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Hare Krsna!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all Vaisnavas!
While looking for passages regarding Avataras I ran across this chapter of the Madhya Lila of the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta. This chapter contains Lord Caitanya's instructions to Sanatana Gosvami regarding the Absolute Truth. In these instructions are many specific explanations regarding the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am including here only the text translations mainly for the sake of brevity. The Purports of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami may contain some more details. You should be able to download the whole Madhya Lila of the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta with complete purports by Bhaktivedanta Swami at the following site.
Free Hare Krsna Books Download Site
Your servant in Krsna consciousness,
Citraketu dasa
DHARMA
Chapter 20
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science of the Absolute Truth
The following summary study of this chapter is given by Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. When Srila Sanatana Gosvami was imprisoned by Nawab Hussain Shah, he received news from Rupa Gosvami that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had gone to Mathura. Sanatana Gosvami thereafter satisfied the superintendent of the jail by sweet solicitations and bribery. After giving the jailer seven thousand gold coins, Sanatana Gosvami was released. He then crossed the Ganges and fled. One of his servants, Isana, followed him, carrying eight gold coins. Sanatana Gosvami and his servant then spent the night in a small hotel on the way to Benares. The hotel owner knew that Sanatana Gosvami and his servant had eight gold coins, and he decided to kill them and take the money. Making plans in this way, the hotel owner received them as honorable guests. Sanatana Gosvami, however, asked his servant how much money he had, and, taking seven of the gold coins, Sanatana offered them to the hotel owner. Thus the owner helped them reach the hilly tract toward Varanasi. On the way, Sanatana Gosvami met his brother-in-law, Srikanta, at Hajipura, and Srikanta helped him after he had heard about all Sanatana's troubles. Thus Sanatana Gosvami finally arrived at Varanasi and stood before the door of Candrasekhara. Caitanya Mahaprabhu called him in and ordered him to change his dress so that he could look like a gentleman. For his garment, he used an old cloth of Tapana Misra's. Later, he exchanged his valuable blanket for a torn quilt. At this time Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased with him, and thus Sri Sanatana Gosvami received knowledge of the Absolute Truth from the Lord Himself.
First they discussed the constitutional position of the living entities, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained to Sanatana Gosvami how the living entity is one of Lord Krsna's energies. After this, the Lord explained the way of devotional service. While discussing the Absolute Truth, Sri Krsna, the Lord analyzed Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan, as well as the expansions of the Lord called svayam-rupa, tad-ekatma and avesa, which are divided into various branches known as vaibhava and prabhava. Thus the Lord described the many forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He also described the incarnations of God within the material world, incarnations such as the purusa-avataras, manvantara-avataras, guna-avataras and saktyavesa-avataras. The Lord also discussed the divisions of Krsna's different ages, such as balya and pauganda, and the different pastimes of the different ages. He explained how Krsna attained His permanent form when He reached youth. In this way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained and described everything to Sanatana Gosvami.
TEXT 1
TEXT
vande 'nantadbhutaisvaryam
sri-caitanya-mahaprabhum
nico 'pi yat-prasadat syad
bhakti-sastra-pravartakah
TRANSLATION
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who has unlimited, wonderful opulences. By His mercy, even a person born as the lowest of men can spread the science of devotional service.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
TRANSLATION
All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Acarya! And all glories to all the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
TEXT 3
TEXT
etha gaude sanatana ache bandi-sale
sri-rupa-gosanira patri aila hena-kale
TRANSLATION
While Sanatana Gosvami was imprisoned in Bengal, a letter arrived from Srila Rupa Gosvami.
TEXT 4
TEXT
patri pana sanatana anandita haila
yavana-raksaka-pasa kahite lagila
TRANSLATION
When Sanatana Gosvami received this note from Rupa Gosvami, he became very pleased. He immediately went to the jail superintendent, who was a meat-eater, and spoke as follows.
TEXT 5
TEXT
"tumi eka jinda-pira maha-bhagyavan
ketaba-korana-sastre ache tomara jnana
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami told the Mohammedan jailkeeper, "Dear sir, you are a saintly person and are very fortunate. You have full knowledge of the revealed scriptures such as the Koran and similar books.
TEXT 6
TEXT
eka bandi chade yadi nija-dharma dekhiya
samsara ha-ite tare mukta karena gosana
TRANSLATION
"If one releases a conditioned soul or imprisoned person according to religious principles, he himself is also released from material bondage by the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
TEXT 7
TEXT
purve ami tomara kariyachi upakara
tumi ama chadi' kara pratyupakara
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami continued, "Previously I have done much for you. Now I am in difficulty. Please return my goodwill by releasing me.
TEXT 8
TEXT
panca sahasra mudra tumi kara angikara
punya, artha,----dui labha ha-ibe tomara"
TRANSLATION
"Here are five thousand gold coins. Please accept them. By releasing me, you will receive the results of pious activities and gain material profit as well. Thus you will profit in two ways simultaneously."
TEXT 9
TEXT
tabe sei yavana kahe,----"suna, mahasaya
tomare chadiba, kintu kari raja-bhaya"
TRANSLATION
In this way Sanatana Gosvami convinced the jailkeeper, who replied, "Please hear me, my dear sir. I am willing to release you, but I am afraid of the government."
TEXTS 10-11
TEXT
sanatana kahe,----"tumi na kara raja-bhaya
daksina giyache yadi leuti' aoyaya
tanhare kahio----sei bahya-krtye gela
gangara nikata ganga dekhi' jhanpa dila
TRANSLATION
Sanatana replied, "There is no danger. The Nawab has gone to the south. If he returns, tell him that Sanatana went to pass stool near the bank of the Gages and that as soon as he saw the Ganges, he jumped in.
TEXT 12
TEXT
aneka dekhila, tara lag na paila
daduka-sahita dubi kahan vahi' gela
TRANSLATION
"Tell him, 'I looked for him a long time, but I could not find any trace of him. He jumped in with his shackles, and therefore he was drowned and washed away by the waves.'
TEXT 13
TEXT
kichu bhaya nahi, ami e-dese na raba
daravesa hana ami makkake yaiba"
TRANSLATION
"There is no reason for you to be afraid, for I shall not remain in this country. I shall become a mendicant and go to the holy city of Mecca."
TEXT 14
TEXT
tathapi yavana-mana prasanna na dekhila
sata-hajara mudra tara age rasi kaila
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami could see that the mind of the meat-eater was still not satisfied. He then stacked Seven thousand gold coins before him.
TEXT 15
TEXT
lobha ha-ila yavanera mudra dekhiya
ratre ganga-para kaila daduka katiya
TRANSLATION
When the meat-eater saw the coins, he was attracted to them. He then agreed, and that night he cut Sanatana's shackles and let him cross the Ganges.
TEXT 16
TEXT
gada-dvara-patha chadila, nare tahan yaite
ratri-dina cali' aila patada-parvate
TRANSLATION
In this way, Sanatana Gosvami was released. However, he was not able to walk along the path of the fortress. Walking day and night, he finally arrived at the hilly tract of land known as Patada.
TEXT 17
TEXT
tatha eka bhaumika haya, tara thani gela
'parvata para kara ama'----vinati karila
TRANSLATION
After reaching Patada, he met a landholder and submissively requested him to get him across that hilly tract of land.
TEXT 18
TEXT
sei bhunara sange haya hata-ganita
bhunara kane kahe sei jani' ei katha
TRANSLATION
A man who was expert in palmistry was at that time staying with the landlord. Knowing about Sanatana, he whispered the following in the landlord's ear.
TEXT 19
TEXT
'inhara thani suvarnera asta mohara haya'
suni' anandita bhuna sanatane kaya
TRANSLATION
The palmist said, "This man Sanatana possesses eight gold coins." Hearing this, the landlord was very pleased and spoke the following to Sanatana Gosvami.
TEXT 20
TEXT
"ratrye parvata para kariba nija-loka diya
bhojana karaha tumi randhana kariya"
TRANSLATION
The landlord said, "I shall get you across that hilly tract at night with my own men. Now just take your lunch and cook for yourself."
TEXT 21
TEXT
eta bali' anna dila kariya sammana
sanatana asi' tabe kaila nadi-snana
TRANSLATION
Saying this, the landlord offered Sanatana grains to cook. Sanatana then went to the riverside and took his bath.
TEXT 22
TEXT
dui upavase kaila randhana-bhojane
raja-mantri sanatana vicarila mane
TRANSLATION
Because Sanatana had been fasting for two days, he cooked the food and ate it. However, having formerly been a minister of the Nawab, he began to contemplate the situation.
TEXT 23
TEXT
'ei bhuna kene more sammana karila?'
eta cinti' sanatana isane puchila
TRANSLATION
As a former minister for the Nawab, Sanatana could certainly understand diplomacy. He therefore thought, "Why is this landlord offering me such respect?" Thinking in this way, he questioned his servant, whose name was Isana.
TEXT 24
TEXT
'tomara thani jani kichu dravya achaya'
isana kahe,----'mora thani sata mohara haya'
TRANSLATION
Sanatana asked his servant, "Isana, I think you have some valuable things with you." Isana replied, "Yes, I have seven gold coins."
TEXT 25
TEXT
suni' sanatana tare karila bhartsana
'sange kene aniyacha ei kala-yama?'
TRANSLATION
Hearing this, Sanatana Gosvami chastised his servant, saying, "Why have you brought this death knell with you?"
TEXT 26
TEXT
tabe sei sata mohara hastete kariya
bhunara kache yana kahe mohara dhariya
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, Sanatana Gosvami took the seven gold coins in his hands and went to the landlord. Holding the gold coins before him, he spoke as follows.
TEXT 27
TEXT
"ei sata suvarna mohara achila amara
iha lana dharma dekhi' parvata kara para
TRANSLATION
"I have these seven gold coins with me. Please accept them, and from a religious point of view please get me across that hilly tract of land.
TEXT 28
TEXT
raja-bandi ami, gada-dvara yaite na pari
punya habe, parvata ama deha' para kari"
TRANSLATION
"I am a prisoner of the government, and I cannot go along the way of the ramparts. It will be very pious of you to take this money and kindly get me across this hilly tract of land."
TEXT 29
TEXT
bhuna hasi' kahe,----"ami janiyachi pahile
asta mohara haya tomara sevaka-ancale
TRANSLATION
Smiling, the landlord said, "Before you offered them, I already knew that there were eight gold coins in your servant's possession.
TEXT 30
TEXT
toma mari' mohara la-itama ajikara ratrye
bhala haila, kahila tumi, chutilana papa haite
TRANSLATION
"On this very night I would have killed you and taken your coins. It is very good that you have voluntarily offered them to me. I am now relieved from such a sinful activity.
TEXT 31
TEXT
santusta ha-ilana ami, mohara na la-iba
punya lagi' parvata toma' para kari' diba"
TRANSLATION
"I am very satisfied with your behavior. I shall not accept these gold coins, but I shall get you across that hilly tract of land simply to perform a pious activity."
TEXT 32
TEXT
gosani kahe,----"keha dravya la-ibe ama mari'
amara prana raksa kara dravya angikari' "
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami replied, "If you do not accept these coins, someone else will kill me for them. It is better that you save me from the danger by accepting the coins."
TEXT 33
TEXT
tabe bhuna gosanira sange cari paika dila
ratrye ratrye vana-pathe parvata para kaila
TRANSLATION
After this settlement was made, the landlord gave Sanatana Gosvami four watchmen to accompany him. They went through the forest path for the whole night and thus brought him over the hilly tract of land.
TEXT 34
TEXT
tabe para hana gosani puchila isane
'jani,----sesa dravya kichu ache toma sthane"
TRANSLATION
After crossing the hills, Sanatana Gosvami told his servant, "Isana, I think you still have some balance left from the gold coins."
TEXT 35
TEXT
isana kahe,----"eka mohara ache avasesa"
gosani kahe,----"mohara lana yaha' tumi desa"
TRANSLATION
Isana replied, "I still have one gold coin in my possession." Sanatana Gosvami then said, "Take the coin and return to your home."
TEXT 36
TEXT
tare vidaya diya gosani calila ekala
hate karonya, chinda kantha, nirbhaya ha-ila
TRANSLATION
After departing from Isana, Sanatana Gosvami began traveling alone with a waterpot in his hand. Simply covered with a torn quilt, he thus lost all his anxiety.
TEXT 37
TEXT
cali' cali' gosani tabe aila hajipure
sandhya-kale vasila eka udyana-bhitare
TRANSLATION
Walking and walking, Sanatana Gosvami finally arrived at a place called Hajipura. That evening he sat down within a garden.
TEXT 38
TEXT
sei hajipure rahe----srikanta tara nama
gosanira bhagini-pati, kare raja-kama
TRANSLATION
In Hajipura there was a gentlemen named Srikanta, who happened to be the husband of Sanatana Gosvami's sister. He was engaged there in government service.
TEXT 39
TEXT
tina laksa mudra raja diyache tara sthane
ghoda mulya lana pathaya patsara sthane
TRANSLATION
Srikanta had 300,000 gold coins with him, which had been given to him by the emperor for the purchase of horses. Thus Srikanta was buying horses and dispatching them to the emperor.
TEXT 40
TEXT
tungi upara vasi' sei gosanire dekhila
ratrye eka-jana-sange gosani-pasa aila
TRANSLATION
When Srikanta was sitting in an elevated place, he could see Sanatana Gosvami. That night he took a servant and went to see Sanatana Gosvami.
TEXT 41
TEXT
dui-jana mili' tatha ista-gosthi kaila
bandhana-moksana-katha gosani sakali kahila
TRANSLATION
When they met, they had many conversations. Sanatana Gosvami told him in detail about his arrest and release.
TEXT 42
TEXT
tenho kahe,----"dina-dui raha ei-sthane
bhadra hao, chada' ei malina vasane"
TRANSLATION
Srikanta then told Sanatana Gosvami, "Stay here for at least two days and dress up like a gentleman. Abandon these dirty garments."
TEXT 43
TEXT
gosani kahe,----'eka-ksana iha na rahiba
ganga para kari' deha' e-ksane caliba"
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami replied, "I shall not stay here even for a moment. Please help me cross the Ganges. I shall leave immediately."
TEXT 44
TEXT
yatna kari' tenho eka bhota-kambala dila
ganga para kari' dila----gosani calila
TRANSLATION
With great care, Srikanta gave him a woolen blanket and helped him cross the Ganges. Thus Sanatana Gosvami departed again.
TEXT 45
TEXT
tabe varanasi gosani aila kata-dine
suni anandita ha-ila prabhura agamane
TRANSLATION
After a few days, Sanatana Gosvami arrived at Varanasi. He was very pleased to hear about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's arrival there.
TEXT 46
TEXT
candrasekharera ghare asi' dvarete vasila
mahaprabhu jani' candrasekhare kahila
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami then went to the house of Candrasekhara and sat down by the door. Understanding what was happening, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke to Candrasekhara.
TEXT 47
TEXT
'dvare eka 'vaisnava haya, bolaha tanhare'
candrasekhara dekhe----'vaisnava' nahika dvare
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "There is a devotee at your door. Please call him in." Going outside, Candrasekhara could not see a Vaisnava at his door.
TEXT 48
TEXT
'dvarete vaisnava nahi'----prabhure kahila
'keha haya' kari' prabhu tahare puchila
TRANSLATION
When Candrasekhara informed the Lord that no Vaisnava was at his door, the Lord asked him, "Is there anyone at your door at all?"
