rule


 

 

Canto 11

S'rî S'rî Gurv-ashthaka

 

 

Chapter 5: Nârada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

(1) The honorable king [Nimi] said: 'O you perfect in the knowledge of the soul, what is the destination of those who, as good as never worshiping the Supreme Personality of Hari [see also 11.3: *4], with their lusts not at peace are out of control with themselves?'

(2) S'rî Camasa said: 'From the face, arms, thighs and feet of the Original Person were by the modes of nature [in different combinations *] the four spiritual orders [or âs'ramas] and vocations [or varnas] headed by the brahmins generated [see also B.G. 4: 13]. (3) Any member of them who, not of worship, has a low opinion of the Original Person who is the very best of their soul and the Supreme Controller, will, having strayed from his position, fall down [see B.G. 16: 23]. (4) There are many people who are far removed from the talks about the Destroyer [of the sin; the Lord] and never think of the glories of the Infallible One; they, falling in the category of the women [compare 5.17: 15] and s'ûdras and such, are the ones deserving the mercy of personalities like you. (5) Even then do also the intellectuals, the nobles and the traders, who [by initiation] got access to the Lord His lotus feet, get bewildered in being committed to [all kinds of] philosophies [see also 5.6: 11, B.G. 2: 42-43]. (6) Ignorant about the matters of karma do they who factually lack in experience but arrogantly consider themselves very learned, enchanted by the beauty of language express themselves in flattering entreaties [to the demigods] by which they get bewildered [see also B.G. 9: 3]. (7) Full of passion and perverted in their desires are they angry like snakes, deceitful and conceited and do they sinfully make fun of those dear to Acyuta. (8) As worshipers of women they speak amongst each other in their homes encouraging and worshiping sex as the very best thing; without any regard for the distribution of food and gifts in gratitude [to the spiritual leaders and their following], think they of their own livelihood only and kill they, oblivious to the consequences, the animals [see also B.G. 16]. (9) With their intelligence blinded by the pride based on their opulence, special abilities, lineage, education, renunciation, beauty, strength and performance of rituals, do they hard-hearted deride the saintly dear to the Lord, nor do they respect the Controller Himself [see also e.g. 1.8: 26, 4.2: 24, 4.31: 21, 5.1: 12, 7.15: 19, 8.22: 26 and also B.G. 2: 42-43]. (10) The Soul of the most worshipable Controller who alike the ether is eternally situated in all embodied beings, is the Ultimate Controller glorified by the Vedas, but the unintelligent don't take heed; they rather go on discussing the topics of their whimsical pleasures. (11) The indulgence in sex and the consumption of meat and alcohol one always finds in the conditioned living being and are verily by no command of scripture endorsed; what in regard of these is prescribed for [respectively] the marriage, the sacrifice and the ritual use of wine, is there to the end of their cessation [see also 1.17: 38-39]. (12) The only wealth that matters is to reap the fruit of one's dharma [the righteousness with nature, the religiosity] from which there is the knowledge combined with the wisdom and the subsequent liberation. But from ones family life has one no eye for the insurmountable power of death over one's body [see also 3.30: 7, 7.6: 8, 4.29: 52-55 but also 4.22: 10]. (13) It is enjoined that wine should be taken by smelling it and that likewise an animal should be killed as prescribed and not in wanton violence [with large-scale animal slaughter]; the same way is sexual intercourse there for conquering [the urges of procreation, like with defecating] and not so much for the sensual pleasure [B.G. 7: 11]; for this purest notion of one's proper duty, do they [the unintelligent] have no understanding [see also 7.15]. (14) Those who have no knowledge of these facts and very unholy presumptuously consider themselves saintly, do harm to innocently trusting animals; upon leaving their bodies will those animals eat them [compare 5.26: 11-13 and 4.25: 7-8]. (15) Envying their own True Self, their Lord and Controller living [in their own body and] in the bodies of others, do they, who in their affection are fixed on their own mortal frame and all its relations, fall down. (16) Those who [thus] have not achieved the emancipation [of moksha] but did transcend the gross foolishness, are dedicated to the three goals of pious living [the ritual, an income and regulated desires], but are, not for a moment being of reflection [working too hard], factually [on the way of] killing themselves [see also the purushârthas, 10.2: 32]. (17) These murderers of their own self who miss the peace, in their ignorance think to know but do, failing to perform their duty, suffer the destruction of all their hopes and dreams by time. (18) Those who turned their face away from Vâsudeva enter, as is arranged by the illusory energy of the Supreme Soul, unwillingly the darkness leaving behind their homes, children, friends and wives.'

