Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 7 · Chapter 10
श्रीनारद उवाच भक्तियोगस्य तत्सर्वमन्तरायतयार्भक: । मन्यमानो हृषीकेशं स्मयमान उवाच ह ॥ १ ॥
sri-narada uvaca bhakti-yogasya tat sarvam antarayatayarbhakah manyamano hrsikesam smayamana uvaca ha
The saint Narada Muni continued: Although Prahlada Maharaja was only a boy, when he heard the benedictions offered by Lord Nrsimhadeva he considered them impediments on the path of devotional service. Thus he smiled very mildly and spoke as follows.
श्रीप्रह्राद उवाच मा मां प्रलोभयोत्पत्त्या सक्तं कामेषु तैर्वरै: । तत्सङ्गभीतो निर्विण्णो मुमुक्षुस्त्वामुपाश्रित: ॥ २ ॥
sri-prahrada uvaca ma mam pralobhayotpattya saktamkamesu tair varaih tat-sanga-bhito nirvinno mumuksus tvam upasritah
Prahlada Maharaja said: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because I was born in an atheistic family I am naturally attached to material enjoyment. Therefore, kindly do not tempt me with these illusions. I am very much afraid of material conditions, and I desire to be liberated from materialistic life. It is for this reason that I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet.
भृत्यलक्षणजिज्ञासुर्भक्तं कामेष्वचोदयत् । भवान् संसारबीजेषु हृदयग्रन्थिषु प्रभो ॥ ३ ॥
bhrtya-laksana-jijnasur bhaktam kamesv acodayat bhavan samsara-bijesu hrdaya-granthisu prabho
O my worshipable Lord, because the seed of lusty desires, which is the root cause of material existence, is within the core of everyone’s heart, You have sent me to this material world to exhibit the symptoms of a pure devotee.
नान्यथा तेऽखिलगुरो घटेत करुणात्मन: । यस्त आशिष आशास्ते न स भृत्य: स वै वणिक् ॥ ४ ॥
nanyatha te ’khila-guro ghateta karunatmanah yas ta asisa asaste na sa bhrtyah sa vai vanik
Otherwise, O my Lord, O supreme instructor of the entire world, You are so kind to Your devotee that You could not induce him to do something unbeneficial for him. On the other hand, one who desires some material benefit in exchange for devotional service cannot be Your pure devotee. Indeed, he is no better than a merchant who wants profit in exchange for service.
आशासानो न वै भृत्य: स्वामिन्याशिष आत्मन: । न स्वामी भृत्यत: स्वाम्यमिच्छन्यो राति चाशिष: ॥ ५ ॥
asasano na vai bhrtyah svaminy asisa atmanah na svami bhrtyatah svamyam icchan yo rati casisah
A servant who desires material profits from his master is certainly not a qualified servant or pure devotee. Similarly, a master who bestows benedictions upon his servant because of a desire to maintain a prestigious position as master is also not a pure master.
अहं त्वकामस्त्वद्भक्तस्त्वं च स्वाम्यनपाश्रय: । नान्यथेहावयोरर्थो राजसेवकयोरिव ॥ ६ ॥
aham tv akamas tvad-bhaktas tvam ca svamy anapasrayah nanyathehavayor artho raja-sevakayor iva
O my Lord, I am Your unmotivated servant, and You are my eternal master. There is no need of our being anything other than master and servant. You are naturally my master, and I am naturally Your servant. We have no other relationship.
यदि दास्यसि मे कामान्वरांस्त्वं वरदर्षभ । कामानां हृद्यसंरोहं भवतस्तु वृणे वरम् ॥ ७ ॥
yadi dasyasi me kaman varams tvam varadarsabha kamanam hrdy asamroham bhavatas tu vrne varam
O my Lord, best of the givers of benediction, if You at all want to bestow a desirable benediction upon me, then I pray from Your Lordship that within the core of my heart there be no material desires.
इन्द्रियाणि मन: प्राण आत्मा धर्मो धृतिर्मति: । ह्री: श्रीस्तेज: स्मृति: सत्यं यस्य नश्यन्ति जन्मना ॥ ८ ॥
indriyani manah prana atma dharmo dhrtir matih hrih sris tejah smrtih satyam yasya nasyanti janmana
O my Lord, because of lusty desires from the very beginning of one’s birth, the functions of one’s senses, mind, life, body, religion, patience, intelligence, shyness, opulence, strength, memory and truthfulness are vanquished.
विमुञ्चति यदा कामान्मानवो मनसि स्थितान् । तर्ह्येव पुण्डरीकाक्ष भगवत्त्वाय कल्पते ॥ ९ ॥
vimuncati yada kaman manavo manasi sthitan tarhy eva pundarikaksa bhagavattvaya kalpate
O my Lord, when a human being is able to give up all the material desires in his mind, he becomes eligible to possess wealth and opulence like Yours.
