11.16.1

śrī-uddhava uvāca

tvaḿ brahma paramaḿ sākṣād

anādy-antam apāvṛtam

sarveṣām api bhāvānāḿ

trāṇa-sthity-apyayodbhavaḥ

 

śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; tvam — You are; brahma — the greatest; paramam — the supreme; sākṣāt — Himself; anādi — without beginning; antam — without end; apāvṛtam — unlimited by anything else; sarveṣām — of all; api — indeed; bhāvānām — things which exist; trāṇa — the protector; sthiti — the life-giver; apyaya — the destruction; udbhavaḥ — and the creation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord, You are beginningless and endless, the Absolute Truth Himself, unlimited by anything else. You are the protector and life-giver, the destruction and creation of all things that exist.

 

11.16.2

uccāvaceṣu bhūteṣu

durjñeyam akṛtātmabhiḥ

upāsate tvāḿ bhagavan

yāthā-tathyena brāhmaṇāḥ

 

ucca — in the superior; avaceṣu — and the inferior; bhūteṣu — created objects and entities; durjñeyam — hard to understand; akṛta-ātmabhiḥ — by the impious; upāsate — they worship; tvām — You; bhagavan — my dear Lord; yathā-tathyena — in truth; brāhmaṇāḥ — those dedicated to the Vedic conclusion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Lord, although it is difficult for the impious to understand that You are situated in all superior and inferior creations, those brāhmaṇas who are actual knowers of the Vedic conclusion worship You in truth.

 

11.16.3

yeṣu yeṣu ca bhūteṣu

bhaktyā tvāḿ paramarṣayaḥ

upāsīnāḥ prapadyante

saḿsiddhiḿ tad vadasva me

 

yeṣu yeṣu — in which various; ca — also; bhūteṣu — forms; bhaktyā — with devotion; tvām — You; parama-ṛṣayaḥ — the great sages; upāsīnāḥ — worshiping; prapadyante — achieve; saḿsiddhim — perfection; tat — that; vadasva — please speak; me — to me.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Please tell me of the perfections that great sages achieve by worshiping You with devotion. Also, kindly explain which of Your different forms they worship.

 

11.16.4

gūḍhaś carasi bhūtātmā

bhūtānāḿ bhūta-bhāvana

na tvāḿ paśyanti bhūtāni

paśyantaḿ mohitāni te

 

gūḍhaḥ — hidden; carasi — You are engaged; bhūta-ātmā — the Supersoul; bhūtānām — of the living entities; bhūta-bhāvana — O maintainer of all living beings; na — not; tvām — You; paśyanti — they see; bhūtāni — living entities; paśyantam — who are seeing; mohitāni — bewildered; te — by You.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, maintainer of all, although You are the Supersoul of the living entities, You remain hidden. Thus being bewildered by You, the living entities cannot see You, although You are seeing them.

 

11.16.5

yāḥ kāś ca bhūmau divi vai rasāyāḿ

vibhūtayo dikṣu mahā-vibhūte

tā mahyam ākhyāhy anubhāvitās te

namāmi te tīrtha-padāńghri-padmam

 

yāḥ kāḥ — whatever; ca — also; bhūmau — on the earth; divi — in heaven; vai — indeed; rasāyām — in hell; vibhūtayaḥ — potencies; dikṣu — in all directions; mahā-vibhūte — O supremely potent; tāḥ — those; mahyam — unto me; ākhyāhi — please explain; anubhāvitāḥ — manifested; te — by You; namāmi — I offer my humble obeisances; te — Your; tīrtha-pada — the abode of all holy places; ańghri-padmam — at the lotus feet.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O supremely potent Lord, please explain to me Your innumerable potencies, which You manifest on the earth, in heaven, in hell and indeed in all directions. I offer my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet, which are the shelter of all holy places.

 

11.16.6

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

evam etad ahaḿ pṛṣṭaḥ

praśnaḿ praśna-vidāḿ vara

yuyutsunā vinaśane

sapatnair arjunena vai

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; evam — thus; etat — this; aham — I; pṛṣṭaḥ — was asked; praśnam — the question or topic; praśna-vidām — of those who know how to inquire; vara — you who are the best; yuyutsunā — by him who desired to fight; vinaśane — in the Battle of Kurukṣetra; sapatnaiḥ — with his rivals or enemies; arjunena — by Arjuna; vai — indeed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of those who know how to inquire, on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Arjuna, desiring to fight with his rivals, asked Me the same question that you are now posing.

