Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 16
ब्रह्मोवाच इति तद् गृणतां तेषां मुनीनां योगधर्मिणाम् । प्रतिनन्द्य जगादेदं विकुण्ठनिलयो विभु: ॥ १ ॥
brahmovaca iti tad grnatam tesam muninam yoga-dharminam pratinandya jagadedam vikuntha-nilayo vibhuh
Lord Brahma said: After thus congratulating the sages for their nice words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose abode is in the kingdom of God, spoke as follows.
श्रीभगवानुवाच एतौ तौ पार्षदौ मह्यं जयो विजय एव च । कदर्थीकृत्य मां यद्वो बह्वक्रातामतिक्रमम् ॥ २ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca etau tau parsadau mahyam jayo vijaya eva ca kadarthi-krtya mam yad vo bahv akratam atikramam
The Personality of Godhead said: These attendants of Mine, Jaya and Vijaya by name, have committed a great offense against you because of ignoring Me.
यस्त्वेतयोर्धृतो दण्डो भवद्भिर्मामनुव्रतै: । स एवानुमतोऽस्माभिर्मुनयो देवहेलनात् ॥ ३ ॥
yas tv etayor dhrto dando bhavadbhir mam anuvrataih sa evanumato ’smabhir munayo deva-helanat
O great sages, I approve of the punishment that you who are devoted to Me have meted out to them.
तद्व: प्रसादयाम्यद्य ब्रह्म दैवं परं हि मे । तद्धीत्यात्मकृतं मन्ये यत्स्वपुम्भिरसत्कृता: ॥ ४ ॥
tad vah prasadayamy adya brahma daivam param hi me tad dhity atma-krtam manye yat sva-pumbhir asat-krtah
To Me, the brahmana is the highest and most beloved personality. The disrespect shown by My attendants has actually been displayed by Me because the doormen are My servitors. I take this to be an offense by Myself; therefore I seek your forgiveness for the incident that has arisen.
यन्नामानि च गृह्णाति लोको भृत्ये कृतागसि । सोऽसाधुवादस्तत्कीर्तिं हन्ति त्वचमिवामय: ॥ ५ ॥
yan-namani ca grhnati loko bhrtye krtagasi so ’sadhu-vadas tat-kirtim hanti tvacam ivamayah
A wrong act committed by a servant leads people in general to blame his master, just as a spot of white leprosy on any part of the body pollutes all of the skin.
यस्यामृतामलयश:श्रवणावगाह: सद्य: पुनाति जगदाश्वपचाद्विकुण्ठ: । सोऽहं भवद्भय उपलब्धसुतीर्थकीर्ति- श्छिन्द्यां स्वबाहुमपि व: प्रतिकूलवृत्तिम् ॥ ६ ॥
yasyamrtamala-yasah-sravanavagahah sadyah punati jagad asvapacad vikunthah so ’ham bhavadbhya upalabdha-sutirtha-kirtis chindyam sva-bahum api vah pratikula-vrttim
Anyone in the entire world, even down to the candala, who lives by cooking and eating the flesh of the dog, is immediately purified if he takes bath in hearing through the ear the glorification of My name, fame, etc. Now you have realized Me without doubt; therefore I will not hesitate to lop off My own arm if its conduct is found hostile to you.
यत्सेवया चरणपद्मपवित्ररेणुं सद्य:क्षताखिलमलं प्रतिलब्धशीलम् । न श्रीर्विरक्तमपि मां विजहाति यस्या: प्रेक्षालवार्थ इतरे नियमान् वहन्ति ॥ ७ ॥
yat-sevaya carana-padma-pavitra-renum sadyah ksatakhila-malam pratilabdha-silam na srir viraktam api mam vijahati yasyah preksa-lavartha itare niyaman vahanti
The Lord continued: Because I am the servitor of My devotees, My lotus feet have become so sacred that they immediately wipe out all sin, and I have acquired such a disposition that the goddess of fortune does not leave Me, even though I have no attachment for her and others praise her beauty and observe sacred vows to secure from her even a slight favor.
नाहं तथाद्मि यजमानहविर्विताने श्च्योतद्घृतप्लुतमदन् हुतभुङ्मुखेन । यद्ब्राह्मणस्य मुखतश्चरतोऽनुघासं तुष्टस्य मय्यवहितैर्निजकर्मपाकै: ॥ ८ ॥
naham tathadmi yajamana-havir vitane scyotad-ghrta-plutam adan huta-bhun-mukhena yad brahmanasya mukhatas carato ’nughasam tustasya mayy avahitair nija-karma-pakaih
I do not enjoy the oblations offered by the sacrificers in the sacrificial fire, which is one of My own mouths, with the same relish as I do the delicacies overflowing with ghee which are offered to the mouths of the brahmanas who have dedicated to Me the results of their activities and who are ever satisfied with My prasada.
