S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 11
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
*******
Canto 11: 'General History'
*******
Chapter five: Nârada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva
******
TEXT 1
s'rî-râjovâca
bhagavantam harim prâyo
na bhajanty âtma-vittamâh
teshâm as'ânta-kâmânâm
ka nisthhâvijitâtmanâm
s'rî-râjâ uvâca - King Nimi inquired; bhagavantam - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; harim - Hari; prâyah - for the most part; na - never; bhajanti - who worship; âtma-vittamâh - all of you are most perfect in knowledge of the science of the self; teshâm - of them; as'ânta - unquenched; kâmânâm - material desires; kâ - what; nisthhâ - destination; avijita - who are not able to control; âtmanâm - themselves.
TRANSLATION
King Nimi further inquired - My dear Yogendras, all of you are most perfect in knowledge of the science of the self. Therefore, kindly explain to me the destination of those who for the most part never worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who are unable to quench their material desires and who are not in control of their own selves.
******
TEXT 2
s'rî-camasa uvâca
mukha-bâhûru-pâdebhyah
purushasyâs'ramaih saha
catvâro jajñire varnâ
gunair viprâdayah prithak
s'rî-camasah uvâca - S'rî Camasa said; mukha - face; bâhu - arms; ûru - thighs; pâdebhyah - from the feet; purushasya - of the Supreme Lord; âs'ramaih - the four spiritual orders; saha - with; catvârah - four; jajñire - were born; varnâh - the social orders; gunaih - by the modes of nature; vipra-âdayah - headed by the brâhmanas; prithak - various.
TRANSLATION
S'rî Camasa said - Each of the four social orders, headed by the brâhmanas, was born through different combinations of the modes of nature, from the face, arms, thighs and feet of the Supreme Lord in His universal form. Thus the four spiritual orders were also generated.
******
TEXT 3
ya eshâm purusham sâkshâd
âtma-prabhavam îs'varam
na bhajanty avajânanti
sthânâd bhrasthâh patanty adhah
yah - one who; eshâm - of them; purusham - the Supreme Lord; sâkshât - directly; âtma-prabhavam - the source of their own creation; îs'varam - the supreme controller; na - do not; bhajanti - worship; avajânanti - disrespect; sthânât - from their position; bhrasthâh - fallen; patanti - they fall; adhah - down.
TRANSLATION
If any of the members of the four varnas and four âs'ramas fail to worship or intentionally disrespect the Personality of Godhead, who is the source of their own creation, they will fall down from their position into a hellish state of life.
******
TEXT 4
dûre hari-kathâh kecid
dûre câcyuta-kîrtanâh
striyah s'ûdrâdayas' caiva
te 'nukampyâ bhavâdris'âm
dûre - far away; han-kathâh - from discussion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; kecit - many persons; dûre - far away; ca - and; acyuta - infallible; kîrtanâh - glories; striyah - women; s'ûdra-âdayah - s'ûdras and other fallen classes; ca - and; eva - indeed; te - they; anukampyâh - deserve the mercy; bhavâdris'âm - of personalities like yourself.
TRANSLATION
There are many persons who have little opportunity to take part in discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and thus it is difficult for them to chant His infallible glories. Persons such as women, s'ûdras and other fallen classes always deserve the mercy of great personalities like yourself.
******
TEXT 5
vipro râjanya-vais'yau vâ
hareh prâptâh padântikam
s'rautena janmanâthâpi
muhyanty âmnâya-vâdinah
viprah - the brâhmanas; râjanya-vais'yau - of the royal order and the vais'yas; vâ - or; hareh - of the Supreme Lord, Hari; prâptâh - after being allowed to approach; pada-antikam - near the lotus feet; s'rautena janmanâ - by having received the second birth of Vedic initiation; atha - then; api - even; muhyanti - bewildered; âmnâya-vâdinah - adopting various materialistic philosophies.
TRANSLATION
On the other hand, brâhmanas, members of the royal order and vais'yas, even after being allowed to approach the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, Hari, by receiving the second birth of Vedic initiation, can become bewildered and adopt various materialistic philosophies.
******
TEXT 6
karmany akovidâh stabdhâ
mûrkhâh pandita-mâninah
vadanti câthukân mûdhâ
yayâ mâdhvyâ girotsukâh
karmani - about the facts of fruitive work; akovidâh - ignorant; stabdhâh - puffed up by false pride; mûrkhâh - fools; pandita-mâninah - thinking themselves great scholars; vadanti - they speak; câthukân - flattering entreaties; mûdhâh - bewildered; yayâ - by which; mâdhvyâ - sweet; girâ - words; utsukâh - very eager.
TRANSLATION
Ignorant of the art of work, such arrogantly proud fools, enchanted and enlivened by the sweet words of the Vedas, pose as learned authorities and offer flattering entreaties to the demigods.
******
TEXT 7
rajasâ ghora-sankalpâh
kâmukâ ahi-manyavah
dâmbhikâ mâninah pâpâ
vihasanty acyuta-priyân
rajasâ - by the prominence of the mode of passion; ghora-sankalpâh - having horrible desires; kâmukâh - lusty; ahi-manyavah - their anger like that of a snake; dâmbhikâh - deceitful; mâninah - overly proud; pâpâh - sinful; vihasanti - they make fun; acyuta-priyân - of those who are dear to the infallible Supreme Lord.
TRANSLATION
Due to the influence of the mode of passion, the materialistic followers of the Vedas become subject to violent desires and are excessively lusty. Their anger is like that of a snake. Deceitful, overly proud, and sinful in their behavior, they mock the devotees who are dear to Lord Acyuta.
