम्भाषणादिभिः
śravaṇāddarśanādvāpi mahāpātakino'pi vaḥ | śudhyerannantyajāścāpi kimu sambhāṣaṇādibhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Even the worst sinners and social outcastes are purified just by hearing about or seeing personalities like you. Imagine, then, how purified they become by directly speaking with you.
सूत उवाच । इति चन्द्रललामस्य धर्मगुह्योपबृंहितम् । वचोऽमृतायनमृषिर्नातृप्यत्कर्णयोः पिबन्
sūta uvāca | iti candralalāmasya dharmaguhyopabṛṃhitam | vaco'mṛtāyanamṛṣirnātṛpyatkarṇayoḥ piban
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Drinking with his ears Lord Śiva’s nectarean words, full of the confidential essence of religion, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi could not be satiated.
स चिरं मायया विष्णोर्भ्रामितः कर्शितो भृशम् । शिववागमृतध्वस्तक्लेशपुञ्जस्तमब्रवीत्
sa ciraṃ māyayā viṣṇorbhrāmitaḥ karśito bhṛśam | śivavāgamṛtadhvastakleśapuñjastamabravīt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mārkaṇḍeya, having been forced by Lord Viṣṇu’s illusory energy to wander about for a long time in the water of dissolution, had become extremely exhausted. But Lord Śiva’s words of nectar vanquished his accumulated suffering. Thus he addressed Lord Śiva.
ऋषिरुवाच । अहो ईश्वरलीलेयं दुर्विभाव्या शरीरिणाम् । यन्नमन्तीशितव्यानि स्तुवन्ति जगदीश्वराः
ṛṣiruvāca | aho īśvaralīleyaṃ durvibhāvyā śarīriṇām | yannamantīśitavyāni stuvanti jagadīśvarāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: It is indeed most difficult for embodied souls to understand the pastimes of the universal controllers, for such lords bow down to and offer praise to the very living beings they rule.
धर्मं ग्राहयितुं प्रायः प्रवक्तारश्च देहिनाम् । आचरन्त्यनुमोदन्ते क्रियमाणं स्तुवन्ति च
dharmaṃ grāhayituṃ prāyaḥ pravaktāraśca dehinām | ācarantyanumodante kriyamāṇaṃ stuvanti ca
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Generally it is to induce embodied souls to accept religious principles that the authorized teachers of religion exhibit ideal behavior while encouraging and praising the proper behavior of others.
नैतावता भगवतः स्वमायामयवृत्तिभिः । न दुष्येतानुभावस्तैर्मायिनः कुहकं यथा
naitāvatā bhagavataḥ svamāyāmayavṛttibhiḥ | na duṣyetānubhāvastairmāyinaḥ kuhakaṃ yathā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This apparent humility is simply a show of mercy. Such behavior of the Supreme Lord and His personal associates, which the Lord effects by His own bewildering potency, does not spoil His power any more than a magician’s powers are diminished by his exhibition of tricks.
कं वृणे नु परं भूमन् वरं त्वद्वरदर्शनात् । यद्दर्शनात्पूर्णकामः सत्यकामः पुमान् भवेत्
kaṃ vṛṇe nu paraṃ bhūman varaṃ tvadvaradarśanāt | yaddarśanātpūrṇakāmaḥ satyakāmaḥ pumān bhavet
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O all-pervading lord, since I have received the benediction of seeing you, what other benediction can I ask for? Simply by seeing you, a person fulfills all his desires and can achieve anything imaginable.
वरमेकं वृणेऽथापि पूर्णात्कामाभिवर्षणात् । भगवत्यच्युतां भक्तिं तत्परेषु तथा त्वयि
varamekaṃ vṛṇe'thāpi pūrṇātkāmābhivarṣaṇāt | bhagavatyacyutāṃ bhaktiṃ tatpareṣu tathā tvayi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
But I do request one benediction from you, who are full of all perfection and able to shower down the fulfillment of all desires. I ask to have unfailing devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and for His dedicated devotees, especially you.
सूत उवाच । इत्यर्चितोऽभिष्टुतश्च मुनिना सूक्तया गिरा । तमाह भगवाञ्छर्वः शर्वया चाभिनन्दितः
sūta uvāca | ityarcito'bhiṣṭutaśca muninā sūktayā girā | tamāha bhagavāñcharvaḥ śarvayā cābhinanditaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus worshiped and glorified by the eloquent statements of the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, Lord Śarva [Śiva], encouraged by his consort, replied to him as follows.
कामो महर्षे सर्वोऽयं भक्तिमांस्त्वमधोक्षजे । आकल्पान्ताद्यशः पुण्यमजरामरता तथा
kāmo maharṣe sarvo'yaṃ bhaktimāṃstvamadhokṣaje | ākalpāntādyaśaḥ puṇyamajarāmaratā tathā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O great sage, because you are devoted to Lord Adhokṣaja, all your desires will be fulfilled. Until the very end of this creation cycle, you will enjoy pious fame and freedom from old age and death.
ज्ञानं त्रैकालिकं ब्रह्मन् विज्ञानं च विरक्तिमत् । ब्रह्मवर्चस्विनो भूयात्पुराणाचार्यतास्तु ते
jñānaṃ traikālikaṃ brahman vijñānaṃ ca viraktimat | brahmavarcasvino bhūyātpurāṇācāryatāstu te
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇa, may you have perfect knowledge of past, present and future, along with transcendental realization of the Supreme, enriched by renunciation. You have the brilliance of an ideal brāhmaṇa, and thus may you achieve the post of spiritual master of the Purāṇas.
सूत उवाच । एवं वरान् स मुनये दत्त्वागात्त्र्यक्ष ईश्वरः । देव्यै तत्कर्म कथयन्ननुभूतं पुरामुना
sūta uvāca | evaṃ varān sa munaye dattvāgāttryakṣa īśvaraḥ | devyai tatkarma kathayannanubhūtaṃ purāmunā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Having thus granted Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi benedictions, Lord Śiva went on his way, continuing to describe to goddess Devī the accomplishments of the sage and the direct exhibition of the Lord’s illusory power that he had experienced.
सोऽप्यवाप्तमहायोगमहिमा भार्गवोत्तमः । विचरत्यधुनाप्यद्धा हरावेकान्ततां गतः
so'pyavāptamahāyogamahimā bhārgavottamaḥ | vicaratyadhunāpyaddhā harāvekāntatāṃ gataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, the best of the descendants of Bhṛgu, is glorious because of his achievement of perfection in mystic yoga. Even today he travels about this world, fully absorbed in unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
अनुवर्णितमेतत्ते मार्कण्डेयस्य धीमतः । अनुभूतं भगवतो मायावैभवमद्भुतम्
anuvarṇitametatte mārkaṇḍeyasya dhīmataḥ | anubhūtaṃ bhagavato māyāvaibhavamadbhutam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I have thus narrated to you the activities of the highly intelligent sage Mārkaṇḍeya, especially how he experienced the amazing power of the Supreme Lord’s illusory energy.
एतत्केचिदविद्वांसो मायासंसृतिरात्मनः । अनाद्यावर्तितं नॄणां कादाचित्कं प्रचक्षते
etatkecidavidvāṃso māyāsaṃsṛtirātmanaḥ | anādyāvartitaṃ nṝṇāṃ kādācitkaṃ pracakṣate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Although this event was unique and unprecedented, some unintelligent persons compare it to the cycle of illusory material existence the Supreme Lord has created for the conditioned souls — an endless cycle that has been continuing since time immemorial.
य एवमेतद्भृगुवर्यवर्णितं रथाङ्गपाणेरनुभावभावितम् । संश्रावयेत्संशृणुयादु तावुभौ तयोर्न कर्माशयसंसृतिर्भवेत्
ya evametadbhṛguvaryavarṇitaṃ rathāṅgapāṇeranubhāvabhāvitam | saṃśrāvayetsaṃśṛṇuyādu tāvubhau tayorna karmāśayasaṃsṛtirbhavet
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O best of the Bhṛgus, this account concerning Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi conveys the transcendental potency of the Supreme Lord. Anyone who properly narrates or hears it will never again undergo material existence, which is based on the desire to perform fruitive activities.
शौनक उवाच । अथेममर्थं पृच्छामो भवन्तं बहुवित्तमम् । समस्ततन्त्रराद्धान्ते भवान् भागवततत्त्ववित्
śaunaka uvāca | athemamarthaṃ pṛcchāmo bhavantaṃ bahuvittamam | samastatantrarāddhānte bhavān bhāgavatatattvavit
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrī Śaunaka said: O Sūta, you are the best of learned men and a great devotee of the Supreme Lord. Therefore we now inquire from you about the definitive conclusion of all tantra scriptures.
