Chapter 15: Description of the Kingdom of God

 

3.15.1

maitreya uvāca

prājāpatyaḿ tu tat tejaḥ

para-tejo-hanaḿ ditiḥ

dadhāra varṣāṇi śataḿ

śańkamānā surārdanāt

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the sage Maitreya said; prājāpatyam — of the great Prajāpati; tu — but; tat tejaḥ — his powerful semen; para-tejaḥ — others' prowess; hanam — troubling; ditiḥ — Diti (Kaśyapa's wife); dadhāra — bore; varṣāṇi — years; śatam — hundred; śańkamānā — being doubtful; sura-ardanāt — disturbing to the demigods.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, Diti, the wife of the sage Kaśyapa, could understand that the sons within her womb would be a cause of disturbance to the demigods. As such, she continuously bore the powerful semen of Kaśyapa Muni, which was meant to give trouble to others, for one hundred years.

 

3.15.2

loke tenāhatāloke

loka-pālā hataujasaḥ

nyavedayan viśva-sṛje

dhvānta-vyatikaraḿ diśām

 

loke — within this universe; tena — by the force of the pregnancy of Diti; āhata — being devoid of; āloke — light; loka-pālāḥ — the demigods of various planets; hata-ojasaḥ — whose prowess was diminished; nyavedayan — asked; viśva-sṛje — Brahmā; dhvānta-vyatikaram — expansion of darkness; diśām — in all directions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By the force of the pregnancy of Diti, the light of the sun and moon was impaired in all the planets, and the demigods of various planets, being disturbed by that force, asked the creator of the universe, Brahmā, "What is this expansion of darkness in all directions?"

 

3.15.3

devā ūcuḥ

tama etad vibho vettha

saḿvignā yad vayaḿ bhṛśam

na hy avyaktaḿ bhagavataḥ

kālenāspṛṣṭa-vartmanaḥ

 

devāḥ ūcuḥ — the demigods said; tamaḥ — darkness; etat — this; vibho — O great one; vettha — you know; saḿvignāḥ — very anxious; yat — because; vayam — we; bhṛśam — very much; na — not; hi — because; avyaktam — unmanifest; bhagavataḥ — of You (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); kālena — by time; aspṛṣṭa — untouched; vartmanaḥ — whose way.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The fortunate demigods said: O great one, just see this darkness, which you know very well and which is causing us anxieties. Because the influence of time cannot touch you, there is nothing unmanifest before you.

 

3.15.4

deva-deva jagad-dhātar

lokanātha-śikhāmaṇe

pareṣām apareṣāḿ tvaḿ

bhūtānām asi bhāva-vit

 

deva-deva — O god of the demigods; jagat-dhātaḥ — O sustainer of the universe; lokanātha-śikhāmaṇe — O head jewel of all the demigods in other planets; pareṣām — of the spiritual world; apareṣām — of the material world; tvam — you; bhūtānām — of all living entities; asi — are; bhāva-vit — knowing the intentions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O god of the demigods, sustainer of the universe, head jewel of all the demigods in other planets, you know the intentions of all living entities, in both the spiritual and material worlds.

 

3.15.5

namo vijñāna-vīryāya

māyayedam upeyuṣe

gṛhīta-guṇa-bhedāya

namas te 'vyakta-yonaye

 

namaḥ — respectful obeisances; vijñāna-vīryāya — O original source of strength and scientific knowledge; māyayā — by the external energy; idam — this body of Brahmā; upeyuṣe — having obtained; gṛhīta — accepting; guṇa-bhedāya — the differentiated mode of passion; namaḥ te — offering obeisances unto you; avyakta — unmanifested; yonaye — source.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O original source of strength and scientific knowledge, all obeisances unto you! You have accepted the differentiated mode of passion from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. With the help of external energy you are born of the unmanifested source. All obeisances unto you!

 

3.15.6

ye tvānanyena bhāvena

bhāvayanty ātma-bhāvanam

ātmani prota-bhuvanaḿ

paraḿ sad-asad-ātmakam

 

ye — those who; tvā — on you; ananyena — without deviation; bhāvena — with devotion; bhāvayanti — meditate; ātma-bhāvanam — who generates all living entities; ātmani — within your self; prota — linked; bhuvanam — all the planets; param — the supreme; sat — effect; asat — cause; ātmakam — generator.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O lord, all these planets exist within your self, and all the living entities are generated from you. Therefore you are the cause of this universe, and anyone who meditates upon you without deviation attains devotional service.

 

3.15.7

teṣāḿ supakva-yogānāḿ

jita-śvāsendriyātmanām

labdha-yuṣmat-prasādānāḿ

na kutaścit parābhavaḥ

 

teṣām — of them; su-pakva-yogānām — who are mature mystics; jita — controlled; śvāsa — breath; indriya — the senses; ātmanām — the mind; labdha — attained; yuṣmat — your; prasādānām — mercy; na — not; kutaścit — anywhere; parābhavaḥ — defeat.

 

TRANSLATION

 

There is no defeat in this material world for persons who control the mind and senses by controlling the breathing process and who are therefore experienced, mature mystics. This is because by such perfection in yoga they have attained your mercy.

 

3.15.8

yasya vācā prajāḥ sarvā

gāvas tantyeva yantritāḥ

haranti balim āyattās

tasmai mukhyāya te namaḥ

 

yasya — of whom; vācā — by the Vedic directions; prajāḥ — living entities; sarvāḥ — all; gāvaḥ — bulls; tantyā — by a rope; iva — as; yantritāḥ — are directed; haranti — offer, take away; balim — presentation, ingredients for worship; āyattāḥ — under control; tasmai — unto him; mukhyāya — unto the chief person; te — unto you; namaḥ — respectful obeisances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All the living entities within the universe are conducted by the Vedic directions, as a bull is directed by the rope attached to its nose. No one can violate the rules laid down in the Vedic literatures. To the chief person, who has contributed the Vedas, we offer our respect!