(19) The honorable king said: 'In what time did the Supreme Lord have what color and what form and by what names and what processes is He worshiped; please speak about it in our presence.'

(20) S'rî Karabhâjana replied: 'In these [yugas] named Krita [or Satya], Tretâ, Dvâpara and Kali is the Lord, having different complexions [see also 10.26: 16], names and forms, similarly by various processes worshiped. (21) In Satya-yuga is He white, has He four arms, matted locks, a tree bark garment, a black deerskin, a sacred thread, aksha-seed prayer beads and carries He a rod and a waterpot. (22) The human beings then are peaceful, free from envy, kind to all, equipoised and as well of austerity as of mind and sense control in their worship of the Lord. (23) Thus is He variously celebrated as Hamsa ['the Swan'], Suparna ['Beautiful Wings'], Vaikunthha ['the Lord of the Kingdom of Heaven'], Dharma ['the Maintainer of the Religion'], Yoges'vara ['the Controller of the Yoga'], Amala ['the Immaculate One'], Îs'vara ['the Supreme Controller'], Purusha ['the Original Person'], Avyakta ['the One Unmanifest'] and Paramâtmâ ['the Supersoul']. (24) In Tretâ-yuga has He a red complexion, four arms, wears He three belts [according the initiations for the first three varnas], has He golden locks and has He, as the personification of the three Vedas, the sacrificial laddles [**] and such as His symbols. (25) In that time do the human beings who as seekers of the Absolute Truth are fixed in their religiosity, worship Him, Hari, the Godhead within all the Gods, with the rituals of sacrifice of the three Vedas [see also 1.16: 20]. (26) In Tretâ-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names of Vishnu ['the All-pervading One'], Yajña ['the Lord of Sacrifice'], Pris'nigarbha [the son of Pris'ni, 10.3: 32], Sarvadeva ['God of All Gods'], Urukrama ['He of Transcendental Feats'], Vrishâkapi [the Memorable One Rewarding who Dispels the Distress'], Jayanta ['the All-victorious'] and Urugâya ['the Most Glorified']. (27) In Dvâpara-yuga is the Supreme Lord gray blue, wears He yellow garments and carries He His implements [the disc, club, lotus and conch] together with the bodily marks of the S'rîvatsa and so on and His ornaments [like the peacock feather and the Kaustubha gem]. (28) In that age, o King, do the mortals who want to gain knowledge of the Supreme worship Him, the Original Personality playing the role of a great king, according the Vedas and Tantras [like e.g. in 1.10: 16-18 and 10.4: 17-24 and ***] with: (29-30) 'Our obeisances to Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and You, Vâsudeva; You Nârâyana Rishi, the Original One and Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Greater Soul, the Controller of the Creation, the Very Form of the Universe and the True Self of all Living Beings [see catur-vyûha].' (31) O King, thus they praise in Dvâpara-yuga the Lord of the Universe; please hear in which manner one in respect of the scriptural regulations also is of worship in Kali-yuga [see also 7.9: 38]. (32) The intelligent [then] do worship [Him who] with a bright [not-dark or golden] luster along with [His] associates, servitors, weapons and attendants, by the sacrifice of mainly congregational chanting [is] praising [speaks, spreads or is colored by] Krishna with: (33) 'O Supreme Personality let me praise Your lotus feet. I always meditate upon them for they put an end to the humiliation we suffer as a consequence of the material influence. They, amply rewarding the true desire of the soul, are the abode and the place of pilgrimage to which S'iva and Brahmâ bow down. They, relieving the distress of Your servants, are the most worthy shelter, they are the boat for the ocean of birth and death. (34) O Supreme Personality let me pay homage to the lotus feet of You who upon the words of a brahmin [like Akrûra, S'rî Advaita or John the Babtist], as the Most Religious One abandoning the so hard to forsake opulence of S'rî that is so anxiously desired by the godly, being of mercy for the ones who are caught in animal nature, [as Râma, Krishna, the Buddha, as Jesus, as Caitanya etc.] went to the distant land [India, the wilderness, the forest, the desert, into sannyâsa] in pursuance of the object of Your desire [Your mission, Your dharma, Your presence as the Lord of the devotees, 4*].' (35) O King, thus is the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller of All Felicity, with His names and forms as belonging to each yuga worshiped by the people of that age. (36) The faithful ones [of spiritual progress] knowing of the value of the age of Kali praise it by pointing out that it's essence implies that by [mere] congregational chanting [sankîrtana] as good as all one's goals can be attained. (37) Indeed, for the embodied wandering around in this universe, there is no greater gain than this [sankîrtana] from which one obtains the Supreme Peace and of which the cycle of birth and death is broken [see also 2.1: 11, 3.33: 7, 8.23: 16 and 8.23*]. (38-40) The inhabitants of Satya- and the other yugas, o King, want to take birth in Kali-yuga because one in that time o great monarch, in various places finds the devotees who are dedicated to Nârâyana. Especially finds one them in great numbers in the provinces of South India. The human beings there who drink from the water of the rivers the Tâmraparnî, the Kritamâlâ, the Payasvinî, the extremely pious Kâverî, the Mahânadî and the Pratîcî, o lord of men, are mostly pure-hearted devotees of the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva. (41) O King, a person who, giving up on the material duties, in full surrender approached the shelter of Mukunda, the One Affording Shelter, is not the servant nor the debtor of the gods, the sages, the ordinary living beings, of friends and relatives or of the forefathers [see also B.G. 3: 9]. (42) From the one who fixed at His feet is engaged in worship and thus is dear to Lord Hari, the Supreme Controller who entered the heart the moment one gave up on other engagements, are whatever irregularities that somehow occurred all removed [see 8.23: 16 and B.G. 9: 22, 9: 30, 18: 56].'