 

11.16.7

jñātvā jñāti-vadhaḿ garhyam

adharmaḿ rājya-hetukam

tato nivṛtto hantāhaḿ

hato 'yam iti laukikaḥ

 

jñātvā — being aware; jñāti — of his relatives; vadham — the killing; garhyam — abominable; adharmam — irreligion; rājya — to acquire a kingdom; hetukam — having as the motive; tataḥ — from such activity; nivṛttaḥ — retired; haratā — the killer; aham — I am; hataḥ — killed; ayam — this group of relatives; iti — thus; laukikaḥ — mundane.

 

TRANSLATION

 

On the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra Arjuna thought that killing his relatives would be an abominable, irreligious activity, motivated only by his desire to acquire a kingdom. He therefore desisted from the battle, thinking, "I would be the killer of my relatives. They would be destroyed." Thus Arjuna was afflicted with mundane consciousness.

 

11.16.8

sa tadā puruṣa-vyāghro

yuktyā me pratibodhitaḥ

abhyabhāṣata mām evaḿ

yathā tvaḿ raṇa-mūrdhani

 

saḥ — he; tadā — at that time; puruṣa-vyāghraḥ — the tiger among men; yuktyā — by logical argument; me — by Me; pratibodhitaḥ — enlightened in real knowledge; abhyabhāṣata — addressed questions; mām — to Me; evam — thus; yathā — just as; tvam — you; raṇa — of the battle; mūrdhani — in the front.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At that time I enlightened Arjuna, the tiger among men, with logical arguments, and thus in the front of the battle Arjuna addressed Me with questions in the same way that you are now inquiring.

 

11.16.9

aham ātmoddhavāmīṣāḿ

bhūtānāḿ suhṛd īśvaraḥ

ahaḿ sarvāṇi bhūtāni

teṣāḿ sthity-udbhavāpyayaḥ

 

aham — I am; ātmā — the Supersoul; uddhava — O Uddhava; amīṣām — of these; bhūtānām — living entities; su-hṛt — the well-wisher; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; aham — I am; sarvāṇi bhūtāni — all entities; teṣām — of them; sthiti — the maintenance; udbhava — creation; apyayaḥ — and annihilation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Uddhava, I am the Supersoul of all living entities, and therefore I am naturally their well-wisher and supreme controller. Being the creator, maintainer and annihilator of all entities, I am not different from them.

 

11.16.10

ahaḿ gatir gatimatāḿ

kālaḥ kalayatām aham

gunāṇāḿ cāpy ahaḿ sāmyaḿ

guṇiny autpattiko guṇaḥ

 

aham — I am; gatiḥ — the ultimate goal; gati-matām — of those who seek progress; kālaḥ — time; kalayatām — of those who exert control; aham — I am; gunāṇām — of the modes of material nature; ca — also; api — even; aham — I am; sāmyam — material equilibrium; guṇini — in the pious; autpattikaḥ — natural; guṇaḥ — virtue.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am the ultimate goal of all those seeking progress, and I am time among those who exert control. I am the equilibrium of the modes of material nature, and I am natural virtue among the pious.

 

11.16.11

guṇinām apy ahaḿ sūtraḿ

mahatāḿ ca mahān aham

sūkṣmāṇām apy ahaḿ jīvo

durjayānām ahaḿ manaḥ

 

guṇinām — among things possessing qualities; api — indeed; aham — I am; sūtram — the primary sūtra-tattva; mahatām — among great things; ca — also; mahān — the total material manifestation; aham — I am; sūkṣmāṇām — among subtle things; api — indeed; aham — I am; jīvaḥ — the spirit soul; durjayānām — among things difficult to conquer; aham — I am; manaḥ — the mind.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among things possessing qualities I am the primary manifestation of nature, and among great things I am the total material creation. Among subtle things I am the spirit soul, and of things that are difficult to conquer I am the mind.

