CHAPTER SIX
Brahmā Satisfies Lord Śiva
Devanagari
अथ देवगणा: सर्वे रुद्रानीकै: पराजिता: ।
शूलपट्टिशनिस्त्रिंशगदापरिघमुद्गरै: ॥ १ ॥
सञ्छिन्नभिन्नसर्वाङ्गा: सर्त्विक्सभ्या भयाकुला: ।
स्वयम्भुवे नमस्कृत्य कार्त्स्न्येनैतन्न्यवेदयन् ॥ २ ॥
Text
atha deva-gaṇāḥ sarve
rudrānīkaiḥ parājitāḥ
śūla-paṭṭiśa-nistriṁśa-
gadā-parigha-mudgaraiḥ
sartvik-sabhyā bhayākulāḥ
svayambhuve namaskṛtya
kārtsnyenaitan nyavedayan
Synonyms
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; atha — after this; deva-gaṇāḥ — the demigods; sarve — all; rudra-anīkaiḥ — by the soldiers of Lord Śiva; parājitāḥ — having been defeated; śūla — trident; paṭṭiśa — a sharp-edged spear; nistriṁśa — a sword; gadā — mace; parigha — an iron bludgeon; mudgaraiḥ — a hammerlike weapon; sañchinna-bhinna-sarva-aṅgāḥ — all the limbs wounded; sa-ṛtvik-sabhyāḥ — with all the priests and members of the sacrificial assembly; bhaya-ākulāḥ — with great fear; svayambhuve — unto Lord Brahmā; namaskṛtya — after offering obeisances; kārtsnyena — in detail; etat — the events of Dakṣa’s sacrifice; nyavedayan — reported.
Translation
All the priests and other members of the sacrificial assembly and all the demigods, having been defeated by the soldiers of Lord Śiva and injured by weapons like tridents and swords, approached Lord Brahmā with great fear. After offering him obeisances, they began to speak in detail of all the events which had taken place.
Devanagari
नारायणश्च विश्वात्मा न कस्याध्वरमीयतु: ॥ ३ ॥
Text
bhagavān abja-sambhavaḥ
nārāyaṇaś ca viśvātmā
na kasyādhvaram īyatuḥ
Synonyms
upalabhya — knowing; purā — beforehand; eva — certainly; etat — all these events of Dakṣa’s sacrifice; bhagavān — the possessor of all opulences; abja-sambhavaḥ — born from a lotus flower (Lord Brahmā); nārāyaṇaḥ — Nārāyaṇa; ca — and; viśva-ātmā — the Supersoul of the entire universe; na — not; kasya — of Dakṣa; adhvaram — to the sacrifice; īyatuḥ — did go.
Translation
Both Lord Brahmā and Viṣṇu had already known that such events would occur in the sacrificial arena of Dakṣa, and knowing beforehand, they did not go to the sacrifice.
Purport
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.26), vedāhaṁ samatītāni vartamānāni cārjuna. The Lord says, “I know everything that has happened in the past and is going to happen in the future.” Lord Viṣṇu is omniscient, and He therefore knew what would happen at Dakṣa’s sacrificial arena. For this reason neither Nārāyaṇa nor Lord Brahmā attended the great sacrifice performed by Dakṣa.
Devanagari
क्षेमाय तत्र सा भूयान्न प्रायेण बुभूषताम् ॥ ४ ॥
Text
tejīyasi kṛtāgasi
kṣemāya tatra sā bhūyān
na prāyeṇa bubhūṣatām
Synonyms
tat — the events related by the demigods and the others; ākarṇya — after hearing; vibhuḥ — Lord Brahmā; prāha — replied; tejīyasi — a great personality; kṛta-āgasi — has been offended; kṣemāya — for your happiness; tatra — in that way; sā — that; bhūyāt na — is not conducive; prāyeṇa — generally; bubhūṣatām — desire to exist.
Translation
When Lord Brahmā heard everything from the demigods and the members who had attended the sacrifice, he replied: You cannot be happy in executing a sacrifice if you blaspheme a great personality and thereby offend his lotus feet. You cannot have happiness in that way.
Purport
Lord Brahmā explained to the demigods that although Dakṣa wanted to enjoy the results of fruitive sacrificial activities, it is not possible to enjoy when one offends a great personality like Lord Śiva. It was good for Dakṣa to have died in the fight because if he had lived he would have committed such offenses at the lotus feet of great personalities again and again. According to Manu’s law, when a person commits murder, punishment is beneficial for him because if he is not killed he might commit more and more murders and therefore be entangled in his future lives for having killed so many persons. Therefore the king’s punishment of a murderer is appropriate. lf those who are extremely offensive are killed by the grace of the Lord, that is good for them. In other words, Lord Brahmā explained to the demigods that it was good for Dakṣa to have been killed.
Devanagari
ये बर्हिषो भागभाजं परादु: ।
प्रसादयध्वं परिशुद्धचेतसा
क्षिप्रप्रसादं प्रगृहीताङ्घ्रि:पद्मम् ॥ ५ ॥
Text
ye barhiṣo bhāga-bhājaṁ parāduḥ
prasādayadhvaṁ pariśuddha-cetasā
kṣipra-prasādaṁ pragṛhītāṅghri-padmam
Synonyms
atha api — still; yūyam — all of you; kṛta-kilbiṣāḥ — having committed offenses; bhavam — Lord Śiva; ye — all of you; barhiṣaḥ — of the sacrifice; bhāga-bhājam — entitled to a share; parāduḥ — have excluded; prasādayadhvam — all of you should satisfy; pariśuddha-cetasā — without mental reservations; kṣipra-prasādam — quick mercy; pragṛhīta-aṅghri-padmam — his lotus feet having been taken shelter of.
Translation
You have excluded Lord Śiva from taking part in the sacrificial results, and therefore you are all offenders at his lotus feet. Still, if you go without mental reservations and surrender unto him and fall down at his lotus feet, he will be very pleased.