ॐ नमो भगवते तुभ्यं पुरुषाय महात्मने । हरयेऽद्भुतसिंहाय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने ॥ १० ॥
om namo bhagavate tubhyam purusaya mahatmane haraye ’dbhuta-simhaya brahmane paramatmane
O my Lord, full of six opulences, O Supreme Person! O Supreme Soul, killer of all miseries! O Supreme Person in the form of a wonderful lion and man, let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.
श्रीभगवानुवाच नैकान्तिनो मे मयि जात्विहाशिष आशासतेऽमुत्र च ये भवद्विधा: । तथापि मन्वन्तरमेतदत्र दैत्येश्वराणामनुभुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् ॥ ११ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca naikantino me mayi jatv ihasisa asasate ’mutra ca ye bhavad-vidhah tathapi manvantaram etad atra daityesvaranam anubhunksva bhogan
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Prahlada, a devotee like you never desires any kind of material opulences, either in this life or in the next. Nonetheless, I order you to enjoy the opulences of the demons in this material world, acting as their king until the end of the duration of time occupied by Manu.
कथा मदीया जुषमाण: प्रियास्त्व- मावेश्य मामात्मनि सन्तमेकम् । सर्वेषु भूतेष्वधियज्ञमीशं यजस्व योगेन च कर्म हिन्वन् ॥ १२ ॥
katha madiya jusamanah priyas tvam avesya mam atmani santam ekam sarvesu bhutesv adhiyajnam isam yajasva yogena ca karma hinvan
It does not matter that you are in the material world. You should always, continuously, hear the instructions and messages given by Me and always be absorbed in thought of Me, for I am the Supersoul existing in the core of everyone’s heart. Therefore, give up fruitive activities and worship Me.
भोगेन पुण्यं कुशलेन पापं कलेवरं कालजवेन हित्वा । कीर्तिं विशुद्धां सुरलोकगीतां विताय मामेष्यसि मुक्तबन्ध: ॥ १३ ॥
bhogena punyam kusalena papam kalevaram kala-javena hitva kirtim visuddham sura-loka-gitam vitaya mam esyasi mukta-bandhah
My dear Prahlada, while you are in this material world you will exhaust all the reactions of pious activity by feeling happiness, and by acting piously you will neutralize impious activity. Because of the powerful time factor, you will give up your body, but the glories of your activities will be sung in the upper planeary systems, and being fully freed from all bondage, you will return home, back to Godhead.
य एतत्कीर्तयेन्मह्यं त्वया गीतमिदं नर: । त्वां च मां च स्मरन्काले कर्मबन्धात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ १४ ॥
ya etat kirtayen mahyam tvaya gitam idam narah tvam ca mam ca smaran kale karma-bandhat pramucyate
One who always remembers your activities and My activities also, and who chants the prayers you have offered, becomes free, in due course of time, from the reactions of material activities.
श्रीप्रह्राद उवाच वरं वरय एतत्ते वरदेशान्महेश्वर । यदनिन्दत्पिता मे त्वामविद्वांस्तेज ऐश्वरम् ॥ १५ ॥ विद्धामर्षाशय: साक्षात्सर्वलोकगुरुं प्रभुम् । भ्रातृहेति मृषादृष्टिस्त्वद्भक्ते मयि चाघवान् ॥ १६ ॥ तस्मात्पिता मे पूयेत दुरन्ताद् दुस्तरादघात् । पूतस्तेऽपाङ्गसंदृष्टस्तदा कृपणवत्सल ॥ १७ ॥
sri-prahrada uvaca varam varaya etat te varadesan mahesvara yad anindat pita me tvam avidvams teja aisvaram viddhamarsasayah saksat sarva-loka-gurum prabhum bhratr-heti mrsa-drstis tvad-bhakte mayi caghavan tasmat pita me puyeta durantad dustarad aghat putas te ’panga-samdrstas tada krpana-vatsala
Prahlada Maharaja said: O Supreme Lord, because You are so merciful to the fallen souls, I ask You for only one benediction. I know that my father, at the time of his death, had already been purified by Your glance upon him, but because of his ignorance of Your beautiful power and supremacy, he was unnecessarily angry at You, falsely thinking that You were the killer of his brother. Thus he directly blasphemed Your Lordship, the spiritual master of all living beings, and committed heavily sinful activities directed against me, Your devotee. I wish that he be excused for these sinful activities.
