Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 7
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं ब्रुवाणं मैत्रेयं द्वैपायनसुतो बुध: । प्रीणयन्निव भारत्या विदुर: प्रत्यभाषत ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam bruvanam maitreyam dvaipayana-suto budhah prinayann iva bharatya vidurah pratyabhasata
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, while Maitreya, the great sage, was thus speaking, Vidura, the learned son of Dvaipayana Vyasa, expressed a request in a pleasing manner by asking this question.
विदुर उवाच ब्रह्मन् कथं भगवतश्चिन्मात्रस्याविकारिण: । लीलया चापि युज्येरन्निर्गुणस्य गुणा: क्रिया: ॥ २ ॥
vidura uvaca brahman katham bhagavatas cin-matrasyavikarinah lilaya capi yujyeran nirgunasya gunah kriyah
Sri Vidura said: O great brahmana, since the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete spiritual whole and is unchangeable, how is He connected with the material modes of nature and their activities? If this is His pastime, how do the activities of the unchangeable take place and exhibit qualities without the modes of nature?
क्रीडायामुद्यमोऽर्भस्य कामश्चिक्रीडिषान्यत: । स्वतस्तृप्तस्य च कथं निवृत्तस्य सदान्यत: ॥ ३ ॥
kridayam udyamo ’rbhasya kamas cikridisanyatah svatas-trptasya ca katham nivrttasya sadanyatah
Boys are enthusiastic to play with other boys or with various diversions because they are encouraged by desire. But there is no possibility of such desire for the Lord because He is self-satisfied and detached from everything at all times.
अस्राक्षीद्भगवान् विश्वं गुणमय्यात्ममायया । तया संस्थापयत्येतद्भूय: प्रत्यपिधास्यति ॥ ४ ॥
asraksid bhagavan visvam guna-mayyatma-mayaya taya samsthapayaty etad bhuyah pratyapidhasyati
By His self-sheltered potency of the three modes of material nature, the Lord has caused the creation of this universe. By her He maintains the creation and conversely dissolves it, again and again.
देशत: कालतो योऽसाववस्थात: स्वतोऽन्यत: । अविलुप्तावबोधात्मा स युज्येताजया कथम् ॥ ५ ॥
desatah kalato yo ’sav avasthatah svato ’nyatah aviluptavabodhatma sa yujyetajaya katham
The pure soul is pure consciousness and is never out of consciousness, either due to circumstances, time, situations, dreams or other causes. How then does he become engaged in nescience?
भगवानेक एवैष सर्वक्षेत्रेष्ववस्थित: । अमुष्य दुर्भगत्वं वा क्लेशो वा कर्मभि: कुत: ॥ ६ ॥
bhagavan eka evaisa sarva-ksetresv avasthitah amusya durbhagatvam va kleso va karmabhih kutah
The Lord, as the Supersoul, is situated in every living being’s heart. Why then do the living entities’ activities result in misfortune and misery?
एतस्मिन्मे मनो विद्वन् खिद्यतेऽज्ञानसङ्कटे । तन्न: पराणुद विभो कश्मलं मानसं महत् ॥ ७ ॥
etasmin me mano vidvan khidyate ’jnana-sankate tan nah paranuda vibho kasmalam manasam mahat
O great and learned one, my mind is greatly illusioned by the distress of this nescience, and I therefore request you to clear it up.
श्रीशुक उवाच स इत्थं चोदित: क्षत्त्रा तत्त्वजिज्ञासुना मुनि: । प्रत्याह भगवच्चित्त: स्मयन्निव गतस्मय: ॥ ८ ॥
sri-suka uvaca sa ittham coditah ksattra tattva-jijnasuna munih pratyaha bhagavac-cittah smayann iva gata-smayah
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, Maitreya, being thus agitated by the inquisitive Vidura, at first seemed astonished, but then he replied to him without hesitation, since he was fully God conscious.