 

11.16.12

hiraṇyagarbho vedānāḿ

mantrāṇāḿ praṇavas tri-vṛt

akṣarāṇām a-kāro 'smi

padāni cchandusām aham

 

hiraṇya-garbhaḥ — Lord Brahmā; vedānām — of the Vedas; mantrāṇām — of mantras; praṇavaḥ — the oḿkāra; tri-vṛt — consisting of three letters; akṣarāṇām — of letters; a-kāraḥ — the first letter, a; asmi — I am; padāni — the three-line Gāyatrī mantra; chandasām — among sacred meters; aham — I am.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among the Vedas I am their original teacher, Lord Brahmā, and of all mantras I am the three-lettered oḿkāra. Among letters I am the first letter, "a," and among sacred meters I am the Gāyatrī mantra.

 

11.16.13

indro 'haḿ sarva-devānāḿ

vasūnām asmi havya-vāṭ

ādityānām ahaḿ viṣṇū

rudrāṇāḿ nīla-lohitaḥ

 

indraḥ — Lord Indra; aham — I am; sarva-devānām — among the demigods; vasūnām — among the Vasus; asmi — I am; havya-vāṭ — the carrier of oblations, the fire-god Agni; ādityānām — among the sons of Aditi; aham — I am; viṣṇuḥ — Viṣṇu; rudrāṇām — among the Rudras; nīla-lohitaḥ — Lord Śiva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among the demigods I am Indra, and among the Vasus I am Agni, the god of fire. I am Viṣṇu among the sons of Aditi, and among the Rudras I am Lord Śiva.

 

11.16.14

brahmarṣīṇāḿ bhṛgur ahaḿ

rājarṣīṇām ahaḿ manuḥ

devarṣīṇāḿ nārado 'haḿ

havirdhāny asmi dhenuṣu

 

brahma-ṛṣīṇām — among the saintly brāhmaṇas; bhṛguḥ — Bhṛgu Muni; aham — I am; rāja-ṛṣīṇām — among the saintly kings; aham — I am; manuḥ — Manu; deva-ṛṣīṇām — among the saintly demigods; nāradaḥ — Nārada Muni; aham — I am; havirdhānī — Kāmadhenu; asmi — I am; dhenuṣu — among cows.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among saintly brāhmaṇas I am Bhṛgu Muni, and I am Manu among saintly kings. I am Nārada Muni among saintly demigods, and I am Kāmadhenu among cows.

 

11.16.15

siddheśvarāṇāḿ kapilaḥ

suparṇo 'haḿ patatriṇām

prajāpatīnāḿ dakṣo 'haḿ

pitṝṇām aham aryamā

 

siddha-īśvarāṇām — among perfected beings; kapilaḥ — I am Lord Kapila; suparṇaḥ — Garuḍa; aham — I am; patatriṇām — among birds; prajāpatīnām — among the progenitors of mankind; dakṣaḥ — Dakṣa; aham — I am; pitṝṇām — among the forefathers; aham — I am; aryamā — Aryamā.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am Lord Kapila among perfected beings and Garuḍa among birds. I am Dakṣa among the progenitors of mankind, and I am Aryamā among the forefathers.

 

11.16.16

māḿ viddhy uddhava daityānāḿ

prahlādam asureśvaram

somaḿ nakṣatrauṣadhīnāḿ

dhaneśaḿ yakṣa-rakṣasām

 

mām — Me; viddhi — you should know; uddhava — My dear Uddhava; daityānām — among the sons of Diti, the demons; prahlādam — Prahlāda Mahārāja; asura-īśvaram — the lord of the asuras; somam — the moon; nakṣatra-oṣadhīnām — among the stars and herbs; dhana-īśam — the lord of wealth, Kuvera; yakṣa-rakṣasām — among the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Uddhava, among the demoniac sons of Diti know Me to be Prahlāda Mahārāja, the saintly lord of the asuras. Among the stars and herbs I am their lord, Candra (the moon), and among Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the lord of wealth, Kuvera.

 

11.16.17

airāvataḿ gajendrāṇāḿ

yādasāḿ varuṇaḿ prabhum

tapatāḿ dyumatāḿ sūryaḿ

manuṣyāṇāḿ ca bhū-patim

 

airāvatam — the elephant Airāvata; gaja-indrāṇām — among lordly elephants; yādasām — among aquatics; varuṇam — Varuṇa; prabhum — the lord of seas; tapatām — among things that heat; dyu-matām — among things that illuminate; sūryam — I am the sun; manuṣyāṇām — among human beings; ca — also; bhū-patim — the king.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am Airāvata among lordly elephants, and among aquatics I am Varuna, the lord of the seas. Among all things that heat and illuminate I am the sun, and among human beings I am the king.

