Chapter 9: Brahmā's Prayers for Creative Energy

 

3.9.1

brahmovāca

jñāto 'si me 'dya sucirān nanu deha-bhājāḿ

na jñāyate bhagavato gatir ity avadyam

nānyat tvad asti bhagavann api tan na śuddhaḿ

māyā-guṇa-vyatikarād yad urur vibhāsi

 

brahmā uvāca — Lord Brahmā said; jñātaḥ — known; asi — You are; me — by me; adya — today; sucirāt — after a long time; nanu — but; deha-bhājām — of one who has a material body; na — not; jñāyate — is known; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; gatiḥ — course; iti — so it is; avadyam — great offense; na anyat — none beyond; tvat — You; asti — there is; bhagavan — O my Lord; api — even though there is; tat — anything that may be; na — never; śuddham — absolute; māyā — material energy; guṇa-vyatikarāt — because of the mixture of the modes of; yat — to which; uruḥ — transcendental; vibhāsi — You are.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā said: O my Lord, today, after many, many years of penance, I have come to know about You. Oh, how unfortunate the embodied living entities are that they are unable to know Your personality! My Lord, You are the only knowable object because there is nothing supreme beyond You. If there is anything supposedly superior to You, it is not the Absolute. You exist as the Supreme by exhibiting the creative energy of matter.

 

3.9.2

rūpaḿ yad etad avabodha-rasodayena

śaśvan-nivṛtta-tamasaḥ sad-anugrahāya

ādau gṛhītam avatāra-śataika-bījaḿ

yan-nābhi-padma-bhavanād aham āvirāsam

 

rūpam — form; yat — which; etat — that; avabodha-rasa — of Your internal potency; udayena — with the manifestation; śaśvat — forever; nivṛtta — freed from; tamasaḥ — material contamination; sat-anugrahāya — for the sake of the devotees; ādau — original in the creative energy of matter; gṛhītam — accepted; avatāra — of incarnations; śata-eka-bījam — the root cause of hundreds; yat — that which; nābhi-padma — the navel lotus flower; bhavanāt — from the home; aham — myself; āvirāsam — generated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The form which I see is eternally freed from material contamination and has advented to show mercy to the devotees as a manifestation of internal potency. This incarnation is the origin of many other incarnations, and I am born from the lotus flower grown from Your navel home.

 

3.9.3

nātaḥ paraḿ parama yad bhavataḥ svarūpam

ānanda-mātram avikalpam aviddha-varcaḥ

paśyāmi viśva-sṛjam ekam aviśvam ātman

bhūtendriyātmaka-madas ta upāśrito 'smi

 

na — do not; ataḥ param — hereafter; parama — O Supreme; yat — that which; bhavataḥ — of Your Lordship; svarūpam — eternal form; ānanda-mātram — impersonal Brahman effulgence; avikalpam — without changes; aviddha-varcaḥ — without deterioration of potency; paśyāmi — do I see; viśva-sṛjam — creator of the cosmic manifestation; ekam — one without a second; aviśvam — and yet not of matter; ātman — O Supreme Cause; bhūta — body; indriya — senses; ātmaka — on such identification; madaḥ — pride; te — unto You; upāśritaḥ — surrendered; asmi — I am.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, I do not see a form superior to Your present form of eternal bliss and knowledge. In Your impersonal Brahman effulgence in the spiritual sky, there is no occasional change and no deterioration of internal potency. I surrender unto You because whereas I am proud of my material body and senses, Your Lordship is the cause of the cosmic manifestation and yet You are untouched by matter.

 

3.9.4

tad vā idaḿ bhuvana-mańgala mańgalāya

dhyāne sma no darśitaḿ ta upāsakānām

tasmai namo bhagavate 'nuvidhema tubhyaḿ

yo 'nādṛto naraka-bhāgbhir asat-prasańgaiḥ

 

tat — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; vā — or; idam — this present form; bhuvana-mańgala — O You who are all-auspicious for all the universes; mańgalāya — for the sake of all prosperity; dhyāne — in meditation; sma — as it were; naḥ — unto us; darśitam — manifested; te — Your; upāsakānām — of the devotees; tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — my respectful obeisances; bhagavate — unto the Personality of Godhead; anuvidhema — I perform; tubhyam — unto You; yaḥ — which; anādṛtaḥ — is neglected; naraka-bhāgbhiḥ — by persons destined for hell; asat-prasańgaiḥ — by material topics.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This present form, or any transcendental form expanded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is equally auspicious for all the universes. Since You have manifested this eternal personal form upon whom Your devotees meditate, I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Those who are destined to be dispatched to the path of hell neglect Your personal form because of speculating on material topics.

 

3.9.5

ye tu tvadīya-caraṇāmbuja-kośa-gandhaḿ

jighranti karṇa-vivaraiḥ śruti-vāta-nītam

bhaktyā gṛhīta-caraṇaḥ parayā ca teṣāḿ

nāpaiṣi nātha hṛdayāmburuhāt sva-puḿsām

 

ye — those who; tu — but; tvadīya — Your; caraṇa-ambuja — lotus feet; kośa — inside; gandham — flavor; jighranti — smell; karṇa-vivaraiḥ — through the channel of the ears; śruti-vāta-nītam — carried by the air of Vedic sound; bhaktyā — by devotional service; gṛhīta-caraṇaḥ — accepting the lotus feet; parayā — transcendental; ca — also; teṣām — for them; na — never; apaiṣi — separate; nātha — O my Lord; hṛdaya — heart; ambu-ruhāt — from the lotus of; sva-puḿsām — of Your own devotees.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, persons who smell the aroma of Your lotus feet, carried by the air of Vedic sound through the holes of the ears, accept Your devotional service. For them You are never separated from the lotus of their hearts.

