Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 1 · Chapter 2
व्यास उवाच इति सम्प्रश्नसंहृष्टो विप्राणां रौमहर्षणि: । प्रतिपूज्य वचस्तेषां प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे ॥ १ ॥
vyasa uvaca iti samprasna-samhrsto vipranam raumaharsanih pratipujya vacas tesam pravaktum upacakrame
Ugrasrava (Suta Gosvami), the son of Romaharsana, being fully satisfied by the perfect questions of the brahmanas, thanked them and thus attempted to reply.
सूत उवाच यं प्रव्रजन्तमनुपेतमपेतकृत्यं द्वैपायनो विरहकातर आजुहाव । पुत्रेति तन्मयतया तरवोऽभिनेदु- स्तं सर्वभूतहृदयं मुनिमानतोऽस्मि ॥ २ ॥
suta uvaca yam pravrajantam anupetam apeta-krtyam dvaipayano viraha-katara ajuhava putreti tan-mayataya taravo ’bhinedus tam sarva-bhuta-hrdayam munim anato ’smi
Srila Suta Gosvami said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage (Sukadeva Gosvami) who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life (sannyasa), leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyasadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, O my son Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father.
य: स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेक- मध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् । संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥ ३ ॥
yah svanubhavam akhila-sruti-saram ekam adhyatma-dipam atititirsatam tamo ’ndham samsarinam karunayaha purana-guhyam tam vyasa-sunum upayami gurum muninam
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto him (Suka), the spiritual master of all sages, the son of Vyasadeva, who, out of his great compassion for those gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence, spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience.
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ ४ ॥
narayanam namaskrtya naram caiva narottamam devim sarasvatim vyasam tato jayam udirayet
Before reciting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara-narayana Rsi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyasadeva, the author.
मुनय: साधु पृष्टोऽहं भवद्भिर्लोकमङ्गलम् । यत्कृत: कृष्णसम्प्रश्नो येनात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ५ ॥
munayah sadhu prsto ’ham bhavadbhir loka-mangalam yat krtah krsna-samprasno yenatma suprasidati
O sages, I have been justly questioned by you. Your questions are worthy because they relate to Lord Krsna and so are of relevance to the world’s welfare. Only questions of this sort are capable of completely satisfying the self.
स वै पुंसां परो धर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे । अहैतुक्यप्रतिहता ययात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ६ ॥
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati
The supreme occupation (dharma) for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.
वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तियोग: प्रयोजित: । जनयत्याशु वैराग्यं ज्ञानं च यदहैतुकम् ॥ ७ ॥
vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.
धर्म: स्वनुष्ठित: पुंसां विष्वक्सेनकथासु य: । नोत्पादयेद्यदि रतिं श्रम एव हि केवलम् ॥ ८ ॥
dharmah svanusthitah pumsam visvaksena-kathasu yah notpadayed yadi ratim srama eva hi kevalam
The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.
धर्मस्य ह्यापवर्ग्यस्य नार्थोऽर्थायोपकल्पते । नार्थस्य धर्मैकान्तस्य कामो लाभाय हि स्मृत: ॥ ९ ॥
dharmasya hy apavargyasya nartho ’rthayopakalpate narthasya dharmaikantasya kamo labhaya hi smrtah
All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification.
कामस्य नेन्द्रियप्रीतिर्लाभो जीवेत यावता । जीवस्य तत्त्वजिज्ञासा नार्थो यश्चेह कर्मभि: ॥ १० ॥
kamasya nendriya-pritir labho jiveta yavata jivasya tattva-jijnasa nartho yas ceha karmabhih
Life’s desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one’s works.
वदन्ति तत्तत्त्वविदस्तत्त्वं यज्ज्ञानमद्वयम् । ब्रह्मेति परमात्मेति भगवानिति शब्द्यते ॥ ११ ॥
vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate
Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan.
तच्छ्रद्दधाना मुनयो ज्ञानवैराग्ययुक्तया । पश्यन्त्यात्मनि चात्मानं भक्त्या श्रुतगृहीतया ॥ १२ ॥
tac chraddadhana munayo jnana-vairagya-yuktaya pasyanty atmani catmanam bhaktya sruta-grhitaya
The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedanta-sruti.