 

11.16.18

uccaiḥśravās turańgāṇāḿ

dhātūnām asmi kāñcanam

yamaḥ saḿyamatāḿ cāham

sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ

 

uccaiḥśravāḥ — the horse Uccaiḥśravā; turańgāṇām — among horses; dhātūnām — among metals; asmi — I am; kāñcanam — gold; yamaḥ — Yamarāja; saḿyamatām — among those who punish and suppress; ca — also; aham — I; sarpāṇām — among serpents; asmi — am; vāsukiḥ — Vāsuki.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among horses I am Uccaiḥśravā, and I am gold among metals. I am Yamarāja among those who suppress and punish, and among serpents I am Vāsuki.

 

11.16.19

nāgendrāṇām ananto 'haḿ

mṛgendraḥ śṛńgi-daḿṣṭriṇām

āśramāṇām ahaḿ turyo

varṇānāḿ prathamo 'nagha

 

nāga-indrāṇām — among the best of many-hooded snakes; anantaḥ — Anantadeva; aham — I am; mṛga-indraḥ — the lion; śṛńgi-daḿṣṭriṇām — among animals with sharp horns and teeth; āśramāṇām — among the four social orders of life; aham — I am; turyaḥ — the fourth, sannyāsa; varṇānām — among the four occupational orders; prathamaḥ — the first, the brāhmaṇas; anagha — O sinless one.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O sinless Uddhava, among the best of snakes I am Anantadeva, and among those animals with sharp horns and teeth I am the lion. Among the social orders I am the fourth, or the renounced order of life, and among the occupational divisions I am the first, the brāhmaṇas.

 

11.16.20

tīrthānāḿ srotasāḿ gańgā

samudraḥ sarasām aham

āyudhānāḿ dhanur ahaḿ

tripura-ghno dhanuṣmatām

 

tirthānām — among holy places; srotasām — among flowing things; gańgā — the sacred Ganges; samudraḥ — the ocean; sarasām — among steady bodies of water; aham — I am; āyudhānām — among weapons; dhanuḥ — the bow; aham — I am; tri-pura-ghnaḥ — Lord Śiva; dhanuḥ-matām — among those who wield the bow.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among sacred and flowing things I am the holy Ganges, and among steady bodies of water I am the ocean. Among weapons I am the bow, and of the wielders of weapons I am Lord Śiva.

 

11.16.21

dhiṣṇyānām asmy ahaḿ merur

gahanānāḿ himālayaḥ

vanaspatīnām aśvattha

oṣadhīnām ahaḿ yavaḥ

 

dhiṣṇyānām — residences; asmi — am; aham — I; meruḥ — Mount Sumeru; gahanānām — of impervious places; himālayaḥ — the Himalayas; vanaspatīnām — among trees; aśvatthaḥ — banyan tree; oṣadhīnām — among plants; aham — I; yavaḥ — barley.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among residences I am Mount Sumeru, and of impervious places I am the Himalayas. Among trees I am the holy fig tree, and among plants I am those that bear grains.

 

11.16.22

purodhasāḿ vasiṣṭho 'haḿ

brahmiṣṭhānāḿ bṛhaspatiḥ

skando 'haḿ sarva-senānyām

agraṇyāḿ bhagavān ajaḥ

 

purodhasām — among priests; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha Muni; aham — I am; brahmiṣṭhānām — among those fixed in the Vedic conclusion and purpose; bṛhaspatiḥ — Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods; skandaḥ — Kārtikeya; aham — I am; sarva-senānyām — among all military leaders; agraṇyām — among those advancing in pious life; bhagavān — the great personality; ajaḥ — Lord Brahmā.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among priests I am Vasiṣṭha Muni, and among those highly situated in Vedic culture I am Bṛhaspati. I am Kārtikeya among great military leaders, and among those advancing in superior ways of life I am the great personality Lord Brahmā.

