Canto 2: The Cosmic Manifestation

CHAPTER ONE

The First Step in God Realization

Invocation
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

Synonyms

om  — O my Lord;  namaḥ  — my respectful obeisances unto You;  bhagavate  — unto the
Personality of Godhead; vāsudevāya — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva.

Translation

O my Lord, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances

unto You.

Text 1
śrī-śuka uvāca
varīyān eṣa te praśnaḥ
kṛto loka-hitaṁ nṛpa
ātmavit-sammataḥ puṁsāṁ
śrotavyādiṣu yaḥ paraḥ

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ  uvāca  — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said;  varīyān— glorious;  eṣaḥ  — this;  te  —
your;  praśnaḥ  — question;  kṛtaḥ  — made by you;  loka-hitam  — beneficial for all
men; nṛpa — O King; ātmavit — transcendentalist; sammataḥ — approved; puṁsām — of
all men; śrotavya-ādiṣu — in all kinds of hearing; yaḥ— what is; paraḥ — the supreme.
 Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, your question is glorious because it is very
beneficial to all kinds of people. The answer to this question is the prime subject
matter for hearing, and it is approved by all transcendentalists.

Text 2
śrotavyādīni rājendra
nṛṇāṁ santi sahasraśaḥ
apaśyatām ātma-tattvaṁ
gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām

Synonyms

śrotavya-ādīni — subject matters for hearing; rājendra— O Emperor; nṛṇām — of human

society;  santi  — there are;  sahasraśaḥ  — hundreds and thousands;  apaśyatām  — of the
blind;  ātma-tattvam  — knowledge of self, the ultimate truth;  gṛheṣu  — at home;  gṛha-
medhinām — of persons too materially engrossed.

Translation

Those persons who are materially engrossed, being blind to the knowledge of ultimate
truth, have many subject matters for hearing in human society, O Emperor.

Text 3
nidrayā hriyate naktaṁ
vyavāyena ca vā vayaḥ
divā cārthehayā rājan
kuṭumba-bharaṇena vā

Synonyms
nidrayā  — by sleeping;  hriyate  — wastes;  naktam  — night;  vyavāyena  — sex
indulgence;  ca  — also;  vā  — either;  vayaḥ  — duration of life;  divā  — days;  ca  —
and;  artha  — economic;  īhayā  — development;  rājan  — O King;  kuṭumba  — family
members; bharaṇena — maintaining; vā — either.

Translation

The lifetime of such an envious householder is passed at night either in sleeping or in

sex indulgence, and in the daytime either in making money or maintaining family
members.

Text 4
dehāpatya-kalatrādiṣv
ātma-sainyeṣv asatsv api
teṣāṁ pramatto nidhanaṁ
paśyann api na paśyati

Synonyms

deha — body; apatya — children; kalatra — wife; ādiṣu— and in everything in relation to

them;  ātma  — own;  sainyeṣu  — fighting soldiers;  asatsu  — fallible;  api  — in spite
of; teṣām — of all of them; pramattaḥ — too attached; nidhanam — destruction; paśyan —
having been experienced; api — although; na — does not; paśyati — see it.

Translation

Persons devoid of ātma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too
attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children and wife. Although sufficiently
experienced, they still do not see their inevitable destruction.

Text 5
 tasmād bhārata sarvātmā
bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca
smartavyaś cecchatābhayam

Synonyms

tasmāt  — for this reason;  bhārata  — O descendant of Bharata;  sarvātmā  — the

Supersoul; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; īśvaraḥ — the controller; hariḥ— the
Lord, who vanquishes all miseries;  śrotavyaḥ  — is to be heard;  kīrtitavyaḥ  — to be
glorified; ca — also; smartavyaḥ — to be remembered; ca — and;  icchatā  — of one who
desires; abhayam — freedom.

Translation

O descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear
about, glorify and also remember the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul,
the controller and the savior from all miseries.

Text 6
etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ
sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām
ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ

Synonyms

etāvān  — all these;  sāṅkhya  — complete knowledge of matter and spirit;  yogābhyām  —
knowledge of mystic power;  sva-dharma  — particular occupational duty;  pariniṣṭhayā  —
by full perception; janma — birth; lābhaḥ — gain; paraḥ — the supreme; puṁsām — of a
person;  ante  — at the end;  nārāyaṇa  — the Personality of Godhead;  smṛtiḥ  —
remembrance.
 Translation

The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter
and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty,
is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.

Text 7
prāyeṇa munayo rājan
nivṛttā vidhi-ṣedhataḥ
nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma
guṇānukathane hareḥ

Synonyms

prāyeṇa  — mainly;  munayaḥ  — all sages;  rājan  — O King;  nivṛttāḥ  — above;  vidhi  —
regulative principles;  ṣedhataḥ  — from restrictions;  nairguṇya-sthāḥ  — transcendentally
situated; ramante — take pleasure in; sma — distinctly; guṇa-anukathane — describing the
glories; hareḥ — of the Lord.

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, mainly the topmost transcendentalists, who are above the regulative
principles and restrictions, take pleasure in describing the glories of the Lord.

Text 8
idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma
purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam
adhītavān dvāparādau
pitur dvaipāyanād aham

Synonyms
idam — this; bhāgavatam — Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; nāma— of the name; purāṇam — Vedic
supplement;  brahma-sammitam  — approved as the essence of the  Vedas;  adhītavān  —
studied;  dvāpara-ādau  — at the end of the Dvāpara-yuga;  pituḥ  — from my
father; dvaipāyanāt — Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva; aham — myself.

Translation

At the end of the Dvāpara-yuga, I studied this great supplement of Vedic literature
named  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is equal to all the Vedas, from my father, Śrīla
Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva.

Text 9
pariniṣṭhito ’pi nairguṇya
uttama-śloka-līlayā
gṛhīta-cetā rājarṣe
ākhyānaṁ yad adhītavān

Synonyms

pariniṣṭhitaḥ — fully realized; api — in spite of; nairguṇye — in transcendence; uttama —

enlightened; śloka — verse; līlayā — by the pastimes;  gṛhīta  — being attracted;  cetāḥ  —
attention; rājarṣe — O saintly King; ākhyānam — delineation; yat — that;  adhītavān  — I
have studied.

Translation

O saintly King, I was certainly situated perfectly in transcendence, yet I was still
attracted by the delineation of the pastimes of the Lord, who is described by
enlightened verses.

Text 10
 tad ahaṁ te ’bhidhāsyāmi
mahā-pauruṣiko bhavān
yasya śraddadhatām āśu
syān mukunde matiḥ satī

Synonyms

tat — that; aham — I; te  — unto you;  abhidhāsyāmi  — shall recite;  mahā-pauruṣikaḥ  —

the most sincere devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa;  bhavān  — your good self;  yasya— of
which;  śraddadhatām  — of one who gives full respect and attention;  āśu  — very
soon;  syāt  — it so becomes;  mukunde  — unto the Lord, who awards salvation;  matiḥ  —
faith; satī — unflinching.

Translation

That very  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  I shall recite before you because you are the most
sincere devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. One who gives full attention and respect to
hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam achieves unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord, the giver
of salvation.

Text 11
etan nirvidyamānānām
icchatām akuto-bhayam
yogināṁ nṛpa nirṇītaṁ
harer nāmānukīrtanam

Synonyms

etat  — it is;  nirvidyamānānām  — of those who are completely free from all material
desires; icchatām — of those who are desirous of all sorts of material enjoyment;  akutaḥ-
bhayam — free from all doubts and fear; yoginām — of all who are self-satisfied; nṛpa — O
King;  nirṇītam  — decided truth;  hareḥ  — of the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa;  nāma  — holy
name; anu — after someone, always; kīrtanam — chanting.
 Translation

O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great
authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are
free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and
also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.

Text 12
kiṁ pramattasya bahubhiḥ
parokṣair hāyanair iha
varaṁ muhūrtaṁ viditaṁ
ghaṭate śreyase yataḥ

Synonyms

kim  — what is;  pramattasya  — of the bewildered;  bahubhiḥ  — by many;  parokṣaiḥ  —

inexperienced;  hāyanaiḥ  — years;  iha  — in this world;  varam  — better;  muhūrtam  — a
moment; viditam  — conscious;  ghaṭate— one can try for;  śreyase  — in the matter of the
supreme interest; yataḥ — by that.

Translation

What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this
world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in
searching after his supreme interest.

