Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions

 

2.7.1

brahmovāca

yatrodyataḥ kṣiti-taloddharaṇāya bibhrat

krauḍīḿ tanuḿ sakala-yajña-mayīm anantaḥ

antar-mahārṇava upāgatam ādi-daityaḿ

taḿ daḿṣṭrayādrim iva vajra-dharo dadāra

 

brahmā uvāca — Lord Brahmā said; yatra — at that time (when); udyataḥ — attempted; kṣiti-tala — the planet earth; uddharaṇāya — for the matter of lifting; bibhrat — assumed; krauḍīm — pastimes; tanum — form; sakala — total; yajña-mayīm — all-inclusive sacrifices; anantaḥ — the Unlimited; antar — within the universe; mahā-arṇave — the great Garbha Ocean; upāgatam — having arrived at; ādi — the first; daityam — demon; tam — him; daḿṣṭrayā — by the tusk; adrim — the flying mountains; iva — like; vajra-dharaḥ — the controller of the thunderbolts; dadāra — pierced.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā said: When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift the planet earth, which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called the Garbhodaka, the first demon [Hiraṇyākṣa] appeared, and the Lord pierced him with His tusk.

 

2.7.2

jāto rucer ajanayat suyamān suyajña

ākūti-sūnur amarān atha dakṣiṇāyām

loka-trayasya mahatīm aharad yad ārtiḿ

svāyambhuvena manunā harir ity anūktaḥ

 

jātaḥ — was born; ruceḥ — of the wife of Prajāpati; ajanayat — gave birth; suyamān — headed by Suyama; suyajñaḥ — Suyajña; ākūti-sūnuḥ — of the son of Ākūti; amarān — the demigods; atha — thus; dakṣiṇāyām — unto the wife of the name Dakṣiṇā; loka — the planetary systems; trayasya — of the three; mahatīm — very great; aharat — diminished; yat — all those; ārtim — distresses; svāyambhuvena — by the Manu named Svāyambhuva; manunā — by the father of mankind; hariḥ — Hari; iti — thus; anūktaḥ — named.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Prajāpati first begot Suyajña, in the womb of his wife Ākūti, and then Suyajña begot demigods, headed by Suyama, in the womb of his wife Dakṣiṇā. Suyajña, as the Indradeva, diminished very great miseries in the three planetary systems [upper, lower and intermediate], and because he so diminished the miseries of the universe, he was later called Hari by the great father of mankind, namely Svāyambhuva Manu.

 

2.7.3

jajñe ca kardama-gṛhe dvija devahūtyāḿ

strībhiḥ samaḿ navabhir ātma-gatiḿ sva-mātre

ūce yayātma-śamalaḿ guṇa-sańga-pańkam

asmin vidhūya kapilasya gatiḿ prapede

 

jajñe — took birth; ca — also; kardama — the Prajāpati named Kardama; gṛhe — in the house of; dvija — O brāhmaṇa; devahūtyām — in the womb of Devahūti; strībhiḥ — by women; samam — accompanied by; navabhiḥ — by nine; ātma-gatim — spiritual realization; sva-mātre — unto His own mother; ūce — uttered; yayā — by which; ātma-śamalam — coverings of the spirit soul; guṇa-sańga — associated with the modes of nature; pańkam — mud; asmin — this very life; vidhūya — being washed off; kapilasya — of Lord Kapila; gatim — liberation; prapede — achieved.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord then appeared as the Kapila incarnation, being the son of the prajāpati brāhmaṇa Kardama and his wife, Devahūti, along with nine other women [sisters]. He spoke to His mother about self-realization, by which, in that very lifetime, she became fully cleansed of the mud of the material modes and thereby achieved liberation, the path of Kapila.

 

2.7.4

atrer apatyam abhikāńkṣata āha tuṣṭo

datto mayāham iti yad bhagavān sa dattaḥ

yat-pāda-pańkaja-parāga-pavitra-dehā

yogarddhim āpur ubhayīḿ yadu-haihayādyāḥ

 

atreḥ — of the sage Atri; apatyam — issue; abhikāńkṣataḥ — having prayed for; āha — said it; tuṣṭaḥ — being satisfied; dattaḥ — given over; mayā — by me; aham — myself; iti — thus; yat — because; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; saḥ — He; dattaḥ — Dattātreya; yat-pāda — one whose feet; pańkaja — lotus; parāga — dust; pavitra — purified; dehāḥ — body; yoga — mystic; ṛddhim — opulence; āpuḥ — got; ubhayīm — for both the worlds; yadu — the father of the Yadu dynasty; haihaya-ādyāḥ — and others, like King Haihaya.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Atri prayed for offspring, and the Lord, being satisfied with him, promised to incarnate as Atri's son, Dattātreya [Datta, the son of Atri]. And by the grace of the lotus feet of the Lord, many Yadus, Haihayas, etc., became so purified that they obtained both material and spiritual blessings.

 

2.7.5

taptaḿ tapo vividha-loka-sisṛkṣayā me

ādau sanāt sva-tapasaḥ sa catuḥ-sano 'bhūt

prāk-kalpa-samplava-vinaṣṭam ihātma-tattvaḿ

samyag jagāda munayo yad acakṣatātman

 

taptam — having undergone austerities; tapaḥ — penance; vividha-loka — different planetary systems; sisṛkṣayā — desiring to create; me — of mine; ādau — at first; sanāt — from the Personality of Godhead; sva-tapasaḥ — by dint of my own penances; saḥ — He (the Lord); catuḥ-sanaḥ — the four bachelors named Sanat-kumāra, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanātana; abhūt — appeared; prāk — previous; kalpa — creation; samplava — in the inundation; vinaṣṭam — devastated; iha — in this material world; ātma — the spirit; tattvam — truth; samyak — in complete; jagāda — became manifested; munayaḥ — sages; yat — that which; acakṣata — saw clearly; ātman — the spirit.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To create different planetary systems I had to undergo austerities and penance, and the Lord, thus being pleased with me, incarnated in four sanas [Sanaka, Sanat-kumāra, Sanandana and Sanātana]. In the previous creation the spiritual truth was devastated, but the four sanas explained it so nicely that the truth at once became clearly perceived by the sages.