येषां बिभर्म्यहमखण्डविकुण्ठयोग- मायाविभूतिरमलाङ्घ्रि रज: किरीटै: । विप्रांस्तु को न विषहेत यदर्हणाम्भ: सद्य: पुनाति सहचन्द्रललामलोकान् ॥ ९ ॥
yesam bibharmy aham akhanda-vikuntha-yoga- maya-vibhutir amalanghri-rajah kiritaih viprams tu ko na visaheta yad-arhanambhah sadyah punati saha-candra-lalama-lokan
I am the master of My unobstructed internal energy, and the water of the Ganges is the remnant left after My feet are washed. That water sanctifies the three worlds, along with Lord Siva, who bears it on his head. If I can take the dust of the feet of the Vaisnava on My head, who will refuse to do the same?
ये मे तनूर्द्विजवरान्दुहतीर्मदीया भूतान्यलब्धशरणानि च भेदबुद्ध्या । द्रक्ष्यन्त्यघक्षतदृशो ह्यहिमन्यवस्तान् गृध्रा रुषा मम कुषन्त्यधिदण्डनेतु: ॥ १० ॥
ye me tanur dvija-varan duhatir madiya bhutany alabdha-saranani ca bheda-buddhya draksyanty agha-ksata-drso hy ahi-manyavas tan grdhra rusa mama kusanty adhidanda-netuh
The brahmanas, the cows and the defenseless creatures are My own body. Those whose faculty of judgment has been impaired by their own sin look upon these as distinct from Me. They are just like furious serpents, and they are angrily torn apart by the bills of the vulturelike messengers of Yamaraja, the superintendent of sinful persons.
ये ब्राह्मणान्मयि धिया क्षिपतोऽर्चयन्त- स्तुष्यद्धृद: स्मितसुधोक्षितपद्मवक्त्रा: । वाण्यानुरागकलयात्मजवद् गृणन्त: सम्बोधयन्त्यहमिवाहमुपाहृतस्तै: ॥ ११ ॥
ye brahmanan mayi dhiya ksipato ’rcayantas tusyad-dhrdah smita-sudhoksita-padma-vaktrah vanyanuraga-kalayatmajavad grnantah sambodhayanty aham ivaham upahrtas taih
On the other hand, they captivate My heart who are gladdened in heart and who, their lotus faces enlightened by nectarean smiles, respect the brahmanas, even though the brahmanas utter harsh words. They look upon the brahmanas as My own Self and pacify them by praising them in loving words, even as a son would appease an angry father or as I am pacifying you.
तन्मे स्वभर्तुरवसायमलक्षमाणौ युष्मद्वयतिक्रमगतिं प्रतिपद्य सद्य: । भूयो ममान्तिकमितां तदनुग्रहो मे यत्कल्पतामचिरतो भृतयोर्विवास: ॥ १२ ॥
tan me sva-bhartur avasayam alaksamanau yusmad-vyatikrama-gatim pratipadya sadyah bhuyo mamantikam itam tad anugraho me yat kalpatam acirato bhrtayor vivasah
These servants of Mine have transgressed against you, not knowing the mind of their master. I shall therefore deem it a favor done to Me if you order that, although reaping the fruit of their transgression, they may return to My presence soon and the time of their exile from My abode may expire before long.
बह्मोवाच अथ तस्योशतीं देवीमृषिकुल्यां सरस्वतीम् । नास्वाद्य मन्युदष्टानां तेषामात्माप्यतृप्यत ॥ १३ ॥
brahmovaca atha tasyosatim devim rsi-kulyam sarasvatim nasvadya manyu-dastanam tesam atmapy atrpyata
Brahma continued: Even though the sages had been bitten by the serpent of anger, their souls were not satiated with hearing the Lord’s lovely and illuminating speech, which was like a series of Vedic hymns.
सतीं व्यादाय शृण्वन्तो लघ्वीं गुर्वर्थगह्वराम् । विगाह्यागाधगम्भीरां न विदुस्तच्चिकीर्षितम् ॥ १४ ॥
satim vyadaya srnvanto laghvim gurv-artha-gahvaram vigahyagadha-gambhiram na vidus tac-cikirsitam
The Lord’s excellent speech was difficult to comprehend because of its momentous import and its most profound significance. The sages heard it with wide-open ears and pondered it as well. But although hearing, they could not understand what He intended to do.
