Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 3
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupāda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
(see
also the
pdf for this chapter)
Chapter 24: The Renunciation of Kardama Muni
3.24.1
maitreya uvāca
nirveda-vādinīm evaḿ
manor duhitaraḿ muniḥ
dayāluḥ śālinīm āha
śuklābhivyāhṛtaḿ smaran
maitreyaḥ — the great sage Maitreya; uvāca — said; nirveda-vādinīm — who was speaking words full of renunciation; evam — thus; manoḥ — of Svāyambhuva Manu; duhitaram — to the daughter; muniḥ — the sage Kardama; dayāluḥ — merciful; śālinīm — who was worthy of praise; āha — replied; śukla — by Lord Viṣṇu; abhivyāhṛtam — what was said; smaran — recalling.
TRANSLATION
Recalling the words of Lord Viṣṇu, the merciful sage Kardama replied as follows to Svāyambhuva Manu's praiseworthy daughter, Devahūti, who was speaking words full of renunciation.
3.24.2
ṛṣir uvāca
mā khido rāja-putrīttham
ātmānaḿ praty anindite
bhagavāḿs te 'kṣaro garbham
adūrāt samprapatsyate
ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the sage said; mā khidaḥ — do not be disappointed; rāja-putri — O princess; ittham — in this way; ātmānam — yourself; prati — toward; anindite — O praiseworthy Devahūti; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; te — your; akṣaraḥ — infallible; garbham — womb; adūrāt — without delay; samprapatsyate — will enter.
TRANSLATION
The sage said: Do not be disappointed with yourself, O princess. You are actually praiseworthy. The infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead will shortly enter your womb as your son.
3.24.3
dhṛta-vratāsi bhadraḿ te
damena niyamena ca
tapo-draviṇa-dānaiś ca
śraddhayā ceśvaraḿ bhaja
dhṛta-vratā asi — you have undertaken sacred vows; bhadram te — may God bless you; damena — by control of the senses; niyamena — by religious observances; ca — and; tapaḥ — austerities; draviṇa — of money; dānaiḥ — by giving in charity; ca — and; śraddhayā — with great faith; ca — and; īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; bhaja — worship.
TRANSLATION
You have undertaken sacred vows. God will bless you. Hence you should worship the Lord with great faith, through sensory control, religious observances, austerities and gifts of your money in charity.
3.24.4
sa tvayārādhitaḥ śuklo
vitanvan māmakaḿ yaśaḥ
chettā te hṛdaya-granthim
audaryo brahma-bhāvanaḥ
saḥ — He; tvayā — by you; ārādhitaḥ — being worshiped; śuklaḥ — the Personality of Godhead; vitanvan — spreading; māmakam — my; yaśaḥ — fame; chettā — He will cut; te — your; hṛdaya — of the heart; granthim — knot; audaryaḥ — your son; brahma — knowledge of Brahman; bhāvanaḥ — teaching.
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead, being worshiped by you, will spread my name and fame. He will vanquish the knot of your heart by becoming your son and teaching knowledge of Brahman.
3.24.5
maitreya uvāca
devahūty api sandeśaḿ
gauraveṇa prajāpateḥ
samyak śraddhāya puruṣaḿ
kūṭa-stham abhajad gurum
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; devahūtī — Devahūti; api — also; sandeśam — the direction; gauraveṇa — with great respect; prajāpateḥ — of Kardama; samyak — complete; śraddhāya — having faith in; puruṣam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kūṭa-stham — situated in everyone's heart; abhajat — worshiped; gurum — most worshipable.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Maitreya said: Devahūti was fully faithful and respectful toward the direction of her husband, Kardama, who was one of the Prajāpatis, or generators of human beings in the universe. O great sage, she thus began to worship the master of the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart.
3.24.6
tasyāḿ bahu-tithe kāle
bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ
kārdamaḿ vīryam āpanno
jajñe 'gnir iva dāruṇi
tasyām — in Devahūti; bahu-tithe kāle — after many years; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; madhu-sūdanaḥ — the killer of the demon Madhu; kārdamam — of Kardama; vīryam — the semen; āpannaḥ — entered; jajñe — He appeared; agniḥ — fire; iva — like; dāruṇi — in wood.
TRANSLATION
After many, many years, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Madhusūdana, the killer of the demon Madhu, having entered the semen of Kardama, appeared in Devahūti just as fire comes from wood in a sacrifice.