 

2.7.6

dharmasya dakṣa-duhitary ajaniṣṭa mūrtyāḿ

nārāyaṇo nara iti sva-tapaḥ-prabhāvaḥ

dṛṣṭvātmano bhagavato niyamāvalopaḿ

devyas tv anańga-pṛtanā ghaṭituḿ na śekuḥ

 

dharmasya — of Dharma (the controller of religious principles); dakṣa — Dakṣa, one of the Prajāpatis; duhitari — unto the daughter; ajaniṣṭa — took birth; mūrtyām — of the name Mūrti; nārāyaṇaḥ — Nārāyaṇa; naraḥ — Nara; iti — thus; sva-tapaḥ — personal penances; prabhāvaḥ — strength; dṛṣṭvā — by seeing; ātmanaḥ — of His own; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; niyama-avalopam — breaking the vow; devyaḥ — celestial beauties; tu — but; anańga-pṛtanāḥ — companion of Cupid; ghaṭitum — to happen; na — never; śekuḥ — made possible.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To exhibit His personal way of austerity and penance, He appeared in twin forms as Nārāyaṇa and Nara in the womb of Mūrti, the wife of Dharma and the daughter of Dakṣa. Celestial beauties, the companions of Cupid, went to try to break His vows, but they were unsuccessful, for they saw that many beauties like them were emanating from Him, the Personality of Godhead.

 

2.7.7

kāmaḿ dahanti kṛtino nanu roṣa-dṛṣṭyā

roṣaḿ dahantam uta te na dahanty asahyam

so 'yaḿ yad antaram alaḿ praviśan bibheti

kāmaḥ kathaḿ nu punar asya manaḥ śrayeta

 

kāmam — lust; dahanti — chastise; kṛtinaḥ — great stalwarts; nanu — but; roṣa-dṛṣṭyā — by wrathful glance; roṣam — wrath; dahantam — being overwhelmed; uta — although; te — they; na — cannot; dahanti — subjugate; asahyam — intolerable; saḥ — that; ayam — Him; yat — because; antaram — within; alam — however; praviśan — entering; bibheti — is afraid of; kāmaḥ — lust; katham — how; nu — as a matter of fact; punaḥ — again; asya — His; manaḥ — mind; śrayeta — take shelter of.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Great stalwarts like Lord Śiva can, by their wrathful glances, overcome lust and vanquish him, yet they cannot be free from the overwhelming effects of their own wrath. Such wrath can never enter into the heart of Him [the Lord], who is above all this. So how can lust take shelter in His mind?

 

2.7.8

viddhaḥ sapatny-udita-patribhir anti rājño

bālo 'pi sann upagatas tapase vanāni

tasmā adād dhruva-gatiḿ gṛṇate prasanno

divyāḥ stuvanti munayo yad upary-adhastāt

 

viddhaḥ — pinched by; sapatni — a co-wife; udita — uttered by; patribhiḥ — by sharp words; anti — just before; rājñaḥ — of the king; bālaḥ — a boy; api — although; san — being so; upagataḥ — took to; tapase — severe penances; vanāni — in a great forest; tasmai — therefore; adāt — gave as a reward; dhruva-gatim — a path to the Dhruva planet; gṛṇate — on being prayed for; prasannaḥ — being satisfied; divyāḥ — denizens of higher planets; stuvanti — do pray; munayaḥ — great sages; yat — thereupon; upari — up; adhastāt — down.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being insulted by sharp words spoken by the co-wife of the king, even in his presence, Prince Dhruva, though only a boy, took to severe penances in the forest. And the Lord, being satisfied by his prayer, awarded him the Dhruva planet, which is worshiped by great sages, both upward and downward.

 

2.7.9

yad venam utpatha-gataḿ dvija-vākya-vajra-

niṣpluṣṭa-pauruṣa-bhagaḿ niraye patantam

trātvārthito jagati putra-padaḿ ca lebhe

dugdhā vasūni vasudhā sakalāni yena

 

yat — when; venam — unto King Vena; utpatha-gatam — going astray from the righteous path; dvija — of the brāhmaṇas; vākya — words of cursing; vajra — thunderbolt; niṣpluṣṭa — being burnt by; pauruṣa — great deeds; bhagam — opulence; niraye — into hell; patantam — going down; trātvā — by delivering; arthitaḥ — so being prayed for; jagati — on the world; putra-padam — the position of the son; ca — as well as; lebhe — achieved; dugdhā — exploited; vasūni — produce; vasudhā — the earth; sakalāni — all kinds of; yena — by whom.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Vena went astray from the path of righteousness, and the brāhmaṇas chastised him by the thunderbolt curse. By this King Vena was burnt with his good deeds and opulence and was en route to hell. The Lord, by His causeless mercy, descended as his son, by the name of Pṛthu, delivered the condemned King Vena from hell, and exploited the earth by drawing all kinds of crops as produce.

 

2.7.10

nābher asāv ṛṣabha āsa sudevi-sūnur

yo vai cacāra sama-dṛg jaḍa-yoga-caryām

yat pāramahaḿsyam ṛṣayaḥ padam āmananti

svasthaḥ praśānta-karaṇaḥ parimukta-sańgaḥ

 

nābheḥ — by Mahārāja Nābhi; asau — the Personality of Godhead; ṛṣabhaḥ — Ṛṣabha; āsa — became; sudevi — Sudevī; sūnuḥ — the son of; yaḥ — who; vai — certainly; cacāra — performed; sama-dṛk — equibalanced; jaḍa — material; yoga-caryām — performance of yoga; yat — which; pāramahaḿsyam — the highest stage of perfection; ṛṣayaḥ — the learned sages; padam — situation; āmananti — do accept; svasthaḥ — self-reposed; praśānta — suspended; karaṇaḥ — the material senses; parimukta — perfectly liberated; sańgaḥ — material contamination.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord appeared as the son of Sudevī, the wife of King Nābhi, and was known as Ṛṣabhadeva. He performed materialistic yoga to equibalance the mind. This stage is also accepted as the highest perfectional situation of liberation, wherein one is situated in one's self and is completely satisfied.

 

2.7.11

satre mamāsa bhagavān haya-śīraṣātho

sākṣāt sa yajña-puruṣas tapanīya-varṇaḥ

chandomayo makhamayo 'khila-devatātmā

vāco babhūvur uśatīḥ śvasato 'sya nastaḥ

 

satre — in the sacrificial ceremony; mama — of mine; āsa — appeared; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; haya-śīraṣā — with His horselike head; atha — thus; sākṣāt — directly; saḥ — He; yajña-puruṣaḥ — the person who is pleased by performances of sacrifice; tapanīya — golden; varṇaḥ — hue; chandaḥ-mayaḥ — personified Vedic hymns; makha-mayaḥ — personified sacrifices; akhila — all that be; devatā-ātmā — the soul of the demigods; vācaḥ — sounds; babhūvuḥ — become audible; uśatīḥ — very pleasing to hear; śvasataḥ — while breathing; asya — His; nastaḥ — through the nostrils.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord appeared as the Hayagrīva incarnation in a sacrifice performed by me [Brahmā]. He is the personified sacrifices, and the hue of His body is golden. He is the personified Vedas as well, and the Supersoul of all demigods. When He breathed, all the sweet sounds of the Vedic hymns came out of His nostrils.