Text 13
khaṭvāṅgo nāma rājarṣir
jñātveyattām ihāyuṣaḥ
muhūrtāt sarvam utsṛjya
gatavān abhayaṁ harim

Synonyms
khaṭvāṅgaḥ  — King Khaṭvāṅga;  nāma  — name;  rāja-ṛṣiḥ  — saintly king;  jñātvā  — by
knowing;  iyattām  — duration;  iha  — in this world;  āyuṣaḥ  — of one’s life;  muhūrtāt  —
within only a moment;  sarvam  — everything;  utsṛjya  — leaving aside;  gatavān  — had
undergone; abhayam — fully safe; harim — the Personality of Godhead.

Translation

The saintly King Khaṭvāṅga, after being informed that the duration of his life would
be only a moment more, at once freed himself from all material activities and took
shelter of the supreme safety, the Personality of Godhead.

Text 14
tavāpy etarhi kauravya
saptāhaṁ jīvitāvadhiḥ
upakalpaya tat sarvaṁ
tāvad yat sāmparāyikam

Synonyms

tava  — your;  api  — also;  etarhi  — therefore;  kauravya— O one born in the family of
Kuru;  saptāham  — seven days;  jīvita  — duration of life;  avadhiḥ  — up to the limit
of; upakalpaya — get them performed; tat — those; sarvam — all; tāvat — so long; yat —
which are; sāmparāyikam — rituals for the next life.

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit, now your duration of life is limited to seven more days, so during
this time you can perform all those rituals which are needed for the best purpose of
your next life.

Text 15
 anta-kāle tu puruṣa
āgate gata-sādhvasaḥ
chindyād asaṅga-śastreṇa
spṛhāṁ dehe ’nu ye ca tam

Synonyms

anta-kāle  — at the last stage of life;  tu  — but;  puruṣaḥ  — a person;  āgate  — having
arrived; gata-sādhvasaḥ — without any fear of death; chindyāt — must cut off; asaṅga  —
nonattachment; śastreṇa — by the weapon of; spṛhām — all desires; dehe — in the matter
of the material tabernacle; anu — pertaining; ye — all that; ca— also; tam — them.

Translation

At the last stage of one’s life, one should be bold enough not to be afraid of death. But
one must cut off all attachment to the material body and everything pertaining to it
and all desires thereof.

Text 16
gṛhāt pravrajito dhīraḥ
puṇya-tīrtha-jalāplutaḥ
śucau vivikta āsīno
vidhivat kalpitāsane

Synonyms

gṛhāt  — from one’s home;  pravrajitaḥ  — having gone out;  dhīraḥ  — self-
controlled; puṇya — pious; tīrtha — sacred place; jala-āplutaḥ — fully washed;  śucau  —
cleansed;  vivikte  — solitary;  āsīnaḥ  — seated;  vidhivat— according to
regulations; kalpita — having done; āsane — on a sitting place.

Translation
One should leave home and practice self-control. In a sacred place he should bathe
regularly and sit down in a lonely place duly sanctified.

Text 17
abhyasen manasā śuddhaṁ
trivṛd-brahmākṣaraṁ param
mano yacchej jita-śvāso
brahma-bījam avismaran

Synonyms

abhyaset  — one should practice;  manasā  — by the mind;  śuddham  — sacred;  tri-vṛt  —
composed of the three;  brahma-akṣaram  — transcendental letters;  param  — the
supreme;  manaḥ  — mind;  yacchet  — get under control;  jita-śvāsaḥ  — by regulating the
breathing air; brahma — absolute; bījam — seed; avismaran — without being forgotten.

Translation

After sitting in the above manner, make the mind remember the three transcendental
letters [a-u-m], and by regulating the breathing process, control the mind so as not to
forget the transcendental seed.

Text 18
niyacched viṣayebhyo ’kṣān
manasā buddhi-sārathiḥ
manaḥ karmabhir ākṣiptaṁ
śubhārthe dhārayed dhiyā

Synonyms

niyacchet  — withdraw;  viṣayebhyaḥ  — from sense engagements;  akṣān  — the

senses;  manasā  — by dint of the mind;  buddhi  — intelligence;  sārathiḥ  —
driver; manaḥ — the mind; karmabhiḥ — by the fruitive work; ākṣiptam — being absorbed
in;  śubha-arthe  — for the sake of the Lord;  dhārayet  — hold up;  dhiyā  — in full
consciousness.

Translation

Gradually, as the mind becomes progressively spiritualized, withdraw it from sense

activities, and by intelligence the senses will be controlled. The mind too absorbed in
material activities can be engaged in the service of the Personality of Godhead and
become fixed in full transcendental consciousness.

