Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 1 · Chapter 5
सूत उवाच अथ तं सुखमासीन उपासीनं बृहच्छ्रवा: । देवर्षि: प्राह विप्रर्षिं वीणापाणि: स्मयन्निव ॥ १ ॥
suta uvaca atha tam sukham asina upasinam brhac-chravah devarsih praha viprarsim vina-panih smayann iva
Suta Gosvami said: Thus the sage amongst the gods (Narada), comfortably seated and apparently smiling, addressed the rsi amongst the brahmanas (Vedavyasa).
नारद उवाच पाराशर्य महाभाग भवत: कच्चिदात्मना । परितुष्यति शारीर आत्मा मानस एव वा ॥ २ ॥
narada uvaca parasarya maha-bhaga bhavatah kaccid atmana paritusyati sarira atma manasa eva va
Addressing Vyasadeva, the son of Parasara, Narada inquired: Are you satisfied by identifying with the body or the mind as objects of self-realization?
जिज्ञासितं सुसम्पन्नमपि ते महदद्भुतम् । कृतवान् भारतं यस्त्वं सर्वार्थपरिबृंहितम् ॥ ३ ॥
jijnasitam susampannam api te mahad-adbhutam krtavan bharatam yas tvam sarvartha-paribrmhitam
Your inquiries were full and your studies were also well fulfilled, and there is no doubt that you have prepared a great and wonderful work, the Mahabharata, which is full of all kinds of Vedic sequences elaborately explained.
जिज्ञासितमधीतं च ब्रह्म यत्तत्सनातनम् । तथापि शोचस्यात्मानमकृतार्थ इव प्रभो ॥ ४ ॥
jijnasitam adhitam ca brahma yat tat sanatanam tathapi socasy atmanam akrtartha iva prabho
You have fully delineated the subject of impersonal Brahman as well as the knowledge derived therefrom. Why should you be despondent in spite of all this, thinking that you are undone, my dear prabhu?
व्यास उवाच अस्त्येव मे सर्वमिदं त्वयोक्तं तथापि नात्मा परितुष्यते मे । तन्मूलमव्यक्तमगाधबोधं पृच्छामहे त्वात्मभवात्मभूतम् ॥ ५ ॥
vyasa uvaca asty eva me sarvam idam tvayoktam tathapi natma paritusyate me tan-mulam avyaktam agadha-bodham prcchamahe tvatma-bhavatma-bhutam
Sri Vyasadeva said: All you have said about me is perfectly correct. Despite all this, I am not pacified. I therefore question you about the root cause of my dissatisfaction, for you are a man of unlimited knowledge due to your being the offspring of one (Brahma) who is self-born (without mundane father and mother).
स वै भवान् वेद समस्तगुह्य- मुपासितो यत्पुरुष: पुराण: । परावरेशो मनसैव विश्वं सृजत्यवत्यत्ति गुणैरसङ्ग: ॥ ६ ॥
sa vai bhavan veda samasta-guhyam upasito yat purusah puranah paravareso manasaiva visvam srjaty avaty atti gunair asangah
My lord! Everything that is mysterious is known to you because you worship the creator and destroyer of the material world and the maintainer of the spiritual world, the original Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental to the three modes of material nature.
त्वं पर्यटन्नर्क इव त्रिलोकी- मन्तश्चरो वायुरिवात्मसाक्षी । परावरे ब्रह्मणि धर्मतो व्रतै: स्नातस्य मे न्यूनमलं विचक्ष्व ॥ ७ ॥
tvam paryatann arka iva tri-lokim antas-caro vayur ivatma-saksi paravare brahmani dharmato vrataih snatasya me nyunam alam vicaksva
Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency in me, despite my being absorbed in transcendence under disciplinary regulations and vows.
श्रीनारद उवाच भवतानुदितप्रायं यशो भगवतोऽमलम् । येनैवासौ न तुष्येत मन्ये तद्दर्शनं खिलम् ॥ ८ ॥
sri-narada uvaca bhavatanudita-prayam yaso bhagavato ’malam yenaivasau na tusyeta manye tad darsanam khilam
Sri Narada said: You have not actually broadcast the sublime and spotless glories of the Personality of Godhead. That philosophy which does not satisfy the transcendental senses of the Lord is considered worthless.