अत: पुम्भिर्द्विजश्रेष्ठा वर्णाश्रमविभागश: । स्वनुष्ठितस्य धर्मस्य संसिद्धिर्हरितोषणम् ॥ १३ ॥
atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam
O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one’s own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.
तस्मादेकेन मनसा भगवान् सात्वतां पति: । श्रोतव्य: कीर्तितव्यश्च ध्येय: पूज्यश्च नित्यदा ॥ १४ ॥
tasmad ekena manasa bhagavan satvatam patih srotavyah kirtitavyas ca dhyeyah pujyas ca nityada
Therefore, with one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees.
यदनुध्यासिना युक्ता: कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम् । छिन्दन्ति कोविदास्तस्य को न कुर्यात्कथारतिम् ॥ १५ ॥
yad-anudhyasina yuktah karma-granthi-nibandhanam chindanti kovidas tasya ko na kuryat katha-ratim
With sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of reactionary work (karma) by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, who will not pay attention to His message?
शुश्रूषो: श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचि: । स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्रा: पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ १६ ॥
susrusoh sraddadhanasya vasudeva-katha-rucih syan mahat-sevaya viprah punya-tirtha-nisevanat
O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vasudeva.
शृण्वतां स्वकथा: कृष्ण: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: । हृद्यन्त:स्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १७ ॥
srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrt satam
Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma (Supersoul) in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.
नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया । भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी ॥ १८ ॥
nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.
तदा रजस्तमोभावा: कामलोभादयश्च ये । चेत एतैरनाविद्धं स्थितं सत्त्वे प्रसीदति ॥ १९ ॥
tada rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobhadayas ca ye ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati
As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature’s modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.
एवं प्रसन्नमनसो भगवद्भक्तियोगत: । भगवत्तत्त्वविज्ञानं मुक्तसङ्गस्य जायते ॥ २० ॥
evam prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam mukta-sangasya jayate
Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association.
भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिश्छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशया: । क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि दृष्ट एवात्मनीश्वरे ॥ २१ ॥
bhidyate hrdaya-granthis chidyante sarva-samsayah ksiyante casya karmani drsta evatmanisvare
Thus the knot in the heart is pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master.
अतो वै कवयो नित्यं भक्तिं परमया मुदा । वासुदेवे भगवति कुर्वन्त्यात्मप्रसादनीम् ॥ २२ ॥
ato vai kavayo nityam bhaktim paramaya muda vasudeve bhagavati kurvanty atma-prasadanim
Certainly, therefore, since time immemorial, all transcendentalists have been rendering devotional service to Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, with great delight, because such devotional service is enlivening to the self.
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति प्रकृतेर्गुणास्तै- र्युक्त: पर: पुरुष एक इहास्य धत्ते । स्थित्यादये हरिविरिञ्चिहरेति संज्ञा: श्रेयांसि तत्र खलु सत्त्वतनोर्नृणां स्यु: ॥ २३ ॥
sattvam rajas tama iti prakrter gunas tair yuktah parah purusa eka ihasya dhatte sthity-adaye hari-virinci-hareti samjnah sreyamsi tatra khalu sattva-tanor nrnam syuh
The transcendental Personality of Godhead is indirectly associated with the three modes of material nature, namely passion, goodness and ignorance, and just for the material world’s creation, maintenance and destruction He accepts the three qualitative forms of Brahma, Visnu and Siva. Of these three, all human beings can derive ultimate benefit from Visnu, the form of the quality of goodness.
पार्थिवाद्दारुणो धूमस्तस्मादग्निस्त्रयीमय: । तमसस्तु रजस्तस्मात्सत्त्वं यद्ब्रह्मदर्शनम् ॥ २४ ॥
parthivad daruno dhumas tasmad agnis trayimayah tamasas tu rajas tasmat sattvam yad brahma-darsanam
Firewood is a transformation of earth, but smoke is better than the raw wood. And fire is still better, for by fire we can derive the benefits of superior knowledge (through Vedic sacrifices). Similarly, passion (rajas) is better than ignorance (tamas), but goodness (sattva) is best because by goodness one can come to realize the Absolute Truth.
