Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 10
विदुर उवाच अन्तर्हिते भगवति ब्रह्मा लोकपितामह: । प्रजा: ससर्ज कतिधा दैहिकीर्मानसीर्विभु: ॥ १ ॥
vidura uvaca antarhite bhagavati brahma loka-pitamahah prajah sasarja katidha daihikir manasir vibhuh
Sri Vidura said: O great sage, please let me know how Brahma, the grandfather of the planeary inhabitants, created the bodies of the living entities from his own body and mind after the disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
ये च मे भगवन् पृष्टास्त्वय्यर्था बहुवित्तम । तान् वदस्वानुपूर्व्येण छिन्धि न: सर्वसंशयान् ॥ २ ॥
ye ca me bhagavan prstas tvayy artha bahuvittama tan vadasvanupurvyena chindhi nah sarva-samsayan
O greatly learned one, kindly eradicate all my doubts, and let me know of all that I have inquired from you from the beginning to the end.
सूत उवाच एवं सञ्चोदितस्तेन क्षत्त्रा कौषारविर्मुनि: । प्रीत: प्रत्याह तान् प्रश्नान् हृदिस्थानथ भार्गव ॥ ३ ॥
suta uvaca evam sancoditas tena ksattra kausaravir munih pritah pratyaha tan prasnan hrdi-sthan atha bhargava
Suta Gosvami said: O son of Bhrgu, the great sage Maitreya Muni, thus hearing from Vidura, felt very much enlivened. Everything was in his heart, and thus he began to reply to the questions one after another.
मैत्रेय उवाच विरिञ्चोऽपि तथा चक्रे दिव्यं वर्षशतं तप: । आत्मन्यात्मानमावेश्य यथाह भगवानज: ॥ ४ ॥
maitreya uvaca virinco ’pi tatha cakre divyam varsa-satam tapah atmany atmanam avesya yathaha bhagavan ajah
The greatly learned sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, Brahma thus engaged himself in penances for one hundred celestial years, as advised by the Personality of Godhead, and applied himself in devotional service to the Lord.
तद्विलोक्याब्जसम्भूतो वायुना यदधिष्ठित: । पद्ममम्भश्च तत्कालकृतवीर्येण कम्पितम् ॥ ५ ॥
tad vilokyabja-sambhuto vayuna yad-adhisthitah padmam ambhas ca tat-kala- krta-viryena kampitam
Thereafter Brahma saw that both the lotus on which he was situated and the water on which the lotus was growing were trembling due to a strong, violent wind.
तपसा ह्येधमानेन विद्यया चात्मसंस्थया । विवृद्धविज्ञानबलो न्यपाद् वायुं सहाम्भसा ॥ ६ ॥
tapasa hy edhamanena vidyaya catma-samsthaya vivrddha-vijnana-balo nyapad vayum sahambhasa
Long penance and transcendental knowledge of self-realization had matured Brahma in practical knowledge, and thus he drank the wind completely, along with the water.
तद्विलोक्य वियद्व्यापि पुष्करं यदधिष्ठितम् । अनेन लोकान् प्राग्लीनान् कल्पितास्मीत्यचिन्तयत् ॥ ७ ॥
tad vilokya viyad-vyapi puskaram yad-adhisthitam anena lokan prag-linan kalpitasmity acintayat
Thereafter he saw that the lotus on which he was situated was spread throughout the universe, and he contemplated how to create all the planes, which were previously merged in that very same lotus.
पद्मकोशं तदाविश्य भगवत्कर्मचोदित: । एकं व्यभाङ्क्षीदुरुधा त्रिधा भाव्यं द्विसप्तधा ॥ ८ ॥
padma-kosam tadavisya bhagavat-karma-coditah ekam vyabhanksid urudha tridha bhavyam dvi-saptadha
Thus engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Brahma entered into the whorl of the lotus, and as it spread all over the universe he divided it into three divisions of worlds and later into fourteen divisions.
एतावाञ्जीवलोकस्य संस्थाभेद: समाहृत: । धर्मस्य ह्यनिमित्तस्य विपाक: परमेष्ठ्यसौ ॥ ९ ॥
etavan jiva-lokasya samstha-bhedah samahrtah dharmasya hy animittasya vipakah paramesthy asau
Lord Brahma is the most exalted personality in the universe because of his causeless devotional service unto the Lord in mature transcendental knowledge. He therefore created all the fourteen planeary divisions for inhabitation by the different types of living entities.
विदुर उवाच यथात्थ बहुरूपस्य हरेरद्भुतकर्मण: । कालाख्यं लक्षणं ब्रह्मन् यथा वर्णय न: प्रभो ॥ १० ॥
vidura uvaca yathattha bahu-rupasya harer adbhuta-karmanah kalakhyam laksanam brahman yatha varnaya nah prabho
Vidura inquired from Maitreya: O my lord, O greatly learned sage, kindly describe eternal time, which is another form of the Supreme Lord, the wonderful actor. What are the symptoms of that eternal time? Please describe them to us in detail.