मैत्रेय उवाच सेयं भगवतो माया यन्नयेन विरुध्यते । ईश्वरस्य विमुक्तस्य कार्पण्यमुत बन्धनम् ॥ ९ ॥
maitreya uvaca seyam bhagavato maya yan nayena virudhyate isvarasya vimuktasya karpanyam uta bandhanam
Sri Maitreya said: Certain conditioned souls put forward the theory that the Supreme Brahman, or the Personality of Godhead, is overcome by illusion, or maya, and at the same time they maintain that He is unconditioned. This is against all logic.
यदर्थेन विनामुष्य पुंस आत्मविपर्यय: । प्रतीयत उपद्रष्टु: स्वशिरश्छेदनादिक: ॥ १० ॥
yad arthena vinamusya pumsa atma-viparyayah pratiyata upadrastuh sva-siras chedanadikah
The living entity is in distress regarding his self-identity. He has no factual background, like a man who dreams that he sees his head cut off.
यथा जले चन्द्रमस: कम्पादिस्तत्कृतो गुण: । दृश्यतेऽसन्नपि द्रष्टुरात्मनोऽनात्मनो गुण: ॥ ११ ॥
yatha jale candramasah kampadis tat-krto gunah drsyate ’sann api drastur atmano ’natmano gunah
As the moon reflected on water appears to the seer to tremble due to being associated with the quality of the water, so the self associated with matter appears to be qualified as matter.
स वै निवृत्तिधर्मेण वासुदेवानुकम्पया । भगवद्भक्तियोगेन तिरोधत्ते शनैरिह ॥ १२ ॥
sa vai nivrtti-dharmena vasudevanukampaya bhagavad-bhakti-yogena tirodhatte sanair iha
But that misconception of self-identity can be diminished gradually by the mercy of the Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, through the process of devotional service to the Lord in the mode of detachment.
यदेन्द्रियोपरामोऽथ द्रष्ट्रात्मनि परे हरौ । विलीयन्ते तदा क्लेशा: संसुप्तस्येव कृत्स्नश: ॥ १३ ॥
yadendriyoparamo ’tha drastratmani pare harau viliyante tada klesah samsuptasyeva krtsnasah
When the senses are satisfied in the seer-Supersoul, the Personality of Godhead, and merge in Him, all miseries are completely vanquished, as after a sound sleep.
अशेषसंक्लेशशमं विधत्ते गुणानुवादश्रवणं मुरारे: । किं वा पुनस्तच्चरणारविन्दपरागसेवारतिरात्मलब्धा ॥ १४ ॥
asesa-sanklesa-samam vidhatte gunanuvada-sravanam murareh kim va punas tac-caranaravinda- paraga-seva-ratir atma-labdha
Simply by chanting and hearing of the transcendental name, form, etc., of the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, one can achieve the cessation of unlimited miserable conditions. Therefore what to speak of those who have attained attraction for serving the flavor of the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet?
विदुर उवाच संछिन्न: संशयो मह्यं तव सूक्तासिना विभो । उभयत्रापि भगवन्मनो मे सम्प्रधावति ॥ १५ ॥
vidura uvaca sanchinnah samsayo mahyam tava suktasina vibho ubhayatrapi bhagavan mano me sampradhavati
Vidura said: O powerful sage, my lord, all my doubts about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entities have now been removed by your convincing words. My mind is now perfectly entering into them.
साध्वेतद् व्याहृतं विद्वन्नात्ममायायनं हरे: । आभात्यपार्थं निर्मूलं विश्वमूलं न यद्बहि: ॥ १६ ॥
sadhv etad vyahrtam vidvan natma-mayayanam hareh abhaty apartham nirmulam visva-mulam na yad bahih
O learned sage, your explanations are very good, as they should be. Disturbances to the conditioned soul have no other basis than the movement of the external energy of the Lord.
यश्च मूढतमो लोके यश्च बुद्धे: परं गत: । तावुभौ सुखमेधेते क्लिश्यत्यन्तरितो जन: ॥ १७ ॥
yas ca mudhatamo loke yas ca buddheh param gatah tav ubhau sukham edhete klisyaty antarito janah
Both the lowest of fools and he who is transcendental to all intelligence enjoy happiness, whereas persons between them suffer the material pangs.
