rule



 

Canto 3

Jaya Rādhā Mādhava 1

 

 


Chapter 10: Divisions of the Creation                                                                          

(1) Vidura said: 'How many living beings were by the almighty grandfather of all creatures on this planet created from his body and mind, after the disappearance of the Supreme Personality? (2) Dear man of power, be so kind to eradicate all my doubts and describe from the beginning to the end everything I asked you, oh best among the souls of vast knowledge.' "

(3) Sūta said [see Canto 1]: "Oh son of Bhrigu [S'aunaka], the great sage, the son of Kushāra [Maitreya] thus being stimulated by Vidura, felt pleased and answered the questions speaking from his heart.

(4) Maitreya said: 'Brahmā thus for the sake of the soul engaged himself in penance for a hundred celestial years the way the Unborn One, the Supreme Lord told him to. (5) He who was born on the lotus, then saw how the lotus upon which he was situated and the water surrounding it trembled because of the wind that was propelled by the power of eternal Time. (6) With his transcendental knowledge and self-awareness having increased by his penance, he had matured in practical knowledge, and with that power he took in the wind along with the water. (7) When he saw how widespread the lotus was upon which he was situated, he thought to himself: 'I shall with this [lotus in these time stirred waters] bring back to life all the worlds that in the past have merged in me.' (8) By the Supreme Lord being encouraged to engage in action, he then entered the whirl of the lotus and divided the complete of it in three main divisions that he further divided into fourteen subsections [see also 2.5: 42]. (9) These different circumstances of life together constitute the consequence of the [more or less] selfless dutiful actions [the dharma] of the individual souls in relation to the Supreme Personality.'

(10) Vidura said: 'Discussing the variety of different forms of the Lord, the wonderful actor, you spoke about eternal time as one of His names. Oh brahmin, can you please describe to us how time factually makes its appearance, oh master, what are its characteristics?'

(11) Maitreya said: 'It [Eternal Time] is the source of the different [organic and inorganic] interactions of the modes of nature, it is un divided and unlimited and it is the instrument of the Original Person to create, by His pastimes, the material life of the soul. (12) It is by means of time [kāla], the hidden, impersonal feature, that the Lord separated from the Supreme Absolute [God or brahma] the material phenomenon that was established as the bewildering material potency of Vishnu. (13) The way it [Eternal Time] is there in the present, it was there in the beginning and will also be there hereafter.

(14) The conditioning [or creation] is divided in nine kinds. Next to the formation according to the basic qualities [viz. the gunas or the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance], there is the formation according to  the material qualities of time [movement, knowledge and inertia] and the three forms of creation that find their end [of plants, animals and human beings]. (15) The first creation is the one of [the goodness of the] cosmic intelligence [the mahat-tattva] of the Supreme Lord wherein the  interaction of the natural qualities takes place. The second creation consists of the [passion of] the identified self, the false ego, on the basis of which there is knowledge of the material elements that thus find their engagement. (16) The third type of material formation is the one of the [ignorance of the] elements that give rise to sense perception. The fourth creation consists of [the material movement of] that what basically leads to the knowledge acquiring and operating [functions of the senses]. (17) The fifth kind of creation consists of the interaction with the mode of goodness that, together with the mind derived therefrom, results in the deities [who rule the senses]. Sixth there is the creation of darkness [from the slowness of matter] that turns masters into fools. (18) These are the six [primary] material creations. Now hear from me about the three secondary creations [of plant, animal and man produced] with the pastime of the almighty incarnation of passion [Brahmā] who has the intelligence of the Lord.

(19) The seventh main division of creation concerns the six kinds of beings who do not move around: trees bearing fruit without flowers, plants and bushes that exist until the fruit has ripened, the creepers, the pipe-plants, creepers without support and fruit trees that blossom. (20) These beings who seek their sustenance upwards, are practically unconscious with only an inner feeling and are of many varieties. (21) The eighth creation concerns the species of lower animals. There are twenty-eight different kinds of them and they are considered to have no knowledge of their destiny, to be of an extreme ignorance, to discriminate by smell and have a poorly functioning conscience. (22) Oh purest one, the cow, the goat, the buffalo, the antelope, the hog, the gavaya [a type of oxen], the deer, the sheep and the camel all have split hooves. (23) The ass, the horse, the mule, the gaura, the s'arabha bison and the wild cow have only one toe. Oh Vidura, just let me tell you now about the animals with five nails. (24 ) They are the dog, the jackal, the fox, the tiger, the cat, the rabbit, the sajāru porcupine, the lion, the monkey, the elephant, the tortoise, the iguana ['four legged snake'], the alligator and others. (25) The heron, the vulture, the crane, the hawk, the bhāsa [another kind of vulture], the bhallūka, the peacock, the swan, the sārasa [indian crane], the cakravāka, the crow, the owl and so on are the birds. (26) But there is yet a ninth kind that [also] fills its belly, oh Vidura. It consists of one form of appearance: the human beings. In them the mode of passion is very prominent. They are very busy with [diminishing] their misery, but always consider themselves happy.