3.24.7
avādayaḿs tadā vyomni
vāditrāṇi ghanāghanāḥ
gāyanti taḿ sma gandharvā
nṛtyanty apsaraso mudā
avādayan — sounded; tadā — at that time; vyomni — in the sky; vāditrāṇi — musical instruments; ghanāghanāḥ — the rain clouds; gāyanti — sang; tam — to Him; sma — certainly; gandharvāḥ — the Gandharvas; nṛtyanti — danced; apsarasaḥ — the Apsarās; mudā — in joyful ecstasy.
TRANSLATION
At the time of His descent on earth, demigods in the form of raining clouds sounded musical instruments in the sky. The celestial musicians, the Gandharvas, sang the glories of the Lord, while celestial dancing girls known as Apsarās danced in joyful ecstasy.
3.24.8
petuḥ sumanaso divyāḥ
khe-carair apavarjitāḥ
praseduś ca diśaḥ sarvā
ambhāḿsi ca manāḿsi ca
petuḥ — fell; sumanasaḥ — flowers; divyāḥ — beautiful; khe-caraiḥ — by the demigods who fly in the sky; apavarjitāḥ — dropped; praseduḥ — became satisfied; ca — and; diśaḥ — directions; sarvāḥ — all; ambhāḿsi — waters; ca — and; manāḿsi — minds; ca — and.
TRANSLATION
At the time of the Lord's appearance, the demigods flying freely in the sky showered flowers. All the directions, all the waters and everyone's mind became very satisfied.
3.24.9
tat kardamāśrama-padaḿ
sarasvatyā pariśritam
svayambhūḥ sākam ṛṣibhir
marīcy-ādibhir abhyayāt
tat — that; kardama — of Kardama; āśrama-padam — to the place of the hermitage; sarasvatyā — by the River Sarasvatī; pariśritam — surrounded; svayambhūḥ — Brahmā (the self-born); sākam — along with; ṛṣibhiḥ — the sages; marīci — the great sage Marīci; ādibhiḥ — and others; abhyayāt — he came there.
TRANSLATION
Brahmā, the first-born living being, went along with Marīci and other sages to the place of Kardama's hermitage, which was surrounded by the River Sarasvatī.
3.24.10
bhagavantaḿ paraḿ brahma
sattvenāḿśena śatru-han
tattva-sańkhyāna-vijñaptyai
jātaḿ vidvān ajaḥ svarāṭ
bhagavantam — the Lord; param — supreme; brahma — Brahman; sattvena — having an uncontaminated existence; aḿśena — by a plenary portion; śatru-han — O killer of the enemy, Vidura; tattva-sańkhyāna — the philosophy of the twenty-four material elements; vijñaptyai — for explaining; jātam — appeared; vidvān — knowing; ajaḥ — the unborn (Lord Brahmā); sva-rāṭ — independent.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya continued: O killer of the enemy, the unborn Lord Brahmā, who is almost independent in acquiring knowledge, could understand that a portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His quality of pure existence, had appeared in the womb of Devahūti just to explain the complete state of knowledge known as sāńkhya-yoga.
3.24.11
sabhājayan viśuddhena
cetasā tac-cikīrṣitam
prahṛṣyamāṇair asubhiḥ
kardamaḿ cedam abhyadhāt
sabhājayan — worshiping; viśuddhena — pure; cetasā — with a heart; tat — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; cikīrṣitam — the intended activities; prahṛṣyamāṇaiḥ — gladdened; asubhiḥ — with senses; kardamam — to Kardama Muni; ca — and Devahūti; idam — this; abhyadhāt — spoke.
TRANSLATION
After worshiping the Supreme Lord with gladdened senses and a pure heart for His intended activities as an incarnation, Brahmā spoke as follows to Kardama and Devahūti.
3.24.12
brahmovāca
tvayā me 'pacitis tāta
kalpitā nirvyalīkataḥ
yan me sañjagṛhe vākyaḿ
bhavān mānada mānayan
brahmā — Lord Brahmā; uvāca — said; tvayā — by you; me — my; apacitiḥ — worship; tāta — O son; kalpitā — is accomplished; nirvyalīkataḥ — without duplicity; yat — since; me — my; sañjagṛhe — have completely accepted; vākyam — instructions; bhavān — you; māna-da — O Kardama (one who offers honor to others); mānayan — respecting.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmā said: My dear son Kardama, since you have completely accepted my instructions without duplicity, showing them proper respect, you have worshiped me properly. Whatever instructions you took from me you have carried out, and thereby you have honored me.