******
TEXT 8
vadanti te 'nyonyam upâsita-striyo
griheshu maithunya-pareshu câs'ishah
yajanty asristhânna-vidhâna-dakshinam
vrittyai param ghnanti pas'ûn atad-vidah
vadanti - speak; te - they; anyonyam - among each other; upâsita-striyah - who are engaged in worshiping women; griheshu - in their homes; maithunya-pareshu - which are dedicated to sex only; ca - and; âs'ishah - blessings; yajanti - they worship; asristha - without discharging; anna-vidhâna - distribution of food; dakshinam - gifts in payment to the priests; vrittyai - for their own livelihood; param - only; ghnanti - they murder; pas'ûn - animals; atat-vidah - in ignorance of the consequences of such behavior.
TRANSLATION
The materialistic followers of Vedic rituals, giving up the worship of the Lord, instead practically worship their wives, and thus their homes become dedicated to sex life. Such materialistic householders encourage one another in such whimsical behavior. Understanding ritualistic sacrifice as a necessary item for bodily maintenance, they perform unauthorized ceremonies in which there is no distribution of foodstuffs or charity to the brâhmanas and other respectable persons. Instead, they cruelly slaughter animals such as goats without any understanding of the dark consequences of their activities.
******
TEXT 9
s'riyâ vibhûtyâbhijanena vidyayâ
tyâgena rûpena balena karmanâ
jâta-smayenândha-dhiyah sahes'varân
sato 'vamanyanti hari-priyân khalâh
s'riyâ - by their opulence (wealth, etc.); vibhûtyâ - special abilities; abhijanena - aristocratic heritage; vidyayâ - education; tyâgena - renunciation; rûpena - beauty; balena - strength; karmanâ - performance of Vedic rituals; jâta - which is born; smayena - by such pride; andha - blinded; dhiyah - whose intelligence; saha-îs'varân - along with the Supreme Lord Himself; satah - the saintly devotees; avamanyanti - they disrespect; hari-priyân - who are very dear to Lord Hari; khalâh - cruel persons.
TRANSLATION
The intelligence of cruel-minded persons is blinded by false pride based on great wealth, opulence, prestigious family connections, education, renunciation, personal beauty, physical strength and successful performance of Vedic rituals. Being intoxicated with this false pride, such cruel persons blaspheme the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees.
******
TEXT 10
sarveshu s'as'vat tanu-bhritsv avasthitam
yathâ kham âtmânam abhîstham îs'varam
vedopagîtam ca na s'rinvate 'budhâ
mano-rathânâm pravadanti vârtayâ
sarveshu - in all; s'as'vat - eternally; tanu-bhritsu - embodied living beings; avasthitam - situated; yathâ - just as; kham - the sky; âtmânam - the Supreme Soul; abhîstham - most worshipable; îs'varam - ultimate controller; veda-upagîtam - glorified by the Vedas; ca - also; na s'rinvate - they do not hear; abudhâh - unintelligent persons; manah-rathânâm - of whimsical pleasures; pravadanti - they go on discussing; vârtayâ - the topics.
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead is eternally situated within the heart of every embodied being; still the Lord remains situated apart, just as the sky, which is all-pervading, does not mix with any material object. Thus the Lord is the supreme worshipable object and the absolute controller of everything. He is elaborately glorified in the Vedic literature, but those who are bereft of intelligence do not like to hear about Him. They prefer to waste their time discussing their own mental concoctions, which inevitably deal with gross material sense gratification such as sex life and meat-eating.
******
TEXT 11
loke vyavâyâmisha-madya-sevâ
nityâ hi jantor na hi tatra codanâ
vyavasthitis teshu vivâha-yajña
surâ-grahair âsu nivrittir isthâ
loke - in the material world; vyavâya - sex indulgence; âmisha - of meat; madya - and liquor; sevâh - the taking; nityâh - always found; hi - indeed; jantoh - in the conditioned living being; na - not; hi - indeed; tatra - in regard to them; codanâ - any command of scripture; vyavasthitih - the prescribed arrangement; teshu - in these; vivâha - by sacred marriage; yajña - the offering of sacrifice; surâ-grahaih - and the acceptance of ritual cups of wine; âsu - of these; nivrittih - cessation; isthâ - is the desired end.
TRANSLATION
In this material world the conditioned soul is always inclined to sex, meat-eating and intoxication. Therefore religious scriptures never actually encourage such activities. Although the scriptural injunctions provide for sex through sacred marriage, for meat-eating through sacrificial offerings and for intoxication through the acceptance of ritual cups of wine, such ceremonies are meant for the ultimate purpose of renunciation.
******
TEXT 12
dhanam ca dharmaika-phalam yato vai
jñânam sa-vijñânam anupras'ânti
griheshu yuñjanti kalevarasya
mrityum na pas'yanti duranta-vîryam
dhanam - wealth; ca - also; dharma-eka-phalam - whose only proper fruit is religiosity; yatah - from which (religious life); vai - indeed; jñânam - knowledge; sa-vijñânam - along with direct realization; anupras'ânti - and subsequent liberation from suffering; griheshu - in their homes; yuñjanti - they utilize; kalevarasya - of their material body; mrityum - the death; na pas'yanti - they cannot see; duranta - insurmountable; vîryam - the power of which.
TRANSLATION
The only proper fruit of acquired wealth is religiosity, on the basis of which one can acquire a philosophical understanding of life that eventually matures into direct perception of the Absolute Truth and thus liberation from all suffering. Materialistic persons, however, utilize their wealth simply for the advancement of their family situation. They fail to see that insurmountable death will soon destroy the frail material body.