(27) These three secondary creations, including the creation of the demigods [as an extra category], my dear one, are, contrary to the other ones that I described, [as for their modes and qualities] subjected to modifications [to mutation or evolution], even though the Kumāras [the sons of Brahmā, the brahmins, the sages] are of both natures [they adapt physically, but they do not change in quality]. (28-29) The creation of the demigods is of eight types: (1) the self-realized souls, (2) the forefathers, (3) the atheists, (4) the celestial beings, angels and the saints, (5) the protectors and the giants, (6) the celestial singers, (7) the spirits of guidance in what is good and bad and the denizens of heaven and (8) the superhuman beings and such. All the ten types of creation I described to you, oh Vidura, are created by Brahmā, the creator of the universe. (30) Next I shall explain the different descendants of the Manus and how the Creator, being moved by the mode of passion, in the different ages creates and does so with an unfailing determination in respect of the Supreme Lord who, by dint of His own energy, as Himself appeared from Himself.'

 

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 Third revised edition, loaded September 25, 2023.

     

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

Vidura said: 'How many living beings were by the almighty grandfather of all creatures on this planet created from his body and mind, after the disappearance of the Supreme Personality?
Vidura said: 'How many sorts did the grandfather of all creatures on this planet create to the body and mind of the Almighty after the disappearance of the Supreme Personality? (Vedabase)

  

Text 2

Oh man of power, be so kind to eradicate all my doubts and describe from the beginning to the end everything I asked you, oh best among the souls of vast knowledge.' "

For the purpose of all that I asked you about, o powerful one, kindly describe all of them, o greatly learned one, from the beginning to the end and be so kind to remove all my doubts'." (Vedabase)


Text 3

Sūta said [see Canto 1]: "Oh son of Bhrigu [S'aunaka], the great sage, the son of Kushāra [Maitreya] thus being stimulated by Vidura, felt pleased and answered the questions speaking from his heart.

Sūta said [see Canto 1]: "O son of Bhrigu [S'aunaka], the great sage, the son of Kusāra [Maitreya] thus enlivened by Vidura felt pleased and thus replied the questions from the core of his heart. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

Maitreya said: 'Brahmā thus for the sake of the soul engaged himself in penance for a hundred celestial years the way the Unborn One, the Supreme Lord told him to.

Maitreya said: 'And so did Brahmā perform for a hundred celestial years penances for the sake of the soul, engaging himself as was told to him by the unborn One, the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

He who was born on the lotus, then saw how the lotus upon which he was situated and the water surrounding it trembled because of the wind that was propelled by the power of eternal Time.

In that saw he, who was born from the lotus, that by the inherent power of the natural forces [eternal time] the wind separated the waters on which the lotus was situated. (Vedabase)


Text 6

With his transcendental knowledge and self-awareness having increased by his penance, he had matured in practical knowledge, and with that power he took in the wind along with the water.

By his penance he surely had won in transcendental knowledge and had matured in his self-awareness and practical knowledge, and with that power he took in the wind along with the water. (Vedabase)


Text 7

When he saw how widespread the lotus was upon which he was situated, he thought to himself: 'I shall with this [lotus in these time stirred waters] bring back to life all the worlds that in the past have merged in me.'

Then he saw how widespread the lotus was on which he was situated; from the action all the world that was previously submerged had now separated and was open to his creation, so he found. (Vedabase)


Text 8

By the Supreme Lord being encouraged to engage in action, he then entered the whirl of the lotus and divided the complete of it in three main divisions that he further divided into fourteen subsections [see also 2.5: 42].

Entering into that whorl of the lotus, in his activities encouraged by the Supreme Lord, he divided the one into three worlds and from that He could create the fourteen of them [see also 2.5.42]. (Vedabase)
 

Text 9

These different circumstances of life together constitute the consequence of the [more or less] selfless dutiful actions [the dharma] of the individual souls in relation to the Supreme Personality.'