TEXT 49
TEXT
tenho kahe,----eka 'daravesa' ache dvare
'tanre ana' prabhura vakye kahila tanhare
TRANSLATION
Candrasekhara replied, "There is a Muslim mendicant." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately said, "Please bring him here." Candrasekhara then spoke to Sanatana Gosvami, who was still sitting beside the door.
TEXT 50
TEXT
'prabhu tomaya bolaya, aisa, daravesa!'
suni' anande sanatana karila pravesa
TRANSLATION
"O Muslim mendicant, please come in. The Lord is calling you." Sanatana Gosvami was very pleased to hear this order, and he entered Candrasekhara's house.
TEXT 51
TEXT
tanhare angane dekhi' prabhu dhana aila
tanre alingana kari' premavista haila
TRANSLATION
As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Sanatana Gosvami in the courtyard, He immediately went up to him with great haste. After embracing him, the Lord was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.
TEXT 52
TEXT
prabhu-sparse premavista ha-ila sanatana
'more na chuniha'----kahe gadgada-vacana
TRANSLATION
As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu touched Sanatana Gosvami, Sanatana was also overwhelmed with ecstatic love. In a faltering voice, he said, "O my Lord, do not touch me."
TEXT 53
TEXT
dui-jane galagali rodana apara
dekhi' candrasekharera ha-ila camatkara
TRANSLATION
Shoulder to shoulder, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sanatana Gosvami began to cry unlimitedly. Candrasekhara was very astonished to see this.
TEXT 54
TEXT
tabe prabhu tanra hata dhari' lana gela
pindara upare apana-pase vasaila
TRANSLATION
Catching his hand, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took Sanatana Gosvami inside and made him sit in an elevated place next to Him.
TEXT 55
TEXT
sri-haste karena tanra anga sammarjana
tenho kahe,----'more, prabhu, na kara sparsana'
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began cleansing Sanatana Gosvami's body with His own transcendental hand, Sanatana Gosvami said, "O my Lord, please do not touch me."
TEXT 56
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"toma sparsi atma pavitrite
bhakti-bale para tumi brahmanda sodhite
TRANSLATION
The Lord replied, "I am touching you just to purify Myself because by the force of your devotional service you can purify the whole universe.
TEXT 57
TEXT
bhavad-vidha bhagavatas
tirtha-bhutah svayam prabho
tirthi-kurvanti tirthani
svantah-sthena gada-bhrta
TRANSLATION
" 'Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.'
TEXT 58
TEXT
na me 'bhaktas catur-vedi
mad-bhaktah sva-pacah priyah
tasmai deyam tato grahyam
sa ca pujyo yatha hy aham
TRANSLATION
" 'Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in devotional service. However, even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive activity or mental speculation. Indeed, all respects should be given to him, and whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as I am.'
TEXT 59
TEXT
viprad dvisad-guna-yutad aravinda-nabha-
padaravinda-vimukhat sva-pacam varistham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitartha-
pranam punati sa kulam na tu bhuri-manah
TRANSLATION
" 'One may be born in a brahmana family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a candala who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brahmana family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a sva-paca or candala is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brahmana who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, not to speak of his family.' "
TEXT 60
TEXT
toma dekhi, toma sparsi, gai tomara guna
sarvendriya-phala,----ei sastra-nirupana
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "By seeing you, by touching you and by glorifying your transcendental qualities, one can perfect the purpose of all sense activity. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.
TEXT 61
TEXT
aksnoh phalam tvadrsa-darsanam hi
tanoh phalam tvadrsa-gatra-sangah
jihva-phalam tvadrsa-kirtanam hi
sudurlabha bhagavata hi loke
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear Vaisnava, seeing a person like you is the perfection of one's eyesight. Touching your lotus feet is the perfection of the sense of touch. Glorifying your good qualities is the tongue's real activity, for in the material world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.' "
TEXT 62
TEXT
eta kahi kahe prabhu,----"suna, sanatana
krsna----bada dayamaya, patita-pavana
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "My dear Sanatana, please hear from Me. Krsna is very merciful, and He is the deliverer of all fallen souls.
TEXT 63
TEXT
maha-raurava haite toma karila uddhara
krpara samudra krsna gambhira apara"
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanatana, Krsna has saved you from Maharaurava, life's deepest hell. He is an ocean of mercy, and His activities are very grave."
TEXT 64
TEXT
sanatana kahe,----'krsna ami nahi jani
amara uddhara-hetu tomara krpa ma-ni'
TRANSLATION
Sanatana replied, "I do not know who Krsna is. As far as I am concerned, I have been released from prison only by Your mercy."
TEXT 65
TEXT
'kemane chutila' bali prabhu prasna kaila
adyopanta saba katha tenho sunaila
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then asked Sanatana Gosvami, "How were you released from prison?" Sanatana then described the story from beginning to end.
TEXT 66
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"tomara dui-bhai prayage milila
rupa, anupama----dunhe vrndavana gela"
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I met your two brothers, Rupa and Anupama, at Prayaga. They have now gone to Vrndavana."
TEXT 67
TEXT
tapana-misrere ara candrasekharere
prabhu-ajnaya sanatana milila donhare
TRANSLATION
By the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sanatana Gosvami met both Tapana Misra and Candrasekhara.
TEXT 68
TEXT
tapana-misra tabe tanre kaila nimantrana
prabhu kahe,----'ksaura karaha, yaha, sanatana'
TRANSLATION
Tapana Misra then extended an invitation to Sanatana, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Sanatana to go get a shave.
TEXT 69
TEXT
candrasekharere prabhu kahe bolana
'ei vesa dura kara, yaha inhare lana'
TRANSLATION
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called Candrasekhara and asked him to take Sanatana Gosvami with him. He also asked him to take away Sanatana's present dress.
TEXT 70
TEXT
bhadra karana tanre ganga-snana karaila
sekhara aniya tanre nutana vastra dila
TRANSLATION
Candrasekhara then made Sanatana Gosvami look like a gentleman. He took him to bathe in the Ganges, and afterwards he brought him a new set of clothes.
TEXT 71
TEXT
sei vastra sanatana na kaila angikara
suniya prabhura mane ananda apara
TRANSLATION
Candrasekhara offered a new set of garments to Sanatana Gosvami, but Sanatana did not accept them. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard news of this, he became unlimitedly happy.
TEXT 72
TEXT
madhyahna kariya prabhu gela bhiksa karibare
sanatane lana gela tapana-misrera ghare
TRANSLATION
After bathing at noon, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the house of Tapana Misra for lunch. He took Sanatana Gosvami with Him.
TEXT 73
TEXT
pada-praksalana kari' bhiksate vasila
'sanatane bhiksa deha'----misrere kahila
TRANSLATION
After washing His feet, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat down for lunch. He asked Tapana Misra to supply Sanatana Gosvami lunch also.
TEXT 74
TEXT
misra kahe,----'sanatanera kichu krtya ache
tumi bhiksa kara, prasada tanre diba pache'
TRANSLATION
Tapana Misra then said, "Sanatana has some duty to perform; therefore he cannot accept lunch now. At the conclusion of the meal, I shall supply Sanatana with some remnants."
TEXT 75
TEXT
bhiksa kari' mahaprabhu visrama karila
misra prabhura sesa-patra sanatane dila
TRANSLATION
After eating, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took rest for a while. Tapana Misra then gave Sanatana Gosvami the remnants of food left by Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 76
TEXT
misra sanatane dila nutana vasana
vastra nahi nila, tenho kaila nivedana
TRANSLATION
When Tapana Misra offered Sanatana Gosvami a new cloth, he did not accept it. Instead, he spoke as follows.
TEXT 77
TEXT
"more vastra dite yadi tomara haya mana
nija paridhana eka deha' puratana"
TRANSLATION
"If you want to give me some cloth according to your desire, please give me an old cloth you have used."
TEXT 78
TEXT
tabe misra puratana eka dhuti dila
tenho dui bahirvasa-kaupina karila
TRANSLATION
When Tapana Misra gave Sanatana Gosvami a used dhoti, Sanatana immediately tore it in pieces to make two sets of outer cloth and underwear.
TEXT 79
TEXT
maharastriya dvije prabhu milaila sanatane
sei vipra tanre kaila maha-nimantrane
TRANSLATION
When Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the Maharastriya brahmana to Sanatana, the brahmana immediately invited Sanatana Gosvami for full meals.
TEXT 80
TEXT
"sanatana, tumi yavat kasite rahiba
tavat amara ghare bhiksa ye kariba"
TRANSLATION
The brahmana said, "My dear Sanatana, as long as you remain at Kasi, please accept lunch at my place."
TEXT 81
TEXT
sanatana kahe,----"ami madhukari kariba
brahmanera ghare kene ekatra bhiksa laba?"
TRANSLATION
Sanatana replied,"I shall practice the process of madhukari. Why should I accept full meals in the house of a brahmana?"
TEXT 82
TEXT
sanatanera vairagye prabhura ananda apara
bhota-kambala pane prabhu cahe bare bara
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt unlimited happiness to observe Sanatana Gosvami's strict following of the principles of sannyasa. However, He repeatedly glanced at the woolen blanket Sanatana Gosvami was wearing.
TEXT 83
TEXT
sanatana janila ei prabhure na bhaya
bhota tyaga karibare cintila upaya
TRANSLATION
Because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was repeatedly glancing at this valuable woolen blanket, Sanatana Gosvami could understand that the Lord did not approve of it. He then began to consider a way to give it up.
TEXT 84
TEXT
eta cinti' gela gangaya madhyahna karite
eka gaudiya kantha dhuna diyache sukaite
TRANSLATION
Thinking in this way, Sanatana went to the bank of the Ganges to bathe. While there, he saw that a mendicant from Bengal had washed his quilt and had spread it out to dry.
TEXT 85
TEXT
tare kahe,----"ore bhai, kara upakare
ei bhota lana ei kantha deha' more"
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami then told the Bengali mendicant, "My dear brother, please do me a favor. Trade me your quilt for this woolen blanket."
TEXT 86
TEXT
sei kahe,----"rahasya kara pramanika hana?
bahu-mulya bhota diba kena kantha lana?"
TRANSLATION
The mendicant replied, "Sir, you are a respectable gentleman. Why are you joking with me? Why would you trade your valuable blanket for my torn quilt?"
TEXT 87
TEXT
tenho kahe,----"rahasya nahe, kahi satya-vani
bhota laha, tumi deha' more kantha-khani"
TRANSLATION
Sanatana said, "I am not joking; I am speaking the truth. Kindly take this blanket in exchange for your torn quilt."
TEXT 88
TEXT
eta bali' kantha la-ila, bhota tanre diya
gosanira thani aila kantha gale diya
TRANSLATION
Saying this, Sanatana Gosvami exchanged the blanket for the quilt. He then returned to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with the quilt on his shoulder.
TEXT 89
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----'tomara bhota-kambala kotha gela?'
prabhu-pade saba katha gosani kahila
TRANSLATION
When Sanatana Gosvami returned, the Lord asked, "Where is your woolen blanket?" Sanatana Gosvami then narrated the whole story to the Lord.
TEXTS 90-91
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"iha ami kariyachi vicara
visaya-roga khandaila krsna ye tomara
se kene rakhibe tomara sesa visaya-bhoga?
roga khandi' sad-vaidya na rakhe sesa roga
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "I have already deliberately considered this matter. Since Lord Krsna is very merciful, He has nullified your attachment for material things. Why should Krsna allow you to maintain a last bit of material attachment? After vanquishing a disease, a good physician does not allow any of the disease to remain.
TEXT 92
TEXT
tina mudrara bhota gaya, madhukari grasa
dharma-hani haya, loka kare upahasa"
TRANSLATION
"It is contradictory to practice madhukari and at the same time wear a valuable blanket. One loses his spiritual strength by doing this, and one will also become an object for jokes."
TEXT 93
TEXT
gosani kahe,----'ye khandila kuvisaya-bhoga
tanra icchaya gela mora sesa visaya-roga"
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami replied, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead has saved me from the sinful life of material existence. By His desire, my last piece of material attraction is now gone."
TEXT 94
TEXT
prasanna hana prabhu tanre krpa kaila
tanra krpaya prasna karite tanra sakti haila
TRANSLATION
Being pleased with Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed His causeless mercy upon him. By the Lord's mercy, Sanatana Gosvami received the spiritual strength to inquire from Him.
TEXTS 95-96
TEXT
purve yaiche raya-pase prabhu prasna kaila
tanra saktye ramananda tanra uttara dila
ihan prabhura saktye prasna kare sanatana
apane mahaprabhu kare 'tattva'-nirupana
TRANSLATION
Formerly, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya spiritual questions, and by the Lord's causeless mercy, Ramananda Raya could properly reply. Now, by the Lord's mercy, Sanatana Gosvami questioned the Lord, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally supplied the truth.
TEXT 97
TEXT
krsna-svarupa-madhuryais-
varya-bhakti-rasasrayam
tattvam sanatanayesah
krpayopadidesa sah
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, personally told Sanatana Gosvami about Lord Krsna's real identity. He also told him about the Lord's conjugal love, His personal opulence and the mellows of devotional service. All these truths were explained to Sanatana Gosvami by the Lord Himself out of His causeless mercy.
TEXT 98
TEXT
tabe sanatana prabhura carane dhariya
dainya vinati kare dante trna lana
TRANSLATION
Putting a straw in his mouth and bowing down, Sanatana Gosvami clasped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and humbly spoke as follows.
TEXT 99
TEXT
"nica jati, nica-sangi, patita adhama
kuvisaya-kupe padi' gonainu janama!
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami said, "I was born in a low family, and my associates are all low-class men. I myself am fallen and am the lowest of men. Indeed, I have passed my whole life fallen in the well of sinful materialism.
TEXT 100
TEXT
apanara hitahita kichui na jani!
gramya-vyavahare pandita, tai satya mani
TRANSLATION
"I do not know what is beneficial for me and what is detrimental. Nonetheless, in ordinary dealings people consider me a learned scholar, and I am also thinking of myself as such.
TEXT 101
TEXT
krpa kari' yadi more kariyacha uddhara
apana-krpate kaha 'kartavya' amara
TRANSLATION
"Out of Your causeless mercy, You have delivered me from the materialistic path. Now, by the same causeless mercy, please tell me what my duty is.
TEXT 102
TEXT
'ke ami', 'kene amaya jare tapa-traya'
iha nahi jani----'kemane hita haya'
TRANSLATION
"Who am I? Why do the threefold miseries always give me trouble? If I do not know this, how can I be benefited?
TEXT 103
TEXT
'sadhya'-'sadhana'-tattva puchite na jani
krpa kari' saba tattva kaha ta' apani"
TRANSLATION
"Actually I do not know how to inquire about the goal of life and the process for obtaining it. Being merciful upon me, please explain all these truths."
TEXT 104
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"krsna-krpa tomate purna haya
saba tattva jana, tomara nahi tapa-traya
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Lord Krsna has bestowed His full mercy upon you so that all these things are known to you. For you, the threefold miseries certainly do not exist.
TEXT 105
TEXT
krsna-sakti dhara tumi, jana tattva-bhava
jani' dardhya lagi' puche,----sadhura svabhava
TRANSLATION
"Since you possess Lord Krsna's potency, you certainly know these things. However, it is the nature of a sadhu to inquire. Although he knows these things, the sadhu inquires for the sake of strictness.
TEXT 106
TEXT
acirad eva sarvarthah
sidhyaty esam abhipsitah
sad-dharmasyavabodhaya
yesam nirbandhini matih
TRANSLATION
" 'Those who are anxious to awaken their spiritual consciousness, who have unflinching intelligence and who are not deviated, certainly attain the desired goal.'
