Bhagavat · Sanskrit §58 · English §51
Source[५८] इत्थम् एवाभिप्रेत्याह -- कृष्णम् एनम् अवेहि त्वम् आत्मानम् अखिलात्मनाम् । जगद्-धिताय सोऽप्य् अत्र देहीवाभाति मायया ॥ [भ्प् १०.१४.५५] एनं नौमीड्य तेऽभ्र-वपुषे इत्य् [भ्प् १०.१४.१] आदि-वर्णित-रूपम् अवेहि मत्- प्रसाद-लब्ध-विद्वत्तयैवानुभवो न तु तर्कादीनां विचारयेत्य् अर्थः । एवम्भूतोऽपि मायया कृपया जगद्-धिताय सर्वस्यापि स्वात्मानं प्रति चित्ताकर्षणाय देहीव जीव इवाभाति क्रीडति । इव-शब्देन श्री-कृष्णस् तु जीववत् पृथग्-देहं प्रविष्टवान् इति गम्यते । अतएव श्री-विग्रहस्य परम- पुरुषार्थ-लक्षणत्वम् उक्तं श्री-ध्रुवेण - सत्याशिषो हि भगवंस् तव पाद-पद्मम् आशीस् तथानुभजतः पुरुषार्थ-मूर्तेः [भ्प् ४.९.१७] इत्य् अत्र । टीका च - हे भगवन् पुरुषार्थः परमानन्दः स एव मूर्तिर् यस्य तस्य् अतव पाद-पद्मम् आशिषो राज्यादेः सकाशात् सत्या । आशीः परमार्थ-फलं हि निश्चितं कस्य तेन प्रकारेण त्वम् एव पुरुषार्थ इत्य् एवं निष्कामतया अनुभ्जतः । इत्य् एषा ॥ १०.१४ ॥ श्री-शुकः ॥५८॥
[58] ittham evābhipretyāha -- kṛṣṇam enam avehi tvam ātmānam akhilātmanām | jagad-dhitāya so'py atra dehīvābhāti māyayā || [BhP 10.14.55] enaṃ naumīḍya te'bhra-vapuṣe ity [BhP 10.14.1] ādi-varṇita-rūpam avehi mat- prasāda-labdha-vidvattayaivānubhavo na tu tarkādīnāṃ vicārayety arthaḥ | evambhūto'pi māyayā kṛpayā jagad-dhitāya sarvasyāpi svātmānaṃ prati cittākarṣaṇāya dehīva jīva ivābhāti krīḍati | iva-śabdena śrī-kṛṣṇas tu jīvavat pṛthag-dehaṃ praviṣṭavān iti gamyate | ataeva śrī-vigrahasya parama- puruṣārtha-lakṣaṇatvam uktaṃ śrī-dhruveṇa - satyāśiṣo hi bhagavaṃs tava pāda-padmam āśīs tathānubhajataḥ puruṣārtha-mūrteḥ [BhP 4.9.17] ity atra | ṭīkā ca - he bhagavan puruṣārthaḥ paramānandaḥ sa eva mūrtir yasya tasy atava pāda-padmam āśiṣo rājyādeḥ sakāśāt satyā | āśīḥ paramārtha-phalaṃ hi niścitaṃ kasya tena prakāreṇa tvam eva puruṣārtha ity evaṃ niṣkāmatayā anubhjataḥ | ity eṣā || 10.14 || śrī-śukaḥ ||58||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 51
Anuccheda 51
1 The form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be considered fully transcendental and spiritual because it is eternal, all-powerful, all-pervading, the shelter of everything, transcendental to all gross and subtle forms of material energy, manifested in the hearts of all conditioned souls, manifest only by the Lord’s own wish, and clearly described in all Vedic literatures. The supreme philosopher, Brahma, has described the Lord’s form in the following three verses of Srimad Bhagavatam (3.9.2-4): 2 “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 “O 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.* 4 “The present form, or any transcendental form expanded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, 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.”* 5 Sridhara Svami comments on these verses in the following words: “Someone may object: Is it not true that you have not actually seen the transcendental Supreme Godhead? You may have seen some form, but that form is simply a production of the three modes of material nature. It is not at all transcendental, for the transcendental Supreme Godhead is devoid of all form and qualities. “Thinking someone might argue in this way, Lord Brahma spoke the first two of these verses. 6 “In the first of these verses Brahma says: ‘The form which I see is eternally freed from material contamination (avabodha-rasodayena sasvan-nivrtta-tamah) and has voluntarily advented to show mercy to the devotees (sad-anugrahaya grhitam). This incarnation is the origin of many other incarnations (avatara-sataika-bijam), who are all situated in the platform of transcendental goodness. I, who am the rajo-guna-avatara, are born from the lotus flower grown from Your navel home (yan-nabhi-padma-bhavanat).’ “In the second of these verses Brahma says: ‘O my Lord (parama), I do not see (na pasyami) a form superior (param) to Your present form (bhavatah svarupam) of eternal bliss and knowledge. In your impersonal Brahman effulgence in the spiritual sky (ananda-matram), there is no occasional change (avikalpam) and no deterioration of internal potency (aviddha-varcah). I surrender unto You (asrito smi) because, whereas I am proud of my material body and senses (bhutendriyatmaka-madah), Your Lordship is the cause of the cosmic manifestation (visva-srjam), and yet You are untouched by matter (avisvam). You are the original creator of the material bodies and senses of the conditioned souls, and You are the ultimate object of worship.’ 7 “Thinking someone might consider the Supreme Lord’s form to be only recently, and not eternally, manifested, Brahma spoke the third verse, saying ‘This present form, or any transcendental form expanded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is equally auspicious for all the universes (bhuvana-mangala). Since You have manifested this eternal personal form upon whom we, Your devotees meditate (upasakanam mangalaya dhyane darsitam), I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You (tubhyam name nuvidhema). You do not reveal this transcendental form to those of us whose minds are attached to the path of impersonalist speculation.’ “At this point Sri Krsna might object: ‘If this is true, then why is it that some people decline to worship Me?” “To answer this question Brahma says: ‘Those who are destined to be dispatched to the path of hell neglect Your personal form (yo nadrtah) because of speculating on material topics (asat-prasangaih) and accepting the faulty logic of atheistic philosophers.’” 8 Because Brahma is the spiritual master of the greatest philosophers, he never accepts any view in opposition to that expressed in these verses. The impersonalists and atheists, however, do not accept these statements of Lord Brahma. The impersonalists had previously been described by Brahma in the words ‘avyakta-vartmabhinivesitatma’ (those absorbed in meditation on the impersonal feature of the Supreme). The atheists were described by Srila Sridhara Svami at the end of the previous quotation. Although the transcendental form of the Personality of Godhead is clearly established by all authorities, the atheists reject the direct experience of the learned devotees, and insist there is no God. 9 On the other hand, the devotees, who are qualified to properly understand the Supreme Lord’s transcendental form are described in the following verse (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.5), where Brahma says: “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.”* 10 In this verse the word ‘tut’ (but) is used to contrast the devotees of the Lord with the previously described non devotees. Brahma describes the devotees saying: “O Lord, the devotees have faith in the existence of Your transcendental form because they accept the Vedic revelation as the highest source of knowledge. They smell the aroma of Your lotus feet, carried by the air of Vedic sound (sruti-vata-nitam), through the holes of the ears, and they accept the devotional service of Your lotus feet (bhaktya grhita-caranah).”
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §59 · English §52
Source[५९] अतः शब्द-प्रतिपाद्यं यद् ब्रह्म तच् छ्री-विग्रह एवेत्य् उपसंहार-योग्यं वाक्यम् आह - तावत् प्रसन्नो भगवान् पुष्कराक्षः कृते युगे । दर्शयाम् आस तं क्षत्तः शाब्दं ब्रह्म दधद् वपुः ॥ [भ्प् ३.२१.७] तद् वपुर् दधत् प्रकाशयन्न् असौ शुक्लाख्यो भगवान् कृते युगे वर्तते । तद् एव शब्द-प्रतिपाद्यं ब्रह्म परम-तत्त्वं तं कर्दमं प्रति दर्शयामासेत्य् अर्थः ॥ ॥ ३.२१ ॥ श्री-मैत्रेयः ॥५९॥
[59] ataḥ śabda-pratipādyaṃ yad brahma tac chrī-vigraha evety upasaṃhāra-yogyaṃ vākyam āha - tāvat prasanno bhagavān puṣkarākṣaḥ kṛte yuge | darśayām āsa taṃ kṣattaḥ śābdaṃ brahma dadhad vapuḥ || [BhP 3.21.7] tad vapur dadhat prakāśayann asau śuklākhyo bhagavān kṛte yuge vartate | tad eva śabda-pratipādyaṃ brahma parama-tattvaṃ taṃ kardamaṃ prati darśayāmāsety arthaḥ || || 3.21 || śrī-maitreyaḥ ||59||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 52
Anuccheda 52
1 Even in the form of the empowered avesa-avatara, Lord Rsabhadeva is transcendental in nature. This is confirmed by the following verse of Srimad Bhagavatam (5.5.19) where Lord Rsabhadeva says: “My transcendental body (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha) looks exactly like a human form, but it is not a material human body. It is inconceivable. I am not forced by nature to accept a particular type of body; I take on a body by My own sweet will. My heart is also spiritual, and I always think of the welfare of My devotees. Therefore within My heart can be found the process of devotional service, which is meant for the devotees. Far from My heart have I abandoned irreligion (adharma) and non devotional activities). They do not appeal to Me. Due to all these transcendental qualities, people generally pray to Me as Rsabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all living entities.”* 2 In this verse Lord Rsabhadeva says: ‘My transcendental body (sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah) looks exactly like a human form, but it is not a material human body (sariram). It is inconceivable (durvibhavyam). Within My heart (me hrdayam) can be found the process of devotional service (dharmah), which is meant for the devotees. Far from My heart have I abandoned irreligion (adharma) and non devotional activities.” In order to demonstrate the proper mode of action for a self-satisfied transcendentalist, Lord Rsabhadeva, the speaker of this verse, pretended to leave His body at the final stage of His earthly pastimes. The ordinary conditioned souls mistakenly thought that He died or left His body. 3 Lord Rsabhadeva’s final pastimes, and His so-called ‘death’ are described in Srimad Bhagavatam (5.6.6): “Lord Rsabhadeva was the head of all kings and emperors within this universe, but assuming the dress and language of an avadhuta, He acted as if dull and materially bound. Consequently no one could observe His divine opulence. He adopted this behaviour just to teach yogis how to give up the body. Nonetheless He maintained His original position as a plenary expansion of Lord Vasudeva, Krsna. Remaining always in that state, He gave up His pastimes as Lord Rsabhadeva within the material world. If, following in the footsteps of Lord Rsabhadeva, one can give up his subtle body, there is no chance that one will accept a material body again.”* 4 Lord Rsabhadeva’s celebrated abandonment of His body is described in the devotional scripture of Srimad Bhagavatam (5.6.8): “While He was wandering about, a wild forest fire began. This fire was caused by the friction of bamboos, which were bring blown by the wind. In that fire, the entire forest near Kutakacala and the body of Lord Rsabhadeva were burnt to ashes.”* 5 We may note in this verse that the words ‘tena saha’ (with that body) are in the instrumental case, and the subject of the sentence, ‘davalanah’ (a forest-fire), is in the nominative case. The trees and other residents of the forest who gave up their material bodies in that forest-fire as Lord Rsabhadeva pretended to give up His spiritual form, all attained liberation. 6 The associates of Lord Ramacandra also attained liberation in the same way. This is described in Srimad Bhagavatam (9.11.22): “Lord Ramacandra returned to His abode, to which the bhakti-yogis are promoted. This is the place to which all the inhabitants of Ayodhya went after they served the Lord in His manifest pastimes by offering Him obeisances, touching His lotus feet, fully observing Him as a fatherlike King, sitting or lying down with Him like equals, or even just accompanying Him.”* 7 In this way, Lord Rsabhadeva’s disappearance in the forest fire is described. We may also note that at the end of this chapter in Srimad Bhagavatam the chapter title is given: “The Appearance of Lord Rsabhadeva”. The title clearly does not say ‘the Birth of Lord Rsabhadeva”, because the Lord was not born in the same way conditioned souls are, but rather He appeared in His transcendental body to perform His pastimes here.