 

3.15.9

sa tvaḿ vidhatsva śaḿ bhūmaḿs

tamasā lupta-karmaṇām

adabhra-dayayā dṛṣṭyā

āpannān arhasīkṣitum

 

saḥ — he; tvam — you; vidhatsva — perform; śam — good fortune; bhūman — O great lord; tamasā — by the darkness; lupta — have been suspended; karmaṇām — of prescribed duties; adabhra — magnanimous, without reservation; dayayā — mercy; dṛṣṭyā — by your glance; āpannān — us, the surrendered; arhasi — are able; īkṣitum — to see.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The demigods prayed to Brahmā: Please look upon us mercifully, for we have fallen into a miserable condition; because of the darkness, all our work has been suspended.

 

3.15.10

eṣa deva diter garbha

ojaḥ kāśyapam arpitam

diśas timirayan sarvā

vardhate 'gnir ivaidhasi

 

eṣaḥ — this; deva — O lord; diteḥ — of Diti; garbhaḥ — womb; ojaḥ — semen; kāśyapam — of Kaśyapa; arpitam — deposited; diśaḥ — directions; timirayan — causing complete darkness; sarvāḥ — all; vardhate — overloads; agniḥ — fire; iva — as; edhasi — fuel.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As fuel overloads a fire, so the embryo created by the semen of Kaśyapa in the womb of Diti has caused complete darkness throughout the universe.

 

3.15.11

maitreya uvāca

sa prahasya mahā-bāho

bhagavān śabda-gocaraḥ

pratyācaṣṭātma-bhūr devān

prīṇan rucirayā girā

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; saḥ — he; prahasya — smiling; mahā-bāho — O mighty-armed (Vidura); bhagavān — the possessor of all opulences; śabda-gocaraḥ — who is understood by transcendental sound vibration; pratyācaṣṭa — replied; ātma-bhūḥ — Lord Brahmā; devān — the demigods; prīṇan — satisfying; rucirayā — with sweet; girā — words.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Maitreya said: Thus Lord Brahmā, who is understood by transcendental vibration, tried to satisfy the demigods, being pleased with their words of prayer.

 

3.15.12

brahmovāca

mānasā me sutā yuṣmat-

pūrvajāḥ sanakādayaḥ

cerur vihāyasā lokāl

lokeṣu vigata-spṛhāḥ

 

brahmā uvāca — Lord Brahmā said; mānasāḥ — born from the mind; me — my; sutāḥ — sons; yuṣmat — than you; pūrva-jāḥ — born previously; sanaka-ādayaḥ — headed by Sanaka; ceruḥ — traveled; vihāyasā — by traveling in outer space or flying in the sky; lokān — to the material and spiritual worlds; lokeṣu — among the people; vigata-spṛhāḥ — without any desire.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā said: My four sons Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumāra, who were born from my mind, are your predecessors. Sometimes they travel throughout the material and spiritual skies without any definite desire.

 

3.15.13

ta ekadā bhagavato

vaikuṇṭhasyāmalātmanaḥ

yayur vaikuṇṭha-nilayaḿ

sarva-loka-namaskṛtam

 

te — they; ekadā — once upon a time; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vaikuṇṭhasya — of Lord Viṣṇu; amala-ātmanaḥ — being freed from all material contamination; yayuḥ — entered; vaikuṇṭha-nilayam — the abode named Vaikuṇṭha; sarva-loka — by the residents of all the material planets; namaskṛtam — worshiped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After thus traveling all over the universes, they also entered into the spiritual sky, for they were freed from all material contamination. In the spiritual sky there are spiritual planets known as Vaikuṇṭhas, which are the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees and are worshiped by the residents of all the material planets.

 

3.15.14

vasanti yatra puruṣāḥ

sarve vaikuṇṭha-mūrtayaḥ

ye 'nimitta-nimittena

dharmeṇārādhayan harim

 

vasanti — they live; yatra — where; puruṣāḥ — persons; sarve — all; vaikuṇṭha-mūrtayaḥ — having a four-handed form similar to that of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu; ye — those Vaikuṇṭha persons; animitta — without desire for sense gratification; nimittena — caused by; dharmeṇa — by devotional service; ārādhayan — continuously worshiping; harim — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the Vaikuṇṭha planets all the residents are similar in form to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They all engage in devotional service to the Lord without desires for sense gratification.

 

3.15.15

yatra cādyaḥ pumān āste

bhagavān śabda-gocaraḥ

sattvaḿ viṣṭabhya virajaḿ

svānāḿ no mṛḍayan vṛṣaḥ

 

yatra — in the Vaikuṇṭha planets; ca — and; ādyaḥ — original; pumān — person; āste — is there; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śabda-gocaraḥ — understood through the Vedic literature; sattvam — the mode of goodness; viṣṭabhya — accepting; virajam — uncontaminated; svānām — of His own associates; naḥ — us; mṛḍayan — increasing happiness; vṛṣaḥ — the personification of religious principles.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the Vaikuṇṭha planets is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original person and who can be understood through the Vedic literature. He is full of the uncontaminated mode of goodness, with no place for passion or ignorance. He contributes religious progress for the devotees.