******
TEXT 13
yad ghrâna-bhaksho vihitah surâyâs
tathâ pas'or âlabhanam na himsâ
evam vyavâyah prajayâ na ratyâ
imam vis'uddham na viduh sva-dharmam
yat - because; ghrâna - by smell; bhakshah - the taking; vihitah - is enjoined; surâyâh - of wine; tathâ - similarly; pas'oh - of a sacrificial animal; âlabhanam - prescribed killing; na - not; himsâ - wanton violence; evam - in the same way; vyavâyah - sex; prajayâ - for the purpose of begetting children; na - not; ratyai - for the sake of sense enjoyment; imam - this (as pointed out in the previous verse); vis'uddham - most pure; na viduh - they do not understand; sva-dharmam - their own proper duty.
TRANSLATION
According to the Vedic injunctions, when wine is offered in sacrificial ceremonies it is later to be consumed by smelling, and not by drinking. Similarly, the sacrificial offering of animals is permitted, but there is no provision for wide-scale animal slaughter. Religious sex life is also permitted, but only in marriage for begetting children, and not for sensuous exploitation of the body. Unfortunately, however, the less intelligent materialists cannot understand that their duties in life should be performed purely on the spiritual platform.
******
TEXT 14
ye tv anevam-vido 'santah
stabdhâh sad-abhimâninah
pas'ûn druhyanti vis'rabdhâh
pretya khâdanti te ca tân
ye - those who; tu - but; anevam-vidah - not knowing these facts; asantah - very impious; stabdhâh - presumptuous; sat-abhimâninah - considering themselves saintly; pas'ûn - animals; druhyanti - they harm; vis'rabdhâh - being innocently trusted; pretya - after leaving this present body; khâdanti - they eat; te - those animals; ca - and; tân - them.
TRANSLATION
Those sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious principles, yet consider themselves to be completely pious, without compunction commit violence against innocent animals who are fully trusting in them. In their next lives, such sinful persons will be eaten by the same creatures they have killed in this world.
******
TEXT 15
dvishantah para-kâyeshu
svâtmânam harim îs'varam
mritake sânubandhe 'smin
baddha-snehâh patanty adhah
dvishantah - envying; para-kâyeshu - (the souls) within the bodies of others; sva-âtmânam - their own true self; harim îs'varam - the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; mritake - in the corpse; sa-anubandhe - together with its relations; asmin - this; baddha-snehâh - their affection being fixed; patanti - they fall; adhah - downward.
TRANSLATION
The conditioned souls become completely bound in affection to their own corpselike material bodies and their relatives and paraphernalia. In such a proud and foolish condition, the conditioned souls envy other living entities as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who resides in the heart of all beings. Thus enviously offending others, the conditioned souls gradually fall down into hell.
******
TEXT 16
ye kaivalyam asamprâptâ
ye câtîtâs' ca mûdhatâm
trai-vargikâ hy akshanikâ
âtmânam ghâtayanti te
ye - those who; kaivalyam - knowledge of the Absolute Truth; asamprâptâh - have not achieved; ye - who; ca - also; atîtâh - have transcended; ca - also; mûdhatâm - gross foolishness; trai-vargikâh - dedicated to the three goals of pious life, namely dharma (religiosity), artha (economic development) and kâma (sense gratification); hi - indeed; akshanikâh - not having even a moment to reflect; âtmânam - their own selves; ghâtayanti - murder; te - they.
TRANSLATION
Those who have not achieved knowledge of the Absolute Truth, yet who are still beyond the darkness of complete ignorance, generally follow the threefold path of pious material life, namely religiosity, economic development and sense gratification. Not having time to reflect on any higher purpose, they become the killers of their own soul.
******
TEXT 17
eta âtma-hano 's'ântâ
ajñâne jñâna-mâninah
sîdanty akrita-krityâ vai
kâla-dhvasta-manorathâh
ete - these; âtma-hanah - killers of the self; as'ântâh - devoid of peace; ajñâne - in ignorance; jñâna-mâninah - presuming to have knowledge; sîdanti - they suffer; akrita - failing to perform; krityâh - their duty; vai - indeed; kâla - by time; dhvasta - destroyed; manah-rathâh - their fanciful desires.
TRANSLATION
The killers of the soul are never peaceful, because they consider that human intelligence is ultimately meant for expanding material life. Thus neglecting their real, spiritual duties, they are always in distress. They are filled with great hopes and dreams, but unfortunately these are always destroyed by the inevitable march of time.
******
TEXT 18
hitvâtma-mâyâ-racitâ
grihâpatya-suhrit-striyah
tamo vis'anty anicchanto
vâsudeva-parân-mukhâh
hitvâ - giving up; âtma-mâyâ - by the illusory energy of the Supreme Soul; racitâh - manufactured; griha - homes; apatya - children; suhrit - friends; striyah - wives; tamah - into darkness; vis'anti - they enter; anicchantah - without desiring; vasudeva-parâk-mukhâh - those who have turned away from Lord Vâsudeva.
TRANSLATION
Those who have turned away from the Supreme Lord, Vâsudeva, being under the spell of the Lord's illusory energy, are eventually forced to give up their so-called homes, children, friends, wives and lovers, which were all created by the illusory potency of the Supreme Lord, and enter against their will into the darkest regions of the universe.