(43) S'rî Nârada said: 'After he thus had heard about the science of devotional service felt the master of Mithilâ satisfied indeed and offered he next together with the priests the sagacious sons of Jayantî [the Yogendras 5.4: 8] worship. (44) Next, with all present watching, disappeared the ones of perfection. The king, faithfully following this dharma, achieved the supreme destination. (45) You [Vasudeva], o most fortunate soul, will also, endowed with faith in these principles of devotional service that you heard of, after having abandoned all material concerns, go to the Supreme. (46) The earth was fulfilled indeed by the glories of the two of you being husband and wife, because the Supreme Lord, the Controller Hari assumed the position of your son. (47) When you for Krishna proved your love of seeing, embracing and conversing, taking rest, sitting and eating with Him as a son, have the hearts of the two of you become purified. (48) Kings like S'is'upâla, Paundraka and S'âlva who in competition enviously related to His movements, glances and so on, and thus meditating fixed their minds upon Him as they layed down, sat etc., have achieved a position at the same level; what then may one expect from those who were favorably minded [see mukti and also Jaya & Vijaya]? (49) Do not deign to impose upon Krishna, the Supreme Soul and Controller of All, the idea that He would be your son; by the power of His illusory potency He appeared as a normal human being in concealing His opulence as the Supreme One Infallible [see also B.G. 4: 6]. (50) Of Him who descended in order to kill the asura members of the noble class who burdened the earth and to award [the devotees] liberation, has the fame spread wide in the world [see also B.G. 4: 7].'