 

11.16.23

yajñānāḿ brahma-yajño 'haḿ

vratānām avihiḿsanam

vāyv-agny-arkāmbu-vāg-ātmā

śucīnām apy ahaḿ śuciḥ

 

yajñānām — of sacrifices; brahma-yajñaḥ — study of the Veda; aham — I am; vratānām — of vows; avihiḿsanam — nonviolence; vāyu — wind; agni — fire; arka — the sun; ambu — water; vāk — and speech; ātmā — personified; śucīnām — of all purifiers; api — indeed; aham — I am; śuciḥ — pure.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among sacrifices I am study of the Veda, and I am nonviolence among vows. Among all things that purify I am the wind, fire, the sun, water and speech.

 

11.16.24

yogānām ātma-saḿrodho

mantro 'smi vijigīṣatām

ānvīkṣikī kauśalānāḿ

vikalpaḥ khyāti-vādinām

 

yogānām — among the eight stages of yoga practice (aṣṭāńga); ātma-saḿrodhaḥ — the ultimate stage, samādhi, in which the soul is completely separated from illusion; mantraḥ — prudent political counsel; asmi — I am; vijigīṣatām — among those desiring victory; ānvīkṣikī — spiritual science, by which one can distinguish between matter and spirit; kauśalānām — among all processes of expert discrimination; vikalpaḥ — diversity of perception; khyāti-vādinām — among the speculative philosophers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among the eight progressive states of yoga I am the final stage, samādhi, in which the soul is completely separated from illusion. Among those desiring victory I am prudent political counsel, and among processes of expert discrimination I am the science of the soul, by which one distinguishes spirit from matter. Among all speculative philosophers I am diversity of perception.

 

11.16.25

strīṇāḿ tu śatarūpāhaḿ

puḿsāḿ svāyambhuvo manuḥ

nārāyaṇo munīnāḿ ca

kumāro brahmacāriṇām

 

strīṇām — among ladies; tu — indeed; śatarūpā — Śatarūpā; aham — I am; puḿsām — among male personalities; svāyambhuvaḥ manuḥ — the great prajāpati Svāyambhuva Manu; nārāyaṇaḥ — the sage Nārāyaṇa; munīnām — among saintly sages; ca — also; kumāraḥ — Sanat-kumāra; brahmacāriṇām — among brahmacārīs.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among ladies I am Śatarūpā, and among male personalities I am her husband, Svāyambhuva Manu. I am Nārāyaṇa among the sages and Sanat-kumāra among brahmacārīs.

 

11.16.26

dharmāṇām asmi sannyāsaḥ

kṣemāṇām abahir-matiḥ

guhyānāḿ su-nṛtaḿ maunaḿ

mithunānām ajas tv aham

 

dharmāṇām — among religious principles; asmi — I am; sannyāsaḥ — renunciation; kṣemāṇām — among all types of security; abahiḥ-matiḥ — awareness within (of the eternal soul); guhyānām — of secrets; sunṛtam — pleasant speech; maunam — silence; mithunānām — of sexual pairs; ajaḥ — Brahmā, the original prajāpati; tu — indeed; aham — I am.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among religious principles I am renunciation, and of all types of security I am consciousness of the eternal soul within. Of secrets I am pleasant speech and silence, and among sexual pairs I am Brahmā.

 

11.16.27

saḿvatsaro 'smy animiṣām

ṛtūnāḿ madhu-mādhavau

māsānāḿ mārgaśīrṣo 'haḿ

nakṣatrāṇāḿ tathābhijit

 

saḿvatsaraḥ — the year; asmi — I am; animiṣām — among the vigilant cycles of time; ṛtūnām — among seasons; madhu-mādhavau — spring; māsānām — among months; mārgaśīrṣaḥ — Mārgaśīrṣa (November-December); aham — I am; nakṣatrāṇām — among asterisms; tathā — similarly; abhijit — Abhijit.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among the vigilant cycles of time I am the year, and among seasons I am spring. Among months I am Mārgaśīrṣa, and among lunar houses I am the auspicious Abhijit.

 

11.16.28

ahaḿ yugānāḿ ca kṛtaḿ

dhīrāṇāḿ devalo 'sitaḥ

dvaipāyano 'smi vyāsānāḿ

kavīnāḿ kāvya ātmavān

 

aham — I am; yugānām — among ages; ca — also; kṛtam — Satya-yuga; dhīrāṇām — among steady sages; devalaḥ — Devala; asitaḥ — Asita; dvaipāyanaḥ — Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana; asmi — I am; vyāsānām — among the editors of the Vedas; kavīnām — among learned scholars; kāvyaḥ — Śukrācārya; ātma-vān — learned in spiritual science.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among ages I am the Satya-yuga, the age of truth, and among steady sages I am Devala and Asita. Among those who have divided the Vedas I am Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa, and among learned scholars I am Śukrācārya, the knower of spiritual science.