******
TEXT 19
s'rî râjovâca
kasmin kâle sa bhagavân
kim varnah kîdris'o nribhih
nâmnâ vâ kena vidhinâ
pûjyate tad ihocyatâm
s'rî-râjâ uvâca - the King said; kasmin - in what; kâle - time; sah - He; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; kim varnah - having what color; kîdris'ah - having what form; nribhih - by men; nâmnâ - by (what) names; vâ - and; kena - by what; vidhinâ - processes; pûjyate - is worshiped; tat - that; iha - in our presence; ucyatâm - please speak.
TRANSLATION
King Nimi inquired - In what colors and forms does the Supreme Personality of Godhead appear in each of the different ages, and with what names and by what types of regulative principles is the Lord worshiped in human society?
******
TEXT 20
s'rî-karabhâjana uvâca
kritam tretâ dvâparam ca
kalir ity eshu kes'avah
nânâ-varnâbhidhâkâro
nânaiva vidhinejyate
s'rî-karabhâjanah uvâca - S'rî Karabhâjana said; kritam - Satya; tretâ - Tretâ; dvâparam - Dvâpara; ca - and; kalih - Kali; iti - thus named; eshu - in these ages; kes'avah - the Supreme Lord, Kes'ava; nânâ - various; varna - having complexions; abhidhâ - names; âkârah - and forms; nânâ - various; eva - similarly; vidhinâ - by processes; ijyate - is worshiped.
TRANSLATION
S'rî Karabhâjana replied - In each of the four yugas, or ages - Krita, Tretâ, Dvâpara and Kali - Lord Kes'ava appears with various complexions, names and forms and is thus worshiped by various processes.
******
TEXT 21
krite s'uklas' catur-bâhur
jathilo valkalâmbarah
krishnâjinopavîtâkshân
bibhrad danda-kamandalû
krite - in Satya-yuga; s'uklah - white; catuh-bâhuh - having four arms; jathilah - with matted locks; valkala-ambarah - wearing a garment of tree bark; krishna-ajina - a black deerskin; upavîta - a brâhmana's sacred thread; akshân - prayer beads made of aksha seeds; bibhrat - carrying; danda - a rod; kamandalû - and waterpot.
TRANSLATION
In Satya-yuga the Lord is white and four-armed, has matted locks and wears a garment of tree bark. He carries a black deerskin, a sacred thread, prayer beads and the rod and waterpot of a brahmacârî.
******
TEXT 22
manushyâs tu tadâ s'ântâ
nirvairâh suhridah samâh
yajanti tapasâ devam
s'amena ca damena ca
manushyâh - human beings; tu - and; tadâ - then; s'ântâh - peaceful; nirvairâh - free from envy; suhridah - friendly to all; samâh - equipoised; yajanti - they worship; tapasâ - by the austerity of meditation; devam - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; s'amena - by controlling the mind; ca - also; damena - by controlling the external senses; ca - and.
TRANSLATION
People in Satya-yuga are peaceful, nonenvious, friendly to every creature and steady in all situations. They worship the Supreme Personality by austere meditation and by internal and external sense control.
******
TEXT 23
hamsah suparno vaikunthho
dharmo yoges'varo 'malah
îs'varah purusho 'vyaktah
paramâtmeti gîyate
hamsah - the transcendental swan; su-parnah - whose wings are very beautiful; vaikunthhah - the Lord of the spiritual kingdom; dharmah - the maintainer of religion; yoga-îs'varah - the master of all mystic perfection; amalah - immaculate; îs'varah - the supreme controller; purushah - the supreme enjoying male; avyaktah - the unmanifest; parama-âtmâ - the Supersoul in the heart of every living being; iti - thus; gîyate - His names are variously chanted.
TRANSLATION
In Satya-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Hamsa, Suparna, Vaikunthha, Dharma, Yoges'vara, Amala, …s'vara, Purusha, Avyakta and Paramâtmâ.
******
TEXT 24
tretâyâm rakta-varno 'sau
catur-bâhus tri-mekhalah
hiranya-kes'as trayy-âtmâ
sruk-sruvâdy-upalakshanah
tretâyâm - in Tretâ-yuga; rakta-varnah - red-complexioned; asau - He; catuh-bâhuh - four-armed; tri-mekhalah - wearing three belts (representing three phases of Vedic initiation); hiranya-kes'ah - having golden hair; trayi-âtmâ - personifying the knowledge of the three Vedas; srak-sruva-âdi - the sacrificial wooden ladle, spoon and so on; upalakshanah - having as His symbols.
TRANSLATION
In Tretâ-yuga the Lord appears with a red complexion. He has four arms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into each of the three Vedas. Embodying the knowledge of worship by sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Rig, Sâma and Yajur Vedas, His symbols are the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.
******
TEXT 25
tam tadâ manujâ devam
sarva-deva-mayam harim
yajanti vidyayâ trayyâ
dharmisthhâ brahma-vâdinah
tam - Him; tadâ - then; manujâh - human beings; devam - the Personality of Godhead; sarva-deva-mayam - who contains within Himself all the demigods; harim - S'rî Hari; yajanti - they worship; vidyayâ - with the rituals; trayyâ - of the three main Vedas; dharmisthhâh - fixed in religiosity; brahma-vâdinah - seekers of the Absolute Truth.
TRANSLATION
In Tretâ-yuga, those members of human society who are fixed in religiosity and are sincerely interested in achieving the Absolute Truth worship Lord Hari, who contains within Himself all the demigods. The Lord is worshiped by the rituals of sacrifice taught in the three Vedas.