मैत्रेय उवाच गुणव्यतिकराकारो निर्विशेषोऽप्रतिष्ठित: । पुरुषस्तदुपादानमात्मानं लीलयासृजत् ॥ ११ ॥
maitreya uvaca guna-vyatikarakaro nirviseso ’pratisthitah purusas tad-upadanam atmanam lilayasrjat
Maitreya said: Eternal time is the primeval source of the interactions of the three modes of material nature. It is unchangeable and limitless, and it works as the instrument of the Supreme Personality of Godhead for His pastimes in the material creation.
विश्वं वै ब्रह्मतन्मात्रं संस्थितं विष्णुमायया । ईश्वरेण परिच्छिन्नं कालेनाव्यक्तमूर्तिना ॥ १२ ॥
visvam vai brahma-tan-matram samsthitam visnu-mayaya isvarena paricchinnam kalenavyakta-murtina
This cosmic manifestation is separated from the Supreme Lord as material energy by means of kala, which is the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Lord. It is situated as the objective manifestation of the Lord under the influence of the same material energy of Visnu.
यथेदानीं तथाग्रे च पश्चादप्येतदीदृशम् ॥ १३ ॥
yathedanim tathagre ca pascad apy etad idrsam
This cosmic manifestation is as it is now, it was the same in the past, and it will continue in the same way in the future.
सर्गो नवविधस्तस्य प्राकृतो वैकृतस्तु य: । कालद्रव्यगुणैरस्य त्रिविध: प्रतिसंक्रम: ॥ १४ ॥
sargo nava-vidhas tasya prakrto vaikrtas tu yah kala-dravya-gunair asya tri-vidhah pratisankramah
There are nine different kinds of creations besides the one which naturally occurs due to the interactions of the modes. There are three kinds of annihilations due to eternal time, the material elements and the quality of one’s work.
आद्यस्तु महत: सर्गो गुणवैषम्यमात्मन: । द्वितीयस्त्वहमो यत्र द्रव्यज्ञानक्रियोदय: ॥ १५ ॥
adyas tu mahatah sargo guna-vaisamyam atmanah dvitiyas tv ahamo yatra dravya-jnana-kriyodayah
Of the nine creations, the first one is the creation of the mahat-tattva, or the sum total of the material ingredients, wherein the modes interact due to the presence of the Supreme Lord. In the second, the false ego is generated in which the material ingredients, material knowledge and material activities arise.
भूतसर्गस्तृतीयस्तु तन्मात्रो द्रव्यशक्तिमान् । चतुर्थ ऐन्द्रिय: सर्गो यस्तु ज्ञानक्रियात्मक: ॥ १६ ॥
bhuta-sargas trtiyas tu tan-matro dravya-saktiman caturtha aindriyah sargo yas tu jnana-kriyatmakah
The sense perceptions are created in the third creation, and from these the elements are generated. The fourth creation is the creation of knowledge and of working capacity.
वैकारिको देवसर्ग: पञ्चमो यन्मयं मन: । पष्ठस्तु तमस: सर्गो यस्त्वबुद्धिकृत: प्रभो: ॥ १७ ॥
vaikariko deva-sargah pancamo yan-mayam manah sasthas tu tamasah sargo yas tv abuddhi-krtah prabhoh
The fifth creation is that of the controlling deities by the interaction of the mode of goodness, of which the mind is the sum total. The sixth creation is the ignorant darkness of the living entity, by which the master acts as a fool.
षडिमे प्राकृता: सर्गा वैकृतानपि मे शृणु । रजोभाजो भगवतो लीलेयं हरिमेधस: ॥ १८ ॥
sad ime prakrtah sarga vaikrtan api me srnu rajo-bhajo bhagavato lileyam hari-medhasah
All the above are natural creations by the external energy of the Lord. Now hear from me about the creations by Brahma, who is an incarnation of the mode of passion and who, in the matter of creation, has a brain like that of the Personality of Godhead.
सप्तमो मुख्यसर्गस्तु षङ्विधस्तस्थुषां च य: । वनस्पत्योषधिलतात्वक्सारा वीरुधो द्रुमा: ॥ १९ ॥
saptamo mukhya-sargas tu sad-vidhas tasthusam ca yah vanaspaty-osadhi-lata- tvaksara virudho drumah
The seventh creation is that of the immovable entities, which are of six kinds: the fruit trees without flowers, trees and plants which exist until the fruit is ripe, creepers, pipe plants, creepers which have no support, and trees with flowers and fruits.
उत्स्रोतसस्तम:प्राया अन्त:स्पर्शा विशेषिण: ॥ २० ॥
utsrotasas tamah-praya antah-sparsa visesinah
All the immovable trees and plants seek their subsistence upwards. They are almost unconscious but have feelings of pain within. They are manifested in variegatedness.