Purport
Lord Śiva is also called Āśutoṣa. Āśu means “very soon,” and toṣa means “to become satisfied.” The demigods were advised to go to Lord Śiva and beg his pardon, and because he is very easily pleased, it was certain that their purpose would be served. Lord Brahmā knew the mind of Lord Śiva very well, and he was confident that the demigods, who were offenders at his lotus feet, could mitigate their offenses by going to him and surrendering without reservation.
Devanagari
लोक: सपाल: कुपिते न यस्मिन् ।
तमाशु देवं प्रियया विहीनं
क्षमापयध्वं हृदि विद्धं दुरुक्तै: ॥ ६ ॥
Text
lokaḥ sa-pālaḥ kupite na yasmin
tam āśu devaṁ priyayā vihīnaṁ
kṣamāpayadhvaṁ hṛdi viddhaṁ duruktaiḥ
Synonyms
āśāsānāḥ — wishing to ask; jīvitam — for the duration; adhvarasya — of the sacrifice; lokaḥ — all the planets; sa-pālaḥ — with their controllers; kupite — when angered; na — not; yasmin — whom; tam — that; āśu — at once; devam — Lord Śiva; priyayā — of his dear wife; vihīnam — having been deprived; kṣamāpayadhvam — beg his pardon; hṛdi — in his heart; viddham — very much afflicted; duruktaiḥ — by unkind words.
Translation
Lord Brahmā also advised them that Lord Śiva is so powerful that by his anger all the planets and their chief controllers can be destroyed immediately. Also, he said that Lord Śiva was especially sorry because he had recently lost his dear wife and was also very much afflicted by the unkind words of Dakṣa. Under the circumstances, Lord Brahmā suggested, it would behoove them to go at once and beg his pardon.
Devanagari
ये देहभाजो मुनयश्च तत्त्वम् ।
विदु: प्रमाणं बलवीर्ययोर्वा
यस्यात्मतन्त्रस्य क उपायं विधित्सेत् ॥ ७ ॥
Text
ye deha-bhājo munayaś ca tattvam
viduḥ pramāṇaṁ bala-vīryayor vā
yasyātma-tantrasya ka upāyaṁ vidhitset
Synonyms
na — not; aham — I; na — nor; yajñaḥ — Indra; na — nor; ca — and; yūyam — all of you; anye — others; ye — who; deha-bhājaḥ — of those who bear material bodies; munayaḥ — the sages; ca — and; tattvam — the truth; viduḥ — know; pramāṇam — the extent; bala-vīryayoḥ — of the strength and power; vā — or; yasya — of Lord Śiva; ātma-tantrasya — of Lord Śiva, who is self-dependent; kaḥ — what; upāyam — means; vidhitset — should wish to devise.
Translation
Lord Brahmā said that no one — not even himself, Indra, all the members assembled in the sacrificial arena or all the sages — could know how powerful Lord Śiva is. Under the circumstances, who would dare to commit an offense at his lotus feet?
Purport
After Lord Brahmā advised the demigods to go to Lord Śiva and beg his pardon, it was suggested how he should be satisfied and how the matter should be placed before him. Brahmā also asserted that none of the conditioned souls, including himself and all the demigods, could know how to satisfy Lord Śiva. But he said, “It is known that he is very easily satisfied, so let us try to satisfy him by falling at his lotus feet.”
Actually the position of the subordinate is always to surrender to the Supreme. That is the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā. The Lord asks everyone to give up all kinds of concocted occupations and simply surrender unto Him. That will protect the conditioned souls from all sinful reactions. Similarly, in this case Brahmā also suggested that they go and surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Śiva, for since he is very kind and easily satisfied, this action would prove effective.
Devanagari
समन्वित: पितृभि: सप्रजेशै: ।
ययौ स्वधिष्ण्यान्निलयं पुरद्विष:
कैलासमद्रिप्रवरं प्रियं प्रभो: ॥ ८ ॥
Text
samanvitaḥ pitṛbhiḥ sa-prajeśaiḥ
yayau sva-dhiṣṇyān nilayaṁ pura-dviṣaḥ
kailāsam adri-pravaraṁ priyaṁ prabhoḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — he (Brahmā); ittham — thus; ādiśya — after instructing; surān — the demigods; ajaḥ — Lord Brahmā; tu — then; taiḥ — those; samanvitaḥ — followed; pitṛbhiḥ — by the Pitās; sa-prajeśaiḥ — along with the lords of the living entities; yayau — went; sva-dhiṣṇyāt — from his own place; nilayam — the abode; pura-dviṣaḥ — of Lord Śiva; kailāsam — Kailāsa; adri-pravaram — the best among mountains; priyam — dear; prabhoḥ — of the lord (Śiva).
Translation
After thus instructing all the demigods, the Pitās and the lords of the living entities, Lord Brahmā took them with him and left for the abode of Lord Śiva, known as the Kailāsa Hill.
Purport
The abode of Lord Śiva, which is known as Kailāsa, is described in the fourteen verses which follow.
Devanagari
जुष्टं किन्नरगन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिर्वृतं सदा ॥ ९ ॥
Text
yoga-siddhair naretaraiḥ
juṣṭaṁ kinnara-gandharvair
apsarobhir vṛtaṁ sadā
Synonyms
Translation
The abode known as Kailāsa is full of different herbs and vegetables, and it is sanctified by Vedic hymns and mystic yoga practice. Thus the residents of that abode are demigods by birth and have all mystic powers. Besides them there are other human beings, who are known as Kinnaras and Gandharvas and are accompanied by their beautiful wives, who are known as Apsarās, or angels.