Concerning these the highest person in the universe had no other motivation than setting the duties all round to the mature stage of the interest of the individual localities where the souls had their living. (Vedabase)

Text 10

Vidura said: 'Discussing the variety of different forms of the Lord, the wonderful actor, you spoke about eternal time as one of His names. Oh brahmin, can you please describe to us how time factually makes its appearance, oh master, what are its characteristics?'

Vidura said: 'You spoke to the variety of the different forms of the Lord, the wonderful actor, of the eternal of time, o brahmin; can you please describe to us what the factual appearance of it is, o Lord?' (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

Maitreya said: 'It [Eternal Time] is the source of the different [organic and inorganic] interactions of the modes of nature, it is undivided and unlimited and it is the instrument of the Original Person to create, by His pastimes, the material life of the soul.

Maitreya said: 'It is the source of the interactions to the modes of nature, it is undivided and unlimited and the instrument of the Original Person who created the material life of the soul through His pastimes.  (Vedabase)


Text 12

It is by means of time [kāla], the hidden, impersonal feature, that the Lord separated from the Supreme Absolute [God or brahma] the material phenomenon that was established as the bewildering material potency of Vishnu.

The phenomenal which for sure is there as the same energy of Vishnu, separated itself from the Spirit by the Supreme Lord in the form of time [kāla], which is considered His unmanifest [impersonal] feature. (Vedabase)


Text 13

The way it [Eternal Time] is there in the present, it was there in the beginning and will also be there hereafter.

As it is at present, so it was in the beginning and to the end it will also continue to be the same. (Vedabase)


Text 14

The conditioning [or creation] is divided in nine kinds. Next to the formation according to the basic qualities [viz. the gunas or the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance], there is the formation according to the material qualities of time [movement, knowledge and inertia] and the three forms of creation that find their end [of plants, animals and human beings].

There are nine types of creations: the three modes of matter [to prakriti: passion, goodness and ignorance], the three qualities to these modes [to vikriti: movement, knowledge and inertia], and the three types of annihllation which are then the material divisions of time [to kāla: the ascension of humans, the extinction of animals and the ending of the plants together with the universe]. (Vedabase)


Text 15

The first creation is the one of [the goodness of the] cosmic intelligence [the mahat-tattva] of the Supreme Lord wherein the  interaction of the natural qualities takes place. The second creation consists of the [passion of] the identified self, the false ego, on the basis of which there is knowledge of the material elements that thus find their engagement.

The first one [the mahat-tattva, of the goodness] is nothing but the total of creation that emanated from the Lord with the interacting of its three modes. The second one [of passion] is but the false ego of the awakened activities of the material ingredients and their interrelating. (Vedabase)


Text 16

The third type of material formation is the one of the [ignorance of the] elements that give rise to sense perception. The fourth creation consists of [the material movement of] that what basically leads to the knowledge acquiring and operating [functions of the senses].

The created of matter itself is the third kind [that of ignorance] that is only of sense perception to which fourth there is to the matter of the senses the practical basic of material knowledge. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

The fifth kind of creation consists of the interaction with the mode of goodness that, together with the mind derived therefrom, results in the deities [who rule the senses]. Sixth there is the creation of darkness [from the slowness of matter] that turns masters into fools.

The interaction to the mode of goodness gives the godly [of movement] to the material creation which with the sum total of mind forms the fifth kind to which sixth there is the darkness of creation [the inert of matter] that makes fools of masters. (Vedabase)


Text 18

These are the six [primary] material creations. Now hear from me about the three secondary creations [of plant, animal and man produced] with the pastime of the almighty incarnation of passion [Brahmā] who has the intelligence of the Lord.

Next to the first six creations of the material energy [of nature or the Lord] there are the secondary creations [of plant animal and man]; hear from me concerning those just about the powerful one that is the incarnation of the mode of passion [Brahmā] and about the pastimes of that brain of the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)


Text 19

The seventh main division of creation concerns the six kinds of beings who do not move around: trees bearing fruit without flowers, plants and bushes that exist until the fruit has ripened, the creepers, the pipe-plants, creepers without support and fruit trees that blossom.

The seventh principle of creation concerns six kinds of beings that do not move themselves: trees bearing fruit without flowers, plants and bushes that exist until the fruit has ripened, the creepers, the pipe-plants, creepers without support and fruit trees that do blossom. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

These beings who seek their sustenance upwards, are practically unconscious with only an inner feeling and are of many varieties.