******
TEXT 26
vishnur yajñah pris'nigarbhah
sarvadeva urukramah
vrishâkapir jayantas' ca
urugâya itîryate
vishnuh - the all-pervading Supreme Lord; yajñah - the supreme personality of sacrifice; pris'ni-garbhah - the son of Pris'ni and Prajâpati Sutapâ; sarva-devah - the Lord of all lords; uru-kramah - the performer of wonderful deeds; vrishâkapih - the Lord, who dispels all suffering and rewards all desires simply by being remembered; jayantah - the all-victorious; ca - and; uru-gâyah - the most glorified; iti - by these names; îryate - He is called.
TRANSLATION
In Tretâ-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Vishnu, Yajña, Pris'nigarbha, Sarvadeva, Urukrama, Vrishâkapi, Jayanta and Urugâya.
******
TEXT 27
dvâpare bhagavân' s'yâmah
pîta-vâsâ nijâyudhah
s'rîvatsâdibhir ankais' ca
lakshanair upalakshitah
dvâpare - in Dvâpara-yuga; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; s'yâmah - dark blue; pîta-vâsâh - wearing a yellow garment; nija-âyudhah - having His own particular weapons (the disc, club, conchshell and lotus flower); s'rîvatsa-âdibhih - by S'rîvatsa and others; ankaih - bodily marks; ca - and; lakshanaih - by ornaments; upalakshitah - characterized.
TRANSLATION
In Dvâpara-yuga the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears with a dark blue complexion, wearing yellow garments. The Lord's transcendental body is marked in this incarnation with S'rîvatsa and other distinctive ornaments, and He manifests His personal weapons.
******
TEXT 28
tam tadâ purusham martyâ
mahâ-râjopalakshanam
yajanti veda-tantrâbhyâm
param jijñâsavo nripa
tam - Him; tadâ - in that age; purusham - the supreme enjoyer; martyâh - mortal men; mahâ-râja - a great king; upalakshanam - playing the role of; yajanti - they worship; veda-tantrâbhyâm - according to both the original Vedas and ritual tantras; param - of the Supreme; jijñâsavah - those who want to gain knowledge; nripa - O King.
TRANSLATION
My dear King, in Dvâpara-yuga men who desire to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme enjoyer, worship Him in the mood of honoring a great king, following the prescriptions of both the Vedas and tantras.
******
TEXTS 29 - 30
namas te vâsudevâya
namah sankarshanâya ca
pradyumnâyâniruddhâya
tubhyam bhagavate namah
nârâyanâya rishaye
purushâya mahâtmane
vis'ves'varâya vis'vâya
sarva-bhûtâtmane namah
namah - obeisances; te - unto You; vâsudevâya - Vâsudeva; namah - obeisances; sankarshanâya - to Sankarshana; ca - and; pradyumnâya - to Pradyumna; aniruddhâya - to Aniruddha; tubhyam - to You; bhagavate - the Personality of Godhead; namah - obeisances; nârâyanâya rishaye - to Lord Nârâyana Rishi; purushâya - the supreme enjoying male and the creator of the material universe; mahâ-âtmane - the supreme being; vis'va-îs'varâya - the Lord of the universe; vis'vâya - and Himself the very form of the universe; sarva-bhûta-âtmane - the Supersoul of all living beings; namah - obeisances.
TRANSLATION
'Obeisances to You, O Supreme Lord Vâsudeva, and to Your forms of Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all obeisances unto You. O Lord Nârâyana Rishi, O creator of the universe, best of personalities, master of this cosmos and original form of the universe, O Supersoul of all created entities, all homage unto You.'
******
TEXT 31
iti dvâpara urv-îs'a
stuvanti jagad-îs'varam
nânâ-tantra-vidhânena
kalâv api tathâ s'rinu
iti - thus; dvâpare - in the Dvâpara age; uru-îs'a - O King; stuvanti - they praise; jagat-îs'varam - the Lord of the universe; nânâ - various; tantra - of scriptures; vidhânena - by the regulations; kalau - in the age of Kali; api - also; tathâ - in which manner; s'rinu - please hear.
TRANSLATION
O King, in this way people in Dvâpara-yuga glorified the Lord of the universe. In Kali-yuga also people worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead by following various regulations of the revealed scriptures. Now kindly hear of this from me.
******
TEXT 32
krishna-varnam tvishâkrishnam
sângopângâstra-pârshadam
yajñaih sankîrtana-prâyair
yajanti hi su-medhasah
krishna-varnam - repeating the syllables krish-na; tvishâ - with a luster; akrishnam - not black (golden); sa-anga - along with associates; upa-anga - servitors; astra - weapons; pârshadam - confidential companions; yajñaih - by sacrifice; sankîrtana-prâyaih - consisting chiefly of congregational chanting; yajanti - they worship; hi - certainly; su-medhasah - intelligent persons.
TRANSLATION
In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.