यथा धर्मादयश्चार्था मुनिवर्यानुकीर्तिता: । न तथा वासुदेवस्य महिमा ह्यनुवर्णित: ॥ ९ ॥
yatha dharmadayas cartha muni-varyanukirtitah na tatha vasudevasya mahima hy anuvarnitah
Although, great sage, you have very broadly described the four principles beginning with religious performances, you have not described the glories of the Supreme Personality, Vasudeva.
न यद्वचश्चित्रपदं हरेर्यशो जगत्पवित्रं प्रगृणीत कर्हिचित् । तद्वायसं तीर्थमुशन्ति मानसा न यत्र हंसा निरमन्त्युशिक्क्षया: ॥ १० ॥
na yad vacas citra-padam harer yaso jagat-pavitram pragrnita karhicit tad vayasam tirtham usanti manasa na yatra hamsa niramanty usik-ksayah
Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there.
तद्वाग्विसर्गो जनताघविप्लवो यस्मिन् प्रतिश्लोकमबद्धवत्यपि । नामान्यनन्तस्य यशोऽङ्कितानि यत् शृण्वन्ति गायन्ति गृणन्ति साधव: ॥ ११ ॥
tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api namany anantasya yaso ’nkitani yat srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah
On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.
नैष्कर्म्यमप्यच्युतभाववर्जितं न शोभते ज्ञानमलं निरञ्जनम् । कुत: पुन: शश्वदभद्रमीश्वरे न चार्पितं कर्म यदप्यकारणम् ॥ १२ ॥
naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam
Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible (God). What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?
अथो महाभाग भवानमोघदृक् शुचिश्रवा: सत्यरतो धृतव्रत: । उरुक्रमस्याखिलबन्धमुक्तये समाधिनानुस्मर तद्विचेष्टितम् ॥ १३ ॥
atho maha-bhaga bhavan amogha-drk suci-sravah satya-rato dhrta-vratah urukramasyakhila-bandha-muktaye samadhinanusmara tad-vicestitam
O Vyasadeva, your vision is completely perfect. Your good fame is spotless. You are firm in vow and situated in truthfulness. And thus you can think of the pastimes of the Lord in trance for the liberation of the people in general from all material bondage.
ततोऽन्यथा किञ्चन यद्विवक्षत: पृथग्दृशस्तत्कृतरूपनामभि: । न कर्हिचित्क्वापि च दु:स्थिता मति- र्लभेत वाताहतनौरिवास्पदम् ॥ १४ ॥
tato ’nyatha kincana yad vivaksatah prthag drsas tat-krta-rupa-namabhih na karhicit kvapi ca duhsthita matir labheta vatahata-naur ivaspadam
Whatever you desire to describe that is separate in vision from the Lord simply reacts, with different forms, names and results, to agitate the mind as the wind agitates a boat which has no resting place.
जुगुप्सितं धर्मकृतेऽनुशासत: स्वभावरक्तस्य महान् व्यतिक्रम: । यद्वाक्यतो धर्म इतीतर: स्थितो न मन्यते तस्य निवारणं जन: ॥ १५ ॥
jugupsitam dharma-krte ’nusasatah svabhava-raktasya mahan vyatikramah yad-vakyato dharma ititarah sthito na manyate tasya nivaranam janah
The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.
विचक्षणोऽस्यार्हति वेदितुं विभो- रनन्तपारस्य निवृत्तित: सुखम् । प्रवर्तमानस्य गुणैरनात्मन- स्ततो भवान्दर्शय चेष्टितं विभो: ॥ १६ ॥
vicaksano ’syarhati veditum vibhor ananta-parasya nivrttitah sukham pravartamanasya gunair anatmanas tato bhavan darsaya cestitam vibhoh
The Supreme Lord is unlimited. Only a very expert personality, retired from the activities of material happiness, deserves to understand this knowledge of spiritual values. Therefore those who are not so well situated, due to material attachment, should be shown the ways of transcendental realization, by Your Goodness, through descriptions of the transcendental activities of the Supreme Lord.
त्यक्त्वा स्वधर्मं चरणाम्बुजं हरे- र्भजन्नपक्वोऽथ पतेत्ततो यदि । यत्र क्व वाभद्रमभूदमुष्य किं को वार्थ आप्तोऽभजतां स्वधर्मत: ॥ १७ ॥
tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi yatra kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim ko vartha apto ’bhajatam sva-dharmatah
One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being unsuccessful. On the other hand, a nondevotee, though fully engaged in occupational duties, does not gain anything.
