Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 2 · Chapter 8
राजोवाच ब्रह्मणा चोदितो ब्रह्मन् गुणाख्यानेऽगुणस्य च । यस्मै यस्मै यथा प्राह नारदो देवदर्शन: ॥ १ ॥
rajovaca brahmana codito brahman gunakhyane ’gunasya ca yasmai yasmai yatha praha narado deva-darsanah
King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: How did Narada Muni, whose hearers are as fortunate as those instructed by Lord Brahma, explain the transcendental qualities of the Lord, who is without material qualities, and before whom did he speak?
एतद् वेदितुमिच्छामि तत्त्वं तत्त्वविदां वर । हरेरद्भुतवीर्यस्य कथा लोकसुमङ्गला: ॥ २ ॥
etad veditum icchami tattvam tattva-vidam vara harer adbhuta-viryasya katha loka-sumangalah
The King said: I wish to know. Narrations concerning the Lord, who possesses wonderful potencies, are certainly auspicious for living beings in all planes.
कथयस्व महाभाग यथाहमखिलात्मनि । कृष्णे निवेश्य नि:सङ्गं मनस्त्यक्ष्ये कलेवरम् ॥ ३ ॥
kathayasva mahabhaga yathaham akhilatmani krsne nivesya nihsangam manas tyaksye kalevaram
O greatly fortunate Sukadeva Gosvami, please continue narrating Srimad-Bhagavatam so that I can place my mind upon the Supreme Soul, Lord Krsna, and, being completely freed from material qualities, thus relinquish this body.
शृण्वत: श्रद्धया नित्यं गृणतश्च स्वचेष्टितम् । कालेन नातिदीर्घेण भगवान् विशते हृदि ॥ ४ ॥
srnvatah sraddhaya nityam grnatas ca sva-cestitam kalena natidirghena bhagavan visate hrdi
Persons who hear Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna manifested in their hearts within a short time.
प्रविष्ट: कर्णरन्ध्रेण स्वानां भावसरोरुहम् । धुनोति शमलं कृष्ण: सलिलस्य यथा शरत् ॥ ५ ॥
pravistah karna-randhrena svanam bhava-saroruham dhunoti samalam krsnah salilasya yatha sarat
The sound incarnation of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Soul (i.e. Srimad-Bhagavatam), enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering. Thus it acts like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water.
धौतात्मा पुरुष: कृष्णपादमूलं न मुञ्चति । मुक्त सर्वपरिक्लेश: पान्थ: स्वशरणं यथा ॥ ६ ॥
dhautatma purusah krsna- pada-mulam na muncati mukta-sarva-pariklesah panthah sva-saranam yatha
A pure devotee of the Lord whose heart has once been cleansed by the process of devotional service never relinquishes the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, for they fully satisfy him, as a traveler is satisfied at home after a troubled journey.
यदधातुमतो ब्रह्मन् देहारम्भोऽस्य धातुभि: । यदृच्छया हेतुना वा भवन्तो जानते यथा ॥ ७ ॥
yad adhatu-mato brahman deharambho ’sya dhatubhih yadrcchaya hetuna va bhavanto janate yatha
O learned brahmana, the transcendental spirit soul is different from the material body. Does he acquire the body accidentally or by some cause? Will you kindly explain this, for it is known to you.
asid yad-udarat padmam loka-samsthana-laksanam yavan ayam vai purusa iyattavayavaih prthak tavan asav iti proktah samsthavayavavan iva
If the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whose abdomen the lotus stem sprouted, is possessed of a gigantic body according to His own caliber and measurement, then what is the specific difference between the body of the Lord and those of common living entities?
अज: सृजति भूतानि भूतात्मा यदनुग्रहात् । ददृशे येन तद्रूपं नाभिपद्मसमुद्भव: ॥ ९ ॥
ajah srjati bhutani bhutatma yad-anugrahat dadrse yena tad-rupam nabhi-padma-samudbhavah
Brahma, who was not born of a material source but of the lotus flower coming out of the navel abdomen of the Lord, is the creator of all those who are materially born. Of course, by the grace of the Lord, Brahma was able to see the form of the Lord.
स चापि यत्र पुरुषो विश्वस्थित्युद्भवाप्यय: । मुक्त्वात्ममायां मायेश: शेते सर्वगुहाशय: ॥ १० ॥
sa capi yatra puruso visva-sthity-udbhavapyayah muktvatma-mayam mayesah sete sarva-guhasayah
Please also explain the Personality of Godhead, who lies in every heart as the Supersoul, and as the Lord of all energies, but is untouched by His external energy.