Devanagari
नानाद्रुमलतागुल्मैर्नानामृगगणावृतै: ॥ १० ॥
Text
nānā-dhātu-vicitritaiḥ
nānā-druma-latā-gulmair
nānā-mṛga-gaṇāvṛtaiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Kailāsa is full of mountains filled with all kinds of valuable jewels and minerals and surrounded by all varieties of valuable trees and plants. The top of the hill is nicely decorated by various types of deer.
Devanagari
रमणं विहरन्तीनां रमणै: सिद्धयोषिताम् ॥ ११ ॥
Text
nānā-kandara-sānubhiḥ
ramaṇaṁ viharantīnāṁ
ramaṇaiḥ siddha-yoṣitām
Synonyms
Translation
There are many waterfalls, and in the mountains there are many beautiful caves in which the very beautiful wives of the mystics are found.
Devanagari
प्लावितै रक्तकण्ठानां कूजितैश्च पतत्त्रिणाम् ॥ १२ ॥
Text
madāndhāli-vimūrcchitam
plāvitai rakta-kaṇṭhānāṁ
kūjitaiś ca patattriṇām
Synonyms
Translation
On Kailāsa Hill there is always the rhythmical sound of the peacocks’ sweet vibrations and the bees’ humming. Cuckoos are always singing, and other birds whisper amongst themselves.
Devanagari
व्रजन्तमिव मातङ्गैर्गृणन्तमिव निर्झरै: ॥ १३ ॥
Text
dvijān kāma-dughair drumaiḥ
vrajantam iva mātaṅgair
gṛṇantam iva nirjharaiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
There are tall trees with straight branches that appear to call the sweet birds, and when herds of elephants pass through the hills, it appears that the Kailāsa Hill moves with them. When the waterfalls resound, it appears that Kailāsa Hill does also.
Devanagari
तमालै: शालतालैश्च कोविदारासनार्जुनै: ॥ १४ ॥
चूतै: कदम्बैर्नीपैश्च नागपुन्नागचम्पकै: ।
पाटलाशोकबकुलै: कुन्दै: कुरबकैरपि ॥ १५ ॥
Text
saralaiś copaśobhitam
tamālaiḥ śāla-tālaiś ca
kovidārāsanārjunaiḥ
nāga-punnāga-campakaiḥ
pāṭalāśoka-bakulaiḥ
kundaiḥ kurabakair api
Synonyms
mandāraiḥ — with mandāras; pārijātaiḥ — with pārijātas; ca — and; saralaiḥ — with saralas; ca — and; upaśobhitam — decorated; tamālaiḥ — with tamāla trees; śāla-tālaiḥ — with śālas and tālas; ca — and; kovidāra-āsana-arjunaiḥ — kovidāras, āsanas (vijaya-sāras) and arjuna trees (kāñcanārakas); cūtaiḥ — with cūtas (a species of mango); kadambaiḥ — with kadambas; nīpaiḥ — with nīpas (dhūli-kadambas); ca — and; nāga-punnāga-campakaiḥ — with nāgas, punnāgas and campakas; pāṭala-aśoka-bakulaiḥ — with pāṭalas, aśokas and bakulas; kundaiḥ — with kundas; kurabakaiḥ — with kurabakas; api — also.
Translation
The whole of Kailāsa Hill is decorated with various kinds of trees, of which the following names may be mentioned: mandāra, pārijāta, sarala, tamāla, tāla, kovidāra, āsana, arjuna, āmra-jāti [mango], kadamba, dhūli-kadamba, nāga, punnāga, campaka, pāṭala, aśoka, bakula, kunda and kurabaka. The entire hill is decorated with such trees, which produce flowers with fragrant aromas.
Devanagari
कुब्जकैर्मल्लिकाभिश्च माधवीभिश्च मण्डितम् ॥ १६ ॥
Text
vara-reṇuka-jātibhiḥ
kubjakair mallikābhiś ca
mādhavībhiś ca maṇḍitam
Synonyms
Translation
There are other trees also which decorate the hill, such as the golden lotus flower, the cinnamon tree, mālatī, kubja, mallikā and mādhavī.
Devanagari
भूर्जैरोषधिभि: पूगै राजपूगैश्च जम्बुभि: ॥ १७ ॥
Text
plakṣa-nyagrodha-hiṅgubhiḥ
bhūrjair oṣadhibhiḥ pūgai
rājapūgaiś ca jambubhiḥ
Synonyms
panasa-udumbara-aśvattha-plakṣa-nyagrodha-hiṅgubhiḥ — with panasas (jackfruit trees), udumbaras, aśvatthas, plakṣas, nyagrodhas and trees producing asafetida; bhūrjaiḥ — with bhūrjas; oṣadhibhiḥ — with betel-nut trees; pūgaiḥ — with pūgas; rājapūgaiḥ — with rājapūgas; ca — and; jambubhiḥ — with jambus.
Translation
Kailāsa Hill is also decorated with such trees as kata, jackfruit, julara, banyan trees, plakṣas, nyagrodhas and trees producing asafetida. Also there are trees of betel nuts and bhūrja-patra, as well as rājapūga, blackberries and similar other trees.
Devanagari
द्रुमजातिभिरन्यैश्च राजितं वेणुकीचकै: ॥ १८ ॥
Text
priyāla-madhukeṅgudaiḥ
druma-jātibhir anyaiś ca
rājitaṁ veṇu-kīcakaiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
There are mango trees, priyāla, madhuka and iṅguda. Besides these there are other trees, like thin bamboos, kīcaka and varieties of other bamboo trees, all decorating the tract of Kailāsa Hill.