तस्यैव हेतो: प्रयतेत कोविदो न लभ्यते यद्भ्रमतामुपर्यध: । तल्लभ्यते दु:खवदन्यत: सुखं कालेन सर्वत्र गभीररंहसा ॥ १८ ॥
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the topmost plane (Brahmaloka) down to the lowest planet (Patala). As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.
न वै जनो जातु कथञ्चनाव्रजे- न्मुकुन्दसेव्यन्यवदङ्ग संसृतिम् । स्मरन्मुकुन्दाङ्घ्र्युरपगूहनं पुन- र्विहातुमिच्छेन्न रसग्रहो जन: ॥ १९ ॥
na vai jano jatu kathancanavrajen mukunda-sevy anyavad anga samsrtim smaran mukundanghry-upaguhanam punar vihatum icchen na rasa-graho janah
My dear Vyasa, even though a devotee of Lord Krsna sometimes falls down somehow or other, he certainly does not undergo material existence like others (fruitive workers, etc.) because a person who has once relished the taste of the lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but remember that ecstasy again and again.
इदं हि विश्वं भगवानिवेतरो यतो जगत्स्थाननिरोधसम्भवा: । तद्धि स्वयं वेद भवांस्तथापि ते प्रादेशमात्रं भवत: प्रदर्शितम् ॥ २० ॥
idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetaro yato jagat-sthana-nirodha-sambhavah tad dhi svayam veda bhavams tathapi te pradesa-matram bhavatah pradarsitam
The Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is Himself this cosmos, and still He is aloof from it. From Him only has this cosmic manifestation emanated, in Him it rests, and unto Him it enters after annihilation. Your good self knows all about this. I have given only a synopsis.
त्वमात्मनात्मानमवेह्यमोघदृक् परस्य पुंस: परमात्मन: कलाम् । अजं प्रजातं जगत: शिवाय त- न्महानुभावाभ्युदयोऽधिगण्यताम् ॥ २१ ॥
tvam atmanatmanam avehy amogha-drk parasya pumsah paramatmanah kalam ajam prajatam jagatah sivaya tan mahanubhavabhyudayo ’dhiganyatam
Your Goodness has perfect vision. You yourself can know the Supersoul Personality of Godhead because you are present as the plenary portion of the Lord. Although you are birthless, you have appeared on this earth for the well-being of all people. Please, therefore, describe the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna more vividly.
इदं हि पुंसस्तपस: श्रुतस्य वा स्विष्टस्य सूक्तस्य च बुद्धिदत्तयो: । अविच्युतोऽर्थ: कविभिर्निरूपितो यदुत्तमश्लोकगुणानुवर्णनम् ॥ २२ ॥
idam hi pumsas tapasah srutasya va svistasya suktasya ca buddhi-dattayoh avicyuto ’rthah kavibhir nirupito yad-uttamasloka-gunanuvarnanam
Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the advancement of knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice, chanting of hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of the Lord, who is defined in choice poetry.
अहं पुरातीतभवेऽभवं मुने दास्यास्तु कस्याश्चन वेदवादिनाम् । निरूपितो बालक एव योगिनां शुश्रूषणे प्रावृषि निर्विविक्षताम् ॥ २३ ॥
aham puratita-bhave ’bhavam mune dasyas tu kasyascana veda-vadinam nirupito balaka eva yoginam susrusane pravrsi nirviviksatam
O muni, in the last millennium I was born as the son of a certain maidservant engaged in the service of brahmanas who were following the principles of Vedanta. When they were living together during the four months of the rainy season, I was engaged in their personal service.
ते मय्यपेताखिलचापलेऽर्भके दान्तेऽधृतक्रीडनकेऽनुवर्तिनि । चक्रु: कृपां यद्यपि तुल्यदर्शना: शुश्रूषमाणे मुनयोऽल्पभाषिणि ॥ २४ ॥
te mayy apetakhila-capale ’rbhake dante ’dhrta-kridanake ’nuvartini cakruh krpam yadyapi tulya-darsanah susrusamane munayo ’lpa-bhasini
Although they were impartial by nature, those followers of the Vedanta blessed me with their causeless mercy. As far as I was concerned, I was self-controlled and had no attachment for sports, even though I was a boy. In addition, I was not naughty, and I did not speak more than required.