 

3.15.16

yatra naiḥśreyasaḿ nāma

vanaḿ kāma-dughair drumaiḥ

sarvartu-śrībhir vibhrājat

kaivalyam iva mūrtimat

 

yatra — in the Vaikuṇṭha planets; naiḥśreyasam — auspicious; nāma — named; vanam — forests; kāma-dughaiḥ — yielding desire; drumaiḥ — with trees; sarva — all; ṛtu — seasons; śrībhiḥ — with flowers and fruits; vibhrājat — splendid; kaivalyam — spiritual; iva — as; mūrtimat — personal.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In those Vaikuṇṭha planets there are many forests which are very auspicious. In those forests the trees are desire trees, and in all seasons they are filled with flowers and fruits because everything in the Vaikuṇṭha planets is spiritual and personal.

 

3.15.17

vaimānikāḥ sa-lalanāś caritāni śaśvad

gāyanti yatra śamala-kṣapaṇāni bhartuḥ

antar-jale 'nuvikasan-madhu-mādhavīnāḿ

gandhena khaṇḍita-dhiyo 'py anilaḿ kṣipantaḥ

 

vaimānikāḥ — flying in their airplanes; sa-lalanāḥ — along with their wives; caritāni — activities; śaśvat — eternally; gāyanti — sing; yatra — in those Vaikuṇṭha planets; śamala — all inauspicious qualities; kṣapaṇāni — devoid of; bhartuḥ — of the Supreme Lord; antaḥ-jale — in the midst of the water; anuvikasat — blossoming; madhu — fragrant, laden with honey; mādhavīnām — of the mādhavī flowers; gandhena — by the fragrance; khaṇḍita — disturbed; dhiyaḥ — minds; api — even though; anilam — breeze; kṣipantaḥ — deriding.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the Vaikuṇṭha planets the inhabitants fly in their airplanes, accompanied by their wives and consorts, and eternally sing of the character and activities of the Lord, which are always devoid of all inauspicious qualities. While singing the glories of the Lord, they deride even the presence of the blossoming mādhavī flowers, which are fragrant and laden with honey.

 

3.15.18

pārāvatānyabhṛta-sārasa-cakravāka-

dātyūha-haḿsa-śuka-tittiri-barhiṇāḿ yaḥ

kolāhalo viramate 'cira-mātram uccair

bhṛńgādhipe hari-kathām iva gāyamāne

 

pārāvata — pigeons; anyabhṛta — cuckoo; sārasa — crane; cakravāka — cakravāka; dātyūha — gallinule; haḿsa — swan; śuka — parrot; tittiri — partridge; barhiṇām — of the peacock; yaḥ — which; kolāhalaḥ — tumult; viramate — stops; acira-mātram — temporarily; uccaiḥ — loudly; bhṛńga-adhipe — king of the bumblebees; hari-kathām — the glories of the Lord; iva — as; gāyamāne — while singing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the king of bees hums in a high pitch, singing the glories of the Lord, there is a temporary lull in the noise of the pigeon, the cuckoo, the crane, the cakravāka, the swan, the parrot, the partridge and the peacock. Such transcendental birds stop their own singing simply to hear the glories of the Lord.

 

3.15.19

mandāra-kunda-kurabotpala-campakārṇa-

punnāga-nāga-bakulāmbuja-pārijātāḥ

gandhe 'rcite tulasikābharaṇena tasyā

yasmiḿs tapaḥ sumanaso bahu mānayanti

 

mandāra — mandāra; kunda — kunda; kuraba — kuraba; utpala — utpala; campaka — campaka; arṇa — arṇa flower; punnāga — punnāga; nāga — nāgakeśara; bakula — bakula; ambuja — lily; pārijātāḥ — pārijāta; gandhe — fragrance; arcite — being worshiped; tulasikā — tulasi; ābharaṇena — with a garland; tasyāḥ — of her; yasmin — in which Vaikuṇṭha; tapaḥ — austerity; su-manasaḥ — good minded, Vaikuṇṭha minded; bahu — very much; mānayanti — glorify.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although flowering plants like the mandāra, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arṇa, punnāga, nāgakeśara, bakula, lily and pārijāta are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still conscious of the austerities performed by tulasī, for tulasī is given special preference by the Lord, who garlands Himself with tulasī leaves.

 

3.15.20

yat sańkulaḿ hari-padānati-mātra-dṛṣṭair

vaidūrya-mārakata-hema-mayair vimānaiḥ

yeṣāḿ bṛhat-kaṭi-taṭāḥ smita-śobhi-mukhyaḥ

kṛṣṇātmanāḿ na raja ādadhur utsmayādyaiḥ

 

yat — that Vaikuṇṭha abode; sańkulam — is pervaded; hari-pada — at the two lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ānati — by obeisances; mātra — simply; dṛṣṭaiḥ — are obtained; vaidūrya — lapis lazuli; mārakata — emeralds; hema — gold; mayaiḥ — made of; vimānaiḥ — with airplanes; yeṣām — of those passengers; bṛhat — large; kaṭi-taṭāḥ — hips; smita — smiling; śobhi — beautiful; mukhyaḥ — faces; kṛṣṇa — in Kṛṣṇa; ātmanām — whose minds are absorbed; na — not; rajaḥ — sex desire; ādadhuḥ — stimulate; utsmaya-ādyaiḥ — by intimate friendly dealings, laughing and joking.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha travel in their airplanes made of lapis lazuli, emerald and gold. Although crowded by their consorts, who have large hips and beautiful smiling faces, they cannot be stimulated to passion by their mirth and beautiful charms.