Devanagari
नलिनीषु कलं कूजत्खगवृन्दोपशोभितम् ॥ १९ ॥
मृगै: शाखामृगै: क्रोडैर्मृगेन्द्रैर्ऋ क्षशल्यकै: ।
गवयै: शरभैर्व्याघ्रै रुरुभिर्महिषादिभि: ॥ २० ॥
Text
śatapatra-vanarddhibhiḥ
nalinīṣu kalaṁ kūjat-
khaga-vṛndopaśobhitam
mṛgendrair ṛkṣa-śalyakaiḥ
gavayaiḥ śarabhair vyāghrai
rurubhir mahiṣādibhiḥ
Synonyms
kumuda — kumuda; utpala — utpala; kahlāra — kahlāra; śatapatra — lotuses; vana — forest; ṛddhibhiḥ — being covered with; nalinīṣu — in the lakes; kalam — very sweetly; kūjat — whispering; khaga — of birds; vṛnda — groups; upaśobhitam — decorated with; mṛgaiḥ — with deer; śākhā-mṛgaiḥ — with monkeys; kroḍaiḥ — with boars; mṛga-indraiḥ — with lions; ṛkṣa-śalyakaiḥ — with ṛkṣas and śalyakas; gavayaiḥ — with forest cows; śarabhaiḥ — with forest asses; vyāghraiḥ — with tigers; rurubhiḥ — with small deer; mahiṣa-ādibhiḥ — with buffalo, etc.
Translation
There are different kinds of lotus flowers, such as kumuda, utpala and śatapatra. The forest appears to be a decorated garden, and the small lakes are full of various kinds of birds who whisper very sweetly. There are many kinds of other animals also, like deer, monkeys, boars, lions, ṛkṣas, śalyakas, forest cows, forest asses, tigers, small deer, buffalo and many other animals, who are fully enjoying their lives.
Devanagari
कदलीखण्डसंरुद्धनलिनीपुलिनश्रियम् ॥ २१ ॥
Text
nirjuṣṭaṁ vṛka-nābhibhiḥ
kadalī-khaṇḍa-saṁruddha-
nalinī-pulina-śriyam
Synonyms
karṇāntra — by the karṇāntra; ekapada — the ekapada; aśvāsyaiḥ — by the aśvāsya; nirjuṣṭam — fully enjoyed; vṛka-nābhibhiḥ — by the vṛka and nābhi, or kastūrī deer; kadalī — of banana trees; khaṇḍa — with groups; saṁruddha — covered; nalinī — of small lakes filled with lotus flowers; pulina — with the sandy banks; śriyam — very beautiful.
Translation
There are varieties of deer, such as karṇāntra, ekapada, aśvāsya, vṛka and kastūrī, the deer which bears musk. Besides the deer there are many banana trees which decorate the small hillside lakes very nicely.
Devanagari
विलोक्य भूतेशगिरिं विबुधा विस्मयं ययु: ॥ २२ ॥
Text
snāna-puṇyatarodayā
vilokya bhūteśa-giriṁ
vibudhā vismayaṁ yayuḥ
Synonyms
paryastam — surrounded; nandayā — by the Nandā; satyāḥ — of Satī; snāna — by the bathing; puṇya-tara — especially favored; udayā — with water; vilokya — after seeing; bhūta-īśa — of Bhūteśa (the lord of the ghosts, Lord Śiva); girim — the mountain; vibudhāḥ — the demigods; vismayam — wonder; yayuḥ — obtained.
Translation
There is a small lake named Alakanandā in which Satī used to take her bath, and that lake is especially auspicious. All the demigods, after seeing the specific beauty of Kailāsa Hill, were struck with wonder at the great opulence to be found there.
Purport
According to the commentary called Śrī-Bhāgavata-candra-candrikā, the water in which Satī used to bathe was Ganges water. In other words, the Ganges flowed through the Kailāsa-parvata. There is every possibility of accepting such a statement because Ganges water also flows from the hair of Lord Śiva. Since Ganges water rests on the head of Lord Śiva and then flows to the other parts of the universe, it is quite possible that the water in which Satī bathed, which was certainly very nicely scented, was Ganges water.
Devanagari
वनं सौगन्धिकं चापि यत्र तन्नाम पङ्कजम् ॥ २३ ॥
Text
alakāṁ nāma vai purīm
vanaṁ saugandhikaṁ cāpi
yatra tan-nāma paṅkajam
Synonyms
dadṛśuḥ — saw; tatra — there (in Kailāsa); te — they (the demigods); ramyām — very attractive; alakām — Alakā; nāma — known as; vai — indeed; purīm — abode; vanam — forest; saugandhikam — Saugandhika; ca — and; api — even; yatra — in which place; tat-nāma — known by that name; paṅkajam — species of lotus flowers.
Translation
Thus the demigods saw the wonderfully beautiful region known as Alakā in the forest known as Saugandhika, which means “full of fragrance.” The forest is known as Saugandhika because of its abundance of lotus flowers.
Purport
Sometimes Alakā is known as Alakā-purī, which is also the name of the abode of Kuvera. Kuvera’s abode, however, cannot be seen from Kailāsa. Therefore the region of Alakā referred to here is different from the Alakā-purī of Kuvera. According to Vīrarāghava Ācārya, alakā means “uncommonly beautiful.” In the region of Alakā that the demigods saw, there is a type of lotus flower known as Saugandhika that distributes an especially fragrant scent.
Devanagari
तीर्थपादपदाम्भोजरजसातीव पावने ॥ २४ ॥
Text
saritau bāhyataḥ puraḥ
tīrthapāda-padāmbhoja-
rajasātīva pāvane
Synonyms
Translation
They also saw the two rivers named Nandā and Alakanandā. These two rivers are sanctified by the dust of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.
Devanagari
क्रीडन्ति पुंस: सिञ्चन्त्यो विगाह्य रतिकर्शिता: ॥ २५ ॥
Text
avaruhya sva-dhiṣṇyataḥ
krīḍanti puṁsaḥ siñcantyo
vigāhya rati-karśitāḥ
Synonyms
yayoḥ — in both of which (rivers); sura-striyaḥ — the celestial damsels along with their husbands; kṣattaḥ — O Vidura; avaruhya — descending; sva-dhiṣṇyataḥ — from their own airplanes; krīḍanti — they play; puṁsaḥ — their husbands; siñcantyaḥ — sprinkling with water; vigāhya — after entering (the water); rati-karśitāḥ — whose enjoyment has become diminished.