उच्छिष्टलेपाननुमोदितो द्विजै: सकृत्स्म भुञ्जे तदपास्तकिल्बिष: । एवं प्रवृत्तस्य विशुद्धचेतस- स्तद्धर्म एवात्मरुचि: प्रजायते ॥ २५ ॥
ucchista-lepan anumodito dvijaih sakrt sma bhunje tad-apasta-kilbisah evam pravrttasya visuddha-cetasas tad-dharma evatma-rucih prajayate
Once only, by their permission, I took the remnants of their food, and by so doing all my sins were at once eradicated. Thus being engaged, I became purified in heart, and at that time the very nature of the transcendentalist became attractive to me.
तत्रान्वहं कृष्णकथा: प्रगायता- मनुग्रहेणाशृणवं मनोहरा: । ता: श्रद्धया मेऽनुपदं विशृण्वत: प्रियश्रवस्यङ्ग ममाभवद्रुचि: ॥ २६ ॥
tatranvaham krsna-kathah pragayatam anugrahenasrnavam manoharah tah sraddhaya me ’nupadam visrnvatah priyasravasy anga mamabhavad rucih
O Vyasadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedantists, I could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord Krsna And thus listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead increased at every step.
तस्मिंस्तदा लब्धरुचेर्महामते प्रियश्रवस्यस्खलिता मतिर्मम । ययाहमेतत्सदसत्स्वमायया पश्ये मयि ब्रह्मणि कल्पितं परे ॥ २७ ॥
tasmims tada labdha-rucer maha-mate priyasravasy askhalita matir mama yayaham etat sad-asat sva-mayaya pasye mayi brahmani kalpitam pare
O great sage, as soon as I got a taste for the Personality of Godhead, my attention to hear of the Lord was unflinching. And as my taste developed, I could realize that it was only in my ignorance that I had accepted gross and subtle coverings, for both the Lord and I are transcendental.
इत्थं शरत्प्रावृषिकावृतू हरे- र्विशृण्वतो मेऽनुसवं यशोऽमलम् । सङ्कीर्त्यमानं मुनिभिर्महात्मभि- र्भक्ति: प्रवृत्तात्मरजस्तमोपहा ॥ २८ ॥
ittham sarat-pravrsikav rtu harer visrnvato me ’nusavam yaso ’malam sankirtyamanam munibhir mahatmabhir bhaktih pravrttatma-rajas-tamopaha
Thus during two seasons—the rainy season and autumn—I had the opportunity to hear these great-souled sages constantly chant the unadulterated glories of the Lord Hari. As the flow of my devotional service began, the coverings of the modes of passion and ignorance vanished.
तस्यैवं मेऽनुरक्तस्य प्रश्रितस्य हतैनस: । श्रद्दधानस्य बालस्य दान्तस्यानुचरस्य च ॥ २९ ॥
tasyaivam me ’nuraktasya prasritasya hatainasah sraddadhanasya balasya dantasyanucarasya ca
I was very much attached to those sages. I was gentle in behavior, and all my sins were eradicated in their service. In my heart I had strong faith in them. I had subjugated the senses, and I was strictly following them with body and mind.
ज्ञानं गुह्यतमं यत्तत्साक्षाद्भगवतोदितम् । अन्ववोचन् गमिष्यन्त: कृपया दीनवत्सला: ॥ ३० ॥
jnanam guhyatamam yat tat saksad bhagavatoditam anvavocan gamisyantah krpaya dina-vatsalah
As they were leaving, those bhakti-vedantas, who are very kind to poor-hearted souls, instructed me in that most confidential subject which is instructed by the Personality of Godhead Himself.
येनैवाहं भगवतो वासुदेवस्य वेधस: । मायानुभावमविदं येन गच्छन्ति तत्पदम् ॥ ३१ ॥
yenaivaham bhagavato vasudevasya vedhasah mayanubhavam avidam yena gacchanti tat-padam
By that confidential knowledge, I could understand clearly the influence of the energy of Lord Sri Krsna, the creator, maintainer and annihilator of everything. By knowing that, one can return to Him and personally meet Him.