सूत उवाच । नमस्कृत्य गुरून् वक्ष्ये विभूतीर्वैष्णवीरपि । याः प्रोक्ता वेदतन्त्राभ्यामाचार्यैः पद्मजादिभिः
sūta uvāca | namaskṛtya gurūn vakṣye vibhūtīrvaiṣṇavīrapi | yāḥ proktā vedatantrābhyāmācāryaiḥ padmajādibhiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Offering obeisances to my spiritual masters, I shall repeat to you the description of the opulences of Lord Viṣṇu given in the Vedas and tantras by great authorities, beginning from lotus-born Brahmā.
मायाद्यैर्नवभिस्तत्त्वैः स विकारमयो विराट् । निर्मितो दृश्यते यत्र सचित्के भुवनत्रयम्
māyādyairnavabhistattvaiḥ sa vikāramayo virāṭ | nirmito dṛśyate yatra sacitke bhuvanatrayam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The universal form [virāṭ] of the Personality of Godhead includes the nine basic elements of creation, starting with the unmanifest nature, and their subsequent transformations. Once this universal form is instilled with consciousness, the three planetary systems become visible within it.
यावानयं वै पुरुषो यावत्या संस्थया मितः । तावानसावपि महापुरुषो लोकसंस्थया
yāvānayaṃ vai puruṣo yāvatyā saṃsthayā mitaḥ | tāvānasāvapi mahāpuruṣo lokasaṃsthayā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Just as one can determine the dimensions of an ordinary person of this world by measuring his various limbs, one can determine the dimensions of the Mahāpuruṣa by measuring the arrangement of the planetary systems within His universal form.
कौस्तुभव्यपदेशेन स्वात्मज्योतिर्बिभर्त्यजः । तत्प्रभा व्यापिनी साक्षाच्छ्रीवत्समुरसा विभुः
kaustubhavyapadeśena svātmajyotirbibhartyajaḥ | tatprabhā vyāpinī sākṣācchrīvatsamurasā vibhuḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Upon His chest the almighty, unborn Personality of Godhead bears the Kaustubha gem, which represents the pure spirit soul, along with the Śrīvatsa mark, which is the direct manifestation of this gem’s expansive effulgence.
अव्याकृतमनन्ताख्यमासनं यदधिष्ठितः । धर्मज्ञानादिभिर्युक्तं सत्त्वं पद्ममिहोच्यते
avyākṛtamanantākhyamāsanaṃ yadadhiṣṭhitaḥ | dharmajñānādibhiryuktaṃ sattvaṃ padmamihocyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Ananta, the Lord’s sitting place, is the unmanifest phase of material nature, and the Lord’s lotus throne is the mode of goodness, endowed with religion and knowledge.
इन्द्रियाणि शरानाहुराकूतीरस्य स्यन्दनम् । तन्मात्राण्यस्याभिव्यक्तिं मुद्रयार्थक्रियात्मताम्
indriyāṇi śarānāhurākūtīrasya syandanam | tanmātrāṇyasyābhivyaktiṃ mudrayārthakriyātmatām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
His arrows are said to be the senses, and His chariot is the active, forceful mind. His external appearance is the subtle objects of perception, and the gestures of His hands are the essence of all purposeful activity.
मण्डलं देवयजनं दीक्षा संस्कार आत्मनः । परिचर्या भगवत आत्मनो दुरितक्षयः
maṇḍalaṃ devayajanaṃ dīkṣā saṃskāra ātmanaḥ | paricaryā bhagavata ātmano duritakṣayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The sun globe is the place where the Supreme Lord is worshiped, spiritual initiation is the means of purification for the spirit soul, and rendering devotional service to the Personality of Godhead is the process for eradicating all one’s sinful reactions.
भगवान् भगशब्दार्थं लीलाकमलमुद्वहन् । धर्मं यशश्च भगवांश्चामरव्यजनेऽभजत्
bhagavān bhagaśabdārthaṃ līlākamalamudvahan | dharmaṃ yaśaśca bhagavāṃścāmaravyajane'bhajat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Playfully carrying a lotus, which represents the various opulences designated by the word bhaga, the Supreme Lord accepts service from a pair of cāmara fans, which are religion and fame.
आतपत्रं तु वैकुण्ठं द्विजा धामाकुतोभयम् । त्रिवृद्वेदः सुपर्णाख्यो यज्ञं वहति पूरुषम्
ātapatraṃ tu vaikuṇṭhaṃ dvijā dhāmākutobhayam | trivṛdvedaḥ suparṇākhyo yajñaṃ vahati pūruṣam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇas, the Lord’s umbrella is His spiritual abode, Vaikuṇṭha, where there is no fear, and Garuḍa, who carries the Lord of sacrifice, is the threefold Veda.
अनपायिनी भगवती श्रीः साक्षादात्मनो हरेः । विष्वक्सेनस्तन्त्रमूर्तिर्विदितः पार्षदाधिपः । नन्दादयोऽष्टौ द्वाःस्थाश्च तेऽणिमाद्या हरेर्गुणाः
anapāyinī bhagavatī śrīḥ sākṣādātmano hareḥ | viṣvaksenastantramūrtirviditaḥ pārṣadādhipaḥ | nandādayo'ṣṭau dvāḥsthāśca te'ṇimādyā harerguṇāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The goddess of fortune, Śrī, who never leaves the Lord’s side, appears with Him in this world as the representation of His internal potency. Viṣvaksena, the chief among His personal associates, is known to be the personification of the Pañcarātra and other tantras. And the Lord’s eight doorkeepers, headed by Nanda, are His mystic perfections, beginning with aṇimā.
वासुदेवः सङ्कर्षणः प्रद्युम्नः पुरुषः स्वयम् । अनिरुद्ध इति ब्रह्मन् मूर्तिव्यूहोऽभिधीयते
vāsudevaḥ saṅkarṣaṇaḥ pradyumnaḥ puruṣaḥ svayam | aniruddha iti brahman mūrtivyūho'bhidhīyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha are the names of the direct personal expansions of the Supreme Godhead, O brāhmaṇa Śaunaka.
स विश्वस्तैजसः प्राज्ञस्तुरीय इति वृत्तिभिः । अर्थेन्द्रियाशयज्ञानैर्भगवान् परिभाव्यते
sa viśvastaijasaḥ prājñasturīya iti vṛttibhiḥ | arthendriyāśayajñānairbhagavān paribhāvyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One can conceive of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in terms of awakened consciousness, sleep and deep sleep — which function respectively through external objects, the mind and material intelligence — and also in terms of the fourth, transcendental level of consciousness, which is characterized by pure knowledge.
अङ्गोपाङ्गायुधाकल्पैर्भगवांस्तच्चतुष्टयम् । बिभर्ति स्म चतुर्मूर्तिर्भगवान् हरिरीश्वरः
aṅgopāṅgāyudhākalpairbhagavāṃstaccatuṣṭayam | bibharti sma caturmūrtirbhagavān harirīśvaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari, thus appears in four personal expansions, each exhibiting major limbs, minor limbs, weapons and ornaments. Through these distinct features, the Lord maintains the four phases of existence.
द्विजऋषभ स एष ब्रह्मयोनिः स्वयन्दृक् स्वमहिमपरिपूर्णो मायया च स्वयैतत् । सृजति हरति पातीत्याख्ययानावृताक्षो विवृत इव निरुक्तस्तत्परैरात्मलभ्यः
dvijaṛṣabha sa eṣa brahmayoniḥ svayandṛk svamahimaparipūrṇo māyayā ca svayaitat | sṛjati harati pātītyākhyayānāvṛtākṣo vivṛta iva niruktastatparairātmalabhyaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O best of brāhmaṇas, He alone is the self-luminous, original source of the Vedas, perfect and complete in His own glory. By His material energy He creates, destroys and maintains this entire universe. Because He is the performer of various material functions, He is sometimes described as materially divided, yet He always remains transcendentally situated in pure knowledge. Those who are dedicated to Him in devotion can realize Him to be their true Soul.