ते योगमाययारब्धपारमेष्ठ्यमहोदयम् । प्रोचु: प्राञ्जलयो विप्रा: प्रहृष्टा: क्षुभितत्वच: ॥ १५ ॥
te yoga-mayayarabdha- paramesthya-mahodayam procuh pranjalayo viprah prahrstah ksubhita-tvacah
The four brahmana sages were nevertheless extremely delighted to behold Him, and they experienced a thrill throughout their bodies. They then spoke as follows to the Lord, who had revealed the multiglories of the Supreme Personality through His internal potency, yogamaya.
ऋषय ऊचु: न वयं भगवन् विद्मस्तव देव चिकीर्षितम् । कृतो मेऽनुग्रहश्चेति यदध्यक्ष: प्रभाषसे ॥ १६ ॥
rsaya ucuh na vayam bhagavan vidmas tava deva cikirsitam krto me ’nugrahas ceti yad adhyaksah prabhasase
The sages said: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, we are unable to know what You intend for us to do, for even though You are the supreme ruler of all, You speak in our favor as if we had done something good for You.
ब्रह्मण्यस्य परं दैवं ब्राह्मणा: किल ते प्रभो । विप्राणां देवदेवानां भगवानात्मदैवतम् ॥ १७ ॥
brahmanyasya param daivam brahmanah kila te prabho vipranam deva-devanam bhagavan atma-daivatam
O Lord, You are the supreme director of the brahminical culture. Your considering the brahmanas to be in the highest position is Your example for teaching others. Actually You are the supreme worshipable Deity, not only for the gods but for the brahmanas also.
त्वत्त: सनातनो धर्मो रक्ष्यते तनुभिस्तव । धर्मस्य परमो गुह्यो निर्विकारो भवान्मत: ॥ १८ ॥
tvattah sanatano dharmo raksyate tanubhis tava dharmasya paramo guhyo nirvikaro bhavan matah
You are the source of the eternal occupation of all living entities, and by Your multimanifestations of Personalities of Godhead, You have always protected religion. You are the supreme objective of religious principles, and in our opinion You are inexhaustible and unchangeable eternally.
तरन्ति ह्यञ्जसा मृत्युं निवृत्ता यदनुग्रहात् । योगिन: स भवान् किंस्विदनुगृह्येत यत्परै: ॥ १९ ॥
taranti hy anjasa mrtyum nivrtta yad-anugrahat yoginah sa bhavan kim svid anugrhyeta yat paraih
Mystics and transcendentalists, by the mercy of the Lord, cross beyond nescience by ceasing all material desires. It is not possible, therefore, that the Supreme Lord can be favored by others.
यं वै विभूतिरुपयात्यनुवेलमन्यै- रर्थार्थिभि: स्वशिरसा धृतपादरेणु: । धन्यार्पिताङ्घ्रितुलसीनवदामधाम्नो लोकं मधुव्रतपतेरिव कामयाना ॥ २० ॥
yam vai vibhutir upayaty anuvelam anyair artharthibhih sva-sirasa dhrta-pada-renuh dhanyarpitanghri-tulasi-nava-dama-dhamno lokam madhuvrata-pater iva kama-yana
The goddess of fortune, Laksmi, the dust of whose feet is worn on the head by others, waits upon You, as appointed, for she is anxious to secure a place in the abode of the king of bees, who hovers on the fresh wreath of tulasi leaves offered at Your feet by some blessed devotee.
यस्तां विविक्तचरितैरनुवर्तमानां नात्याद्रियत्परमभागवतप्रसङ्ग: । स त्वं द्विजानुपथपुण्यरज: पुनीत: श्रीवत्सलक्ष्म किमगा भगभाजनस्त्वम् ॥ २१ ॥
yas tam vivikta-caritair anuvartamanam natyadriyat parama-bhagavata-prasangah sa tvam dvijanupatha-punya-rajah-punitah srivatsa-laksma kim aga bhaga-bhajanas tvam
O Lord, You are exceedingly attached to the activities of Your pure devotees, yet You are never attached to the goddesses of fortune who constantly engage in Your transcendental loving service. How can You be purified, therefore, by the dust of the path traversed by the brahmanas, and how can You be glorified or made fortunate by the marks of Srivatsa on Your chest?
धर्मस्य ते भगवतस्त्रियुग त्रिभि: स्वै: पद्भिश्चराचरमिदं द्विजदेवतार्थम् । नूनं भृतं तदभिघाति रजस्तमश्च सत्त्वेन नो वरदया तनुवा निरस्य ॥ २२ ॥
dharmasya te bhagavatas tri-yuga tribhih svaih padbhis caracaram idam dvija-devatartham nunam bhrtam tad-abhighati rajas tamas ca sattvena no varadaya tanuva nirasya
O Lord, You are the personification of all religion. Therefore You manifest Yourself in three millenniums, and thus You protect this universe, which consists of animate and inanimate beings. By Your grace, which is of pure goodness and is the bestower of all blessings, kindly drive away the elements of rajas and tamas for the sake of the demigods and twice-born.