TEXT 107
TEXT
yogya-patra hao tumi bhakti pravartaite
krame saba tattva suna, kahiye tomate
TRANSLATION
"You are fit to propagate the cult of devotional service. Therefore gradually hear all the truths about it from Me. I shall tell you about them.
TEXTS 108-109
TEXT
jivera 'svarupa' haya----krsnera 'nitya-dasa'
krsnera 'tatastha-sakti' 'bhedabheda-prakasa
suryamsa-kirana, yaiche agni-jvala-caya
svabhavika krsnera tina-prakara 'sakti' haya
TRANSLATION
"It is the living entity's constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Krsna because he is the marginal energy of Krsna and a manifestation simultaneously one and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Krsna has three varieties of energy.
TEXT 110
TEXT
eka-desa-sthitasyagner
jyotsna vistarini yatha
parasya brahmanah saktis
tathedam akhilam jagat
TRANSLATION
" 'Just as the illumination of a fire, which is situated in one place, is spread all over, the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, are spread all over this universe.'
TEXT 111
TEXT
krsnera svabhavika tina-sakti-parinati
cic-chakti, jiva-sakti, ara maya-sakti
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna naturally has three energetic transformations, and these are known as the spiritual potency, the living entity potency and the illusory potency.
TEXT 112
TEXT
visnu-saktih para prokta
ksetrajnakhya tatha para
avidya-karma-samjnan ya
trtiya saktir isyate
TRANSLATION
" 'Originally, Krsna's energy is spiritual, and the energy known as the living entity is also spiritual. However, there is another energy, called illusion, which consists of fruitive activity. That is the Lord's third potency.'
TEXT 113
TEXT
saktayah sarva-bhavanam
acintya-jnana-gocarah
yato 'to brahmanas tas tu
sargadya bhava-saktayah
bhavanti tapatam srestha
pavakasya yathosnata
TRANSLATION
" 'All the creative energies, which are inconceivable to a common man, exist in the Supreme Absolute Truth. These inconceivable energies act in the process of creation, maintenance and annihilation. O chief of the ascetics, just as there are two energies possessed by fire--namely heat and light--these inconceivable creative energies are the natural characteristics of the Absolute Truth.'
TEXT 114
TEXT
yaya ksetra-jna-saktih sa
vestita nrpa sarva-ga
samsara-tapan akhilan
avapnoty atra santatan
TRANSLATION
" 'O King, the ksetra-jna-sakti is the living entity. Although he has the facility to live in either the material or spiritual world, he suffers the threefold miseries of material existence because he is influenced by the avidya [nescience] potency, which covers his constitutional position.
TEXT 115
TEXT
taya tirohitatvac ca
saktih ksetra-jna-samjnita
sarva-bhutesu bhu-pala
taratamyena vartate
TRANSLATION
" 'This living entity, covered by the influence of nescience, exists in different forms in the material condition. O King, he is thus proportionately freed from the influence of material energy, to greater or lesser degrees.'
TEXT 116
TEXT
apareyam itas tv anyam
prakrtim viddhi me param
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat
TRANSLATION
" 'Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which consists of all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe.'
TEXT 117
TEXT
krsna bhuli' sei jiva anadi-bahirmukha
ataeva maya tare deya samsara-duhkha
TRANSLATION
"Forgetting Krsna, the living entity has been attracted by the external feature from time immemorial. Therefore the illusory energy [maya] gives him all kinds of misery in his material existence.
TEXT 118
TEXT
kabhu svarge uthaya, kabhu narake dubaya
dandya-jane raja yena nadite cubaya
TRANSLATION
"In the material condition, the living entity is sometimes raised to higher planetary systems and material prosperity and sometimes drowned in a hellish situation. His state is exactly like that of a criminal whom a king punishes by submerging him in water and then raising him again from the water.
TEXT 119
TEXT
bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih
tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma
TRANSLATION
" 'When the living entity is attracted by the material energy, which is separate from Krsna, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Krsna, he becomes Krsna's competitor. This is called viparyayo 'smrtih. To nullify this mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional service.'
TEXT 120
TEXT
sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya
sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya
TRANSLATION
"If the conditioned soul becomes Krsna conscious by the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to become Krsna conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of maya, who gives him up.
TEXT 121
TEXT
daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
TRANSLATION
" 'This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'
TEXT 122
TEXT
maya-mugdha jivera nahi svatah krsna-jnana
jivere krpaya kaila krsna veda-purana
TRANSLATION
"The conditioned soul cannot revive his Krsna consciousness by his own effort. But out of causeless mercy, Lord Krsna compiled the Vedic literature and its supplements, the Puranas.
TEXT 123
TEXT
'sastra-guru-atma'-rupe apanare janana
'krsna mora prabhu, trata'----jivera haya jnana
TRANSLATION
"The forgetful conditioned soul is educated by Krsna through the Vedic literatures, the realized spiritual master and the Supersoul. Through these, he can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is, and he can understand that Lord Krsna is his eternal master and deliverer from the clutches of maya. In this way one can acquire real knowledge of his conditioned life and can come to understand how to attain liberation.
TEXT 124
TEXT
veda-sastra kahe----'sambandha' 'abhidheya' 'prayojana'
'krsna'----prapya sambandha, 'bhakti'----praptyera sadhana
TRANSLATION
"The Vedic literatures give information about the living entity's eternal relationship with Krsna, which is called sambandha. The living entity's understanding of this relationship and acting accordingly is called abhidheya. Returning home, back to Godhead, is the ultimate goal of life and is called prayojana.
TEXT 125
TEXT
abhidheya-nama 'bhakti' 'prema'----prayojana
purusartha-siromani prema maha-dhana
TRANSLATION
"Devotional service, or sense activity for the satisfaction of the Lord, is called abhidheya because it can develop one's original love of Godhead, which is the goal of life. This goal is the living entity's topmost interest and greatest wealth. Thus one attains the platform of transcendental loving service unto the Lord.
TEXT 126
TEXT
krsna-madhurya-sevananda-praptira karana
krsna-seva kare, ara krsna-rasa-asvadana
TRANSLATION
"When one attains the transcendental bliss of an intimate relationship with Krsna, he renders service to Him and tastes the mellows of Krsna consciousness.
TEXT 127
TEXT
ihate drstanta----yaiche daridrera ghare
'sarvajna' asi' duhkha dekhi' puchaye tahare
TRANSLATION
"The following example may be given. Once a learned astrologer came to the house of a poor man and, seeing his distressed condition, questioned him.
TEXT 128
TEXT
'tumi kene duhkhi, tomara ache pitr-dhana
tomare na kahila, anyatra chadila jivana"
TRANSLATION
"The astrologer asked, 'Why are you unhappy? Your father was very wealthy, but he did not disclose his wealth to you because he died elsewhere?'
TEXT 129
TEXT
sarvajnera vakye kare dhanera uddese
aiche veda-purana jive 'krsna' upadese
TRANSLATION
"Just as the words of the astrologer Sarvajna gave news of the poor man's treasure, Vedic literatures advise one about Krsna consciousness when one is inquisitive to know why he is in a distressed material condition.
TEXT 130
TEXT
sarvajnera vakye mula-dhana anubandha
sarva-sastre upadese, 'sri-krsna'----sambandha
TRANSLATION
"By the words of the astrologer, the poor man's connection with the treasure was established. Similarly, Vedic literature advises us that our real connection is with Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 131
TEXT
'bapera dhana ache'----jnane dhana nahi paya
tabe sarvajna kahe tare praptira upaya
TRANSLATION
"Although being assured of his father's treasure, the poor man cannot acquire this treasure by such knowledge alone. Therefore the astrologer had to inform him of the means whereby he could actually find the treasure.
TEXT 132
TEXT
'ei sthane ache dhana'----yadi daksine khudibe
'bhimarula-baruli' uthibe, dhana na paibe
TRANSLATION
"The astrologer said, 'The treasure is in this place, but if you dig toward the southern side, the wasps and drones will rise, and you will not get your treasure.
TEXT 133
TEXT
'pascime' khudibe, taha 'yaksa' eka haya
se vighna karibe,----dhane hata na padaya
TRANSLATION
" 'If you dig on the western side, there is a ghost who will create such a disturbance that your hands will not even touch the treasure.
TEXT 134
TEXT
'uttare' khudile ache krsna 'ajagare'
dhana nahi pabe, khudite gilibe sabare
TRANSLATION
" 'If you dig on the northern side, there is a big black snake that will devour you if you attempt to dig up the treasure.
TEXT 135
TEXT
purva-dike tate mati alpa khudite
dhanera jhari padibeka tomara hatete
TRANSLATION
" 'However, if you dig up a small quantity of dirt on the eastern side, your hands will immediately touch the pot of treasure.'
TEXT 136
TEXT
aiche sastra kahe,----karma, jnana, yoga tyaji'
'bhaktye' krsna vasa haya, bhaktye tanre bhaji
TRANSLATION
"Revealed scriptures conclude that one should give up fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system and instead take to devotional service, by which Krsna can be fully satisfied.
TEXT 137
TEXT
na sadhayati mam yogo
na sankhyam dharma uddhava
na svadhyayas tapas tyago
yatha bhaktir mamorjita
TRANSLATION
[The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, said:] " 'My dear Uddhava, neither through astanga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through practice of austerities, nor through charity, nor through acceptance of sannyasa can one satisfy Me as much as one can by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me.'
TEXT 138
TEXT
bhaktyaham ekaya grahyah
sraddhayatma priyah satam
bhaktih punati man-nistha
sva-pakan api sambhavat
TRANSLATION
" 'Being very dear to the devotees and sadhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.'
TEXT 139
TEXT
ataeva 'bhakti'----krsna-praptyera upaya
'abhidheya' bali' tare sarva-sastre gaya
TRANSLATION
"The conclusion is that devotional service is the only means to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This system is therefore called abhidheya. This is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.
TEXT 140
TEXT
dhana paile yaiche sukha-bhoga phala paya
sukha-bhoga haite duhkha apani palaya
TRANSLATION
"When one actually becomes rich, he naturally enjoys all kinds of happiness. When one is actually in a happy mood, all distressful conditions go away by themselves. No extraneous endeavor is needed.
TEXT 141
TEXT
taiche bhakti-phale krsne prema upajaya
preme krsnasvada haile bhava nasa paya
TRANSLATION
"Similarly, as a result of bhakti, one's dormant love for Krsna awakens. When one is so situated that he can taste the association of Lord Krsna, material existence, the repetition of birth and death, comes to an end.
TEXT 142
TEXT
daridrya-nasa, bha va-ksa ya,----premera 'phala' naya
prema-sukha-bhoga----mukhya prayojana haya
TRANSLATION
"The goal of love of Godhead is not to become materially rich or free from material bondage. The real goal is to be situated in devotional service to the Lord and to enjoy transcendental bliss.
TEXT 143
TEXT
veda-sastre kahe sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana
krsna, krsna-bhakti, prema,----tina maha-dhana
TRANSLATION
"In Vedic literatures, Krsna is the central point of attraction, and His service is our activity. To attain the platform of love of Krsna is life's ultimate goal. Therefore Krsna, Krsna's service and love of Krsna are the three great riches of life.
TEXT 144
TEXT
vedadi sakala sastre krsna----mukhya sambandha
tanra jnane anusange yaya maya-bandha
TRANSLATION
"In all revealed scriptures, beginning with the Vedas, the central point of attraction is Krsna. When complete knowledge of Him is realized, the bondage of maya, the illusory energy, is automatically broken.
TEXT 145
TEXT
vyamohaya caracarasya jagatas te te puranagamas
tam tam eva hi devatam paramikam jalpantu kalpavadhi
siddhante punar eka eva bhagavan visnuh samastagama-
vyaparesu vivecana-vyatikaram nitesu nisciyate
TRANSLATION
" 'There are many types of Vedic literatures and supplementary Puranas. In each of them there are particular demigods who are spoken of as the chief demigods. This is just to create an illusion for moving and nonmoving living entities. Let them perpetually engage in such imaginations. However, when one analytically studies all these Vedic literatures collectively, he comes to the conclusion that Lord Visnu is the one and only Supreme Personality of Godhead.'
TEXT 146
TEXT
mukhya-gauna-vrtti, kimva anvaya-vyatireke
vedera pratijna kevala kahaye krsnake
TRANSLATION
"When one accepts Vedic literature by interpretation or even by dictionary meaning, directly or indirectly the ultimate declaration of Vedic knowledge points to Lord Krsna.
TEXTS 147-148
TEXT
kim vidhatte kim acaste
kim anudya vikalpayet
ity asya hrdayam loke
nanyo mad veda kascana
mam vidhatte 'bhidhatte mam
vikalpyapohyate hy aham
etavan sarva-vedarthah
sabda asthaya mam bhidam
maya-matram anudyante
pratisidhya prasidati
TRANSLATION
" 'What is the direction of all Vedic literatures? On whom do they set focus? Who is the purpose of all speculation? Outside of Me no one knows these things. Now you should know that all these activities are aimed at ordaining and setting forth Me. The purpose of Vedic literature is to know Me by different speculations, either by indirect understanding or by dictionary understanding. Everyone is speculating about Me. The essence of all Vedic literatures is to distinguish Me from maya. By considering the illusory energy, one comes to the platform of understanding Me. In this way one becomes free from speculation about the Vedas and comes to Me as the conclusion. Thus one is satisfied.'
TEXT 149
TEXT
krsnera svarupa----ananta, vaibhava----apara
cic-chakti, maya-sakti, jiva-sakti ara
TRANSLATION
"The transcendental form of Lord Krsna is unlimited and also has unlimited opulence. He possesses the internal potency, external potency and marginal potency.
TEXT 150
TEXT
vaikuntha, brahmanda-gana----sakti-karya ha ya
svarupa-sakti sakti-karyera----krsna samasraya
TRANSLATION
"Both the material and spiritual world are transformations of Krsna's internal and external potencies. Therefore Krsna is the original source of both material and spiritual manifestations.
TEXT 151
TEXT
dasame dasamam laksyam
asritasraya-vigraham
sri-krsnakhyam param dhama
jagad-dhama namami tat
TRANSLATION
" 'The Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam reveals the tenth object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the shelter of all surrendered souls. He is known as Sri Krsna, and He is the ultimate source of all the universes. Let me offer my obeisances unto Him.'
TEXT 152
TEXT
krsnera svarupa-vicara suna, sanatana
advaya-jnana-tattva, vraje vrajendra-nandana
TRANSLATION
"O Sanatana, please hear about the eternal form of Lord Krsna. He is the Absolute Truth, devoid of duality but present in Vrndavana as the son of Nanda Maharaja.
TEXT 153
TEXT
sarva-adi, sarva-amsi, kisora-sekhara
cid-ananda-deha, sarvasraya, sarvesvara
TRANSLATION
"Krsna is the original source of everything and the sum total of everything. He appears as the supreme youth, and His whole body is composed of spiritual bliss. He is the shelter of everything and master of everyone.
TEXT 154
TEXT
isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
TRANSLATION
" 'Krsna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes.'
TEXT 155
TEXT
svayam bhagavan krsna, 'govinda' para nama
sarvaisvarya-purna yanra goloka----nitya-dhama
TRANSLATION
"The original Supreme Personality of Godhead is Krsna. His original name is Govinda. He is full of all opulences, and His eternal abode is known as Goloka Vrndavana.
TEXT 156
TEXT
ete camsa-kalah pumsah
krsnas tu bhagavan svayam
indrari-vyakulam lokam
mrdayanti yuge yuge
TRANSLATION
" 'All these incarnations of Godhead are either plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the purusa-avataras. But Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. In every age He protects the world through His different features when the world is disturbed by the enemies of Indra.'