तिरश्चामष्टम: सर्ग: सोऽष्टाविंशद्विधो मत: । अविदो भूरितमसो घ्राणज्ञा ह्यद्यवेदिन: ॥ २१ ॥
tirascam astamah sargah so ’stavimsad-vidho matah avido bhuri-tamaso ghrana-jna hrdy avedinah
The eighth creation is that of the lower species of life, and they are of different varieties, numbering twenty-eight. They are all extensively foolish and ignorant. They know their desirables by smell, but are unable to remember anything within the heart.
गौरजो महिष: कृष्ण: सूकरो गवयो रुरु: । द्विशफा: पशवश्चेमे अविरुष्ट्रश्च सत्तम ॥ २२ ॥
gaur ajo mahisah krsnah sukaro gavayo ruruh dvi-saphah pasavas ceme avir ustras ca sattama
O purest Vidura, of the lower animals the cow, goat, buffalo, krsna stag, hog, gavaya animal, deer, lamb and camel all have two hooves.
खरोऽश्वोऽश्वतरो गौर: शरभश्चमरी तथा । एते चैकशफा: क्षत्त: शृणु पञ्चनखान् पशून् ॥ २३ ॥
kharo ’svo ’svataro gaurah sarabhas camari tatha ete caika-saphah ksattah srnu panca-nakhan pasun
The horse, mule, ass, gaura, sarabha bison and wild cow all have only one hoof. Now you may hear from me about the animals who have five nails.
श्वा सृगालो वृको व्याघ्रो मार्जार: शशशल्लकौ । सिंह: कपिर्गज: कूर्मो गोधा च मकरादय: ॥ २४ ॥
sva srgalo vrko vyaghro marjarah sasa-sallakau simhah kapir gajah kurmo godha ca makaradayah
The dog, jackal, tiger, fox, cat, rabbit, sajaru, lion, monkey, elephant, tortoise, alligator, gosapa, etc., all have five nails in their claws. They are known as panca-nakhas, or animals having five nails.
कङ्कगृधबकश्येनभासभल्लूकबर्हिण: । हंससारसचक्राह्वकाकोलूकादय: खगा: ॥ २५ ॥
kanka-grdhra-baka-syena- bhasa-bhalluka-barhinah hamsa-sarasa-cakrahva- kakolukadayah khagah
The heron, vulture, crane, hawk, bhasa, bhalluka, peacock, swan, sarasa, cakravaka, crow, owl and others are the birds.
अर्वाक्स्रोतस्तु नवम: क्षत्तरेकविधो नृणाम् । रजोऽधिका: कर्मपरा दु:खे च सुखमानिन: ॥ २६ ॥
arvak-srotas tu navamah ksattar eka-vidho nrnam rajo ’dhikah karma-para duhkhe ca sukha-maninah
The creation of the human beings, who are of one species only and who stock their eatables in the belly, is the ninth in the rotation. In the human race, the mode of passion is very prominent. Humans are always busy in the midst of miserable life, but they think themselves happy in all respects.
वैकृतास्रय एवैते देवसर्गश्च सत्तम । वैकारिकस्तु य: प्रोक्त: कौमारस्तूभयात्मक: ॥ २७ ॥
vaikrtas traya evaite deva-sargas ca sattama vaikarikas tu yah proktah kaumaras tubhayatmakah
O good Vidura, these last three creations and the creation of demigods (the tenth creation) are vaikrta creations, which are different from the previously described prakrta (natural) creations. The appearance of the Kumaras is both.
देवसर्गश्चाष्टविधो विबुधा: पितरोऽसुरा: । गन्धर्वाप्सरस: सिद्धा यक्षरक्षांसि चारणा: ॥ २८ ॥ भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च विद्याध्रा: किन्नरादय: । दशैते विदुराख्याता: सर्गास्ते विश्वसृक्कृता: ॥ २९ ॥
deva-sargas casta-vidho vibudhah pitaro ’surah gandharvapsarasah siddha yaksa-raksamsi caranah bhuta-preta-pisacas ca vidyadhrah kinnaradayah dasaite vidurakhyatah sargas te visva-srk-krtah
The creation of the demigods is of eight varieties: (1) the demigods, (2) the forefathers, (3) the asuras, or demons, (4) the Gandharvas and Apsaras, or angels, (5) the Yaksas and Raksasas, (6) the Siddhas, Caranas and Vidyadharas, (7) the Bhutas, Pretas and Pisacas, and (8) the superhuman beings, celestial singers, etc. All are created by Brahma, the creator of the universe.
अत: परं प्रवक्ष्यामि वंशान्मन्वन्तराणि च । एवं रज:प्लुत: स्रष्टा कल्पादिष्वात्मभूर्हरि: । सृजत्यमोघसङ्कल्प आत्मैवात्मानमात्मना ॥ ३० ॥
atah param pravaksyami vamsan manvantarani ca evam rajah-plutah srasta kalpadisv atmabhur harih srjaty amogha-sankalpa atmaivatmanam atmana
Now I shall describe the descendants of the Manus. The creator, Brahma, as the incarnation of the passion mode of the Personality of Godhead, creates the universal affairs with unfailing desires in every millennium by the force of the Lord’s energy.