 

2.7.12

matsyo yugānta-samaye manunopalabdhaḥ

kṣoṇīmayo nikhila-jīva-nikāya-ketaḥ

visraḿsitān uru-bhaye salile mukhān me

ādāya tatra vijahāra ha veda-mārgān

 

matsyaḥ — incarnation of the fish; yuga-anta — at the end of the millennium; samaye — at the time of; manunā — the would-be Vaivasvata Manu; upalabdhaḥ — seen; kṣoṇīmayaḥ — up to the earthly planets; nikhila — all; jīva — living entities; nikāya-ketaḥ — shelter for; visraḿsitān — emanating from; uru — great; bhaye — out of fear; salile — in the water; mukhāt — from the mouth; me — mine; ādāya — having taken to; tatra — there; vijahāra — enjoyed; ha — certainly; veda-mārgān — all the Vedas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At the end of the millennium, the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, of the name Satyavrata, would see that the Lord in the fish incarnation is the shelter of all kinds of living entities, up to those in the earthly planets. Because of my fear of the vast water at the end of the millennium, the Vedas come out of my [Brahmā's] mouth, and the Lord enjoys those vast waters and protects the Vedas.

 

2.7.13

kṣīrodadhāv amara-dānava-yūthapānām

unmathnatām amṛta-labdhaya ādi-devaḥ

pṛṣṭhena kacchapa-vapur vidadhāra gotraḿ

nidrākṣaṇo 'dri-parivarta-kaṣāṇa-kaṇḍūḥ

 

kṣīra — milk; udadhau — in the ocean of; amara — the demigods; dānava — the demons; yūtha-pānām — of the leaders of both hosts; unmathnatām — while churning; amṛta — nectar; labdhaya — for gaining; ādi-devaḥ — the primeval Lord; pṛṣṭhena — by the backbone; kacchapa — tortoise; vapuḥ — body; vidadhāra — assumed; gotram — the Mandara Hill; nidrākṣaṇaḥ — while partly sleeping; adri-parivarta — rolling the hill; kaṣāṇa — scratching; kaṇḍūḥ — itching.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The primeval Lord then assumed the tortoise incarnation in order to serve as a resting place [pivot] for the Mandara Mountain, which was acting as a churning rod. The demigods and demons were churning the ocean of milk with the Mandara Mountain in order to extract nectar. The mountain moved back and forth, scratching the back of Lord Tortoise, who, while partially sleeping, was experiencing an itching sensation.

 

2.7.14

trai-piṣṭaporu-bhaya-hā sa nṛsiḿha-rūpaḿ

kṛtvā bhramad-bhrukuṭi-daḿṣṭra-karāla-vaktram

daityendram āśu gadayābhipatantam ārād

ūrau nipātya vidadāra nakhaiḥ sphurantam

 

trai-piṣṭapa — the demigods; uru-bhaya-hā — one who vanquishes great fears; saḥ — He (the Personality of Godhead); nṛsiḿha-rūpam — assuming the incarnation Nṛsiḿha; kṛtvā — doing so; bhramat — by rolling; bhru-kuṭi — eyebrows; daḿṣṭra — teeth; karāla — greatly fearful; vaktram — mouth; daitya-indram — the king of the demons; āśu — immediately; gadayā — with club in hand; abhipatantam — while falling down; ārāt — nearby; ūrau — on the thighs; nipātya — placing on; vidadāra — pierced; nakhaiḥ — by the nails; sphurantam — while challenging.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Personality of Godhead assumed the incarnation of Nṛsiḿhadeva in order to vanquish the great fears of the demigods. He killed the king of the demons [Hiraṇyakaśipu], who challenged the Lord with a club in his hand, by placing the demon on His thighs and piercing him with His nails, rolling His eyebrows in anger and showing His fearful teeth and mouth.

 

2.7.15

antaḥ-sarasy uru-balena pade gṛhīto

grāheṇa yūtha-patir ambuja-hasta ārtaḥ

āhedam ādi-puruṣākhila-loka-nātha

tīrtha-śravaḥ śravaṇa-mańgala-nāmadheya

 

antaḥ-sarasi — within the river; uru-balena — by superior strength; pade — leg; gṛhītaḥ — being taken up; grāheṇa — by the crocodile; yūtha-patiḥ — of the leader of the elephants; ambuja-hastaḥ — with a lotus flower in the hand; ārtaḥ — greatly aggrieved; āha — addressed; idam — like this; ādi-puruṣa — the original enjoyer; akhila-loka-nātha — the Lord of the universe; tīrtha-śravaḥ — as famous as a place of pilgrimage; śravaṇa-mańgala — all good simply by hearing the name; nāma-dheya — whose holy name is worth chanting.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The leader of the elephants, whose leg was attacked in a river by a crocodile of superior strength, was much aggrieved. Taking a lotus flower in his trunk, he addressed the Lord, saying, "O original enjoyer, Lord of the universe! O deliverer, as famous as a place of pilgrimage! All are purified simply by hearing Your holy name, which is worthy to be chanted."

 

2.7.16

śrutvā haris tam araṇārthinam aprameyaś

cakrāyudhaḥ patagarāja-bhujādhirūḍhaḥ

cakreṇa nakra-vadanaḿ vinipāṭya tasmād

dhaste pragṛhya bhagavān kṛpayojjahāra

 

śrutvā — by hearing; hariḥ — the Personality of Godhead; tam — him; araṇa-arthinam — one who is in need of help; aprameyaḥ — the unlimitedly powerful Lord; cakra — wheel; āyudhaḥ — equipped with His weapon; pataga-rāja — the king of the birds (Garuḍa); bhuja-adhirūḍhaḥ — being seated on the wings of; cakreṇa — by the wheel; nakra-vadanam — the mouth of the crocodile; vinipāṭya — cutting in two; tasmāt — from the mouth of the crocodile; haste — in the hands; pragṛhya — taking hold of the trunk; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; kṛpayā — out of causeless mercy; ujjahāra — delivered him.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Personality of Godhead, after hearing the elephant's plea, felt that the elephant needed His immediate help, for he was in great distress. Thus at once the Lord appeared there on the wings of the king of birds, Garuḍa, fully equipped with His weapon, the wheel [cakra]. With the wheel He cut to pieces the mouth of the crocodile to save the elephant, and He delivered the elephant by lifting him by his trunk.

