Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 6
ऋषिरुवाच इति तासां स्वशक्तीनां सतीनामसमेत्य स: । प्रसुप्तलोकतन्त्राणां निशाम्य गतिमीश्वर: ॥ १ ॥
rsir uvaca iti tasam sva-saktinam satinam asametya sah prasupta-loka-tantranam nisamya gatim isvarah
The Rsi Maitreya said: The Lord thus heard about the suspension of the progressive creative functions of the universe due to the noncombination of His potencies, such as the mahat-tattva.
कालसंज्ञां तदा देवीं बिभ्रच्छक्तिमुरुक्रम: । त्रयोविंशतितत्त्वानां गणं युगपदाविशत् ॥ २ ॥
kala-sanjnam tada devim bibhrac-chaktim urukramah trayovimsati tattvanam ganam yugapad avisat
The Supreme Powerful Lord then simultaneously entered into the twenty-three elements with the goddess Kali, His external energy, who alone amalgamates all the different elements.
सोऽनुप्रविष्टो भगवांश्चेष्टारूपेण तं गणम् । भिन्नं संयोजयमास सुप्तं कर्म प्रबोधयन् ॥ ३ ॥
so ’nupravisto bhagavams cestarupena tam ganam bhinnam samyojayam asa suptam karma prabodhayan
Thus when the Personality of Godhead entered into the elements by His energy, all the living entities were enlivened into different activities, just as one is engaged in his work after awakening from sleep.
प्रबुद्धकर्मा दैवेन त्रयोविंशतिको गण: । प्रेरितोऽजनयत्स्वाभिर्मात्राभिरधिपूरुषम् ॥ ४ ॥
prabuddha-karma daivena trayovimsatiko ganah prerito ’janayat svabhir matrabhir adhipurusam
When the twenty-three principal elements were set in action by the will of the Supreme, the gigantic universal form, or the visvarupa body of the Lord, came into existence.
परेण विशता स्वस्मिन्मात्रया विश्वसृग्गण: । चुक्षोभान्योन्यमासाद्य यस्मिन्लोकाश्चराचरा: ॥ ५ ॥
parena visata svasmin matraya visva-srg-ganah cuksobhanyonyam asadya yasmin lokas caracarah
As the Lord, in His plenary portion, entered into the elements of the universal creation, they transformed into the gigantic form in which all the planeary systems and all movable and immovable creations rest.
हिरण्मय: स पुरुष: सहस्रपरिवत्सरान् । आण्डकोश उवासाप्सु सर्वसत्त्वोपबृंहित: ॥ ६ ॥
hiranmayah sa purusah sahasra-parivatsaran anda-kosa uvasapsu sarva-sattvopabrmhitah
The gigantic virat-purusa, known as Hiranmaya, lived for one thousand celestial years on the water of the universe, and all the living entities lay with Him.
स वै विश्वसृजां गर्भो देवकर्मात्मशक्तिमान् । विबभाजात्मनात्मानमेकधा दशधा त्रिधा ॥ ७ ॥
sa vai visva-srjam garbho deva-karmatma-saktiman vibabhajatmanatmanam ekadha dasadha tridha
The total energy of the mahat-tattva, in the form of the gigantic virat-rupa, divided Himself by Himself into the consciousness of the living entities, the life of activity, and self-identification, which are subdivided into one, ten and three respectively.
एष ह्यशेषसत्त्वानामात्मांश: परमात्मन: । आद्योऽवतारो यत्रासौ भूतग्रामो विभाव्यते ॥ ८ ॥
esa hy asesa-sattvanam atmamsah paramatmanah adyo ’vataro yatrasau bhuta-gramo vibhavyate
The gigantic universal form of the Supreme Lord is the first incarnation and plenary portion of the Supersoul. He is the Self of an unlimited number of living entities, and in Him rests the aggregate creation, which thus flourishes.
साध्यात्म: साधिदैवश्च साधिभूत इति त्रिधा । विराट् प्राणो दशविध एकधा हृदयेन च ॥ ९ ॥
sadhyatmah sadhidaivas ca sadhibhuta iti tridha virat prano dasa-vidha ekadha hrdayena ca
The gigantic universal form is represented by three, ten and one in the sense that He is the body and the mind and the senses, He is the dynamic force for all movements by ten kinds of life energy, and He is the one heart where life energy is generated.
स्मरन् विश्वसृजामीशो विज्ञापितमधोक्षज: । विराजमतपत्स्वेन तेजसैषां विवृत्तये ॥ १० ॥
smaran visva-srjam iso vijnapitam adhoksajah virajam atapat svena tejasaisam vivrttaye
The Supreme Lord is the Supersoul of all the demigods entrusted with the task of constructing the cosmic manifestation. Being thus prayed to (by the demigods), He thought to Himself and thus manifested the gigantic form for their understanding.