(51) S'rî S'uka said: 'Having heard this were the greatly fortunate Vasudeva and Devakî most amazed and gave they up the folly they had cherished. (52) He who one-pointed of attention meditates upon this pious, historical account, will in this very life cleanse away the contamination and achieve spiritual perfection.'

 

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Second edition, loaded March 9, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Source Texts:

Nârada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

 

Text 1

The honorable king [Nimi] said: 'O you perfect in the knowledge of the soul, what is the destination of those who, as good as never worshiping the Supreme Personality of Hari [see also 11.3: *4], with their lusts not at peace are out of control with themselves?'

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

S'rî Camasa said: 'From the face, arms, thighs and feet of the Original Person were by the modes of nature [in different combinations *] the four spiritual orders [or âs'ramas] and vocations [or varnas] headed by the brahmins generated [see also B.G. 4: 13].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Any member of them who, not of worship, has a low opinion of the Original Person who is the very best of their soul and the Supreme Controller, will, having strayed from his position, fall down [see B.G. 16: 23].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

There are many people who are far removed from the talks about the Destroyer [of the sin; the Lord] and never think of the glories of the Infallible One; they, falling in the category of the women [compare 5.17: 15] and s'ûdras and such, are the ones deserving the mercy of personalities like you.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 5

Even then do also the intellectuals, the nobles and the traders, who [by initiation] got access to the Lord His lotus feet, get bewildered in being committed to [all kinds of] philosophies [see also 5.6: 11, B.G. 2: 42-43].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Ignorant about the matters of karma do they who factually lack in experience but arrogantly consider themselves very learned, enchanted by the beauty of language express themselves in flattering entreaties [to the demigods] by which they get bewildered [see also B.G. 9: 3].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

Full of passion and perverted in their desires are they angry like snakes, deceitful and conceited and do they sinfully make fun of those dear to Acyuta.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

As worshipers of women they speak amongst each other in their homes encouraging and worshiping sex as the very best thing; without any regard for the distribution of food and gifts in gratitude [to the spiritual leaders and their following], think they of their own livelihood only and kill they, oblivious to the consequences, the animals [see also B.G. 16].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

With their intelligence blinded by the pride based on their opulence, special abilities, lineage, education, renunciation, beauty, strength and performance of rituals, do they hard-hearted deride the saintly dear to the Lord, nor do they respect the Controller Himself [see also e.g. 1.8: 26, 4.2: 24, 4.31: 21, 5.1: 12, 7.15: 19, 8.22: 26 and also B.G. 2: 42-43].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

The Soul of the most worshipable Controller who alike the ether is eternally situated in all embodied beings, is the Ultimate Controller glorified by the Vedas, but the unintelligent don't take heed; they rather go on discussing the topics of their whimsical pleasures.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 11

The indulgence in sex and the consumption of meat and alcohol one always finds in the conditioned living being and are verily by no command of scripture endorsed; what in regard of these is prescribed for [respectively] the marriage, the sacrifice and the ritual use of wine, is there to the end of their cessation [see also 1.17: 38-39].

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. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 12  

The only wealth that matters is to reap the fruit of one's dharma [the righteousness with nature, the religiosity] from which there is the knowledge combined with the wisdom and the subsequent liberation. But from ones family life has one no eye for the insurmountable power of death over one's body [see also 3.30: 7, 7.6: 8, 4.29: 52-55 but also 4.22: 10].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

It is enjoined that wine should be taken by smelling it and that likewise an animal should be killed as prescribed and not in wanton violence [with large-scale animal slaughter]; the same way is sexual intercourse there for conquering [the urges of procreation, like with defecating] and not so much for the sensual pleasure [B.G. 7: 11]; for this purest notion of one's proper duty, do they [the unintelligent] have no understanding [see also 7.15].