Text 19
tatraikāvayavaṁ dhyāyed
avyucchinnena cetasā
mano nirviṣayaṁ yuktvā
tataḥ kiñcana na smaret
padaṁ tat paramaṁ viṣṇor
mano yatra prasīdati

Synonyms

tatra — thereafter; eka — one by one; avayavam — limbs of the body; dhyāyet  — should

be concentrated upon;  avyucchinnena  — without being deviated from the complete
form; cetasā — by the mind; manaḥ — mind; nirviṣayam — without being contaminated by
sense objects; yuktvā — being dovetailed; tataḥ — after that; kiñcana — anything; na — do
not; smaret — think of; padam — personality; tat — that; paramam — Supreme; viṣṇoḥ —
of Viṣṇu; manaḥ — the mind; yatra— whereupon; prasīdati — becomes reconciled.

Translation

Thereafter, you should meditate upon the limbs of Viṣṇu, one after another, without
being deviated from the conception of the complete body. Thus the mind becomes free
from all sense objects. There should be no other thing to be thought upon. Because the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, is the Ultimate Truth, the mind becomes
completely reconciled in Him only.

Text 20
rajas-tamobhyām ākṣiptaṁ
vimūḍhaṁ mana ātmanaḥ
yacched dhāraṇayā dhīro
hanti yā tat-kṛtaṁ malam

Synonyms

rajaḥ — the passionate mode of nature; tamobhyām — as well as by the ignorant mode of

material nature;  ākṣiptam  — agitated;  vimūḍham  — bewildered;  manaḥ— the
mind; ātmanaḥ — of one’s own; yacchet — get it rectified; dhāraṇayā — by conception (of
Viṣṇu);  dhīraḥ— the pacified;  hanti  — destroys;  yā  — all those;  tat-kṛtam  — done by
them; malam — dirty things.

Translation

One’s mind is always agitated by the passionate mode of material nature and
bewildered by the ignorant mode of nature. But one can rectify such conceptions by
the relation of Viṣṇu and thus become pacified by cleansing the dirty things created by
them.

Text 21
yasyāṁ sandhāryamāṇāyāṁ
yogino bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ
āśu sampadyate yoga
āśrayaṁ bhadram īkṣataḥ

Synonyms
yasyām — by such systematic remembrance; sandhāryamāṇāyām — and thus being fixed in
the habit of; yoginaḥ — the mystics; bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ  — being practiced to the devotional
system;  āśu  — very soon;  sampadyate  — attains success;  yogaḥ  — connection by
devotional service;  āśrayam  — under the shelter of;  bhadram  — the all-good;  īkṣataḥ  —
which seeing that.

Translation

O King, by this system of remembrance and by being fixed in the habit of seeing the
all-good personal conception of the Lord, one can very soon attain devotional service
to the Lord, under His direct shelter.

Text 22
rājovāca
yathā sandhāryate brahman
dhāraṇā yatra sammatā
yādṛśī vā hared āśu
puruṣasya mano-malam

Synonyms

rājā uvāca — the fortunate King said; yathā  — as it is;  sandhāryate  — the conception is

made;  brahman  — O  brāhmaṇa;  dhāraṇā  — conception;  yatra  — where and
how;  sammatā  — in a summary;  yādṛśī  — the way by which;  vā  — or;  haret  —
extricated;  āśu  — without delay;  puruṣasya  — of a person;  manaḥ  — of the
mind; malam — dirty things.

Translation

The fortunate King Parīkṣit, inquiring further, said: O brāhmaṇa, please describe in
full detail how and where the mind has to be applied and how the conception can be
fixed so that the dirty things in a person’s mind can be removed.
 Text 23
śrī-śuka uvāca
jitāsano jita-śvāso
jita-saṅgo jitendriyaḥ
sthūle bhagavato rūpe
manaḥ sandhārayed dhiyā

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said;  jita-āsanaḥ— controlled sitting posture;  jita-

śvāsaḥ  — controlled breathing process;  jita-saṅgaḥ  — controlled association;  jita-
indriyaḥ  — controlled senses;  sthūle  — in the gross matter;  bhagavataḥ  — unto the
Personality of Godhead; rūpe — in the feature of; manaḥ — the mind; sandhārayet — must
apply; dhiyā — by intelligence.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī answered: One should control the sitting posture, regulate the
breathing process by the yogic prāṇāyāma and thus control the mind and senses and
with intelligence apply the mind to the gross potencies of the Lord [called the virāṭ-
rūpa].