 

2.7.17

jyāyān guṇair avarajo 'py aditeḥ sutānāḿ

lokān vicakrama imān yad athādhiyajñaḥ

kṣmāḿ vāmanena jagṛhe tripada-cchalena

yācñām ṛte pathi caran prabhubhir na cālyaḥ

 

jyāyān — the greatest; guṇaiḥ — by qualities; avarajaḥ — transcendental; api — although He is so; aditeḥ — of Aditi; sutānām — of all the sons (known as Ādityas); lokān — all the planets; vicakrame — surpassed; imān — in this universe; yat — one who; atha — therefore; adhiyajñaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṣmām — all the lands; vāmanena — in the incarnation of Vāmana; jagṛhe — accepted; tripada — three steps; chalena — by pretension; yācñām — begging; ṛte — without; pathi caran — passing over the right path; prabhubhiḥ — by authorities; na — never to be; cālyaḥ — to be bereft of.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord, although transcendental to all material modes, still surpassed all the qualities of the sons of Aditi, known as the Ādityas. The Lord appeared as the youngest son of Aditi. And because He surpassed all the planets of the universe, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. On the pretense of asking for a measurement of three footsteps of land, He took away all the lands of Bali Mahārāja. He asked simply because without begging, no authority can take one's rightful possession.

 

2.7.18

nārtho baler ayam urukrama-pāda-śaucam

āpaḥ śikhā-dhṛtavato vibudhādhipatyam

yo vai pratiśrutam ṛte na cikīrṣad anyad

ātmānam ańga manasā haraye 'bhimene

 

na — never; arthaḥ — of any value in comparison with; baleḥ — of strength; ayam — this; urukrama-pāda-śaucam — the water washed from the feet of the personality of Godhead; āpaḥ — water; śikhā-dhṛtavataḥ — of one who has kept it on his head; vibudha-adhipatyam — supremacy over the kingdom of the demigods; yaḥ — one who; vai — certainly; pratiśrutam — what was duly promised; ṛte na — besides that; cikīrṣat — tried for; anyat — anything else; ātmānam — even his personal body; ańga — O Nārada; manasā — within his mind; haraye — unto the Supreme Lord; abhimene — dedicated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Bali Mahārāja, who put on his head the water washed from the lotus feet of the Lord, did not think of anything besides his promise, in spite of being forbidden by his spiritual master. The king dedicated his own personal body to fulfill the measurement of the Lord's third step. For such a personality, even the kingdom of heaven, which he conquered by his strength, was of no value.

 

2.7.19

tubhyaḿ ca nārada bhṛśaḿ bhagavān vivṛddha-

bhāvena sādhu parituṣṭa uvāca yogam

jñānaḿ ca bhāgavatam ātma-satattva-dīpaḿ

yad vāsudeva-śaraṇā vidur añjasaiva

 

tubhyam — unto you; ca — also; nārada — O Nārada; bhṛśam — very nicely; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; vivṛddha — developed; bhāvena — by transcendental love; sādhu — your goodness; parituṣṭaḥ — being satisfied; uvāca — described; yogam — service; jñānam — knowledge; ca — also; bhāgavatam — the science of God and His devotional service; ātma — the self; sa-tattva — with all details; dīpam — just like the light in the darkness; yat — that which; vāsudeva-śaraṇāḥ — those who are souls surrendered unto Lord Vāsudeva; viduḥ — know them; añjasā — perfectly well; eva — as it is.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Nārada, you were taught about the science of God and His transcendental loving service by the Personality of Godhead in His incarnation of Haḿsāvatāra. He was very much pleased with you, due to your intense proportion of devotional service. He also explained unto you, lucidly, the full science of devotional service, which is especially understandable by persons who are souls surrendered unto Lord Vāsudeva, the Personality of Godhead.

 

2.7.20

cakraḿ ca dikṣv avihataḿ daśasu sva-tejo

manvantareṣu manu-vaḿśa-dharo bibharti

duṣṭeṣu rājasu damaḿ vyadadhāt sva-kīrtiḿ

satye tri-pṛṣṭha uśatīḿ prathayaḿś caritraiḥ

 

cakram — the Sudarśana wheel of the Lord; ca — as well as; dikṣu — in all directions; avihatam — without being deterred; daśasu — ten sides; sva-tejaḥ — personal strength; manvantareṣu — in different incarnations of Manu; manu-vaḿśa-dharaḥ — as the descendant of the Manu dynasty; bibharti — rules over; duṣṭeṣu — unto the miscreants; rājasu — upon the kings of that type; damam — subjection; vyadadhāt — performed; sva-kīrtim — personal glories; satye — in the Satyaloka planet; tri-pṛṣṭhe — the three planetary systems; uśatīm — glorious; prathayan — established; caritraiḥ — characteristics.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As the incarnation of Manu, the Lord became the descendant of the Manu dynasty and ruled over the miscreant kingly order, subduing them by His powerful wheel weapon. Undeterred in all circumstances, His rule was characterized by His glorious fame, which spread over the three lokas, and above them to the planetary system of Satyaloka, the topmost in the universe.

 

2.7.21

dhanvantariś ca bhagavān svayam eva kīrtir

nāmnā nṛṇāḿ puru-rujāḿ ruja āśu hanti

yajñe ca bhāgam amṛtāyur-avāvarundha

āyuṣya-vedam anuśāsty avatīrya loke

 

dhanvantariḥ — the incarnation of God named Dhanvantari; ca — and; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; svayam eva — personally Himself; kīrtiḥ — fame personified; nāmnā — by the name; nṛṇām puru-rujām — of the diseased living entities; rujaḥ — diseases; āśu — very soon; hanti — cures; yajñe — in the sacrifice; ca — also; bhāgam — share; amṛta — nectar; āyuḥ — duration of life; ava — from; avarundhe — obtains; āyuṣya — of duration of life; vedam — knowledge; anuśāsti — directs; avatīrya — incarnating; loke — in the universe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord in His incarnation of Dhanvantari very quickly cures the diseases of the ever-diseased living entities simply by his fame personified, and only because of him do the demigods achieve long lives. Thus the Personality of Godhead becomes ever glorified. He also exacted a share from the sacrifices, and it is he only who inaugurated the medical science or the knowledge of medicine in the universe.