TEXT 157
TEXT
jnana, yoga, bhakti,----tina sadhanera vase
brahma, atma, bhagavan----trividha prakase
TRANSLATION
"There are three kinds of spiritual processes for understanding the Absolute Truth--the processes of speculative knowledge, mystic yoga and bhakti-yoga. According to these three processes, the Absolute Truth is manifested as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.
TEXT 158
TEXT
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
TRANSLATION
" 'Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan.'
TEXT 159
TEXT
brahma----anga-kanti tanra, nirvisesa prakase
surya yena carma-cakse jyotirmaya bhase
TRANSLATION
"The manifestation of the impersonal Brahman effulgence, which is without variety, is the rays of Krsna's bodily effulgence. It is exactly like the sun. When the sun is seen by our ordinary eyes, it simply appears to consist of effulgence.
TEXT 160
TEXT
yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-
kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam
tad brahma niskalam anantam asesa-bhutam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATION
" 'I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is endowed with great power. The glowing effulgence of His transcendental form is the impersonal Brahman, which is absolute, complete and unlimited and which displays the varieties of countless planets, with their different opulences, in millions and millions of universes.'
TEXT 161
TEXT
paramatma yenho, tenho krsnera eka amsa
atmara 'atma' haya krsna sarva-avatamsa
TRANSLATION
"The Paramatma, the Supersoul feature, is the partial plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original source of all living entities. It is also Krsna who is the original source of Paramatma.
TEXT 162
TEXT
krsnam enam avehi tvam
atmanam akhilatmanam
jagad-dhitaya so 'py atra
dehivabhati mayaya
TRANSLATION
" 'You should know Krsna as the original soul of all atmas [living entities]. For the benefit of the whole universe, He has, out of His causeless mercy, appeared as an ordinary human being. He has done this with the strength of His own internal potency.'
TEXT 163
TEXT
athava bahunaitena
kim jnatena tavarjuna
vistabhyaham idam krtsnam
ekamsena sthito jagat
TRANSLATION
" 'But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself, I pervade and support this entire universe.'
TEXT 164
TEXT
'bhaktye' bhagavanera anubhava----purna-rupa
eka-i vigrahe tanra ananta svarupa
TRANSLATION
"Only by devotional activity can one understand the transcendental form of the Lord, which is perfect in all respects. Although His form is one, He can expand His form into unlimited numbers by His supreme will.
TEXT 165
TEXT
sva yam-rupa, tad-ekatma-rupa, avesa----nama
prathamei tina-rupe rahena bhagavan
TRANSLATION
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead exists in three principal forms--svayam-rupa, tad-ekatma-rupa, and avesa-rupa.
TEXT 166
TEXT
'svayam-rupa' 's va yam-prakasa'----dui rupe sphurti
svayam-rupe----eka 'krsna' vraje gopa-murti
TRANSLATION
"The original form of the Lord [svayam-rupa] is exhibited in two forms--svayam-rupa and svayam-prakasa. In His original form as svayam-rupa, Krsna is observed as a cowherd boy in Vrndavana.
TEXT 167
TEXT
'prabhava-vaibhava'-rupe dvividha prakase
eka-vapu bahu rupa yaiche haila rase
TRANSLATION
"In His original form, Krsna manifests Himself in two features--prabhava and vaibhava. He expands His one original form into many, as He did during the rasa-lila dance.
TEXT 168
TEXT
mahisi-vivahe haila bahu-vidha murti
'prabhava prakasa'----ei sastra-parasiddhi
TRANSLATION
"When the Lord married 16,108 wives at Dvaraka, He expanded Himself into many forms. These expansions and the expansions at the rasa dance are called prabhava-prakasa, according to the directions of revealed scriptures.
TEXT 169
TEXT
saubhary-adi-praya sei kaya-vyuha naya
kaya-vyuha haile naradera vismaya na haya
TRANSLATION
"The prabhava-prakasa expansions of Lord Krsna are not like the expansions of the sage Saubhari. Had they been so, Narada would not have been astonished to see them.
TEXT 170
TEXT
citram bataitad ekena
vapusa yugapat prthak
grhesu dvy-asta-sahasram
striya eka udavahat
TRANSLATION
" 'It is astounding that Lord Sri Krsna, who is one without a second, expanded Himself in sixteen thousand similar forms to marry sixteen thousand queens in their respective homes.'
TEXT 171
TEXT
sei vapu, sei akrti prthak yadi bhase
bhavavesa-bhede nama 'vaibhava-prakase'
TRANSLATION
"If one form or feature is differently manifested according to different emotional features, it is called vaibhava-prakasa.
TEXT 172
TEXT
ananta prakase krsnera nahi murti-bheda
akara-varna-astra-bhede nama-vibheda
TRANSLATION
"When the Lord expands Himself in innumerable forms, there is no difference in the forms, but due to different features, bodily colors and weapons, the names are different.
TEXT 173
TEXT
anye ca samskrtatmano
vidhinabhihitena te
yajanti tvan-mayas tvam vai
bahu-murtyeka-murtikam
TRANSLATION
" 'In different Vedic scriptures, there are prescribed rules and regulative principles for worshiping different types of forms. When one is purified by these rules and regulations, he worships You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although manifest in many forms, You are one.'
TEXT 174
TEXT
vaibhava-prakasa krsnera----sri-balarama
varna-matra-bheda, saba----krsnera samana
TRANSLATION
"The first manifestation of the vaibhava feature of Krsna is Sri Balaramaji. Sri Balarama and Krsna have different bodily colors, but otherwise Sri Balarama is equal to Krsna in all respects.
TEXT 175
TEXT
vaibhava-prakasa yaiche devaki-tanuja
dvibhuja-svarupa kabhu, kabhu haya caturbhuja
TRANSLATION
"An example of vaibhava-prakasa is the son of Devaki. He sometimes has two hands and sometimes four hands.
TEXT 176
TEXT
ye-kale dvibhuja, nama----vaibhava-prakasa
caturbhuja haile, nama----prabhava-prakasa
TRANSLATION
"When the Lord is two-handed, He is called vaibhava-prakasa, and when He is four-handed He is called prabhava-prakasa.
TEXT 177
TEXT
sva yam-rupera gopa-vesa, gopa-abhimana
vasudevera ksatriya-vesa, 'ami----ksatriya'-jnana
TRANSLATION
"In His original form, the Lord dresses like a cowherd boy and thinks Himself one of them. When He appears as Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva and Devaki, His dress and consciousness are those of a ksatriya, a warrior.
TEXT 178
TEXT
saundarya, aisvarya, madhurya, vaidagdhya-vilasa
vrajendra-nandane iha adhika ullasa
TRANSLATION
"When one compares the beauty, opulence, sweetness and intellectual pastimes of Vasudeva, the warrior, to Krsna, the cowherd boy, son of Nanda Maharaja, one sees that Krsna's attributes are more pleasant.
TEXT 179
TEXT
govindera madhuri dekhi' vasudevera ksobha
se madhuri asvadite upajaya lobha
TRANSLATION
"Indeed, Vasudeva is agitated just to see the sweetness of Govinda, and a transcendental greed awakens in Him to enjoy that sweetness.
TEXT 180
TEXT
udgirnadbhuta-madhuri-parimalasyabhira-lilasya me
dvaitam hanta samiksayan muhur asau citriyate caranah
cetah keli-kutuhalottaralitam satyam sakhe mamakam
yasya preksya svarupatam vraja-vadhu-sarupyam anvicchati
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear friend, this dramatic actor appears like a second form of My own self. Like a picture, He displays My pastimes as a cowherd boy overflowing with wonderfully attractive sweetness and fragrance, which are so dear to the damsels of Vraja. When I see such a display, My heart becomes greatly excited. I long for such pastimes and desire a form exactly like the damsels of Vraja.'
TEXT 181
TEXT
mathuraya yaiche gandharva-nrtya-darasane
punah dvarakate yaiche citra-vilokane
TRANSLATION
"One instance of Vasudeva's attraction to Krsna occurred when Vasudeva saw the Gandharva dance at Mathura. Another instance occurred in Dvaraka when Vasudeva was surprised to see a picture of Krsna.
TEXT 182
TEXT
aparikalita-purvah kas camatkara-kari
sphuratu mama gariyan esa madhurya-purah
ayam aham api hanta preksya yam lubdha-cetah
sarabhasam upabhoktum kamaye radhikeva
TRANSLATION
" 'Who manifests an abundance of sweetness greater than Mine, which has never been experienced before and which causes wonder to all? Alas, I Myself, My mind bewildered upon seeing this beauty, impetuously desire to enjoy it like Srimati Radharani.'
TEXT 183
TEXT
sei vapu bhinnabhase kichu bhinnakara
bhavavesakrti-bhede 'tad-ekatma' nama tanra
TRANSLATION
"When that body is a little differently manifest and its features a little different in transcendental emotion and form, it is called tad-ekatma.
TEXT 184
TEXT
tad-ekatma-rupe 'vilasa', 'svamsa'----dui bheda
vilasa, svamsera bhede vividha vibheda
TRANSLATION
"In the tad-ekatma-rupa there are pastime expansions [vilasa] and personal expansions [svamsa]. Consequently there are two divisions. According to pastime and personal expansion, there are various differences.
TEXT 185
TEXT
prabhava-vaibhava-bhede vilasa----dvidhakara
vilasera vilasa-bheda----ananta prakara
TRANSLATION
"Again the vilasa forms are divided into twofold categories--prabhava and vaibhava. Again the pastimes of these forms are of unlimited variety.
TEXT 186
TEXT
prabhava-vilasa----vasudeva, sankarsana
pradyumna, aniruddha,----mukhya cari-jana
TRANSLATION
"The chief quadruple expansions are named Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. These are called prabhava-vilasa.
TEXT 187
TEXT
vraje gopa-bhava ramera, pure ksatriya-bhavana
varna-vesa-bheda, tate 'vilasa' tanra nama
TRANSLATION
"Balarama, who has the same original form of Krsna, is Himself a cowherd boy in Vrndavana, and He also considers Himself to belong to the ksatriya race in Dvaraka. Thus His color and dress are different, and He is called a pastime form of Krsna.
TEXT 188
TEXT
vaibhava-prakase ara prabhava-vilase
eka-i murtye baladeva bhava-bhede bhase
TRANSLATION
"Sri Balarama is a vaibhava-prakasa manifestation of Krsna. He is also manifest in the original quadruple expansion of Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. These are prabhava-vilasa expansions with different emotions.
TEXT 189
TEXT
adi-catur-vyuha----inhara keha nahi sama
ananta caturvyuha-ganera prakatya-karana
TRANSLATION
"The first expansion of the caturvyuha, quadruple forms, is unique. There is nothing to compare with Them. These quadruple forms are the source of unlimited quadruple forms.
TEXT 190
TEXT
krsnera ei cari prabhava-vilasa
dvaraka-mathura-pure nitya inhara vasa
TRANSLATION
"These four prabhava pastime forms of Lord Krsna reside eternally in Dvaraka and Mathura.
TEXT 191
TEXT
ei cari haite cabbisa murti parakasa
astra-bhede nama-bheda----vaibhava-vilasa
TRANSLATION
"From the original quadruple expansion, twenty-four forms are manifest. They differ according to the placement of weapons in Their four hands. They are called vaibhava-vilasa.
TEXT 192
TEXT
punah krsna catur-vyuha lana purva-rupe
paravyoma-madhye vaise narayana-rupe
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna again expands, and within the paravyoma, the spiritual sky, He is situated in fullness as the four-handed Narayana, accompanied by expansions of the original quadruple form.
TEXT 193
TEXT
tanha haite punah catur-vyuha-parakasa
avarana-rupe cari-dike yanra vasa
TRANSLATION
"Thus the original quadruple forms again manifest Themselves in a second quadruple expansion. The residences of these second quadruple expansions cover the four directions.
TEXT 194
TEXT
cari-janera punah prthak tina tina murti
kesavadi yaha haite vilasera purti
TRANSLATION
"Again these quadruple forms expand three times, beginning with Kesava. That is the fulfillment of the pastime forms.
TEXT 195
TEXT
cakradi-dharana-bhede nama-bheda saba
vasudevera murti----kesava, narayana, madhava
TRANSLATION
"Out of the catur-vyuha, there are three expansions of each and every form, and they are named differently according to the position of the weapons. The Vasudeva expansions are Kesava, Narayana and Madhava.
TEXT 196
TEXT
sankarsanera murti----govinda, visnu, madhusudana
e anya govinda----nahe vrajendra-nandana
TRANSLATION
"The expansions of Sankarsana are Govinda, Visnu and Madhusudana. This Govinda is different from the original Govinda, for He is not the son of Maharaja Nanda.
TEXT 197
TEXT
pradyumnera murti----trivikrama, vamana, sridhara
aniruddhera murti----hrsikesa, padmanabha, damodara
TRANSLATION
"The expansions of Pradyumna are Trivikrama, Vamana and Sridhara. The expansions of Aniruddha are Hrsikesa, Padmanabha and Damodara.
TEXT 198
TEXT
dvadasa-masera devata----ei-bara jana
marga-sirse----kesava, pause----narayana
TRANSLATION
"These twelve are the predominating Deities of the twelve months. Kesava is the predominating Deity of Agrahayana, and Narayana is the predominating Deity of Pausa.
TEXT 199
TEXT
maghera devata----madhava, govinda----phalgune
caitre----visnu, vaisakhe----sri-madhusudana
TRANSLATION
"The predominating Deity for the month of Magha is Madhava, and the predominating Deity for the month of Phalguna is Govinda. Visnu is the predominating Deity for Caitra, and Madhusudana is the predominating Deity for Vaisakha.
TEXT 200
TEXT
jyaisthe----trivikrama, asadhe----vamana devesa
sravane----sridhara, bhadre----deva hrsikesa
TRANSLATION
"In the month of Jyaistha, the predominating Deity is Trivikrama. In Asadha the Deity is Vamana, in Sravana the Deity is Sridhara, and in Bhadra the Deity is Hrsikesa.
TEXT 201
TEXT
asvine----padmanabha, kartike damodara
'radha-damodara' anya vrajendra-konara
TRANSLATION
"In the month of Asvina, the predominating Deity is Padmanabha, and in Karttika it is Damodara. This Damodara is different from Radha-Damodara, the son of Nanda Maharaja in Vrndavana.
TEXT 202
TEXT
dvadasa-tilaka-mantra ei dvadasa nama
acamane ei name sparsi tat-tat-sthana
TRANSLATION
"When putting the twelve tilaka marks on the twelve places of the body, one has to chant the mantra consisting of these twelve Visnu names. After daily worship, when one anoints the different parts of the body with water, these names should be chanted as one touches each part of the body.
TEXT 203
TEXT
ei cari-janera vilasa-murti ara asta jana
tan sabara nama kahi, suna sanatana
TRANSLATION
"From Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha, there are eight additional pastime expansions. O Sanatana, please hear Me as I mention Their names.
TEXT 204
TEXT
purusottama, acyuta, nrsimha, janardana
hari, krsna, adhoksaja, upendra,----asta-jana
TRANSLATION
"The eight pastime expansions are Purusottama, Acyuta, Nrsimha, Janardana, Hari, Krsna, Adhoksaja and Upendra.
TEXT 205
TEXT
vasudevera vilasa dui----adhoksaja, purusottama
sankarsanera vilasa----upendra, acyuta dui-jana
TRANSLATION
"Of these eight expansions, two are pastime forms of Vasudeva. Their names are Adhoksaja and Purusottama. The two pastime forms of Sankarsana are Upendra and Acyuta.