श्रीकृष्ण कृष्णसख वृष्ण्यृषभावनिध्रुग्- राजन्यवंशदहनानपवर्गवीर्य । गोविन्द गोपवनिताव्रजभृत्यगीत- तीर्थश्रवः श्रवणमङ्गल पाहि भृत्यान्
śrīkṛṣṇa kṛṣṇasakha vṛṣṇyṛṣabhāvanidhrug- rājanyavaṃśadahanānapavargavīrya | govinda gopavanitāvrajabhṛtyagīta- tīrthaśravaḥ śravaṇamaṅgala pāhi bhṛtyān
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O Kṛṣṇa, O friend of Arjuna, O chief among the descendants of Vṛṣṇi, You are the destroyer of those political parties that are disturbing elements on this earth. Your prowess never deteriorates. You are the proprietor of the transcendental abode, and Your most sacred glories, which are sung by Vṛndāvana’s cowherd men and women and their servants, bestow all auspiciousness just by being heard. O Lord, please protect Your devotees.
य इदं कल्य उत्थाय महापुरुषलक्षणम् । तच्चित्तः प्रयतो जप्त्वा ब्रह्म वेद गुहाशयम्
ya idaṃ kalya utthāya mahāpuruṣalakṣaṇam | taccittaḥ prayato japtvā brahma veda guhāśayam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Anyone who rises early in the morning and, with a purified mind fixed upon the Mahāpuruṣa, quietly chants this description of His characteristics will realize Him as the Supreme Absolute Truth residing within the heart.
सूत उवाच । अनाद्यविद्यया विष्णोरात्मनः सर्वदेहिनाम् । निर्मितो लोकतन्त्रोऽयं लोकेषु परिवर्तते
sūta uvāca | anādyavidyayā viṣṇorātmanaḥ sarvadehinām | nirmito lokatantro'yaṃ lokeṣu parivartate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: The sun travels among all the planets and thus regulates their movements. It has been created by Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Soul of all embodied beings, through His beginningless material energy.
एक एव हि लोकानां सूर्य आत्माऽऽदिकृद्धरिः । सर्ववेदक्रियामूलमृषिभिर्बहुधोदितः
eka eva hi lokānāṃ sūrya ātmā''dikṛddhariḥ | sarvavedakriyāmūlamṛṣibhirbahudhoditaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The sun-god, being nondifferent from Lord Hari, is the one soul of all the worlds and their original creator. He is the source of all the ritualistic activities prescribed in the Vedas and has been given many names by the Vedic sages.
कालो देशः क्रिया कर्ता करणं कार्यमागमः । द्रव्यं फलमिति ब्रह्मन्नवधोक्तोऽजया हरिः
kālo deśaḥ kriyā kartā karaṇaṃ kāryamāgamaḥ | dravyaṃ phalamiti brahmannavadhokto'jayā hariḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Being the source of the material energy, the Personality of Godhead Lord Hari in His expansion as the sun-god is described in nine aspects, O Śaunaka: the time, the place, the endeavor, the performer, the instrument, the specific ritual, the scripture, the paraphernalia of worship and the result to be achieved.
मध्वादिषु द्वादशसु भगवान् कालरूपधृक् । लोकतन्त्राय चरति पृथग्द्वादशभिर्गणैः
madhvādiṣu dvādaśasu bhagavān kālarūpadhṛk | lokatantrāya carati pṛthagdvādaśabhirgaṇaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, manifesting His potency of time as the sun-god, travels about in each of the twelve months, beginning with Madhu, to regulate planetary motion within the universe. Traveling with the sun-god in each of the twelve months is a different set of six associates.
धाता कृतस्थली हेतिर्वासुकी रथकृन्मुने । पुलस्त्यस्तुम्बुरुरिति मधुमासं नयन्त्यमी
dhātā kṛtasthalī hetirvāsukī rathakṛnmune | pulastyastumbururiti madhumāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear sage, Dhātā as the sun-god, Kṛtasthalī as the Apsarā, Heti as the Rākṣasa, Vāsuki as the Nāga, Rathakṛt as the Yakṣa, Pulastya as the sage and Tumburu as the Gandharva rule the month of Madhu.
अर्यमा पुलहोऽथौजाः प्रहेतिः पुञ्जिकस्थली । नारदः कच्छनीरश्च नयन्त्येते स्म माधवम्
aryamā pulaho'thaujāḥ prahetiḥ puñjikasthalī | nāradaḥ kacchanīraśca nayantyete sma mādhavam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Aryamā as the sun-god, Pulaha as the sage, Athaujā as the Yakṣa, Praheti as the Rākṣasa, Puñjikasthalī as the Apsarā, Nārada as the Gandharva and Kacchanīra as the Nāga rule the month of Mādhava.
मित्रोऽत्रिः पौरुषेयोऽथ तक्षको मेनका हहाः । रथस्वन इति ह्येते शुक्रमासं नयन्त्यमी
mitro'triḥ pauruṣeyo'tha takṣako menakā hahāḥ | rathasvana iti hyete śukramāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mitra as the sun-god, Atri as the sage, Pauruṣeya as the Rākṣasa, Takṣaka as the Nāga, Menakā as the Apsarā, Hāhā as the Gandharva and Rathasvana as the Yakṣa rule the month of Śukra.
वसिष्ठो वरुणो रम्भा सहजन्यस्तथा हुहूः । शुक्रश्चित्रस्वनश्चैव शुचिमासं नयन्त्यमी
vasiṣṭho varuṇo rambhā sahajanyastathā huhūḥ | śukraścitrasvanaścaiva śucimāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Vasiṣṭha as the sage, Varuṇa as the sun-god, Rambhā as the Apsarā, Sahajanya as the Rākṣasa, Hūhū as the Gandharva, Śukra as the Nāga and Citrasvana as the Yakṣa rule the month of Śuci.
इन्द्रो विश्वावसुः श्रोता एलापत्रस्तथाङ्गिराः । प्रम्लोचा राक्षसो वर्यो नभोमासं नयन्त्यमी
indro viśvāvasuḥ śrotā elāpatrastathāṅgirāḥ | pramlocā rākṣaso varyo nabhomāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Indra as the sun-god, Viśvāvasu as the Gandharva, Śrotā as the Yakṣa, Elāpatra as the Nāga, Aṅgirā as the sage, Pramlocā as the Apsarā and Varya as the Rākṣasa rule the month of Nabhas.
विवस्वानुग्रसेनश्च व्याघ्र आसारणो भृगुः । अनुम्लोचा शङ्खपालो नभस्याख्यं नयन्त्यमी
vivasvānugrasenaśca vyāghra āsāraṇo bhṛguḥ | anumlocā śaṅkhapālo nabhasyākhyaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Vivasvān as the sun-god, Ugrasena as the Gandharva, Vyāghra as the Rākṣasa, Āsāraṇa as the Yakṣa, Bhṛgu as the sage, Anumlocā as the Apsarā and Śaṅkhapāla as the Nāga rule the month of Nabhasya.
पूषा धनञ्जयो वातः सुषेणः सुरुचिस्तथा । घृताची गौतमश्चेति तपोमासं नयन्त्यमी
pūṣā dhanañjayo vātaḥ suṣeṇaḥ surucistathā | ghṛtācī gautamaśceti tapomāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Pūṣā as the sun-god, Dhanañjaya as the Nāga, Vāta as the Rākṣasa, Suṣeṇa as the Gandharva, Suruci as the Yakṣa, Ghṛtācī as the Apsarā and Gautama as the sage rule the month of Tapas.
क्रतुर्वर्चा भरद्वाजः पर्जन्यः सेनजित्तथा । विश्व ऐरावतश्चैव तपस्याख्यं नयन्त्यमी
kraturvarcā bharadvājaḥ parjanyaḥ senajittathā | viśva airāvataścaiva tapasyākhyaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Ṛtu as the Yakṣa, Varcā as the Rākṣasa, Bharadvāja as the sage, Parjanya as the sun-god, Senajit as the Apsarā, Viśva as the Gandharva and Airāvata as the Nāga rule the month known as Tapasya.
अथांशुः कश्यपस्तार्क्ष्य ऋतसेनस्तथोर्वशी । विद्युच्छत्रुर्महाशङ्खः सहोमासं नयन्त्यमी
athāṃśuḥ kaśyapastārkṣya ṛtasenastathorvaśī | vidyucchatrurmahāśaṅkhaḥ sahomāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Aṁśu as the sun-god, Kaśyapa as the sage, Tārkṣya as the Yakṣa, Ṛtasena as the Gandharva, Urvaśī as the Apsarā, Vidyucchatru as the Rākṣasa and Mahāśaṅkha as the Nāga rule the month of Sahas.
भगः स्फूर्जोऽरिष्टनेमिरूर्ण आयुश्च पञ्चमः । कर्कोटकः पूर्वचित्तिः पुष्यमासं नयन्त्यमी
bhagaḥ sphūrjo'riṣṭanemirūrṇa āyuśca pañcamaḥ | karkoṭakaḥ pūrvacittiḥ puṣyamāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bhaga as the sun-god, Sphūrja as the Rākṣasa, Ariṣṭanemi as the Gandharva, Ūrṇa as the Yakṣa, Āyur as the sage, Karkoṭaka as the Nāga and Pūrvacitti as the Apsarā rule the month of Puṣya.