Translation
My dear Kṣattā, Vidura, the celestial damsels come down to those rivers in their airplanes with their husbands, and after sexual enjoyment, they enter the water and enjoy sprinkling their husbands with water.
Purport
It is understood that even the damsels of the heavenly planets are polluted by thoughts of sex enjoyment, and therefore they come in airplanes to bathe in the rivers Nandā and Alakanandā. It is significant that these rivers, Nandā and Alakanandā, are sanctified by the dust of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, just as the Ganges is sacred because its water emanates from the toes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, so whenever water or anything is in touch with devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is purified and spiritualized. The rules and regulations of devotional service are based on this principle: anything in touch with the lotus feet of the Lord is immediately freed from all material contamination.
The damsels of the heavenly planets, polluted by thoughts of sex life, come down to bathe in the sanctified rivers and enjoy sprinkling water on their husbands. Two words are very significant in this connection. Rati-karśitāḥ means that the damsels become morose after sex enjoyment. Although they accept sex enjoyment as a bodily demand, afterwards they are not happy.
Another significant point is that Lord Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is described here as Tīrthapāda. Tīrtha means “sanctified place,” and pāda means “the lotus feet of the Lord.” People go to a sanctified place to free themselves from all sinful reactions. In other words, those who are devoted to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, automatically become sanctified. The Lord’s lotus feet are called tīrtha-pāda because under their protection there are hundreds and thousands of saintly persons who sanctify the sacred places of pilgrimage. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, a great ācārya of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, advises us not to travel to different places of pilgrimage. Undoubtedly it is troublesome to go from one place to another, but one who is intelligent can take shelter of the lotus feet of Govinda and thereby be automatically sanctified as the result of his pilgrimage. Anyone who is fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Govinda is called tīrtha-pāda; he does not need to travel on various pilgrimages, for he can enjoy all the benefits of such travel simply by engaging in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord. Such a pure devotee, who has implicit faith in the lotus feet of the Lord, can create sacred places in any part of the world where he decides to remain: tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni (Bhāg. 1.13.10). The places are sanctified due to the presence of pure devotees; any place automatically becomes a place of pilgrimage if either the Lord or His pure devotee remains or resides there. In other words, such a pure devotee, who is engaged one hundred percent in the service of the Lord, can remain anywhere in the universe, and that part of the universe immediately becomes a sacred place where he can peacefully render service to the Lord as the Lord desires.
Devanagari
वितृषोऽपि पिबन्त्यम्भ: पाययन्तो गजा गजी: ॥ २६ ॥
Text
nava-kuṅkuma-piñjaram
vitṛṣo ’pi pibanty ambhaḥ
pāyayanto gajā gajīḥ
Synonyms
yayoḥ — in both of which rivers; tat-snāna — by the bathing of them (the damsels of the heavenly planets); vibhraṣṭa — fallen off; nava — fresh; kuṅkuma — with kuṅkuma powder; piñjaram — yellow; vitṛṣaḥ — not being thirsty; api — even; pibanti — drink; ambhaḥ — the water; pāyayantaḥ — causing to drink; gajāḥ — the elephants; gajīḥ — the female elephants.
Translation
After the damsels of the heavenly planets bathe in the water, it becomes yellowish and fragrant due to the kuṅkuma from their bodies. Thus the elephants come to bathe there with their wives, the she-elephants, and they also drink the water, although they are not thirsty.
Devanagari
जुष्टां पुण्यजनस्त्रीभिर्यथा खं सतडिद्घनम् ॥ २७ ॥
Text
vimāna-śata-saṅkulām
juṣṭāṁ puṇyajana-strībhir
yathā khaṁ sataḍid-ghanam
Synonyms
Translation
The airplanes of the heavenly denizens are bedecked with pearls, gold and many valuable jewels. The heavenly denizens are compared to clouds in the sky decorated with occasional flashes of electric lightning.
Purport
The airplanes described in this verse are different from the airplanes of which we have experience. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and all the Vedic literatures, there are many descriptions of vimāna, which means “airplanes.” On different planets there are different kinds of airplanes. On this gross planet earth, there are airplanes run by machine, but on other planets the airplanes are run not by machine but by mantric hymns. They are also used especially for enjoyment by the denizens of the heavenly planets so that they can go from one planet to another. On other planets which are called Siddhalokas, the denizens can travel from one planet to another without airplanes. The beautiful airplanes from the heavenly planets are compared here to the sky because they fly in the sky; the passengers are compared to the clouds. The beautiful damsels, the wives of the denizens of the heavenly planets, are compared to lightning. In summation, the airplanes with their passengers which came from higher planets to Kailāsa were very pleasant to look at.
Devanagari
द्रुमै: कामदुघैर्हृद्यं चित्रमाल्यफलच्छदै: ॥ २८ ॥
Text
vanaṁ saugandhikaṁ ca tat
drumaiḥ kāma-dughair hṛdyaṁ
citra-mālya-phala-cchadaiḥ
Synonyms
hitvā — passing over; yakṣa-īśvara — the lord of the Yakṣas (Kuvera); purīm — the abode; vanam — the forest; saugandhikam — named Saugandhika; ca — and; tat — that; drumaiḥ — with trees; kāma-dughaiḥ — yielding desires; hṛdyam — attractive; citra — variegated; mālya — flowers; phala — fruits; chadaiḥ — leaves.
Translation
While traveling, the demigods passed over the forest known as Saugandhika, which is full of varieties of flowers, fruits and desire trees. While passing over the forest, they also saw the regions of Yakṣeśvara.