 

3.9.6

tāvad bhayaḿ draviṇa-deha-suhṛn-nimittaḿ

śokaḥ spṛhā paribhavo vipulaś ca lobhaḥ

tāvan mamety asad-avagraha ārti-mūlaḿ

yāvan na te 'ńghrim abhayaḿ pravṛṇīta lokaḥ

 

tāvat — until then; bhayam — fear; draviṇa — wealth; deha — body; suhṛt — relatives; nimittam — for the matter of; śokaḥ — lamentation; spṛhā — desire; paribhavaḥ — paraphernalia; vipulaḥ — very great; ca — also; lobhaḥ — avarice; tāvat — up to that time; mama — mine; iti — thus; asat — perishable; avagrahaḥ — undertaking; ārti-mūlam — full of anxieties; yāvat — as long as; na — do not; te — Your; ańghrim abhayam — safe lotus feet; pravṛṇīta — take shelter; lokaḥ — the people of the world.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, the people of the world are embarrassed by all material anxieties — they are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body and friends, they are filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and paraphernalia, and they avariciously base their undertakings on the perishable conceptions of "my" and "mine." As long as they do not take shelter of Your safe lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties.

 

3.9.7

daivena te hata-dhiyo bhavataḥ prasańgāt

sarvāśubhopaśamanād vimukhendriyā ye

kurvanti kāma-sukha-leśa-lavāya dīnā

lobhābhibhūta-manaso 'kuśalāni śaśvat

 

daivena — by fate of misfortune; te — they; hata-dhiyaḥ — bereft of memory; bhavataḥ — of You; prasańgāt — from the topics; sarva — all; aśubha — inauspiciousness; upaśamanāt — curbing down; vimukha — turned against; indriyāḥ — senses; ye — those; kurvanti — act; kāma — sense gratification; sukha — happiness; leśa — brief; lavāya — for a moment only; dīnāḥ — poor fellows; lobha-abhibhūta — overwhelmed by greed; manasaḥ — of one whose mind; akuśalāni — inauspicious activities; śaśvat — always.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, persons who are bereft of the all-auspicious performance of chanting and hearing about Your transcendental activities are certainly unfortunate and are also bereft of good sense. They engage in inauspicious activities, enjoying sense gratification for a very little while.

 

3.9.8

kṣut-tṛṭ-tridhātubhir imā muhur ardyamānāḥ

śītoṣṇa-vāta-varaṣair itaretarāc ca

kāmāgninācyuta-ruṣā ca sudurbhareṇa

sampaśyato mana urukrama sīdate me

 

kṣut — hunger; tṛṭ — thirst; tri-dhātubhiḥ — three humors, namely mucus, bile and wind; imāḥ — all of them; muhuḥ — always; ardyamānāḥ — perplexed; śīta — winter; uṣṇa — summer; vāta — wind; varaṣaiḥ — by rains; itara-itarāt — and many other disturbances; ca — also; kāma-agninā — by strong sex urges; acyuta-ruṣā — indefatigable anger; ca — also; sudurbhareṇa — most unbearable; sampaśyataḥ — so observing; manaḥ — mind; urukrama — O great actor; sīdate — becomes despondent; me — my.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on them, and I am very much aggrieved for them.

 

3.9.9

yāvat pṛthaktvam idam ātmana indriyārtha-

māyā-balaḿ bhagavato jana īśa paśyet

tāvan na saḿsṛtir asau pratisańkrameta

vyarthāpi duḥkha-nivahaḿ vahatī kriyārthā

 

yāvat — as long as; pṛthaktvam — separatism; idam — this; ātmanaḥ — of the body; indriya-artha — for sense gratification; māyā-balam — influence of external energy; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; janaḥ — a person; īśa — O my Lord; paśyet — sees; tāvat — so long; na — not; saḿsṛtiḥ — the influence of material existence; asau — that man; pratisańkrameta — can overcome; vyarthā api — although without meaning; duḥkha-nivaham — multiple miseries; vahatī — bringing; kriyā-arthā — for fruitive activities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, the material miseries are without factual existence for the soul. Yet as long as the conditioned soul sees the body as meant for sense enjoyment, he cannot get out of the entanglement of material miseries, being influenced by Your external energy.

