Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 2 · Chapter 1
श्रीशुक उवाच वरीयानेष ते प्रश्न: कृतो लोकहितं नृप । आत्मवित्सम्मत: पुंसां श्रोतव्यादिषु य: पर: ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca variyan esa te prasnah krto loka-hitam nrpa atmavit-sammatah pumsam srotavyadisu yah parah
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, your question is glorious because it is very beneficial to all kinds of people. The answer to this question is the prime subject matter for hearing, and it is approved by all transcendentalists.
श्रोतव्यादीनि राजेन्द्र नृणां सन्ति सहस्रश: । अपश्यतामात्मतत्त्वं गृहेषु गृहमेधिनाम् ॥ २ ॥
srotavyadini rajendra nrnam santi sahasrasah apasyatam atma-tattvam grhesu grha-medhinam
Those persons who are materially engrossed, being blind to the knowledge of ultimate truth, leave many subject matters for hearing in human society, O Emperor.
निद्रया ह्रियते नक्तं व्यवायेन च वा वय: । दिवा चार्थेहया राजन् कुटुम्बभरणेन वा ॥ ३ ॥
nidraya hriyate naktam vyavayena ca va vayah diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va
The lifetime of such an envious householder is passed at night either in sleeping or in sex indulgence, and in the daytime either in making money or maintaining family members.
देहापत्यकलत्रादिष्वात्मसैन्येष्वसत्स्वपि । तेषां प्रमत्तो निधनं पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति ॥ ४ ॥
dehapatya-kalatradisv atma-sainyesv asatsv api tesam pramatto nidhanam pasyann api na pasyati
Persons devoid of atma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children and wife. Although sufficiently experienced, they still do not see their inevitable destruction.
तस्माद्भारत सर्वात्मा भगवानीश्वरो हरि: । श्रोतव्य: कीर्तितव्यश्च स्मर्तव्यश्चेच्छताभयम् ॥ ५ ॥
tasmad bharata sarvatma bhagavan isvaro harih srotavyah kirtitavyas ca smartavyas cecchatabhayam
O descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear about, glorify and also remember the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, the controller and the savior from all miseries.
एतावान् सांख्ययोगाभ्यां स्वधर्मपरिनिष्ठया । जन्मलाभ: पर: पुंसामन्ते नारायणस्मृति: ॥ ६ ॥
etavan sankhya-yogabhyam sva-dharma-parinisthaya janma-labhah parah pumsam ante narayana-smrtih
The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.
प्रायेण मुनयो राजन्निवृत्ता विधिषेधत: । नैर्गुण्यस्था रमन्ते स्म गुणानुकथने हरे: ॥ ७ ॥
prayena munayo rajan nivrtta vidhi-sedhatah nairgunya-stha ramante sma gunanukathane hareh
O King Pariksit, mainly the topmost transcendentalists, who are above the regulative principles and restrictions, take pleasure in describing the glories of the Lord.
इदं भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् । अधीतवान् द्वापरादौ पितुर्द्वैपायनादहम् ॥ ८ ॥
idam bhagavatam nama puranam brahma-sammitam adhitavan dvaparadau pitur dvaipayanad aham
At the end of the Dvapara-yuga, I studied this great supplement of Vedic literature named Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is equal to all the Vedas, from my father, Srila Dvaipayana Vyasadeva.
परिनिष्ठितोऽपि नैर्गुण्य उत्तमश्लोकलीलया । गृहीतचेता राजर्षे आख्यानं यदधीतवान् ॥ ९ ॥
parinisthito ’pi nairgunya uttama-sloka-lilaya grhita-ceta rajarse akhyanam yad adhitavan
O saintly King, I was certainly situated perfectly in transcendence, yet I was still attracted by the delineation of the pastimes of the Lord, who is described by enlightened verses.
तदहं तेऽभिधास्यामि महापौरुषिको भवान् । यस्य श्रद्दधतामाशु स्यान्मुकुन्दे मति: सती ॥ १० ॥
tad aham te ’bhidhasyami maha-paurusiko bhavan yasya sraddadhatam asu syan mukunde matih sati
That very Srimad-Bhagavatam I shall recite before you because you are the most sincere devotee of Lord Krsna. One who gives full attention and respect to hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam achieves unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord, the giver of salvation.