Text 24
viśeṣas tasya deho ’yaṁ
sthaviṣṭhaś ca sthavīyasām
yatredaṁ vyajyate viśvaṁ
bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhavac ca sat

Synonyms

viśeṣaḥ  — personal;  tasya  — His;  dehaḥ  — body;  ayam— this;  sthaviṣṭhaḥ  — grossly
material;  ca  — and;  sthavīyasām  — of all matter;  yatra  — wherein;  idam  — all these
phenomena; vyajyate — is experienced;  viśvam  — universe;  bhūtam  — past;  bhavyam  —
future; bhavat — present; ca — and; sat — resultant.

Translation

This gigantic manifestation of the phenomenal material world as a whole is the

personal body of the Absolute Truth, wherein the universal resultant past, present and
future of material time is experienced.

Text 25
aṇḍa-kośe śarīre ’smin
saptāvaraṇa-saṁyute
vairājaḥ puruṣo yo ’sau
bhagavān dhāraṇāśrayaḥ

Synonyms

aṇḍa-kośe — within the universal shell; śarīre  — in the body of;  asmin  — this;  sapta  —
sevenfold;  āvaraṇa  — coverings;  saṁyute  — having so done;  vairājaḥ  — the gigantic
universal;  puruṣaḥ  — form of the Lord;  yaḥ  — that;  asau  — He;  bhagavān  — the
Personality of Godhead; dhāraṇā — conception; āśrayaḥ — object of.

Translation

The gigantic universal form of the Personality of Godhead, within the body of the
universal shell, which is covered by sevenfold material elements, is the subject for the
virāṭ conception.

Text 26
pātālam etasya hi pāda-mūlaṁ
paṭhanti pārṣṇi-prapade rasātalam
 mahātalaṁ viśva-sṛjo ’tha gulphau
talātalaṁ vai puruṣasya jaṅghe

Synonyms

pātālam — the planets at the bottom of the universe; etasya — of His; hi — exactly; pāda-

mūlam — soles of the feet; paṭhanti — they study it;  pārṣṇi  — the heels;  prapade  — the
toes;  rasātalam  — the planets named Rasātala;  mahātalam  — the planets named
Mahātala;  viśva-sṛjaḥ  — of the creator of the universe;  atha  — thus;  gulphau  — the
ankles;  talātalam  — the planets named Talātala;  vai  — as they are;  puruṣasya  — of the
gigantic person; jaṅghe — the shanks.

Translation

Persons who have realized it have studied that the planets known as Pātāla constitute
the bottoms of the feet of the universal Lord, and the heels and the toes are the
Rasātala planets. The ankles are the Mahātala planets, and His shanks constitute the
Talātala planets.

Text 27
dve jānunī sutalaṁ viśva-mūrter
ūru-dvayaṁ vitalaṁ cātalaṁ ca
mahītalaṁ taj-jaghanaṁ mahīpate
nabhastalaṁ nābhi-saro gṛṇanti

Synonyms

dve  — two;  jānunī  — two knees;  sutalam  — the planetary system named Sutala;  viśva-
mūrteḥ  — of the universal form;  ūru-dvayam  — the two thighs;  vitalam— the planetary
system named Vitala;  ca  — also;  atalam  — the planets named Atala;  ca  —
and;  mahītalam  — the planetary system named Mahītala;  tat— of that;  jaghanam  — the
hips; mahīpate — O King; nabhastalam — outer space;  nābhi-saraḥ  — the depression of
the navel; gṛṇanti — they take it so.
 Translation

The knees of the universal form are the planetary system of the name Sutala, and the
two thighs are the Vitala and Atala planetary systems. The hips are Mahītala, and
outer space is the depression of His navel.

Text 28
uraḥ-sthalaṁ jyotir-anīkam asya
grīvā mahar vadanaṁ vai jano ’sya
tapo varāṭīṁ vidur ādi-puṁsaḥ
satyaṁ tu śīrṣāṇi sahasra-śīrṣṇaḥ

Synonyms

uraḥ — high; sthalam — place (the chest); jyotiḥ-anīkam— the luminary planets;  asya  —

of Him;  grīvā  — the neck;  mahaḥ  — the planetary system above the
luminaries;  vadanam  — mouth;  vai  — exactly;  janaḥ  — the planetary system above
Mahar;  asya  — of Him;  tapaḥ  — the planetary system above the Janas;  varāṭīm—
forehead;  viduḥ  — is known;  ādi  — the original;  puṁsaḥ  — personality;  satyam  — the
topmost planetary system;  tu  — but;  śīrṣāṇi  — the head;  sahasra— one
thousand; śīrṣṇaḥ — one with heads.