 

3.15.21

śrī rūpiṇī kvaṇayatī caraṇāravindaḿ

līlāmbujena hari-sadmani mukta-doṣā

saḿlakṣyate sphaṭika-kuḍya upeta-hemni

sammārjatīva yad-anugrahaṇe 'nya-yatnaḥ

 

śrī — Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; rūpiṇī — assuming a beautiful form; kvaṇayatī — tinkling; caraṇa-aravindam — lotus feet; līlā-ambujena — playing with a lotus flower; hari-sadmani — the house of the Supreme Personality; mukta-doṣā — freed from all faults; saḿlakṣyate — becomes visible; sphaṭika — crystal; kuḍye — walls; upeta — mixed; hemni — gold; sammārjatī iva — appearing like a sweeper; yat-anugrahaṇe — to receive her favor; anya — others'; yatnaḥ — very much careful.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The ladies in the Vaikuṇṭha planets are as beautiful as the goddess of fortune herself. Such transcendentally beautiful ladies, their hands playing with lotuses and their leg bangles tinkling, are sometimes seen sweeping the marble walls, which are bedecked at intervals with golden borders, in order to receive the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

3.15.22

vāpīṣu vidruma-taṭāsv amalāmṛtāpsu

preṣyānvitā nija-vane tulasībhir īśam

abhyarcatī svalakam unnasam īkṣya vaktram

uccheṣitaḿ bhagavatety amatāńga yac-chrīḥ

 

vāpīṣu — in the ponds; vidruma — made of coral; taṭāsu — banks; amala — transparent; amṛta — nectarean; apsu — water; preṣyā-anvitā — surrounded by maidservants; nija-vane — in her own garden; tulasībhiḥ — with tulasī; īśam — the Supreme Lord; abhyarcatī — worship; su-alakam — with her face decorated with tilaka; unnasam — raised nose; īkṣya — by seeing; vaktram — face; uccheṣitam — being kissed; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Lord; iti — thus; amata — thought; ańga — O demigods; yat-śrīḥ — whose beauty.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The goddesses of fortune worship the Lord in their own gardens by offering tulasī leaves on the coral-paved banks of transcendental reservoirs of water. While offering worship to the Lord, they can see on the water the reflection of their beautiful faces with raised noses, and it appears that they have become more beautiful because of the Lord's kissing their faces.

 

3.15.23

yan na vrajanty agha-bhido racanānuvādāc

chṛṇvanti ye 'nya-viṣayāḥ kukathā mati-ghnīḥ

yās tu śrutā hata-bhagair nṛbhir ātta-sārās

tāḿs tān kṣipanty aśaraṇeṣu tamaḥsu hanta

 

yat — Vaikuṇṭha; na — never; vrajanti — approach; agha-bhidaḥ — of the vanquisher of all kinds of sins; racanā — of the creation; anuvādāt — than narrations; śṛṇvanti — hear; ye — those who; anya — other; viṣayāḥ — subject matter; ku-kathāḥ — bad words; mati-ghnīḥ — killing intelligence; yāḥ — which; tu — but; śrutāḥ — are heard; hata-bhagaiḥ — unfortunate; nṛbhiḥ — by men; ātta — taken away; sārāḥ — values of life; tān tān — such persons; kṣipanti — are thrown; aśaraṇeṣu — devoid of all shelter; tamaḥsu — in the darkest part of material existence; hanta — alas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It is very much regrettable that unfortunate people do not discuss the description of the Vaikuṇṭha planets but engage in topics which are unworthy to hear and which bewilder one's intelligence. Those who give up the topics of Vaikuṇṭha and take to talk of the material world are thrown into the darkest region of ignorance.

 

3.15.24

ye 'bhyarthitām api ca no nṛ-gatiḿ prapannā

jñānaḿ ca tattva-viṣayaḿ saha-dharmaḿ yatra

nārādhanaḿ bhagavato vitaranty amuṣya

sammohitā vitatayā bata māyayā te

 

ye — those persons; abhyarthitām — desired; api — certainly; ca — and; naḥ — by us (Brahmā and the other demigods); nṛ-gatim — the human form of life; prapannāḥ — have attained; jñānam — knowledge; ca — and; tattva-viṣayam — subject matter about the Absolute Truth; saha-dharmam — along with religious principles; yatra — where; na — not; ārādhanam — worship; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vitaranti — perform; amuṣya — of the Supreme Lord; sammohitāḥ — being bewildered; vitatayā — all-pervading; bata — alas; māyayā — by the influence of the illusory energy; te — they.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā said: My dear demigods, the human form of life is of such importance that we also desire to have such life, for in the human form one can attain perfect religious truth and knowledge. If one in this human form of life does not understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His abode, it is to be understood that he is very much affected by the influence of external nature.

 

3.15.25

yac ca vrajanty animiṣām ṛṣabhānuvṛttyā

dūre yamā hy upari naḥ spṛhaṇīya-śīlāḥ

bhartur mithaḥ suyaśasaḥ kathanānurāga-

vaiklavya-bāṣpa-kalayā pulakī-kṛtāńgāḥ

 

yat — Vaikuṇṭha; ca — and; vrajanti — go; animiṣām — of the demigods; ṛṣabha — chief; anuvṛttyā — following in the footsteps; dūre — keeping at a distance; yamāḥ — regulative principles; hi — certainly; upari — above; naḥ — us; spṛhaṇīya — to be desired; śīlāḥ — good qualities; bhartuḥ — of the Supreme Lord; mithaḥ — for one another; suyaśasaḥ — glories; kathana — by discussions, discourses; anurāga — attraction; vaiklavya — ecstasy; bāṣpa-kalayā — tears in the eyes; pulakī-kṛta — shivering; ańgāḥ — bodies.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Persons whose bodily features change in ecstasy and who breathe heavily and perspire due to hearing the glories of the Lord are promoted to the kingdom of God, even though they do not care for meditation and other austerities. The kingdom of God is above the material universes, and it is desired by Brahmā and other demigods.