श्रीभगवानुवाच त्रि:सप्तभि: पिता पूत: पितृभि: सह तेऽनघ । यत्साधोऽस्य कुले जातो भवान्वै कुलपावन: ॥ १८ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca trih-saptabhih pita putah pitrbhih saha te ’nagha yat sadho ’sya kule jato bhavan vai kula-pavanah
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Prahlada, O most pure, O great saintly person, your father has been purified, along with twenty-one forefathers in your family. Because you were born in this family, the entire dynasty has been purified.
यत्र यत्र च मद्भक्ता: प्रशान्ता: समदर्शिन: । साधव: समुदाचारास्ते पूयन्तेऽपि कीकटा: ॥ १९ ॥
yatra yatra ca mad-bhaktah prasantah sama-darsinah sadhavah samudacaras te puyante ’pi kikatah
Whenever and wherever there are peaceful, equipoised devotees who are well behaved and decorated with all good qualities, that place and the dynasties there, even if condemned, are purified.
सर्वात्मना न हिंसन्ति भूतग्रामेषु किञ्चन । उच्चावचेषु दैत्येन्द्र मद्भावविगतस्पृहा: ॥ २० ॥
sarvatmana na himsanti bhuta-gramesu kincana uccavacesu daityendra mad-bhava-vigata-sprhah
My dear Prahlada, King of the Daityas, because of being attached to devotional service to Me, My devotee does not distinguish between lower and higher living entities. In all respects, he is never jealous of anyone.
भवन्ति पुरुषा लोके मद्भक्तास्त्वामनुव्रता: । भवान्मे खलु भक्तानां सर्वेषां प्रतिरूपधृक् ॥ २१ ॥
bhavanti purusa loke mad-bhaktas tvam anuvratah bhavan me khalu bhaktanam sarvesam pratirupa-dhrk
Those who follow your example will naturally become My pure devotees. You are the best example of My devotee, and others should follow in your footsteps.
कुरु त्वं प्रेतकृत्यानि पितु: पूतस्य सर्वश: । मदङ्गस्पर्शनेनाङ्ग लोकान्यास्यति सुप्रजा: ॥ २२ ॥
kuru tvam preta-krtyani pituh putasya sarvasah mad-anga-sparsanenanga lokan yasyati suprajah
My dear child, your father has already been purified just by the touch of My body at the time of his death. Nonetheless, the duty of a son is to perform the sraddha ritualistic ceremony after his father’s death so that his father may be promoted to a planeary system where he may become a good citizen and devotee.
पित्र्यं च स्थानमातिष्ठ यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिभि: । मय्यावेश्य मनस्तात कुरु कर्माणि मत्पर: ॥ २३ ॥
pitryam ca sthanam atistha yathoktam brahmavadibhih mayy avesya manas tata kuru karmani mat-parah
After performing the ritualistic ceremonies, take charge of your father’s kingdom. Sit upon the throne and do not be disturbed by materialistic activities. Please keep your mind fixed upon Me. Without transgressing the injunctions of the Vedas, as a matter of formality you may perform your particular duties.
श्रीनारद उवाच प्रह्रादोऽपि तथा चक्रे पितुर्यत्साम्परायिकम् । यथाह भगवान् राजन्नभिषिक्तो द्विजातिभि: ॥ २४ ॥
sri-narada uvaca prahrado ’pi tatha cakre pitur yat samparayikam yathaha bhagavan rajann abhisikto dvijatibhih
Sri Narada Muni continued: Thus, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead ordered, Prahlada Maharaja performed the ritualistic ceremonies for his father. O King Yudhisthira, he was then enthroned in the kingdom of Hiranyakasipu, as directed by the brahmanas.
प्रसादसुमुखं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा नरहरिं हरिम् । स्तुत्वा वाग्भि: पवित्राभि: प्राह देवादिभिर्वृत: ॥ २५ ॥
prasada-sumukham drstva brahma naraharim harim stutva vagbhih pavitrabhih praha devadibhir vrtah
Lord Brahma, surrounded by the other demigods, was bright-faced because the Lord was pleased. Thus he offered prayers to the Lord with transcendental words.
श्रीब्रह्मोवाच देवदेवाखिलाध्यक्ष भूतभावन पूर्वज । दिष्टया ते निहत: पापो लोकसन्तापनोऽसुर: ॥ २६ ॥
sri-brahmovaca deva-devakhiladhyaksa bhuta-bhavana purvaja distya te nihatah papo loka-santapano ’surah
Lord Brahma said: O Supreme Lord of all lords, proprietor of the entire universe, O benedictor of all living entities, O original person (adi-purusa), because of our good fortune You have now killed this sinful demon, who was giving trouble to the entire universe.