Translation

The chest of the Original Personality of the gigantic form is the luminary planetary
system, His neck is the Mahar planets, His mouth is the Janas planets, and His
forehead is the Tapas planetary system. The topmost planetary system, known as
Satyaloka, is the head of He who has one thousand heads.

Text 29
indrādayo bāhava āhur usrāḥ
karṇau diśaḥ śrotram amuṣya śabdaḥ
 nāsatya-dasrau paramasya nāse
ghrāṇo ’sya gandho mukham agnir iddhaḥ

Synonyms

indra-ādayaḥ — demigods headed by the heavenly king, Indra; bāhavaḥ — arms; āhuḥ —

are called;  usrāḥ  — the demigods;  karṇau  — the ears;  diśaḥ  — the four
directions;  śrotram  — the sense of hearing;  amuṣya  — of the Lord;  śabdaḥ  —
sound; nāsatya-dasrau — the demigods known as the Aśvinī-kumāras; paramasya — of the
Supreme;  nāse  — nostrils;  ghrāṇaḥ  — the sense of smell;  asya  — of Him;  gandhaḥ  —
fragrance; mukham — the mouth; agniḥ — fire; iddhaḥ — blazing.

Translation

His arms are the demigods headed by Indra, the ten directional sides are His ears, and
physical sound is His sense of hearing. His nostrils are the two Aśvinī-kumāras, and
material fragrance is His sense of smell. His mouth is the blazing fire.

Text 30
dyaur akṣiṇī cakṣur abhūt pataṅgaḥ
pakṣmāṇi viṣṇor ahanī ubhe ca
tad-bhrū-vijṛmbhaḥ parameṣṭhi-dhiṣṇyam
āpo ’sya tālū rasa eva jihvā

Synonyms

dyauḥ  — the sphere of outer space;  akṣiṇī  — the eyeballs;  cakṣuḥ  — of eyes
(senses); abhūt — it so became; pataṅgaḥ — the sun; pakṣmāṇi — eyelids; viṣṇoḥ — of the
Personality of Godhead, Śrī Viṣṇu; ahanī — day and night; ubhe — both; ca — and; tat —
His;  bhrū  — eyebrows;  vijṛmbhaḥ  — movements;  parameṣṭhi  — the supreme entity
(Brahmā);  dhiṣṇyam— post;  āpaḥ  — Varuṇa, the director of water;  asya  — His;  tālū  —
palate; rasaḥ — juice; eva — certainly; jihvā— the tongue.
 Translation

The sphere of outer space constitutes His eyepits, and the eyeball is the sun as the
power of seeing. His eyelids are both the day and night, and in the movements of His
eyebrows, Brahmā and similar supreme personalities reside. His palate is the director
of water, Varuṇa, and the juice or essence of everything is His tongue.

Text 31
chandāṁsy anantasya śiro gṛṇanti
daṁṣṭrā yamaḥ sneha-kalā dvijāni
hāso janonmāda-karī ca māyā
duranta-sargo yad-apāṅga-mokṣaḥ

Synonyms

chandāṁsi  — the Vedic hymns;  anantasya  — of the Supreme;  śiraḥ  — the cerebral
passage;  gṛṇanti  — they say;  daṁṣṭrāḥ  — the jaws of teeth;  yamaḥ  — Yamarāja, the
director of sinners; sneha-kalāḥ — the art of affection; dvijāni — the set of teeth; hāsaḥ —
smile;  jana-unmāda-karī  — the most alluring;  ca  — also;  māyā— illusory
energy;  duranta  — unsurpassable;  sargaḥ  — the material creation;  yat-apāṅga  — whose
glance; mokṣaḥ — casting over.

Translation

They say that the Vedic hymns are the cerebral passage of the Lord, and His jaws of
teeth are Yama, god of death, who punishes the sinners. The art of affection is His set
of teeth, and the most alluring illusory material energy is His smile. This great ocean of
material creation is but the casting of His glance over us.