3.24.13
etāvaty eva śuśrūṣā
kāryā pitari putrakaiḥ
bāḍham ity anumanyeta
gauraveṇa guror vacaḥ
etāvatī — to this extent; eva — exactly; śuśrūṣā — service; kāryā — ought to be rendered; pitari — to the father; putrakaiḥ — by the sons; bāḍham iti — accepting, "Yes, sir"; anumanyeta — he should obey; gauraveṇa — with due deference; guroḥ — of the guru; vacaḥ — commands.
TRANSLATION
Sons ought to render service to their father exactly to this extent. One should obey the command of his father or spiritual master with due deference, saying, "Yes, sir."
3.24.14
imā duhitaraḥ satyas
tava vatsa sumadhyamāḥ
sargam etaḿ prabhāvaiḥ svair
bṛḿhayiṣyanty anekadhā
imāḥ — these; duhitaraḥ — daughters; satyaḥ — chaste; tava — your; vatsa — O my dear son; su-madhyamāḥ — thin-waisted; sargam — creation; etam — this; prabhāvaiḥ — by descendants; svaiḥ — their own; bṛḿhayiṣyanti — they will increase; aneka-dhā — in various ways.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmā then praised Kardama Muni's nine daughters, saying: All your thin-waisted daughters are certainly very chaste. I am sure they will increase this creation by their own descendants in various ways.
3.24.15
atas tvam ṛṣi-mukhyebhyo
yathā-śīlaḿ yathā-ruci
ātmajāḥ paridehy adya
vistṛṇīhi yaśo bhuvi
ataḥ — therefore; tvam — you; ṛṣi-mukhyebhyaḥ — unto the foremost sages; yathā-śīlam — according to temperament; yathā-ruci — according to taste; ātma-jāḥ — your daughters; paridehi — please give away; adya — today; vistṛṇīhi — spread; yaśaḥ — fame; bhuvi — over the universe.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, today please give away your daughters to the foremost of the sages, with due regard for the girls' temperaments and likings, and thereby spread your fame all over the universe.
3.24.16
vedāham ādyaḿ puruṣam
avatīrṇaḿ sva-māyayā
bhūtānāḿ śevadhiḿ dehaḿ
bibhrāṇaḿ kapilaḿ mune
veda — know; aham — I; ādyam — the original; puruṣam — enjoyer; avatīrṇam — incarnated; sva-māyayā — by His own internal energy; bhūtānām — of all the living entities; śevadhim — the bestower of all desired, who is just like a vast treasure; deham — the body; bibhrāṇam — assuming; kapilam — Kapila Muni; mune — O sage Kardama.
TRANSLATION
O Kardama, I know that the original Supreme Personality of Godhead has now appeared as an incarnation by His internal energy. He is the bestower of all desired by the living entities, and He has now assumed the body of Kapila Muni.
3.24.17
jñāna-vijñāna-yogena
karmaṇām uddharan jaṭāḥ
hiraṇya-keśaḥ padmākṣaḥ
padma-mudrā-padāmbujaḥ
jñāna — of scriptural knowledge; vijñāna — and application; yogena — by means of mystic yoga; karmaṇām — of material actions; uddharan — uprooting; jaṭāḥ — the roots; hiraṇya-keśaḥ — golden hair; padma-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; padma-mudrā — marked with the sign of the lotus; pada-ambujaḥ — having lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
By mystic yoga and the practical application of knowledge from the scriptures, Kapila Muni, who is characterized by His golden hair, His eyes just like lotus petals and His lotus feet, which bear the marks of lotus flowers, will uproot the deep-rooted desire for work in this material world.
3.24.18
eṣa mānavi te garbhaḿ
praviṣṭaḥ kaiṭabhārdanaḥ
avidyā-saḿśaya-granthiḿ
chittvā gāḿ vicariṣyati
eṣaḥ — the same Supreme Personality of Godhead; mānavi — O daughter of Manu; te — your; garbham — womb; praviṣṭaḥ — has entered; kaiṭabha-ardanaḥ — the killer of the demon Kaiṭabha; avidyā — of ignorance; saḿśaya — and of doubt; granthim — the knot; chittvā — cutting off; gām — the world; vicariṣyati — He will travel over.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmā then told Devahūti: My dear daughter of Manu, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead who killed the demon Kaiṭabha is now within your womb. He will cut off all the knots of your ignorance and doubt. Then He will travel all over the world.