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §60 · English §53
Source[६०] तद् एवं सिद्धे भगवतस् तादृशे वैलक्षण्ये दृश्यत्वात् घटवद् इत्य् आद्य- सद्-अनुमानं न सम्भवति कालात्ययोपदिष्टत्वात् । तद् एतद् अभिप्रेत्य तस्मिन् सत्यता-पुरस्कृतं षड्-भाव-विकाराद्य-भावं स्थापयन् पूर्ण- स्वरूपत्वम् अभुपगच्छति । एकस् त्वम् आत्मा पुरुषः पुराणः सत्यः स्वयं ज्योतिर् अनन्त आद्यः । नित्योऽक्षरोऽजस्र-सुखो निरञ्जनः पूर्णोऽद्वयो मुक्त उपाधितोऽमृतः ॥ [भ्प् १०.१४.२०] नौमीड्य ते [भ्प् १०.१४.१] इत्य् आदिना स्तुत्यत्वेन प्रतिज्ञा-रूपोऽयम् अभ्र- वपुर्-आदि-लक्षणत्वम् एक एव सर्वेषाम् आत्मा परमाश्रयः । तद् उक्तम् - एकोऽसि प्रथमम् इति [भ्प् १०.१४.१८] इति च । कृष्णम् एनम् अवेहि त्वम् आत्मानम् अखिलात्मनाम् इति च [भ्प् १०.१४.५५] । यतस् त्वम् आत्मा तत एव सत्यः । परमाश्रयस्य सत्यताम् अबलम्ब्यैवान्येषां सत्यत्वात् त्वय्य् एव सत्यत्वस्य मुख्या विश्रान्तिर् इति भावः । तद् उक्तम् - सत्य-व्रतं सत्य-परम् इत्य् आदि [भ्प् १०.२.२६] । सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः कृष्णः सत्यम् अत्र प्रतिष्ठितम् । सत्यात् सत्यं च गोविन्दस् तस्मात् सत्यो हि नामतः ॥ इत्य् उद्यम-पर्वणि [म्भ् ५.६८.१२] च । न च त्वयि जन्मादयो विकाराः सन्तीत्य् आह आद्यः कारणम् । एकोऽसि प्रथमम् इत्य् आदौ [भ्प् १०.१४.१८] तादृशत्व-दृष्टेः । अतो न जन्म, किन्तु प्रत्यक्षत्वं हरेर् जन्म न विकारः कथञ्चन इति पाद्म-रीतिकम् एव । अतएव स्कान्दे -- अविज्ञाय परं देहम् आनन्दात्मानम् अव्ययम् । आरोपयन्ति जनिमत् पञ्च-भूतात्मकं जडम् ॥ इति ॥ आद्यत्वे हेतुः । पुरुषः पुरुषाकार एव सन् पुराणः पुरापि नवः कार्यात् पूर्वम् अपि वर्तमान इत्य् अर्थः । श्रुतिश् च -- आत्मैवेदम् अग्र आसीत् पुरुष- विध [ऐतु १.१.१] इति । अतएव जन्मान्तरास्तित्व-लक्षणं विकारं वारयति नित्यः सनातन-मूर्तिः । तथा पूर्ववन् मध्यमाकारत्वेऽपि पूर्ण इति वृद्धिम् । अजस्र-सुखो नित्यम् एव सुख-रूप इति परिणामम् । सुखस्य पुंस्त्वं छान्दसं विज्ञानम् आनन्दं ब्रह्म [बौ ३.९.२८] इत्य् अत्रानन्दस्य नपुंसकत्ववत् । तथा अक्षर इत्य् अपक्षयम् । अमृत इति विनाशम् । पूर्णत्वे हेतुः । अनन्त अद्वय इति देश-काल-परिच्छेद-रहितः । वस्तु-परिच्छेद-रहितोऽपि । अन्यस्य तच्-छक्तित्वात् तं विनानवस्थानात् । अत्रामृतत्वोपपादनाय चतुर्विध- क्रिया-फलत्वं च वारयति । तत्रोत्पत्तिर् आद्य इत्य् अनेनैव निराकृता । शिष्ट- त्रयं स्वयंज्योतिर् निरञ्जन उपाधितो मुक्त इति पद-त्रयेण । तत्र च प्राप्तिः क्रियया ज्ञानेन वा भवेत् । क्रियया प्राप्तिर् आत्म-पदेनैव निराकृता, सर्व-प्रत्यग्-रूपत्वात् । तथा ज्ञानतः प्राप्तिं वारयति । स्वयंज्योतिर् इति । तद् उक्तं ब्रह्माणं प्रति श्री-भगवता मनीषितानुभावोऽयं मम लोकावलोकनम् इति [भ्प् २.९.२२] । टीका च - एतच् च मत्-कृपयैव त्वया प्राप्तम् इत्य् आह । मनीषितम् इच्छा, तुभ्यं दातव्यम् इति या ममेच्छा तस्या अनुभावोऽयम् । कोऽसौ? तम् आह - मम लोकस्यावलोकनं यत् । इत्य् एषा । तद् उक्तम् - नित्याव्यक्तोऽपि भगवान् ईक्ष्यते निज-शक्तितः । इति ।[*एन्द्नोते #१६] ननु, श्री-भगवतोद्धवं प्रति वासुदेवो भगवताम् इत्य् आदिकं [भ्प् ११.१६.२९] विभूति-मध्ये गणयित्वा सर्वान्ते मनोविकारा एवैते [भ्प् ११.१६.४१] इत्य् उक्तम् । सत्यम् । तद्-गणनं प्राचुर्य-विवक्षया क्षत्रिणो गच्छन्तीतिवत् । तत्रैव हि - पृथिवी वायुर् आकाश आपो ज्योतिर् अहं महान् । विकारः पुरुषोऽव्यक्तं रजः सत्त्वं तमः परम् ॥ इत्य् अत्र [भ्प् ११.१६.३७] पर-शब्देन ब्रह्मापि तन्-मध्ये गणितम् अस्ति । तद् एवं प्राप्तिर् निषिद्धा । अथ विकृतिर् अपि तुषापाकरणेनावधातेन व्रीहीणाम् इवोपाध्यपाकरेणेन भवेत् । तच् चासङ्गत्वान् न सम्भवेद् इत्य् आह मुक्त उपाधित इति । तद् उक्तम् -विशुद्ध-ज्ञान-मूर्तये [भ्प् १०.२७.२१] विशुद्ध-विज्ञान-घनं [भ्प् १०.३७.२०] इत्य् आदौ च । तस्मान् मम निशित-शरैर् विभिद्यमान-त्वचि इत्यादिकं तु [भ्प् १.९.३४] मायिक-लीला-वर्णनम् एव । एवं वदन्ति राजर्षे ऋषयः केचनान्विताः । यत् स्व-वाचो विरुध्येत न नूनं ते समरन्त्य् अनु ॥ इत्य् आदि [भ्प् १०.७७.३०] न्यायेन वास्तवत्व-विरोधात् । तथा हि स्कान्दे - असङ्गश् चाव्ययोऽभेद्योऽनिग्राह्योऽशोष्य एव च । विद्धोऽसृग्-आचितो बद्ध इति विष्णुः प्रदृश्यते ॥ असुरान् मोहयन् देवः क्रीडत्य् एष सुरेष्व् अपि । मनुष्यान् मध्यया दृष्ट्या न मुक्तेषु कदाचन ॥ इति ॥ श्री-भीष्मस्य युद्ध-समये दैत्याविष्टत्वात् तथा भानं युक्तम् एवेति । किन्त्व् अधुना दुःस्वप्न-दुःखस्येव तस्य निवेदनं कृतम् इति ज्ञेयम् । संस्कारोऽपि किम् अतिशयाधानेन मलापाकारेण वा । तत्रातिशयाधानं पूर्णत्वेनैव निराकृतम् । मलापकरणं वारयति निरञ्जनः निर्मलः विशुद्ध-ज्ञान-मूर्तिर् इत्य् अर्थः ॥ १०.१४ ॥ श्री-ब्रह्मा ॥६०॥
[60] tad evaṃ siddhe bhagavatas tādṛśe vailakṣaṇye dṛśyatvāt ghaṭavad ity ādya- sad-anumānaṃ na sambhavati kālātyayopadiṣṭatvāt | tad etad abhipretya tasmin satyatā-puraskṛtaṃ ṣaḍ-bhāva-vikārādya-bhāvaṃ sthāpayan pūrṇa- svarūpatvam abhupagacchati | ekas tvam ātmā puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ satyaḥ svayaṃ jyotir ananta ādyaḥ | nityo'kṣaro'jasra-sukho nirañjanaḥ pūrṇo'dvayo mukta upādhito'mṛtaḥ || [BhP 10.14.20] naumīḍya te [BhP 10.14.1] ity ādinā stutyatvena pratijñā-rūpo'yam abhra- vapur-ādi-lakṣaṇatvam eka eva sarveṣām ātmā paramāśrayaḥ | tad uktam - eko'si prathamam iti [BhP 10.14.18] iti ca | kṛṣṇam enam avehi tvam ātmānam akhilātmanām iti ca [BhP 10.14.55] | yatas tvam ātmā tata eva satyaḥ | paramāśrayasya satyatām abalambyaivānyeṣāṃ satyatvāt tvayy eva satyatvasya mukhyā viśrāntir iti bhāvaḥ | tad uktam - satya-vrataṃ satya-param ity ādi [BhP 10.2.26] | satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ satyam atra pratiṣṭhitam | satyāt satyaṃ ca govindas tasmāt satyo hi nāmataḥ || ity udyama-parvaṇi [MBh 5.68.12] ca | na ca tvayi janmādayo vikārāḥ santīty āha ādyaḥ kāraṇam | eko'si prathamam ity ādau [BhP 10.14.18] tādṛśatva-dṛṣṭeḥ | ato na janma, kintu pratyakṣatvaṃ harer janma na vikāraḥ kathañcana iti pādma-rītikam eva | ataeva skānde -- avijñāya paraṃ deham ānandātmānam avyayam | āropayanti janimat pañca-bhūtātmakaṃ jaḍam || iti || ādyatve hetuḥ | puruṣaḥ puruṣākāra eva san purāṇaḥ purāpi navaḥ kāryāt pūrvam api vartamāna ity arthaḥ | śrutiś ca -- ātmaivedam agra āsīt puruṣa- vidha [AitU 1.1.1] iti | ataeva janmāntarāstitva-lakṣaṇaṃ vikāraṃ vārayati nityaḥ sanātana-mūrtiḥ | tathā pūrvavan madhyamākāratve'pi pūrṇa iti vṛddhim | ajasra-sukho nityam eva sukha-rūpa iti pariṇāmam | sukhasya puṃstvaṃ chāndasaṃ vijñānam ānandaṃ brahma [BAU 3.9.28] ity atrānandasya napuṃsakatvavat | tathā akṣara ity apakṣayam | amṛta iti vināśam | pūrṇatve hetuḥ | ananta advaya iti deśa-kāla-pariccheda-rahitaḥ | vastu-pariccheda-rahito'pi | anyasya tac-chaktitvāt taṃ vinānavasthānāt | atrāmṛtatvopapādanāya caturvidha- kriyā-phalatvaṃ ca vārayati | tatrotpattir ādya ity anenaiva nirākṛtā | śiṣṭa- trayaṃ svayaṃjyotir nirañjana upādhito mukta iti pada-trayeṇa | tatra ca prāptiḥ kriyayā jñānena vā bhavet | kriyayā prāptir ātma-padenaiva nirākṛtā, sarva-pratyag-rūpatvāt | tathā jñānataḥ prāptiṃ vārayati | svayaṃjyotir iti | tad uktaṃ brahmāṇaṃ prati śrī-bhagavatā manīṣitānubhāvo'yaṃ mama lokāvalokanam iti [BhP 2.9.22] | ṭīkā ca - etac ca mat-kṛpayaiva tvayā prāptam ity āha | manīṣitam icchā, tubhyaṃ dātavyam iti yā mamecchā tasyā anubhāvo'yam | ko'sau? tam āha - mama lokasyāvalokanaṃ yat | ity eṣā | tad uktam - nityāvyakto'pi bhagavān īkṣyate nija-śaktitaḥ | iti |[*ENDNOTE #16] nanu, śrī-bhagavatoddhavaṃ prati vāsudevo bhagavatām ity ādikaṃ [BhP 11.16.29] vibhūti-madhye gaṇayitvā sarvānte manovikārā evaite [BhP 11.16.41] ity uktam | satyam | tad-gaṇanaṃ prācurya-vivakṣayā kṣatriṇo gacchantītivat | tatraiva hi - pṛthivī vāyur ākāśa āpo jyotir ahaṃ mahān | vikāraḥ puruṣo'vyaktaṃ rajaḥ sattvaṃ tamaḥ param || ity atra [BhP 11.16.37] para-śabdena brahmāpi tan-madhye gaṇitam asti | tad evaṃ prāptir niṣiddhā | atha vikṛtir api tuṣāpākaraṇenāvadhātena vrīhīṇām ivopādhyapākareṇena bhavet | tac cāsaṅgatvān na sambhaved ity āha mukta upādhita iti | tad uktam -viśuddha-jñāna-mūrtaye [BhP 10.27.21] viśuddha-vijñāna-ghanaṃ [BhP 10.37.20] ity ādau ca | tasmān mama niśita-śarair vibhidyamāna-tvaci ityādikaṃ tu [BhP 1.9.34] māyika-līlā-varṇanam eva | evaṃ vadanti rājarṣe ṛṣayaḥ kecanānvitāḥ | yat sva-vāco virudhyeta na nūnaṃ te samaranty anu || ity ādi [BhP 10.77.30] nyāyena vāstavatva-virodhāt | tathā hi skānde - asaṅgaś cāvyayo'bhedyo'nigrāhyo'śoṣya eva ca | viddho'sṛg-ācito baddha iti viṣṇuḥ pradṛśyate || asurān mohayan devaḥ krīḍaty eṣa sureṣv api | manuṣyān madhyayā dṛṣṭyā na mukteṣu kadācana || iti || śrī-bhīṣmasya yuddha-samaye daityāviṣṭatvāt tathā bhānaṃ yuktam eveti | kintv adhunā duḥsvapna-duḥkhasyeva tasya nivedanaṃ kṛtam iti jñeyam | saṃskāro'pi kim atiśayādhānena malāpākāreṇa vā | tatrātiśayādhānaṃ pūrṇatvenaiva nirākṛtam | malāpakaraṇaṃ vārayati nirañjanaḥ nirmalaḥ viśuddha-jñāna-mūrtir ity arthaḥ || 10.14 || śrī-brahmā ||60||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 53
Anuccheda 53
1 If even the empowered incarnation Rsabhadeva had a spiritual body, then certainly the form of the Supreme Personality of godhead, Lord Krsna, is also transcendental and not at all material. The supremely exalted position of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, is described in the following statement of Bhismadeva to Lord Krsna Srimad Bhagavatam (1.9.41): “At the Rajasuya-yajna (sacrifice) performed by Maharaja Yudhisthira, there was the greastest assembly of all the elite men of the world, the royal and learned orders, and in that great assembly Lord Sri Krsna was worshipped by one and all as the most exalted Personality of Godhead. This happened during my presence, and I remembered the incident in order to keep my mind upon the Lord.”* 2 Sridhara Svami comments: “In this verse Bhismadeva says: ‘Lord Krsna, who is the soul (atma) of all the universes, was personally present (avih) before my eyes (mama drsi gocarah). How fortunate I am.’”
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §61 · English §54
Source[६१] तद् एवं पूर्वं तद्-ऐश्वर्यादीनां स्वरूप-भूतत्वं साधितं तच् च तेषां स्वरूपान्तरङ्ग-धर्मत्वाद् युक्तम् । यथा ज्योतिर् अन्तरङ्ग-धर्मानां तदीय-शुक्लादि-गुणानां ज्योतिर्-भूतत्वम् एव, न तम आदिरूपत्वं तद्वत् । अथ श्री-विग्रहस्य पूर्ण-स्वरूप-लक्षणत्वं तद्वत् । अथ श्री-विग्रहस्य पूर्ण-स्वरूप-लक्षणत्वं साधितं, तच् च युक्तम्, सर्व-शक्ति-युक्त-परम- वस्त्व्-एक-रूपत्वात् तस्य । तत्र यो निजान्तरङ्ग-नित्य-धर्मः श्री- विग्रहतागमस् तत् तत् संस्थान-लक्षणस् तद् विशिष्टं परमानन्द- लक्षणं वस्त्व् एव श्री-विग्रहः । स एव चान्तरङ्ग-धर्मान्तराणां, ऐश्वर्यादीनाम् अपि नित्याश्रयत्वात् स्वयं भगवान्, यथा शुद्ध-खण्ड- लड्डुकम् । यतो यथा लड्डुकतागमक-संस्थान-विशिष्ट-खण्डम् एव लड्डुकं तद् एव खण्ड-स्वाभाविक-सौगन्ध्यादिमच् चेति लोकैः प्रतीयते प्रयुज्यते च तथा रूपं यद् एतत् [भ्प् ३.९.२] इत्य् आदिषु परं तत्त्वम् एव श्री- विग्रहः स एव च भगवान् इति विद्वद्भिः प्रतीयते प्रयुज्यते चैवेति । तद् एवं श्री-विग्रहस्य पूर्ण-स्वरूपत्वं साधयित्वा, तो-पोषणार्थं प्रकरणान्तरम् आरभ्यते । यावत् पार्षद-निरूपणम् । तत्र परिच्छदानां तत्-स्वरूप-भूतत्वे तद्-अङ्ग-सहिततयैवाविर्भाव-दर्शन-रूपं लिङ्गम् आह द्वयेन -- तम् अद्भुतं बालकम् अम्बुजेक्षणं चतुर्-भुजं शङ्ख-गदाद्य्-उदायुधम् । इत्य् आदि ॥ [भ्प् १०.३.९] स्पष्टम् ॥ १०.३ । श्री-शुकः ॥६१॥
[61] tad evaṃ pūrvaṃ tad-aiśvaryādīnāṃ svarūpa-bhūtatvaṃ sādhitaṃ tac ca teṣāṃ svarūpāntaraṅga-dharmatvād yuktam | yathā jyotir antaraṅga-dharmānāṃ tadīya-śuklādi-guṇānāṃ jyotir-bhūtatvam eva, na tama ādirūpatvaṃ tadvat | atha śrī-vigrahasya pūrṇa-svarūpa-lakṣaṇatvaṃ tadvat | atha śrī-vigrahasya pūrṇa-svarūpa-lakṣaṇatvaṃ sādhitaṃ, tac ca yuktam, sarva-śakti-yukta-parama- vastv-eka-rūpatvāt tasya | tatra yo nijāntaraṅga-nitya-dharmaḥ śrī- vigrahatāgamas tat tat saṃsthāna-lakṣaṇas tad viśiṣṭaṃ paramānanda- lakṣaṇaṃ vastv eva śrī-vigrahaḥ | sa eva cāntaraṅga-dharmāntarāṇāṃ, aiśvaryādīnām api nityāśrayatvāt svayaṃ bhagavān, yathā śuddha-khaṇḍa- laḍḍukam | yato yathā laḍḍukatāgamaka-saṃsthāna-viśiṣṭa-khaṇḍam eva laḍḍukaṃ tad eva khaṇḍa-svābhāvika-saugandhyādimac ceti lokaiḥ pratīyate prayujyate ca tathā rūpaṃ yad etat [BhP 3.9.2] ity ādiṣu paraṃ tattvam eva śrī- vigrahaḥ sa eva ca bhagavān iti vidvadbhiḥ pratīyate prayujyate caiveti | tad evaṃ śrī-vigrahasya pūrṇa-svarūpatvaṃ sādhayitvā, to-poṣaṇārthaṃ prakaraṇāntaram ārabhyate | yāvat pārṣada-nirūpaṇam | tatra paricchadānāṃ tat-svarūpa-bhūtatve tad-aṅga-sahitatayaivāvirbhāva-darśana-rūpaṃ liṅgam āha dvayena -- tam adbhutaṃ bālakam ambujekṣaṇaṃ catur-bhujaṃ śaṅkha-gadādy-udāyudham | ity ādi || [BhP 10.3.9] spaṣṭam || 10.3 | śrī-śukaḥ ||61||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 54
Anuccheda 54
1 The exalted position of Sri Krsna, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, is also described in the following prayer spoken by Devaki-devi to Lord Krsna (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.24): “My dear Lord, there are different Vedas, some which describe You as unperceivable through words and the mind. Yet You are the origin of the entire cosmic manifestation. You are Brahman, the greatest of everything, full of effulgence like the sun. You have no material cause, You are free from change and deviation, and You have no material desires. Thus the Vedas say that You are the substance. Therefore, my Lord, You are directly the origin of all Vedic statements, and by understanding You, one gradually understands everything. You are different from the light of Brahman and Paramatma, yet You are not different from them. Everything emanates from You. Indeed, You are the cause of all causes, Lord Visnu, the light of all transcendental knowledge.”* 2 In this verse Devaki-devi says: ‘O Lord, the various Vedic literatures describe (prahuh) Your transcendental nature (rupam).’ What is this nature of the Lord? Devaki says: ‘O Lord, You are not perceivable to the words, mind and senses (avyaktam).’ Although the Lord cannot be perceived in these ways, nevertheless Devaki says: ‘You are Lord Visnu, the Supreme, and You are now directly present before my eyes (saksat tvam visnuh).” 3 That the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be seen by the devotees is described in the Padma Purana, Nirmana-khanda, where Veda-vyasa prays to Lord Krsna: “O Lord Madhusudana, the best of Vedic literatures proclaim that You are the eternally transcendental Supreme Brahman, the creator and master of all universes. O Lord, I wish to see You with my own eyes. Please grant me the power to see You.” 4 In this verse Devaki addresses Lord Krsna as ‘adhyatma-dipah’ (the light of all transcendental knowledge). This means that Sri Krsna illuminates the truth about all causes and effects and about the real nature of all the living entities encased in various material bodies. Because Sri Krsna is thus adhyatma-dipa, there is no need for Devaki to fear that King Kamsa may harm Him, and this truth is clearly corroborated by Sridhara Svami in his commentary.