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. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 14

Those who have no knowledge of these facts and very unholy presumptuously consider themselves saintly, do harm to innocently trusting animals; upon leaving their bodies will those animals eat them [compare 5.26: 11-13 and 4.25: 7-8].

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 15  

Envying their own True Self, their Lord and Controller living [in their own body and] in the bodies of others, do they, who in their affection are fixed on their own mortal frame and all its relations, fall down.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Those who [thus] have not achieved the emancipation [of moksha] but did transcend the gross foolishness, are dedicated to the three goals of pious living [the ritual, an income and regulated desires], but are, not for a moment being of reflection [working too hard], factually [on the way of] killing themselves [see also the purushârthas, 10.2: 32].

 

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17  

These murderers of their own self who miss the peace, in their ignorance think to know but do, failing to perform their duty, suffer the destruction of all their hopes and dreams by time.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 18

Those who turned their face away from Vâsudeva enter, as is arranged by the illusory energy of the Supreme Soul, unwillingly the darkness leaving behind their homes, children, friends and wives.'

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

The honorable king said: 'In what time did the Supreme Lord have what color and what form and by what names and what processes is He worshiped; please speak about it in our presence.'

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? (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

S'rî Karabhâjana replied: 'In these [yugas] named Krita [or Satya], Tretâ, Dvâpara and Kali is the Lord, having different complexions [see also 10.26: 16], names and forms, similarly by various processes worshiped.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

In Satya-yuga is He white, has He four arms, matted locks, a tree bark garment, a black deerskin, a sacred thread, aksha-seed prayer beads and carries He a rod and a waterpot.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 22

The human beings then are peaceful, free from envy, kind to all, equipoised and as well of austerity as of mind and sense control in their worship of the Lord.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 23

Thus is He variously celebrated as Hamsa ['the Swan'], Suparna ['Beautiful Wings'], Vaikunthha ['the Lord of the Kingdom of Heaven'], Dharma ['the Maintainer of the Religion'], Yoges'vara ['the Controller of the Yoga'], Amala ['the Immaculate One'], Îs'vara ['the Supreme Controller'], Purusha ['the Original Person'], Avyakta ['the One Unmanifest'] and Paramâtmâ ['the Supersoul'].

In Satya-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Hamsa, Suparna, Vaikunthha, Dharma, Yoges'vara, Amala, Îs'vara, Purusha, Avyakta and Paramâtmâ. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 24

In Tretâ-yuga has He a red complexion, four arms, wears He three belts [according the initiations for the first three varnas], has He golden locks and has He, as the personification of the three Vedas, the sacrificial laddles [**] and such as His symbols.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 25

In that time do the human beings who as seekers of the Absolute Truth are fixed in their religiosity, worship Him, Hari, the Godhead within all the Gods, with the rituals of sacrifice of the three Vedas [see also 1.16: 20].

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 26

In Tretâ-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names of Vishnu ['the All-pervading One'], Yajña ['the Lord of Sacrifice'], Pris'nigarbha [the son of Pris'ni, 10.3: 32], Sarvadeva ['God of All Gods'], Urukrama ['He of Transcendental Feats'], Vrishâkapi [the Memorable One Rewarding who Dispels the Distress'], Jayanta ['the All-victorious'] and Urugâya ['the Most Glorified'].

In Tretâ-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Vishnu, Yajña, Pris'nigarbha, Sarvadeva, Urukrama, Vrishâkapi, Jayanta and Urugâya. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 27

In Dvâpara-yuga is the Supreme Lord gray blue, wears He yellow garments and carries He His implements [the disc, club, lotus and conch] together with the bodily marks of the S'rîvatsa and so on and His ornaments [like the peacock feather and the Kaustubha gem].