Purport
Yakṣeśvara is also known as Kuvera, and he is the treasurer of the demigods. In the descriptions of him in Vedic literature, it is stated that he is fabulously rich. It appears from these verses that Kailāsa is situated near the residential quarters of Kuvera. It is also stated here that the forest was full of desire trees. In Brahma-saṁhitā we learn about the desire tree which is found in the spiritual world, especially in Kṛṣṇaloka, the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa. We learn here that such desire trees are also found in Kailāsa, the residence of Lord Śiva, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. It thus appears that Kailāsa has a special significance; it is almost like the residence of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
कलहंसकुलप्रेष्ठं खरदण्डजलाशयम् ॥ २९ ॥
Text
svara-maṇḍita-ṣaṭpadam
kalahaṁsa-kula-preṣṭhaṁ
kharadaṇḍa-jalāśayam
Synonyms
Translation
In that celestial forest there were many birds whose necks were colored reddish and whose sweet sounds mixed with the humming of the bees. The lakes were abundantly decorated with crying swans as well as strong-stemmed lotus flowers.
Purport
The beauty of the forest was intensified by the presence of various lakes. It is described herein that the lakes were decorated with lotus flowers and with swans who played and sang with the birds and the humming bees. Considering all these attributes, one can imagine how beautiful this spot was and how much the demigods passing through enjoyed the atmosphere. There are many paths and beautiful spots created by man on this planet earth, but none of them can surpass those of Kailāsa, as they are described in these verses.
Devanagari
अधि पुण्यजनस्त्रीणां मुहुरुन्मथयन्मन: ॥ ३० ॥
Text
haricandana-vāyunā
adhi puṇyajana-strīṇāṁ
muhur unmathayan manaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
All these atmospheric influences unsettled the forest elephants who flocked together in the sandalwood forest, and the blowing wind agitated the minds of the damsels there for further sexual enjoyment.
Purport
Whenever there is a nice atmosphere in the material world, immediately there is an awakening of the sexual appetite in the minds of materialistic persons. This tendency is present everywhere within this material world, not only on this earth but in higher planetary systems as well. In complete contrast with the influence of this atmosphere on the minds of the living entities within the material world is the description of the spiritual world. The women there are hundreds and thousands of times more beautiful than the women here in this material world, and the spiritual atmosphere is also many times better. Yet despite the pleasant atmosphere, the minds of the denizens do not become agitated because in the spiritual world, the Vaikuṇṭha planets, the spiritualistic minds of the inhabitants are so much absorbed in the spiritual vibration of chanting the glories of the Lord that such enjoyment could not be surpassed by any other enjoyment, even sex, which is the culmination of all pleasure in the material world. In other words, in the Vaikuṇṭha world, in spite of its better atmosphere and facilities, there is no impetus for sex life. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.59), paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate: the inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha are so spiritually enlightened that in the presence of such spirituality sex life is insignificant.
Devanagari
प्राप्तं किम्पुरुषैर्दृष्ट्वा त आराद्ददृशुर्वटम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Text
vāpya utpala-mālinīḥ
prāptaṁ kimpuruṣair dṛṣṭvā
ta ārād dadṛśur vaṭam
Synonyms
Translation
They also saw that the bathing ghāṭas and their staircases were made of vaidūrya-maṇi. The water was full of lotus flowers. Passing by such lakes, the demigods reached a place where there was a great banyan tree.
Devanagari
पर्यक्कृताचलच्छायो निर्नीडस्तापवर्जित: ॥ ३२ ॥
Text
pādona-viṭapāyataḥ
paryak-kṛtācala-cchāyo
nirnīḍas tāpa-varjitaḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — that banyan tree; yojana-śata — one hundred yojanas (eight hundred miles); utsedhaḥ — height; pāda-ūna — less by a quarter (six hundred miles); viṭapa — by the branches; āyataḥ — spread out; paryak — all around; kṛta — made; acala — unshaken; chāyaḥ — the shadow; nirnīḍaḥ — without bird nests; tāpa-varjitaḥ — without heat.
Translation
That banyan tree was eight hundred miles high, and its branches spread over six hundred miles around. The tree cast a fine shade which permanently cooled the temperature, yet there was no noise of birds.
Purport
Generally, in every tree there are bird nests, and the birds congregate in the evening and create noise. But it appears that this banyan tree was devoid of nests, and therefore it was calm, quiet and peaceful. There were no disturbances from noise or heat, and therefore this place was just suitable for meditation.
Devanagari
ददृशु: शिवमासीनं त्यक्तामर्षमिवान्तकम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Text
mumukṣu-śaraṇe surāḥ
dadṛśuḥ śivam āsīnaṁ
tyaktāmarṣam ivāntakam
Synonyms
tasmin — under that tree; mahā-yoga-maye — having many sages engaged in meditation on the Supreme; mumukṣu — of those who desire liberation; śaraṇe — the shelter; surāḥ — the demigods; dadṛśuḥ — saw; śivam — Lord Śiva; āsīnam — seated; tyakta-amarṣam — having given up anger; iva — as; antakam — eternal time.
Translation
The demigods saw Lord Śiva sitting under that tree, which was competent to give perfection to mystic yogīs and deliver all people. As grave as time eternal, he appeared to have given up all anger.
Purport
In this verse the word mahā-yogamaye is very significant. Yoga means meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and mahā-yoga means those who engage in the devotional service of Viṣṇu. Meditation means remembering, smaraṇam. There are nine different kinds of devotional service, of which smaraṇam is one process; the yogī remembers the form of Viṣṇu within his heart. Thus there were many devotees engaged in meditation on Lord Viṣṇu under the big banyan tree.