 

3.9.10

ahny āpṛtārta-karaṇā niśi niḥśayānā

nānā-manoratha-dhiyā kṣaṇa-bhagna-nidrāḥ

daivāhatārtha-racanā ṛṣayo 'pi deva

yuṣmat-prasańga-vimukhā iha saḿsaranti

 

ahni — during the daytime; āpṛta — engaged; ārta — distressing engagement; karaṇāḥ — senses; niśi — at night; niḥśayānāḥ — insomnia; nānā — various; manoratha — mental speculations; dhiyā — by intelligence; kṣaṇa — constantly; bhagna — broken; nidrāḥ — sleep; daiva — superhuman; āhata-artha — frustrated; racanāḥ — plans; ṛṣayaḥ — great sages; api — also; deva — O my Lord; yuṣmat — Your Lordship's; prasańga — topic; vimukhāḥ — turned against; iha — in this (material world); saḿsaranti — do rotate.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Such nondevotees engage their senses in very troublesome and extensive work, and they suffer insomnia at night because their intelligence constantly breaks their sleep with various mental speculations. They are frustrated in all their various plans by supernatural power. Even great sages, if they are against Your transcendental topics, must rotate in this material world.

 

3.9.11

tvaḿ bhakti-yoga-paribhāvita-hṛt-saroja

āsse śrutekṣita-patho nanu nātha puḿsām

yad-yad-dhiyā ta urugāya vibhāvayanti

tat-tad-vapuḥ praṇayase sad-anugrahāya

 

tvam — unto You; bhakti-yoga — in devotional service; paribhāvita — being one hundred percent engaged; hṛt — of the heart; saroje — on the lotus; āsse — You reside; śruta-īkṣita — seen through the ear; pathaḥ — the path; nanu — now; nātha — O my Lord; puḿsām — of the devotees; yat-yat — whichever; dhiyā — by meditating; te — Your; urugāya — O multiglorious; vibhāvayanti — they specifically think of; tat-tat — the very same; vapuḥ — transcendental form; praṇayase — do You manifest; sat-anugrahāya — to show Your causeless mercy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, Your devotees can see You through the ears by the process of bona fide hearing, and thus their hearts become cleansed, and You take Your seat there. You are so merciful to Your devotees that You manifest Yourself in the particular eternal form of transcendence in which they always think of You.

 

3.9.12

nātiprasīdati tathopacitopacārair

ārādhitaḥ sura-gaṇair hṛdi baddha-kāmaiḥ

yat sarva-bhūta-dayayāsad-alabhyayaiko

nānā-janeṣv avahitaḥ suhṛd antar-ātmā

 

na — never; ati — very much; prasīdati — become satisfied; tathā — as much as; upacita — by pompous arrangement; upacāraiḥ — with much worshipable paraphernalia; ārādhitaḥ — being worshiped; sura-gaṇaiḥ — by the celestial demigods; hṛdi baddha-kāmaiḥ — with hearts full of all sorts of material desires; yat — that which; sarva — all; bhūta — living entities; dayayā — to show them causeless mercy; asat — nondevotee; alabhyayā — not being achieved; ekaḥ — one without a second; nānā — various; janeṣu — in living entities; avahitaḥ — perceived; suhṛt — well-wishing friend; antaḥ — within; ātmā — Supersoul.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, You are not very much satisfied by the worship of the demigods, who arrange for Your worship very pompously, with various paraphernalia, but who are full of material hankerings. You are situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul just to show Your causeless mercy, and You are the eternal well-wisher, but You are unavailable for the nondevotee.

 

3.9.13

puḿsām ato vividha-karmabhir adhvarādyair

dānena cogra-tapasā paricaryayā ca

ārādhanaḿ bhagavatas tava sat-kriyārtho

dharmo 'rpitaḥ karhicid mriyate na yatra

 

puḿsām — of the people; ataḥ — therefore; vividha-karmabhiḥ — by various fruitive activities; adhvara-ādyaiḥ — by performance of Vedic rituals; dānena — by charities; ca — and; ugra — very hard; tapasā — austerity; paricaryayā — by transcendental service; ca — also; ārādhanam — worship; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; tava — Your; sat-kriyā-arthaḥ — simply for pleasing Your Lordship; dharmaḥ — religion; arpitaḥ — so offered; karhicit — at any time; mriyate — vanquishes; na — never; yatra — there.

 

TRANSLATION

 

But the pious activities of the people, such as performance of Vedic rituals, charity, austere penances, and transcendental service, performed with a view to worship You and satisfy You by offering You the fruitive results, are also beneficial. Such acts of religion never go in vain.

 

3.9.14

śaśvat svarūpa-mahasaiva nipīta-bheda-

mohāya bodha-dhiṣaṇāya namaḥ parasmai

viśvodbhava-sthiti-layeṣu nimitta-līlā-

rāsāya te nama idaḿ cakṛmeśvarāya

 

śaśvat — eternally; svarūpa — transcendental form; mahasā — by the glories; eva — certainly; nipīta — distinguished; bheda — differentiation; mohāya — unto the illusory conception; bodha — self-knowledge; dhiṣaṇāya — intelligence; namaḥ — obeisances; parasmai — unto the Transcendence; viśva-udbhava — creation of the cosmic manifestation; sthiti — maintenance; layeṣu — also destruction; nimitta — for the matter of; līlā — by such pastimes; rāsāya — for enjoyment; te — unto You; namaḥ — obeisances; idam — this; cakṛma — do I perform; īśvarāya — unto the Supreme.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Let me offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Transcendence, who is eternally distinguished by His internal potency. His indistinguishable impersonal feature is realized by intelligence for self-realization. I offer my obeisances unto Him who by His pastimes enjoys the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic manifestation.