एतन्निर्विद्यमानानामिच्छतामकुतोभयम् । योगिनां नृप निर्णीतं हरेर्नामानुकीर्तनम् ॥ ११ ॥
etan nirvidyamananam icchatam akuto-bhayam yoginam nrpa nirnitam harer namanukirtanam
O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.
किं प्रमत्तस्य बहुभि: परोक्षैर्हायनैरिह । वरं मुहूर्तं विदितं घटते श्रेयसे यत: ॥ १२ ॥
kim pramattasya bahubhih paroksair hayanair iha varam muhurtam viditam ghatate sreyase yatah
What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest.
खट्वाङ्गो नाम राजर्षिर्ज्ञात्वेयत्तामिहायुष: । मुहूर्तात्सर्वमुत्सृज्य गतवानभयं हरिम् ॥ १३ ॥
khatvango nama rajarsir jnatveyattam ihayusah muhurtat sarvam utsrjya gatavan abhayam harim
The saintly King Khatvanga, after being informed that the duration of his life would be only a moment more, at once freed himself from all material activities and took shelter of the supreme safety, the Personality of Godhead.
तवाप्येतर्हि कौरव्य सप्ताहं जीवितावधि: । उपकल्पय तत्सर्वं तावद्यत्साम्परायिकम् ॥ १४ ॥
tavapy etarhi kauravya saptaham jivitavadhih upakalpaya tat sarvam tavad yat samparayikam
Maharaja Pariksit, now your duration of life is limited to seven more days, so during this time you can perform all those rituals which are needed for the best purpose of your next life.
अन्तकाले तु पुरुष आगते गतसाध्वस: । छिन्द्यादसङ्गशस्त्रेण स्पृहां देहेऽनु ये च तम् ॥ १५ ॥
anta-kale tu purusa agate gata-sadhvasah chindyad asanga-sastrena sprham dehe ’nu ye ca tam
At the last stage of one’s life, one should be bold enough not to be afraid of death. But one must cut off all attachment to the material body and everything pertaining to it and all desires thereof.
गृहात् प्रव्रजितो धीर: पुण्यतीर्थजलाप्लुत: । शुचौ विविक्त आसीनो विधिवत्कल्पितासने ॥ १६ ॥
grhat pravrajito dhirah punya-tirtha-jalaplutah sucau vivikta asino vidhivat kalpitasane
One should leave home and practice self-control. In a sacred place he should bathe regularly and sit down in a lonely place duly sanctified.
अभ्यसेन्मनसा शुद्धं त्रिवृद्ब्रह्माक्षरं परम् । मनो यच्छेज्जितश्वासो ब्रह्मबीजमविस्मरन् ॥ १७ ॥
abhyasen manasa suddham trivrd-brahmaksaram param mano yacchej jita-svaso brahma-bijam avismaran
After sitting in the above manner, make the mind remember the three transcendental letters (a-u-m), and by regulating the breathing process, control the mind so as not to forget the transcendental seed.
नियच्छेद्विषयेभ्योऽक्षान्मनसा बुद्धिसारथि: । मन: कर्मभिराक्षिप्तं शुभार्थे धारयेद्धिया ॥ १८ ॥
niyacched visayebhyo ’ksan manasa buddhi-sarathih manah karmabhir aksiptam subharthe dharayed dhiya
Gradually, as the mind becomes progressively spiritualized, withdraw it from sense activities, and by intelligence the senses will be controlled. The mind too absorbed in material activities can be engaged in the service of the Personality of Godhead and become fixed in full transcendental consciousness.
तत्रैकावयवं ध्यायेदव्युच्छिन्नेन चेतसा । मनो निर्विषयं युक्त्वा तत: किञ्चन न स्मरेत् । पदं तत्परमं विष्णोर्मनो यत्र प्रसीदति ॥ १९ ॥
tatraikavayavam dhyayed avyucchinnena cetasa mano nirvisayam yuktva tatah kincana na smaret padam tat paramam visnor mano yatra prasidati
Thereafter, you should meditate upon the limbs of Visnu, one after another, without being deviated from the conception of the complete body. Thus the mind becomes free from all sense objects. There should be no other thing to be thought upon. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, is the Ultimate Truth, the mind becomes completely reconciled in Him only.