योऽसौ लब्धवरो मत्तो न वध्यो मम सृष्टिभि: । तपोयोगबलोन्नद्ध: समस्तनिगमानहन् ॥ २७ ॥
yo ’sau labdha-varo matto na vadhyo mama srstibhih tapo-yoga-balonnaddhah samasta-nigaman ahan
This demon, Hiranyakasipu, received from me the benediction that he would not be killed by any living being within my creation. With this assurance and with strength derived from austerities and mystic power, he became excessively proud and transgressed all the Vedic injunctions.
दिष्टया तत्तनय: साधुर्महाभागवतोऽर्भक: । त्वया विमोचितो मृत्योर्दिष्टया त्वां समितोऽधुना ॥ २८ ॥
distya tat-tanayah sadhur maha-bhagavato ’rbhakah tvaya vimocito mrtyor distya tvam samito ’dhuna
By great fortune, Hiranyakasipu’s son Prahlada Maharaja has now been released from death, for although he is a child, he is an exalted devotee. Now he is fully under the protection of Your lotus feet.
एतद् वपुस्ते भगवन्ध्यायत: परमात्मन: । सर्वतो गोप्तृ सन्त्रासान्मृत्योरपि जिघांसत: ॥ २९ ॥
etad vapus te bhagavan dhyayatah paramatmanah sarvato goptr santrasan mrtyor api jighamsatah
My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are the Supreme Soul. If one meditates upon Your transcendental body, You naturally protect him from all sources of fear, even the imminent danger of death.
श्रीभगवानुवाच मैवं विभोऽसुराणां ते प्रदेय: पद्मसम्भव । वर: क्रूरनिसर्गाणामहीनाममृतं यथा ॥ ३० ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca maivam vibho ’suranam te pradeyah padma-sambhava varah krura-nisarganam ahinam amrtam yatha
The Personality of Godhead replied: My dear Lord Brahma, O great lord born from the lotus flower, just as it is dangerous to feed milk to a snake, so it is dangerous to give benedictions to demons, who are by nature ferocious and jealous. I warn you not to give such benedictions to any demon again.
श्रीनारद उवाच इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् राजंस्ततश्चान्तर्दधे हरि: । अदृश्य: सर्वभूतानां पूजित: परमेष्ठिना ॥ ३१ ॥
sri-narada uvaca ity uktva bhagavan rajams tatas cantardadhe harih adrsyah sarva-bhutanam pujitah paramesthina
Narada Muni continued: O King Yudhisthira, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is not visible to an ordinary human being, spoke in this way, instructing Lord Brahma. Then, being worshiped by Brahma, the Lord disappeared from that place.
तत: सम्पूज्य शिरसा ववन्दे परमेष्ठिनम् । भवं प्रजापतीन्देवान्प्रह्रादो भगवत्कला: ॥ ३२ ॥
tatah sampujya sirasa vavande paramesthinam bhavam prajapatin devan prahrado bhagavat-kalah
Prahlada Maharaja then worshiped and offered prayers to all the demigods, such as Brahma, Siva and the Prajapatis, who are all parts of the Lord.
तत: काव्यादिभि: सार्धं मुनिभि: कमलासन: । दैत्यानां दानवानां च प्रह्रादमकरोत्पतिम् ॥ ३३ ॥
tatah kavyadibhih sardham munibhih kamalasanah daityanam danavanam ca prahradam akarot patim
Thereafter, along with Sukracarya and other great saints, Lord Brahma, whose seat is on the lotus flower, made Prahlada the king of all the demons and giants in the universe.
प्रतिनन्द्य ततो देवा: प्रयुज्य परमाशिष: । स्वधामानि ययू राजन्ब्रह्माद्या: प्रतिपूजिता: ॥ ३४ ॥
pratinandya tato devah prayujya paramasisah sva-dhamani yayu rajan brahmadyah pratipujitah
O King Yudhisthira, after all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, were properly worshiped by Prahlada Maharaja, they offered Prahlada their utmost benedictions and then returned to their respective abodes.
एवं च पार्षदौ विष्णो: पुत्रत्वं प्रापितौ दिते: । हृदि स्थितेन हरिणा वैरभावेन तौ हतौ ॥ ३५ ॥
evam ca parsadau visnoh putratvam prapitau diteh hrdi sthitena harina vaira-bhavena tau hatau
Thus the two associates of Lord Visnu who had become Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu, the sons of Diti, were both killed. By illusion they had thought that the Supreme Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart, was their enemy.
पुनश्च विप्रशापेन राक्षसौ तौ बभूवतु: । कुम्भकर्णदशग्रीवौ हतौ तौ रामविक्रमै: ॥ ३६ ॥
punas ca vipra-sapena raksasau tau babhuvatuh kumbhakarna-dasa-grivau hatau tau rama-vikramaih
Being cursed by the brahmanas, the same two associates took birth again as Kumbhakarna and the ten-headed Ravana. These two Raksasas were killed by Lord Ramacandra’s extraordinary power.