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §62 · English §55
Source[६२] एवम् अभिप्रायेणैवेदम् आह - यथैकात्म्यानुभावानां विकल्प-रहितः स्वयम् । भूषणायुध-लिङ्गाख्या धत्ते शक्तीः स्व-मायया ॥ तेनैव सत्य-मानेन सर्व-ज्ञो भगवान् हरिः । पातु सर्वैः स्वरूपैर् नः सदा सर्वत्र सर्व-गः ॥ [भ्प् ६.८.३२-३३] ऐकास्म्यानुभावानां केवल-परम-स्वरूप-दृष्टि-पराणां विकल्प-रहितः परमानन्दैक-रस-परम-स्वरूपतया स्फुरन्न् अपि, यथा येन प्रकारेण, स्वेषु स्व-स्वामितया भजत्स्य् या मया कृपा तया हेतुना । स्वयं विचित्र-शक्ति-मयेन स्वरूपेणैव कारण-भूतेन भूषणाद्य्-आख्याः शक्तीः शक्ति-मयाविर्भावात् धत्ते गोचरयति । तेनैव विद्वद्-अनुभव-लक्षणेन सत्य-प्रमाणेन । तेनैव विद्वद्-अनुभव-लक्षणेन सत्य-प्रमाणेन तद् यदि सत्यं स्यात् तदेत्य् अर्थः । तैर् एव भूषणादि-लक्षणैः सर्वः स्वरूपैर् विचित्र-स्वरूपाविर्भावैर् नः पातु । अतएव श्री-विष्णु-धर्मे बलि-कृत-चक्र- स्तवे यस्य रूपम् अनिर्देश्यम् अपि योगिभिर् उत्तमैर् इत्य् आदि । तद्-अनन्तरं च - भ्रमतस् तस्य चक्रस्य नाभि-मध्ये मही-पते । त्रैलोक्यम् अखिलं दैत्यो दृष्टवान् भूर् भुवादिकम् ॥ इति ॥ तद् एवम् एव नवमे श्रीमद्-अम्बरीषेणापि चक्रम् इदं स्तुतम् अस्ति । लिङ्गानि गरुडाकार-ध्वजादीनि । अनेन यत् क्वचिद् आकस्मिकत्वम् इव श्रूयते । तद् अपि श्री-भगवद्-आविर्भाववज्-ज्ञेयम् । अत्र तृतीये चैत्यस्य तत्त्वम् अमलं मणिम् अस्य कण्ठे इत्य् [भ्प् ३.२८.२८] अपि सहायम् । अतो द्वादशेऽपि कौस्तुभ- व्यपदेशेन स्वात्म-ज्योतिर् विभर्त्य् अजः इत्य् [भ्प् १२.११.१०] आदिकं विराड् गतत्वेनोपासनार्थम् अभेद-दृष्ट्या दर्शितम् एव यथा-सम्भवं साक्षाच् छ्रीविग्रहत्वेनाप्य् अनुसन्धेयम् । तथा हि विष्णु-पुराणे -- आत्मानम् अस्य जगतो निर्लेपम् अगुणामलम् । बिभर्ति कौस्तुभ-मणि-स्वरूपं भगवान् हरिर् ॥ इति [विप् १.२२.६८] ॥ ॥ ६.८ ॥ विश्व-रूपो महेन्द्रम् ॥६२॥
[62] evam abhiprāyeṇaivedam āha - yathaikātmyānubhāvānāṃ vikalpa-rahitaḥ svayam | bhūṣaṇāyudha-liṅgākhyā dhatte śaktīḥ sva-māyayā || tenaiva satya-mānena sarva-jño bhagavān hariḥ | pātu sarvaiḥ svarūpair naḥ sadā sarvatra sarva-gaḥ || [BhP 6.8.32-33] aikāsmyānubhāvānāṃ kevala-parama-svarūpa-dṛṣṭi-parāṇāṃ vikalpa-rahitaḥ paramānandaika-rasa-parama-svarūpatayā sphurann api, yathā yena prakāreṇa, sveṣu sva-svāmitayā bhajatsy yā mayā kṛpā tayā hetunā | svayaṃ vicitra-śakti-mayena svarūpeṇaiva kāraṇa-bhūtena bhūṣaṇādy-ākhyāḥ śaktīḥ śakti-mayāvirbhāvāt dhatte gocarayati | tenaiva vidvad-anubhava-lakṣaṇena satya-pramāṇena | tenaiva vidvad-anubhava-lakṣaṇena satya-pramāṇena tad yadi satyaṃ syāt tadety arthaḥ | tair eva bhūṣaṇādi-lakṣaṇaiḥ sarvaḥ svarūpair vicitra-svarūpāvirbhāvair naḥ pātu | ataeva śrī-viṣṇu-dharme bali-kṛta-cakra- stave yasya rūpam anirdeśyam api yogibhir uttamair ity ādi | tad-anantaraṃ ca - bhramatas tasya cakrasya nābhi-madhye mahī-pate | trailokyam akhilaṃ daityo dṛṣṭavān bhūr bhuvādikam || iti || tad evam eva navame śrīmad-ambarīṣeṇāpi cakram idaṃ stutam asti | liṅgāni garuḍākāra-dhvajādīni | anena yat kvacid ākasmikatvam iva śrūyate | tad api śrī-bhagavad-āvirbhāvavaj-jñeyam | atra tṛtīye caityasya tattvam amalaṃ maṇim asya kaṇṭhe ity [BhP 3.28.28] api sahāyam | ato dvādaśe'pi kaustubha- vyapadeśena svātma-jyotir vibharty ajaḥ ity [BhP 12.11.10] ādikaṃ virāḍ gatatvenopāsanārtham abheda-dṛṣṭyā darśitam eva yathā-sambhavaṃ sākṣāc chrīvigrahatvenāpy anusandheyam | tathā hi viṣṇu-purāṇe -- ātmānam asya jagato nirlepam aguṇāmalam | bibharti kaustubha-maṇi-svarūpaṃ bhagavān harir || iti [ViP 1.22.68] || || 6.8 || viśva-rūpo mahendram ||62||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 55
Anuccheda 55
1 The forms of the plenary expansions of Lord Krsna are also spiritual and transcendental. This is confirmed by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.54): “The visnu-murtis all had eternal, unlimited forms, full of knowledge and bliss and existing beyond the influence of time. Their great glory was not even to be touched by the jnanis engaged in studying the Upanisads.”* 2 Sridhara Svami comments: “In this verse the forms of the plenary expansions of Lord Krsna are described as being identical in their transcendental features. The word ‘eka-rasah’ here may be interpreted to mean either ‘always the same’, or ‘always eternal (satya), full of knowledge (jnana), unlimited (ananta), and full of bliss (ananda).’ The glory of these transcendental forms was not even to be touched (asprsta-bhuri-mahatmyah) by the jnanis engaged in studying the Upanisads (upanisad-drsam).” 3 In this verse the word ‘matra’ should be interpreted to mean that the various Visnu expansions described in this verse had the same external features and the same internal identity, for they were all Lord Visnu. This word should not be interpreted to mean that the various expansions were actually the impersonal featureless Brahman. Such a laboured and inappropriate interpretation clearly contradicts the statements of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami in the Bhagavatam and Srila Sridhara Svami in his commentary on the Bhagavatam. This impersonal interpretation is also refuted by the fourth line of this stanza, which states: “The great glory of these transcendental forms was not even to be touched by the impersonalist jnanis engaged in studying the Upanisads’ (asprsta-bhuri-mahatmya appi hy upanisad-drsam). Srila Sukadeva Gosvami refutes this impersonal interpretation by describing the transcendental reality of the Supreme Lord’s form in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.38): “The sages, headed by Sanaka Rsi, saw that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who was formerly visible only within their hearts in ecstatic trance, had now actually become visible to their eyes. As He came forward, accompanied by His own associates bearing all paraphernalia, such as an umbrella and a camara fan, the white bunches of hair moved very gently, like two swans, and due to their favourable breeze the pearls garlanding the umbrella also moved, like drops of nectar falling from the white full moon or ice melting due to a gust of wind.”* The impersonal interpretation of the word ‘matram’ in this verse (10.13.54) cannot be accepted because Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, the speaker of Srimad Bhagavatam was not am impersonalist, but a great devotee of the Lord. That Sukadeva Gosvami was not an impersonalist, and that Srimad Bhagavatam does not represent the impersonalist view is confirmed by the following statement of Srimad Bhagavatam (12.12.69): “Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the son of Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami. It is he who defeats all inauspicious things within this universe. Although in the beginning he was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realisation and was living in a secluded place, giving up all other types of consciousness, he became attracted by the most melodious pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna. He therefore mercifully spoke the supreme Purana, known as Srimad Bhagavatam , which is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the activities of Lord Krsna.”* 4 That the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are spiritual, eternal, and full of bliss and knowledge and not simply illusory representations of an impersonal reality, is also confirmed by the following statements of Srimad Bhagavatam: “The form of the Supreme Lord is full of supremely pure transcendental knowledge.” 10.37.22 “I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose transcendental form is full of the purest knowledge.” 10.27.11 “O Lord, Your transcendental form is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge.” 10.14.22 These statements of the Bhagavatam should be taken literally. No one should try to change their obvious meaning by word jugglery and try to make them mean something other than what they clearly say. 5 That the form of the Personality of Godhead is full of all transcendental bliss is also confirmed by the following statements of Srimad Bhagavatam: “When the ladies of Mathura saw the blissful forms of Krsna and Balarama with their eyes, they took them within their hearts and began to embrace Them to their fullest desire.”* 10.41.28 “Kubja then took Krsna’s lotus feet and placed them on her breasts, which were burning with the blazing fire of lust. By smelling the fragrance of Krsna’s lotus feet, she immediately became relieved of all lusty desires. She was thus allowed to embrace Krsna, whose transcendental form is full of bliss. She was allowed to embrace Krsna with her two arms and thus mitigate her long cherished desire to have Krsna as a visitor in her house.”* 10.48.7 6 That the forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are all full of knowledge and bliss is also confirmed by the Maha-Varaha Purana: “The transcendental forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are eternal and imperishable. They were not created at a certain point, and they are never to be destroyed. They are not products of the material energy. 7 “All the forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are completely filled with transcendental bliss, knowledge, and all auspicious qualities. These spiritual forms of the Lord are free from all material defects.”