रजस्तमोभ्यामाक्षिप्तं विमूढं मन आत्मन: । यच्छेद्धारणया धीरो हन्ति या तत्कृतं मलम् ॥ २० ॥
rajas-tamobhyam aksiptam vimudham mana atmanah yacched dharanaya dhiro hanti ya tat-krtam malam
One’s mind is always agitated by the passionate mode of material nature and bewildered by the ignorant mode of nature. But one can rectify such conceptions by the relation of Visnu and thus become pacified by cleansing the dirty things created by them.
यस्यां सन्धार्यमाणायां योगिनो भक्तिलक्षण: । आशु सम्पद्यते योग आश्रयं भद्रमीक्षत: ॥ २१ ॥
yasyam sandharyamanayam yogino bhakti-laksanah asu sampadyate yoga asrayam bhadram iksatah
O King, by this system of remembrance and by being fixed in the habit of seeing the all-good personal conception of the Lord, one can very soon attain devotional service to the Lord, under His direct shelter.
राजोवाच यथा सन्धार्यते ब्रह्मन् धारणा यत्र सम्मता । यादृशी वा हरेदाशु पुरुषस्य मनोमलम् ॥ २२ ॥
rajovaca yatha sandharyate brahman dharana yatra sammata yadrsi va hared asu purusasya mano-malam
The fortunate King Pariksit, inquiring further, said: O brahmana, please describe in full detail how and where the mind has to be applied and how the conception can be fixed so that the dirty things in a person’s mind can be removed.
श्रीशुक उवाच जितासनो जितश्वासो जितसङ्गो जितेन्द्रिय: । स्थूले भगवतो रूपे मन: सन्धारयेद्धिया ॥ २३ ॥
sri-suka uvaca jitasano jita-svaso jita-sango jitendriyah sthule bhagavato rupe manah sandharayed dhiya
Sukadeva Gosvami answered: One should control the sitting posture, regulate the breathing process by the yogic pranayama and thus control the mind and senses and with intelligence apply the mind to the gross potencies of the Lord (called the virat-rupa).
विशेषस्तस्य देहोऽयं स्थविष्ठश्च स्थवीयसाम् । यत्रेदं व्यज्यते विश्वं भूतं भव्यं भवच्च सत् ॥ २४ ॥
visesas tasya deho ’yam sthavisthas ca sthaviyasam yatredam vyajyate visvam bhutam bhavyam bhavac ca sat
This gigantic manifestation of the phenomenal material world as a whole is the personal body of the Absolute Truth, wherein the universal resultant past, present and future of material time is experienced.
अण्डकोशे शरीरेऽस्मिन् सप्तावरणसंयुते । वैराज: पुरुषो योऽसौ भगवान् धारणाश्रय: ॥ २५ ॥
anda-kose sarire ’smin saptavarana-samyute vairajah puruso yo ’sau bhagavan dharanasrayah
The gigantic universal form of the Personality of Godhead, within the body of the universal shell, which is covered by sevenfold material elements, is the subject for the virat conception.
पातालमेतस्य हि पादमूलं पठन्ति पार्ष्णिप्रपदे रसातलम् । महातलं विश्वसृजोऽथ गुल्फौ तलातलं वै पुरुषस्य जङ्घे ॥ २६ ॥
patalam etasya hi pada-mulam pathanti parsni-prapade rasatalam mahatalam visva-srjo ’tha gulphau talatalam vai purusasya janghe
Persons who have realized it have studied that the planes known as Patala constitute the bottoms of the feet of the universal Lord, and the heels and the toes are the Rasatala planes. The ankles are the Mahatala planes, and His shanks constitute the Talatala planes.
द्वे जानुनी सुतलं विश्वमूर्ते- रूरुद्वयं वितलं चातलं च । महीतलं तज्जघनं महीपते नभस्तलं नाभिसरो गृणन्ति ॥ २७ ॥
dve januni sutalam visva-murter uru-dvayam vitalam catalam ca mahitalam taj-jaghanam mahipate nabhastalam nabhi-saro grnanti
The knees of the universal form are the planeary system of the name Sutala, and the two thighs are the Vitala and Atala planeary systems. The hips are Mahitala, and outer space is the depression of His navel.