अर्थाभावं विनिश्चित्य प्रतीतस्यापि नात्मन: । तां चापि युष्मच्चरणसेवयाहं पराणुदे ॥ १८ ॥
arthabhavam viniscitya pratitasyapi natmanah tam capi yusmac-carana- sevayaham paranude
But, my dear sir, I am obliged to you because now I can understand that this material manifestation is without substance, although it appears real. I am confident that by serving your feet it will be possible for me to give up the false idea.
यत्सेवया भगवत: कूटस्थस्य मधुद्विष: । रतिरासो भवेत्तीव्र: पादयोर्व्यसनार्दन: ॥ १९ ॥
yat-sevaya bhagavatah kuta-sthasya madhu-dvisah rati-raso bhavet tivrah padayor vyasanardanah
By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is enabled to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one’s material distresses.
दुरापा ह्यल्पतपस: सेवा वैकुण्ठवर्त्मसु । यत्रोपगीयते नित्यं देवदेवो जनार्दन: ॥ २० ॥
durapa hy alpa-tapasah seva vaikuntha-vartmasu yatropagiyate nityam deva-devo janardanah
Persons whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the pure devotees who are progressing on the path back to the kingdom of Godhead, the Vaikunthas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living entities.
सृष्ट्वाग्रे महदादीनि सविकाराण्यनुक्रमात् । तेभ्यो विराजमुद्धृत्य तमनु प्राविशद्विभु: ॥ २१ ॥
srstvagre mahad-adini sa-vikarany anukramat tebhyo virajam uddhrtya tam anu pravisad vibhuh
After creating the total material energy, the mahat-tattva, and thereby manifesting the gigantic universal form with senses and sense organs, the Supreme Lord entered within it.
यमाहुराद्यं पुरुषं सहस्राङ्घ्र्यूरुबाहुकम् । यत्र विश्व इमे लोका: सविकाशं त आसते ॥ २२ ॥
yam ahur adyam purusam sahasranghry-uru-bahukam yatra visva ime lokah sa-vikasam ta asate
The purusa incarnation lying on the Causal Ocean is called the original purusa in the material creations, and in His virat form, in whom all the planes and their inhabitants live, He has many thousands of legs and hands.
यस्मिन् दशविध: प्राण: सेन्द्रियार्थेन्द्रियस्त्रिवृत् । त्वयेरितो यतो वर्णास्तद्विभूतीर्वदस्व न: ॥ २३ ॥
yasmin dasa-vidhah pranah sendriyarthendriyas tri-vrt tvayerito yato varnas tad-vibhutir vadasva nah
O great brahmana, you have told me that the gigantic virat form and His senses, sense objects and ten kinds of life air exist with three kinds of life vigor. Now, if you will, kindly explain to me the different powers of the specific divisions.
यत्र पुत्रैश्च पौत्रैश्च नप्तृभि: सह गोत्रजै: । प्रजा विचित्राकृतय आसन् याभिरिदं ततम् ॥ २४ ॥
yatra putrais ca pautrais ca naptrbhih saha gotrajaih praja vicitrakrtaya asan yabhir idam tatam
O my lord, I think that the process manifest in the forms of sons, grandsons and family members has spread all over the universe in different varieties and species.
प्रजापतीनां स पतिश्चक्लृपे कान् प्रजापतीन् । सर्गांश्चैवानुसर्गांश्च मनून्मन्वन्तराधिपान् ॥ २५ ॥
prajapatinam sa patis caklpe kan prajapatin sargams caivanusargams ca manun manvantaradhipan
O learned brahmana, please describe how the leader of all the demigods, namely Prajapati, Brahma, decided to establish the various Manus, the heads of the ages. Please describe the Manus also, and please describe the descendants of those Manus.