 

3.15.26

tad viśva-gurv-adhikṛtaḿ bhuvanaika-vandyaḿ

divyaḿ vicitra-vibudhāgrya-vimāna-śociḥ

āpuḥ parāḿ mudam apūrvam upetya yoga-

māyā-balena munayas tad atho vikuṇṭham

 

tat — then; viśva-guru — by the teacher of the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhikṛtam — predominated; bhuvana — of the planets; eka — alone; vandyam — worthy to be worshiped; divyam — spiritual; vicitra — highly decorated; vibudha-agrya — of the devotees (who are the best of the learned); vimāna — of the airplanes; śociḥ — illuminated; āpuḥ — attained; parām — the highest; mudam — happiness; apūrvam — unprecedented; upetya — having attained; yoga-māyā — by spiritual potency; balena — by the influence; munayaḥ — the sages; tat — Vaikuṇṭha; atho — that; vikuṇṭham — Viṣṇu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus the great sages, Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumāra, upon reaching the above-mentioned Vaikuṇṭha in the spiritual world by dint of their mystic yoga performance, perceived unprecedented happiness. They found that the spiritual sky was illuminated by highly decorated airplanes piloted by the best devotees of Vaikuṇṭha and was predominated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

3.15.27

tasminn atītya munayaḥ ṣaḍ asajjamānāḥ

kakṣāḥ samāna-vayasāv atha saptamāyām

devāv acakṣata gṛhīta-gadau parārdhya-

keyūra-kuṇḍala-kirīṭa-viṭańka-veṣau

 

tasmin — in that Vaikuṇṭha; atītya — after passing through; munayaḥ — the great sages; ṣaṭ — six; asajja mānāḥ — without being much attracted; kakṣāḥ — walls; samāna — equal; vayasau — age; atha — thereafter; saptamāyām — at the seventh gate; devau — two Vaikuṇṭha doormen; acakṣata — saw; gṛhīta — carrying; gadau — maces; para-ardhya — most valuable; keyūra — bracelets; kuṇḍala — earrings; kirīṭa — helmets; viṭańka — beautiful; veṣau — garments.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After passing through the six entrances of Vaikuṇṭha-purī, the Lord's residence, without feeling astonishment at all the decorations, they saw at the seventh gate two shining beings of the same age, armed with maces and adorned with most valuable jewelry, earrings, diamonds, helmets, garments, etc.

 

3.15.28

matta-dvirepha-vanamālikayā nivītau

vinyastayāsita-catuṣṭaya-bāhu-madhye

vaktraḿ bhruvā kuṭilayā sphuṭa-nirgamābhyāḿ

raktekṣaṇena ca manāg rabhasaḿ dadhānau

 

matta — intoxicated; dvi-repha — bees; vana-mālikayā — with a garland of fresh flowers; nivītau — hanging on the neck; vinyastayā — placed around; asita — blue; catuṣṭaya — four; bāhu — hands; madhye — between; vaktram — face; bhruvā — with their eyebrows; kuṭilayā — arched; sphuṭa — snorting; nirgamābhyām — breathing; rakta — reddish; īkṣaṇena — with eyes; ca — and; manāk — somewhat; rabhasam — agitated; dadhānau — glanced over.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The two doormen were garlanded with fresh flowers which attracted intoxicated bees and which were placed around their necks and between their four blue arms. From their arched eyebrows, discontented nostrils and reddish eyes, they appeared somewhat agitated.

 

3.15.29

dvāry etayor niviviśur miṣator apṛṣṭvā

pūrvā yathā puraṭa-vajra-kapāṭikā yāḥ

sarvatra te 'viṣamayā munayaḥ sva-dṛṣṭyā

ye sañcaranty avihatā vigatābhiśańkāḥ

 

dvāri — in the door; etayoḥ — both doorkeepers; niviviśuḥ — entered; miṣatoḥ — while seeing; apṛṣṭvā — without asking; pūrvāḥ — as before; yathā — as; puraṭa — made of gold; vajra — and diamond; kapāṭikāḥ — the doors; yāḥ — which; sarvatra — everywhere; te — they; aviṣa-mayā — without any sense of discrimination; munayaḥ — the great sages; sva-dṛṣṭyā — out of their own will; ye — who; sañcaranti — move; avihatāḥ — without being checked; vigata — without; abhiśańkāḥ — doubt.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sages, headed by Sanaka, had opened doors everywhere. They had no idea of "ours" and "theirs." With open minds, they entered the seventh door out of their own will, just as they had passed through the six other doors, which were made of gold and diamonds.

 

3.15.30

tān vīkṣya vāta-raśanāḿś caturaḥ kumārān

vṛddhān daśārdha-vayaso viditātma-tattvān

vetreṇa cāskhalayatām atad-arhaṇāḿs tau

tejo vihasya bhagavat-pratikūla-śīlau

 

tān — them; vīkṣya — after seeing; vāta-raśanān — naked; caturaḥ — four; kumārān — boys; vṛddhān — aged; daśa-ardha — five years; vayasaḥ — appearing as of the age; vidita — had realized; ātma-tattvān — the truth of the self; vetreṇa — with their staffs; ca — also; askhalayatām — forbade; a-tat-arhaṇān — not deserving such from them; tau — those two porters; tejaḥ — glories; vihasya — disregarding the etiquette; bhagavat-pratikūla-śīlau — having a nature displeasing to the Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The four boy-sages, who had nothing to cover their bodies but the atmosphere, looked only five years old, even though they were the oldest of all living creatures and had realized the truth of the self. But when the porters, who happened to possess a disposition quite unpalatable to the Lord, saw the sages, they blocked their way with their staffs, despising their glories, although the sages did not deserve such treatment at their hands.