उर:स्थलं ज्योतिरनीकमस्य ग्रीवा महर्वदनं वै जनोऽस्य । तपो वराटीं विदुरादिपुंस: सत्यं तु शीर्षाणि सहस्रशीर्ष्ण: ॥ २८ ॥
urah-sthalam jyotir-anikam asya griva mahar vadanam vai jano ’sya tapo varatim vidur adi-pumsah satyam tu sirsani sahasra-sirsnah
The chest of the Original Personality of the gigantic form is the luminary planeary system, His neck is the Mahar planes, His mouth is the Janas planes, and His forehead is the Tapas planeary system. The topmost planeary system, known as Satyaloka, is the head of He who has one thousand heads.
इन्द्रादयो बाहव आहुरुस्रा: कर्णौ दिश:श्रोत्रममुष्य शब्द: । नासत्यदस्रौ परमस्य नासे घ्राणोऽस्य गन्धो मुखमग्निरिद्ध: ॥ २९ ॥
indradayo bahava ahur usrah karnau disah srotram amusya sabdah nasatya-dasrau paramasya nase ghrano ’sya gandho mukham agnir iddhah
His arms are the demigods headed by Indra, the ten directional sides are His ears, and physical sound is His sense of hearing. His nostrils are the two Asvini-kumaras, and material fragrance is His sense of smell. His mouth is the blazing fire.
द्यौरक्षिणी चक्षुरभूत्पतङ्ग: पक्ष्माणि विष्णोरहनी उभे च । तद्भ्रूविजृम्भ: परमेष्ठिधिष्ण्य- मापोऽस्य तालु रस एव जिह्वा ॥ ३० ॥
dyaur aksini caksur abhut patangah paksmani visnor ahani ubhe ca tad-bhru-vijrmbhah paramesthi-dhisnyam apo ’sya talu rasa eva jihva
The sphere of outer space constitutes His eyepits, and the eyeball is the sun as the power of seeing. His eyelids are both the day and night, and in the movements of His eyebrows, the Brahma and similar supreme personalities reside. His palate is the director of water, Varuna, and the juice or essence of everything is His tongue.
छन्दांस्यनन्तस्य शिरो गृणन्ति दंष्ट्रा यम: स्नेहकला द्विजानि । हासो जनोन्मादकरी च माया दुरन्तसर्गो यदपाङ्गमोक्ष: ॥ ३१ ॥
chandamsy anantasya siro grnanti damstra yamah sneha-kala dvijani haso janonmada-kari ca maya duranta-sargo yad-apanga-moksah
They say that the Vedic hymns are the cerebral passage of the Lord, and His jaws of teeth are Yama, god of death, who punishes the sinners. The art of affection is His set of teeth, and the most alluring illusory material energy is His smile. This great ocean of material creation is but the casting of His glance over us.
व्रीडोत्तरौष्ठोऽधर एव लोभो धर्म: स्तनोऽधर्मपथोऽस्य पृष्ठम् । कस्तस्य मेढ्रं वृषणौ च मित्रौ कुक्षि: समुद्रा गिरयोऽस्थिसङ्घा: ॥ ३२ ॥
vridottaraustho ’dhara eva lobho dharmah stano ’dharma-patho ’sya prstham kas tasya medhram vrsanau ca mitrau kuksih samudra girayo ’sthi-sanghah
Modesty is the upper portion of His lips, hankering is His chin, religion is the breast of the Lord, and irreligion is His back. Brahmaji, who generates all living beings in the material world, is His genitals, and the Mitra-varunas are His two testicles. The ocean is His waist, and the hills and mountains are the stacks of His bones.
नद्योऽस्य नाड्योऽथ तनूरुहाणि महीरुहा विश्वतनोर्नृपेन्द्र । अनन्तवीर्य: श्वसितं मातरिश्वा गतिर्वय: कर्म गुणप्रवाह: ॥ ३३ ॥
nadyo ’sya nadyo ’tha tanu-ruhani mahi-ruha visva-tanor nrpendra ananta-viryah svasitam matarisva gatir vayah karma guna-pravahah
O King, the rivers are the veins of the gigantic body, the trees are the hairs of His body, and the omnipotent air is His breath. The passing ages are His movements, and His activities are the reactions of the three modes of material nature.