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §63 · English §56
Source[६३] अथ श्री-वैकुण्ठ-लोकस्यापि तादृशत्वं तस्मै स्व-लोकं भगवान् सभाजितः इत्य् अत्र [भ्प् २.९.९][*एन्द्नोते #१७] साधितम् एव । पुनर् अपि दुर्धियां प्रतीत्य्-अर्थं साध्यते । यतः स कर्मादिभिर् न प्राप्यते प्रपञ्चितातीतत्वेन श्रूयते, तं लब्धवताम् अस्खलन-गुण-सात्म्येन स्तूयते नैर्गुण्यावस्थायाम् एव लभ्यते । लौकिक-भगवन्निके तस्यापि तद्- आवेशात् । नैर्गुण्यम् अतिदिश्यत इत्य् अतः स तु तद्-रूपतया सुतराम् एव गम्यते । साक्षाद् एव प्रकृतेः परतनः श्रूयते नित्यतयोद्घोष्यते मोक्ष- सुखम् अपि तिरस्कुर्वन्त्या भक्त्यैव लभ्यते सच्चिदानन्द- घनत्वेनाभिधीयत इति । तत्र कर्मादिभिर् अप्राप्यत्वम् । यथा - देवानाम् एक आसीत् स्वर्-भूतानां च भुवः पदम् । मर्त्यादीनां च भूर्लोकः सिद्धानां त्रितयात् परम् ॥ अधोऽसुराणां नागानां भूमेर् एकोऽसृजत प्रभुः । त्रिलोक्यां गतयः सर्वाः कर्मणां त्रिगुणात्मनाम् ॥ योगस्य तपसश् चैव न्यासस्य गतयोऽमलाः । महर्-जनस्-तपः-सत्यं भक्ति-योगस्य मद्-गतिः ॥ [भ्प् ११.२४.१२-१४] सिद्धानां योगादिभिः त्रितयात् परं महर्-लोकादि । भूमेर् अधश् चातलादि । त्रिलोक्यां पातालादिक-भूर्-भुवः-स्वश् चेति । कर्मणां गार्हस्थ्य- धर्माणां तपो वानप्रस्थेन ब्रह्मचर्यं च । तत्र ब्रह्मचर्येणोपकुर्वाण-नैष्ठिक-भेदेन क्रमान् महर्-जनश् च वानस्थेन तपः न्यासेन सत्यं योग-तारतम्येन तु सर्वम् इति ज्ञेयम् । मद्-गतिः श्री-वैकुण्ठ-लोकः भक्ति-योग-प्राप्यत्वेन वक्ष्यमाणः यन् न व्रजन्ति [भ्प् ३.१५.२३] इत्य् आदि-वाक्य-साहाय्यात् लोक-प्रकरणाच् च । उक्तं च तृतीये देवान् प्रति ब्रह्मणैव तत्[*एन्द्नोते #१८] सङ्कुलं हरि-पदान् अतिमात्र-दृष्टैर् इत्य् आदि [भ्प् ३.१५.२०] । टीका च - तावन् मात्रेण दृष्टैः भक्तानां विमानैः न तु कर्मादि-प्राप्यैः । इत्य् एषा । एवम् एव श्रुतिश् च परीक्ष्य लोकान् कर्म-चितान् ब्राह्मणो निर्वेदम् आयान् नास्त्यकृतः कृतेन[*एन्द्नोते #१९] [मुण्डु १.२.१२] इति । अत्राप्य् अकृत इत्य् अस्य विशेष्यं... लोक इत्य् एव, तत्-प्रसक्तेः । ईश्वरः सर्व-भूतानाम् इत्य् आदौ [गीता १८.६१] - तम् एव शरणं गच्छ सर्व-भावेन भारत । तत्-प्रसादात् परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥ इति [गीता १८.६२] श्री- भगवद्-उपनिषत्सु । ॥ ११.१४ ॥ श्री-भगवान् ॥६३॥
[63] atha śrī-vaikuṇṭha-lokasyāpi tādṛśatvaṃ tasmai sva-lokaṃ bhagavān sabhājitaḥ ity atra [BhP 2.9.9][*ENDNOTE #17] sādhitam eva | punar api durdhiyāṃ pratīty-arthaṃ sādhyate | yataḥ sa karmādibhir na prāpyate prapañcitātītatvena śrūyate, taṃ labdhavatām askhalana-guṇa-sātmyena stūyate nairguṇyāvasthāyām eva labhyate | laukika-bhagavannike tasyāpi tad- āveśāt | nairguṇyam atidiśyata ity ataḥ sa tu tad-rūpatayā sutarām eva gamyate | sākṣād eva prakṛteḥ paratanaḥ śrūyate nityatayodghoṣyate mokṣa- sukham api tiraskurvantyā bhaktyaiva labhyate saccidānanda- ghanatvenābhidhīyata iti | tatra karmādibhir aprāpyatvam | yathā - devānām eka āsīt svar-bhūtānāṃ ca bhuvaḥ padam | martyādīnāṃ ca bhūrlokaḥ siddhānāṃ tritayāt param || adho'surāṇāṃ nāgānāṃ bhūmer eko'sṛjata prabhuḥ | trilokyāṃ gatayaḥ sarvāḥ karmaṇāṃ triguṇātmanām || yogasya tapasaś caiva nyāsasya gatayo'malāḥ | mahar-janas-tapaḥ-satyaṃ bhakti-yogasya mad-gatiḥ || [BhP 11.24.12-14] siddhānāṃ yogādibhiḥ tritayāt paraṃ mahar-lokādi | bhūmer adhaś cātalādi | trilokyāṃ pātālādika-bhūr-bhuvaḥ-svaś ceti | karmaṇāṃ gārhasthya- dharmāṇāṃ tapo vānaprasthena brahmacaryaṃ ca | tatra brahmacaryeṇopakurvāṇa-naiṣṭhika-bhedena kramān mahar-janaś ca vānasthena tapaḥ nyāsena satyaṃ yoga-tāratamyena tu sarvam iti jñeyam | mad-gatiḥ śrī-vaikuṇṭha-lokaḥ bhakti-yoga-prāpyatvena vakṣyamāṇaḥ yan na vrajanti [BhP 3.15.23] ity ādi-vākya-sāhāyyāt loka-prakaraṇāc ca | uktaṃ ca tṛtīye devān prati brahmaṇaiva tat[*ENDNOTE #18] saṅkulaṃ hari-padān atimātra-dṛṣṭair ity ādi [BhP 3.15.20] | ṭīkā ca - tāvan mātreṇa dṛṣṭaiḥ bhaktānāṃ vimānaiḥ na tu karmādi-prāpyaiḥ | ity eṣā | evam eva śrutiś ca parīkṣya lokān karma-citān brāhmaṇo nirvedam āyān nāstyakṛtaḥ kṛtena[*ENDNOTE #19] [MuṇḍU 1.2.12] iti | atrāpy akṛta ity asya viśeṣyaṃ... loka ity eva, tat-prasakteḥ | īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām ity ādau [Gītā 18.61] - tam eva śaraṇaṃ gaccha sarva-bhāvena bhārata | tat-prasādāt parāṃ śāntiṃ sthānaṃ prāpsyasi śāśvatam || iti [Gītā 18.62] śrī- bhagavad-upaniṣatsu | || 11.14 || śrī-bhagavān ||63||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 56
Anuccheda 56
1 This spiritual nature of Lord Krsna’s form is also affirmed by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.55): “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.”* 2 Lord Brahma describes Sri Krsna’s transcendental form in these words (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.1): “My dear Lord, You are the only worshipful Supreme Lord, Personality of Godhead; therefore I am offering my humble obeisances and prayers just to please You. Your bodily features are of the colour of clouds filled with water. You are glittering with silver electric flashes emanating from Your yellow garments. Let me offer my respectful repeated obeisances unto the son of Maharaja Nanda who is standing before me with conchshell earrings and peacock feather on His head. His face is beautiful; He is wearing a helmet, garlanded by forest flowers, and He stands with a morsel of food in His hand. He is decorated with cane, flute and a bugle made of buffalo horn. He stands before me with small lotus feet.”* 3 In this verse (quoted in text 1) Srila Sukadeva Gosvami says: “Try to become learned in spiritual science and try to understand this transcendental form of Sri Krsna (avehi). Do not try to understand Sri Krsna using material logic or any tool other than devotional service. For the benefit of the whole universe (jagad-dhitaya, and in order to attract the minds of all conditioned souls to His own transcendental form, He has out of His causeless mercy (mayaya), appeared as an ordinary human being (dehivabhati) and performed His own transcendental pastimes.” We may note the use of the word ‘iva’ (like), which indicates a difference between the nature of Lord Krsna’s having a form and the conditioned soul’s having a form. The difference is that the Supreme, Lord Krsna, does not accept an external material body as the conditioned soul does. 4 That the sight of the Supreme Lord’s transcendental form grants the supreme benediction to the devotee is confirmed by Dhruva Maharaja (Srimad Bhagavatam 49.17): “My Lord, O Supreme Lord, You are the supreme personified form of all benediction. Therefore, for one who abides in Your devotional service with no other desire, worshipping Your lotus feet is better than becoming king and lording it over a kingdom. That is the benediction of worshipping Your lotus feet.”* 5 Srila Sridhara Svami comments: “This verse should be understood to mean ‘My Lord, O Supreme Lord (bhagavan), You are the blissful, supreme personified form of all benediction (purusartha-murteh). Your lotus feet (tava pada-padmam) are a more valuable benediction (satyasih), than the benediction (asisah) of becoming king and lording it over a kingdom.’ One may ask: ‘for whom is this benediction available?’ The answer is given ‘This supreme benediction is available to one who abides in Your devotional service with no other desire, worshipping Your lotus feet. (Anubhajatah).’”