******
TEXT 33
dhyeyam sadâ paribhava-ghnam abhîstha-doham
tîrthâspadam s'iva-viriñci-nutam s'aranyam
bhrityârti-ham pranata-pâla bhavâbdhi-potam
vande mahâ-purusha te caranâravindam
dhyeyam - fit to be meditated upon; sadâ - always; paribhava - the insults of material existence; ghnam - which destroy; abhîstha - the true desire of the soul; doham - which amply reward; tîrtha - of all the holy places and great saintly personalities; âspadam - the abode; s'iva-viriñci - by the greatest of demigods, Lord S'iva and Brahmâ; nutam - which are bowed down to; s'aranyam - most worthy of taking shelter of; bhritya - of Your servants; ârti-ham - which relieve the distress; pranata-pâla - O protector of all who simply offer respects to You; bhava-abdhi - of the ocean of birth and death; potam - which are a suitable boat (for crossing); vande - I offer my homage; mahâ-purusha - O Lord Mahâprabhu; te - to Your; carana-aravindam - lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
My dear Lord, You are the Mahâ-purusha, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and I worship Your lotus feet, which are the only eternal object of meditation. Those feet destroy the embarrassing conditions of material life and freely award the greatest desire of the soul, the attainment of pure love of Godhead. My dear Lord, Your lotus feet are the shelter of all holy places and of all saintly authorities in the line of devotional service and are honored by powerful demigods like Lord S'iva and Lord Brahmâ. My Lord, You are so kind that You willingly protect all those who simply bow down to You with respect, and thus You mercifully relieve all the distress of Your servants. In conclusion, my Lord, Your lotus feet are actually the suitable boat for crossing over the ocean of birth and death, and therefore even Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva seek shelter at Your lotus feet.'
******
TEXT 34
tyaktvâ su-dustyaja-surepsita-râjya-lakshmîm
dharmisthha ârya-vacasâ yad agâd aranyam
mâyâ-mrigam dayitayepsitam anvadhâvad
vande mahâ-purusha te caranâravindam
tyaktvâ - abandoning; su-dustyaja - most difficult to give up; sura-îpsita - anxiously desired by the demigods; râjya-lakshmîm - the goddess of fortune and her opulence; dharmisthhah - most perfectly fixed in religiousness; ârya-vacasâ - according to the words of a brâhmana (who had cursed Him to be deprived of all the happiness of family life); yat - He who; agât - went; aranyam - to the forest (taking to the renounced order of life); mâyâ-mrigam - the conditioned soul, who is always searching out illusory enjoyment; dayitayâ - out of sheer mercy; îpsitam - His desired object; anvadhâvat - running after; vande - I offer my homage; mahâ-purusha - O Lord Mahâprabhu; te - to Your; carana-aravindam - lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
O Mahâ-purusha, I worship Your lotus feet. You gave up the association of the goddess of fortune and all her opulence, which is most difficult to renounce and is hankered after by even the great demigods. Being the most faithful follower of the path of religion, You thus left for the forest in obedience to a brâhmana's curse. Out of sheer mercifulness You chased after the fallen conditioned souls, who are always in pursuit of the false enjoyment of illusion, and at the same time engaged in searching out Your own desired object, Lord S'yâmasundara.
******
TEXT 35
evam yugânurûpâbhyâm
bhagavân yuga-vartibhih
manujair ijyate râjan
s'reyasâm îs'varo harih
evam - thus; yuga-anurûpâbhyâm - (by particular names and forms) suitable for each age; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yuga-vartibhih - by those living in each of the different ages; manujaih - human beings; ijyate - is worshiped; râjan - O King; s'reyasâm - of all spiritual benefit; îs'varah - the controller; harih - Lord Hari.
TRANSLATION
Thus, O King, the Supreme Lord Hari is the giver of all desirable benefits of life. Intelligent human beings worship the particular forms and names that the Lord manifests in different ages.
******
TEXT 36
kalim sabhâjayanty âryâ
guna jñâh sâra-bhâginah
yatra sankîrtanenaiva
sarva-svârtho 'bhilabhyate
kalim - the age of Kali; sabhâjayanti - they praise; âryâh - progressive souls; guna-jñah - who know the true value (of the age); sâra-bhâginah - who are able to pick out the essence; yatra - in which; sankîrtanena - by the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord; eva - merely; sarva - all; sva-arthah - desired goals; abhilabhyate - are attained.
TRANSLATION
Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankîrtana.
******
TEXT 37
na hy atah paramo lâbho
dehinâm bhrâmyatâm iha
yato vindeta paramâm
s'ântim nas'yati samsritih
na - there is no; hi - indeed; atah - than this (process of sankîrtana); paramah - greater; lâbhah - thing to be gained; dehinâm - for embodied souls; bhrâmyatâm - who are being forced to wander; iha - throughout this material universe; yatah - from which; vindeta - one obtains; paramâm - the supreme; s'ântim - peace; nas'yati - and is destroyed; samsritih - the cycle of repeated birth and death.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, there is no higher possible gain for embodied souls forced to wander throughout the material world than the Supreme Lord's sankîrtana movement, by which one can attain the supreme peace and free oneself from the cycle of repeated birth and death.
******
TEXTS 38-40
kritâdishu prajâ râjan
kalâv icchanti sambhavam
kalau khalu bhavishyanti
nârâyana-parâyanâh
kvacit kvacin mahâ-râja
dravideshu ca bhûris'ah
tâmraparnî nadî yatra
kritamâlâ payasvinî
kâverî ca mahâ-punyâ
pratîcî ca mahâ-nadî
ye pibanti jalam tâsâm
manujâ manujes'vara
prâyo bhaktâ bhagavati
vâsudeve 'malâs'ayâh
krita-âdishu - of Satya and the other earlier ages; prajâh - the inhabitants; râjan - O King; kalau - in Kali-yuga; icchanti - they want; sambhavam - birth; kalau - in Kali; khalu - certainly; bhavishyanti - there will be; nârâyana-parâyanâh - devotees who dedicate their lives to the service of Lord Nârâyana; kvacit kvacit - here and there; mahâ-râja - O great monarch; dravideshu - in the provinces of South India; ca - but; bhûris'ah - especially plentifully; tâmraparnî - named Tâmraparnî; nadî - the river; yatra - where; kritamâlâ - Kritamâlâ; payasvinî - Payasvinî; kâverî - Kâverî; ca - and; mahâ-punyâ - extremely pious; pratîcî - named Pratîcî; ca - and; mahâ-nadî - the Mahânadî; ye - those who; pibanti - drink; jalam - the water; tâsâm - of these; manujâh - humans; manuja-îs'vara - O lord of men (Nimi); prâyah - for the most part; bhaktâh - devotees; bhagavati - of the Personality of Godhead; vâsudeve - Lord Vâsudeva; amala-âs'ayâh - having spotless hearts.