3.24.19
ayaḿ siddha-gaṇādhīśaḥ
sāńkhyācāryaiḥ susammataḥ
loke kapila ity ākhyāḿ
gantā te kīrti-vardhanaḥ
ayam — this Personality of Godhead; siddha-gaṇa — of the perfected sages; adhīśaḥ — the head; sāńkhya-ācāryaiḥ — by ācāryas expert in Sāńkhya philosophy; su-sammataḥ — approved according to Vedic principles; loke — in the world; kapilaḥ iti — as Kapila; ākhyām — celebrated; gantā — He will go about; te — your; kīrti — fame; vardhanaḥ — increasing.
TRANSLATION
Your son will be the head of all the perfected souls. He will be approved by the ācāryas expert in disseminating real knowledge, and among the people He will be celebrated by the name Kapila. As the son of Devahūti, He will increase your fame.
3.24.20
maitreya uvāca
tāv āśvāsya jagat-sraṣṭā
kumāraiḥ saha-nāradaḥ
haḿso haḿsena yānena
tri-dhāma-paramaḿ yayau
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; tau — the couple; āśvāsya — having reassured; jagat-sraṣṭā — the creator of the universe; kumāraiḥ — along with the Kumāras; saha-nāradaḥ — with Nārada; haḿsaḥ — Lord Brahmā; haḿsena yānena — by his swan carrier; tri-dhāma-paramam — to the highest planetary system; yayau — went.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Maitreya said: After thus speaking to Kardama Muni and his wife Devahūti, Lord Brahmā, the creator of the universe, who is also known as Haḿsa, went back to the highest of the three planetary systems on his swan carrier with the four Kumāras and Nārada.
3.24.21
gate śata-dhṛtau kṣattaḥ
kardamas tena coditaḥ
yathoditaḿ sva-duhitṝḥ
prādād viśva-sṛjāḿ tataḥ
gate — after he departed; śata-dhṛtau — Lord Brahmā; kṣattaḥ — O Vidura; kardamaḥ — Kardama Muni; tena — by him; coditaḥ — ordered; yathā-uditam — as told; sva-duhitṝḥ — his own daughters; prādāt — handed over; viśva-sṛjām — to the creators of the world's population; tataḥ — thereafter.
TRANSLATION
O Vidura, after the departure of Brahmā, Kardama Muni, having been ordered by Brahmā, handed over his nine daughters, as instructed, to the nine great sages who created the population of the world.
3.24.22-23
marīcaye kalāḿ prādād
anasūyām athātraye
śraddhām ańgirase 'yacchat
pulastyāya havirbhuvam
pulahāya gatiḿ yuktāḿ
kratave ca kriyāḿ satīm
khyātiḿ ca bhṛgave 'yacchad
vasiṣṭhāyāpy arundhatīm
marīcaye — unto Marīci; kalām — Kalā; prādāt — he handed over; anasūyām — Anasūyā; atha — then; atraye — unto Atri; śraddhām — Śraddhā; ańgirase — unto Ańgirā; ayacchat — he gave away; pulastyāya — unto Pulastya; havirbhuvam — Havirbhū;
pulahāya — unto Pulaha; gatim — Gati; yuktām — suitable; kratave — unto Kratu; ca — and; kriyām — Kriyā; satīm — virtuous; khyātim — Khyāti; ca — and; bhṛgave — unto Bhṛgu; ayacchat — he gave away; vasiṣṭhāya — unto the sage Vasiṣṭha; api — also; arundhatīm — Arundhatī.
TRANSLATION
Kardama Muni handed over his daughter Kalā to Marīci, and another daughter, Anasūyā, to Atri. He delivered Śraddhā to Ańgirā, and Havirbhū to Pulastya. He delivered Gati to Pulaha, the chaste Kriyā to Kratu, Khyāti to Bhṛgu, and Arundhatī to Vasiṣṭha.
3.24.24
atharvaṇe 'dadāc chāntiḿ
yayā yajño vitanyate
viprarṣabhān kṛtodvāhān
sadārān samalālayat
atharvaṇe — to Atharvā; adadāt — he gave away; śāntim — Śānti; yayā — by whom; yajñaḥ — sacrifice; vitanyate — is performed; vipra-ṛṣabhān — the foremost brāhmaṇas; kṛta-udvāhān — married; sa-dārān — with their wives; samalālayat — maintained them.