 

2.7.22

kṣatraḿ kṣayāya vidhinopabhṛtaḿ mahātmā

brahma-dhrug ujjhita-pathaḿ narakārti-lipsu

uddhanty asāv avanikaṇṭakam ugra-vīryas

triḥ-sapta-kṛtva urudhāra-paraśvadhena

 

kṣatram — the royal order; kṣayāya — for the sake of diminishing; vidhinā — by destination; upabhṛtam — increased in proportion; mahātmā — the Lord in the form of the great sage Paraśurāma; brahma-dhruk — the ultimate truth in Brahman; ujjhita-patham — those who have given up the path of the Absolute Truth; naraka-ārti-lipsu — desirous to suffer pain in hell; uddhanti — exacts; asau — all those; avanikaṇṭakam — thorns of the world; ugra-vīryaḥ — awfully powerful; triḥ-sapta — thrice seven times; kṛtvaḥ — performed; urudhāra — very sharp; paraśvadhena — by the great chopper.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the ruling administrators, who are known as the kṣatriyas, turned astray from the path of the Absolute Truth, being desirous to suffer in hell, the Lord, in His incarnation as the sage Paraśurāma, uprooted those unwanted kings, who appeared as the thorns of the earth. Thus He thrice seven times uprooted the kṣatriyas with His keenly sharpened chopper.

 

2.7.23

asmat-prasāda-sumukhaḥ kalayā kaleśa

ikṣvāku-vaḿśa avatīrya guror nideśe

tiṣṭhan vanaḿ sa-dayitānuja āviveśa

yasmin virudhya daśa-kandhara ārtim ārcchat

 

asmat — unto us, beginning from Brahmā down to the insignificant ant; prasāda — causeless mercy; sumukhaḥ — so inclined; kalayā — with His plenary extensions; kaleśaḥ — the Lord of all potencies; ikṣvāku — Mahārāja Ikṣvāku, in the dynasty of the sun; vaḿśe — family; avatīrya — by descending in; guroḥ — of the father or spiritual master; nideśe — under the order of; tiṣṭhan — being situated in; vanam — in the forest; sa-dayitā-anujaḥ — along with His wife and younger brother; āviveśa — entered; yasmin — unto whom; virudhya — being rebellious; daśa-kandharaḥ — Rāvaṇa, who had ten heads; ārtim — great distress; ārcchat — achieved.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Due to His causeless mercy upon all living entities within the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with His plenary extensions, appeared in the family of Mahārāja Ikṣvāku as the Lord of His internal potency, Sītā. Under the order of His father, Mahārāja Daśaratha, He entered the forest and lived there for considerable years with His wife and younger brother. Rāvaṇa, who was very materially powerful, with ten heads on his shoulders, committed a great offense against Him and was thus ultimately vanquished.

 

2.7.24

yasmā adād udadhir ūḍha-bhayāńga-vepo

mārgaḿ sapady ari-puraḿ haravad didhakṣoḥ

dūre suhṛn-mathita-roṣa-suśoṇa-dṛṣṭyā

tātapyamāna-makaroraga-nakra-cakraḥ

 

yasmai — unto whom; adāt — gave; udadhiḥ — the great Indian Ocean; ūḍha-bhaya — affected by fear; ańga-vepaḥ — bodily trembling; mārgam — way; sapadi — quickly; ari-puram — the city of the enemy; hara-vat — like that of Hara (Mahādeva); didhakṣoḥ — desiring to burn to ashes; dūre — at a long distance; su-hṛt — intimate friend; mathita — being aggrieved by; roṣa — in anger; su-śoṇa — red-hot; dṛṣṭyā — by such a glance; tātapyamāna — burning in heat; makara — sharks; uraga — snakes; nakra — crocodiles; cakraḥ — circle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Personality of Godhead Rāmacandra, being aggrieved for His distant intimate friend [Sītā], glanced over the city of the enemy Rāvaṇa with red-hot eyes like those of Hara [who wanted to burn the kingdom of heaven]. The great ocean, trembling in fear, gave Him His way because its family members, the aquatics like the sharks, snakes and crocodiles, were being burnt by the heat of the angry red-hot eyes of the Lord.

 

2.7.25

vakṣaḥ-sthala-sparśa-rugna-mahendra-vāha-

dantair viḍambita-kakubjuṣa ūḍha-hāsam

sadyo 'subhiḥ saha vineṣyati dāra-hartur

visphūrjitair dhanuṣa uccarato 'dhisainye

 

vakṣaḥ-sthala — chest; sparśa — touched by; rugna — broken; mahā-indra — the King of heaven; vāha — the conveyor; dantaiḥ — by the trunk; viḍambita — illuminated; kakup-juṣaḥ — all directions thus being served; ūḍha-hāsam — overtaken by laughter; sadyaḥ — within no time; asubhiḥ — by the life; saha — along with; vineṣyati — was killed; dāra-hartuḥ — of the one who kidnapped the wife; visphūrjitaiḥ — by the tingling of the bow; dhanuṣaḥ — bow; uccarataḥ — strolling fast; adhisainye — in the midst of the fighting soldiers of both sides.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Rāvaṇa was engaged in the battle, the trunk of the elephant which carried the King of heaven, Indra, broke in pieces, having collided with the chest of Rāvaṇa, and the scattered broken parts illuminated all directions. Rāvaṇa therefore felt proud of his prowess and began to loiter in the midst of the fighting soldiers, thinking himself the conqueror of all directions. But his laughter, overtaken by joy, along with his very air of life, suddenly ceased with the tingling sound of the bow of Rāmacandra, the Personality of Godhead.

 

2.7.26

bhūmeḥ suretara-varūtha-vimarditāyāḥ

kleśa-vyayāya kalayā sita-kṛṣṇa-keśaḥ

jātaḥ kariṣyati janānupalakṣya-mārgaḥ

karmāṇi cātma-mahimopanibandhanāni

 

bhūmeḥ — of the entire world; sura-itara — other than godly persons; varūtha — soldiers; vimarditāyāḥ — distressed by the burden; kleśa — miseries; vyayāya — for the matter of diminishing; kalayā — along with His plenary expansion; sita-kṛṣṇa — not only beautiful but also black; keśaḥ — with such hairs; jātaḥ — having appeared; kariṣyati — would act; jana — people in general; anupalakṣya — rarely to be seen; mārgaḥ — path; karmāṇi — activities; ca — also; ātma-mahimā — glories of the Lord Himself; upanibandhanāni — in relation to.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the world is overburdened by the fighting strength of kings who have no faith in God, the Lord, just to diminish the distress of the world, descends with His plenary portion. The Lord comes in His original form, with beautiful black hair. And just to expand His transcendental glories, He acts extraordinarily. No one can properly estimate how great He is.