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §64–65 · English §57
Source[६४] प्रपञ्चातीतत्वम् -- स्व-धर्म-निष्ठः शत-जन्मभिः पुमान् विरिञ्चताम् एति ततः परं हि माम् । अव्याकृतं भागवतो ऽथ वैष्णवं पदं यथाहं विबुधाः कलात्यये ॥ [भ्प् ४.१४.३९] ततो,पि पुण्यातिशयेन माम् एति भागवतस् तु अथ देहान्ते अव्याकृतं, नाम- रूपे व्याकरवाणीति श्रुति-प्रसिद्ध-व्याकरणाविषयं प्रपञ्चातीतं वैष्णवं पदं वैकुण्ठम् एति । यथाहं रुद्रो भूत्वाधिकारिकतया वर्तमानः विबुधा देवाश् चाधिकारिकाः कलात्यये अधिकारान्ते लिङ्ग- भङ्गे सत्य् एष्यन्तीति यावद् अधिकारम् अवस्थितिर् आधिकारिकाणाम् इति न्यायेन ॥ ॥ ४.२४ ॥ श्री-रुद्रः प्रचेतसम् ॥६४॥ [६५] ततोऽस्खलनम् । अथो विभूतिं मम मायाविनस् ताम् ऐश्वर्यम् अष्टाङ्गम् अनुप्रवृत्तम् । श्रियं भागवतीं वास्पृहयन्ति भद्रां परस्य मे ते ऽश्नुवते तु लोके ॥ न कर्हिचिन् मत्-पराः शान्त-रूपे नङ्क्ष्यन्ति नो मे ऽनिमिषो लेढि हेतिः । येषाम् अहं प्रिय आत्मा सुतश् च सखा गुरुः सुहृदो दैवम् इष्टम् ॥ [भ्प् ३.२५.३६-३७] अथोऽविद्या-निवृत्त्य्-अनन्तरं मम मायया भक्त-विषयक-कृपयाचितां तद्- अर्थं प्रकटितां विभूतिं भोग-सम्पत्तिम् । तथा भागवतीं श्रियं साक्षाद्-भगवत्-सम्बन्धिनीं सार्ष्टि-संज्ञां सम्पत्तिम् अपि अस्पृहयन्ति, भक्ति-सुख-मात्राभिलाषेण यद्य् अपि तेभ्यो न स्पृहयन्तीत्य् अर्थः । तथापि तु मे मम लोके वैकुण्ठाख्ये अश्नुवते प्राप्नुवन्त्य् एवेति स्व-वात्सल- विशेषो दर्शितः । यथा सुदाम-मालाकार-वरे, सोऽपि वव्रेऽचलां भक्तिं तस्मिन्न् एवाखिलात्मनि । तद्-भक्तेषु च सौहार्दं भूतेषु च दयां पराम् । इति तस्मै वरान् दत्त्वा श्रियश् चान्वय-वर्धिनीम् ॥ इति [भ्प् १०.४१.५२] अतस् तेषां तत्रानासक्तिश् च द्योतिता । अविद्यानन्तरम् इति मम कृपयाचिताम् इति च तेषाम् अनर्थ-रूपत्वं खण्डितम् । किं वा माययाचितां ब्रह्म- लोकादि-गतां सम्पत्तिम् अपीति तेषां सर्व-वशीकारित्वम् एव दर्शितं, न तु तद्-भोगः । तस्यातितुच्छत्वेन तेष्व् अनर्हत्वात् । श्रुतिश् चात्र तद् यथेह कर्म-जितो लोकः क्षीयते एवम् एवामुत्र पुण्य-जितो लोकः क्षीयते [छाउ ८.१.६] इत्य् अनन्तरं अथ य इहात्मानमनुविद्य व्रजन्त्य् एतांश् च सत्य- कामांस् तेषां सर्वेषु लोकेषु कामचारो भवति इति । नन्व् एवं तर्हि लोकत्वाविशेषात् स्वर्गादिवत् भोक्तृ-भोग्यानां कदाचिद् विनाशः स्यात् । तत्राह - शान्त-रूपे शान्तम् अविकृतं रूपं यस्य तस्मिन् वैकुण्ठे मत्-परास् तद्-वासिनो लोकाः कदाचिद् अपि न नङ्क्ष्यन्ति भोग्य- हीना न भवन्ति । अनिमिषो मे हेतिः मदीयं काल-चक्रं नो लेढि, तान् न ग्रसते । न स पुनर् आवर्तते इति श्रुतेः [छाउ ८.१५.१] । आब्रह्म-भुवनाल् लोकाः पुनर् आवर्तिनो ऽर्जुन । माम् उपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर् जन्म न विद्यते ॥ [गीता ८.१६] इति श्री-गीतोपनिषद्भ्यः । सहस्र-नाम-भाष्येऽप्य् उक्तम् - परम् उत्कृष्टम् अयनं स्थानं पुनर् आवृत्ति-शङ्का-रहितम् इति परायणः । पुंलिङ्ग-पक्षे बहु-व्रीहिर् इति । न केवलम् एतावत् तेषां माहात्म्यम् इत्य् आह येषाम् इति । येषां मां विना न कश्चिद् अपरः प्रेम-भाजनम् अस्तीत्य् अर्थः । यद् वा - गोलोकादिकम् अपेक्ष्यैवम् उक्तम् । तत्र हि तथाभावा एवं श्री-गोपा नित्या विद्यन्ते । अथवा तं लोकं कीदृग्-भावा अविद्यानन्तरं प्राप्नुवन्तीति । तत्राह येषाम् इति । ये केचित् पाद्मोत्तर-खण्डे दर्शित-मुनि-गण-सवासनाः आत्मा ब्रह्मैवायं साक्षाद् इति मां भावयन्ति, एवम् अन्ये च ये ये, त एव प्रापुन्वन्तीत्य् अर्थः । सुहृद इति बहुत्वं सौदृदस्य नाना-भेदापेक्षया । एवं चतुर्थे श्री-नारद-वाक्ये - शान्ताः सम-दृशः शुद्धाः सर्व-भूतानुरञ्जनाः । यान्त्य् अञ्जसाच्युत-पदम् अच्युत-प्रिय-बान्धवाः ॥ इति [भ्प् ४.१२.३७] ॥ ॥ ३.२५ ॥ श्री-कपिलः ॥६५॥
[64] prapañcātītatvam -- sva-dharma-niṣṭhaḥ śata-janmabhiḥ pumān viriñcatām eti tataḥ paraṃ hi mām | avyākṛtaṃ bhāgavato 'tha vaiṣṇavaṃ padaṃ yathāhaṃ vibudhāḥ kalātyaye || [BhP 4.14.39] tato,pi puṇyātiśayena mām eti bhāgavatas tu atha dehānte avyākṛtaṃ, nāma- rūpe vyākaravāṇīti śruti-prasiddha-vyākaraṇāviṣayaṃ prapañcātītaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ padaṃ vaikuṇṭham eti | yathāhaṃ rudro bhūtvādhikārikatayā vartamānaḥ vibudhā devāś cādhikārikāḥ kalātyaye adhikārānte liṅga- bhaṅge saty eṣyantīti yāvad adhikāram avasthitir ādhikārikāṇām iti nyāyena || || 4.24 || śrī-rudraḥ pracetasam ||64|| [65] tato'skhalanam | atho vibhūtiṃ mama māyāvinas tām aiśvaryam aṣṭāṅgam anupravṛttam | śriyaṃ bhāgavatīṃ vāspṛhayanti bhadrāṃ parasya me te 'śnuvate tu loke || na karhicin mat-parāḥ śānta-rūpe naṅkṣyanti no me 'nimiṣo leḍhi hetiḥ | yeṣām ahaṃ priya ātmā sutaś ca sakhā guruḥ suhṛdo daivam iṣṭam || [BhP 3.25.36-37] atho'vidyā-nivṛtty-anantaraṃ mama māyayā bhakta-viṣayaka-kṛpayācitāṃ tad- arthaṃ prakaṭitāṃ vibhūtiṃ bhoga-sampattim | tathā bhāgavatīṃ śriyaṃ sākṣād-bhagavat-sambandhinīṃ sārṣṭi-saṃjñāṃ sampattim api aspṛhayanti, bhakti-sukha-mātrābhilāṣeṇa yady api tebhyo na spṛhayantīty arthaḥ | tathāpi tu me mama loke vaikuṇṭhākhye aśnuvate prāpnuvanty eveti sva-vātsala- viśeṣo darśitaḥ | yathā sudāma-mālākāra-vare, so'pi vavre'calāṃ bhaktiṃ tasminn evākhilātmani | tad-bhakteṣu ca sauhārdaṃ bhūteṣu ca dayāṃ parām | iti tasmai varān dattvā śriyaś cānvaya-vardhinīm || iti [BhP 10.41.52] atas teṣāṃ tatrānāsaktiś ca dyotitā | avidyānantaram iti mama kṛpayācitām iti ca teṣām anartha-rūpatvaṃ khaṇḍitam | kiṃ vā māyayācitāṃ brahma- lokādi-gatāṃ sampattim apīti teṣāṃ sarva-vaśīkāritvam eva darśitaṃ, na tu tad-bhogaḥ | tasyātitucchatvena teṣv anarhatvāt | śrutiś cātra tad yatheha karma-jito lokaḥ kṣīyate evam evāmutra puṇya-jito lokaḥ kṣīyate [ChāU 8.1.6] ity anantaraṃ atha ya ihātmānamanuvidya vrajanty etāṃś ca satya- kāmāṃs teṣāṃ sarveṣu lokeṣu kāmacāro bhavati iti | nanv evaṃ tarhi lokatvāviśeṣāt svargādivat bhoktṛ-bhogyānāṃ kadācid vināśaḥ syāt | tatrāha - śānta-rūpe śāntam avikṛtaṃ rūpaṃ yasya tasmin vaikuṇṭhe mat-parās tad-vāsino lokāḥ kadācid api na naṅkṣyanti bhogya- hīnā na bhavanti | animiṣo me hetiḥ madīyaṃ kāla-cakraṃ no leḍhi, tān na grasate | na sa punar āvartate iti śruteḥ [ChāU 8.15.1] | ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino 'rjuna | mām upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate || [Gītā 8.16] iti śrī-gītopaniṣadbhyaḥ | sahasra-nāma-bhāṣye'py uktam - param utkṛṣṭam ayanaṃ sthānaṃ punar āvṛtti-śaṅkā-rahitam iti parāyaṇaḥ | puṃliṅga-pakṣe bahu-vrīhir iti | na kevalam etāvat teṣāṃ māhātmyam ity āha yeṣām iti | yeṣāṃ māṃ vinā na kaścid aparaḥ prema-bhājanam astīty arthaḥ | yad vā - golokādikam apekṣyaivam uktam | tatra hi tathābhāvā evaṃ śrī-gopā nityā vidyante | athavā taṃ lokaṃ kīdṛg-bhāvā avidyānantaraṃ prāpnuvantīti | tatrāha yeṣām iti | ye kecit pādmottara-khaṇḍe darśita-muni-gaṇa-savāsanāḥ ātmā brahmaivāyaṃ sākṣād iti māṃ bhāvayanti, evam anye ca ye ye, ta eva prāpunvantīty arthaḥ | suhṛda iti bahutvaṃ saudṛdasya nānā-bhedāpekṣayā | evaṃ caturthe śrī-nārada-vākye - śāntāḥ sama-dṛśaḥ śuddhāḥ sarva-bhūtānurañjanāḥ | yānty añjasācyuta-padam acyuta-priya-bāndhavāḥ || iti [BhP 4.12.37] || || 3.25 || śrī-kapilaḥ ||65||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 57
Anuccheda 57
1 That the transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is identical with the Supreme Brahman described in the Vedas is explained by Maitreya Muni (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.21.8): “Then, in the Satya-yuga, the lotus eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, being pleased, showed Himself to that Kardama Muni and displayed His transcendental form, which can be understood only through the Vedas.”* 2 This verse means: “Then in the Satya-yuga (krte yuge), the Supreme Personality of Godhead (bhagavan) showed Himself (darsayam asa) to that Kardama Muni (tam) and displayed His transcendental form (vapur dadhat), which is the Absolute Truth (brahma) which can be understood only through the Vedas.” In this way we conclude the description of the transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord’s form.