TEXT 206
TEXT
pradyumnera vilasa----nrsimha, janardana
aniruddhera vilasa----hari, krsna dui-jana
TRANSLATION
"The pastime forms of Pradyumna are Nrsimha and Janardana, and the pastime forms of Aniruddha are Hari and Krsna.
TEXT 207
TEXT
ei cabbisa murti----prabhava-vilasa pradhana
astra-dharana-bhede dhare bhinna bhinna nama
TRANSLATION
"All these twenty-four forms constitute the chief prabhava-vilasa pastime forms of the Lord. They are named differently according to the position of weapons in Their hands.
TEXT 208
TEXT
inhara madhye yahara haya akara-vesa-bheda
sei sei haya vilasa-vaibhava-vibheda
TRANSLATION
"Of all these, the forms that differ in dress and features are distinguished as vaibhava-vilasa.
TEXT 209
TEXT
padmanabha, trivikrama, nrsimha, vamana
hari, krsna adi haya 'akare' vilaksana
TRANSLATION
"Of them, Padmanabha, Trivikrama, Nrsimha, Vamana, Hari, Krsna, and so on all have different bodily features.
TEXT 210
TEXT
krsnera prabhava-vilasa----vasudevadi cari jana
sei cari-janara vilasa----vimsati ganana
TRANSLATION
"Vasudeva and the three others are direct prabhava pastime forms of Lord Krsna. Of these quadruple forms, the pastime expansions are twenty in number.
TEXT 211
TEXT
inha-sabara prthak vaikuntha----paravyoma-dhame
purvadi asta-dike tina tina krame
TRANSLATION
"All these forms preside over different Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual world, beginning from the east in consecutive order. In each of eight directions, there are three different forms.
TEXT 212
TEXT
yadyapi paravyoma sabakara nitya-dhama
tathapi brahmande karo kanho sannidhana
TRANSLATION
"Although They all have Their residences eternally in the spiritual sky, some of Them are situated within the material universes.
TEXT 213
TEXT
paravyoma-madhye narayanera nitya-sthiti
paravyoma-upari krsnalokera vibhuti
TRANSLATION
"There is an eternal residence of Narayana in the spiritual sky. In the upper portion of the spiritual sky is a planet known as Krsnaloka, which is filled with all opulences.
TEXT 214
TEXT
eka 'krsnaloka' haya trividha-prakara
gokulakhya, mathurakhya, dvarakakhya ara
TRANSLATION
"The planet of Krsnaloka is divided into three sections--Gokula, Mathura and Dvaraka.
TEXT 215
TEXT
mathurate kesavera nitya sannidhana
nilacale purusottama----jagannatha' nama
TRANSLATION
"Lord Kesava eternally resides at Mathura, and Lord Purusottama, known by the name Jagannatha, eternally resides at Nilacala.
TEXT 216
TEXT
prayage madhava, mandare sri-madhusudana
anandaranye vasudeva, padmanabha janardana
TRANSLATION
"At Prayaga, the Lord is situated as Bindu Madhava, and at Mandara-parvata, the Lord is known as Madhusudana. Vasudeva, Padmanabha and Janardana reside at Anandaranya.
TEXT 217
TEXT
visnu-kancite visnu, hari rahe, mayapure
aiche ara nana murti brahmanda-bhitare
TRANSLATION
"At Visnu-kanci there is Lord Visnu, at Mayapur Lord Hari, and throughout the universe a variety of other forms.
TEXT 218
TEXT
ei-mata brahmanda-madhye sabara 'parakasa'
sapta-dvipe nava-khande yanhara vilasa
TRANSLATION
"Within the universe the Lord is situated in different spiritual manifestations. These are situated on seven islands in nine sections. Thus Their pastimes are going on.
TEXT 219
TEXT
sarvatra prakasa tanra----bhakte sukha dite
jagatera adharma nasi' dharma sthapite
TRANSLATION
"The Lord is situated in all the universes in different forms just to please His devotees. Thus the Lord destroys irreligious principles and establishes religious principles.
TEXT 220
TEXT
inhara madhye karo haya 'avatare' ganana
yaiche visnu, trivikrama, nrsimha, vamana
TRANSLATION
"Of these forms, some are considered incarnations. Examples are Lord Visnu, Lord Trivikrama, Lord Nrsimha and Lord Vamana.
TEXT 221
TEXT
astra-dhrti-bheda----nama-bhedera karana
cakradi-dharana-bheda suna, sanatana
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanatana, just hear from Me as I tell you how the different visnu-murtis hold Their weapons, beginning with the disc, and how They are named differently according to the placement of objects in Their hands.
TEXT 222
TEXT
daksinadho hasta haite vamadhah paryanta
cakradi astra-dharana-gananara anta
TRANSLATION
"The procedure for counting begins with the lower right hand and goes to the upper right hand, the upper left hand, and the lower left hand. Lord Visnu is named according to the order the objects are held in His hands.
TEXT 223
TEXT
siddhartha-samhita kare cabbisa murti ganana
tara mate kahi age cakradi-dharana
TRANSLATION
"According to the Siddhartha-samhita there are twenty-four forms of Lord Visnu. First I shall describe, according to the opinion of that book, the location of the weapons, beginning with the disc.
TEXT 224
TEXT
vasudeva----gada-sankha-cakra-padma-dhara
sankarsana----gada-sankha-padma-cakra-kara
TRANSLATION
"In His lower right hand, Lord Vasudeva holds a club, in the upper right hand a conchshell, in the upper left hand a disc and in the lower left hand a lotus flower. In His lower right hand, Sankarsana holds a club, in His upper right hand a conchshell, in His upper left hand a lotus flower and in His lower left hand a disc.
TEXT 225
TEXT
pradyumna----cakra-sankha-gada-padma-dhara
aniruddha----cakra-gada-sankha-padma-kara
TRANSLATION
"Pradyumna holds the disc, conch, club and lotus. Aniruddha holds the disc, club, conch and lotus.
TEXT 226
TEXT
paravyome vasudevadi----nija nija astra-dhara
tanra mata kahi, ye-saba astra-kara
TRANSLATION
"Thus in the spiritual sky the expansions, headed by Vasudeva, hold weapons in Their own respective order. I am repeating the opinion of Siddhartha-samhita in describing Them.
TEXT 227
TEXT
sri-kesava----padma-sankha-cakra-gada-dhara
narayana----sankha-padma-gada-cakra-dhara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Kesava holds the lotus, conch, disc and club. Lord Narayana holds the conch, lotus, club and disc.
TEXT 228
TEXT
sri-madhava----gada-cakra-sankha-padma-kara
sri-govinda----cakra-gada-padma-sankha-dhara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Madhava holds the club, disc, conch and lotus. Lord Govinda holds the disc, club, lotus and conch.
TEXT 229
TEXT
visnu-murti----gada-padma-sankha-cakra-kara
madhusudana----cakra-sankha-padma-gada-dhara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Visnu holds the club, lotus, conch and disc. Lord Madhusudana holds the disc, conch, lotus and club.
TEXT 230
TEXT
trivikrama----padma-gada-cakra-sankha-kara
sri-vamana----sankha-cakra-gada-padma-dhara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Trivikrama holds the lotus, club, disc and conch. Lord Vamana holds the conch, disc, club and lotus.
TEXT 231
TEXT
sridhara----padma-cakra-gada-sankha-kara
hrsikesa----gada-cakra-padma-sankha-dhara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Sridhara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch. Lord Hrsikesa holds the club, disc, lotus and conch.
TEXT 232
TEXT
padmanabha----sankha-padma-cakra-gada-kara
damodara----padma-cakra-gada-sankha-dhara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Padmanabha holds the conch, lotus, disc and club. Lord Damodara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch.
TEXT 233
TEXT
purusottama----cakra-padma-sankha-gada-dhara
sri-acyuta----gada-padma-cakra-sankha-dhara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Purusottama holds the disc, lotus, conch and club. Lord Acyuta holds the club, lotus, disc and conch.
TEXT 234
TEXT
sri-nrsimha----cakra-padma-gada-sankha-dhara
janardana----padma-cakra-sankha-gada-kara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Nrsimha holds the disc, lotus, club and conch. Lord Janardana holds the lotus, disc, conch and club.
TEXT 235
TEXT
sri-hari----sankha-cakra-padma-gada-kara
sri-krsna----sankha-ga da-padma-cakra-kara
TRANSLATION
"Sri Hari holds the conch, disc, lotus and club. Lord Sri Krsna holds the conch, club, lotus and disc.
TEXT 236
TEXT
adhoksaja----padma-gada-sankha-cakra-kara
upendra----sankha-gada-cakra-padma-kara
TRANSLATION
"Lord Adhoksaja holds the lotus, club, conch and disc. Lord Upendra holds the conch, club, disc and lotus.
TEXT 237
TEXT
hayasirsa-pancaratre kahe sola-jana
tara mate kahi ebe cakradi-dharana
TRANSLATION
"According to the Hayasirsa-pancaratra, there are sixteen personalities. I shall now describe that opinion of how They hold the weapons.
TEXT 238
TEXT
kesava-bhede padma-sankha-gada-cakra-dhara
madhava-bhede cakra-gada-sankha-padma-kara
TRANSLATION
"Kesava is described differently as holding the lotus, conch, club and disc, and Madhava is described as holding disc, club, conch and lotus in His hands.
TEXT 239
TEXT
narayana-bhede nana astra-bheda-dhara
ityadika bheda ei saba astra-kara
TRANSLATION
"According to the Hayasirsa Pancaratra, Narayana and others are also presented differently as holding the weapons in different hands.
TEXT 240
TEXT
'svayam bhagavan' ara 'lila-purusottama'
ei dui nama dhare vrajendra-nandana
TRANSLATION
"Krsna, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, indicated as the son of Maharaja Nanda, has two names. One is svayam bhagavan, and the other is lila-purusottama.
TEXT 241
TEXT
purira avarana-rupe purira nava-dese
nava-vyuha-rupe nava-murti parakase
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna personally surrounds Dvaraka Puri as its protector. In different parts of the Puri, in nine places, He expands in nine different forms.
TEXT 242
TEXT
catvaro vasudevadya
narayana-nrsimhakau
hayagrivo mahakrodo
brahma ceti navoditah
TRANSLATION
" 'The nine personalities mentioned are Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Narayana, Nrsimha, Hayagriva, Varaha and Brahma.'
TEXT 243
TEXT
prakasa-vilasera ei kailun vivarana
svamsera bheda ebe suna, sanatana
TRANSLATION
"I have already described the pastime and prakasa forms. Now please hear about the different personal expansions.
TEXT 244
TEXT
sankarsana, matsyadika,----dui bheda tanra
sankarsana----purusavatara, lilavatara ara
TRANSLATION
"The first personal expansion is Sankarsana, and the others are incarnations like the fish incarnation. Sankarsana is an expansion of the Purusa, or Visnu. The incarnations such as Matsya, the fish incarnation, appear in different yugas for specific pastimes.
TEXT 245
TEXT
avatara haya krsnera sad-vidha prakara
purusavatara eka, lilavatara ara
TRANSLATION
"There are six types of incarnations [avataras] of Krsna. One is the incarnations of Visnu [purusa-avataras], and another is the incarnations meant for the performance of pastimes [lila-avataras].
TEXT 246
TEXT
gunavatara, ara manvantaravatara
yugavatara, ara saktyavesavatara
TRANSLATION
"There are incarnations that control the material qualities [guna-avataras], incarnations of the Manus [manvantara-avataras], incarnations in different millenniums [yuga-avataras] and incarnations of empowered living entities [saktyavesa-avataras].
TEXT 247
TEXT
balya, pauganda haya vigrahera dharma
eta-rupe lila karena vrajendra-nandana
TRANSLATION
"Childhood and boyhood are the typical ages of the Deity. Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda, performed His pastimes as a child and as a boy.
TEXT 248
TEXT
ananta avatara krsnera, nahika ganana
sakha-candra-nyaya kari dig-darasana
TRANSLATION
"There are innumerable incarnations of Krsna, and there is no possibility of counting them. We can simply indicate them by giving the example of the moon and the branches of a tree.
TEXT 249
TEXT
avatara hy asankhyeya
hareh sattva-nidher dvijah
yatha 'vidasinah kulyah
sarasah syuh sahasrasah
TRANSLATION
" 'O learned brahmanas, just as hundreds and thousands of small ponds issue from great reservoirs of water, innumerable incarnations flow from Sri Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the reservoir of all power.'
TEXT 250
TEXT
prathamei kare krsna 'purusavatara'
seita purusa haya trividha prakara
TRANSLATION
"In the beginning, Krsna incarnates Himself as purusa-avataras, or Visnu incarnations. These are of three types.
TEXT 251
TEXT
visnos tu trini rupani
purusakhyany atho viduh
ekam tu mahatah srastr
dvitiyam tv anda-samsthitam
trtiyam sarva-bhuta-stham
tani jnatva vimucyate
TRANSLATION
" 'Visnu has three forms called purusas. The first, Maha-Visnu, is the creator of the total material energy [mahat], the second is Garbhodakasayi, who is situated within each universe, and the third is Ksirodakasayi, who lives in the heart of every living being. He who knows these three becomes liberated from the clutches of maya.'
TEXT 252
TEXT
ananta-sakti-madhye krsnera tina sakti pradhana
'iccha-sakti' 'jnana-sakti' 'kriya-sakti' nama
TRANSLATION
"Krsna has unlimited potencies, out of which three are chief--willpower, the power of knowledge and the creative energy.
TEXT 253
TEXT
iccha-sakti-pradhana krsna----icchaya sarva-karta
jnana-sakti-pradhana vasudeva adhisthata
TRANSLATION
"The predominator of the willing potency is Lord Krsna, for by His supreme will everything comes into existence. In willing, there is a need for knowledge, and that knowledge is expressed through Vasudeva.
TEXT 254
TEXT
iccha-jnana-kriya vina na haya srjana
tinera tina-sakti meli' prapanca-racana
TRANSLATION
"There is no possibility of creation without thinking, feeling, willing, knowledge and activity. The combination of the supreme will, knowledge and action brings about the cosmic manifestation.
TEXT 255
TEXT
kriya-sakti-pradhana sankarsana balarama
prakrtaprakrta-srsti karena nirmana
TRANSLATION
"Lord Sankarsana is Lord Balarama. Being the predominator of the creative energy, He creates both the material and spiritual worlds.
TEXT 256
TEXT
ahankarera adhisthata krsnera icchaya
goloka, vaikuntha srje cic-chakti-dvaraya
TRANSLATION
"That original Sankarsana [Lord Balarama] is the cause of both the material and spiritual creation. He is the predominating deity of egotism, and by the will of Krsna and the power of the spiritual energy, He creates the spiritual world, which consists of the planet Goloka Vrndavana and the Vaikuntha planets.
TEXT 257
TEXT
yadyapi asrjya nitya cic-chakti-vilasa
tathapi sankarsana-icchaya tahara prakasa
TRANSLATION
"Although there is no question of creation as far as the spiritual world is concerned, the spiritual world is nonetheless manifest by the supreme will of Sankarsana. The spiritual world is the abode of the pastimes of the eternal spiritual energy.
TEXT 258
TEXT
sahasra-patram kamalam
gokulakhyam mahat-padam
tat-karnikaram tad-dhama
tad anantamsa-sambhavam
TRANSLATION
" 'Gokula, the supreme abode and planet, appears like a lotus flower that has a thousand petals. The whorl of that lotus is the abode of the Supreme Lord, Krsna. This lotus-shaped supreme abode is created by the will of Lord Ananta.'