 

11.16.29

vāsudevo bhagavatāḿ

tvaḿ tu bhāgavateṣv aham

kimpuruṣānāḿ hanumān

vidyādhrāṇāḿ sudarśanaḥ

 

vāsudevaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhagavatām — of those entitled to the name Bhagavān; tvam — you; tu — indeed; bhāgavateṣu — among My devotees; aham — I am; kimpuruṣāṇām — among the Kimpuruṣas; hanumān — Hanumān; vidyādhrāṇām — among the Vidyādharas; sudarśanaḥ — Sudarśana.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among those entitled to the name Bhagavān I am Vāsudeva, and indeed, you, Uddhava, represent Me among the devotees. I am Hanumān among the Kimpuruṣas, and among the Vidyādharas I am Sudarśana.

 

11.16.30

ratnānāḿ padma-rāgo 'smi

padma-kośaḥ su-peśasām

kuśo 'smi darbha-jātīnāḿ

gavyam ājyaḿ haviḥṣv aham

 

ratnānām — of jewels; padma-rāgaḥ — the ruby; asmi — I am; padma-kośaḥ — the lotus cup; su-peśasām — among beautiful things; kuśaḥ — the sacred kuśa grass; asmi — I am; darbha-jātīnām — among all types of grass; gavyam — cow products; ājyam — offering of ghee; haviḥṣu — among oblations; aham — I am.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among jewels I am the ruby, and among beautiful things I am the lotus cup. Among all types of grass I am the sacred kuśa, and of oblations I am ghee and other ingredients obtained from the cow.

 

11.16.31

vyavasāyinām ahaḿ lakṣmīḥ

kitavānāḿ chala-grahaḥ

titikṣāsmi titikṣūṇāḿ

sattvaḿ sattvavatām aham

 

vyavasāyinām — of the enterprising; aham — I am; lakṣmīḥ — fortune; kitavānām — of cheaters; chala-grahaḥ — the gambling; titikṣā — the forgiveness; asmi — I am; titikṣūṇām — among the tolerant; sattvam — the goodness; sattva-vatām — among those in the mode of goodness; aham — I am.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among the enterprising I am fortune, and among the cheaters I am gambling. I am the forgiveness of the tolerant and the good qualities of those in the mode of goodness.

 

11.16.32

ojaḥ saho balavatāḿ

karmāhaḿ viddhi sātvatām

sātvatāḿ nava-mūrtīnām

ādi-mūrtir ahaḿ parā

 

ojaḥ — the sensory strength; sahaḥ — and mental strength; balavatām — of the strong; karma — the devotional activities; aham — I am; viddhi — please know; sātvatām — among the devotees; sātvatām — among those devotees; nava-mūrtīnām — who worship Me in nine forms; ādi-mūrtiḥ — the original form, Vāsudeva; aham — I am; parā — the Supreme.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Of the powerful I bodily and mental strength, and I am the devotional activities of My devotees. My devotees worship Me in nine different forms, among which I am the original and primary Vāsudeva.

 

11.16.33

viśvāvasuḥ pūrvacittir

gandharvāpsarasām aham

bhūdharāṇām ahaḿ sthairyaḿ

gandha-mātram ahaḿ bhuvaḥ

 

viśvāvasuḥ — Viśvāvasu; pūrvacittiḥ — Pūrvacitti; gandharva-apsarasām — among the Gandharvas and Apsarās; aham — I am; bhūdharāṇām — of the mountains; aham — I am; sthairyam — the steadiness; gandha-mātram — the perception of aroma; aham — I am; bhuvaḥ — of the earth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among the Gandharvas I am Viśvāvasu, and I am Pūrvacitti among the heavenly Apsaras. I am the steadiness of mountains and the fragrant aroma of the earth.