TRANSLATION
My dear King, the inhabitants of Satya-yuga and other ages eagerly desire to take birth in this age of Kali, since in this age there will be many devotees of the Supreme Lord, Nârâyana. These devotees will appear in various places but will be especially numerous in South India. O master of men, in the age of Kali those persons who drink the waters of the holy rivers of Dravida-des'a, such as the Tâmraparnî, Krtamâlâ, Payasvinî, the extremely pious Kâverî and the Pratîcî Mahânadî, will almost all be purehearted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva.
******
TEXT 41
devarshi-bhûtâpta-nrinâm pitrînâm
na kinkaro nâyam rinî ca râjan
sarvâtmanâ yah s'aranam s'aranyam
gato mukundam parihritya kartam
deva - of the demigods; rishi - of the sages; bhûta - of ordinary living entities; âpta - of friends and relatives; nrinâm - of ordinary men; pitrînâm - of the forefathers; na - not; kinkarah - the servant; na - nor; ayam - this one; rinî - debtor; ca - also; râjan - O King; sarva-âtmanâ - with his whole being; yah - a person who; s'aranam - shelter; s'aranyam - the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who affords shelter to all; gatah - approached; mukundam - Mukunda; parihritya - giving up; kartam - duties.
TRANSLATION
O King, one who has given up all material duties and has taken full shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, who offers shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one's forefathers who have passed away. Since all such classes of living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the Lord's service has no need to serve such persons separately.
******
TEXT 42
sva-pâda-mûlam bhajatah priyasya
tyaktânya-bhâvasya harih pares'ah
vikarma yac cotpatitam kathañcid
dhunoti sarvam hridi sannivisthah
sva-pâda-mûlam - the lotus feet of Krishna, the shelter of the devotees; bhajatah - who is engaged in worshiping; priyasya - who is very dear to Krishna; tyakta - given up; anya - for others; bhâvasya - of one whose disposition or inclination; harih - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; para-îs'ah - the Supreme Lord; vikarma - sinful activities; yat - whatever; ca - and; utpatitam - occurred; kathañcit - somehow; dhunoti - removes; sarvam - all; hridi - in the heart; sannivisthah - entered.
TRANSLATION
One who has thus given up all other engagements and has taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is very dear to the Lord. Indeed, if such a surrendered soul accidentally commits some sinful activity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated within everyone's heart, immediately takes away the reaction to such sin.
******
TEXT 43
s'rî-nârada uvâca
dharmân bhâgavatân ittham
s'rutvâtha mithiles'varah
jâyanteyân munîn prîtah
sopâdhyâyo hy apûjayat
s'rî-nâradah uvâca - Nârada Muni said; dharmân bhâgavatân - the science of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ittham - in this manner; s'rutvâ - having heard; atha - then; mithilâ-îs'varah - the master of the kingdom of Mithilâ, King Nimi; jâyanteyân - to the sons of Jayantî; munîn - sages; prîtah - being satisfied; sa-upâdhyâyah - along with the priests; hi - indeed; apûjayat - he offered worship.
TRANSLATION
Nârada Muni said - Having thus heard the science of devotional service, Nimi, the King of Mithilâ, felt extremely satisfied and, along with the sacrificial priests, offered respectful worship to the sagacious sons of Jayantî.
******
TEXT 44
tato 'ntardadhire siddhâh
sarva-lokasya pas'yatah
râjâ dharmân upâtisthhann
avâpa paramâm gatim
tatah - then; antardadhire - they disappeared; siddhâh - the perfect sages headed by Kavi; sarva-lokasya - all those present; pas'yatah - as they were watching; râjâ - the King; dharmân - these principles of spiritual life; upâtisthhan - faithfully following; avâpa - he achieved; paramâm - the supreme; gatim - destination.
TRANSLATION
The perfect sages then disappeared before the eyes of everyone present. King Nimi faithfully practiced the principles of spiritual life he had learned from them, and thus he achieved the supreme goal of life.
******
TEXT 45
tvam apy etân mahâ-bhâga
dharmân bhâgavatân s'rutân
âsthitah s'raddhayâ yukto
nihsango yâsyase param
tvam - you (Vasudeva); api - also; etân - these; mahâ-bhâga - O most fortunate one; dharmân - principles; bhâgavatân - of devotional service; s'rutân - which you have heard; âsthitah - situated in; s'raddhayâ - with faith; yuktah - endowed; nihsangah - free from material association; yâsyase - you will go; param - to the Supreme.
TRANSLATION
O greatly fortunate Vasudeva, simply apply with faith these principles of devotional service which you have heard, and thus, being free from material association, you will attain the Supreme.