 

3.9.15

yasyāvatāra-guṇa-karma-viḍambanāni

nāmāni ye 'su-vigame vivaśā gṛṇanti

te 'naika-janma-śamalaḿ sahasaiva hitvā

saḿyānty apāvṛtāmṛtaḿ tam ajaḿ prapadye

 

yasya — whose; avatāra — incarnations; guṇa — transcendental qualities; karma — activities; viḍambanāni — all mysterious; nāmāni — transcendental names; ye — those; asu-vigame — while quitting this life; vivaśāḥ — automatically; gṛṇanti — invoke; te — they; anaika — many; janma — births; śamalam — accumulated sins; sahasā — immediately; eva — certainly; hitvā — giving up; saḿyānti — obtain; apāvṛta — open; amṛtam — immortality; tam — Him; ajam — the unborn; prapadye — I take shelter.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Let me take shelter of the lotus feet of Him whose incarnations, qualities and activities are mysterious imitations of worldly affairs. One who invokes His transcendental names, even unconsciously, at the time he quits this life, is certainly washed immediately of the sins of many, many births and attains Him without fail.

 

3.9.16

yo vā ahaḿ ca giriśaś ca vibhuḥ svayaḿ ca

sthity-udbhava-pralaya-hetava ātma-mūlam

bhittvā tri-pād vavṛdha eka uru-prarohas

tasmai namo bhagavate bhuvana-drumāya

 

yaḥ — one who; vai — certainly; aham ca — also I; giriśaḥ ca — also Śiva; vibhuḥ — the Almighty; svayam — personality (as Viṣṇu); ca — and; sthiti — maintenance; udbhava — creation; pralaya — dissolution; hetavaḥ — the causes; ātma-mūlam — self-rooted; bhittvā — having penetrated; tri-pāt — three trunks; vavṛdhe — grew; ekaḥ — one without a second; uru — many; prarohaḥ — branches; tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — obeisances; bhagavate — unto the Personality of Godhead; bhuvana-drumāya — unto the tree of the planetary system.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Your Lordship is the prime root of the tree of the planetary systems. This tree has grown by first penetrating the material nature in three trunks — as me, Śiva and You, the Almighty — for creation, maintenance and dissolution, and we three have grown with many branches. Therefore I offer my obeisances unto You, the tree of the cosmic manifestation.

 

3.9.17

loko vikarma-nirataḥ kuśale pramattaḥ

karmaṇy ayaḿ tvad-udite bhavad-arcane sve

yas tāvad asya balavān iha jīvitāśāḿ

sadyaś chinatty animiṣāya namo 'stu tasmai

 

lokaḥ — people in general; vikarma — work without sense; nirataḥ — engaged in; kuśale — in beneficial activity; pramattaḥ — negligent; karmaṇi — in activity; ayam — this; tvat — by You; udite — enunciated; bhavat — of You; arcane — in worship; sve — their own; yaḥ — who; tāvat — as long as; asya — of the people in general; balavān — very strong; iha — this; jīvita-āśām — struggle for existence; sadyaḥ — directly; chinatti — is cut to pieces; animiṣāya — by the eternal time; namaḥ — my obeisances; astu — let there be; tasmai — unto Him.

 

TRANSLATION

 

People in general all engage in foolish acts, not in the really beneficial activities enunciated directly by You for their guidance. As long as their tendency for foolish work remains powerful, all their plans in the struggle for existence will be cut to pieces. I therefore offer my obeisances unto Him who acts as eternal time.

 

3.9.18

yasmād bibhemy aham api dviparārdha-dhiṣṇyam

adhyāsitaḥ sakala-loka-namaskṛtaḿ yat

tepe tapo bahu-savo 'varurutsamānas

tasmai namo bhagavate 'dhimakhāya tubhyam

 

yasmāt — from whom; bibhemi — fear; aham — I; api — also; dvi-para-ardha — up to the limit of 4,300,000,000 x 2 x 30 x 12 x 100 solar years; dhiṣṇyam — place; adhyāsitaḥ — situated in; sakala-loka — all other planets; namaskṛtam — honored by; yat — that; tepe — underwent; tapaḥ — penances; bahu-savaḥ — many, many years; avarurutsamānaḥ — desiring to obtain You; tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — I do offer my obeisances; bhagavate — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhimakhāya — unto Him who is the enjoyer of all sacrifices; tubhyam — unto Your Lordship.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Your Lordship, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You who are indefatigable time and the enjoyer of all sacrifices. Although I am situated in an abode which will continue to exist for a time duration of two parārdhas, although I am the leader of all other planets in the universe, and although I have undergone many, many years of penance for self-realization, still I offer my respects unto You.

 

3.9.19

tiryań-manuṣya-vibudhādiṣu jīva-yoniṣv

ātmecchayātma-kṛta-setu-parīpsayā yaḥ

reme nirasta-viṣayo 'py avaruddha-dehas

tasmai namo bhagavate puruṣottamāya

 

tiryak — animals lower than human beings; manuṣya — human beings, etc.; vibudha-ādiṣu — amongst the demigods; jīva-yoniṣu — in different species of life; ātma — self; icchayā — by the will; ātma-kṛta — self-created; setu — obligations; parīpsayā — desiring to preserve; yaḥ — who; reme — performing transcendental pastimes; nirasta — not being affected; viṣayaḥ — material contamination; api — certainly; avaruddha — manifested; dehaḥ — transcendental body; tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — my obeisances; bhagavate — unto the Personality of Godhead; puruṣottamāya — the primeval Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, by Your own will You appear in the various species of living entities, among animals lower than human beings as well as among the demigods, to perform Your transcendental pastimes. You are not affected by material contamination. You come just to fulfill the obligations of Your own principles of religion, and therefore, O Supreme Personality, I offer my obeisances unto You for manifesting such different forms.