Text 32
vrīḍottarauṣṭho ’dhara eva lobho
dharmaḥ stano ’dharma-patho ’sya pṛṣṭham
 kas tasya meḍhraṁ vṛṣaṇau ca mitrau
kukṣiḥ samudrā girayo ’sthi-saṅghāḥ

Synonyms

vrīḍa  — modesty;  uttara  — upper;  oṣṭha  — lip;  adharaḥ— chin;  eva  —

certainly;  lobhaḥ  — hankering;  dharmaḥ— religion;  stanaḥ  — breast;  adharma  —
irreligion;  pathaḥ  — way;  asya  — His;  pṛṣṭham  — back;  kaḥ  — Brahmā;  tasya  —
His;  meḍhram  — genitals;  vṛṣaṇau  — testicles;  ca  — also;  mitrau  — the Mitrā-
varuṇas;  kukṣiḥ— waist;  samudrāḥ  — the oceans;  girayaḥ  — the hills;  asthi  —
bones; saṅghāḥ — stack.

Translation

Modesty is the upper portion of His lips, hankering is His chin, religion is the breast of
the Lord, and irreligion is His back. Brahmājī, who generates all living beings in the
material world, is His genitals, and the Mitrā-varuṇas are His two testicles. The ocean
is His waist, and the hills and mountains are the stacks of His bones.

Text 33
nadyo ’sya nāḍyo ’tha tanū-ruhāṇi
mahī-ruhā viśva-tanor nṛpendra
ananta-vīryaḥ śvasitaṁ mātariśvā
gatir vayaḥ karma guṇa-pravāhaḥ

Synonyms

nadyaḥ  — the rivers;  asya  — of Him;  nāḍyaḥ  — veins;  atha  — and thereafter;  tanū-
ruhāṇi  — hairs on the body;  mahī-ruhāḥ  — the plants and trees;  viśva-tanoḥ— of the
universal form;  nṛpa-indra  — O King;  ananta-vīryaḥ  — of the omnipotent;  śvasitam  —
breathing;  mātariśvā  — air;  gatiḥ  — movement;  vayaḥ  — passing ages;  karma  —
activity; guṇa-pravāhaḥ — reactions of the modes of nature.
 Translation

O King, the rivers are the veins of the gigantic body, the trees are the hairs of His body,
and the omnipotent air is His breath. The passing ages are His movements, and His
activities are the reactions of the three modes of material nature.

Text 34
īśasya keśān vidur ambuvāhān
vāsas tu sandhyāṁ kuru-varya bhūmnaḥ
avyaktam āhur hṛdayaṁ manaś ca
sa candramāḥ sarva-vikāra-kośaḥ

Synonyms

īśasya — of the supreme controller; keśān — hairs on the head; viduḥ — you may know it
from me; ambu-vāhān — the clouds which carry water; vāsaḥ tu — the dress; sandhyām —
termination of day and night;  kuru-varya  — O best of the Kurus;  bhūmnaḥ  — of the
Almighty; avyaktam — the prime cause of material creation; āhuḥ — it is said; hṛdayam —
intelligence; manaḥ ca — and the mind; saḥ — He; candramāḥ — the moon; sarva-vikāra-
kośaḥ — the reservoir of all changes.

Translation

O best amongst the Kurus, the clouds which carry water are the hairs on His head, the
terminations of days or nights are His dress, and the supreme cause of material
creation is His intelligence. His mind is the moon, the reservoir of all changes.

Text 35
vijñāna-śaktiṁ mahim āmananti
sarvātmano ’ntaḥ-karaṇaṁ giritram
aśvāśvatary-uṣṭra-gajā nakhāni
sarve mṛgāḥ paśavaḥ śroṇi-deśe
 Synonyms

vijñāna-śaktim — consciousness; mahim — the principle of matter; āmananti — they call it

so;  sarva-ātmanaḥ  — of the omnipresent;  antaḥ-karaṇam  — ego;  giritram  — Rudra
(Śiva);  aśva  — horse;  aśvatari  — mule;  uṣṭra  — camel;  gajāḥ  — elephant;  nakhāni  —
nails;  sarve  — all other;  mṛgāḥ  — stags;  paśavaḥ  — quadrupeds;  śroṇi-deśe  — on the
region of the belt.

Translation

The principle of matter [mahat-tattva] is the consciousness of the omnipresent Lord,

as asserted by the experts, and Rudradeva is His ego. The horse, mule, camel and
elephant are His nails, and wild animals and all quadrupeds are situated in the belt
zone of the Lord.