त्वष्टा ऋचीकतनयः कम्बलश्च तिलोत्तमा । ब्रह्मापेतोऽथ शतजिद्धृतराष्ट्र इषम्भराः
tvaṣṭā ṛcīkatanayaḥ kambalaśca tilottamā | brahmāpeto'tha śatajiddhṛtarāṣṭra iṣambharāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Tvaṣṭā as the sun-god; Jamadagni, the son of Ṛcīka, as the sage; Kambalāśva as the Nāga; Tilottamā as the Apsarā; Brahmāpeta as the Rākṣasa; Śatajit as the Yakṣa; and Dhṛtarāṣṭra as the Gandharva maintain the month of Iṣa.
विष्णुरश्वतरो रम्भा सूर्यवर्चाश्च सत्यजित् । विश्वामित्रो मखापेत ऊर्जमासं नयन्त्यमी
viṣṇuraśvataro rambhā sūryavarcāśca satyajit | viśvāmitro makhāpeta ūrjamāsaṃ nayantyamī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Viṣṇu as the sun-god, Aśvatara as the Nāga, Rambhā as the Apsarā, Sūryavarcā as the Gandharva, Satyajit as the Yakṣa, Viśvāmitra as the sage and Makhāpeta as the Rākṣasa rule the month of Ūrja.
एता भगवतो विष्णोरादित्यस्य विभूतयः । स्मरतां सन्ध्ययोर्नॄणां हरन्त्यंहो दिने दिने
etā bhagavato viṣṇorādityasya vibhūtayaḥ | smaratāṃ sandhyayornṝṇāṃ harantyaṃho dine dine
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
All these personalities are the opulent expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, in the form of the sun-god. These deities take away all the sinful reactions of those who remember them each day at dawn and sunset.
द्वादशस्वपि मासेषु देवोऽसौ षड्भिरस्य वै । चरन् समन्तात्तनुते परत्रेह च सन्मतिम्
dvādaśasvapi māseṣu devo'sau ṣaḍbhirasya vai | caran samantāttanute paratreha ca sanmatim
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Thus, throughout the twelve months, the lord of the sun travels in all directions with his six types of associates, disseminating among the inhabitants of this universe purity of consciousness for both this life and the next.
वालखिल्याः सहस्राणि षष्टिर्ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः । पुरतोऽभिमुखं यान्ति स्तुवन्ति स्तुतिभिर्विभुम्
vālakhilyāḥ sahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭirbrahmarṣayo'malāḥ | purato'bhimukhaṃ yānti stuvanti stutibhirvibhum
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Facing the chariot, the sixty thousand brāhmaṇa sages known as Vālakhilyas travel in front and offer prayers to the almighty sun-god with Vedic mantras.
एवं ह्यनादिनिधनो भगवान् हरिरीश्वरः । कल्पे कल्पे स्वमात्मानं व्यूह्य लोकानवत्यजः
evaṃ hyanādinidhano bhagavān harirīśvaraḥ | kalpe kalpe svamātmānaṃ vyūhya lokānavatyajaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
For the protection of all the worlds, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari, who is unborn and without beginning or end, thus expands Himself during each day of Brahmā into these specific categories of His personal representations.
सूत उवाच । नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य धर्मान् वक्ष्ये सनातनान्
sūta uvāca | namo dharmāya mahate namaḥ kṛṣṇāya vedhase | brāhmaṇebhyo namaskṛtya dharmān vakṣye sanātanān
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Offering my obeisances to the supreme religious principle, devotional service; to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme creator; and to all the brāhmaṇas, I shall now describe the eternal principles of religion.
एतद्वः कथितं विप्रा विष्णोश्चरितमद्भुतम् । भवद्भिर्यदहं पृष्टो नराणां पुरुषोचितम्
etadvaḥ kathitaṃ viprā viṣṇoścaritamadbhutam | bhavadbhiryadahaṃ pṛṣṭo narāṇāṃ puruṣocitam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O great sages, I have narrated to you the wonderful pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, as you inquired about them from me. Hearing such narrations is the suitable engagement for a person who is actually a human being.
अत्र सङ्कीर्तितः साक्षात्सर्वपापहरो हरिः । नारायणो हृषीकेशो भगवान् सात्वतां पतिः
atra saṅkīrtitaḥ sākṣātsarvapāpaharo hariḥ | nārāyaṇo hṛṣīkeśo bhagavān sātvatāṃ patiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This literature fully glorifies the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari, who removes all His devotees’ sinful reactions. The Lord is glorified as Nārāyaṇa, Hṛṣīkeśa and the Lord of the Sātvatas.
अत्र ब्रह्म परं गुह्यं जगतः प्रभवाप्ययम् । ज्ञानं च तदुपाख्यानं प्रोक्तं विज्ञानसंयुतम्
atra brahma paraṃ guhyaṃ jagataḥ prabhavāpyayam | jñānaṃ ca tadupākhyānaṃ proktaṃ vijñānasaṃyutam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This literature describes the mystery of the Supreme Absolute Truth, the source of the creation and annihilation of this universe. Also presented are divine knowledge of Him together with the process of its cultivation, and the transcendental realization one achieves.
भक्तियोगः समाख्यातो वैराग्यं च तदाश्रयम् । पारीक्षितमुपाख्यानं नारदाख्यानमेव च
bhaktiyogaḥ samākhyāto vairāgyaṃ ca tadāśrayam | pārīkṣitamupākhyānaṃ nāradākhyānameva ca
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The following topics are also narrated: the process of devotional service together with its subsidiary feature of renunciation, and the histories of Mahārāja Parīkṣit and the sage Nārada.
प्रायोपवेशो राजर्षेर्विप्रशापात्परीक्षितः । शुकस्य ब्रह्मर्षभस्य संवादश्च परीक्षितः
prāyopaveśo rājarṣervipraśāpātparīkṣitaḥ | śukasya brahmarṣabhasya saṃvādaśca parīkṣitaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Also described are saintly King Parīkṣit’s sitting down to fast until death in response to the curse of a brāhmaṇa’s son, and the conversations between Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who is the best of all brāhmaṇas.
योगधारणयोत्क्रान्तिः संवादो नारदाजयोः । अवतारानुगीतं च सर्गः प्राधानिकोऽग्रतः
yogadhāraṇayotkrāntiḥ saṃvādo nāradājayoḥ | avatārānugītaṃ ca sargaḥ prādhāniko'grataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Bhāgavatam explains how one can attain liberation at the time of death by practicing fixed meditation in yoga. It also contains a discussion between Nārada and Brahmā, an enumeration of the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and a description of how the universe was created in progressive sequence, beginning from the unmanifest stage of material nature.
विदुरोद्धवसंवादः क्षत्तृमैत्रेययोस्ततः । पुराणसंहिताप्रश्नो महापुरुषसंस्थितिः
viduroddhavasaṃvādaḥ kṣattṛmaitreyayostataḥ | purāṇasaṃhitāpraśno mahāpuruṣasaṃsthitiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This scripture also relates the discussions Vidura had with Uddhava and with Maitreya, inquiries about the subject matter of this Purāṇa, and the winding up of creation within the body of the Supreme Lord at the time of annihilation.
ततः प्राकृतिकः सर्गः सप्त वैकृतिकाश्च ये । ततो ब्रह्माण्डसम्भूतिर्वैराजः पुरुषो यतः
tataḥ prākṛtikaḥ sargaḥ sapta vaikṛtikāśca ye | tato brahmāṇḍasambhūtirvairājaḥ puruṣo yataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The creation effected by the agitation of the modes of material nature, the seven stages of evolution by elemental transformation, and the construction of the universal egg, from which arises the universal form of the Supreme Lord — all these are thoroughly described.
कालस्य स्थूलसूक्ष्मस्य गतिः पद्मसमुद्भवः । भुव उद्धरणेऽम्भोधेर्हिरण्याक्षवधो यथा
kālasya sthūlasūkṣmasya gatiḥ padmasamudbhavaḥ | bhuva uddharaṇe'mbhodherhiraṇyākṣavadho yathā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Other topics include the subtle and gross movements of time, the generation of the lotus from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and the killing of the demon Hiraṇyākṣa when the earth was delivered from the Garbhodaka Ocean.