अथ तस्याभितप्तस्य कतिधायतनानि ह । निरभिद्यन्त देवानां तानि मे गदत: शृणु ॥ ११ ॥
atha tasyabhitaptasya katidhayatanani ha nirabhidyanta devanam tani me gadatah srnu
Maitreya said: You may now hear from me how the Supreme Lord separated Himself into the diverse forms of the demigods after the manifestation of the gigantic universal form.
तस्याग्निरास्यं निर्भिन्नं लोकपालोऽविशत्पदम् । वाचा स्वांशेन वक्तव्यं ययासौ प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १२ ॥
tasyagnir asyam nirbhinnam loka-palo ’visat padam vaca svamsena vaktavyam yayasau pratipadyate
Agni, or heat, separated from His mouth, and all the directors of material affairs entered into it in their respective positions. By that energy the living entity expresses himself in words.
निर्भिन्नं तालु वरुणो लोकपालोऽविशद्धरे: । जिह्वयांशेन च रसं ययासौ प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १३ ॥
nirbhinnam talu varuno loka-palo ’visad dhareh jihvayamsena ca rasam yayasau pratipadyate
When the palate of the gigantic form was separately manifested, Varuna, the director of air in the planeary systems, entered therein, and thus the living entity has the facility to taste everything with his tongue.
निर्भिन्ने अश्विनौ नासे विष्णोराविशतां पदम् । घ्राणेनांशेन गन्धस्य प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ १४ ॥
nirbhinne asvinau nase visnor avisatam padam ghranenamsena gandhasya pratipattir yato bhavet
When the Lord’s two nostrils separately manifested themselves, the dual Asvini-kumaras entered them in their proper positions, and because of this the living entities can smell the aromas of everything.
निर्भिन्ने अक्षिणी त्वष्टा लोकपालोऽविशद्विभो: । चक्षुषांशेन रूपाणां प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ १५ ॥
nirbhinne aksini tvasta loka-palo ’visad vibhoh caksusamsena rupanam pratipattir yato bhavet
Thereafter, the two eyes of the gigantic form of the Lord were separately manifested. The sun, the director of light, entered them with the partial representation of eyesight, and thus the living entities can have vision of forms.
निर्भिन्नान्यस्य चर्माणि लोकपालोऽनिलोऽविशत् । प्राणेनांशेन संस्पर्शं येनासौ प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १६ ॥
nirbhinnany asya carmani loka-palo ’nilo ’visat pranenamsena samsparsam yenasau pratipadyate
When there was a manifestation of skin separated from the gigantic form, Anila, the deity directing the wind, entered with partial touch, and thus the living entities can realize tactile knowledge.
कर्णावस्य विनिर्भिन्नौ धिष्ण्यं स्वं विविशुर्दिश: । श्रोत्रेणांशेन शब्दस्य सिद्धिं येन प्रपद्यते ॥ १७ ॥
karnav asya vinirbhinnau dhisnyam svam vivisur disah srotrenamsena sabdasya siddhim yena prapadyate
When the ears of the gigantic form became manifested, all the controlling deities of the directions entered into them with the hearing principles, by which all the living entities hear and take advantage of sound.
त्वचमस्य विनिर्भिन्नां विविशुर्धिष्ण्यमोषधी: । अंशेन रोमभि: कण्डूं यैरसौ प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १८ ॥
tvacam asya vinirbhinnam vivisur dhisnyam osadhih amsena romabhih kandum yair asau pratipadyate
When there was a separate manifestation of skin, the controlling deities of sensations and their different parts entered into it, and thus the living entities feel itching and happiness due to touch.
मेढ्रं तस्य विनिर्भिन्नं स्वधिष्ण्यं क उपाविशत् । रेतसांशेन येनासावानन्दं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १९ ॥
medhram tasya vinirbhinnam sva-dhisnyam ka upavisat retasamsena yenasav anandam pratipadyate
When the genitals of the gigantic form separately became manifest, then Prajapati, the original living creature, entered into them with his partial semen, and thus the living entities can enjoy sex pleasure.
गुदं पुंसो विनिर्भिन्नं मित्रो लोकेश आविशत् । पायुनांशेन येनासौ विसर्गं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ २० ॥
gudam pumso vinirbhinnam mitro lokesa avisat payunamsena yenasau visargam pratipadyate
The evacuating channel separately became manifest, and the director named Mitra entered into it with partial organs of evacuation. Thus the living entities are able to pass stool and urine.
हस्तावस्य विनिर्भिन्नाविन्द्र: स्वर्पतिराविशत् । वार्तयांशेन पुरुषो यया वृत्तिं प्रपद्यते ॥ २१ ॥
hastav asya vinirbhinnav indrah svar-patir avisat vartayamsena puruso yaya vrttim prapadyate
Thereafter, when the hands of the gigantic form separately became manifested, Indra, the ruler of the heavenly planes, entered into them, and thus the living entity is able to transact business for his livelihood.