 

3.9.20

yo 'vidyayānupahato 'pi daśārdha-vṛttyā

nidrām uvāha jaṭharī-kṛta-loka-yātraḥ

antar-jale 'hi-kaśipu-sparśānukūlāḿ

bhīmormi-mālini janasya sukhaḿ vivṛṇvan

 

yaḥ — one; avidyayā — influenced by nescience; anupahataḥ — without being affected; api — in spite of; daśa-ardha — five; vṛttyā — interaction; nidrām — sleep; uvāha — accepted; jaṭharī — within the abdomen; kṛta — doing so; loka-yātraḥ — maintenance of the different entities; antaḥ-jale — within the water of devastation; ahi-kaśipu — on the snake bed; sparśa-anukūlām — happy for the touch; bhīma-ūrmi — violent waves; mālini — chain of; janasya — of the intelligent person; sukham — happiness; vivṛṇvan — showing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, You accept the pleasure of sleeping in the water of devastation, where there are violent waves, and You enjoy pleasure on the bed of snakes, showing the happiness of Your sleep to intelligent persons. At that time, all the universal planets are stationed within Your abdomen.

 

3.9.21

yan-nābhi-padma-bhavanād aham āsam īḍya

loka-trayopakaraṇo yad-anugraheṇa

tasmai namas ta udara-stha-bhavāya yoga-

nidrāvasāna-vikasan-nalinekṣaṇāya

 

yat — whose; nābhi — navel; padma — lotus; bhavanāt — from the house of; aham — I; āsam — became manifested; īḍya — O worshipable one; loka-traya — the three worlds; upakaraṇaḥ — helping in the creation of; yat — whose; anugraheṇa — by the mercy; tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — my obeisances; te — unto You; udara-stha — situated within the abdomen; bhavāya — having the universe; yoga-nidrā-avasāna — after the end of that transcendental sleep; vikasat — blossoming; nalina-īkṣaṇāya — unto Him whose opening eyes are like lotuses.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O object of my worship, I am born from the house of Your lotus navel for the purpose of creating the universe by Your mercy. All these planets of the universe were stationed within Your transcendental abdomen while You were enjoying sleep. Now, Your sleep having ended, Your eyes are open like blossoming lotuses in the morning.

 

3.9.22

so 'yaḿ samasta-jagatāḿ suhṛd eka ātmā

sattvena yan mṛḍayate bhagavān bhagena

tenaiva me dṛśam anuspṛśatād yathāhaḿ

srakṣyāmi pūrvavad idaḿ praṇata-priyo 'sau

 

saḥ — He; ayam — the Lord; samasta-jagatām — of all the universes; suhṛt ekaḥ — the one friend and philosopher; ātmā — the Supersoul; sattvena — by the mode of goodness; yat — one who; mṛḍayate — causes happiness; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; bhagena — with six opulences; tena — by Him; eva — certainly; me — to me; dṛśam — power of introspection; anuspṛśatāt — let Him give; yathā — as; aham — I; srakṣyāmi — will be able to create; pūrva-vat — as before; idam — this universe; praṇata — surrendered; priyaḥ — dear; asau — He (the Lord).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Let the Supreme Lord be merciful towards me. He is the one friend and soul of all living entities in the world, and He maintains all, for their ultimate happiness, by His six transcendental opulences. May He be merciful towards me so that I, as before, may be empowered with the introspection to create, for I am also one of the surrendered souls who are dear to the Lord.

 

3.9.23

eṣa prapanna-varado ramayātma-śaktyā

yad yat kariṣyati gṛhīta-guṇāvatāraḥ

tasmin sva-vikramam idaḿ sṛjato 'pi ceto

yuñjīta karma-śamalaḿ ca yathā vijahyām

 

eṣaḥ — this; prapanna — one who is surrendered; vara-daḥ — benefactor; ramayā — enjoying always with the goddess of fortune (Lakṣmī); ātma-śaktyā — with His internal potency; yat yat — whatever; kariṣyati — He may act; gṛhīta — accepting; guṇa-avatāraḥ — incarnation of the mode of goodness; tasmin — unto Him; sva-vikramam — with omnipotency; idam — this cosmic manifestation; sṛjataḥ — creating; api — in spite of; cetaḥ — heart; yuñjīta — be engaged; karma — work; śamalam — material affection; ca — also; yathā — as much as; vijahyām — I can give up.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, is always the benefactor of the surrendered souls. His activities are always enacted through His internal potency, Ramā, or the goddess of fortune. I pray only to engage in His service in the creation of the material world, and I pray that I not be materially affected by my works, for thus I may be able to give up the false prestige of being the creator.