शयानौ युधि निर्भिन्नहृदयौ रामशायकै: । तच्चित्तौ जहतुर्देहं यथा प्राक्तनजन्मनि ॥ ३७ ॥
sayanau yudhi nirbhinna- hrdayau rama-sayakaih tac-cittau jahatur deham yatha praktana-janmani
Pierced by the arrows of Lord Ramacandra, both Kumbhakarna and Ravana lay on the ground and left their bodies, fully absorbed in thought of the Lord, just as they had in their previous births as Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu.
ताविहाथ पुनर्जातौ शिशुपालकरूषजौ । हरौ वैरानुबन्धेन पश्यतस्ते समीयतु: ॥ ३८ ॥
tav ihatha punar jatau sisupala-karusa-jau harau vairanubandhena pasyatas te samiyatuh
They both took birth again in human society as Sisupala and Dantavakra and continued in the same enmity toward the Lord. It is they who merged into the body of the Lord in your presence.
एन: पूर्वकृतं यत् तद् राजान: कृष्णवैरिण: । जहुस्तेऽन्ते तदात्मान: कीट: पेशस्कृतो यथा ॥ ३९ ॥
enah purva-krtam yat tad rajanah krsna-vairinah jahus te ’nte tad-atmanah kitah pesaskrto yatha
Not only Sisupala and Dantavakra but also many, many other kings who acted as enemies of Krsna attained salvation at the time of death. Because they thought of the Lord, they received spiritual bodies and forms the same as His, just as worms captured by a black drone obtain the same type of body as the drone.
यथा यथा भगवतो भक्त्या परमयाभिदा । नृपाश्चैद्यादय: सात्म्यं हरेस्तच्चिन्तया ययु: ॥ ४० ॥
yatha yatha bhagavato bhaktya paramayabhida nrpas caidyadayah satmyam hares tac-cintaya yayuh
By devotional service, pure devotees who incessantly think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead receive bodies similar to His. This is known as sarupya-mukti. Although Sisupala, Dantavakra and other kings thought of Krsna as an enemy, they also achieved the same result.
आख्यातं सर्वमेतत्ते यन्मां त्वं परिपृष्टवान् । दमघोषसुतादीनां हरे: सात्म्यमपि द्विषाम् ॥ ४१ ॥
akhyatam sarvam etat te yan mam tvam pariprstavan damaghosa-sutadinam hareh satmyam api dvisam
Everything you asked me about how Sisupala and others attained salvation although they were inimical has now been explained to you by me.
एषा ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य कृष्णस्य च महात्मन: । अवतारकथा पुण्या वधो यत्रादिदैत्ययो: ॥ ४२ ॥
esa brahmanya-devasya krsnasya ca mahatmanah avatara-katha punya vadho yatradi-daityayoh
In this narration about Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, various expansions or incarnations of the Lord have been described, and the killing of the two demons Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu has also been described.
प्रह्रादस्यानुचरितं महाभागवतस्य च । भक्तिर्ज्ञानं विरक्तिश्च याथार्थ्यं चास्य वै हरे: ॥ ४३ ॥ सर्गस्थित्यप्ययेशस्य गुणकर्मानुवर्णनम् । परावरेषां स्थानानां कालेन व्यत्ययो महान् ॥ ४४ ॥
prahradasyanucaritam maha-bhagavatasya ca bhaktir jnanam viraktis ca yatharthyam casya vai hareh sarga-sthity-apyayesasya guna-karmanuvarnanam paravaresam sthananam kalena vyatyayo mahan
This narration describes the characteristics of the great and exalted devotee Prahlada Maharaja, his staunch devotional service, his perfect knowledge, and his perfect detachment from material contamination. It also describes the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of creation, maintenance and annihilation. Prahlada Maharaja, in his prayers, has described the transcendental qualities of the Lord and has also described how the various abodes of the demigods and demons, regardless of how materially opulent, are destroyed by the mere direction of the Lord.
धर्मो भागवतानां च भगवान्येन गम्यते । आख्यानेऽस्मिन्समाम्नातमाध्यात्मिकमशेषत: ॥ ४५ ॥
dharmo bhagavatanam ca bhagavan yena gamyate akhyane ’smin samamnatam adhyatmikam asesatah
The principles of religion by which one can actually understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are called bhagavata-dharma. In this narration, therefore, which deals with these principles, actual transcendence is properly described.