न त्वं द्विजोत्तमकुलं यदिहात्मगोपं गोप्ता वृष: स्वर्हणेन ससूनृतेन । तर्ह्येव नङ्क्ष्यति शिवस्तव देव पन्था लोकोऽग्रहीष्यदृषभस्य हितत्प्रमाणम् ॥ २३ ॥
na tvam dvijottama-kulam yadi hatma-gopam gopta vrsah svarhanena sa-sunrtena tarhy eva nanksyati sivas tava deva pantha loko ’grahisyad rsabhasya hi tat pramanam
O Lord, You are the protector of the highest of the twice-born. If You do not protect them by offering worship and mild words, then certainly the auspicious path of worship will be rejected by people in general, who act on the strength and authority of Your Lordship.
तत्तेऽनभीष्टमिव सत्त्वनिधेर्विधित्सो: क्षेमं जनाय निजशक्तिभिरुद्धृतारे: । नैतावता त्र्यधिपतेर्बत विश्वभर्तु- स्तेज: क्षतं त्ववनतस्य स ते विनोद: ॥ २४ ॥
tat te ’nabhistam iva sattva-nidher vidhitsoh ksemam janaya nija-saktibhir uddhrtareh naitavata try-adhipater bata visva-bhartus tejah ksatam tv avanatasya sa te vinodah
Dear Lord, You never want the auspicious path to be destroyed, for You are the reservoir of all goodness. Just to benefit people in general, You destroy the evil element by Your mighty potency. You are the proprietor of the three creations and the maintainer of the entire universe. Therefore Your potency is not reduced by Your submissive behavior. Rather, by submission You exhibit Your transcendental pastimes.
यं वानयोर्दममधीश भवान् विधत्ते वृत्तिं नु वा तदनुमन्महि निर्व्यलीकम् । अस्मासु वा य उचितो ध्रियतां स दण्डो येऽनागसौ वयमयुङ्क्ष्महि किल्बिषेण ॥ २५ ॥
yam vanayor damam adhisa bhavan vidhatte vrttim nu va tad anumanmahi nirvyalikam asmasu va ya ucito dhriyatam sa dando ye ’nagasau vayam ayunksmahi kilbisena
O Lord, whatever punishment You wish to award to these two innocent persons or also to us we shall accept without duplicity. We understand that we have cursed two faultless persons.
श्रीभगवानुवाच एतौ सुरेतरगतिं प्रतिपद्य सद्य: संरम्भसम्भृतसमाध्यनुबद्धयोगौ । भूय: सकाशमुपयास्यत आशु यो व: शापो मयैव निमितस्तदवेत विप्रा: ॥ २६ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca etau suretara-gatim pratipadya sadyah samrambha-sambhrta-samadhy-anubaddha-yogau bhuyah sakasam upayasyata asu yo vah sapo mayaiva nimitas tad aveta viprah
The Lord replied: O brahmanas, know that the punishment you inflicted on them was originally ordained by Me, and therefore they will fall to a birth in a demoniac family. But they will be firmly united with Me in thought through mental concentration intensified by anger, and they will return to My presence shortly.
ब्रह्मोवाच अथ ते मुनयो दृष्ट्वा नयनानन्दभाजनम् । वैकुण्ठं तदधिष्ठानं विकुण्ठं च स्वयंप्रभम् ॥ २७ ॥
brahmovaca atha te munayo drstva nayanananda-bhajanam vaikuntham tad-adhisthanam vikuntham ca svayam-prabham
Lord Brahma said: After seeing the Lord of Vaikuntha, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the self-illuminated Vaikuntha plane, the sages left that transcendental abode.
भगवन्तं परिक्रम्य प्रणिपत्यानुमान्य च । प्रतिजग्मु: प्रमुदिता: शंसन्तो वैष्णवीं श्रियम् ॥ २८ ॥
bhagavantam parikramya pranipatyanumanya ca pratijagmuh pramuditah samsanto vaisnavim sriyam
The sages circumambulated the Supreme Lord, offered their obeisances and returned, extremely delighted at learning of the divine opulences of the Vaisnava.