 

3.9.24

nābhi-hradād iha sato 'mbhasi yasya puḿso

vijñāna-śaktir aham āsam ananta-śakteḥ

rūpaḿ vicitram idam asya vivṛṇvato me

mā rīriṣīṣṭa nigamasya girāḿ visargaḥ

 

nābhi-hradāt — from the navel lake; iha — in this millennium; sataḥ — lying; ambhasi — in the water; yasya — one whose; puḿsaḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; vijñāna — of the total universe; śaktiḥ — energy; aham — I; āsam — was born; ananta — unlimited; śakteḥ — of the powerful; rūpam — form; vicitram — variegated; idam — this; asya — His; vivṛṇvataḥ — manifesting; me — unto me; mā — may not; rīriṣīṣṭa — vanish; nigamasya — of the Vedas; girām — of the sounds; visargaḥ — vibration.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord's potencies are innumerable. As He lies down in the water of devastation, I am born as the total universal energy from the navel lake in which the lotus sprouts. I am now engaged in manifesting His diverse energies in the form of the cosmic manifestation. I therefore pray that in the course of my material activities I may not be deviated from the vibration of the Vedic hymns.

 

3.9.25

so 'sāv adabhra-karuṇo bhagavān vivṛddha-

prema-smitena nayanāmburuhaḿ vijṛmbhan

utthāya viśva-vijayāya ca no viṣādaḿ

mādhvyā girāpanayatāt puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ

 

saḥ — He (the Lord); asau — that; adabhra — unlimited; karuṇaḥ — merciful; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; vivṛddha — excessive; prema — love; smitena — by smiling; nayana-amburuham — the lotus eyes; vijṛmbhan — by opening; utthāya — for flourishing; viśva-vijayāya — for glorifying the cosmic creation; ca — as also; naḥ — our; viṣādam — dejection; mādhvyā — by sweet; girā — words; apanayatāt — let Him kindly remove; puruṣaḥ — the Supreme; purāṇaḥ — oldest.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord, who is supreme and is the oldest of all, is unlimitedly merciful. I wish that He may smilingly bestow His benediction upon me by opening His lotus eyes. He can uplift the entire cosmic creation and remove our dejection by kindly speaking His directions.

 

3.9.26

maitreya uvāca

sva-sambhavaḿ niśāmyaivaḿ

tapo-vidyā-samādhibhiḥ

yāvan mano-vacaḥ stutvā

virarāma sa khinnavat

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; sva-sambhavam — the source of his appearance; niśāmya — by seeing; evam — thus; tapaḥ — penance; vidyā — knowledge; samādhibhiḥ — as also by concentration of the mind; yāvat — as far as possible; manaḥ — mind; vacaḥ — words; stutvā — having prayed; virarāma — became silent; saḥ — he (Brahmā); khinna-vat — as if tired.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, after observing the source of his appearance, namely the Personality of Godhead, Brahmā prayed for His mercy as far as his mind and words would permit him. Thus having prayed, he became silent, as if tired from his activities of penance, knowledge and mental concentration.

 

3.9.27-28

athābhipretam anvīkṣya

brahmaṇo madhusūdanaḥ

viṣaṇṇa-cetasaḿ tena

kalpa-vyatikarāmbhasā

 

loka-saḿsthāna-vijñāna

ātmanaḥ parikhidyataḥ

tam āhāgādhayā vācā

kaśmalaḿ śamayann iva

 

atha — thereupon; abhipretam — intention; anvīkṣya — observing; brahmaṇaḥ — of Brahmā; madhusūdanaḥ — the killer of the Madhu demon; viṣaṇṇa — depressed; cetasam — of the heart; tena — by him; kalpa — millennium; vyatikara-ambhasā — devastating water;

 

loka-saḿsthāna — situation of the planetary system; vijñāne — in the science; ātmanaḥ — of himself; parikhidyataḥ — sufficiently anxious; tam — unto him; āha — said; agādhayā — deeply thoughtful; vācā — by words; kaśmalam — impurities; śamayan — removing; iva — like that.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord saw that Brahmā was very anxious about the planning and construction of the different planetary systems and was depressed upon seeing the devastating water. He could understand the intention of Brahmā, and thus He spoke in deep, thoughtful words, removing all the illusion that had arisen.

 

3.9.29

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

mā veda-garbha gās tandrīḿ

sarga udyamam āvaha

tan mayāpāditaḿ hy agre

yan māḿ prārthayate bhavān

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Lord, the Personality of Godhead, said; mā — do not; veda-garbha — O You who have the depth of all Vedic wisdom; gāḥ tandrīm — become dejected; sarge — for creation; udyamam — enterprises; āvaha — you just undertake; tat — that (which you want); mayā — by Me; āpāditam — executed; hi — certainly; agre — previously; yat — which; mām — from Me; prārthayate — begging; bhavān — you.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead then said: O Brahmā, O depth of Vedic wisdom, be neither depressed nor anxious about the execution of creation. What you are begging from Me has already been granted before.