 

3.15.31

tābhyāḿ miṣatsv animiṣeṣu niṣidhyamānāḥ

svarhattamā hy api hareḥ pratihāra-pābhyām

ūcuḥ suhṛttama-didṛkṣita-bhańga īṣat

kāmānujena sahasā ta upaplutākṣāḥ

 

tābhyām — by those two porters; miṣatsu — while looking on; animiṣeṣu — demigods living in Vaikuṇṭha; niṣidhyamānāḥ — being forbidden; su-arhattamāḥ — by far the fittest persons; hi api — although; hareḥ — of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pratihāra-pābhyām — by the two doorkeepers; ūcuḥ — said; suhṛt-tama — most beloved; didṛkṣita — eagerness to see; bhańge — hindrance; īṣat — slight; kāma-anujena — by the younger brother of lust (anger); sahasā — suddenly; te — those great sages; upapluta — agitated; akṣāḥ — eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the Kumāras, although by far the fittest persons, were thus forbidden entrance by the two chief doorkeepers of Śrī Hari while other divinities looked on, their eyes suddenly turned red because of anger due to their great eagerness to see their most beloved master, Śrī Hari, the Personality of Godhead.

 

3.15.32

munaya ūcuḥ

ko vām ihaitya bhagavat-paricaryayoccais

tad-dharmiṇāḿ nivasatāḿ viṣamaḥ svabhāvaḥ

tasmin praśānta-puruṣe gata-vigrahe vāḿ

ko vātmavat kuhakayoḥ pariśańkanīyaḥ

 

munayaḥ — the great sages; ūcuḥ — said; kaḥ — who; vām — you two; iha — in Vaikuṇṭha; etya — having attained; bhagavat — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; paricaryayā — by the service; uccaiḥ — having been developed by past pious actions; tat-dharmiṇām — of the devotees; nivasatām — dwelling in Vaikuṇṭha; viṣamaḥ — discordant; svabhāvaḥ — mentality; tasmin — in the Supreme Lord; praśānta-puruṣe — without anxieties; gata-vigrahe — without any enemy; vām — of you two; kaḥ — who; vā — or; ātma-vat — like yourselves; kuhakayoḥ — maintaining duplicity; pariśańkanīyaḥ — not becoming trustworthy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sages said: Who are these two persons who have developed such a discordant mentality even though they are posted in the service of the Lord in the highest position and are expected to have developed the same qualities as the Lord? How are these two persons living in Vaikuṇṭha? Where is the possibility of an enemy's coming into this kingdom of God? The Supreme Personality of Godhead has no enemy. Who could be envious of Him? Probably these two persons are imposters; therefore they suspect others to be like themselves.

 

3.15.33

na hy antaraḿ bhagavatīha samasta-kukṣāv

ātmānam ātmani nabho nabhasīva dhīrāḥ

paśyanti yatra yuvayoḥ sura-lińginoḥ kiḿ

vyutpāditaḿ hy udara-bhedi bhayaḿ yato 'sya

 

na — not; hi — because; antaram — distinction; bhagavati — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; iha — here; samasta-kukṣau — everything is within the abdomen; ātmānam — the living entity; ātmani — in the Supersoul; nabhaḥ — the small quantity of air; nabhasi — within the whole air; iva — as; dhīrāḥ — the learned; paśyanti — see; yatra — in whom; yuvayoḥ — of you two; sura-lińginoḥ — dressed like inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha; kim — how; vyutpāditam — awakened, developed; hi — certainly; udara-bhedi — distinction between the body and the soul; bhayam — fearfulness; yataḥ — wherefrom; asya — of the Supreme Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the Vaikuṇṭha world there is complete harmony between the residents and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as there is complete harmony within space between the big and the small skies. Why then is there a seed of fear in this field of harmony? These two persons are dressed like inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha, but wherefrom can their disharmony come into existence?

 

3.15.34

tad vām amuṣya paramasya vikuṇṭha-bhartuḥ

kartuḿ prakṛṣṭam iha dhīmahi manda-dhībhyām

lokān ito vrajatam antara-bhāva-dṛṣṭyā

pāpīyasas traya ime ripavo 'sya yatra

 

tat — therefore; vām — unto these two; amuṣya — of Him; paramasya — the Supreme; vikuṇṭha-bhartuḥ — the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha; kartum — to bestow; prakṛṣṭam — benefit; iha — in the matter of this offense; dhīmahi — let us consider; manda-dhībhyām — those whose intelligence is not very nice; lokān — to the material world; itaḥ — from this place (Vaikuṇṭha); vrajatam — go; antara-bhāva — duality; dṛṣṭyā — on account of seeing; pāpīyasaḥ — sinful; trayaḥ — three; ime — these; ripavaḥ — enemies; asya — of a living entity; yatra — where.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore let us consider how these two contaminated persons should be punished. The punishment should be apt, for thus benefit can eventually be bestowed upon them. Since they find duality in the existence of Vaikuṇṭha life, they are contaminated and should be removed from this place to the material world, where the living entities have three kinds of enemies.