भगवाननुगावाह यातं मा भैष्टमस्तु शम् । ब्रह्मतेज: समर्थोऽपि हन्तुं नेच्छे मतं तु मे ॥ २९ ॥
bhagavan anugav aha yatam ma bhaistam astu sam brahma-tejah samartho ’pi hantum necche matam tu me
The Lord then said to His attendants, Jaya and Vijaya: Depart this place, but fear not. All glories unto you. Though I am capable of nullifying the brahmanas’ curse, I would not do so. On the contrary, it has My approval.
एतत्पुरैव निर्दिष्टं रमया क्रुद्धया यदा । पुरापवारिता द्वारि विशन्ती मय्युपारते ॥ ३० ॥
etat puraiva nirdistam ramaya kruddhaya yada purapavarita dvari visanti mayy uparate
This departure from Vaikuntha was foretold by Laksmi, the goddess of fortune. She was very angry because when she left My abode and then returned, you stopped her at the gate while I was sleeping.
मयि संरम्भयोगेन निस्तीर्य ब्रह्महेलनम् । प्रत्येष्यतं निकाशं मे कालेनाल्पीयसा पुन: ॥ ३१ ॥
mayi samrambha-yogena nistirya brahma-helanam pratyesyatam nikasam me kalenalpiyasa punah
The Lord assured the two Vaikuntha inhabitants, Jaya and Vijaya: By practicing the mystic yoga system in anger, you will be cleansed of the sin of disobeying the brahmanas and within a very short time return to Me.
द्वा:स्थावादिश्य भगवान् विमानश्रेणिभूषणम् । सर्वातिशयया लक्ष्म्या जुष्टं स्वं धिष्ण्यमाविशत् ॥ ३२ ॥
dvahsthav adisya bhagavan vimana-sreni-bhusanam sarvatisayaya laksmya justam svam dhisnyam avisat
After thus speaking at the door of Vaikuntha, the Lord returned to His abode, where there are many celestial airplanes and all-surpassing wealth and splendor.
तौ तु गीर्वाणऋषभौ दुस्तराद्धरिलोकत: । हतश्रियौ ब्रह्मशापादभूतां विगतस्मयौ ॥ ३३ ॥
tau tu girvana-rsabhau dustarad dhari-lokatah hata-sriyau brahma-sapad abhutam vigata-smayau
But those two gatekeepers, the best of the demigods, their beauty and luster diminished by the curse of the brahmanas, became morose and fell from Vaikuntha, the abode of the Supreme Lord.
तदा विकुण्ठधिषणात्तयोर्निपतमानयो: । हाहाकारो महानासीद्विमानाग्र्येषु पुत्रका: ॥ ३४ ॥
tada vikuntha-dhisanat tayor nipatamanayoh haha-karo mahan asid vimanagryesu putrakah
Then, as Jaya and Vijaya fell from the Lord’s abode, a great roar of disappointment arose from all the demigods, who were sitting in their splendid airplanes.
तावेव ह्यधुना प्राप्तौ पार्षदप्रवरौ हरे: । दितेर्जठरनिर्विष्टं काश्यपं तेज उल्बणम् ॥ ३५ ॥
tav eva hy adhuna praptau parsada-pravarau hareh diter jathara-nirvistam kasyapam teja ulbanam
Lord Brahma continued: Those two principal doorkeepers of the Personality of Godhead have now entered the womb of Diti, the powerful semen of Kasyapa Muni having covered them.
तयोरसुरयोरद्य तेजसा यमयोर्हि व: । आक्षिप्तं तेज एतर्हि भगवांस्तद्विधित्सति ॥ ३६ ॥
tayor asurayor adya tejasa yamayor hi vah aksiptam teja etarhi bhagavams tad vidhitsati
It is the prowess of these twin asuras (demons) that has disturbed you, for it has minimized your power. There is no remedy within my power, however, for it is the Lord Himself who desires to do all this.
विश्वस्य य: स्थितिलयोद्भवहेतुराद्यो योगेश्वरैरपि दुरत्यययोगमाय: । क्षेमं विधास्यति स नो भगवांस्त्र्यधीश- स्तत्रास्मदीयविमृशेन कियानिहार्थ: ॥ ३७ ॥
visvasya yah sthiti-layodbhava-hetur adyo yogesvarair api duratyaya-yogamayah ksemam vidhasyati sa no bhagavams tryadhisas tatrasmadiya-vimrsena kiyan iharthah
My dear sons, the Lord is the controller of the three modes of nature and is responsible for the creation, preservation and dissolution of the universe. His wonderful creative power, yogamaya, cannot be easily understood even by the masters of yoga. That most ancient person, the Personality of Godhead, will alone come to our rescue. What purpose can we serve on His behalf by deliberating on the subject?