ऊर्ध्वतिर्यगवाक्सर्गो रुद्रसर्गस्तथैव च । अर्धनारीनरस्याथ यतः स्वायम्भुवो मनुः
ūrdhvatiryagavāksargo rudrasargastathaiva ca | ardhanārīnarasyātha yataḥ svāyambhuvo manuḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Bhāgavatam also describes the creation of demigods, animals and demoniac species of life; the birth of Lord Rudra; and the appearance of Svāyambhuva Manu from the half-man, half-woman Īśvara.
शतरूपा च या स्त्रीणामाद्या प्रकृतिरुत्तमा । सन्तानो धर्मपत्नीनां कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः
śatarūpā ca yā strīṇāmādyā prakṛtiruttamā | santāno dharmapatnīnāṃ kardamasya prajāpateḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Also related are the appearance of the first woman, Śatarūpā, who was the excellent consort of Manu, and the offspring of the pious wives of Prajāpati Kardama.
अवतारो भगवतः कपिलस्य महात्मनः । देवहूत्याश्च संवादः कपिलेन च धीमता
avatāro bhagavataḥ kapilasya mahātmanaḥ | devahūtyāśca saṃvādaḥ kapilena ca dhīmatā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Bhāgavatam describes the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the exalted sage Kapila and records the conversation between that greatly learned soul and His mother, Devahūti.
द्वीपवर्षसमुद्राणां गिरिनद्युपवर्णनम् । ज्योतिश्चक्रस्य संस्थानं पातालनरकस्थितिः
dvīpavarṣasamudrāṇāṃ girinadyupavarṇanam | jyotiścakrasya saṃsthānaṃ pātālanarakasthitiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Bhāgavatam gives an elaborate description of the earth’s continents, regions, oceans, mountains and rivers. Also described are the arrangement of the celestial sphere and the conditions found in the subterranean regions and in hell.
दक्षजन्म प्रचेतोभ्यस्तत्पुत्रीणां च सन्ततिः । यतो देवासुरनरास्तिर्यङ्नगखगादयः
dakṣajanma pracetobhyastatputrīṇāṃ ca santatiḥ | yato devāsuranarāstiryaṅnagakhagādayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The rebirth of Prajāpati Dakṣa as the son of the Pracetās, and the progeny of Dakṣa’s daughters, who initiated the races of demigods, demons, human beings, animals, serpents, birds and so on — all this is described.
त्वाष्ट्रस्य जन्मनिधनं पुत्रयोश्च दितेर्द्विजाः । दैत्येश्वरस्य चरितं प्रह्लादस्य महात्मनः
tvāṣṭrasya janmanidhanaṃ putrayośca diterdvijāḥ | daityeśvarasya caritaṃ prahlādasya mahātmanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇas, also recounted are the births and deaths of Vṛtrāsura and of Diti’s sons Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu, as well as the history of the greatest of Diti’s descendants, the exalted soul Prahlāda.
मन्वन्तरानुकथनं गजेन्द्रस्य विमोक्षणम् । मन्वन्तरावताराश्च विष्णोर्हयशिरादयः
manvantarānukathanaṃ gajendrasya vimokṣaṇam | manvantarāvatārāśca viṣṇorhayaśirādayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The reign of each Manu, the liberation of Gajendra, and the special incarnations of Lord Viṣṇu in each manvantara, such as Lord Hayaśīrṣā, are described as well.
कौर्मं धान्वन्तरं मात्स्यं वामनं च जगत्पतेः । क्षीरोदमथनं तद्वदमृतार्थे दिवौकसाम्
kaurmaṃ dhānvantaraṃ mātsyaṃ vāmanaṃ ca jagatpateḥ | kṣīrodamathanaṃ tadvadamṛtārthe divaukasām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Bhāgavatam also tells of the appearances of the Lord of the universe as Kūrma, Matsya, Narasiṁha and Vāmana, and of the demigods’ churning of the Milk Ocean to obtain nectar.
देवासुरमहायुद्धं राजवंशानुकीर्तनम् । इक्ष्वाकुजन्म तद्वंशः सुद्युम्नस्य महात्मनः
devāsuramahāyuddhaṃ rājavaṃśānukīrtanam | ikṣvākujanma tadvaṃśaḥ sudyumnasya mahātmanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
An account of the great battle fought between the demigods and the demons, a systematic description of the dynasties of various kings, and narrations concerning Ikṣvāku’s birth, his dynasty and the dynasty of the pious Sudyumna — all are presented within this literature.
इलोपाख्यानमत्रोक्तं तारोपाख्यानमेव च । सूर्यवंशानुकथनं शशादाद्या नृगादयः
ilopākhyānamatroktaṃ tāropākhyānameva ca | sūryavaṃśānukathanaṃ śaśādādyā nṛgādayaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Also related are the histories of Ilā and Tārā, and the description of the descendants of the sun-god, including such kings as Śaśāda and Nṛga.
सौकन्यं चाथ शर्यातेः ककुत्स्थस्य च धीमतः । खट्वाङ्गस्य च मान्धातुः सौभरेः सगरस्य च
saukanyaṃ cātha śaryāteḥ kakutsthasya ca dhīmataḥ | khaṭvāṅgasya ca māndhātuḥ saubhareḥ sagarasya ca
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The histories of Sukanyā, Śaryāti, the intelligent Kakutstha, Khaṭvāṅga, Māndhātā, Saubhari and Sagara are narrated.
रामस्य कोसलेन्द्रस्य चरितं किल्बिषापहम् । निमेरङ्गपरित्यागो जनकानां च सम्भवः
rāmasya kosalendrasya caritaṃ kilbiṣāpaham | nimeraṅgaparityāgo janakānāṃ ca sambhavaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Bhāgavatam narrates the sanctifying pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra, the King of Kośala, and also explains how King Nimi abandoned his material body. The appearance of the descendants of King Janaka is also mentioned.
यत्रावतीर्णो भगवान् कृष्णाख्यो जगदीश्वरः । वसुदेवगृहे जन्म ततो वृद्धिश्च गोकुले
yatrāvatīrṇo bhagavān kṛṣṇākhyo jagadīśvaraḥ | vasudevagṛhe janma tato vṛddhiśca gokule
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
How Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Lord of the universe, descended into this Yadu dynasty, how He took birth in the home of Vasudeva, and how He then grew up in Gokula — all this is described in detail.
गोपानां च परित्राणं दावाग्नेः परिसर्पतः
gopānāṃ ca paritrāṇaṃ dāvāgneḥ parisarpataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam tells how Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma killed the demon Dhenukāsura and his companions, how Lord Balarāma destroyed Pralambāsura, and also how Kṛṣṇa saved the cowherd boys from a raging forest fire that had encircled them.
अक्रूरागमनं पश्चात्प्रस्थानं रामकृष्णयोः । व्रजस्त्रीणां विलापश्च मथुरालोकनं ततः
akrūrāgamanaṃ paścātprasthānaṃ rāmakṛṣṇayoḥ | vrajastrīṇāṃ vilāpaśca mathurālokanaṃ tataḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Bhāgavatam describes the arrival of Akrūra, the subsequent departure of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the lamentation of the gopīs and the touring of Mathurā.
गजमुष्टिकचाणूरकंसादीनां च यो वधः । मृतस्यानयनं सूनोः पुनः सान्दीपनेर्गुरोः
gajamuṣṭikacāṇūrakaṃsādīnāṃ ca yo vadhaḥ | mṛtasyānayanaṃ sūnoḥ punaḥ sāndīpanerguroḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Also narrated are how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma killed the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, the wrestlers Muṣṭika and Cāṇūra, and Kaṁsa and other demons, as well as how Kṛṣṇa brought back the dead son of His spiritual master, Sāndīpani Muni.
मथुरायां निवसता यदुचक्रस्य यत्प्रियम् । कृतमुद्धवरामाभ्यां युतेन हरिणा द्विजाः
mathurāyāṃ nivasatā yaducakrasya yatpriyam | kṛtamuddhavarāmābhyāṃ yutena hariṇā dvijāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Then, O brāhmaṇas, this scripture recounts how Lord Hari, while residing in Mathurā in the company of Uddhava and Balarāma, performed pastimes for the satisfaction of the Yadu dynasty.
जरासन्धसमानीतसैन्यस्य बहुशो वधः । घातनं यवनेन्द्रस्य कुशस्थल्या निवेशनम्
jarāsandhasamānītasainyasya bahuśo vadhaḥ | ghātanaṃ yavanendrasya kuśasthalyā niveśanam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Also described are the annihilation of each of the many armies brought by Jarāsandha, the killing of the barbarian king Kālayavana and the establishment of Dvārakā City.