The Sanskrit word mahā is derived from the affix mahat. This affix is used when there is a great number or quantity, so mahā-yoga indicates that there were many great yogīs and devotees meditating on the form of Lord Viṣṇu. Generally such meditators are desirous of liberation from material bondage, and they are promoted to the spiritual world, to one of the Vaikuṇṭhas. Liberation means freedom from material bondage or nescience. In the material world we are suffering life after life because of our bodily identification, and liberation is freedom from that miserable condition of life.
Devanagari
उपास्यमानं सख्या च भर्त्रा गुह्यकरक्षसाम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Text
śāntaiḥ saṁśānta-vigraham
upāsyamānaṁ sakhyā ca
bhartrā guhyaka-rakṣasām
Synonyms
sanandana-ādyaiḥ — the four Kumāras, headed by Sanandana; mahā-siddhaiḥ — liberated souls; śāntaiḥ — saintly; saṁśānta-vigraham — the grave and saintly Lord Śiva; upāsyamānam — was being praised; sakhyā — by Kuvera; ca — and; bhartrā — by the master; guhyaka-rakṣasām — of the Guhyakas and the Rākṣasas.
Translation
Lord Śiva sat there, surrounded by saintly persons like Kuvera, the master of the Guhyakas, and the four Kumāras, who were already liberated souls. Lord Śiva was grave and saintly.
Purport
The personalities sitting with Lord Śiva are significant because the four Kumāras were liberated from birth. It may be remembered that after their birth these Kumāras were requested by their father to get married and beget children in order to increase the population of the newly created universe. But they refused, and at that time Lord Brahmā was angry. In that angry mood, Rudra, or Lord Śiva, was born. Thus they were intimately related. Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods, is fabulously rich. Thus Lord Śiva’s association with the Kumāras and Kuvera indicates that he has all transcendental and material opulences. Actually, he is the qualitative incarnation of the Supreme Lord; therefore his position is very exalted.
Devanagari
चरन्तं विश्वसुहृदं वात्सल्याल्लोकमङ्गलम् ॥ ३५ ॥
Text
āsthitaṁ tam adhīśvaram
carantaṁ viśva-suhṛdaṁ
vātsalyāl loka-maṅgalam
Synonyms
vidyā — knowledge; tapaḥ — austerity; yoga-patham — the path of devotional service; āsthitam — situated; tam — him (Lord Śiva); adhīśvaram — the master of the senses; carantam — performing (austerity, etc.); viśva-suhṛdam — the friend of the whole world; vātsalyāt — out of full affection; loka-maṅgalam — auspicious for everyone.
Translation
The demigods saw Lord Śiva situated in his perfection as the master of the senses, knowledge, fruitive activities and the path of achieving perfection. He was the friend of the entire world, and by virtue of his full affection for everyone, he was very auspicious.
Purport
Lord Śiva is full of wisdom and tapasya, austerity. One who knows the modes of work is understood to be situated on the path of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One cannot serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead unless one has achieved full perfectional knowledge in the ways and means of performing devotional service.
Lord Śiva is described here as adhīśvara. Īśvara means “controller,” and adhīśvara means particularly “controller of the senses.” Generally our materially contaminated senses are apt to engage in sense gratificatory activities, but when a person is elevated by wisdom and austerity, the senses then become purified, and they become engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Śiva is the emblem of such perfection, and therefore in the scriptures it is said, vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva is a Vaiṣṇava. Lord Śiva, by his actions within this material world, teaches all conditioned souls how to engage in devotional service twenty-four hours a day. Therefore he is described here as loka-maṅgala, good fortune personified for all conditioned souls.
Devanagari
अङ्गेन सन्ध्याभ्ररुचा चन्द्रलेखां च बिभ्रतम् ॥ ३६ ॥
Text
bhasma-daṇḍa-jaṭājinam
aṅgena sandhyābhra-rucā
candra-lekhāṁ ca bibhratam
Synonyms
Translation
He was seated on a deerskin and was practicing all forms of austerity. Because his body was smeared with ashes, he looked like an evening cloud. On his hair was the sign of a half-moon, a symbolic representation.
Purport
Lord Śiva’s symptoms of austerity are not exactly those of a Vaiṣṇava. Lord Śiva is certainly the number one Vaiṣṇava, but he exhibits a feature for a particular class of men who cannot follow the Vaiṣṇava principles. The Śaivites, the devotees of Lord Śiva, generally dress like Lord Śiva, and sometimes they indulge in smoking and taking intoxicants. Such practices are never accepted by the followers of Vaiṣṇava rituals.
Devanagari
नारदाय प्रवोचन्तं पृच्छते शृण्वतां सताम् ॥ ३७ ॥
Text
bṛsyāṁ brahma sanātanam
nāradāya pravocantaṁ
pṛcchate śṛṇvatāṁ satām
Synonyms
Translation
He was seated on a straw mattress and speaking to all present, including the great sage Nārada, to whom he specifically spoke about the Absolute Truth.
Purport
The lord was sitting on a mattress of straw because such a sitting place is accepted by persons who are practicing austerities to gain understanding of the Absolute Truth. In this verse it is specifically mentioned that he was speaking to the great sage Nārada, a celebrated devotee. Nārada was asking Lord Śiva about devotional service, and Śiva, being the topmost Vaiṣṇava, was instructing him. In other words, Lord Śiva and Nārada were discussing the knowledge of the Veda, but it is to be understood that the subject matter was devotional service. Another point in this connection is that Lord Śiva is the supreme instructor and the great sage Nārada is the supreme audience. Therefore the supreme subject matter of Vedic knowledge is bhakti, or devotional service.
Devanagari
बाहुं प्रकोष्ठेऽक्षमालाम् आसीनं तर्कमुद्रया ॥ ३८ ॥
Text
pāda-padmaṁ ca jānuni
bāhuṁ prakoṣṭhe ’kṣa-mālām
āsīnaṁ tarka-mudrayā
Synonyms
Translation
His left leg was placed on his right thigh, and his left hand was placed on his left thigh. [This sitting posture is called vīrāsana.] In his right hand he held rudrākṣa beads, and his finger was in the mode of argument.