 

11.16.34

apāḿ rasaś ca paramas

tejiṣṭhānāḿ vibhāvasuḥ

prabhā sūryendu-tārāṇāḿ

śabdo 'haḿ nabhasaḥ paraḥ

 

apām — of water; rasaḥ — the taste; ca — also; paramaḥ — excellent; tejiṣṭhānām — among most brilliant things; vibhāvasuḥ — the sun; prabhā — the effulgence; sūrya — of the sun; indu — the moon; tārāṇām — and the stars; śabdaḥ — the sound vibration; aham — I am; nabhasaḥ — of the sky; paraḥ — transcendental.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am the sweet taste of water, and among brilliant things I am the sun. I am the effulgence of the sun, moon and stars, and I am the transcendental sound that vibrates in the sky.

 

11.16.35

brahmaṇyānāḿ balir ahaḿ

vīrāṇām aham arjunaḥ

bhūtānāḿ sthitir utpattir

ahaḿ vai pratisańkramaḥ

 

brahmaṇyānām — of those dedicated to brahminical culture; baliḥ — Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana; aham — I am; vīrāṇām — of heroes; aham — I am; arjunaḥ — Arjuna; bhūtānām — of all living beings; sthitiḥ — the maintenance; utpattiḥ — the creation; aham — I am; vai — indeed; pratisańkramaḥ — the annihilation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Among those dedicated to brahminical culture I am Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, and I am Arjuna among heroes. Indeed, I am the creation, maintenance and annihilation of all living entities.

 

11.16.36

gaty-ukty-utsargopādānam

ānanda-sparśa-lakṣanam

āsvāda-śruty-avaghrāṇam

ahaḿ sarvendriyendriyam

 

gati — movement of the legs (walking, running, etc.); ukti — speech; utsarga — evacuation; upādānam — accepting with the hands; ānanda — the material pleasure of the sex organs; sparśa — touch; lakṣaṇam — sight; āsvāda — taste; śruti — hearing; avaghrāṇam — smell; aham — I am; sarva-indriya — of all the senses; indriyam — the potency to experience their objects.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am the functions of the five working senses — the legs, speech, anus, hands and sex organs — as well as those of the five knowledge-acquiring senses — touch, sight, taste, hearing and smell. I am also the potency by which each of the senses experiences its particular sense object.

 

11.16.37

pṛthivī vāyur ākāśa

āpo jyotir ahaḿ mahān

vikāraḥ puruṣo 'vyaktaḿ

rajaḥ sattvaḿ tamaḥ param

aham etat prasańkhyānaḿ

jñānaḿ tattva-viniścayaḥ

 

pṛthivī — the subtle form of earth, aroma; vāyuḥ — the subtle form of air, touch; ākāśaḥ — the subtle form of sky, sound; āpaḥ — the subtle form of water, taste; jyotiḥ — the subtle form of fire, form; aham — false ego; mahān — the mahat-tattva; vikāraḥ — the sixteen elements (earth, water, fire, air and sky, the five working senses, the five knowledge-acquiring senses and the mind); puruṣaḥ — the living entity; avyaktam — material nature, prakṛti; rajaḥ — the mode of passion; sattvam — the mode of goodness; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; param — the Supreme Lord; aham — I am; etat — this; prasańkhyānam — all that has been enumerated; jñānam — knowledge of the above-mentioned elements by individual symptoms; tattva-viniścayaḥ — steady conviction, which is the fruit of knowledge.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am form, taste, aroma, touch and sound; false ego; the mahat-tattva; earth, water, fire, air and sky; the living entity; material nature; the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance; and the transcendental Lord. All these items, along with knowledge of their individual symptoms and the steady conviction that results from this knowledge, represent Me.

 

11.16.38

mayeśvareṇa jīvena

guṇena guṇinā vinā

sarvātmanāpi sarveṇa

na bhāvo vidyate kvacit

 

mayā — Me; īśvareṇa — the Supreme Lord; jīvena — the living entity; guṇena — the modes of nature; guṇinā — the mahat-tattva; vinā — without; sarva-ātmanā — the soul of all that exists; api — indeed; sarveṇa — everything; na — not; bhāvaḥ — existence; vidyate — there is; kvacit — whatsoever.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As the Supreme Lord I am the basis of the living entity, of the modes of nature and of the mahat-tattva. Thus I am everything, and nothing whatsoever can exist without Me.