पुरुषावयवैर्लोका: सपाला: पूर्वकल्पिता: । लोकैरमुष्यावयवा: सपालैरिति शुश्रुम ॥ ११ ॥
purusavayavair lokah sapalah purva-kalpitah lokair amusyavayavah sa-palair iti susruma
O learned brahmana, it was formerly explained that all the planes of the universe with their respective governors are situated in the different parts of the gigantic body of the virat-purusa. I have also heard that the different planeary systems are supposed to be in the gigantic body of the virat-purusa.
यावान् कल्पोविकल्पो वा यथा कालोऽनुमीयते । भूतभव्यभवच्छब्द आयुर्मानं च यत् सत: ॥ १२ ॥
yavan kalpo vikalpo va yatha kalo ’numiyate bhuta-bhavya-bhavac-chabda ayur-manam ca yat satah
Also please explain the duration of time between creation and annihilation, and that of other subsidiary creations, as well as the nature of time, indicated by the sound of past, present and future. Also, please explain the duration and measurement of life of the different living beings known as the demigods, the human beings, etc., in different planes of the universe.
कालस्यानुगतिर्या तु लक्ष्यतेऽण्वी बृहत्यपि । यावत्य: कर्मगतयो यादृशीर्द्विजसत्तम ॥ १३ ॥
kalasyanugatir ya tu laksyate ’nvi brhaty api yavatyah karma-gatayo yadrsir dvija-sattama
O purest of the brahmanas, please also explain the cause of the different durations of time, both short and long, as well as the beginning of time, following the course of action.
यस्मिन् कर्मसमावायो यथा येनोपगृह्यते । गुणानां गुणिनां चैव परिणाममभीप्सताम् ॥ १४ ॥
yasmin karma-samavayo yatha yenopagrhyate gunanam guninam caiva parinamam abhipsatam
Then again, kindly describe how the proportionate accumulation of the reactions resulting from the different modes of material nature act upon the desiring living being, promoting or degrading him among the different species of life, beginning from the demigods down to the most insignificant creatures.
भूपातालककुब्व्योमग्रहनक्षत्रभूभृताम् । सरित्समुद्रद्वीपानां सम्भवश्चैतदोकसाम् ॥ १५ ॥
bhu-patala-kakub-vyoma- graha-naksatra-bhubhrtam sarit-samudra-dvipanam sambhavas caitad-okasam
O best of the brahmanas, please also describe how the creation of the globes throughout the universe, the four directions of the heavens, the sky, the planes, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, the seas and the islands, as well as their different kinds of inhabitants, takes place.
प्रमाणमण्डकोशस्य बाह्याभ्यन्तरभेदत: । महतां चानुचरितं वर्णाश्रमविनिश्चय: ॥ १६ ॥
pramanam anda-kosasya bahyabhyantara-bhedatah mahatam canucaritam varnasrama-viniscayah
Also, please describe the inner and outer space of the universe by specific divisions, as well as the character and activities of the great souls, and also the characteristics of the different classifications of the castes and orders of social life.
युगानि युगमानं च धर्मो यश्च युगे युगे । अवतारानुचरितं यदाश्चर्यतमं हरे: ॥ १७ ॥
yugani yuga-manam ca dharmo yas ca yuge yuge avataranucaritam yad ascaryatamam hareh
Please explain all the different ages in the duration of the creation, and also the duration of such ages. Also tell me about the different activities of the different incarnations of the Lord in different ages.
नृणां साधारणो धर्म: सविशेषश्च यादृश: । श्रेणीनां राजर्षीणां च धर्म: कृच्छ्रेषु जीवताम् ॥ १८ ॥
nrnam sadharano dharmah savisesas ca yadrsah sreninam rajarsinam ca dharmah krcchresu jivatam
Please also explain what may generally be the common religious affiliations of human society, as well as their specific occupational duties in religion, the classification of the social orders as well as the administrative royal orders, and the religious principles for one who may be in distress.
तत्त्वानां परिसंख्यानं लक्षणं हेतुलक्षणम् । पुरुषाराधनविधिर्योगस्याध्यात्मिकस्य च ॥ १९ ॥
tattvanam parisankhyanam laksanam hetu-laksanam purusaradhana-vidhir yogasyadhyatmikasya ca
Kindly explain all about the elementary principles of creation, the number of such elementary principles, their causes, and their development, and also the process of devotional service and the method of mystic powers.
योगेश्वरैश्वर्यगतिर्लिङ्गभङ्गस्तु योगिनाम् । वेदोपवेदधर्माणामितिहासपुराणयो: ॥ २० ॥
yogesvaraisvarya-gatir linga-bhangas tu yoginam vedopaveda-dharmanam itihasa-puranayoh
What are the opulences of the great mystics, and what is their ultimate realization? How does the perfect mystic become detached from the subtle astral body? What is the basic knowledge of the Vedic literatures, including the branches of history and the supplementary Puranas?