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §66 · English §58
Source[६६] प्रपञ्चातीतत्वं ततोऽस्खलनं च युगपद् आह - आतपत्रं तु वैकुण्ठं द्विजा धामाकुतोभयम् । इति [भ्प् १२.११.१९] प्रपञ्च-रूपस्यैवेति प्रकरणात् । द्विजा इति सम्बोधनम् ॥ ॥ १२.११ ॥ श्री-सुतः ॥ ६६ ॥
[66] prapañcātītatvaṃ tato'skhalanaṃ ca yugapad āha - ātapatraṃ tu vaikuṇṭhaṃ dvijā dhāmākutobhayam | iti [BhP 12.11.19] prapañca-rūpasyaiveti prakaraṇāt | dvijā iti sambodhanam || || 12.11 || śrī-sutaḥ || 66 ||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 58
Anuccheda 58
1 Now that we have established that the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is different in kind from the material bodies covering the conditioned souls, we may also understand that the Lord’s form is not temporary and subject to the destructive influence of time, as are earthen pots and various other objects made of inert matter, that the perfect and complete transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternal and not subject to the six material transformations (birth, growth, maintenance, change, dwindling and destruction) is established by Lord Brahma in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.23): 2 “My conclusion is, therefore, that You are the Supreme Soul, Absolute Truth, and the supreme original person. Although You have expanded Yourself in so many Visnu forms, or in living entities and energies, by Your inconceivable transcendental potencies, You are the supreme one without a second. You are the source of the original brahmajyoti’ indeed, the brahmajyoti is nothing but Your personal bodily effulgence. Your body is eternal, indestructible and full of bliss. You are also niranjana because Your pastimes, as the little son of mother Yasoda or the Lord of the gopis, are never contaminated by the material qualities. You are always complete, one without a second, and You are transcendental to both nescience and knowledge. Thus You are the original amrta, the indestructible nectar of immortality.”* 3 In the beginning of Lord Brahma’s prayers (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.1), Brahma explained that the form of Sri Krsna, who has a dark complexion the colour of a rain-cloud, is the most worthy object of praise. We shall now demonstrate that Sri Krsna is the supreme object of praise and, that He is the Supersoul present in all living entities, and the supreme shelter of everyone. 4 That Sri Krsna is the shelter of everyone and everything and the Supersoul present in the hearts of all living entities is confirmed by the following statements of Lord Brahma: “My dear Lord, leaving aside all other things and just considering today’s happenings - what I have seen - are they not all due to Your inconceivable energies? First of all I saw You alone; thereafter You expanded Yourself as Your friends, the calves and all the existence of Vrndavana; then I saw You and all the boys as four-handed Visnus and They were being worshipped by all the elements and demigods, including myself. Again They were all wound up and You remained alone as You were before. Does this not mean that You are the Supreme Lord, Narayana, the origin of everything, and from you everything emanates, and again everything enters into You, and You remain the same as before?”* Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.18 “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.”* Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.55 5 In this verse Srila Sukadeva Gosvami intends to say: “O Krsna, because You are the Supersoul present in the hearts of all living entities, it should be understood that You are eternal, and because You are the ultimate shelter upon which everything rests, whatever is eternal is so because of Your eternality. You are the original abode of all eternality.” 6 That Sri Krsna is the resting place of all immortality is confirmed by the demigods, who offer the following prayer to Lord Krsna (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.26): “O Lord, You never deviate from Your vow, which is always perfect because whatever You decide is perfectly correct and cannot be stopped by anyone. Being present in the three phases of cosmic manifestation - creation, maintenance and annihilation - You are the Supreme Truth. Indeed, unless one is completely truthful, one cannot achieve Your favour, which therefore cannot be achieved by hypocrites. You are the active principle, the real truth, in all the ingredients of creation, and therefore you are known as antaryami, the inner force. You are equal to everyone, and Your instructions apply for everyone, for all time. You are the beginning of all truth. Therefore, offering our obeisances, we surrender unto you. Kindly give us protection.”* 7 That Sri Krsna is the original source of all eternality is confirmed by the following statement of Mahabharata (Udyama-parva 70.12): “All eternality is situated within the Supreme Eternal Lord Krsna. Because all eternality has its source in Him, He is therefore known by the name satya (the eternal).” 8 That Sri Krsna is completely free from the material transformations (birth, growth, maintenance, change, dwindling, and destruction) is confirmed by Lord Brahma (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.23): “O My Lord, You are the origin of everything (adya).” Lord Brahma’s statement in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.18 also confirms that Lord Krsna never undergoes the transformation known as birth. That Lord Krsna is never actually born is confirmed by Padma Purana: “Although Lord Hari appears before the eyes of His devotees, He never undergoes the material transformation known as birth.” 9 That the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, never undergoes the transformation known as birth is also confirmed by the following statement of Skanda Purana: “Fools do not understand the truth about the blissful, eternal and unchanging Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes. They mistakenly think that the Supreme Lord has taken birth in a material body composed of the five elements. He actually never takes birth.” 10 That Sri Krsna is the origin of everything and the oldest is confirmed by Lord Brahma (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.23): “O Lord, You are the oldest, the original person (purusah puranah).” From this we may understand that Lord Krsna always existed. He existed before the creation of the material world in an eternally youthful body. Although He is the oldest, He remains eternally youthful. 11 That the Supreme Personality of Godhead existed before the creation of the material universes is confirmed in Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad (1.4.1): “The Supreme Personality of Godhead existed before the creation of the material universes.” 12 In this way it may be seen that Sri Krsna is free from the material transformations of birth. The second material transformation is maintenance. That Sri Krsna is free from any consideration of maintenance is confirmed by Brahma in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.23): “O Lord Krsna, You are always perfect and complete (purna).” Because Lord Krsna is always perfect, he never grows (the third transformation). “The fourth material transformation is change. Brahma confirms that Sri Krsna is free from change in the following words (from the same Bhagavatam verse): “O Lord Krsna, You are eternally full of all transcendental bliss (ajasra-sukha).” Because Lord Krsna is always blissful His condition of life never changes. 13 That the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full of bliss is also confirmed by the following statement of Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad (3.9.28): “The Supreme Godhead is full of all knowledge and bliss.” We may note that in this statement the neuter word ‘ananda’ is used instead of the masculine word ‘sukha’. 14 The fifth material transformation is dwindling. Brahma confirms that Sri Krsna is free from dwindling in these words (from the same Bhagavatam verse): “O Lord Krsna, You are eternally free from decay and diminution (aksaya).” The sixth material transformation is destruction. Brahma confirms that Sri Krsna is free from destruction in the following words (from the same Bhagavatam verse): “O Lord Krsna, You are never to be destroyed. You are eternal (amrta).” 15 Lord Krsna’s perfection and completeness are described by Brahma in the following words (from the same Bhagavatam verse): “O Lord Krsna, You are unlimited and one without a second (ananta and advaya).” This means that Sri Krsna is beyond all limitations of time, space and size and nothing can exist without the manifestation of His potencies. In order to prove that Sri Krsna is eternal, Brahma explains that Sri Krsna is beyond the four kinds of result (birth, attainment of ends, change, and purification) which follow the actions of the conditioned souls. That Sri Krsna is not born (the first result), Brahma explains by the statement: “O Lord Krsna, You are the origin of everything (adyah).” The second result of work is the attainment of some end, which may be done either with physical endeavour, or as a result of knowledge. Sri Krsna does not need to endeavour physically to attain any end, for as Brahma says, He is the ‘all pervading Supersoul (atma), and at the same time Krsna does not need to undergo meditation or mental speculation to obtain some end, as the impersonalist philosophers do, because He is Himself the ‘origin of the Brahmajyoti (svayam-jyoti)’, as Brahma says. The third result of work is change. Sri Krsna is free from change because, as Brahma says here, ‘He never accepts a changing material body (upadhito mukta).’ The fourth result of work is purification. Sri Krsna is never in need of purification because, as Brahma says ‘He is always free from all contamination (niranjana).’ In this way Sri Krsna remains aloof from the four kinds of results of work. 16 That Sri Krsna and His transcendental abode may be directly perceived by the devotees is explained in the following statement of Srimad Bhagavatam (2.9.22), where the Supreme Personality of Godhead says to Lord Brahma: “The highest perfectional ingenuity is the personal perception of My abodes, and this has been possible because of your submissive attitude in the performance of severe penance according to My order.”* 17 Sridhara Svami comments: “In this verse Lord Krsna says to Brahma: ‘By My mercy you are able to see this. Because I wish it, You may now directly perceive this (manisita).’ One may ask: ‘What is it that Brahma is able to see by the Lord’s mercy?’ The answer is given: ‘You are now able to see My own abode (mama lokavalokanam yat).’” 18 That the Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals Himself to his devotes is also confirmed in the Narayanadhyatmya: “Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead generally remains invisible, He may nevertheless be seen through the agency of His own transcendental potency.” 19 At this point someone may object: “Is it not so that in the description of His opulences in Srimad Bhagavatam (11.16.29) the Personality of Godhead said: ‘among exalted persons (bhagavan) I appear as the son of Maharaja Vasudeva?’ Is it not also so that at the end of this description of His opulences, the Supreme Lord said: ‘These opulences of Mine are all transformations of the mind?’ Clearly, from this we may understand that the form of Lord Krsna, the son of Vasudeva, is not the original Personality of Godhead, but rather the expansion of one of His opulences. Furthermore, does not the second quote establish the truth that the form of Lord Krsna and the other opulences of the Absolute Truth described in this passage, are not transcendental forms, but merely transformations of the material thinking process?” To this objection I reply: My dear friend, these quotes are very nice, of course, but just as the sentence ‘chatrino gacchanti’ is ambiguous and requires some explanation before it is properly understood, in the same way, these verse Srimad Bhagavatam require an elaborate explanation before they are properly understood. 20 In this connection we may note the use of the word ‘param’ in the following verse from the same section of Srimad Bhagavatam (11.16.37), where Lord Krsna says: “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. All these items, along with knowledge of their individual symptoms and the steady conviction that results from this knowledge, represents me.”