******
TEXT 46
yuvayoh khalu dampatyor
yas'asâ pûritam jagat
putratâm agamad yad vâm
bhagavân îs'varo harih
yuvayoh - of the two of you; khalu - indeed; dam-patyoh - of the husband and wife; yas'asâ - by the glories; pûritam - has become full; jagat - the earth; putratâm - the state of being the son; agamat - assumed; yat - because; vâm - your; bhagavân - the Personality of Godhead; îs'varah - the Supreme Lord; harih - Hari.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, the whole world has become filled with the glories of you and your good wife because the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari, has taken the position of your son.
******
TEXT 47
dars'anâlinganâlâpaih
s'ayanâsana-bhojanaih
âtmâ vâm pâvitah krishne
putra-sneham prakurvatoh
dars'ana - by seeing; âlingana - embracing; âlâpaih - and conversing; s'ayana - in taking rest; âsana - sitting; bhojanaih - and eating; âtmâ - the hearts; vâm - of you two; pâvitah - have become purified; krishne - for Lord Krishna; putra-sneham - the affection toward a son; prakurvatoh - who were manifesting.
TRANSLATION
My dear Vasudeva, you and your good wife Devakî have manifested great transcendental love for Krishna, accepting Him as your son. Indeed, you are always seeing the Lord, embracing Him, speaking with Him, resting with Him, sitting together with Him and taking your meals with Him. By such affectionate and intimate association with the Lord, undoubtedly both of you have completely purified your hearts. In other words, you are already perfect.
******
TEXT 48
vairena yam nripatayah s'is'upâla-paundra-
s'âlvâdayo gati-vilâsa-vilokanâdyaih
dhyâyanta âkrita-dhiyah s'ayanâsanâdau
tat-sâmyam âpur anurakta-dhiyâm punah kim
vairena - with envy; yam - whom (Lord Krishna); nri-patayah - kings; s'is'upâla-paundra-s'âlva-âdayah - like S'is'upâla, Paundraka, S'âlva, etc.; gati - upon His movements; vilâsa - sporting; vilokana - glances; âdyaih - and so forth; dhyâyantah - meditating; âkrita - thus fixed; dhiyah - their minds; s'ayana - in the activities of lying down; âsana-âdau - sitting, and so on; tat-sâmyam - a position on the same level with Him (that is, a position in the eternal, spiritual world); âpuh - they achieved; anurakta-dhiyâm - for those whose minds are naturally attached in a favorable way; punah kim - what to speak of in comparison.
TRANSLATION
Inimical kings like S'is'upâla, Paundraka and S'âlva were always thinking about Lord Krishna. Even while they were lying down, sitting or engaging in other activities, they enviously meditated upon the bodily movements of the Lord, His sporting pastimes, His loving glances upon His devotees, and other attractive features displayed by the Lord. Being thus always absorbed in Krishna, they achieved spiritual liberation in the Lord's own abode. What then can be said of the benedictions offered to those who constantly fix their minds on Lord Krishna in a favorable, loving mood?
******
TEXT 49
mâpatya-buddhim akrithâh
krishne sarvâtmanîs'vare
mâyâ-manushya-bhâvena
gûdhais'varye pare 'vyaye
mâ - do not; apatya-buddhim - the idea of being your son; akrithâh - impose; krishne - on Krishna; sarva-âtmani - the Supreme Soul of all; îs'vare - the Personality of Godhead; mâyâ - by His power of illusion; manushya-bhâvena - appearing as if an ordinary person; gûdha-ais'varye - hiding His opulence; pare - the Supreme; avyaye - infallible.
TRANSLATION
Do not think of Krishna as an ordinary child, because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, inexhaustible and the Soul of all beings. The Lord has concealed His inconceivable opulences and is thus outwardly appearing to be an ordinary human being.
******
TEXT 50
bhû-bhârâsura-râjanya-
hantave guptaye satâm
avatîrnasya nirvrityai
yas'o loke vitanyate
bhû-bhâra - who were the burden of the earth; asura - demons; râjanya - members of the kingly order; hantave - in order to kill; guptaye - for the protection; satâm - of the saintly devotees; avitîrnasya - of Him who has descended; nirvrityai - also for awarding liberation; yas'ah - the fame; loke - throughout the world; vitanyate - has become spread.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead descended to kill the demoniac kings who were the burden of the earth and to protect the saintly devotees. However, both the demons and the devotees are awarded liberation by the Lord's mercy. Thus, His transcendental fame has spread throughout the universe.
******
TEXT 51
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
etac chrutvâ mahâ-bhâgo
vasudevo 'ti-vismitah
devakî ca mahâ-bhâgâ
jahatur moham âtmanah
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; etat - this; s'rutvâ - having heard; mahâ-bhâgah - the greatly fortunate; vasudevah - King Vasudeva; ati-vismitah - extremely amazed; devakî - mother Devakî; ca - and; mahâ-bhâgâ - the greatly fortunate; jahatuh - they both gave up; moham - the confusion; âtmanah - their own.
TRANSLATION
S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued - Having heard this narration, the greatly fortunate Vasudeva was completely struck with wonder. Thus he and his most blessed wife Devakî gave up all illusion and anxiety that had entered their hearts.
******
TEXT 52
itihâsam imam punyam
dhârayed yah samâhitah
sa vidhûyeha s'amalam
brahma-bhûyâya kalpate
itihâsam - historical account; imam - this; punyam - pious; dhârayet - meditates upon; yah - who; samâhitah - with fixed attention; sah - he; vidhûya - cleaning off; iha - in this very life; s'amalam - contamination; brahma-bhûyâya - the supreme spiritual perfection; kalpate - achieves.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who meditates on this pious historical narration with fixed attention will purify himself of all contamination in this very life and thus achieve the highest spiritual perfection.
Back to the running text