य एतत्पुण्यमाख्यानं विष्णोर्वीर्योपबृंहितम् । कीर्तयेच्छ्रद्धया श्रुत्वा कर्मपाशैर्विमुच्यते ॥ ४६ ॥
ya etat punyam akhyanam visnor viryopabrmhitam kirtayec chraddhaya srutva karma-pasair vimucyate
One who hears and chants this narration about the omnipotence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, is certainly liberated from material bondage without fail.
एतद्य आदिपुरुषस्य मृगेन्द्रलीलां दैत्येन्द्रयूथपवधं प्रयत: पठेत । दैत्यात्मजस्य च सतां प्रवरस्य पुण्यं श्रुत्वानुभावमकुतोभयमेति लोकम् ॥ ४७ ॥
etad ya adi-purusasya mrgendra-lilam daityendra-yutha-pa-vadham prayatah patheta daityatmajasya ca satam pravarasya punyam srutvanubhavam akuto-bhayam eti lokam
Prahlada Maharaja was the best among exalted devotees. Anyone who with great attention hears this narration concerning the activities of Prahlada Maharaja, the killing of Hiranyakasipu, and the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nrsimhadeva, surely reaches the spiritual world, where there is no anxiety.
यूयं नृलोके बत भूरिभागा लोकं पुनाना मुनयोऽभियन्ति । येषां गृहानावसतीति साक्षाद् गूढं परं ब्रह्म मनुष्यलिङ्गम् ॥ ४८ ॥
yuyam nr-loke bata bhuri-bhaga lokam punana munayo ’bhiyanti yesam grhan avasatiti saksad gudham param brahma manusya-lingam
Narada Muni continued: My dear Maharaja Yudhisthira, all of you (the Pandavas) are extremely fortunate, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, lives in your palace just like a human being. Great saintly persons know this very well, and therefore they constantly visit this house.
स वा अयं ब्रह्म महद्विमृग्य- कैवल्यनिर्वाणसुखानुभूति: । प्रिय: सुहृद् व: खलु मातुलेय आत्मार्हणीयो विधिकृद्गुरुश्च ॥ ४९ ॥
sa va ayam brahma mahad-vimrgya- kaivalya-nirvana-sukhanubhutih priyah suhrd vah khalu matuleya atmarhaniyo vidhi-krd gurus ca
The impersonal Brahman is Krsna Himself because Krsna is the source of the impersonal Brahman. He is the origin of the transcendental bliss sought by great saintly persons, yet He, the Supreme Person, is your most dear friend and constant well-wisher and is intimately related to you as the son of your maternal uncle. Indeed, He is always like your body and soul. He is worshipable, yet He acts as your servant and sometimes as your spiritual master.
न यस्य साक्षाद्भवपद्मजादिभी रूपं धिया वस्तुतयोपवर्णितम् । मौनेन भक्त्योपशमेन पूजित: प्रसीदतामेष स सात्वतां पति: ॥ ५० ॥
na yasya saksad bhava-padmajadibhi rupam dhiya vastutayopavarnitam maunena bhaktyopasamena pujitah prasidatam esa sa satvatam patih
Exalted persons like Lord Siva and Lord Brahma could not properly describe the truth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. May the Lord, who is always worshiped as the protector of all devotees by great saints who observe vows of silence, meditation, devotional service and renunciation, be pleased with us.
स एष भगवान् राजन्व्यतनोद्विहतं यश: । पुरा रुद्रस्य देवस्य मयेनानन्तमायिना ॥ ५१ ॥
sa esa bhagavan rajan vyatanod vihatam yasah pura rudrasya devasya mayenananta-mayina
My dear King Yudhisthira, long, long ago in history, a demon known as Maya Danava, who was very expert in technical knowledge, reduced the reputation of Lord Siva. In that situation, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, saved Lord Siva.
राजोवाच कस्मिन्कर्मणि देवस्य मयोऽहञ्जगदीशितु: । यथा चोपचिता कीर्ति: कृष्णेनानेन कथ्यताम् ॥ ५२ ॥
rajovaca kasmin karmani devasya mayo ’han jagad-isituh yatha copacita kirtih krsnenanena kathyatam
Maharaja Yudhisthira said: For what reason did the demon Maya Danava vanquish Lord Siva’s reputation? How did Lord Krsna save Lord Siva and expand his reputation again? Kindly describe these incidents.
श्रीनारद उवाच निर्जिता असुरा देवैर्युध्यनेनोपबृंहितै: । मायिनां परमाचार्यं मयं शरणमाययु: ॥ ५३ ॥
sri-narada uvaca nirjita asura devair yudhy anenopabrmhitaih mayinam paramacaryam mayam saranam ayayuh
Narada Muni said: When the demigods, who are always powerful by the mercy of Lord Krsna, fought with the asuras, the asuras were defeated, and therefore they took shelter of Maya Danava, the greatest of the demons.