TRANSLATION
He delivered Śānti to Atharvā. Because of Śānti, sacrificial ceremonies are well performed. Thus he got the foremost brāhmaṇas married, and he maintained them along with their wives.
3.24.25
tatas ta ṛṣayaḥ kṣattaḥ
kṛta-dārā nimantrya tam
prātiṣṭhan nandim āpannāḥ
svaḿ svam āśrama-maṇḍalam
tataḥ — then; te — they; ṛṣayaḥ — the sages; kṣattaḥ — O Vidura; kṛta-dārāḥ — thus married; nimantrya — taking leave of; tam — Kardama; prātiṣṭhan — they departed; nandim — joy; āpannāḥ — obtained; svam svam — each to his own; āśrama-maṇḍalam — hermitage.
TRANSLATION
Thus married, the sages took leave of Kardama and departed full of joy, each for his own hermitage, O Vidura.
3.24.26
sa cāvatīrṇaḿ tri-yugam
ājñāya vibudharṣabham
vivikta upasańgamya
praṇamya samabhāṣata
saḥ — the sage Kardama; ca — and; avatīrṇam — descended; tri-yugam — Viṣṇu; ājñāya — having understood; vibudha-ṛṣabham — the chief of the demigods; vivikte — in a secluded place; upasańgamya — having approached; praṇamya — offering obeisances; samabhāṣata — he spoke.
TRANSLATION
When Kardama Muni understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the chief of all the demigods, Viṣṇu, had descended, Kardama approached Him in a secluded place, offered obeisances and spoke as follows.
3.24.27
aho pāpacyamānānāḿ
niraye svair amańgalaiḥ
kālena bhūyasā nūnaḿ
prasīdantīha devatāḥ
aho — oh; pāpacyamānānām — with those being much afflicted; niraye — in the hellish material entanglement; svaiḥ — their own; amańgalaiḥ — by misdeeds; kālena bhūyasā — after a long time; nūnam — indeed; prasīdanti — they are pleased; iha — in this world; devatāḥ — the demigods.
TRANSLATION
Kardama Muni said: Oh, after a long time the demigods of this universe have become pleased with the suffering souls who are in material entanglement because of their own misdeeds.
3.24.28
bahu-janma-vipakvena
samyag-yoga-samādhinā
draṣṭuḿ yatante yatayaḥ
śūnyāgāreṣu yat-padam
bahu — many; janma — after births; vipakvena — which is mature; samyak — perfect; yoga-samādhinā — by trance in yoga; draṣṭum — to see; yatante — they endeavor; yatayaḥ — the yogīs; śūnya-agāreṣu — in secluded places; yat — whose; padam — feet.
TRANSLATION
After many births, mature yogīs, by complete trance in yoga, endeavor in secluded places to see the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
3.24.29
sa eva bhagavān adya
helanaḿ na gaṇayya naḥ
gṛheṣu jāto grāmyāṇāḿ
yaḥ svānāḿ pakṣa-poṣaṇaḥ
saḥ eva — that very same; bhagavān — Supreme Personality of Godhead; adya — today; helanam — negligence; na — not; gaṇayya — considering high and low; naḥ — our; gṛheṣu — in the houses; jātaḥ — appeared; grāmyāṇām — of ordinary householders; yaḥ — He who; svānām — of His own devotees; pakṣa-poṣaṇaḥ — who supports the party.
TRANSLATION
Not considering the negligence of ordinary householders like us, that very same Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in our homes just to support His devotees.
3.24.30
svīyaḿ vākyam ṛtaḿ kartum
avatīrṇo 'si me gṛhe
cikīrṣur bhagavān jñānaḿ
bhaktānāḿ māna-vardhanaḥ
svīyam — Your own; vākyam — words; ṛtam — true; kartum — to make; avatīrṇaḥ — descended; asi — You are; me gṛhe — in my house; cikīrṣuḥ — desirous of disseminating; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; jñānam — knowledge; bhaktānām — of the devotees; māna — the honor; vardhanaḥ — who increases.
TRANSLATION
Kardama Muni said: You, my dear Lord, who are always increasing the honor of Your devotees, have descended in my home just to fulfill Your word and disseminate the process of real knowledge.