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 28

In that age, o King, do the mortals who want to gain knowledge of the Supreme worship Him, the Original Personality playing the role of a great king, according the Vedas and Tantras [like e.g. in 1.10: 16-18 and 10.4: 17-24 and ***] with:

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 29-30

'Our obeisances to Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and You, Vâsudeva; You Nârâyana Rishi, the Original One and Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Greater Soul, the Controller of the Creation, the Very Form of the Universe and the True Self of all Living Beings [see catur-vyûha].'

'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.' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 31

O King, thus they praise in Dvâpara-yuga the Lord of the Universe; please hear in which manner one in respect of the scriptural regulations also is of worship in Kali-yuga [see also 7.9: 38].

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 32

The intelligent [then] do worship [Him who] with a bright [not-dark or golden] luster along with [His] associates, servitors, weapons and attendants, by the sacrifice of mainly congregational chanting [is] praising [speaks, spreads or is colored by] Krishna with:

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 33

'O Supreme Personality let me praise Your lotus feet. I always meditate upon them for they put an end to the humiliation we suffer as a consequence of the material influence. They, amply rewarding the true desire of the soul, are the abode and the place of pilgrimage to which S'iva and Brahmâ bow down. They, relieving the distress of Your servants, are the most worthy shelter, they are the boat for the ocean of birth and death.

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.' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 34

O Supreme Personality let me pay homage to the lotus feet of You who upon the words of a brahmin [like Akrûra, S'rî Advaita or John the Babtist], as the Most Religious One abandoning the so hard to forsake opulence of S'rî that is so anxiously desired by the godly, being of mercy for the ones who are caught in animal nature, [as Râma, Krishna, the Buddha, as Jesus, as Caitanya etc.] went to the distant land [India, the wilderness, the forest, the desert, into sannyâsa] in pursuance of the object of Your desire [Your mission, Your dharma, Your presence as the Lord of the devotees, 4*].'

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 35

O King, thus is the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller of All Felicity, with His names and forms as belonging to each yuga worshiped by the people of that age.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 36

The faithful ones [of spiritual progress] knowing of the value of the age of Kali praise it by pointing out that it's essence implies that by [mere] congregational chanting [sankîrtana] as good as all one's goals can be attained.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 37

Indeed, for the embodied wandering around in this universe, there is no greater gain than this [sankîrtana] from which one obtains the Supreme Peace and of which the cycle of birth and death is broken [see also 2.1: 11, 3.33: 7, 8.23: 16 and 8.23*].

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 38-40

The inhabitants of Satya- and the other yugas, o King, want to take birth in Kali-yuga because one in that time o great monarch, in various places finds the devotees who are dedicated to Nârâyana. Especially finds one them in great numbers in the provinces of South India. The human beings there who drink from the water of the rivers the Tâmraparnî, the Kritamâlâ, the Payasvinî, the extremely pious Kâverî, the Mahânadî and the Pratîcî, o lord of men, are mostly pure-hearted devotees of the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva.

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, Kritamâlâ, Payasvinî, the extremely pious Kâverî and the Pratîcî Mahânadî, will almost all be purehearted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 41

O King, a person who, giving up on the material duties, in full surrender approached the shelter of Mukunda, the One Affording Shelter, is not the servant nor the debtor of the gods, the sages, the ordinary living beings, of friends and relatives or of the forefathers [see also B.G. 3: 9].

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 42

From the one who fixed at His feet is engaged in worship and thus is dear to Lord Hari, the Supreme Controller who entered the heart the moment one gave up on other engagements, are whatever irregularities that somehow occurred all removed [see 8.23: 16 and B.G. 9: 22, 9: 30, 18: 56].'