पादावस्य विनिर्भिन्नौ लोकेशो विष्णुराविशत् । गत्या स्वांशेन पुरुषो यया प्राप्यं प्रपद्यते ॥ २२ ॥
padav asya vinirbhinnau lokeso visnur avisat gatya svamsena puruso yaya prapyam prapadyate
Thereafter the legs of the gigantic form separately became manifest, and the demigod named Visnu (not the Personality of Godhead) entered with partial movement. This helps the living entity move to his destination.
बुद्धिं चास्य विनिर्भिन्नां वागीशो धिष्ण्यमाविशत् । बोधेनांशेन बोद्धव्यम् प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ २३ ॥
buddhim casya vinirbhinnam vag-iso dhisnyam avisat bodhenamsena boddhavyam pratipattir yato bhavet
When the intelligence of the gigantic form separately became manifest, Brahma, the lord of the Vedas, entered into it with the partial power of understanding, and thus an object of understanding is experienced by the living entities.
हृदयं चास्य निर्भिन्नं चन्द्रमा धिष्ण्यमाविशत् । मनसांशेन येनासौ विक्रियां प्रतिपद्यते ॥ २४ ॥
hrdayam casya nirbhinnam candrama dhisnyam avisat manasamsena yenasau vikriyam pratipadyate
After that, the heart of the gigantic form separately manifested itself, and into it entered the moon demigod with partial mental activity. Thus the living entity can conduct his mental speculations.
आत्मानं चास्य निर्भिन्नमभिमानोऽविशत्पदम् । कर्मणांशेन येनासौ कर्तव्यं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ २५ ॥
atmanam casya nirbhinnam abhimano ’visat padam karmanamsena yenasau kartavyam pratipadyate
Thereafter the materialistic ego of the gigantic form separately manifested itself, and into it entered Rudra, the controller of false ego, with his own partial activities, by which the living entity transacts his objective actions.
सत्त्वं चास्य विनिर्भिन्नं महान्धिष्ण्यमुपाविशत् । चित्तेनांशेन येनासौ विज्ञानं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ २६ ॥
sattvam casya vinirbhinnam mahan dhisnyam upavisat cittenamsena yenasau vijnanam pratipadyate
Thereafter, when His consciousness separately manifested itself, the total energy, mahat-tattva, entered with His conscious part. Thus the living entity is able to conceive specific knowledge.
शीर्ष्णोऽस्य द्यौर्धरा पद्भ्यां खं नाभेरुदपद्यत । गुणानां वृत्तयो येषु प्रतीयन्ते सुरादय: ॥ २७ ॥
sirsno ’sya dyaur dhara padbhyam kham nabher udapadyata gunanam vrttayo yesu pratiyante suradayah
Thereafter, from the head of the gigantic form, the heavenly planes were manifested, and from His legs the earthly planes and from His abdomen the sky separately manifested themselves. Within them the demigods and others also were manifested in terms of the modes of material nature.
आत्यन्तिकेन सत्त्वेन दिवं देवा: प्रपेदिरे । धरां रज:स्वभावेन पणयो ये च ताननु ॥ २८ ॥
atyantikena sattvena divam devah prapedire dharam rajah-svabhavena panayo ye ca tan anu
The demigods, qualified by the superexcellent quality of the mode of goodness, are situated in the heavenly planes, whereas the human beings, because of their nature in the mode of passion, live on the earth in company with their subordinates.
तार्तीयेन स्वभावेन भगवन्नाभिमाश्रिता: । उभयोरन्तरं व्योम ये रुद्रपार्षदां गणा: ॥ २९ ॥
tartiyena svabhavena bhagavan-nabhim asritah ubhayor antaram vyoma ye rudra-parsadam ganah
Living entities who are associates of Rudra develop in the third mode of material nature, or ignorance. They are situated in the sky between the earthly planes and the heavenly planes.
मुखतोऽवर्तत ब्रह्म पुरुषस्य कुरूद्वह । यस्तून्मुखत्वाद्वर्णानां मुख्योऽभूद्ब्राह्मणो गुरु: ॥ ३० ॥
mukhato ’vartata brahma purusasya kurudvaha yas tunmukhatvad varnanam mukhyo ’bhud brahmano guruh
O chief of the Kuru dynasty, the Vedic wisdom became manifested from the mouth of the virat, the gigantic form. Those who are inclined to this Vedic knowledge are called brahmanas, and they are the natural teachers and spiritual masters of all the orders of society.