ईशस्य केशान् विदुरम्बुवाहान् वासस्तु सन्ध्यां कुरुवर्य भूम्न: । अव्यक्तमाहुर्हृदयं मनश्च स चन्द्रमा: सर्वविकारकोश: ॥ ३४ ॥
isasya kesan vidur ambuvahan vasas tu sandhyam kuru-varya bhumnah avyaktam ahur hrdayam manas ca sa candramah sarva-vikara-kosah
O best amongst the Kurus, the clouds which carry water are the hairs on His head, the terminations of days or nights are His dress, and the supreme cause of material creation is His intelligence. His mind is the moon, the reservoir of all changes.
विज्ञानशक्तिं महिमामनन्ति सर्वात्मनोऽन्त:करणं गिरित्रम् । अश्वाश्वतर्युष्ट्रगजा नखानि सर्वे मृगा: पशव: श्रोणिदेशे ॥ ३५ ॥
vijnana-saktim mahim amananti sarvatmano ’ntah-karanam giritram asvasvatary-ustra-gaja nakhani sarve mrgah pasavah sroni-dese
The principle of matter (mahat-tattva) is the consciousness of the omnipresent Lord, as asserted by the experts, and Rudradeva is His ego. The horse, mule, camel and elephant are His nails, and wild animals and all quadrupeds are situated in the belt zone of the Lord.
वयांसि तद्व्याकरणं विचित्रं मनुर्मनीषा मनुजो निवास: । गन्धर्वविद्याधरचारणाप्सर: स्वरस्मृतीरसुरानीकवीर्य: ॥ ३६ ॥
vayamsi tad-vyakaranam vicitram manur manisa manujo nivasah gandharva-vidyadhara-caranapsarah svara-smrtir asuranika-viryah
Varieties of birds are indications of His masterful artistic sense. Manu, the father of mankind, is the emblem of His standard intelligence, and humanity is His residence. The celestial species of human beings, like the Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Caranas and angels, all represent His musical rhythm, and the demoniac soldiers are representations of His wonderful prowess.
ब्रह्माननं क्षत्रभुजो महात्मा विडूरुरङ्घ्रिश्रितकृष्णवर्ण: । नानाभिधाभीज्यगणोपपन्नो द्रव्यात्मक: कर्म वितानयोग: ॥ ३७ ॥
brahmananam ksatra-bhujo mahatma vid urur anghri-srita-krsna-varnah nanabhidhabhijya-ganopapanno dravyatmakah karma vitana-yogah
The virat-purusa’s face is the brahmanas, His arms are the ksatriyas, His thighs are the vaisyas, and the sudras are under the protection of His feet. All the worshipable demigods are also overtaken by Him, and it is the duty of everyone to perform sacrifices with feasible goods to appease the Lord.
इयानसावीश्वरविग्रहस्य य: सन्निवेष: कथितो मया ते । सन्धार्यतेऽस्मिन् वपुषि स्थविष्ठे मन: स्वबुद्ध्या न यतोऽस्ति किञ्चित् ॥ ३८ ॥
iyan asav isvara-vigrahasya yah sannivesah kathito maya te sandharyate ’smin vapusi sthavisthe manah sva-buddhya na yato ’sti kincit
I have thus explained to you the gross material gigantic conception of the Personality of Godhead. One who seriously desires liberation concentrates his mind on this form of the Lord, because there is nothing more than this in the material world.
स सर्वधीवृत्त्यनुभूतसर्व आत्मा यथा स्वप्नजनेक्षितैक: । तं सत्यमानन्दनिधिं भजेत नान्यत्र सज्जेद् यत आत्मपात: ॥ ३९ ॥
sa sarva-dhi-vrtty-anubhuta-sarva atma yatha svapna-janeksitaikah tam satyam ananda-nidhim bhajeta nanyatra sajjed yata atma-patah
One should concentrate his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who alone distributes Himself in so many manifestations just as ordinary persons create thousands of manifestations in dreams. One must concentrate the mind on Him, the only all-blissful Absolute Truth. Otherwise one will be misled and will cause his own degradation.