सम्प्लव: सर्वभूतानां विक्रम: प्रतिसंक्रम: । इष्टापूर्तस्य काम्यानां त्रिवर्गस्य च यो विधि: ॥ २१ ॥
samplavah sarva-bhutanam vikramah pratisankramah ista-purtasya kamyanam tri-vargasya ca yo vidhih
Please explain unto me how the living beings are generated, how they are maintained, and how they are annihilated. Tell me also of the advantages and disadvantages of discharging devotional service unto the Lord. What are the Vedic rituals and injunctions of the supplementary Vedic rites, and what are the procedures of religion, economic development and sense satisfaction?
यो वानुशायिनां सर्ग: पाषण्डस्य च सम्भव: । आत्मनो बन्धमोक्षौ च व्यवस्थानं स्वरूपत: ॥ २२ ॥
yo vanusayinam sargah pasandasya ca sambhavah atmano bandha-moksau ca vyavasthanam sva-rupatah
Please also explain how, merged in the body of the Lord, living beings are created, and how the infidels appear in the world. Also please explain how the unconditioned living entities exist.
यथात्मतन्त्रो भगवान् विक्रीडत्यात्ममायया । विसृज्य वा यथा मायामुदास्ते साक्षिवद् विभु: ॥ २३ ॥
yathatma-tantro bhagavan vikridaty atma-mayaya visrjya va yatha mayam udaste saksivad vibhuh
The independent Personality of Godhead enjoys His pastimes by His internal potency and at the time of annihilation gives them up to the external potency, and He remains a witness to it all.
सर्वमेतच्च भगवन् पृच्छतो मेऽनुपूर्वश: । तत्त्वतोऽर्हस्युदाहर्तुं प्रपन्नाय महामुने ॥ २४ ॥
sarvam etac ca bhagavan prcchato me ’nupurvasah tattvato ’rhasy udahartum prapannaya maha-mune
O great sage, representative of the Lord, kindly satisfy my inquisitiveness in all that I have inquired from you and all that I may not have inquired from you from the very beginning of my questionings. Since I am a soul surrendered unto you, please impart full knowledge in this connection.
अत्र प्रमाणं हि भवान् परमेष्ठी यथात्मभू: । अपरे चानुतिष्ठन्ति पूर्वेषां पूर्वजै: कृतम् ॥ २५ ॥
atra pramanam hi bhavan paramesthi yathatma-bhuh apare canutisthanti purvesam purva-jaih krtam
O great sage, you are as good as Brahma, the original living being. Others follow custom only, as followed by the previous philosophical speculators.
न मेऽसव: परायन्ति ब्रह्मन्ननशनादमी । पिबतोऽच्युतपीयूषम् तद्वाक्याब्धिविनि:सृतम् ॥ २६ ॥
na me ’savah parayanti brahmann anasanad ami pibato ’cyuta-piyusam tad vakyabdhi-vinihsrtam
O learned brahmana, because of my drinking the nectar of the message of the infallible Personality of Godhead, which is flowing down from the ocean of your speeches, I do not feel any sort of exhaustion due to my fasting.
सूत उवाच स उपामन्त्रितो राज्ञा कथायामिति सत्पते: । ब्रह्मरातो भृशं प्रीतो विष्णुरातेन संसदि ॥ २७ ॥
suta uvaca sa upamantrito rajna kathayam iti sat-pateh brahmarato bhrsam prito visnuratena samsadi
Suta Gosvami said: Thus Sukadeva Gosvami, being invited by Maharaja Pariksit to speak on topics of the Lord Sri Krsna with the devotees, was very much pleased.
प्राह भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् । ब्रह्मणे भगवत्प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मकल्प उपागते ॥ २८ ॥
praha bhagavatam nama puranam brahma-sammitam brahmane bhagavat-proktam brahma-kalpa upagate
He began to reply to the inquiries of Maharaja Pariksit by saying that the science of the Personality of Godhead was spoken first by the Lord Himself to Brahma when he was first born. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the supplementary Vedic literature, and it is just in pursuance of the Vedas.
यद् यत् परीक्षिदृषभ: पाण्डूनामनुपृच्छति । आनुपूर्व्येण तत्सर्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे ॥ २९ ॥
yad yat pariksid rsabhah pandunam anuprcchati anupurvyena tat sarvam akhyatum upacakrame
He also prepared himself to reply to all that King Pariksit had inquired from him. Maharaja Pariksit was the best in the dynasty of the Pandus, and thus he was able to ask the right questions from the right person.