उपर्यधश्च ये लोका भूमेर्मित्रात्मजासते । तेषां संस्थां प्रमाणं च भूर्लोकस्य च वर्णय ॥ २६ ॥
upary adhas ca ye loka bhumer mitratmajasate tesam samstham pramanam ca bhur-lokasya ca varnaya
O son of Mitra, kindly describe how the planes are situated above the earth as well as underneath it, and also please mention their measurement as well as that of the earthly planes.
तिर्यङ्मानुषदेवानां सरीसृपपतत्त्रिणाम् । वद न: सर्गसंव्यूहं गार्भस्वेदद्विजोद्भिदाम् ॥ २७ ॥
tiryan-manusa-devanam sarisrpa-patattrinam vada nah sarga-samvyuham garbha-sveda-dvijodbhidam
Also please describe the living beings under different classifications: subhumans, humans, those born of the embryo, those born of perspiration, those who are twice-born (birds), and the plants and vegetables. Kindly describe their generations and subdivisions also.
गुणावतारैर्विश्वस्य सर्गस्थित्यप्ययाश्रयम् । सृजत: श्रीनिवासस्य व्याचक्ष्वोदारविक्रमम् ॥ २८ ॥
gunavatarair visvasya sarga-sthity-apyayasrayam srjatah srinivasasya vyacaksvodara-vikramam
Please also describe the incarnations of the material modes of nature—Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara—and please describe the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His magnanimous activities.
वर्णाश्रमविभागांश्च रूपशीलस्वभावत: । ऋषीणां जन्मकर्माणि वेदस्य च विकर्षणम् ॥ २९ ॥
varnasrama-vibhagams ca rupa-sila-svabhavatah rsinam janma-karmani vedasya ca vikarsanam
O great sage, kindly describe the divisions and orders of human society in terms of symptoms, behavior and the characteristics of mental equilibrium and sense control. Also please describe the births of the great sages and the categorical divisions of the Vedas.
यज्ञस्य च वितानानि योगस्य च पथ: प्रभो । नैष्कर्म्यस्य च सांख्यस्य तन्त्रं वा भगवत्स्मृतम् ॥ ३० ॥
yajnasya ca vitanani yogasya ca pathah prabho naiskarmyasya ca sankhyasya tantram va bhagavat-smrtam
Please also describe the expansions of different sacrifices and the paths of mystic powers, analytical study of knowledge, and devotional service, all with their respective regulations.
पाषण्डपथवैषम्यं प्रतिलोमनिवेशनम् । जीवस्य गतयो याश्च यावतीर्गुणकर्मजा: ॥ ३१ ॥
pasanda-patha-vaisamyam pratiloma-nivesanam jivasya gatayo yas ca yavatir guna-karmajah
Please also describe the imperfections and contradictions of the faithless atheists, the situation of crossbreeding, and the movements of the living entities in various species of life according to their particular modes of nature and work.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां निमित्तान्यविरोधत: । वार्ताया दण्डनीतेश्च श्रुतस्य च विधिं पृथक् ॥ ३२ ॥
dharmartha-kama-moksanam nimittany avirodhatah vartaya danda-nites ca srutasya ca vidhim prthak
You may also describe the noncontradictory causes of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and salvation and also the different means of livelihood and different processes of law and order as mentioned in the revealed scriptures.
श्राद्धस्य च विधिं ब्रह्मन् पितृणां सर्गमेव च । ग्रहनक्षत्रताराणां कालावयवसंस्थितिम् ॥ ३३ ॥
sraddhasya ca vidhim brahman pitrnam sargam eva ca graha-naksatra-taranam kalavayava-samsthitim
Please also explain the regulations for offering respects to the forefathers, the creation of the Pitrloka, the time schedule in the planes, stars and luminaries, and their respective situations.
दानस्य तपसो वापि यच्चेष्टापूर्तयो: फलम् । प्रवासस्थस्य यो धर्मो यश्च पुंस उतापदि ॥ ३४ ॥
danasya tapaso vapi yac cesta-purtayoh phalam pravasa-sthasya yo dharmo yas ca pumsa utapadi
Please also describe the fruitive results of charity and penance and of digging reservoirs of water. Please describe the situation of persons who are away from home and also the duty of a man in an awkward position.