 

2.7.27

tokena jīva-haraṇaḿ yad ulūki-kāyās

trai-māsikasya ca padā śakaṭo 'pavṛttaḥ

yad rińgatāntara-gatena divi-spṛśor vā

unmūlanaḿ tv itarathārjunayor na bhāvyam

 

tokena — by a child; jīva-haraṇam — killing a living being; yat — one which; ulūki-kāyāḥ — assumed the giant body of a demon; trai-māsikasya — of one who is only three months old; ca — also; padā — by the leg; śakaṭaḥ apavṛttaḥ — turned over the cart; yat — one who; rińgatā — while crawling; antara-gatena — being overtaken; divi — high in the sky; spṛśoḥ — touching; vā — either; unmūlanam — uprooting; tu — but; itarathā — anyone else than; arjunayoḥ — of the two arjuna trees; na bhāvyam — was not possible.

 

TRANSLATION

 

There is no doubt about Lord Kṛṣṇa's being the Supreme Lord, otherwise how was it possible for Him to kill a giant demon like Pūtanā when He was just on the lap of His mother, to overturn a cart with His leg when He was only three months old, to uproot a pair of arjuna trees, so high that they touched the sky, when He was only crawling? All these activities are impossible for anyone other than the Lord Himself.

 

2.7.28

yad vai vraje vraja-paśūn viṣatoya-pītān

pālāḿs tv ajīvayad anugraha-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyā

tac-chuddhaye 'ti-viṣa-vīrya-vilola-jihvam

uccāṭayiṣyad uragaḿ viharan hradinyām

 

yat — one who; vai — certainly; vraje — at Vṛndāvana; vraja-paśūn — the animals thereof; viṣa-toya — poisoned water; pītān — those who drank; pālān — the cowherd men; tu — also; ajīvayat — brought to life; anugraha-dṛṣṭi — merciful glance; vṛṣṭyā — by the showers of; tat — that; śuddhaye — for purification; ati — exceedingly; viṣa-vīrya — highly potent poison; vilola — lurking; jihvam — one who has such a tongue; uccāṭayiṣyat — severely punished; uragam — unto the snake; viharan — taking it as a pleasure; hradinyām — in the river.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then also when the cowherd boys and their animals drank the poisoned water of the River Yamunā, and after the Lord [in His childhood] revived them by His merciful glance, just to purify the water of the River Yamunā He jumped into it as if playing and chastised the venomous Kāliya snake, which was lurking there, its tongue emitting waves of poison. Who can perform such herculean tasks but the Supreme Lord?

 

2.7.29

tat karma divyam iva yan niśi niḥśayānaḿ

dāvāgninā śuci-vane paridahyamāne

unneṣyati vrajam ato 'vasitānta-kālaḿ

netre pidhāpya sabalo 'nadhigamya-vīryaḥ

 

tat — that; karma — activity; divyam — superhuman; iva — like; yat — which; niśi — at night; niḥśayānam — sleeping carefreely; dāva-agninā — by the glare of the forest fire; śuci-vane — in the dry forest; paridahyamāne — being set ablaze; unneṣyati — would deliver; vrajam — all the inhabitants of Vraja; ataḥ — hence; avasita — surely; anta-kālam — last moments of life; netre — on the eyes; pidhāpya — simply by closing; sa-balaḥ — along with Baladeva; anadhigamya — unfathomable; vīryaḥ — prowess.

 

TRANSLATION

 

On the very night of the day of the chastisement of the Kāliya snake, when the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi were sleeping carefreely, there was a forest fire ablaze due to dry leaves, and it appeared that all the inhabitants were sure to meet their death. But the Lord, along with Balarāma, saved them simply by closing His eyes. Such are the superhuman activities of the Lord.

 

2.7.30

gṛhṇīta yad yad upabandham amuṣya mātā

śulbaḿ sutasya na tu tat tad amuṣya māti

yaj jṛmbhato 'sya vadane bhuvanāni gopī

saḿvīkṣya śańkita-manāḥ pratibodhitāsīt

 

gṛhṇīta — by taking up; yat yat — whatsoever; upabandham — ropes for tying; amuṣya — His; mātā — mother; śulbam — ropes; sutasya — of her son; na — not; tu — however; tat tat — by and by; amuṣya — His; māti — was sufficient; yat — that which; jṛmbhataḥ — opening the mouth; asya — of Him; vadane — in the mouth; bhuvanāni — the worlds; gopī — the cowherd woman; saḿvīkṣya — so seeing it; śańkita-manāḥ — doubtful in mind; pratibodhitā — convinced in a different way; āsīt — was so done.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the cowherd woman [Kṛṣṇa's foster mother, Yaśodā] was trying to tie the hands of her son with ropes, she found the rope to be always insufficient in length, and when she finally gave up, Lord Kṛṣṇa, by and by, opened His mouth, wherein the mother found all the universes situated. Seeing this, she was doubtful in her mind, but she was convinced in a different manner of the mystic nature of her son.

 

2.7.31

nandaḿ ca mokṣyati bhayād varuṇasya pāśād

gopān bileṣu pihitān maya-sūnunā ca

ahny āpṛtaḿ niśi śayānam atiśrameṇa

lokaḿ vikuṇṭham upaneṣyati gokulaḿ sma

 

nandam — unto Nanda (the father of Kṛṣṇa); ca — also; mokṣyati — saves; bhayāt — from the fear of; varuṇasya — of Varuṇa, the demigod of water; pāśāt — from the clutches of; gopān — the cowherd men; bileṣu — in the caves of the mountain; pihitān — placed; maya-sūnunā — by the son of Maya; ca — also; ahni āpṛtam — being very engaged during the daytime; niśi — at night; śayānam — lying down; atiśrameṇa — because of hard labor; lokam — planet; vikuṇṭham — the spiritual sky; upaneṣyati — He awarded; gokulam — the highest planet; sma — certainly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa saved His foster father, Nanda Mahārāja, from the fear of the demigod Varuṇa and released the cowherd boys from the caves of the mountain, for they were placed there by the son of Maya. Also, to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, who were busy working during daytime and sleeping soundly at night because of their hard labor in the day, Lord Kṛṣṇa awarded promotion to the highest planet in the spiritual sky. All these acts are transcendental and certainly prove without any doubt His Godhood.