TEXT 259
TEXT
maya-dvare srje tenho brahmandera gana
jada-rupa prakrti nahe brahmanda-karana
TRANSLATION
"By the agency of the material energy, this same Lord Sankarsana creates all the universes. The dull material energy--known in modern language as nature--is not the cause of the material universe.
TEXT 260
TEXT
jada haite srsti nahe isvara-sakti vine
tahatei sankarsana kare saktira adhane
TRANSLATION
"Without the Supreme Personality of Godhead's energy, dull matter cannot create the cosmic manifestation. Its power does not arise from the material energy itself but is endowed by Sankarsana.
TEXT 261
TEXT
isvarera saktye srsti karaye prakrti
lauha yena agni-saktye paya daha-sakti
TRANSLATION
"Dull matter alone cannot create anything. The material energy produces the creation by the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Iron itself has no power to burn, but when iron is placed in fire, it is empowered to burn.
TEXT 262
TEXT
etau hi visvasya ca bija-yoni
ramo mukundah purusah pradhanam
anviya bhutesu vilaksanasya
jnanasya cesata imau puranau
TRANSLATION
" 'Balarama and Krsna are the original efficient and material causes of the material world. As Maha-Visnu and the material energy, They enter into the material elements and create the diversities by multi-energies. Thus They are the cause of all causes.'
TEXT 263
TEXT
srsti-hetu yei murti prapance avatare
sei isvara-murti 'avatara' nama dhare
TRANSLATION
"The form of the Lord that descends into the material world to create is called an avatara, or incarnation.
TEXT 264
TEXT
mayatita paravyome sabara avasthana
visve avatari' dhare 'avatara' nama
TRANSLATION
"All the expansions of Lord Krsna are actually residents of the spiritual world. However, when they descend into the material world, they are called incarnations [avataras].
TEXT 265
TEXT
sei maya avalokite sri-sankarsana
purusa-rupe avatirna ha-ila prathama
TRANSLATION
"To glance over that material energy and empower her, Lord Sankarsana first incarnates as Lord Maha-Visnu.
TEXT 266
TEXT
jagrhe paurusam rupam
bhagavan mahad-adibhih
sambhutam sodasa-kalam
adau loka-sisrksaya
TRANSLATION
" 'In the beginning of the creation, the Lord expanded Himself in the form of the purusa incarnation, accompanied by all the ingredients of material creation. First He created the sixteen principal energies suitable for creation. This was for the purpose of manifesting the material universes.'
TEXT 267
TEXT
adyo 'vatarah purusah parasya
kalah svabhavah sad-asan-manas ca
dravyam vikaro guna indriyani
virat svarat sthasnu carisnu bhumnah
TRANSLATION
" 'Karanabdhisayi Visnu [Maha-Visnu] is the first incarnation of the Supreme Lord, and He is the master of eternal time, space, cause and effects, mind, elements, material ego, modes of nature, senses, the universal form of the Lord, Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and the sum total of all living beings, both moving and nonmoving.'
TEXT 268
TEXT
sei purusa virajate karena sayana
'karanabdhisayi' nama jagat-karana
TRANSLATION
"That original Personality of Godhead, named Sankarsana, first lies down in the river Viraja, which serves as a border between the material and spiritual worlds. As Karanabdhisayi Visnu, He is the original cause of the material creation.
TEXT 269
TEXT
karanabdhi-pare mayara nitya avasthiti
virajara pare paravyome nahi gati
TRANSLATION
"The Viraja, or Causal Ocean, is the border between the spiritual and material worlds. The material energy is situated on one shore of that ocean, and it cannot enter onto the other shore, which is the spiritual sky.
TEXT 270
TEXT
pravartate yatra rajas tamas tayoh
sattvam ca misram na ca kala-vikramah
na yatra maya kim utapare harer
anuvrata yatra surasurarcitah
TRANSLATION
" 'In the spiritual world, there is neither the mode of passion, the mode of ignorance nor a mixture of both, nor is there adulterated goodness, nor the influence of time or maya itself. Only the pure devotees of the Lord, who are worshiped both by demigods and by demons, reside in the spiritual world as the Lord's associates.'
TEXT 271
TEXT
mayara ye dui vrtti----'maya' ara 'pradhana'
'maya' nimitta-hetu, visvera upadana 'pradhana'
TRANSLATION
"Maya has two functions. One is called maya, and the other is called pradhana. Maya refers to the efficient cause, and pradhana refers to the ingredients that create the cosmic manifestation.
TEXT 272
TEXT
sei purusa maya-pane kare avadhana
prakrti ksobhita kari' kare viryera adhana
TRANSLATION
"When the Supreme Personality of Godhead glances over the material energy, she becomes agitated. At that time, the Lord injects the original semina of the living entities.
TEXT 273
TEXT
svanga-visesabhasa-rupe prakrti-sparsana
jiva-rupa 'bija' tate kaila samarpana
TRANSLATION
"To impregnate with the seeds of living entities, the Lord Himself does not directly touch the material energy, but by His specific functional expansion, He touches the material energy, and thus the living entities, who are His parts and parcels, are impregnated into material nature.
TEXT 274
TEXT
daivat ksubhita-dharminyam
svasyam yonau parah puman
adhatta viryam sa 'suta
mahat-tattvam hiranmayam
TRANSLATION
" 'From time immemorial, after agitating the material nature into three qualities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead places the semina of innumerable living entities within the womb of that material nature. Thus material nature gives birth to the total material energy known as the hiranmaya-mahat-tattva, the original symbolic representation of the cosmic manifestation.'
TEXT 275
TEXT
kala-vrttya tu mayayam
gunamayyam adhoksajah
purusenatma-bhutena
viryam adhatta viryavan
TRANSLATION
" 'In due course of time, the Supreme Personality of Godhead [Maha-Visnu or Maha-Vaikunthanatha], by the agency of a further expansion of His personal self, places the seed of the living entities within the womb of material nature.'
TEXT 276
TEXT
tabe mahat-tattva haite trividha ahankara
yaha haite devatendriya-bhutera pracara
TRANSLATION
"First the total material energy is manifest, and from this arise the three types of egotism, which are the original sources from which all demigods [controlling deities], senses and material elements expand.
TEXT 277
TEXT
sarva tattva mili' srjila brahmandera gana
ananta brahmanda, tara nahika ganana
TRANSLATION
"Combining all the different elements, the Supreme Lord created all the universes. Those universes are unlimited in number; there is no possibility of counting them.
TEXT 278
TEXT
inho mahat-srasta purusa----'maha-visnu' nama
ananta brahmanda tanra loma-kupe dhama
TRANSLATION
"The first form of Lord Visnu is called Maha-Visnu. He is the original creator of the total material energy. The innumerable universes emanate from the pores of His body.
TEXTS 279-280
TEXT
gavakse udiya yaiche renu ase yaya
purusa-nisvasa-saha brahmanda bahiraya
punarapi nisvasa-saha yaya abhyantara
ananta aisvarya tanra, saba----maya-para
TRANSLATION
"These universes are understood to be floating in air as the Maha-Visnu exhales. They are like atomic particles that float in sunshine and pass through the holes of a screen. All these universes are thus created by the exhalation of Maha-Visnu, and when Maha-Visnu inhales, they return to His body. The unlimited opulences of Maha-Visnu are completely beyond material conception.
TEXT 281
TEXT
yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah
visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATION
" 'The Brahmas and other lords of the mundane worlds appear from the pores of the Maha-Visnu and remain alive for the duration of His one exhalation. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, for Maha-Visnu is a portion of His plenary portion.'
TEXT 282
TEXT
samasta brahmanda-ganera inho antaryami
karanabdhisayi----saba jagatera svami
TRANSLATION
"Maha-Visnu is the Supersoul of all the universes. Lying on the Causal Ocean, He is the master of all material worlds.
TEXT 283
TEXT
eita kahilun prathama purusera tattva
dvitiya purusera ebe sunaha mahattva
TRANSLATION
"I have thus explained the truth of the first Personality of Godhead, Maha Visnu. I shall now explain the glories of the second Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 284
TEXT
sei purusa ananta-koti brahmanda srjiya
ekaika-murtye pravesila bahu murti hana
TRANSLATION
"After creating the total number of universes, which are unlimited, the Maha-Visnu expanded Himself into unlimited forms and entered into each of them.
TEXT 285
TEXT
pravesa kariya dekhe, saba----andhakara
rahite nahika sthana, karila vicara
TRANSLATION
"When Maha-Visnu entered each of the limitless universes, He saw that there was darkness all around and that there was no place to stay. He therefore began to consider the situation.
TEXT 286
TEXT
nijanga-sveda-jale brahmandardha bharila
sei jale sesa-sayyaya sayana karila
TRANSLATION
"With the perspiration produced from His own body, the Lord filled half the universe with water. He then lay down on that water on the bed of Lord Sesa.
TEXT 287
TEXT
tanra nabhi-padma haite uthila eka padma
sei padme ha-ila brahmara janma-sadma
TRANSLATION
"A lotus flower then sprouted from the lotus navel of that Garbhodakasayi Visnu. That lotus flower became Lord Brahma's birthplace.
TEXT 288
TEXT
sei padma-nale ha-ila caudda bhuvana
tenho 'brahma' hana srsti karila srjana
TRANSLATION
"In the stem of that lotus flower the fourteen worlds were generated. Then He became Lord Brahma and created the entire universe.
TEXT 289
TEXT
'visnu'-rupa hana kare jagat palane
gunatita visnu----sparsa nahi maya-sane
TRANSLATION
"In this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of Visnu maintains the entire material world. Since He is always beyond the material qualities, the material nature cannot touch Him.
TEXT 290
TEXT
'rudra'-rupa dhari kare jagat samhara
srsti, sthiti, pralaya haya icchaya yanhara
TRANSLATION
"The Supreme Lord, and His form of Rudra [Lord Siva], brings about the dissolution of this material creation. In other words, by His will only, there is creation, maintenance and dissolution of the whole cosmic manifestation.
TEXT 291
TEXT
brahma, visnu, siva----tanra guna-avatara
srsti-sthiti-pralayera tinera adhikara
TRANSLATION
"Brahma, Visnu and Siva are His three incarnations of the material qualities. Creation, maintenance and destruction respectively are under the charge of these three personalities.
TEXT 292
TEXT
hiranyagarbha-antaryami----garbhodakasayi
'sahasra-sirsadi' kari' vede yanre gai
TRANSLATION
"Garbhodakasayi Visnu, known within the universe as Hiranyagarbha and the antaryami, or Supersoul, is glorified in the Vedic hymns, beginning with the hymn that starts with the word sahasra-sirsa.
TEXT 293
TEXT
ei ta' dvitiya-purusa----brahmandera isvara
mayara 'asraya' haya, tabu maya-para
TRANSLATION
"This second Personality of Godhead, known as Garbhodakasayi Visnu, is the master of each and every universe and the shelter of the external energy. Nonetheless, He remains beyond the touch of the external energy.
TEXT 294
TEXT
trtiya-purusa visnu----'guna-avatara'
dui avatara-bhitara ganana tanhara
TRANSLATION
"The third expansion of Visnu is the Ksirodakasayi Visnu, who is the incarnation of the quality of goodness. He is to be counted within the two types of incarnations [purusa-avataras and guna-avataras].
TEXT 295
TEXT
virat vyasti-jivera tenho antaryami
ksirodakasayi tenho----palana-karta, svami
TRANSLATION
"This Ksirodakasayi Visnu is the universal form of the Lord and is the Supersoul within every living entity. He is known as Ksirodakasayi, or the Lord who lies on the ocean of milk. He is the maintainer and master of the universe.
TEXT 296
TEXT
purusavatarera ei kailun nirupana
lilavatara ebe suna, sanatana
TRANSLATION
"O Sanatana, I have definitively described the three purusa-avataras of Visnu. Now please hear from Me about the pastime incarnations.
TEXT 297
TEXT
lilavatara krsnera na yaya ganana
pradhana kariya kahi dig-darasana
TRANSLATION
"No one can count the innumerable pastime incarnations of Lord Krsna, but I shall describe the principal ones.
TEXT 298
TEXT
matsya, kurma, raghunatha, nrsimha, vamana
varahadi----lekha yanra na yaya ganana
TRANSLATION
"Some of the pastime incarnations are the fish incarnation, the tortoise incarnation, Lord Ramacandra, Lord Nrsimha, Lord Vamana, and Lord Varaha. There is no end to them.
TEXT 299
TEXT
matsyasva-kacchapa-nrsimha-varaha-hamsa-
rajanya-vipra-vibudhesu krtavatarah
tvam pasi nas tribhuvanam ca tathadhunesa
bharam bhuvo hara yaduttama vandanam te
TRANSLATION
" 'O Lord of the universe, best of the Yadu dynasty, we are offering our prayers unto You mainly to diminish the heavy burden of the universe. Indeed, You diminished this burden formerly by incarnating in the form of a fish, a horse [Hayagriva], a tortoise, a lion [Lord Nrsimha], a boar [Lord Varaha] and a swan. You also incarnated as Lord Ramacandra, Parasurama and Vamana the dwarf. You have always protected us demigods and the universe in this way. Now please continue.'
TEXT 300
TEXT
lilavatarera kailun dig-darasana
gunavatarera ebe suna vivarana
TRANSLATION
"I have given a few examples of pastime incarnations. Now I will describe the guna-avataras, the incarnations of the material qualities. Please listen.
TEXT 301
TEXT
brahma, visnu, siva,----tina guna avatara
tri-guna angikari' kare srsty-adi-vyavahara
TRANSLATION
"There are three functions within this material world. Everything here is created, everything is maintained for some time, and everything is finally dissolved. The Lord therefore incarnates Himself as the controllers of the three qualities--sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna [goodness, passion and ignorance]. Thus the transactions of the material world take place.
TEXT 302
TEXT
bhakti-misra-krta-punye kona jivottama
rajo-gune vibhavita kari' tanra mana
TRANSLATION
"Because of his past pious activities mixed with devotional service, the first-class living entity is influenced by the mode of passion within his mind.
TEXT 303
TEXT
garbhodakasayi-dvara sakti sancari'
vyasti srsti kare krsna brahma-rupa dhari'
TRANSLATION
"Such a devotee is empowered by Garbhodakasayi Visnu. In this way, an incarnation of Krsna in the form of Brahma engineers the total creation of the universe.
TEXT 304
TEXT
bhasvan yathasma-sakalesu nijesu tejah
sviyam kiyat prakatayaty api tadvad atra
brahma ya esa jagad-anda-vidhana-karta
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATION
" 'The sun manifests his brilliance in a gem, although it is stone. Similarly, the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, manifests His special power in a pious living entity. Thus the living entity becomes Brahma and manages the affairs of the universe. Let me worship Govinda, the original Personality of Godhead.'
TEXT 305
TEXT
kona kalpe yadi yogya jiva nahi paya
apane isvara tabe amse 'brahma' haya
TRANSLATION
"If in a kalpa a suitable living entity is not available to take charge of Brahma's post, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself personally expands and becomes Lord Brahma.
TEXT 306
TEXT
yasyanghri-pankaja-rajo 'khila-loka-palair
mauly-uttamair dhrtam upasita-tirtha-tirtham
brahma bhavo 'ham api yasya kalah kalayah
sris codvahema ciram asya nrpasanam kva
TRANSLATION
" 'What is the value of a throne to Lord Krsna? The masters of the various planetary systems accept the dust of His lotus feet on their crowned heads. That dust makes the holy places sacred, and even Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Laksmi and I myself, who are all portions of His plenary portion, eternally carry that dust on our heads.'