Text 36
vayāṁsi tad-vyākaraṇaṁ vicitraṁ
manur manīṣā manujo nivāsaḥ
gandharva-vidyādhara-cāraṇāpsaraḥ
svara-smṛtīr asurānīka-vīryaḥ

Synonyms

vayāṁsi — varieties of birds; tat-vyākaraṇam  — vocables;  vicitram  — artistic;  manuḥ  —

the father of mankind;  manīṣā  — thoughts;  manujaḥ  — mankind (the sons of
Manu);  nivāsaḥ  — residence;  gandharva  — the human beings named
Gandharvas;  vidyādhara  — the Vidyādharas;  cāraṇa  — the Cāraṇas;  apsaraḥ  — the
angels;  svara  — musical rhythm;  smṛtīḥ  — remembrance;  asura-anīka  — the demoniac
soldiers; vīryaḥ — prowess.

Translation
Varieties of birds are indications of His masterful artistic sense. Manu, the father of
mankind, is the emblem of His standard intelligence, and humanity is His residence.
The celestial species of human beings, like the Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Cāraṇas and
angels, all represent His musical rhythm, and the demoniac soldiers are
representations of His wonderful prowess.

Text 37
brahmānanaṁ kṣatra-bhujo mahātmā
viḍ ūrur aṅghri-śrita-kṛṣṇa-varṇaḥ
nānābhidhābhījya-gaṇopapanno
dravyātmakaḥ karma vitāna-yogaḥ

Synonyms

brahma  — the  brāhmaṇas;  ānanam  — the face;  kṣatra— the  kṣatriyas;  bhujaḥ  — the
arms; mahātmā — the virāṭ-puruṣa; viṭ — the vaiśyas; ūruḥ — the thighs;  aṅghri-śrita  —
under the protection of His feet; kṛṣṇa-varṇaḥ — the śūdras; nānā — various;  abhidhā  —
by names;  abhījya-gaṇa  — the demigods;  upapannaḥ  — being overtaken;  dravya-
ātmakaḥ  — with feasible goods;  karma  — activities;  vitāna-yogaḥ  — performances of
sacrifice.

Translation

The virāṭ-puruṣa’s face is the brāhmaṇas, His arms are the kṣatriyas, His thighs are
the vaiśyas, and the śūdras are under the protection of His feet. All the worshipable
demigods are also overtaken by Him, and it is the duty of everyone to perform
sacrifices with feasible goods to appease the Lord.

Text 38
iyān asāv īśvara-vigrahasya
yaḥ sanniveśaḥ kathito mayā te
 sandhāryate ’smin vapuṣi sthaviṣṭhe
manaḥ sva-buddhyā na yato ’sti kiñcit

Synonyms

iyān — all these; asau — that; īśvara — Supreme Lord; vigrahasya — of the form; yaḥ —

whatsoever; sanniveśaḥ — as they are located; kathitaḥ — explained; mayā — by me; te —
unto you;  sandhāryate— one may concentrate;  asmin  — in this;  vapuṣi  — form
of  virāṭ;  sthaviṣṭhe  — in the gross;  manaḥ  — mind;  sva-buddhyā  — by one’s
intelligence; na — not; yataḥ — beyond Him; asti — there is; kiñcit — anything else.

Translation

I have thus explained to you the gross material gigantic conception of the Personality
of Godhead. One who seriously desires liberation concentrates his mind on this form
of the Lord, because there is nothing more than this in the material world.

Text 39
sa sarva-dhī-vṛtty-anubhūta-sarva
ātmā yathā svapna-janekṣitaikaḥ
taṁ satyam ānanda-nidhiṁ bhajeta
nānyatra sajjed yata ātma-pātaḥ

Synonyms

saḥ — He (the Supreme Person); sarva-dhī-vṛtti — the process of realization by all sorts of

intelligence; anubhūta — cognizant; sarve — everyone; ātmā — the Supersoul; yathā — as
much as;  svapna-jana  — a person dreaming;  īkṣita  — seen by;  ekaḥ  — one and the
same;  tam  — unto Him;  satyam  — the Supreme Truth;  ānanda-nidhim  — the ocean of
bliss;  bhajeta  — must one worship;  na  — never;  anyatra  — anything else;  sajjet  — be
attached; yataḥ — whereby; ātma-pātaḥ — degradation of oneself.

Translation
One should concentrate his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who
alone distributes Himself in so many manifestations just as ordinary persons create
thousands of manifestations in dreams. One must concentrate the mind on Him, the
only all-blissful Absolute Truth. Otherwise one will be misled and will cause his own
degradation.