3.24.31
tāny eva te 'bhirūpāṇi
rūpāṇi bhagavaḿs tava
yāni yāni ca rocante
sva-janānām arūpiṇaḥ
tāni — those; eva — truly; te — Your; abhirūpāṇi — suitable; rūpāṇi — forms; bhagavan — O Lord; tava — Your; yāni yāni — whichever; ca — and; rocante — are pleasing; sva-janānām — to Your own devotees; arūpiṇaḥ — of one with no material form.
TRANSLATION
My dear Lord, although You have no material form, You have Your own innumerable forms. They truly are Your transcendental forms, which are pleasing to Your devotees.
3.24.32
tvāḿ sūribhis tattva-bubhutsayāddhā
sadābhivādārhaṇa-pāda-pīṭham
aiśvarya-vairāgya-yaśo-'vabodha-
vīrya-śriyā pūrtam ahaḿ prapadye
tvām — unto You; sūribhiḥ — by the great sages; tattva — the Absolute Truth; bubhutsayā — with a desire to understand; addhā — certainly; sadā — always; abhivāda — of worshipful respects; arhaṇa — which are worthy; pāda — of Your feet; pīṭham — to the seat; aiśvarya — opulence; vairāgya — renunciation; yaśaḥ — fame; avabodha — knowledge; vīrya — strength; śriyā — with beauty; pūrtam — who are full; aham — I; prapadye — surrender.
TRANSLATION
My dear Lord, Your lotus feet are the reservoir that always deserves to receive worshipful homage from all great sages eager to understand the Absolute Truth. You are full in opulence, renunciation, transcendental fame, knowledge, strength and beauty, and therefore I surrender myself unto Your lotus feet.
3.24.33
paraḿ pradhānaḿ puruṣaḿ mahāntaḿ
kālaḿ kaviḿ tri-vṛtaḿ loka-pālam
ātmānubhūtyānugata-prapañcaḿ
svacchanda-śaktiḿ kapilaḿ prapadye
param — transcendental; pradhānam — supreme; puruṣam — person; mahāntam — who is the origin of the material world; kālam — who is time; kavim — fully cognizant; tri-vṛtam — three modes of material nature; loka-pālam — who is the maintainer of all the universes; ātma — in Himself; anubhūtya — by internal potency; anugata — dissolved; prapañcam — whose material manifestations; sva-chanda — independently; śaktim — who is powerful; kapilam — to Lord Kapila; prapadye — I surrender.
TRANSLATION
I surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, descended in the form of Kapila, who is independently powerful and transcendental, who is the Supreme Person and the Lord of the sum total of matter and the element of time, who is the fully cognizant maintainer of all the universes under the three modes of material nature, and who absorbs the material manifestations after their dissolution.
3.24.34
ā smābhipṛcche 'dya patiḿ prajānāḿ
tvayāvatīrṇarṇa utāpta-kāmaḥ
parivrajat-padavīm āsthito 'haḿ
cariṣye tvāḿ hṛdi yuñjan viśokaḥ
ā sma abhipṛcche — I am inquiring; adya — now; patim — the Lord; prajānām — of all created beings; tvayā — by You; avatīrṇa-ṛṇaḥ — free from debts; uta — and; āpta — fulfilled; kāmaḥ — desires; parivrajat — of an itinerant mendicant; padavīm — the path; āsthitaḥ — accepting; aham — I; cariṣye — I shall wander; tvām — You; hṛdi — in my heart; yuñjan — keeping; viśokaḥ — free from lamentation.
TRANSLATION
Today I have something to ask from You, who are the Lord of all living entities. Since I have now been liberated by You from my debts to my father, and since all my desires are fulfilled, I wish to accept the order of an itinerant mendicant. Renouncing this family life, I wish to wander about, free from lamentation, thinking always of You in my heart.
3.24.35
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
mayā proktaḿ hi lokasya
pramāṇaḿ satya-laukike
athājani mayā tubhyaḿ
yad avocam ṛtaḿ mune
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; mayā — by Me; proktam — spoken; hi — in fact; lokasya — for the people; pramāṇam — authority; satya — spoken in scripture; laukike — and in ordinary speech; atha — therefore; ajani — there was birth; mayā — by Me; tubhyam — to you; yat — that which; avocam — I said; ṛtam — true; mune — O sage.