 

3.9.30

bhūyas tvaḿ tapa ātiṣṭha

vidyāḿ caiva mad-āśrayām

tābhyām antar-hṛdi brahman

lokān drakṣyasy apāvṛtān

 

bhūyaḥ — again; tvam — yourself; tapaḥ — penance; ātiṣṭha — be situated; vidyām — in the knowledge; ca — also; eva — certainly; mat — My; āśrayām — under the protection; tābhyām — by those qualifications; antaḥ — within; hṛdi — in the heart; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; lokān — all the worlds; drakṣyasi — you will see; apāvṛtān — all disclosed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Brahmā, situate yourself in penance and meditation and follow the principles of knowledge to receive My favor. By these actions you will be able to understand everything from within your heart.

 

3.9.31

tata ātmani loke ca

bhakti-yuktaḥ samāhitaḥ

draṣṭāsi māḿ tataḿ brahman

mayi lokāḿs tvam ātmanaḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; ātmani — in yourself; loke — in the universe; ca — also; bhakti-yuktaḥ — being situated in devotional service; samāhitaḥ — being completely absorbed; draṣṭā asi — you shall see; mām — Me; tatam — spread throughout; brahman — O Brahmā; mayi — in Me; lokān — all the universe; tvam — you; ātmanaḥ — the living entities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Brahmā, when you are absorbed in devotional service, in the course of your creative activities, you will see Me in you and throughout the universe, and you will see that you yourself, the universe and the living entities are all in Me.

 

3.9.32

yadā tu sarva-bhūteṣu

dāruṣv agnim iva sthitam

praticakṣīta māḿ loko

jahyāt tarhy eva kaśmalam

 

yadā — when; tu — but; sarva — all; bhūteṣu — in the living entities; dāruṣu — in wood; agnim — fire; iva — like; sthitam — situated; praticakṣīta — you shall see; mām — Me; lokaḥ — and the universe; jahyāt — can give up; tarhi — then at once; eva — certainly; kaśmalam — illusion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You will see Me in all living entities as well as all over the universe, just as fire is situated in wood. Only in that state of transcendental vision will you be able to be free from all kinds of illusion.

 

3.9.33

yadā rahitam ātmānaḿ

bhūtendriya-guṇāśayaiḥ

svarūpeṇa mayopetaḿ

paśyan svārājyam ṛcchati

 

yadā — when; rahitam — freed from; ātmānam — self; bhūta — material elements; indriya — material senses; guṇa-āśayaiḥ — under the influence of the material modes of nature; svarūpeṇa — in pure existence; mayā — by Me; upetam — approaching; paśyan — by seeing; svārājyam — spiritual kingdom; ṛcchati — enjoy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When you are free from the conception of gross and subtle bodies and when your senses are free from all influences of the modes of material nature, you will realize your pure form in My association. At that time you will be situated in pure consciousness.

 

3.9.34

nānā-karma-vitānena

prajā bahvīḥ sisṛkṣataḥ

nātmāvasīdaty asmiḿs te

varṣīyān mad-anugrahaḥ

 

nānā-karma — varieties of service; vitānena — by expansion of; prajāḥ — population; bahvīḥ — innumerable; sisṛkṣataḥ — desiring to increase; na — never; ātmā — self; avasīdati — will be bereaved; asmin — in the matter; te — of you; varṣīyān — always increasing; mat — My; anugrahaḥ — causeless mercy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Since you have desired to increase the population innumerably and expand your varieties of service, you shall never be deprived in this matter because My causeless mercy upon you will always increase for all time.

 

3.9.35

ṛṣim ādyaḿ na badhnāti

pāpīyāḿs tvāḿ rajo-guṇaḥ

yan mano mayi nirbaddhaḿ

prajāḥ saḿsṛjato 'pi te

 

ṛṣim — unto the great sage; ādyam — the first of the kind; na — never; badhnāti — encroaches; pāpīyān — vicious; tvām — you; rajaḥ-guṇaḥ — the material mode of passion; yat — because; manaḥ — mind; mayi — in Me; nirbaddham — compact in; prajāḥ — progeny; saḿsṛjataḥ — generating; api — in spite of; te — your.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are the original ṛṣi, and because your mind is always fixed on Me, even though you will be engaged in generating various progeny, the vicious mode of passion will never encroach upon you.

 

3.9.36

jñāto 'haḿ bhavatā tv adya

durvijñeyo 'pi dehinām

yan māḿ tvaḿ manyase 'yuktaḿ

bhūtendriya-guṇātmabhiḥ

 

jñātaḥ — known; aham — Myself; bhavatā — by you; tu — but; adya — today; duḥ — difficult; vijñeyaḥ — to be known; api — in spite of; dehinām — for the conditioned soul; yat — because; mām — Me; tvam — you; manyase — understand; ayuktam — without being made of; bhūta — material elements; indriya — material senses; guṇa — material modes; ātmabhiḥ — and false ego like the conditioned soul.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although I am not easily knowable by the conditioned soul, you have known Me today because you know that My personality is not constituted of anything material, and specifically not of the five gross and three subtle elements.

 

3.9.37

tubhyaḿ mad-vicikitsāyām

ātmā me darśito 'bahiḥ

nālena salile mūlaḿ

puṣkarasya vicinvataḥ

 

tubhyam — unto you; mat — Me; vicikitsāyām — on your trying to know; ātmā — self; me — of Myself; darśitaḥ — exhibited; abahiḥ — from within; nālena — through the stem; salile — in the water; mūlam — root; puṣkarasya — of the lotus, the primeval source; vicinvataḥ — contemplating.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When you were contemplating whether there was a source to the stem of the lotus of your birth and you even entered into that stem, you could not trace out anything. But at that time I manifested My form from within.