आदानं पारिजातस्य सुधर्मायाः सुरालयात् । रुक्मिण्या हरणं युद्धे प्रमथ्य द्विषतो हरेः
ādānaṃ pārijātasya sudharmāyāḥ surālayāt | rukmiṇyā haraṇaṃ yuddhe pramathya dviṣato hareḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This work also describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa brought from heaven the pārijāta tree and the Sudharmā assembly hall, and how He kidnapped Rukmiṇī by defeating all His rivals in battle.
हरस्य जृम्भणं युद्धे बाणस्य भुजकृन्तनम् । प्राग्ज्योतिषपतिं हत्वा कन्यानां हरणं च यत्
harasya jṛmbhaṇaṃ yuddhe bāṇasya bhujakṛntanam | prāgjyotiṣapatiṃ hatvā kanyānāṃ haraṇaṃ ca yat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Also narrated are how Lord Kṛṣṇa, in the battle with Bāṇāsura, defeated Lord Śiva by making him yawn, how the Lord cut off Bāṇāsura’s arms, and how He killed the master of Prāgjyotiṣapura and then rescued the young princesses held captive in that city.
युगलक्षणवृत्तिश्च कलौ नॄणामुपप्लवः । चतुर्विधश्च प्रलय उत्पत्तिस्त्रिविधा तथा
yugalakṣaṇavṛttiśca kalau nṝṇāmupaplavaḥ | caturvidhaśca pralaya utpattistrividhā tathā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This work also describes people’s characteristics and behavior in the different ages, the chaos men experience in the Age of Kali, the four kinds of annihilation and the three kinds of creation.
देहत्यागश्च राजर्षेर्विष्णुरातस्य धीमतः । शाखाप्रणयनमृषेर्मार्कण्डेयस्य सत्कथा । महापुरुषविन्यासः सूर्यस्य जगदात्मनः
dehatyāgaśca rājarṣerviṣṇurātasya dhīmataḥ | śākhāpraṇayanamṛṣermārkaṇḍeyasya satkathā | mahāpuruṣavinyāsaḥ sūryasya jagadātmanaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
There are also an account of the passing away of the wise and saintly King Viṣṇurāta [Parīkṣit], an explanation of how Śrīla Vyāsadeva disseminated the branches of the Vedas, a pious narration concerning Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, and a description of the detailed arrangement of the Lord’s universal form and His form as the sun, the soul of the universe.
इति चोक्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठा यत्पृष्टोऽहमिहास्मि वः । लीलावतारकर्माणि कीर्तितानीह सर्वशः
iti coktaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhā yatpṛṣṭo'hamihāsmi vaḥ | līlāvatārakarmāṇi kīrtitānīha sarvaśaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Thus, O best of the brāhmaṇas , I have explained herein what you have inquired from me. This literature has glorified in full detail the activities of the Lord’s pastime incarnations.
पतितः स्खलितश्चार्तः क्षुत्त्वा वा विवशो ब्रुवन् । हरये नम इत्युच्चैर्मुच्यते सर्वपातकात्
patitaḥ skhalitaścārtaḥ kṣuttvā vā vivaśo bruvan | haraye nama ityuccairmucyate sarvapātakāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
If when falling, slipping, feeling pain or sneezing one involuntarily cries out in a loud voice, “Obeisances to Lord Hari!” one will be automatically freed from all his sinful reactions.
सङ्कीर्त्यमानो भगवाननन्तः श्रुतानुभावो व्यसनं हि पुंसाम् । प्रविश्य चित्तं विधुनोत्यशेषं यथा तमोऽर्कोऽभ्रमिवातिवातः
saṅkīrtyamāno bhagavānanantaḥ śrutānubhāvo vyasanaṃ hi puṃsām | praviśya cittaṃ vidhunotyaśeṣaṃ yathā tamo'rko'bhramivātivātaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When people properly glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead or simply hear about His power, the Lord personally enters their hearts and cleanses away every trace of misfortune, just as the sun removes the darkness or as a powerful wind drives away the clouds.
मृषा गिरस्ता ह्यसतीरसत्कथा न कथ्यते यद्भगवानधोक्षजः । तदेव सत्यं तदु हैव मङ्गलं तदेव पुण्यं भगवद्गुणोदयम्
mṛṣā girastā hyasatīrasatkathā na kathyate yadbhagavānadhokṣajaḥ | tadeva satyaṃ tadu haiva maṅgalaṃ tadeva puṇyaṃ bhagavadguṇodayam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Words that do not describe the transcendental Personality of Godhead but instead deal with temporary matters are simply false and useless. Only those words that manifest the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord are actually truthful, auspicious and pious.
तदेव रम्यं रुचिरं नवं नवं तदेव शश्वन्मनसो महोत्सवम् । तदेव शोकार्णवशोषणं नृणां यदुत्तमश्लोकयशोऽनुगीयते
tadeva ramyaṃ ruciraṃ navaṃ navaṃ tadeva śaśvanmanaso mahotsavam | tadeva śokārṇavaśoṣaṇaṃ nṛṇāṃ yaduttamaślokayaśo'nugīyate
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Those words describing the glories of the all-famous Personality of Godhead are attractive, relishable and ever fresh. Indeed, such words are a perpetual festival for the mind, and they dry up the ocean of misery.
न तद्वचश्चित्रपदं हरेर्यशो जगत्पवित्रं प्रगृणीत कर्हिचित् । तद्ध्वाङ्क्षतीर्थं न तु हंससेवितं यत्राच्युतस्तत्र हि साधवोऽमलाः
na tadvacaścitrapadaṃ hareryaśo jagatpavitraṃ pragṛṇīta karhicit | taddhvāṅkṣatīrthaṃ na tu haṃsasevitaṃ yatrācyutastatra hi sādhavo'malāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Those words that do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows, and are never resorted to by those situated in transcendental knowledge. The pure and saintly devotees take interest only in topics glorifying the infallible Supreme Lord.
स वाग्विसर्गो जनताघसम्प्लवो यस्मिन् प्रतिश्लोकमबद्धवत्यपि । नामान्यनन्तस्य यशोऽङ्कितानि य- च्छृण्वन्ति गायन्ति गृणन्ति साधवः
sa vāgvisargo janatāghasamplavo yasmin pratiślokamabaddhavatyapi | nāmānyanantasya yaśo'ṅkitāni ya- cchṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes and so on of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.
नैष्कर्म्यमप्यच्युतभाववर्जितं न शोभते ज्ञानमलं निरञ्जनम् । कुतः पुनः शश्वदभद्रमीश्वरे न ह्यर्पितं कर्म यदप्यनुत्तमम्
naiṣkarmyamapyacyutabhāvavarjitaṃ na śobhate jñānamalaṃ nirañjanam | kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvadabhadramīśvare na hyarpitaṃ karma yadapyanuttamam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of even the most properly performed fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?
यशः श्रियामेव परिश्रमः परो वर्णाश्रमाचारतपःश्रुतादिषु । अविस्मृतिः श्रीधरपादपद्मयो- र्गुणानुवादश्रवणादिभिर्हरेः
yaśaḥ śriyāmeva pariśramaḥ paro varṇāśramācāratapaḥśrutādiṣu | avismṛtiḥ śrīdharapādapadmayo- rguṇānuvādaśravaṇādibhirhareḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The great endeavor one undergoes in executing the ordinary social and religious duties of the varṇāśrama system, in performing austerities, and in hearing from the Vedas culminates only in the achievement of mundane fame and opulence. But by respecting and attentively hearing the recitation of the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord, the husband of the goddess of fortune, one can remember His lotus feet.
अविस्मृतिः कृष्णपदारविन्दयोः क्षिणोत्यभद्राणि शमं तनोति च । सत्त्वस्य शुद्धिं परमात्मभक्तिं ज्ञानं च विज्ञानविरागयुक्तम्
avismṛtiḥ kṛṣṇapadāravindayoḥ kṣiṇotyabhadrāṇi śamaṃ tanoti ca | sattvasya śuddhiṃ paramātmabhaktiṃ jñānaṃ ca vijñānavirāgayuktam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet destroys everything inauspicious and awards the greatest good fortune. It purifies the heart and bestows devotion for the Supreme Soul, along with knowledge enriched with realization and renunciation.
यूयं द्विजाग्र्या बत भूरिभागा यच्छश्वदात्मन्यखिलात्मभूतम् । नारायणं देवमदेवमीश- मजस्रभावा भजताऽऽविवेश्य
yūyaṃ dvijāgryā bata bhūribhāgā yacchaśvadātmanyakhilātmabhūtam | nārāyaṇaṃ devamadevamīśa- majasrabhāvā bhajatā''viveśya
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O most eminent of brāhmaṇas, you are all indeed extremely fortunate, since you have already placed within your hearts Lord Śrī Nārāyaṇa — the Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller and the ultimate Soul of all existence — beyond whom there is no other god. You have undeviating love for Him, and thus I request you to worship Him.