TEXT 307
TEXT
nijamsa-kalaya krsna tamo-guna angikari'
samhararthe maya-sange rudra-rupa dhari
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, expands a portion of His plenary portion and, accepting the association of the material mode of ignorance, assumes the form of Rudra to dissolve the cosmic manifestation.
TEXT 308
TEXT
maya-sanga-vikari rudra----bhinnabhinna rupa
jiva-tattva nahe, nahe krsnera 'svarupa'
TRANSLATION
"Rudra, Lord Siva, has various forms, which are transformations brought about by association with maya. Although Rudra is not on a level with the jiva-tattvas, he still cannot be considered a personal expansion of Lord Krsna.
TEXT 309
TEXT
dugdha yena amla-yoge dadhi-rupa dhare
dugdhantara vastu nahe, dugdha haite nare
TRANSLATION
"Milk is transformed into yogurt when it associates with a yogurt culture. Thus yogurt is nothing but milk, but still it is not milk.
TEXT 310
TEXT
ksiram yatha dadhi vikara-visesa-yogat
sanjayate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh
yah sambhutam api tatha samupaiti karyad
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATION
" 'Milk changes into yogurt when mixed with a yogurt culture, but actually it is constitutionally nothing but milk. Similarly, Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, assumes the form of Lord Siva [Sambhu] for the special purpose of material transactions. I offer my obeisances at His lotus feet.'
TEXT 311
TEXT
'siva'----maya-sakti-sangi, tamo-guna vesa
mayatita, gunatita 'visnu'----paramesa
TRANSLATION
"Lord Siva is an associate of the external energy; therefore he is absorbed in the material quality of darkness. Lord Visnu is transcendental to maya and the qualities of maya. Therefore He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 312
TEXT
sivah sakti-yuktah sasvat
trilingo guna-samvrtah
vaikarikas taijasas ca
tamasas cety aham tridha
TRANSLATION
" 'The truth about Lord Siva is that he is always covered with three material coverings--vaikarika, taijasa and tamasa. Because of these three modes of material nature, he always associates with the external energy and egotism itself.'
TEXT 313
TEXT
harir hi nirgunah saksat
purusah prakrteh parah
sa sarva-drg upadrasta
tam bhajan nirguno bhavet
TRANSLATION
" 'Sri Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is situated beyond the range of material nature; therefore He is the supreme transcendental person. He can see everything inside and outside; therefore He is the supreme overseer of all living entities. If someone takes shelter at His lotus feet and worships Him, he also attains a transcendental position.'
TEXT 314
TEXT
palanartha svamsa visnu-rupe avatara
sattva-guna drasta, tate guna-maya-para
TRANSLATION
"For the maintenance of the universe, Lord Krsna descends as His personal plenary expansion in the form of Visnu. He is the director of the mode of goodness; therefore He is transcendental to the material energy.
TEXT 315
TEXT
svarupa----aisvarya-purna, krsna-sama praya
krsna amsi, tenho amsa, vede hena gaya
TRANSLATION
"Lord Visnu is in the category of svamsa because He has opulences almost equal to Krsna's. Krsna is the original person, and Lord Visnu is His personal expansion. This is the verdict of all Vedic literature.
TEXT 316
TEXT
diparcir eva hi dasantaram abhyupetya
dipayate vivrta-hetu-samana-dharma
yas tadrg eva hi ca visnutaya vibhati
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATION
" 'When the flame of one candle is expanded to another candle and placed in a different position, it burns separately, and its illumination is as powerful as the original candle. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, expands Himself in different forms as Visnu, who is equally luminous, powerful and opulent. Let me worship that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.'
TEXT 317
TEXT
brahma, siva----ajna-kari bhakta-avatara
palanarthe visnu----krsnera svarupa-akara
TRANSLATION
"The conclusion is that Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are simply devotee incarnations who carry out orders. However, Lord Visnu, the maintainer, is the personal feature of Lord Krsna.
TEXT 318
TEXT
srjami tan-niyukto 'ham-
haro harati tad-vasah
visvam purusa-rupena
paripati trisakti-dhrk
TRANSLATION
" 'Lord Brahma said, "I am engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to create. Following His orders, Lord Siva dissolves everything. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His form of Ksirodakasayi Visnu, maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Visnu." '
TEXT 319
TEXT
manvantaravatara ebe suna, sanatana
asankhya ganana tanra, sunaha karana
TRANSLATION
"O Sanatana, just hear about the Manu incarnations [manvantara-avataras]. They are unlimited, and no one can count them. Just hear of their source.
TEXT 320
TEXT
brahmara eka-dine haya caudda manvantara
caudda avatara tahan karena isvara
TRANSLATION
"In one day of Brahma, there are fourteen changes of the Manus, and all those fourteen Manus are considered incarnations manifested by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 321
TEXT
caudda eka dine, mase cari-sata bisa
brahmara vatsare panca-sahasra callisa
TRANSLATION
"There are 14 manvantara-avataras in one day of Brahma, 420 in one month, and 5,040 in one year.
TEXT 322
TEXT
sateka vatsara haya jivana' brahmara
panca-laksa cari-sahasra manvantaravatara
TRANSLATION
"During the hundred years of Brahma's life, there are 504,000 manvantara-avataras.
TEXT 323
TEXT
ananta brahmande aiche karaha ganana
maha-visnu eka-svase brahmara jivana
TRANSLATION
"The number of manvantara-avataras for only one universe has been given. One can only imagine how many manvantara-avataras exist in the innumerable universes. And all these universes and Brahmas exist only during one exhalation of Maha-Visnu.
TEXT 324
TEXT
maha-visnura nisvasera nahika paryanta
eka manvantaravatarera dekha lekhara anta
TRANSLATION
"There is no limit to the exhalations of Maha-Visnu. Just see how impossible it is to speak or write of even only the manvantara-avatara.
TEXT 325
TEXT
svayambhuve 'yajna', svarocise 'vibhu' nama
auttame 'satyasena', tamase 'hari' abhidhana
TRANSLATION
"In the Svayambhuva-manvantara, the avatara was named Yajna. In the Svarocisa-manvantara, he was named Vibhu. In the Auttama-manvantara, he was named Satyasena, and in the Tamasa-manvantara he was named Hari.
TEXT 326
TEXT
raivate 'vaikuntha' caksuse 'ajita', vaivasvate 'vamana'
savarnye 'sarvabhauma', daksa-savarnye 'rsabha' ganana
TRANSLATION
"In the Raivata-manvantara, the avatara was named Vaikuntha, and in the Caksusa-manvantara, he was named Ajita. In the Vaivasvata-manvantara, he was named Vamana, and in the Savarnya-manvantara, he was named Sarvabhauma. In the Daksa-savarnya-manvantara, he was named Rsabha.
TEXT 327
TEXT
brahma-savarnye 'visvaksena', 'dharmasetu' dharma-savarnye
rudra-savarnye 'sudhama', 'yogesvara' deva-savarnye
TRANSLATION
"In the Brahma-savarnya-manvantara, the avatara was named Visvaksena, and in the Dharma-savarnya, he was named Dharmasetu. In the Rudra-savarnya he was named Sudhama, and in the Deva-savarnya, he was named Yogesvara.
TEXT 328
TEXT
indra-savarnye 'brhadbhanu' abhidhana
ei caudda manvantare caudda 'avatara' nama
TRANSLATION
"In the Indra-savarnya-manvantara, the avatara was named Brhadbhanu. These are the names of the fourteen avataras in the fourteen manvantaras.
TEXT 329
TEXT
yugavatara ebe suna, sanatana
satya-treta-dvapara-kali-yugera ganana
TRANSLATION
"O Sanatana, now hear from Me about the yuga-avataras, the incarnations for the millenniums. First of all, there are four yugas--Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga and Kali-yuga.
TEXT 330
TEXT
sukla-rakta-krsna-pita----krame cari varna
cari varna dhari' krsna karena yuga-dharma
TRANSLATION
"In the four yugas--Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali--the Lord incarnates in four colors: white, red, black and yellow respectively. These are the colors of the incarnations in different millenniums.
TEXT 331
TEXT
asan varnas trayo hy asya
grhnato 'nu-yugam tanuh
suklo raktas tatha pita
idanim krsnatam gatah
TRANSLATION
" 'This child formerly had three colors according to the prescribed color for different millenniums. Formerly He was white, red and yellow, and now He has assumed a blackish color.'
TEXT 332
TEXT
krte suklas catur-bahur
jatilo valkalambarah
krsnajinopavitaksan
bibhrad danda-kamandalu
TRANSLATION
" 'In the Satya-yuga, the Lord appeared in a body colored white with four arms and matted hair. He wore tree bark and bore a black antelope skin. He wore a sacred thread and a garland of rudraksa beads. He carried a rod and a waterpot, and He was a brahmacari.'
TEXT 333
TEXT
tretayam rakta-varno 'sau
catur-bahus trimekhalah
hiranya-kesas trayy-atma
sruk-sruv-ady-upalaksanah
TRANSLATION
" 'In the Treta-yuga, the Lord appeared in a body that had a reddish hue and four arms. There were three distinctive lines on His abdomen, and His hair was golden. His form manifested the Vedic knowledge, and He bore the symbols of a sacrificial spoon, ladle and so on.'
TEXT 334
TEXT
satya-yuge dharma-dhyana karaya 'sukla'-murti dhari'
kardamake vara dila yenho krpa kari'
TRANSLATION
"As the white incarnation, the Lord taught religion and meditation. He offered benedictions to Kardama Muni, and in this way He showed His causeless mercy.
TEXT 335
TEXT
krsna-'dhyana' kare loka jnana-adhikari
tretara dharma 'yajna' karaya 'rakta'-varna dhari'
TRANSLATION
"In the Satya-yuga the people were generally advanced in spiritual knowledge and could meditate upon Krsna very easily. The people's occupational duty in Treta-yuga was to perform great sacrifices. This was induced by the Personality of Godhead in His reddish incarnation.
TEXT 336
TEXT
'krsna-padarcana' haya dvaparera dharma
'krsna'-varne karaya loke krsnarcana-karma
TRANSLATION
"In Dvapara-yuga the people's occupational duty was to worship the lotus feet of Krsna. Therefore Lord Krsna, appearing in a blackish body, personally induced people to worship Him.
TEXT 337
TEXT
dvapare bhagavan syamah
pita-vasa nijayudhah
sri-vatsadibhir ankais ca
laksanair upalaksitah
TRANSLATION
" 'In the Dvapara-yuga the Personality of Godhead appears in a blackish hue. He is dressed in yellow, He holds His own weapons, and He is decorated with the Kaustubha jewel and marks of Srivatsa. That is how His symptoms are described.'
TEXT 338
TEXT
namas te vasudevaya
namah sankarsanaya ca
pradyumnayaniruddhaya
tubhyam bhagavate namah
TRANSLATION
" 'I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, expanded as Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.'
TEXT 339
TEXT
ei mantre dvapare kare krsnarcana
'krsna-nama-sankirtana'----kali-yugera dharma
TRANSLATION
"By this mantra, the people worship Lord Krsna in the Dvapara-yuga. In the Kali-yuga the occupational duty of the people is to chant congregationally the holy name of Krsna.
TEXT 340
TEXT
pita'-varna dhari' tabe kaila pravartana
prema-bhakti dila loke lana bhakta-gana
TRANSLATION
"Accompanied by His personal devotees, Lord Krsna, assuming a golden color, introduces the hari-nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, in the Age of Kali. By this process, He delivers love for Krsna to the general populace.
TEXT 341
TEXT
dharma pravartana kare vrajendra-nandana
preme gaya nace loka kare sankirtana
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, personally introduces the occupational duty of the Age of Kali. He personally chants and dances in ecstatic love, and thus the entire world chants congregationally.
TEXT 342
TEXT
krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam-
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah
TRANSLATION
" 'In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.'
TEXT 343
TEXT
ara tina-yuge dhyanadite yei phala haya
kali-yuge krsna-name sei phala paya
TRANSLATION
"In the other three yugas--Satya, Treta and Dvapara--people perform different types of spiritual activities. Whatever results they achieve in that way, they can achieve in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra.
TEXT 344
TEXT
kaler dosa-nidhe rajann
asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya
mukta-bandhah param vrajet
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.
TEXT 345
TEXT
krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
TRANSLATION
" 'Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.'
TEXT 346
TEXT
dhyayan krte yajan yajnais
tretayam dvapare 'rcayan
yad apnoti tad apnoti
kalau sankirtya kesavam
TRANSLATION
" 'Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajna in Treta-yuga or by the worship of Krsna's lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting and glorifying Lord Kesava.'
TEXT 347
TEXT
kalim sabhajayanty arya
guna-jnah sara-bhaginah
yatra sankirtanenaiva
sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate
TRANSLATION
" 'Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life, know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the Age of Kali because in this age, simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra, one can advance in spiritual knowledge and attain life's goal.'
TEXT 348
TEXT
purvavat likhi yabe gunavatara-gana
asankhya sankhya tanra, na haya ganana
TRANSLATION
"As stated before when I described the incarnations of the material modes [guna-avataras], one should consider that these incarnations also are unlimited and that no one can count them.
TEXT 349
TEXT
cari-yugavatare ei ta' ganana
suni' bhangi kari' tanre puche sanatana
TRANSLATION
"Thus I have given a description of the incarnations of the four different yugas." After hearing all this, Sanatana Gosvami gave an indirect hint to the Lord.
TEXT 350
TEXT
raja-mantri sanatana----buddhye brhaspati
prabhura krpate puche asankoca-mati
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami had been a minister under Nawab Hussain Shah, and he was undoubtedly as intelligent as Brhaspati, the chief priest of the heavenly kingdom. Due to the Lord's unlimited mercy, Sanatana Gosvami questioned Him without hesitation.
TEXT 351
TEXT
'ati ksudra jiva muni nica, nicacara
kemane janiba kalite kon avatara?'
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami said, "I am a very insignificant living entity. I am low and poorly behaved. How can I understand who is the incarnation for this Age of Kali?"
TEXT 352
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"anyavatara sastra-dvare jani
kalite avatara taiche sastra-vakye mani
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "As in other ages an incarnation is accepted according to the directions of the sastras, in this Age of Kali an incarnation of God should be accepted in that way.
TEXT 353
TEXT
sarvajna munira vakya----sastra-'paramana'
ama-saba jivera haya sastra-dvara jnana'
TRANSLATION
"The Vedic literatures composed by the omniscient Mahamuni Vyasadeva are evidence of all spiritual existence. Only through these revealed scriptures can all conditioned souls attain knowledge.
TEXT 354
TEXT
avatara nahi kahe----'ami avatara'
muni saba jani' kare laksana-vicara
TRANSLATION
"An actual incarnation of God never says, 'I am God,' or 'I am an incarnation of God.' The great sage Vyasadeva, knowing all, has already recorded the characteristics of the avataras in the sastras.
TEXT 355
TEXT
yasyavatara jnayante
saririsv asaririnah
tais tair atulyatisayair
viryair dehisv asangataih
TRANSLATION
" 'The Lord does not have a material body, yet He descends among human beings in His transcendental body as an incarnation. Therefore it is very difficult for us to understand who is an incarnation. Only by His extraordinary prowess and uncommon activities, which are impossible for embodied living entities, can one partially understand the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'
TEXT 356
TEXT
'svarupa'-laksana, ara 'tatastha-laksana'
ei dui laksane 'vastu' jane muni-gana
TRANSLATION
"By two symptoms--personal characteristics and marginal characteristics--the great sages can understand an object.