 

11.16.39

sańkhyānaḿ paramāṇūnāḿ

kālena kriyate mayā

na tathā me vibhūtīnāḿ

sṛjato 'ṇḍāni koṭiśaḥ

 

sańkhyānam — counting; parama-aṇūnām — of the atoms; kālena — after some time; kriyate — is done; mayā — by Me; na — not; tathā — in the same way; me — of Me; vibhūtīnām — of the opulences; sṛjataḥ — who am creating; aṇḍāni — universes; koṭiśaḥ — by the innumerable millions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Even though over a period of time I might count all the atoms of the universe, I could not count all of My opulences which I manifest within innumerable universes.

 

11.16.40

tejaḥ śrīḥ kīrtir aiśvaryaḿ

hrīs tyāgaḥ saubhagaḿ bhagaḥ

vīryaḿ titikṣā vijñānaḿ

yatra yatra sa me 'ḿśakaḥ

 

tejaḥ — power; śrīḥ — beautiful, valuable things; kīrtiḥ — fame; aiśvaryam — opulence; hrīḥ — humility; tyāgaḥ — renunciation; saubhagam — that which pleases the mind and senses; bhagaḥ — good fortune; vīryam — strength; titikṣā — tolerance; vijñānam — spiritual knowledge; yatra yatra — wherever; saḥ — this; me — My; aḿśakaḥ — expansion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Whatever power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, renunciation, mental pleasure, fortune, strength, tolerance or spiritual knowledge there may be is simply an expansion of My opulence.

 

11.16.41

etās te kīrtitāḥ sarvāḥ

sańkṣepeṇa vibhūtayaḥ

mano-vikārā evaite

yathā vācābhidhīyate

 

etāḥ — these; te — to you; kīrtitāḥ — described; sarvāḥ — all; sańkṣepeṇa — briefly; vibhūtayaḥ — spiritual opulences; manaḥ — of the mind; vikārāḥ — transformations; eva — indeed; ete — these; yathā — accordingly; vācā — by words; abhidhīyate — each is described.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I have briefly described to you all My spiritual opulences and also the extraordinary material features of My creation, which are perceived by the mind and defined in different ways according to circumstances.

 

11.16.42

vācaḿ yaccha mano yaccha

prāṇān yacchedriyāṇi ca

ātmānam ātmanā yaccha

na bhūyaḥ kalpase 'dhvane

 

vācam — speech; yaccha — control; manaḥ — the mind; yaccha — control; prāṇān — your breathing; yaccha — control; indriyāṇi — the senses; ca — also; ātmānam — the intelligence; ātmanā — by purified intelligence; yaccha — control; na — never; bhūyaḥ — again; kalpase — you will fall; adhvane — on the path of material existence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore, control your speaking, subdue the mind, conquer the life air, regulate the senses and through purified intelligence bring your rational faculties under control. In this way you will never again fall onto the path of material existence.

 

11.16.43

yo vai vāń-manasī saḿyag

asaḿyacchan dhiyā yatiḥ

tasya vrataḿ tapo dānaḿ

sravaty āma-ghaṭāmbu-vat

 

yaḥ — one who; vai — certainly; vāk-manasī — the speech and mind; saḿyak — completely; asaḿyacchan — not controlling; dhiyā — by intelligence; yatiḥ — a transcendentalist; tasya — his; vratam — vows; tapaḥ — austerities; dānam — charity; sravati — run out; āma — unbaked; ghaṭa — in a pot; ambu-vat — like water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A transcendentalist who does not completely control his words and mind by superior intelligence will find that his spiritual vows, austerities and charity flow away just as water flows out of an unbaked clay pot.

 

11.16.44

tasmād vaco manaḥ prāṇān

niyacchen mat-parāyaṇaḥ

mad-bhakti-yuktayā buddhyā

tataḥ parisamāpyate

 

tasmāt — therefore; vacaḥ — words; manaḥ — the mind; prāṇān — the life airs; niyacchet — one should control; mat-parāyaṇaḥ — who is devoted to Me; mat — unto Me; bhakti — with devotion; yuktayā — endowed; buddhyā — by such intelligence; tataḥ — thus; parisamāpyate — one fulfills the mission of life.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being surrendered to Me, one should control the speech, mind and life air, and then through loving devotional intelligence one will completely fulfill the mission of life.