 

2.7.32

gopair makhe pratihate vraja-viplavāya

deve 'bhivarṣati paśūn kṛpayā rirakṣuḥ

dhartocchilīndhram iva sapta-dināni sapta-

varṣo mahīdhram anaghaika-kare salīlam

 

gopaiḥ — by the cowherd men; makhe — in offering a sacrifice to the King of heaven; pratihate — being hampered; vraja-viplavāya — for devastating the whole existence of Vrajabhūmi, the land of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes; deve — by the King of heaven; abhivarṣati — having poured down heavy rain; paśūn — the animals; kṛpayā — by causeless mercy upon them; rirakṣuḥ — desired to protect them; dharta — held up; ucchilīndhram — uprooted as an umbrella; iva — exactly like that; sapta-dināni — continuously for seven days; sapta-varṣaḥ — although He was only seven years old; mahīdhram — the Govardhana Hill; anagha — without being tired; eka-kare — in one hand only; salīlam — playfully.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the cowherd men of Vṛndāvana, under instruction of Kṛṣṇa, stopped offering sacrifice to the heavenly King, Indra, the whole tract of land known as Vraja was threatened with being washed away by constant heavy rains for seven days. Lord Kṛṣṇa, out of His causeless mercy upon the inhabitants of Vraja, held up the hill known as Govardhana with one hand only, although He was only seven years old. He did this to protect the animals from the onslaught of water.

 

2.7.33

krīḍan vane niśi niśākara-raśmi-gauryāḿ

rāsonmukhaḥ kala-padāyata-mūrcchitena

uddīpita-smara-rujāḿ vraja-bhṛd-vadhūnāḿ

hartur hariṣyati śiro dhanadānugasya

 

krīḍan — while engaged in His pastimes; vane — in the forest of Vṛndāvana; niśi — nocturnal; niśākara — the moon; raśmi-gauryām — white moonshine; rāsa-unmukhaḥ — desiring to dance with; kala-padāyata — accompanied by sweet songs; mūrcchitena — and melodious music; uddīpita — awakened; smara-rujām — sexual desires; vraja-bhṛt — the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi; vadhūnām — of the wives; hartuḥ — of the kidnappers; hariṣyati — will vanquish; śiraḥ — the head; dhanada-anugasya — of the follower of the rich Kuvera.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the Lord was engaged in His pastimes of the rāsa dance in the forest of Vṛndāvana, enlivening the sexual desires of the wives of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana by sweet and melodious songs, a demon of the name Śańkhacūḍa, a rich follower of the treasurer of heaven [Kuvera], kidnapped the damsels, and the Lord severed his head from his trunk.

 

2.7.34-35

ye ca pralamba-khara-dardura-keśy-ariṣṭa-

mallebha-kaḿsa-yavanāḥ kapi-pauṇḍrakādyāḥ

anye ca śālva-kuja-balvala-dantavakra-

saptokṣa-śambara-vidūratha-rukmi-mukhyāḥ

 

ye vā mṛdhe samiti-śālina ātta-cāpāḥ

kāmboja-matsya-kuru-sṛñjaya-kaikayādyāḥ

yāsyanty adarśanam alaḿ bala-pārtha-bhīma-

vyājāhvayena hariṇā nilayaḿ tadīyam

 

ye — all those; ca — totally; pralamba — the demon named Pralamba; khara — Dhenukāsura; dardura — Bakāsura; keśī — the Keśī demon; ariṣṭa — the demon Ariṣṭāsura; malla — a wrestler in the court of Kaḿsa; ibha — Kuvalayāpīḍa; kaḿsa — the King of Mathurā and maternal uncle of Kṛṣṇa; yavanāḥ — the kings of Persia and other adjoining places; kapi — Dvivida; pauṇḍraka-ādyāḥ — Pauṇḍraka and others; anye — others; ca — as much as; śālva — King Śālva; kuja — Narakāsura; balvala — King Balvala; dantavakra — the brother of Śiśupāla, a dead rival of Kṛṣṇa's; saptokṣa — King Saptokṣa; śambara — King Śambara; vidūratha — King Vidūratha; rukmi-mukhyāḥ — the brother of Rukmiṇī, the first queen of Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā;

 

ye — all those; vā — either; mṛdhe — in the battlefield; samiti-śālinaḥ — all very powerful; ātta-cāpāḥ — well equipped with bows and arrows; kāmboja — the King of Kāmboja; matsya — the King of Dvarbhańga; kuru — the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; sṛñjaya — King Sṛñjaya; kaikaya-ādyāḥ — the King of Kekaya and others; yāsyanti — would attain; adarśanam — impersonal merging within the brahmajyoti; alam — what to speak of; bala — Baladeva, the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa; pārtha — Arjuna; bhīma — the second Pāṇḍava; vyāja-āhvayena — by the false names; hariṇā — by Lord Hari; nilayam — the abode; tadīyam — of Him.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All demonic personalities like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Baka, Keśī, Ariṣṭa, Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kuvalayāpīḍa elephant, Kaḿsa, Yavana, Narakāsura and Pauṇḍraka, great marshals like Sālva, Dvivida monkey and Balvala, Dantavakra, the seven bulls, Śambara, Vidūratha and Rukmī, as also great warriors like Kāmboja, Matsya, Kuru, Sṛñjaya and Kekaya, would all fight vigorously, either with the Lord Hari directly or with Him under His names of Baladeva, Arjuna, Bhīma, etc. And the demons, thus being killed, would attain either the impersonal brahmajyoti or His personal abode in the Vaikuṇṭha planets.

 

2.7.36

kālena mīlita-dhiyām avamṛśya nṝṇāḿ

stokāyuṣāḿ sva-nigamo bata dūra-pāraḥ

āvirhitas tv anuyugaḿ sa hi satyavatyāḿ

veda-drumaḿ viṭa-paśo vibhajiṣyati sma

 

kālena — in course of time; mīlita-dhiyām — of the less intelligent persons; avamṛśya — considering the difficulties; nṝṇām — of humanity at large; stoka-āyuṣām — of the short-living persons; sva-nigamaḥ — the Vedic literatures compiled by Him; bata — exactly; dūra-pāraḥ — greatly difficult; āvirhitaḥ — having appeared as; tu — but; anuyugam — in terms of the age; saḥ — He (the Lord); hi — certainly; satyavatyām — in the womb of Satyavatī; veda-drumam — the desire tree of the Vedas; viṭa-paśaḥ — by division of branches; vibhajiṣyati — will divide; sma — as it were.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord Himself in His incarnation as the son of Satyavatī [Vyāsadeva] will consider his compilation of the Vedic literature to be very difficult for the less intelligent persons with short life, and thus He will divide the tree of Vedic knowledge into different branches, according to the circumstances of the particular age.