येन वा भगवांस्तुष्येद्धर्मयोनिर्जनार्दन: । सम्प्रसीदति वा येषामेतदाख्याहि मेऽनघ ॥ ३५ ॥
yena va bhagavams tusyed dharma-yonir janardanah samprasidati va yesam etad akhyahi me ’nagha
O sinless one, because the Personality of Godhead, the controller of all living entities, is the father of all religion and all those who are candidates for religious activities, kindly describe how He can be completely satisfied.
अनुव्रतानां शिष्याणां पुत्राणां च द्विजोत्तम । अनापृष्टमपि ब्रूयुर्गुरवो दीनवत्सला: ॥ ३६ ॥
anuvratanam sisyanam putranam ca dvijottama anaprstam api bruyur guravo dina-vatsalah
O best among the brahmanas, those who are spiritual masters are very kind to the needy. They are always kind to their followers, disciples and sons, and without being asked by them, the spiritual master describes all that is knowledge.
तत्त्वानां भगवंस्तेषां कतिधा प्रतिसंक्रम: । तत्रेमं क उपासीरन् क उ स्विदनुशेरते ॥ ३७ ॥
tattvanam bhagavams tesam katidha pratisankramah tatremam ka upasiran ka u svid anuserate
Please describe how many dissolutions there are for the elements of material nature and who survives after the dissolutions to serve the Lord while He is asleep.
पुरुषस्य च संस्थानं स्वरूपं वा परस्य च । ज्ञानं च नैगमं यत्तद्गुरुशिष्यप्रयोजनम् ॥ ३८ ॥
purusasya ca samsthanam svarupam va parasya ca jnanam ca naigamam yat tad guru-sisya-prayojanam
What are the truths regarding the living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead? What are their identities ? What are the specific values in the knowledge in the Vedas, and what are the necessities for the spiritual master and his disciples?
निमित्तानि च तस्येह प्रोक्तान्यनघसूरिभि: । स्वतो ज्ञानं कुत: पुंसां भक्तिर्वैराग्यमेव वा ॥ ३९ ॥
nimittani ca tasyeha proktany anagha-suribhih svato jnanam kutah pumsam bhaktir vairagyam eva va
Spotless devotees of the Lord have mentioned the source of such knowledge. How could one have knowledge of devotional service and detachment without the help of such devotees?
एतान्मे पृच्छत: प्रश्नान् हरे: कर्मविवित्सया । ब्रूहि मेऽज्ञस्य मित्रत्वादजया नष्टचक्षुष: ॥ ४० ॥
etan me prcchatah prasnan hareh karma-vivitsaya bruhi me ’jnasya mitratvad ajaya nasta-caksusah
My dear sage, I have put all these questions before you with a view to knowing the pastimes of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the friend of all, so kindly describe them for all those who have lost their vision.
सर्वे वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च तपो दानानि चानघ । जीवाभयप्रदानस्य न कुर्वीरन् कलामपि ॥ ४१ ॥
sarve vedas ca yajnas ca tapo danani canagha jivabhaya-pradanasya na kurviran kalam api
O spotless one, your answers to all these questions will grant immunity from all material miseries. Such charity is greater than all Vedic charities, sacrifices, penances, etc.
श्रीशुक उवाच स इत्थमापृष्टपुराणकल्प: कुरुप्रधानेन मुनिप्रधान: । प्रवृद्धहर्षो भगवत्कथायां सञ्चोदितस्तं प्रहसन्निवाह ॥ ४२ ॥
sri-suka uvaca sa ittham aprsta-purana-kalpah kuru-pradhanena muni-pradhanah pravrddha-harso bhagavat-kathayam sancoditas tam prahasann ivaha
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thus the chief of the sages, who was always enthusiastic about describing topics regarding the Personality of Godhead, began to narrate the descriptive explanation of the Puranas, being so infused by Vidura. He was very much enlivened by speaking on the transcendental activities of the Lord.