*** 21 We may note that in this verse the word ‘param’ refers to the Supreme Absolute Truth, According to this interpretation, then, the Supreme Brahman is counted among the opulences of the Lord, which are further described as (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.16.41) ‘transformations of the mind’. Such an explanation of the nature of Brahman will clearly not satisfy those who are aware of the actual meaning of Vedic literatures. Brahman is not a material transformation. Brahman is free from any material covering or material external form, just as a threshed grain of rice is free from the external husk. This transcendental nature of Brahman is explained by the following statements of Srimad Bhagavatam: “O Supreme Lord, You are free from material coverings.” 10.14.23 “I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord, whose form is full of the purest transcendental knowledge.” 10.37.22 22 Because this passage from the Eleventh Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam appears to explain that the Supreme Brahman, and Lord Krsna, the son of Vasudeva are opulences of the Supreme and are simply material transformations of the mind, it should be understood that these statements (for at least this interpretation of them) contradict the description of the Supreme Brahman and Lord Krsna in the other passages of Vedic literature. Therefore, I say that these statement are not exactly true. There are some examples of passages in Vedic literatures that are not exactly true. One such statement is the following verse spoken by Bhismadeva (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.34): “On the battlefield (where Sri Krsna attended Arjuna out of friendship), the flowing hair of Lord Krsna turned ashen due to the dust raised by the hoofs of the horses. And because of His labour, beads of sweat wetted His face. All these descriptions intensified by the wounds dealt by my sharp arrows, were enjoyed by Him let my mind thus go unto Sri Krsna.”* Because the transcendental body of Lord Krsna can never be hurt or pierced by any weapon, it should be understood that the description of this pastime should not be taken as truth but is a specific illusion arranged by the Lord. 23 An example of a statement contrary to the truth, but yet given in Srimad Bhagavatam, is mentioned in the following statement of Sukadeva Gosvami (in connection with Krsna’s lamentation during His battle with Salva) Srimad Bhagavatam 10.77.30): “O King Pariksit, although Krsna lamented when Salva attempted to trick Him into thinking that His father, Vasudeva, was killed, we should understand that in actuality, Lord Krsna was not at all fooled, and he did not lament. Although some sages may say that the Lord lamented, such statements are not fit to be accepted as truth.”* 24 That the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is spiritual and free from all material defects is also confirmed by the following statement of Skanda Purana: “Lord Visnu is completely aloof from the influence of the material energy. He is eternal, imperishable, unbreakable, undefeatable, and undecaying. He appears in this world and enjoys pastimes with His devotees. He pretends to be an ordinary human being, and in this role He may sometimes appear to be bound with ropes, or to bleed when wounded. Although these activities bewilder the demons, the liberated souls do not become bewildered. They always understand the actual nature of the Lord.” 25 As he was fighting with Krsna, Bhismadeva became momentarily overwhelmed by a demonic thought of harming Krsna, and in this way he became bewildered into thinking that Krsna has become wounded. Later Bhisma remembered that bewilderment as one remembers a painful nightmare, and He expressed that memory in the verse quoted previously (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.34). 26 Someone may ask: “How is it that Lord Krsna became so pure and free from material contamination that He could not be wounded or bleed? Did He come under the influence of some wonderfully purifying substance, or did He assiduously rid Himself of all impurities?” In answer to this question I explain: Sri Krsna is eternally pure and does not require to do something to become free from contamination. He did not require to come under the influence of some purifying agent because He is Himself perfect and complete, and therefore everything that purifies is already present within Him. In this the same way He does not require to rid Himself of impurities, since impurities can never enter Him, as Lord Brahma explains (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.23): ‘O Lord Krsna, You are always free from all kinds of material contamination (niranjana).” In this way it may be understood that the form of Sri Krsna is always uncontaminated and full of pure transcendental knowledge.
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §67 · English §59
Source[६७] सत्त्वे प्रलीनाः स्वर् यान्ति नराः लोकं रजोलयाः । तमोलयास् तु निरयं यान्ति माम् एव निर्गुणाः ॥ [भ्प् ११.२५.२२] लोक-प्रसक्तेर् मल्लोकम् इति वक्तव्ये तत्-प्राप्तिर् नाम मत्-प्राप्तिर् एवेति स्वाभेदम् अभिप्रेत्याह माम् एवेति ॥ ११.२५ ॥ श्री-भगवान् ॥ ६७ ॥
[67] sattve pralīnāḥ svar yānti narāḥ lokaṃ rajolayāḥ | tamolayās tu nirayaṃ yānti mām eva nirguṇāḥ || [BhP 11.25.22] loka-prasakter mallokam iti vaktavye tat-prāptir nāma mat-prāptir eveti svābhedam abhipretyāha mām eveti || 11.25 || śrī-bhagavān || 67 ||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 59
Anuccheda 59
In this way we have explained that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is naturally endowed with innumerable powers and opulences. Just as light has certain natural qualities opposite to the nature of darkness, in the same way the Personality of Godhead has a host of transcendental qualities different from the qualities of matter. We have also established that the Personality of Godhead is supremely perfect and complete because He is the master of all potencies. All of His qualities are eternal and He is full of all transcendental bliss. Because He is the reservoir in which all transcendental qualities, powers and opulences rest, He is known as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (bhagavan). Just as laddu candy is by nature aromatic and has certain natural attributes that cannot be separated from it, in the same way the Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses a host of wonderful transcendental attributes. The form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is accepted by the most learned transcendentalists as the highest manifestation of the Absolute Truth. This is confirmed by the following prayer of Lord Brahma to Sri Krsna Srimad Bhagavatam (3.9.2): “The form which I see is eternally freed from material contamination and has advented to show mercy to the devotees as 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.”*
Bhagavat · Sanskrit §68 · English §60
Source[६८] सुतरां नैर्गुण्याश्रयत्वम् । वनं तु सात्त्विको वासो ग्रामो राजस उच्यते । तामसं द्यूत-सदनं मन्-निकेतं तु निर्गुणम् ॥ [भ्प् ११.२५.२५] तद्-आवेशेनैवास्यापि निर्गुणत्व-व्यपदेश इति भावः ॥ ॥ ११.२५ ॥ स एव ॥६८॥
[68] sutarāṃ nairguṇyāśrayatvam | vanaṃ tu sāttviko vāso grāmo rājasa ucyate | tāmasaṃ dyūta-sadanaṃ man-niketaṃ tu nirguṇam || [BhP 11.25.25] tad-āveśenaivāsyāpi nirguṇatva-vyapadeśa iti bhāvaḥ || || 11.25 || sa eva ||68||
English translation
English witness · section(s) 60
Anuccheda 60
1 In this way we have proven that the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete in all respects. However, in order to even more firmly establish this fact, we shall now describe the Lord’s ornaments and paraphernalia. In the following statement Srila Sukadeva Gosvami describes the Supreme Lord appearance in this world along with His own transcendental ornaments and paraphernalia (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.9): “Vasudeva then saw the newborn child, who had very wonderful lotus like eyes and who bore in His four hands the four weapons sankha, cakra, gada and padma. On His chest was the mark of Srivatsa and so His neck the brilliant Kaustubha gem. Dressed in yellow, His body blackish like a dense cloud, His scattered hair fully grown, and His helmet and earrings sparkling uncommonly with the valuable gem Vaidurya, the child, decorated with a brilliant belt, armlets, bangles and other ornaments, appeared very wonderful.”* 2 The ornaments and paraphernalia of the Lord are in one sense non different from His transcendental form. Visvarupa explains this to Maharaja Indra in the following words Srimad Bhagavatam (8.8.32-33): “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entities, the material energy, the spiritual energy and the entire creation are all individual substances. In the ultimate analysis, however, together they constitute the supreme one, the Personality of Godhead. Therefore those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge see unity in diversity. For such advanced persons, the Lord’s bodily decorations, His name, His fame, His attributes and forms and the weapons in His hand are manifestations of the strength of His potency. According to their elevated spiritual understanding, the omniscient Lord, who manifests various forms, is present everywhere. May He always protect us everywhere from all calamities.”* 3 In this verse Visvarupa says: “Those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge see unity in diversity (aikatmyanubhavanam). The Supreme Personality of Godhead appears before these advanced transcendentalists in His form full of the nectar of (mayaya) appears before His devotees in His own transcendental form full of all wonderful potencies, so He also displays to them His bodily decorations (bhusana), His name, His fame, His attributes, and forms and weapons in His hand, which are all the manifestations of the strength of His potency (saktih). These great transcendentalists directly perceive the true nature of the Lord and His paraphernalia (satya-manena). The Lord, who manifest as various wonderful forms (sarvaih svarupaih) is present everywhere. May He always protect (patu) us (nah) everywhere from all calamities.” 4 In the following verses of the Visnu-dharma Purana, Maharaja Bali offers prayers to the Lord’s Sudarsana Cakra: “Even the greatest of yogis cannot completely or properly glorify the Lord’s Sudarsana Cakra. Because of the illumination of this whirling Cakra, this demon Bali has been able to see the entire universe with its three planetary systems of Bhur, Bhuvar and Svar-lokas.” 5 Maharaja Ambarisa’s prayers to the Sudarsana Cakra are recorded in the Ninth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, and the reader is referred to them for a more elaborate description. In various places in the Vedic literatures, the Sudarsana Cakra, flag of Garuda, and other paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are described as ‘causeless’. This means that the Lord’s paraphernalia is transcendental and has no material origin, just as the Lord Himself has no origin. 6 Lord Kapiladeva describes some of the Lord’s ornaments and paraphernalia (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.28.28): ‘The yogi should meditate upon His club which is named Kaumodaki and is very dear to him. This club smashes the demons, who are always inimical soldiers, and is smeared with their blood. One should concentrate on the nice garland on the neck of the Lord, which is always surrounded by bumblebees, with their nice buzzing sound, and one should meditate upon the pearl necklace on the Lord’s neck, which is considered to represent the pure living entities who are always engaged in His service.”* 7 The Lord’s Kaustubha gem is described in the following statement of Srimad Bhagavatam (12.13.10): “The unborn Supreme Personality of godhead wears His own Brahman effulgence in the form of the Kaustubha jewel on His chest.”* 8 As the Supreme Personality of Godhead is willing to be considered non different from the universe in order to facilitate the conditioned souls’ worship of Him, so the Kaustubha gem is considered non different from the transcendental form of the Personality of Godhead. 9 That the Kaustubha gem is non different from the transcendental form of the Personality of Godhead is also confirmed by Visnu Purana: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, personally appears as the Kaustubha gem, which is pure, free from all contamination of this material world, and untouched by the modes of material nature.”