बाहुभ्योऽवर्तत क्षत्रं क्षत्रियस्तदनुव्रत: । यो जातस्त्रायते वर्णान् पौरुष: कण्टकक्षतात् ॥ ३१ ॥
bahubhyo ’vartata ksatram ksatriyas tad anuvratah yo jatas trayate varnan paurusah kantaka-ksatat
Thereafter the power of protection was generated from the arms of the gigantic virat form, and in relation to such power the ksatriyas also came into existence by following the ksatriya principle of protecting society from the disturbance of thieves and miscreants.
विशोऽवर्तन्त तस्योर्वोर्लोकवृत्तिकरीर्विभो: । वैश्यस्तदुद्भवो वार्तां नृणां य: समवर्तयत् ॥ ३२ ॥
viso ’vartanta tasyorvor loka-vrttikarir vibhoh vaisyas tad-udbhavo vartam nrnam yah samavartayat
The means of livelihood of all persons, namely production of grains and their distribution to the prajas, was generated from the thighs of the Lord’s gigantic form. The mercantile men who take charge of such execution are called vaisyas.
पद्भ्यां भगवतो जज्ञे शुश्रूषा धर्मसिद्धये । तस्यां जात: पुरा शूद्रो यद्वृत्त्या तुष्यते हरि: ॥ ३३ ॥
padbhyam bhagavato jajne susrusa dharma-siddhaye tasyam jatah pura sudro yad-vrttya tusyate harih
Thereafter, service was manifested from the legs of the Personality of Godhead for the sake of perfecting the religious function. Situated on the legs are the sudras, who satisfy the Lord by service.
एते वर्णा: स्वधर्मेण यजन्ति स्वगुरुं हरिम् । श्रद्धयात्मविशुद्ध्यर्थं यज्जाता: सह वृत्तिभि: ॥ ३४ ॥
ete varnah sva-dharmena yajanti sva-gurum harim sraddhayatma-visuddhy-artham yaj-jatah saha vrttibhih
All these different social divisions are born, with their occupational duties and living conditions, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus for unconditional life and self-realization one has to worship the Supreme Lord under the direction of the spiritual master.
एतत्क्षत्तर्भगवतो दैवकर्मात्मरूपिण: । क: श्रद्दध्यादुपाकर्तुं योगमायाबलोदयम् ॥ ३५ ॥
etat ksattar bhagavato daiva-karmatma-rupinah kah sraddadhyad upakartum yogamaya-balodayam
O Vidura, who can estimate or measure the transcendental time, work and potency of the gigantic form manifested by the internal potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
तथापि कीर्तयाम्यङ्ग यथामति यथाश्रुतम् । कीर्तिं हरे: स्वां सत्कर्तुं गिरमन्याभिधासतीम् ॥ ३६ ॥
tathapi kirtayamy anga yatha-mati yatha-srutam kirtim hareh svam sat-kartum giram anyabhidhasatim
In spite of my inability, whatever I have been able to hear (from the spiritual master) and whatever I could assimilate I am now describing in glorification of the Lord by pure speech, for otherwise my power of speaking would remain unchaste.
एकान्तलाभं वचसो नु पुंसां सुश्लोकमौलेर्गुणवादमाहु: । श्रुतेश्च विद्वद्भिरुपाकृतायां कथासुधायामुपसम्प्रयोगम् ॥ ३७ ॥
ekanta-labham vacaso nu pumsam susloka-mauler guna-vadam ahuh srutes ca vidvadbhir upakrtayam katha-sudhayam upasamprayogam
The highest perfectional gain of humanity is to engage in discussions of the activities and glories of the Pious Actor. Such activities are so nicely arranged in writing by the greatly learned sages that the actual purpose of the ear is served just by being near them.
आत्मनोऽवसितो वत्स महिमा कविनादिना । संवत्सरसहस्रान्ते धिया योगविपक्कया ॥ ३८ ॥
atmano ’vasito vatsa mahima kavinadina samvatsara-sahasrante dhiya yoga-vipakkaya
O my son, the original poet, Brahma, after mature meditation for one thousand celestial years, could know only that the glories of the Supreme Soul are inconceivable.
अतो भगवतो माया मायिनामपि मोहिनी । यत्स्वयं चात्मवर्त्मात्मा न वेद किमुतापरे ॥ ३९ ॥
ato bhagavato maya mayinam api mohini yat svayam catma-vartmatma na veda kim utapare
The wonderful potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is bewildering even to the jugglers. That potential power is unknown even to the self-sufficient Lord, so it is certainly unknown to others.
यतोऽप्राप्य न्यवर्तन्त वाचश्च मनसा सह । अहं चान्य इमे देवास्तस्मै भगवते नम: ॥ ४० ॥
yato ’prapya nyavartanta vacas ca manasa saha aham canya ime devas tasmai bhagavate namah
Words, mind and ego, with their respective controlling demigods, have failed to achieve success in knowing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, we simply have to offer our respectful obeisances unto Him as a matter of sanity.