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead Kapila said: Whatever I speak, whether directly or in the scriptures, is authoritative in all respects for the people of the world. O Muni, because I told you before that I would become your son, I have descended to fulfill this truth.
3.24.36
etan me janma loke 'smin
mumukṣūṇāḿ durāśayāt
prasańkhyānāya tattvānāḿ
sammatāyātma-darśane
etat — this; me — My; janma — birth; loke — in the world; asmin — in this; mumukṣūṇām — by those great sages seeking liberation; durāśayāt — from unnecessary material desires; prasańkhyānāya — for explaining; tattvānām — of the truths; sammatāya — which is highly esteemed; ātma-darśane — in self-realization.
TRANSLATION
My appearance in this world is especially to explain the philosophy of Sāńkhya, which is highly esteemed for self-realization by those desiring freedom from the entanglement of unnecessary material desires.
3.24.37
eṣa ātma-patho 'vyakto
naṣṭaḥ kālena bhūyasā
taḿ pravartayituḿ deham
imaḿ viddhi mayā bhṛtam
eṣaḥ — this; ātma-pathaḥ — path of self-realization; avyaktaḥ — difficult to be known; naṣṭaḥ — lost; kālena bhūyasā — in the course of time; tam — this; pravartayitum — to introduce again; deham — body; imam — this; viddhi — please know; mayā — by Me; bhṛtam — assumed.
TRANSLATION
This path of self-realization, which is difficult to understand, has now been lost in the course of time. Please know that I have assumed this body of Kapila to introduce and explain this philosophy to human society again.
3.24.38
gaccha kāmaḿ mayāpṛṣṭo
mayi sannyasta-karmaṇā
jitvā sudurjayaḿ mṛtyum
amṛtatvāya māḿ bhaja
gaccha — go; kāmam — as you wish; mayā — by Me; āpṛṣṭaḥ — sanctioned; mayi — to Me; sannyasta — completely surrendered; karmaṇā — with your activities; jitvā — having conquered; sudurjayam — insurmountable; mṛtyum — death; amṛtatvāya — for eternal life; mām — unto Me; bhaja — engage in devotional service.
TRANSLATION
Now, being sanctioned by Me, go as you desire, surrendering all your activities to Me. Conquering insurmountable death, worship Me for eternal life.
3.24.39
mām ātmānaḿ svayaḿ-jyotiḥ
sarva-bhūta-guhāśayam
ātmany evātmanā vīkṣya
viśoko 'bhayam ṛcchasi
mām — Me; ātmānam — the Supreme Soul, or Paramātmā; svayam-jyotiḥ — self-effulgent; sarva-bhūta — of all beings; guhā — in the hearts; āśayam — dwelling; ātmani — in your own heart; eva — indeed; ātmanā — through your intellect; vīkṣya — always seeing, always thinking; viśokaḥ — free from lamentation; abhayam — fearlessness; ṛcchasi — you will achieve.
TRANSLATION
In your own heart, through your intellect, you will always see Me, the supreme self-effulgent soul dwelling within the hearts of all living entities. Thus you will achieve the state of eternal life, free from all lamentation and fear.
3.24.40
mātra ādhyātmikīḿ vidyāḿ
śamanīḿ sarva-karmaṇām
vitariṣye yayā cāsau
bhayaḿ cātitariṣyati
mātre — to My mother; ādhyātmikīm — which opens the door of spiritual life; vidyām — knowledge; śamanīm — ending; sarva-karmaṇām — all fruitive activities; vitariṣye — I shall give; yayā — by which; ca — also; asau — she; bhayam — fear; ca — also; atitariṣyati — will overcome.
TRANSLATION
I shall also describe this sublime knowledge, which is the door to spiritual life, to My mother, so that she also can attain perfection and self-realization, ending all reactions to fruitive activities. Thus she also will be freed from all material fear.
3.24.41
maitreya uvāca
evaḿ samuditas tena
kapilena prajāpatiḥ
dakṣiṇī-kṛtya taḿ prīto
vanam eva jagāma ha
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; evam — thus; samuditaḥ — addressed; tena — by Him; kapilena — by Kapila; prajāpatiḥ — the progenitor of human society; dakṣiṇī-kṛtya — having circumambulated; tam — Him; prītaḥ — being pacified; vanam — to the forest; eva — indeed; jagāma — he left; ha — then.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Maitreya said: Thus when Kardama Muni, the progenitor of human society, was spoken to in fullness by his son, Kapila, he circumambulated Him, and with a good, pacified mind he at once left for the forest.