 

2.7.37

deva-dviṣāḿ nigama-vartmani niṣṭhitānāḿ

pūrbhir mayena vihitābhir adṛśya-tūrbhiḥ

lokān ghnatāḿ mati-vimoham atipralobhaḿ

veṣaḿ vidhāya bahu bhāṣyata aupadharmyam

 

deva-dviṣām — of those who were envious of the devotees of the Lord; nigama — the Vedas; vartmani — on the path of; niṣṭhitānām — of the well situated; pūrbhiḥ — by rockets; mayena — made by the great scientist Maya; vihitābhiḥ — made by; adṛśya-tūrbhiḥ — unseen in the sky; lokān — the different planets; ghnatām — of the killers; mati-vimoham — bewilderment of the mind; atipralobham — very attractive; veṣam — dress; vidhāya — having done so; bahu bhāṣyate — will talk very much; aupadharmyam — subreligious principles.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the atheists, after being well versed in the Vedic scientific knowledge, annihilate inhabitants of different planets, flying unseen in the sky on well-built rockets prepared by the great scientist Maya, the Lord will bewilder their minds by dressing Himself attractively as Buddha and will preach on subreligious principles.

 

2.7.38

yarhy ālayeṣv api satāḿ na hareḥ kathāḥ syuḥ

pāṣaṇḍino dvija-janā vṛṣalā nṛdevāḥ

svāhā svadhā vaṣaḍ iti sma giro na yatra

śāstā bhaviṣyati kaler bhagavān yugānte

 

yarhi — when it happens; ālayeṣu — in the residence of; api — even; satām — civilized gentlemen; na — no; hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; kathāḥ — topics; syuḥ — will take place; pāṣaṇḍinaḥ — atheists; dvija-janāḥ — persons declaring themselves to be the higher three classes (brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas); vṛṣalāḥ — the lower class śūdras; nṛ-devāḥ — ministers of the government; svāhā — hymns to perform sacrifices; svadhā — the ingredients to perform sacrifices; vaṣaṭ — the altar of sacrifice; iti — all these; sma — shall; giraḥ — words; na — never; yatra — anywhere; śāstā — the chastiser; bhaviṣyati — will appear; kaleḥ — of the Kali age; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; yuga-ante — at the end of.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, at the end of Kali-yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen of the three higher castes, and when the power of government is transferred to the hands of ministers elected from the lowborn śūdra class or those less than them, and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser.

 

2.7.39

sarge tapo 'ham ṛṣayo nava ye prajeśāḥ

sthāne 'tha dharma-makha-manv-amarāvanīśāḥ

ante tv adharma-hara-manyu-vaśāsurādyā

māyā-vibhūtaya imāḥ puru-śakti-bhājaḥ

 

sarge — in the beginning of the creation; tapaḥ — penance; aham — myself; ṛṣayaḥ — sages; nava — nine; ye prajeśāḥ — those who would generate; sthāne — in the middle while maintaining the creation; atha — certainly; dharma — religion; makha — Lord Viṣṇu; manu — the father of mankind; amara — the demigods deputed to control the affairs of maintenance; avanīśāḥ — and the kings of different planets; ante — at the end; tu — but; adharma — irreligion; hara — Lord Śiva; manyu-vaśa — subjected to anger; asura-ādyāḥ — atheists, the enemies of the devotees; māyā — energy; vibhūtayaḥ — powerful representatives; imāḥ — all of them; puru-śakti-bhājaḥ — of the supreme powerful Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At the beginning of creation there are penance, myself [Brahmā], and the Prajāpatis, the great sages who generate; then, during the maintenance of the creation, there are Lord Viṣṇu, the demigods with controlling powers, and the kings of different planets. But at the end there is irreligion, and then Lord Śiva and the atheists full of anger, etc. All of them are different representative manifestations of the energy of the supreme power, the Lord.

 

2.7.40

viṣṇor nu vīrya-gaṇanāḿ katamo 'rhatīha

yaḥ pārthivāny api kavir vimame rajāḿsi

caskambha yaḥ sva-rahasāskhalatā tri-pṛṣṭhaḿ

yasmāt tri-sāmya-sadanād uru-kampayānam

 

viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; nu — but; vīrya — prowess; gaṇanām — in the matter of accounting; katamaḥ — who else; arhati — is able to do it; iha — in this world; yaḥ — one who; pārthivāni — the atoms; api — also; kaviḥ — great scientist; vimame — might have counted; rajāḿsi — particles; caskambha — could catch; yaḥ — one who; sva-rahasā — by His own leg; askhalatā — without being hampered; tri-pṛṣṭham — the topmost planetary space; yasmāt — by which; tri-sāmya — the neutral state of the three modes; sadanāt — up to that place; uru-kampayānam — moving very greatly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Who can describe completely the prowess of Viṣṇu? Even the scientist, who might have counted the particles of the atoms of the universe, cannot do so. Because it is He only who in His form of Trivikrama moved His leg effortlessly beyond the topmost planet, Satyaloka, up to the neutral state of the three modes of material nature. And all were moved.

 

2.7.41

nāntaḿ vidāmy aham amī munayo 'gra-jās te

māyā-balasya puruṣasya kuto 'varā ye

gāyan guṇān daśa-śatānana ādi-devaḥ

śeṣo 'dhunāpi samavasyati nāsya pāram

 

na — never; antam — end; vidāmi — do I know; aham — myself; amī — and all those; munayaḥ — great sages; agra-jāḥ — born prior to you; te — you; māyā-balasya — of the omnipotent; puruṣasya — of the Personality of Godhead; kutaḥ — what to speak of others; avarāḥ — born after us; ye — those; gāyan — by singing; guṇān — the qualities; daśa-śata-ānanaḥ — one who has ten hundred faces; ādi-devaḥ — the first incarnation of the Lord; śeṣaḥ — known as Śeṣa; adhunā — until now; api — even; samavasyati — can achieve; na — not; asya — of Him; pāram — limit.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Neither I nor all the sages born before you know fully the omnipotent Personality of Godhead. So what can others, who are born after us, know about Him? Even the first incarnation of the Lord, namely Śeṣa, has not been able to reach the limit of such knowledge, although He is describing the qualities of the Lord with ten hundred faces.