 

3.9.38

yac cakarthāńga mat-stotraḿ

mat-kathābhyudayāńkitam

yad vā tapasi te niṣṭhā

sa eṣa mad-anugrahaḥ

 

yat — that which; cakartha — performed; ańga — O Brahmā; mat-stotram — prayers for Me; mat-kathā — words regarding My activities; abhyudaya-ańkitam — enumerating My transcendental glories; yat — or that; vā — either; tapasi — in penance; te — your; niṣṭhā — faith; saḥ — that; eṣaḥ — all these; mat — My; anugrahaḥ — causeless mercy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Brahmā, the prayers that you have chanted praising the glories of My transcendental activities, the penances you have undertaken to understand Me, and your firm faith in Me — all these are to be considered My causeless mercy.

 

3.9.39

prīto 'ham astu bhadraḿ te

lokānāḿ vijayecchayā

yad astauṣīr guṇamayaḿ

nirguṇaḿ mānuvarṇayan

 

prītaḥ — pleased; aham — Myself; astu — let it be so; bhadram — all benediction; te — unto you; lokānām — of the planets; vijaya — for glorification; icchayā — by your desire; yat — that which; astauṣīḥ — you prayed for; guṇa-mayam — describing all transcendental qualities; nirguṇam — although I am free from all material qualities; mā — Me; anuvarṇayan — nicely describing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am very much pleased by your description of Me in terms of My transcendental qualities, which appear mundane to the mundaners. I grant you all benedictions in your desire to glorify all the planets by your activities.

 

3.9.40

ya etena pumān nityaḿ

stutvā stotreṇa māḿ bhajet

tasyāśu samprasīdeyaḿ

sarva-kāma-vareśvaraḥ

 

yaḥ — anyone who; etena — by this; pumān — human being; nityam — regularly; stutvā — praying; stotreṇa — by the verses; mām — Me; bhajet — may worship; tasya — his; āśu — very soon; samprasīdeyam — I shall fulfill; sarva — all; kāma — desires; vara-īśvaraḥ — the Lord of all benediction.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Any human being who prays like Brahmā, and who thus worships Me, shall very soon be blessed with the fulfillment of all his desires, for I am the Lord of all benediction.

 

3.9.41

pūrtena tapasā yajñair

dānair yoga-samādhinā

rāddhaḿ niḥśreyasaḿ puḿsāḿ

mat-prītis tattvavin-matam

 

pūrtena — by traditional good work; tapasā — by penances; yajñaiḥ — by sacrifices; dānaiḥ — by charities; yoga — by mysticism; samādhinā — by trance; rāddham — success; niḥśreyasam — ultimately beneficial; puḿsām — of the human being; mat — of Me; prītiḥ — satisfaction; tattva-vit — expert transcendentalist; matam — opinion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It is the opinion of expert transcendentalists that the ultimate goal of performing all traditional good works, penances, sacrifices, charities, mystic activities, trances, etc., is to invoke My satisfaction.

 

3.9.42

aham ātmātmanāḿ dhātaḥ

preṣṭhaḥ san preyasām api

ato mayi ratiḿ kuryād

dehādir yat-kṛte priyaḥ

 

aham — I am; ātmā — the Supersoul; ātmanām — of all other souls; dhātaḥ — director; preṣṭhaḥ — the dearest; san — being; preyasām — of all dear things; api — certainly; ataḥ — therefore; mayi — unto Me; ratim — attachment; kuryāt — one should do; deha-ādiḥ — the body and mind; yat-kṛte — on whose account; priyaḥ — very dear.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am the Supersoul of every individual. I am the supreme director and the dearest. People are wrongly attached to the gross and subtle bodies, but they should be attached to Me only.

 

3.9.43

sarva-veda-mayenedam

ātmanātmātma-yoninā

prajāḥ sṛja yathā-pūrvaḿ

yāś ca mayy anuśerate

 

sarva — all; veda-mayena — under complete Vedic wisdom; idam — this; ātmanā — by the body; ātmā — you; ātma-yoninā — directly born of the Lord; prajāḥ — living entities; sṛja — generate; yathā-pūrvam — as it was hereinbefore; yāḥ — which; ca — also; mayi — in Me; anuśerate — lie.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By following My instructions you can now generate the living entities as before, by dint of your complete Vedic wisdom and the body you have directly received from Me, the supreme cause of everything.

 

3.9.44

maitreya uvāca

tasmā evaḿ jagat-sraṣṭre

pradhāna-puruṣeśvaraḥ

vyajyedaḿ svena rūpeṇa

kañja-nābhas tirodadhe

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the sage Maitreya said; tasmai — unto him; evam — thus; jagat-sraṣṭre — unto the creator of the universe; pradhāna-puruṣa-īśvaraḥ — the primeval Lord, the Personality of Godhead; vyajya idam — after instructing this; svena — in His person; rūpeṇa — by the form; kañja-nābhaḥ — the Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa; tirodadhe — disappeared.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sage Maitreya said: After instructing Brahmā, the creator of the universe, to expand, the primeval Lord, the Personality of Godhead in His personal form as Nārāyaṇa, disappeared.