स निर्माय पुरस्तिस्रो हैमीरौप्यायसीर्विभु: । दुर्लक्ष्यापायसंयोगा दुर्वितर्क्यपरिच्छदा: ॥ ५४ ॥ ताभिस्तेऽसुरसेनान्यो लोकांस्त्रीन् सेश्वरान्नृप । स्मरन्तो नाशयां चक्रु: पूर्ववैरमलक्षिता: ॥ ५५ ॥
sa nirmaya puras tisro haimi-raupyayasir vibhuh durlaksyapaya-samyoga durvitarkya-paricchadah tabhis te ’sura-senanyo lokams trin sesvaran nrpa smaranto nasayam cakruh purva-vairam alaksitah
Maya Danava, the great leader of the demons, prepared three invisible residences and gave them to the demons. These dwellings resembled airplanes made of gold, silver and iron, and they contained uncommon paraphernalia. My dear King Yudhisthira, because of these three dwellings the commanders of the demons remained invisible to the demigods. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the demons, remembering their former enmity, began to vanquish the three worlds — the upper, middle and lower planetary systems.
ततस्ते सेश्वरा लोका उपासाद्येश्वरं नता: । त्राहि नस्तावकान्देव विनष्टांस्त्रिपुरालयै: ॥ ५६ ॥
tatas te sesvara loka upasadyesvaram natah trahi nas tavakan deva vinastams tripuralayaih
Thereafter, when the demons had begun to destroy the higher planeary systems, the rulers of those planes went to Lord Siva, fully surrendered unto him and said: Dear Lord, we demigods living in the three worlds are about to be vanquished. We are your followers. Kindly save us.
अथानुगृह्य भगवान्मा भैष्टेति सुरान्विभु: । शरं धनुषि सन्धाय पुरेष्वस्त्रं व्यमुञ्चत ॥ ५७ ॥
athanugrhya bhagavan ma bhaisteti suran vibhuh saram dhanusi sandhaya puresv astram vyamuncata
The most powerful and able Lord Siva reassured them and said, Do not be afraid He then fixed his arrows to his bow and released them toward the three residences occupied by the demons.
ततोऽग्निवर्णा इषव उत्पेतु: सूर्यमण्डलात् । यथा मयूखसन्दोहा नादृश्यन्त पुरो यत: ॥ ५८ ॥
tato ’gni-varna isava utpetuh surya-mandalat yatha mayukha-sandoha nadrsyanta puro yatah
The arrows released by Lord Siva appeared like fiery beams emanating from the sun globe and covered the three residential airplanes, which could then no longer be seen.
तै: स्पृष्टा व्यसव: सर्वे निपेतु: स्म पुरौकस: । तानानीय महायोगी मय: कूपरसेऽक्षिपत् ॥ ५९ ॥
taih sprsta vyasavah sarve nipetuh sma puraukasah tan aniya maha-yogi mayah kupa-rase ’ksipat
Attacked by Lord Siva’s golden arrows, all the demoniac inhabitants of those three dwellings lost their lives and fell down. Then the great mystic Maya Danava dropped the demons into a nectarean well that he had created.
सिद्धामृतरसस्पृष्टा वज्रसारा महौजस: । उत्तस्थुर्मेघदलना वैद्युता इव वह्नय: ॥ ६० ॥
siddhamrta-rasa-sprsta vajra-sara mahaujasah uttasthur megha-dalana vaidyuta iva vahnayah
When the dead bodies of the demons came in touch with the nectar, their bodies became invincible to thunderbolts. Endowed with great strength, they got up like lightning penetrating clouds.
विलोक्य भग्नसङ्कल्पं विमनस्कं वृषध्वजम् । तदायं भगवान्विष्णुस्तत्रोपायमकल्पयत् ॥ ६१ ॥
vilokya bhagna-sankalpam vimanaskam vrsa-dhvajam tadayam bhagavan visnus tatropayam akalpayat
Seeing Lord Siva very much aggrieved and disappointed, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, considered how to stop this nuisance created by Maya Danava.
वत्सश्चासीत्तदा ब्रह्मा स्वयं विष्णुरयं हि गौ: । प्रविश्य त्रिपुरं काले रसकूपामृतं पपौ ॥ ६२ ॥
vatsas casit tada brahma svayam visnur ayam hi gauh pravisya tripuram kale rasa-kupamrtam papau
Then Lord Brahma became a calf and Lord Visnu a cow, and at noon they entered the residences and drank all the nectar in the well.