3.24.42
vrataḿ sa āsthito maunam
ātmaika-śaraṇo muniḥ
niḥsańgo vyacarat kṣoṇīm
anagnir aniketanaḥ
vratam — vow; saḥ — he (Kardama); āsthitaḥ — accepted; maunam — silence; ātma — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eka — exclusively; śaraṇaḥ — being sheltered; muniḥ — the sage; niḥsańgaḥ — without association; vyacarat — he traveled; kṣoṇīm — the earth; anagniḥ — without fire; aniketanaḥ — without shelter.
TRANSLATION
The sage Kardama accepted silence as a vow in order to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and take shelter of Him exclusively. Without association, he traveled over the surface of the globe as a sannyāsī, devoid of any relationship with fire or shelter.
3.24.43
mano brahmaṇi yuñjāno
yat tat sad-asataḥ param
guṇāvabhāse viguṇa
eka-bhaktyānubhāvite
manaḥ — mind; brahmaṇi — on the Supreme; yuñjānaḥ — fixing; yat — which; tat — that; sat-asataḥ — cause and effect; param — beyond; guṇa-avabhāse — who manifests the three modes of material nature; viguṇe — who is beyond the material modes; eka-bhaktyā — by exclusive devotion; anubhāvite — who is perceived.
TRANSLATION
He fixed his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, who is beyond cause and effect, who manifests the three modes of material nature, who is beyond those three modes, and who is perceived only through unfailing devotional service.
3.24.44
nirahańkṛtir nirmamaś ca
nirdvandvaḥ sama-dṛk sva-dṛk
pratyak-praśānta-dhīr dhīraḥ
praśāntormir ivodadhiḥ
nirahańkṛtiḥ — without false ego; nirmamaḥ — without material affection; ca — and; nirdvandvaḥ — without duality; sama-dṛk — seeing equality; sva-dṛk — seeing himself; pratyak — turned inward; praśānta — perfectly composed; dhīḥ — mind; dhīraḥ — sober, not disturbed; praśānta — calmed; ūrmiḥ — whose waves; iva — like; udadhiḥ — the ocean.
TRANSLATION
Thus he gradually became unaffected by the false ego of material identity and became free from material affection. Undisturbed, equal to everyone and without duality, he could indeed see himself also. His mind was turned inward and was perfectly calm, like an ocean unagitated by waves.
3.24.45
vāsudeve bhagavati
sarva-jñe pratyag-ātmani
pareṇa bhakti-bhāvena
labdhātmā mukta-bandhanaḥ
vāsudeve — to Vāsudeva; bhagavati — the Personality of Godhead; sarva-jñe — omniscient; pratyak-ātmani — the Supersoul within everyone; pareṇa — transcendental; bhakti-bhāvena — by devotional service; labdha-ātmā — being situated in himself; mukta-bandhanaḥ — liberated from material bondage.
TRANSLATION
He thus became liberated from conditioned life and became self-situated in transcendental devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, the omniscient Supersoul within everyone.
3.24.46
ātmānaḿ sarva-bhūteṣu
bhagavantam avasthitam
apaśyat sarva-bhūtāni
bhagavaty api cātmani
ātmānam — the Supersoul; sarva-bhūteṣu — in all living beings; bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avasthitam — situated; apaśyat — he saw; sarva-bhūtāni — all living beings; bhagavati — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; api — moreover; ca — and; ātmani — on the Supersoul.
TRANSLATION
He began to see that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is seated in everyone's heart, and that everyone is existing on Him, because He is the Supersoul of everyone.
3.24.47
icchā-dveṣa-vihīnena
sarvatra sama-cetasā
bhagavad-bhakti-yuktena
prāptā bhāgavatī gatiḥ
icchā — desire; dveṣa — and hatred; vihīnena — freed from; sarvatra — everywhere; sama — equal; cetasā — with the mind; bhagavat — unto the Personality of Godhead; bhakti-yuktena — by discharging devotional service; prāptā — was attained; bhāgavatī gatiḥ — the destination of the devotee (going back home, back to Godhead).
TRANSLATION
Freed from all hatred and desire, Kardama Muni, being equal to everyone because of discharging uncontaminated devotional service, ultimately attained the path back to Godhead.
Back to the running text