 

3.15.35

teṣām itīritam ubhāv avadhārya ghoraḿ

taḿ brahma-daṇḍam anivāraṇam astra-pūgaiḥ

sadyo harer anucarāv uru bibhyatas tat-

pāda-grahāv apatatām atikātareṇa

 

teṣām — of the four Kumāras; iti — thus; īritam — uttered; ubhau — both doorkeepers; avadhārya — understanding; ghoram — terrible; tam — that; brahma-daṇḍam — curse of a brāhmaṇa; anivāraṇam — not able to be counteracted; astra-pūgaiḥ — by any kind of weapon; sadyaḥ — at once; hareḥ — of the Supreme Lord; anucarau — devotees; uru — very much; bibhyataḥ — became fearful; tat-pāda-grahau — grasping their feet; apatatām — fell down; ati-kātareṇa — in great anxiety.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the doormen of Vaikuṇṭhaloka, who were certainly devotees of the Lord, found that they were going to be cursed by the brāhmaṇas, they at once became very much afraid and fell down at the feet of the brāhmaṇas in great anxiety, for a brāhmaṇa's curse cannot be counteracted by any kind of weapon.

 

3.15.36

bhūyād aghoni bhagavadbhir akāri daṇḍo

yo nau hareta sura-helanam apy aśeṣam

mā vo 'nutāpa-kalayā bhagavat-smṛti-ghno

moho bhaved iha tu nau vrajator adho 'dhaḥ

 

bhūyāt — let it be; aghoni — for the sinful; bhagavadbhiḥ — by you; akāri — was done; daṇḍaḥ — punishment; yaḥ — that which; nau — in relation to us; hareta — should destroy; sura-helanam — disobeying great demigods; api — certainly; aśeṣam — unlimited; mā — not; vaḥ — of you; anutāpa — repentance; kalayā — by a little; bhagavat — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; smṛti-ghnaḥ — destroying the memory of; mohaḥ — illusion; bhavet — should be; iha — in the foolish species of life; tu — but; nau — of us; vrajatoḥ — who are going; adhaḥ adhaḥ — down to the material world.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After being cursed by the sages, the doormen said: It is quite apt that you have punished us for neglecting to respect sages like you. But we pray that due to your compassion at our repentance, the illusion of forgetting the Supreme Personality of Godhead will not come upon us as we go progressively downward.

 

3.15.37

evaḿ tadaiva bhagavān aravinda-nābhaḥ

svānāḿ vibudhya sad-atikramam ārya-hṛdyaḥ

tasmin yayau paramahaḿsa-mahā-munīnām

anveṣaṇīya-caraṇau calayan saha-śrīḥ

 

evam — thus; tadā eva — at that very moment; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aravinda-nābhaḥ — with a lotus growing from His navel; svānām — of His own servants; vibudhya — learned about; sat — to the great sages; atikramam — the insult; ārya — of the righteous; hṛdyaḥ — the delight; tasmin — there; yayau — went; paramahaḿsa — recluses; mahā-munīnām — by the great sages; anveṣaṇīya — which are worthy to be sought; caraṇau — the two lotus feet; calayan — walking; saha-śrīḥ — with the goddess of fortune.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At that very moment, the Lord, who is called Padmanābha because of the lotus grown from His navel and who is the delight of the righteous, learned about the insult offered by His own servants to the saints. Accompanied by His spouse, the goddess of fortune, He went to the spot on those very feet sought for by recluses and great sages.

 

3.15.38

taḿ tv āgataḿ pratihṛtaupayikaḿ sva-pumbhis

te 'cakṣatākṣa-viṣayaḿ sva-samādhi-bhāgyam

haḿsa-śriyor vyajanayoḥ śiva-vāyu-lolac-

chubhrātapatra-śaśi-kesara-śīkarāmbum

 

tam — Him; tu — but; āgatam — coming forward; pratihṛta — carried; aupayikam — the paraphernalia; sva-pumbhiḥ — by His own associates; te — the great sages (the Kumāras); acakṣata — saw; akṣa-viṣayam — now a subject matter for seeing; sva-samādhi-bhāgyam — visible simply by ecstatic trance; haḿsa-śriyoḥ — as beautiful as white swans; vyajanayoḥ — the cāmaras (bunches of white hair); śiva-vāyu — favorable winds; lolat — moving; śubhra-ātapatra — the white umbrella; śaśi — the moon; kesara — pearls; śīkara — drops; ambum — water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sages, headed by Sanaka Ṛṣi, saw that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who was formerly visible only within their hearts in ecstatic trance, had now actually become visible to their eyes. As He came forward, accompanied by His own associates bearing all paraphernalia, such as an umbrella and a cāmara fan, the white bunches of hair moved very gently, like two swans, and due to their favorable breeze the pearls garlanding the umbrella also moved, like drops of nectar falling from the white full moon or ice melting due to a gust of wind.

 

3.15.39

kṛtsna-prasāda-sumukhaḿ spṛhaṇīya-dhāma

snehāvaloka-kalayā hṛdi saḿspṛśantam

śyāme pṛthāv urasi śobhitayā śriyā svaś-

cūḍāmaṇiḿ subhagayantam ivātma-dhiṣṇyam

 

kṛtsna-prasāda — blessing everyone; su-mukham — auspicious face; spṛhaṇīya — desirable; dhāma — shelter; sneha — affection; avaloka — looking upon; kalayā — by expansion; hṛdi — within the heart; saḿspṛśantam — touching; śyāme — unto the Lord with blackish color; pṛthau — broad; urasi — chest; śobhitayā — being decorated; śriyā — goddess of fortune; svaḥ — heavenly planets; cūḍā-maṇim — summit; subhagayantam — spreading good fortune; iva — like; ātma — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dhiṣṇyam — abode.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord is the reservoir of all pleasure. His auspicious presence is meant for everyone's benediction, and His affectionate smiling and glancing touch the core of the heart. The Lord's beautiful bodily color is blackish, and His broad chest is the resting place of the goddess of fortune, who glorifies the entire spiritual world, the summit of all heavenly planets. Thus it appeared that the Lord was personally spreading the beauty and good fortune of the spiritual world.