तेऽसुरा ह्यपि पश्यन्तो न न्यषेधन्विमोहिता: । तद्विज्ञाय महायोगी रसपालानिदं जगौ । स्मयन्विशोक: शोकार्तान्स्मरन्दैवगतिं च ताम् ॥ ६३ ॥
te ’sura hy api pasyanto na nyasedhan vimohitah tad vijnaya maha-yogi rasa-palan idam jagau smayan visokah sokartan smaran daiva-gatim ca tam
The demons could see the calf and cow, but because of the illusion created by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demons could not forbid them. The great mystic Maya Danava became aware that the calf and cow were drinking the nectar, and he could understand this to be the unseen power of providence. Thus he spoke to the demons, who were grievously lamenting.
देवोऽसुरो नरोऽन्यो वा नेश्वरोऽस्तीह कश्चन । आत्मनोऽन्यस्य वा दिष्टं दैवेनापोहितुं द्वयो: ॥ ६४ ॥
devo ’suro naro ’nyo va nesvaro ’stiha kascana atmano ’nyasya va distam daivenapohitum dvayoh
Maya Danava said: What has been destined by the Supreme Lord for oneself, for others, or for both oneself and others cannot be undone anywhere or by anyone, whether one be a demigod, a demon, a human being or anyone else.
अथासौ शक्तिभि: स्वाभि: शम्भो: प्राधानिकं व्यधात् । धर्मज्ञानविरक्त्यृद्धितपोविद्याक्रियादिभि: ॥ ६५ ॥ रथं सूतं ध्वजं वाहान्धनुर्वर्मशरादि यत् । सन्नद्धो रथमास्थाय शरं धनुरुपाददे ॥ ६६ ॥
athasau saktibhih svabhih sambhoh pradhanikam vyadhat dharma-jnana-virakty-rddhi- tapo-vidya-kriyadibhih ratham sutam dhvajam vahan dhanur varma-saradi yat sannaddho ratham asthaya saram dhanur upadade
Narada Muni continued: Thereafter, Lord Krsna, by His own personal potency, consisting of religion, knowledge, renunciation, opulence, austerity, education and activities, equipped Lord Siva with all the necessary paraphernalia, such as a chariot, a charioteer, a flag, horses, elephants, a bow, a shield and arrows. When Lord Siva was fully equipped in this way, he sat down on the chariot with his arrows and bow to fight with the demons.
शरं धनुषि सन्धाय मुहूर्तेऽभिजितीश्वर: । ददाह तेन दुर्भेद्या हरोऽथ त्रिपुरो नृप ॥ ६७ ॥
saram dhanusi sandhaya muhurte ’bhijitisvarah dadaha tena durbhedya haro ’tha tripuro nrpa
My dear King Yudhisthira, the most powerful Lord Siva joined the arrows to his bow, and at noon he set fire to all three residences of the demons and thus destroyed them.
दिवि दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्विमानशतसङ्कुला: । देवर्षिपितृसिद्धेशा जयेति कुसुमोत्करै: । अवाकिरञ्जगुर्हृष्टा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणा: ॥ ६८ ॥
divi dundubhayo nedur vimana-sata-sankulah devarsi-pitr-siddhesa jayeti kusumotkaraih avakiran jagur hrsta nanrtus capsaro-ganah
Seated in their airplanes in the sky, the inhabitants of the higher planeary systems beat many kettledrums. The demigods, saints, Pitas, Siddhas and various great personalities showered flowers on the head of Lord Siva, wishing him all victory, and the Apsaras began to chant and dance with great pleasure.
एवं दग्ध्वा पुरस्तिस्रो भगवान्पुरहा नृप । ब्रह्मादिभि: स्तूयमान: स्वं धाम प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ ६९ ॥
evam dagdhva puras tisro bhagavan pura-ha nrpa brahmadibhih stuyamanah svam dhama pratyapadyata
O King Yudhisthira, thus Lord Siva is known as Tripurari, the annihilator of the three dwellings of the demons, because he burnt these dwellings to ashes. Being worshiped by the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, Lord Siva returned to his own abode.
एवं विधान्यस्य हरे: स्वमायया विडम्बमानस्य नृलोकमात्मन: । वीर्याणि गीतान्यृषिभिर्जगद्गुरो- र्लोकं पुनानान्यपरं वदामि किम् ॥ ७० ॥
evam vidhany asya hareh sva-mayaya vidambamanasya nr-lokam atmanah viryani gitany rsibhir jagad-guror lokam punanany aparam vadami kim
The Lord, Sri Krsna, appeared as a human being, yet He performed many uncommon and wonderful pastimes by His own potency. How can I say more about His activities than what has already been said by great saintly persons? Everyone can be purified by His activities, simply by hearing about them from the right source.