TEXT 357
TEXT
akrti, prakrti, svarupa,----svarupa-laksana
karya-dvara jnana,----ei tatastha-laksana
TRANSLATION
"Bodily features, nature and form are the personal characteristics. Knowledge of His activities provides the marginal characteristic.
TEXT 358
TEXT
bhagavatarambhe vyasa mangalacarane
'paramesvara' nirupila ei dui laksane
TRANSLATION
"In the auspicious invocation in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Vyasadeva has described the Supreme Personality of Godhead by these symptoms.
TEXT 359
TEXT
janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah svarat
tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah
tejo-vari-mrdam yatha vinimayo yatra tri-sargo 'mrsa
dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhimahi
TRANSLATION
" 'I offer my obeisances unto Lord Sri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, who is the supreme all-pervading Personality of Godhead. I meditate upon Him, the transcendent reality, who is the primeval cause of all causes, from whom all manifested universes arise, in whom they dwell and by whom they are destroyed. I meditate upon that eternally effulgent Lord who is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations and yet is beyond them. It is He only who first imparted Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahma, the first created being. Through Him this world, like a mirage, appears real even to great sages and demigods. Because of Him, the material universes, created by the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I meditate, therefore, upon Him, the Absolute Truth, who is eternally existent in His transcendental abode and who is forever free of illusion.'
TEXT 360
TEXT
ei sloke 'param'-sabde 'krsna'-nirupana
'satyam' sabde kahe tanra svarupa-laksana
TRANSLATION
"In this invocation from Srimad-Bhagavatam, the word param indicates Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the word satyam indicates His personal characteristics.
TEXT 361
TEXT
visva-srsty-adi kaila, veda brahmake padaila
arthabhijnata, svarupa-saktye maya dura kaila
TRANSLATION
"In that same verse it is stated that the Lord is the creator, maintainer and annihilator of the cosmic manifestation, and that He enabled Lord Brahma to create the universe by infusing him with the knowledge of the Vedas. It is also stated that the Lord has full knowledge directly and indirectly, that He knows past, present and future and that His personal energy is separate from maya, the illusory energy.
TEXT 362
TEXT
ei saba karya----tanra tatastha-laksana
anya avatara aiche jane muni-gana
TRANSLATION
"All these activities are His marginal characteristics. Great saintly persons understand the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the indications of the two characteristics known as svarupa and tatastha. All the incarnations of Krsna should be understood in this way.
TEXT 363
TEXT
avatara-kale haya jagate gocara
ei dui laksane keha janaye isvara"
TRANSLATION
"At the time of Their appearance, the incarnations of the Lord are known in the world because people can consult the sastras to understand the incarnation's chief characteristics, known as svarupa and tatastha. In this way the incarnations become known to great saintly persons."
TEXT 364
TEXT
sanatana kahe,----"yate isvara-laksana
pita-varna, karya----prema-dana-sankirtana
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami, "The color of the personality in whom the characteristics of the Lord are found is yellowish. His activities include the distribution of love of Godhead and the chanting of the holy names of the Lord.
TEXT 365
TEXT
kali-kale sei 'krsnavatara' niscaya
sudrdha kariya kaha, yauka samsaya"
TRANSLATION
"The incarnation of Krsna for this age is indicated by these symptoms. Please confirm this definitely so that all my doubts will go away."
TEXT 366
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----caturali chada, sanatana
saktyavesavatarera suna vivarana
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "O Sanatana, you must give up your intelligent tricks. Just try to understand the meaning of the saktyavesa-avatara.
TEXT 367
TEXT
saktyavesavatara krsnera asankhya ganana
dig-darasana kari mukhya mukhya jana
TRANSLATION
"There are unlimited saktyavesa-avataras of Lord Krsna. Let Me describe the chief among them.
TEXT 368
TEXT
saktyavesa dui-rupa----'mukhya', 'gauna' dekhi
saksat-saktye 'avatara', abhase 'vibhuti' likhi
TRANSLATION
"Empowered incarnations are of two types--primary and secondary. The primary one is directly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is called an incarnation. The secondary one is indirectly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is called vibhuti.
TEXT 369
TEXT
'sanakadi', 'narada', 'prthu' 'parasurama'
jiva-rupa 'brahmara' avesavatara-nama
TRANSLATION
"Some saktyavesa-avataras are the four Kumaras, Narada, Maharaja Prthu and Parasurama. When a living being is empowered to act as Lord Brahma, he is also considered a saktyavesa-avatara.
TEXT 370
TEXT
vaikunthe 'sesa'----dhara dharaye 'ananta'
ei mukhyavesavatara----vistare nahi anta
TRANSLATION
"Lord Sesa in the spiritual world of Vaikuntha and, in the material world, Lord Ananta, who carries innumerable planets on His hood, are two primary empowered incarnations. There is no need to count the others, for they are unlimited.
TEXT 371
TEXT
sanakadye 'jnana'-sakti, narade sakti 'bhakti'
brahmaya 'srsti'-sakti, anante 'bhu-dharana'-sakti
TRANSLATION
"The power of knowledge was invested in the four Kumaras, and the power of devotional service was invested in Narada. The power of creation was invested in Lord Brahma, and the power to carry innumerable planets was invested in Lord Ananta.
TEXT 372
TEXT
sese 'sva-sevana'-sakti, prthute 'palana'
parasurame 'dusta-nasaka-virya-sancarana'
TRANSLATION
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead invested the power of personal service to Lord Sesa, and He invested the power to rule the earth in King Prthu. Lord Parasurama received the power to kill rogues and miscreants.
TEXT 373
TEXT
jnana-sakty-adi-kala ya
yatravisto janardanah
ta avesa nigadyante
jiva eva mahattamah
TRANSLATION
" 'Whenever the Lord is present in someone by portions of His various potencies, the living entity representing the Lord is called saktyavesa-avatara--that is, an incarnation invested with special power.'
TEXT 374
TEXT
'vibhuti' kahiye yaiche gita-ekadase
jagat vyapila krsna-sakty-abhasavese
TRANSLATION
"As explained in the Eleventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Krsna has spread Himself all over the universe in many personalities through specific powers, known as vibhuti.
TEXT 375
TEXT
yad yad vibhutimat sattvam
srimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagaccha tvam
mama tejo 'msa-sambhavam
TRANSLATION
" 'Know that all beautiful, glorious and mighty creations spring but from a spark of My splendor.
TEXT 376
TEXT
athava bahunaitena
kim jnatena tavarjuna
vistabhyaham idam krtsnam
ekamsena sthito jagat
TRANSLATION
" 'But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.'
TEXT 377
TEXT
eita kahilun sakty-avesa-avatara
balya-pauganda-dharmera sunaha vicara
TRANSLATION
"Thus I have explained specifically empowered incarnations. Now please hear about the characteristics of Lord Krsna's childhood, boyhood and youth.
TEXT 378
TEXT
kisora-sekhara-dharmi vrajendra-nandana
prakata-lila karibare yabe kare mana
TRANSLATION
"As the son of Maharaja Nanda, Lord Krsna is by nature the paragon of kisora [youth]. He chooses to exhibit His pastimes at that age.
TEXT 379
TEXT
adau prakata karaya mata-pita----bhakta-gane
pache prakata haya janmadika-lila-krame
TRANSLATION
"Before His personal appearance, the Lord causes some of His devotees to appear as His mother, father and intimate associates. He then appears later as if He were taking birth and growing from a baby to a child and gradually into a youth.
TEXT 380
TEXT
vayaso vividhatve 'pi
sarva-bhakti-rasasrayah
dharmi kisora evatra
nitya-lila-vilasa van
TRANSLATION
" 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternally enjoying Himself, and He is the shelter of all kinds of devotional service. Although His ages are various, His age known as kisora [pre-youth] is best of all.'
TEXT 381
TEXT
putana-vadhadi yata lila ksane ksane
saba lila nitya prakata kare anukrame
TRANSLATION
"When Lord Krsna appears, from moment to moment He exhibits His different pastimes, beginning with the killing of Putana. All these pastimes are eternally being demonstrated one after another.
TEXT 382
TEXT
ananta brahmanda, tara nahika ganana
kona lila kona brahmande haya prakatana
TRANSLATION
"The consecutive pastimes of Krsna are manifest in one of the innumerable universes moment after moment. There is no possibility of counting the universes, but in any case some pastime of the Lord is being manifest at every moment in one universe or another.
TEXT 383
TEXT
ei-mata saba lila----yena ganga-dhara
se-se lila prakata kare vrajendra-kumara
TRANSLATION
"Thus the Lord's pastimes are like flowing Ganges water. In this way all the pastimes are manifested by the son of Nanda Maharaja.
TEXT 384
TEXT
krame balya-pauganda-kaisorata-prapti
rasa-adi lila kare, kaisore nitya-sthiti
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna exhibits His pastimes of childhood, boyhood and pre-youth. When He reaches pre-youth, He continues to exist eternally to perform His rasa dance and other pastimes.
TEXT 385
TEXT
'nitya-lila' krsnera sarva-sastre kaya
bujhite na pare lila kemane 'nitya' haya
TRANSLATION
"Descriptions of Krsna's eternal pastimes are in all revealed scriptures. But one cannot understand how they are continuing eternally.
TEXT 386
TEXT
drstanta diya kahi tabe loka yadi jane
krsna-lila----nitya, jyotiscakra-pramane
TRANSLATION
"Let me give an example by which people may understand Lord Krsna's eternal pastimes. An example can be found in the zodiac.
TEXT 387
TEXT
jyotiscakre surya yena phire ratri-dine
sapta-dvipambudhi langhi' phire krame krame
TRANSLATION
"The sun moves across the zodiac day and night and crosses the oceans between the seven islands one after the other.
TEXT 388
TEXT
ratri-dine haya sasti-danda-parimana
tina-sahasra chaya-sata 'pala' tara mana
TRANSLATION
"According to Vedic astronomical calculations, the rotation of the sun consists of sixty dandas, and it is divided into thirty-six hundred palas.
TEXT 389
TEXT
suryodaya haite sasti-pala-kramodaya
sei eka danda, asta dande 'prahara' haya
TRANSLATION
"The sun rises in steps consisting of sixty palas. Sixty palas equal one danda, and eight dandas comprise one prahara.
TEXT 390
TEXT
eka-dui-tina-cari prahare asta haya
cari-prahara ratri gele punah suryodaya
TRANSLATION
"Day and night are divided into eight praharas--four belonging to the day and four belonging to the night. After eight praharas, the sun rises again.
TEXT 391
TEXT
aiche krsnera lila-mandala caudda-manvantare
brahmanda-mandala vyapi' krame krame phire
TRANSLATION
"Just like the sun, there is an orbit to Krsna's pastimes, which are manifest one after the other. During the lifetime of fourteen Manus, this orbit expands through all the universes, and gradually it returns. Thus Krsna moves with His pastimes through all the universes, one after another.
TEXT 392
TEXT
saoyasata vatsara krsnera prakata-prakasa
taha yaiche vraja-pure karila vilasa
TRANSLATION
"Krsna remains within a universe for 125 years, and He enjoys His pastimes both in Vrndavana and Dvaraka.
TEXT 393
TEXT
alata-cakra-praya sei lila-cakra phire
saba lila saba brahmande krame udaya kare
TRANSLATION
"The cycle of His pastimes turns like a wheel of fire. Thus Krsna exhibits His pastimes one after the other in every universe.
TEXT 394
TEXT
janma, balya, pauganda, kaisora prakasa
putana-vadhadi kari' mausalanta vilasa
TRANSLATION
"Krsna's pastimes--appearance, childhood, boyhood and youth--are all manifest, beginning with the killing of Putana and extending to the end of mausala-lila, the annihilation of the Yadu dynasty. All of these pastimes are rotating in every universe.
TEXT 395
TEXT
kona brahmande kona lilara haya avasthana
tate lila 'nitya' kahe agama-purana
TRANSLATION
"Since all Krsna's pastimes are taking place continuously, at every moment some pastime is existing in one universe or another. Consequently these pastimes are called eternal by the Vedas and Puranas.
TEXT 396
TEXT
goloka, gokula-dhama----'vibhu' krsna-sama
krsnecchaya brahmanda-gane tahara sankrama
TRANSLATION
"The spiritual abode known as Goloka, which is a pasturing land for surabhi cows, is as powerful and opulent as Krsna. By the will of Krsna, the original Goloka and Gokula dhamas are manifest with Him in all the universes.
TEXT 397
TEXT
ataeva goloka-sthane nitya vihara
brahmanda-gane krame prakatya tahara
TRANSLATION
"The eternal pastimes of Krsna are continuously taking place in the original Goloka Vrndavana planet. These same pastimes are gradually manifest within the material world, in each and every brahmanda.
TEXT 398
TEXT
vraje krsna----sarvaisvarya-prakase 'purnatama'
puri-dvaye, paravyome----'purnatara', 'purna'
TRANSLATION
"Krsna is complete in the spiritual sky [Vaikuntha]. He is more complete in Mathura and Dvaraka, and He is most complete in Vrndavana, Vraja, due to His manifesting all His opulences.
TEXT 399
TEXT
harih purnatamah purna-
tarah purna iti tridha
srestha-madhyadibhih sabdair
natye yah paripathyate
TRANSLATION
" 'This is stated in the dramatic literatures as "perfect," "more perfect," and "most perfect." Thus Lord Krsna manifests Himself in three ways--perfect, more perfect and most perfect.
TEXT 400
TEXT
prakasitakhila-gunah
smrtah purnatamo budhaih
asarva-vyanjakah purna-
tarah purno 'lpa-darsakah
TRANSLATION
" 'When the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not manifest all His transcendental qualities, He is called complete. When all the qualities are manifest, but not fully, He is called more complete. When He manifests all His qualities in fullness, He is called most complete. This is the version of all learned scholars in the devotional science.
TEXT 401
TEXT
krsnasya purnatamata
vyaktabhud gokulantare
purnata purnatarata
dvaraka-mathuradisu
TRANSLATION
" 'The most complete qualities of Krsna are manifest within Vrndavana, and His complete and more complete qualities are manifest in Dvaraka and Mathura.'
TEXT 402
TEXT
ei krsna----vraje 'purnatama' bhagavan
ara saba svarupa----'purnatara' 'purna' nama
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna is the most complete Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vrndavana. Elsewhere all His expansions are either complete or more complete.
TEXT 403
TEXT
sanksepe kahilun krsnera svarupa-vicara
'ananta' kahite nare ihara vistara
TRANSLATION
"Thus I have briefly described Krsna's manifestation of transcendental forms. This subject matter is so large that even Lord Ananta cannot describe it fully.
TEXT 404
TEXT
ananta svarupa krsnera nahika ganana
sakha-candra-nyaye kari dig-darasana
TRANSLATION
"In this way Krsna's transcendental forms are expanded unlimitedly. No one can count them. Whatever I have explained is simply a little glimpse. It is like showing the moon through the branches of a tree."
TEXT 405
TEXT
iha yei sune, pade, sei bhagyavan
krsnera svarupa-tattvera haya kichu jnana
TRANSLATION
Whoever hears or recites these descriptions of the expansions of Krsna's body is certainly a very fortunate man. Although this is very difficult to understand, one can nonetheless acquire some knowledge about the different features of Krsna's body.
TEXT 406
TEXT
sri-rupa-raghunatha pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa
TRANSLATION
Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Twentieth Chapter, describing how Sanatana Gosvami met the Lord at Varanasi and received knowledge of the Absolute Truth.
DHARMA