 

3.15.40

pītāḿśuke pṛthu-nitambini visphurantyā

kāñcyālibhir virutayā vana-mālayā ca

valgu-prakoṣṭha-valayaḿ vinatā-sutāḿse

vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjam

 

pīta-aḿśuke — covered with a yellow cloth; pṛthu-nitambini — on His large hips; visphurantyā — shining brightly; kāñcyā — with a girdle; alibhiḥ — by the bees; virutayā — humming; vana-mālayā — with a garland of fresh flowers; ca — and; valgu — lovely; prakoṣṭha — wrists; valayam — bracelets; vinatā-suta — of Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā; aḿse — on the shoulder; vinyasta — rested; hastam — one hand; itareṇa — with another hand; dhunānam — being twirled; abjam — a lotus flower.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He was adorned with a girdle that shone brightly on the yellow cloth covering His large hips, and He wore a garland of fresh flowers which was distinguished by humming bees. His lovely wrists were graced with bracelets, and He rested one of His hands on the shoulder of Garuḍa, His carrier, and twirled a lotus with another hand.

 

3.15.41

vidyut-kṣipan-makara-kuṇḍala-maṇḍanārha-

gaṇḍa-sthalonnasa-mukhaḿ maṇimat-kirīṭam

dor-daṇḍa-ṣaṇḍa-vivare haratā parārdhya-

hāreṇa kandhara-gatena ca kaustubhena

 

vidyut — lightning; kṣipat — outshining; makara — alligator shaped; kuṇḍala — earrings; maṇḍana — decoration; arha — as it fits; gaṇḍa-sthala — cheeks; unnasa — prominent nose; mukham — countenance; maṇi-mat — gem-studded; kirīṭam — crown; doḥ-daṇḍa — of His four stout arms; ṣaṇḍa — group; vivare — between; haratā — charming; para-ardhya — by the most precious; hāreṇa — necklace; kandhara-gatena — adorning His neck; ca — and; kaustubhena — by the Kaustubha jewel.

 

TRANSLATION

 

His countenance was distinguished by cheeks that enhanced the beauty of His alligator-shaped pendants, which outshone lightning. His nose was prominent, and His head was covered with a gem-studded crown. A charming necklace hung between His stout arms, and His neck was adorned with the gem known by the name Kaustubha.

 

3.15.42

atropasṛṣṭam iti cotsmitam indirāyāḥ

svānāḿ dhiyā viracitaḿ bahu-sauṣṭhavāḍhyam

mahyaḿ bhavasya bhavatāḿ ca bhajantam ańgaḿ

nemur nirīkṣya na vitṛpta-dṛśo mudā kaiḥ

 

atra — here, in the matter of the beauty; upasṛṣṭam — curbed down; iti — thus; ca — and; utsmitam — the pride of her beauty; indirāyāḥ — of the goddess of fortune; svānām — of His own devotees; dhiyā — by intelligence; viracitam — meditated on; bahu-sauṣṭhava-āḍhyam — very beautifully decorated; mahyam — of me; bhavasya — of Lord Śiva; bhavatām — of all of you; ca — and; bhajantam — worshiped; ańgam — the figure; nemuḥ — bowed down; nirīkṣya — after seeing; na — not; vitṛpta — satiated; dṛśaḥ — eyes; mudā — joyously; kaiḥ — by their heads.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The exquisite beauty of Nārāyaṇa, being many times magnified by the intelligence of His devotees, was so attractive that it defeated the pride of the goddess of fortune in being the most beautiful. My dear demigods, the Lord who thus manifested Himself is worshipable by me, by Lord Śiva and by all of you. The sages regarded Him with unsated eyes and joyously bowed their heads at His lotus feet.

 

3.15.43

tasyāravinda-nayanasya padāravinda-

kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ

antar-gataḥ sva-vivareṇa cakāra teṣāḿ

sańkṣobham akṣara-juṣām api citta-tanvoḥ

 

tasya — of Him; aravinda-nayanasya — of the lotus-eyed Lord; pada-aravinda — of the lotus feet; kiñjalka — with the toes; miśra — mixed; tulasī — the tulasī leaves; makaranda — fragrance; vāyuḥ — breeze; antaḥ-gataḥ — entered within; sva-vivareṇa — through their nostrils; cakāra — made; teṣām — of the Kumāras; sańkṣobham — agitation for change; akṣara-juṣām — attached to impersonal Brahman realization; api — even though; citta-tanvoḥ — in both mind and body.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī leaves from the toes of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead entered the nostrils of those sages, they experienced a change both in body and in mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.

 

3.15.44

te vā amuṣya vadanāsita-padma-kośam

udvīkṣya sundaratarādhara-kunda-hāsam

labdhāśiṣaḥ punar avekṣya tadīyam ańghri-

dvandvaḿ nakhāruṇa-maṇi-śrayaṇaḿ nidadhyuḥ

 

te — those sages; vai — certainly; amuṣya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vadana — face; asita — blue; padma — lotus; kośam — inside; udvīkṣya — after looking up; sundara-tara — more beautiful; adhara — lips; kunda — jasmine flower; hāsam — smiling; labdha — achieved; āśiṣaḥ — aims of life; punaḥ — again; avekṣya — looking down; tadīyam — His; ańghri-dvandvam — pair of lotus feet; nakha — nails; aruṇa — red; maṇi — rubies; śrayaṇam — shelter; nidadhyuḥ — meditated.