एतत्संसूचितं ब्रह्मंस्तापत्रयचिकित्सितम् । यदीश्वरे भगवति कर्म ब्रह्मणि भावितम् ॥ ३२ ॥
etat samsucitam brahmams tapa-traya-cikitsitam yad isvare bhagavati karma brahmani bhavitam
O Brahmana Vyasadeva, it is decided by the learned that the best remedial measure for removing all troubles and miseries is to dedicate one’s activities to the service of the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead (Sri Krsna).
आमयो यश्च भूतानां जायते येन सुव्रत । तदेव ह्यामयं द्रव्यं न पुनाति चिकित्सितम् ॥ ३३ ॥
amayo yas ca bhutanam jayate yena suvrata tad eva hy amayam dravyam na punati cikitsitam
O good soul, does not a thing, applied therapeutically, cure a disease which was caused by that very same thing?
एवं नृणां क्रियायोगा: सर्वे संसृतिहेतव: । त एवात्मविनाशाय कल्पन्ते कल्पिता: परे ॥ ३४ ॥
evam nrnam kriya-yogah sarve samsrti-hetavah ta evatma-vinasaya kalpante kalpitah pare
Thus when all a man’s activities are dedicated to the service of the Lord, those very activities which caused his perpetual bondage become the destroyer of the tree of work.
यदत्र क्रियते कर्म भगवत्परितोषणम् । ज्ञानं यत्तदधीनं हि भक्तियोगसमन्वितम् ॥ ३५ ॥
yad atra kriyate karma bhagavat-paritosanam jnanam yat tad adhinam hi bhakti-yoga-samanvitam
Whatever work is done here in this life for the satisfaction of the mission of the Lord is called bhakti-yoga, or transcendental loving service to the Lord, and what is called knowledge becomes a concomitant factor.
कुर्वाणा यत्र कर्माणि भगवच्छिक्षयासकृत् । गृणन्ति गुणनामानि कृष्णस्यानुस्मरन्ति च ॥ ३६ ॥
kurvana yatra karmani bhagavac-chiksayasakrt grnanti guna-namani krsnasyanusmaranti ca
While performing duties according to the order of Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one constantly remembers Him, His names and His qualities.
ॐ नमो भगवते तुभ्यं वासुदेवाय धीमहि । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च ॥ ३७ ॥
om namo bhagavate tubhyam vasudevaya dhimahi pradyumnayaniruddhaya namah sankarsanaya ca
Let us all chant the glories of Vasudeva along with His plenary expansions Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Sankarsana.
इति मूर्त्यभिधानेन मन्त्रमूर्तिममूर्तिकम् । यजते यज्ञपुरुषं स सम्यग्दर्शन: पुमान् ॥ ३८ ॥
iti murty-abhidhanena mantra-murtim amurtikam yajate yajna-purusam sa samyag darsanah puman
Thus he is the actual seer who worships, in the form of transcendental sound representation, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who has no material form.
इमं स्वनिगमं ब्रह्मन्नवेत्य मदनुष्ठितम् । अदान्मे ज्ञानमैश्वर्यं स्वस्मिन् भावं च केशव: ॥ ३९ ॥
imam sva-nigamam brahmann avetya mad-anusthitam adan me jnanam aisvaryam svasmin bhavam ca kesavah
O brahmana, thus by the Supreme Lord Krsna I was endowed first with the transcendental knowledge of the Lord as inculcated in the confidential parts of the Vedas, then with the spiritual opulences, and then with His intimate loving service.
त्वमप्यदभ्रश्रुत विश्रुतं विभो: समाप्यते येन विदां बुभुत्सितम् । प्राख्याहि दु:खैर्मुहुरर्दितात्मनां सङ्क्लेशनिर्वाणमुशन्ति नान्यथा ॥ ४० ॥
tvam apy adabhra-sruta visrutam vibhoh samapyate yena vidam bubhutsitam prakhyahi duhkhair muhur arditatmanam sanklesa-nirvanam usanti nanyatha
Please, therefore, describe the Almighty Lord’s activities which you have learned by your vast knowledge of the Vedas, for that will satisfy the hankerings of great learned men and at the same time mitigate the miseries of the masses of common people who are always suffering from material pangs. Indeed, there is no other way to get out of such miseries.