भेजिरे मुनयोऽथाग्रे भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् । सत्त्वं विशुद्धं क्षेमाय कल्पन्ते येऽनु तानिह ॥ २५ ॥
bhejire munayo ’thagre bhagavantam adhoksajam sattvam visuddham ksemaya kalpante ye ’nu tan iha
Previously all the great sages rendered service unto the Personality of Godhead due to His existence above the three modes of material nature. They worshiped Him to become free from material conditions and thus derive the ultimate benefit. Whoever follows such great authorities is also eligible for liberation from the material world.
मुमुक्षवो घोररूपान् हित्वा भूतपतीनथ । नारायणकला: शान्ता भजन्ति ह्यनसूयव: ॥ २६ ॥
mumuksavo ghora-rupan hitva bhuta-patin atha narayana-kalah santa bhajanti hy anasuyavah
Those who are serious about liberation are certainly nonenvious, and they respect all. Yet they reject the horrible and ghastly forms of the demigods and worship only the all-blissful forms of Lord Visnu and His plenary portions.
रजस्तम:प्रकृतय: समशीला भजन्ति वै । पितृभूतप्रजेशादीन्श्रियैश्वर्यप्रजेप्सव: ॥ २७ ॥
rajas-tamah-prakrtayah sama-sila bhajanti vai pitr-bhuta-prajesadin sriyaisvarya-prajepsavah
Those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance worship the forefathers, other living beings and the demigods who are in charge of cosmic activities, for they are urged by a desire to be materially benefited with women, wealth, power and progeny.
वासुदेवपरा वेदा वासुदेवपरा मखा: । वासुदेवपरा योगा वासुदेवपरा: क्रिया: ॥ २८ ॥ वासुदेवपरं ज्ञानं वासुदेवपरं तप: । वासुदेवपरो धर्मो वासुदेवपरा गति: ॥ २९ ॥
vasudeva-para veda vasudeva-para makhah vasudeva-para yoga vasudeva-parah kriyah vasudeva-param jnanam vasudeva-param tapah vasudeva-paro dharmo vasudeva-para gatih
In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.
स एवेदं ससर्जाग्रे भगवानात्ममायया । सदसद्रूपया चासौ गुणमयागुणो विभु: ॥ ३० ॥
sa evedam sasarjagre bhagavan atma-mayaya sad-asad-rupaya casau gunamayaguno vibhuh
In the beginning of the material creation, that Absolute Personality of Godhead (Vasudeva), in His transcendental position, created the energies of cause and effect by His own internal energy.
तया विलसितेष्वेषु गुणेषु गुणवानिव । अन्त:प्रविष्ट आभाति विज्ञानेन विजृम्भित: ॥ ३१ ॥
taya vilasitesv esu gunesu gunavan iva antah-pravista abhati vijnanena vijrmbhitah
After creating the material substance, the Lord (Vasudeva) expands Himself and enters into it. And although He is within the material modes of nature and appears to be; one of the created beings, He is always fully enlightened in His transcendental position.
यथा ह्यवहितो वह्निर्दारुष्वेक: स्वयोनिषु । नानेव भाति विश्वात्मा भूतेषु च तथा पुमान् ॥ ३२ ॥
yatha hy avahito vahnir darusv ekah sva-yonisu naneva bhati visvatma bhutesu ca tatha puman
The Lord, as Supersoul, pervades all things, just as fire permeates wood, and so He appears to be of many varieties, though He is the absolute one without a second.
असौ गुणमयैर्भावैर्भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियात्मभि: । स्वनिर्मितेषु निर्विष्टो भुङ्क्ते भूतेषु तद्गुणान् ॥ ३३ ॥
asau gunamayair bhavair bhuta-suksmendriyatmabhih sva-nirmitesu nirvisto bhunkte bhutesu tad-gunan
The Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these modes by the subtle mind.
भावयत्येष सत्त्वेन लोकान् वै लोकभावन: । लीलावतारानुरतो देवतिर्यङ्नरादिषु ॥ ३४ ॥
bhavayaty esa sattvena lokan vai loka-bhavanah lilavataranurato deva-tiryan-naradisu
Thus the Lord of the universes maintains all planes inhabited by demigods, men and lower animals. Assuming the roles of incarnations, He performs pastimes to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness.