Those [unmoving] beings seek their subsistence upwards, are almost unconscious with a mere feeling within and are of many varieties. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

The eighth creation concerns the species of lower animals. There are twenty-eight different kinds of them and they are considered to have no knowledge of their destiny, to be of an extreme ignorance, to discriminate by smell and have a poorly functioning conscience.

The eight creation are the species of lower animals, they are of twenty-eight different kinds and are considered to be without knowledge of destiny, of an extreme ignorance, of a discrimination by smell and of a poor memory of heart [conscience]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

Oh purest one, the cow, the goat, the buffalo, the antelope, the hog, the gavaya [a type of oxen], the deer, the sheep and the camel all have split hooves.

O purest one, the cow, the goat, the buffalo, the antelope, the hog, the gavaya [a type of oxen], the deer, the sheep and the camel all have split hooves. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

The ass, the horse, the mule, the gaura, the s'arabha bison and the wild cow have only one toe. Oh Vidura,  just let me tell you now about the animals with five nails.

The ass, the horse, the mule, the gaura, the s'arabha-bison and the wild cow so have only one toe, o Vidura and just let me tell you now of the animals with five nails. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

They are the dog, the jackal, the fox, the tiger, the cat, the rabbit, the sajāru porcupine, the lion, the monkey, the elephant, the tortoise, the iguana ['four legged snake'], the alligator and  others.

They are the dog, the jackal, the fox, the tiger, the cat, the rabbit, the sajāru-porcupine, the lion, the monkey, the elephant, the tortoise, the iguana ['four legged snake'], the alligator and others. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

The heron, the vulture, the crane, the hawk, the bhāsa [another kind of vulture], the bhallūka, the peacock, the swan, the sārasa [indian crane], the cakravāka, the crow, the owl and so on are the birds.

The heron, the vulture, the crane, the hawk, the bhāsa [another kind of vulture], the bhallūka, the peacock, the swan, the sārasa [indian crane], the cakravāka, the crow, the owl and others are the birds. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

But there is yet a ninth kind that [also] fills its belly, oh Vidura. It consists of one for of appearance: the human beings. In them the mode of passion is very prominent. They are very busy with [diminishing] their misery, but always consider themselves happy.

The ninth kind that [also] stocks its belly, o Vidura, is of one species: the humans; in them the mode of passion is very prominent, they are very busy to their misery but think themselves always happy. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

These three secondary creations, including the creation of the demigods [as an extra category], my dear one, are, contrary to the other ones that I described, [as for their modes and qualities] subjected to modifications [to mutation or evolution], even though the Kumāras [the sons of Brahmā, the brahmins, the sages] are of both natures [they adapt physically, but they do not change in quality].

All these three creations as well as the demigods appearing with them [as the tenth], my dear one, are, as opposed to the previous ones [of the modes and the qualities] I described before, subjected to modifications [or evolution], but the sons of Brahmā [the brahmins, the Kumāras] are of both [viz. evolving along but not changing in quality]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28-29

The creation of the demigods is of eight types: (1) the self-realized souls, (2) the forefathers, (3) the atheists, (4) the celestial beings, angels and the saints, (5) the protectors and the giants, (6) the celestial singers, (7) the spirits of guidance in what is good and bad and the denizens of heaven and (8) the superhuman beings and such. All the ten types of creation I described to you, oh Vidura, are created by Brahmā, the creator of the universe.

The creation of the devoted ones is of eight kinds: (1) the demigods, (2) the forefathers, (3) the atheists, (4) the celestial beings, angels and the saints (5) the protectors and the giants (6) the celestial singers (7) the spirits guiding to the good and bad and the ones dwelling in heaven and (8) the superhuman beings and others. All the ten types of creation I described you, o Vidura, are created by Brahmā, the creator of the universe. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Next I shall explain the different descendants of the Manus and how the Creator, being moved by the mode of passion, in the different ages creates and does so with an unfailing determination in respect of the Supreme Lord who, by dint of His own energy, as Himself appeared from Himself.'

Hereafter I will explain the different descendants of the Manus and that way how the Creator, infused with the mode of passion, in the different ages creates with an unfailing determination to the Lord who, from Himself as Himself, came by His own energy. (Vedabase)
 

 

 

 

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The picture is titled: "Brahmā with Sarasvati",
from an illustration to the Bhāgavata Purāna,
Date c. 1793, Paris, Manuscripts orient.
Source.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time
 

  

 

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