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 43

S'rî Nârada said: 'After he thus had heard about the science of devotional service felt the master of Mithilâ satisfied indeed and offered he next together with the priests the sagacious sons of Jayantî [the Yogendras 5.4: 8] worship.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 44

Next, with all present watching, disappeared the ones of perfection. The king, faithfully following this dharma, achieved the supreme destination.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 45

You [Vasudeva], o most fortunate soul, will also, endowed with faith in these principles of devotional service that you heard of, after having abandoned all material concerns, go to the Supreme.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 46

The earth was fulfilled indeed by the glories of the two of you being husband and wife, because the Supreme Lord, the Controller Hari assumed the position of your son.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 47

When you for Krishna proved your love of seeing, embracing and conversing, taking rest, sitting and eating with Him as a son, have the hearts of the two of you become purified.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 48

Kings like S'is'upâla, Paundraka and S'âlva who in competition enviously related to His movements, glances and so on, and thus meditating fixed their minds upon Him as they layed down, sat etc., have achieved a position at the same level; what then may one expect from those who were favorably minded [see mukti and also Jaya & Vijaya]?

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? (Vedabase)

 

 Text 49

Do not deign to impose upon Krishna, the Supreme Soul and Controller of All, the idea that He would be your son; by the power of His illusory potency He appeared as a normal human being in concealing His opulence as the Supreme One Infallible [see also B.G. 4: 6].

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 50

Of Him who descended in order to kill the asura members of the noble class who burdened the earth and to award [the devotees] liberation, has the fame spread wide in the world [see also B.G. 4: 7].'

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 51

S'rî S'uka said: 'Having heard this were the greatly fortunate Vasudeva and Devakî most amazed and gave they up the folly they had cherished.

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. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 52

He who one-pointed of attention meditates upon this pious, historical account, will in this very life cleanse away the contamination and achieve spiritual perfection.'

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. (Vedabase)

 

*: With the Rik-samhitâ (8.4: 19), the S'ukla-yajur Veda (34: 11) and the Atharva Veda (19: 66) all saying 'The brâhmana appeared as His face, the king as His arms, the vais'ya as His thighs, and the s'ûdra was born from His feet' are, according to S'rîdhara Svâmî, the brahmins considered to be born of the mode of goodness, the kshatriyas of a combination of goodness and passion, the vais'yas of a combination of passion and ignorance and the s'ûdras of the mode of ignorance.

**: Mentioned here are the vikankata wooden sruk and the khadira wooden sruvâ that serves the sruk for pouring ghee into the fire.

***: The paramparâ, as to remind us of the degradation of devotion through the yugas [see also 1.16: 20] elucidates: 'The inhabitants of Satya-yuga were described as s'ântâh, nirvairâh, suhridah and samâh, or peaceful, free from envy, the well-wishers of every living entity, and fixed on the spiritual platform beyond the modes of material nature. Similarly the inhabitants of Tretâ-yuga were described as dharmishthhâh and brahma-vâdinah, or thoroughly religious, and expert followers of the Vedic injunctions. In the present verse, the inhabitants of Dvâpara-yuga are said to be simply jijñâsavah, desiring to know the Absolute Truth. Otherwise they are described as martyâh, or subject to the weakness of mortal beings.' One after the other age is one thus worshiping by meditation, sacrifices, temple worship and congregational chanting.

4*: The paramparâ adds to this: 'Corroborating the explanation of this verse, the followers of Caitanya Mahâprabhu also worship Him in His six-armed form of shad-bhuja. Two arms carry the waterpot and danda of the sannyâsî Caitanya Mahâprabhu, two arms carry the flute of Lord Krishna, and two arms carry the bow and arrow of S'rî Râmacandra. This shad-bhuja form is the actual purport of this verse of the S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam'.

 

 

 

For this original translation was used the Vedabase of the BBT offering the work
that Svâmi Prabhupâda's pupils did to complete his translation of the Bhâgavatam.
See the
S'rîmad Bhâgavatam links-page
for this and more books of Prabhupâda.
The first image on this page is by
Mukunda Murâri dâsa; The second and third by Syamarani dâsî (also known as Jadurani dâsî)
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


 

 

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