अहं च संस्मारित आत्मतत्त्वं श्रुतं पुरा मे परमर्षिवक्त्रात् । प्रायोपवेशे नृपतेः परीक्षितः सदस्यृषीणां महतां च शृण्वताम्
ahaṃ ca saṃsmārita ātmatattvaṃ śrutaṃ purā me paramarṣivaktrāt | prāyopaveśe nṛpateḥ parīkṣitaḥ sadasyṛṣīṇāṃ mahatāṃ ca śṛṇvatām
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I also have now been fully reminded of the science of God, which I previously heard from the mouth of the great sage Śukadeva Gosvāmī. I was present in the assembly of great sages who heard him speak to King Parīkṣit as the monarch sat fasting until death.
एतद्वः कथितं विप्राः कथनीयोरुकर्मणः । माहात्म्यं वासुदेवस्य सर्वाशुभविनाशनम्
etadvaḥ kathitaṃ viprāḥ kathanīyorukarmaṇaḥ | māhātmyaṃ vāsudevasya sarvāśubhavināśanam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇas, I have thus described to you the glories of the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, whose extraordinary activities are most worthy of glorification. This narration destroys all that is inauspicious.
य एवं श्रावयेन्नित्यं यामक्षणमनन्यधीः । (श्लोकमेकं तदर्धं वा पादं पादार्धमेव वा ।) श्रद्धावान् योऽनुशृणुयात्पुनात्यात्मानमेव सः
ya evaṃ śrāvayennityaṃ yāmakṣaṇamananyadhīḥ | (ślokamekaṃ tadardhaṃ vā pādaṃ pādārdhameva vā |) śraddhāvān yo'nuśṛṇuyātpunātyātmānameva saḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One who with undeviating attention constantly recites this literature at every moment of every hour, as well as one who faithfully hears even one verse or half a verse or a single line or even half a line, certainly purifies his very self.
द्वादश्यामेकादश्यां वा शृण्वन्नायुष्यवान् भवेत् । पठत्यनश्नन् प्रयतः ततो भवत्यपातकी
dvādaśyāmekādaśyāṃ vā śṛṇvannāyuṣyavān bhavet | paṭhatyanaśnan prayataḥ tato bhavatyapātakī
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One who hears this Bhāgavatam on the Ekādaśī or Dvādaśī day is assured of long life, and one who recites it with careful attention while fasting is purified of all sinful reactions.
पुष्करे मथुरायां च द्वारवत्यां यतात्मवान् । उपोष्य संहितामेतां पठित्वा मुच्यते भयात्
puṣkare mathurāyāṃ ca dvāravatyāṃ yatātmavān | upoṣya saṃhitāmetāṃ paṭhitvā mucyate bhayāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
One who controls his mind, fasts at the holy places Puṣkara, Mathurā or Dvārakā, and studies this scripture will be freed from all fear.
देवता मुनयः सिद्धाः पितरो मनवो नृपाः । यच्छन्ति कामान् गृणतः शृण्वतो यस्य कीर्तनात्
devatā munayaḥ siddhāḥ pitaro manavo nṛpāḥ | yacchanti kāmān gṛṇataḥ śṛṇvato yasya kīrtanāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Upon the person who glorifies this Purāṇa by chanting or hearing it, the demigods, sages, Siddhas, Pitās, Manus and kings of the earth bestow all desirable things.
ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि द्विजोऽधीत्यानुविन्दते । मधुकुल्या घृतकुल्याः पयःकुल्याश्च तत्फलम्
ṛco yajūṃṣi sāmāni dvijo'dhītyānuvindate | madhukulyā ghṛtakulyāḥ payaḥkulyāśca tatphalam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
By studying this Bhāgavatam, a brāhmaṇa can enjoy the same rivers of honey, ghee and milk he enjoys by studying the hymns of the Ṛg, Yajur and Sāma Vedas.
पुराणसंहितामेतामधीत्य प्रयतो द्विजः । प्रोक्तं भगवता यत्तु तत्पदं परमं व्रजेत्
purāṇasaṃhitāmetāmadhītya prayato dvijaḥ | proktaṃ bhagavatā yattu tatpadaṃ paramaṃ vrajet
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A brāhmaṇa who diligently reads this essential compilation of all the Purāṇas will go to the supreme destination, which the Supreme Lord Himself has herein described.
विप्रोऽधीत्याप्नुयात्प्रज्ञां राजन्योदधिमेखलाम् । वैश्यो निधिपतित्वं च शूद्रः शुध्येत पातकात्
vipro'dhītyāpnuyātprajñāṃ rājanyodadhimekhalām | vaiśyo nidhipatitvaṃ ca śūdraḥ śudhyeta pātakāt
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A brāhmaṇa who studies the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam achieves firm intelligence in devotional service, a king who studies it gains sovereignty over the earth, a vaiśya acquires great treasure and a śūdra is freed from sinful reactions.
कलिमलसंहतिकालनोऽखिलेशो हरिरितरत्र न गीयते ह्यभीक्ष्णम् । इह तु पुनर्भगवानशेषमूर्तिः परिपठितोऽनुपदं कथाप्रसङ्गैः
kalimalasaṃhatikālano'khileśo hariritaratra na gīyate hyabhīkṣṇam | iha tu punarbhagavānaśeṣamūrtiḥ paripaṭhito'nupadaṃ kathāprasaṅgaiḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lord Hari, the supreme controller of all beings, annihilates the accumulated sins of the Kali age, yet other literatures do not constantly glorify Him. But that Supreme Personality of Godhead, appearing in His innumerable personal expansions, is abundantly and constantly described throughout the various narrations of this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
तमहमजमनन्तमात्मतत्त्वं जगदुदयस्थितिसंयमात्मशक्तिम् । द्युपतिभिरजशक्रशङ्कराद्यैः दुरवसितस्तवमच्युतं नतोऽस्मि
tamahamajamanantamātmatattvaṃ jagadudayasthitisaṃyamātmaśaktim | dyupatibhirajaśakraśaṅkarādyaiḥ duravasitastavamacyutaṃ nato'smi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I bow down to that unborn and infinite Supreme Soul, whose personal energies effect the creation, maintenance and destruction of the material universe. Even Brahmā, Indra, Śaṅkara and the other lords of the heavenly planets cannot fathom the glories of that infallible Personality of Godhead.
उपचितनवशक्तिभिः स्व आत्मनि उपरचितस्थिरजङ्गमालयाय । भगवत उपलब्धिमात्रधाम्ने सुरऋषभाय नमः सनातनाय
upacitanavaśaktibhiḥ sva ātmani uparacitasthirajaṅgamālayāya | bhagavata upalabdhimātradhāmne suraṛṣabhāya namaḥ sanātanāya
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I offer my obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the eternal Lord and the leader of all other deities, who by evolving His nine material energies has arranged within Himself the abode of all moving and nonmoving creatures, and who is always situated in pure, transcendental consciousness.
स्वसुखनिभृतचेतास्तद्व्युदस्तान्यभावो- ऽप्यजितरुचिरलीलाकृष्टसारस्तदीयम् । व्यतनुत कृपया यस्तत्त्वदीपं पुराणं तमखिलवृजिनघ्नं व्याससूनुं नतोऽस्मि
svasukhanibhṛtacetāstadvyudastānyabhāvo- 'pyajitaruciralīlākṛṣṭasārastadīyam | vyatanuta kṛpayā yastattvadīpaṃ purāṇaṃ tamakhilavṛjinaghnaṃ vyāsasūnuṃ nato'smi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the son of Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī. It is he who defeats all inauspicious things within this universe. Although in the beginning he was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realization and was living in a secluded place, giving up all other types of consciousness, he became attracted by the pleasing, most melodious pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He therefore mercifully spoke this supreme Purāṇa, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the activities of the Lord.
यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्ररुद्रमरुतः स्तुन्वन्ति दिव्यैः स्तवै र्वेदैः साङ्गपदक्रमोपनिषदैर्गायन्ति यं सामगाः। ध्यानावस्थिततद्गतेन मनसा पश्यन्ति यं योगिनो यस्यान्तं न विदुः सुरासुरगणा देवाय तस्मै नमः॥
yaṁ brahmā varuṇendra-rudra-marutaḥ stunvanti divyaiḥ stavair vedaiḥ sāṅga-pada-kramopaniṣadair gāyanti yaṁ sāma-gāḥ dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yogino yasyāntaṁ na viduḥ surāsura-gaṇā devāya tasmai namaḥ
Meaning (English)
To that Lord whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra, and the Maruts praise with celestial hymns; whom the chanters of Sama sing through the Vedas with all their branches; whom yogis behold with minds absorbed in meditation; whose limits even the hosts of gods and demons cannot fathom — to that Deity I offer obeisance.
पृष्ठे भ्राम्यदमन्दमन्दरगिरिग्रावाग्रकण्डूयनात् निद्रालोः कमठाकृतेर्भगवतः श्वासानिलाः पान्तु वः । यत्संस्कारकलानुवर्तनवशाद्वेलानिभेनाम्भसां यातायातमतन्द्रितं जलनिधेर्नाद्यापि विश्राम्यति
pṛṣṭhe bhrāmyadamandamandaragirigrāvāgrakaṇḍūyanāt nidrāloḥ kamaṭhākṛterbhagavataḥ śvāsānilāḥ pāntu vaḥ | yatsaṃskārakalānuvartanavaśādvelānibhenāmbhasāṃ yātāyātamatandritaṃ jalanidhernādyāpi viśrāmyati
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Lord Kūrma, a tortoise, His back was scratched by the sharp-edged stones lying on massive, whirling Mount Mandara, and this scratching made the Lord sleepy. May you all be protected by the winds caused by the Lord’s breathing in this sleepy condition. Ever since that time, even up to the present day, the ocean tides have imitated the Lord’s inhalation and exhalation by piously coming in and going out.
पुराणसङ्ख्यासम्भूतिमस्य वाच्यप्रयोजने । दानं दानस्य माहात्म्यं पाठादेश्च निबोधत
purāṇasaṅkhyāsambhūtimasya vācyaprayojane | dānaṃ dānasya māhātmyaṃ pāṭhādeśca nibodhata
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Now please hear a summation of the verse length of each of the Purāṇas. Then hear of the prime subject and purpose of this Bhāgavata Purāṇa, the proper method of giving it as a gift, the glories of such gift-giving, and finally the glories of hearing and chanting this literature.
इदं भगवता पूर्वं ब्रह्मणे नाभिपङ्कजे । स्थिताय भवभीताय कारुण्यात्सम्प्रकाशितम्
idaṃ bhagavatā pūrvaṃ brahmaṇe nābhipaṅkaje | sthitāya bhavabhītāya kāruṇyātsamprakāśitam
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
It was to Lord Brahmā that the Supreme Personality of Godhead first revealed the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in full. At the time, Brahmā, frightened by material existence, was sitting on the lotus flower that had grown from the Lord’s navel.
प्रौष्ठपद्यां पौर्णमास्यां हेमसिंहसमन्वितम् । ददाति यो भागवतं स याति परमां गतिम्
prauṣṭhapadyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ hemasiṃhasamanvitam | dadāti yo bhāgavataṃ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
If on the full moon day of the month of Bhādra one places Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.
राजन्ते तावदन्यानि पुराणानि सतां गणे । यावन्न दृश्यते साक्षात्श्रीमद्भागवतं परम्
rājante tāvadanyāni purāṇāni satāṃ gaṇe | yāvanna dṛśyate sākṣātśrīmadbhāgavataṃ param
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
All other Purāṇic scriptures shine forth in the assembly of saintly devotees only as long as that great ocean of nectar, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is not heard.
(यावद्भागवतं नैव श्रूयतेऽमृतसागरं) सर्ववेदान्तसारं हि श्रीभागवतमिष्यते । तद्रसामृततृप्तस्य नान्यत्र स्याद्रतिः क्वचित्
(yāvadbhāgavataṃ naiva śrūyate'mṛtasāgaraṃ) sarvavedāntasāraṃ hi śrībhāgavatamiṣyate | tadrasāmṛtatṛptasya nānyatra syādratiḥ kvacit
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is declared to be the essence of all Vedānta philosophy. One who has felt satisfaction from its nectarean mellow will never be attracted to any other literature.
निम्नगानां यथा गङ्गा देवानामच्युतो यथा । वैष्णवानां यथा शम्भुः पुराणानामिदं तथा
nimnagānāṃ yathā gaṅgā devānāmacyuto yathā | vaiṣṇavānāṃ yathā śambhuḥ purāṇānāmidaṃ tathā
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Just as the Gaṅgā is the greatest of all rivers, Lord Acyuta the supreme among deities and Lord Śambhu [Śiva] the greatest of Vaiṣṇavas, so Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the greatest of all Purāṇas.
क्षेत्राणां चैव सर्वेषां यथा काशी ह्यनुत्तमा । तथा पुराणव्रातानां श्रीमद्भागवतं द्विजाः
kṣetrāṇāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ yathā kāśī hyanuttamā | tathā purāṇavrātānāṃ śrīmadbhāgavataṃ dvijāḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O brāhmaṇas, in the same way that the city of Kāśī is unexcelled among holy places, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is supreme among all the Purāṇas.
श्रीमद्भागवतं पुराणममलं यद्वैष्णवानां प्रियं यस्मिन् पारमहंस्यमेकममलं ज्ञानं परं गीयते । तत्र ज्ञानविरागभक्तिसहितं नैष्कर्म्यमाविस्कृतं तच्छृण्वन्विपठन्विचारणपरो भक्त्या विमुच्येन्नरः
śrīmadbhāgavataṃ purāṇamamalaṃ yadvaiṣṇavānāṃ priyaṃ yasmin pāramahaṃsyamekamamalaṃ jñānaṃ paraṃ gīyate | tatra jñānavirāgabhaktisahitaṃ naiṣkarmyamāviskṛtaṃ tacchṛṇvanvipaṭhanvicāraṇaparo bhaktyā vimucyennaraḥ
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa. It is most dear to the Vaiṣṇavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas. This Bhāgavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.
कस्मै येन विभासितोऽयमतुलो ज्ञानप्रदीपः पुरा तद्रूपेण च नारदाय मुनये कृष्णाय तद्रूपिणा । योगीन्द्राय तदात्मनाथ भगवद्राताय कारुण्यतः तच्छुद्धं विमलं विशोकममृतं सत्यं परं धीमहि
kasmai yena vibhāsito'yamatulo jñānapradīpaḥ purā tadrūpeṇa ca nāradāya munaye kṛṣṇāya tadrūpiṇā | yogīndrāya tadātmanātha bhagavadrātāya kāruṇyataḥ tacchuddhaṃ vimalaṃ viśokamamṛtaṃ satyaṃ paraṃ dhīmahi
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I meditate upon that pure and spotless Supreme Absolute Truth, who is free from suffering and death and who in the beginning personally revealed this incomparable torchlight of knowledge to Brahmā. Brahmā then spoke it to the sage Nārada, who narrated it to Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa. Śrīla Vyāsa revealed this Bhāgavatam to the greatest of sages, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and Śukadeva mercifully spoke it to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
नमस्तस्मै भगवते वासुदेवाय साक्षिणे । य इदं कृपया कस्मै व्याचचक्षे मुमुक्षवे
namastasmai bhagavate vāsudevāya sākṣiṇe | ya idaṃ kṛpayā kasmai vyācacakṣe mumukṣave
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
We offer our obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vāsudeva, the all-pervading witness, who mercifully explained this science to Brahmā when he anxiously desired salvation.
योगीन्द्राय नमस्तस्मै शुकाय ब्रह्मरूपिणे । संसारसर्पदष्टं यो विष्णुरातममूमुचत्
yogīndrāya namastasmai śukāya brahmarūpiṇe | saṃsārasarpadaṣṭaṃ yo viṣṇurātamamūmucat
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I offer my humble obeisances to Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the best of mystic sages and a personal manifestation of the Absolute Truth. He saved Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who was bitten by the snake of material existence.
भवे भवे यथा भक्तिः पादयोस्तव जायते । तथा कुरुष्व देवेश नाथस्त्वं नो यतः प्रभो
bhave bhave yathā bhaktiḥ pādayostava jāyate | tathā kuruṣva deveśa nāthastvaṃ no yataḥ prabho
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
O Lord of lords, O master, please grant us pure devotional service at Your lotus feet, life after life.
नामसङ्कीर्तनं यस्य सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । प्रणामो दुःखशमनस्तं नमामि हरिं परम्
nāmasaṅkīrtanaṃ yasya sarvapāpapraṇāśanam | praṇāmo duḥkhaśamanastaṃ namāmi hariṃ param
Meaning (English) — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.