Purport
The sitting posture described herein is called vīrāsana according to the system of aṣṭāṅga-yoga performances. In the performance of yoga there are eight divisions, such as yama and niyama — controlling, following the rules and regulations, then practicing the sitting postures, etc. Besides vīrāsana there are other sitting postures, such as padmāsana and siddhāsana. Practice of these āsanas without elevating oneself to the position of realizing the Supersoul, Viṣṇu, is not the perfectional stage of yoga. Lord Śiva is called yogīśvara, the master of all yogīs, and Kṛṣṇa is called yogeśvara. Yogīśvara indicates that no one can surpass the yoga practice of Lord Śiva, and yogeśvara indicates that no one can surpass the yogic perfection of Kṛṣṇa. Another significant word is tarka-mudrā. This indicates that the fingers are opened and the second finger is raised, along with the arm, to impress the audience with some subject matter. This is actually a symbolic representation.
Devanagari
व्युपाश्रितं गिरिशं योगकक्षाम् ।
सलोकपाला मुनयो मनूनाम्
आद्यं मनुं प्राञ्जलय: प्रणेमु: ॥ ३९ ॥
Text
vyupāśritaṁ giriśaṁ yoga-kakṣām
sa-loka-pālā munayo manūnām
ādyaṁ manuṁ prāñjalayaḥ praṇemuḥ
Synonyms
tam — him (Lord Śiva); brahma-nirvāṇa — in brahmānanda; samādhim — in trance; āśritam — absorbed; vyupāśritam — leaning on; giriśam — Lord Śiva; yoga-kakṣām — having his left knee firmly fixed with a knotted cloth; sa-loka-pālāḥ — along with the demigods (headed by Indra); munayaḥ — the sages; manūnām — of all thinkers; ādyam — the chief; manum — thinker; prāñjalayaḥ — with folded palms; praṇemuḥ — offered respectful obeisances.
Translation
All the sages and demigods, headed by Indra, offered their respectful obeisances unto Lord Śiva with folded hands. Lord Śiva was dressed in saffron garments and absorbed in trance, thus appearing to be the foremost of all sages.
Purport
In this verse the word brahmānanda is significant. This brahmānanda, or brahma-nirvāṇa, is explained by Prahlāda Mahārāja. When one is completely absorbed in the adhokṣaja, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the sense perception of materialistic persons, one is situated in brahmānanda.
It is impossible to conceive of the existence, name, form, quality and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is transcendentally situated beyond the conception of materialistic persons. Because materialists cannot imagine or conceive of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they may think that God is dead, but factually He is always existing in His sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha, His eternal form. Constant meditation concentrated on the form of the Lord is called samādhi — ecstasy or trance. Samādhi means particularly concentrated attention, so one who has achieved the qualification of always meditating on the Personality of Godhead is to be understood to be always in trance and enjoying brahma-nirvāṇa, or brahmānanda. Lord Śiva exhibited those symptoms, and therefore it is stated that he was absorbed in brahmānanda.
Another significant word is yoga-kakṣām. Yoga-kakṣā is the sitting posture in which the left thigh is fixed under one’s tightly knotted saffron-colored garment. Also the words manūnām ādyam are significant here because they mean a philosopher, or one who is thoughtful and can think very nicely. Such a man is called manu. Lord Śiva is described in this verse as the chief of all thinkers. Lord Śiva, of course, does not engage in useless mental speculation, but as stated in the previous verse, he is always thoughtful regarding how to deliver the demons from their fallen condition of life. It is said that during the advent of Lord Caitanya, Sadāśiva appeared as Advaita Prabhu, and Advaita Prabhu’s chief concern was to elevate the fallen conditioned souls to the platform of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Since people were engaged in useless occupations which would continue their material existence, Lord Śiva, in the form of Lord Advaita, appealed to the Supreme Lord to appear as Lord Caitanya to deliver these illusioned souls. Actually Lord Caitanya appeared on the request of Lord Advaita. Similarly, Lord Śiva has a sampradāya, the Rudra sampradāya. He is always thinking about the deliverance of the fallen souls, as exhibited by Lord Advaita Prabhu.
Devanagari
सुरासुरेशैरभिवन्दिताङ्घ्रि: ।
उत्थाय चक्रे शिरसाभिवन्दन-
मर्हत्तम: कस्य यथैव विष्णु: ॥ ४० ॥
Text
surāsureśair abhivanditāṅghriḥ
utthāya cakre śirasābhivandanam
arhattamaḥ kasya yathaiva viṣṇuḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — Lord Śiva; tu — but; upalabhya — seeing; āgatam — had arrived; ātma-yonim — Lord Brahmā; sura-asura-īśaiḥ — by the best of the demigods and demons; abhivandita-aṅghriḥ — whose feet are worshiped; utthāya — standing up; cakre — made; śirasā — with his head; abhivandanam — respectful; arhattamaḥ — Vāmanadeva; kasya — of Kaśyapa; yathā eva — just as; viṣṇuḥ — Viṣṇu.
Translation
Lord Śiva’s lotus feet were worshiped by both the demigods and demons, but still, in spite of his exalted position, as soon as he saw that Lord Brahmā was there among all the other demigods, he immediately stood up and offered him respect by bowing down and touching his lotus feet, just as Vāmanadeva offered His respectful obeisances to Kaśyapa Muni.
Purport
Kaśyapa Muni was in the category of the living entities, but he had a transcendental son, Vāmanadeva, who was an incarnation of Viṣṇu. Thus although Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He offered His respects to Kaśyapa Muni. Similarly, when Lord Kṛṣṇa was a child He used to offer His respectful obeisances to His mother and father, Nanda and Yaśodā. Also, at the Battle of Kurukṣetra, Lord Kṛṣṇa touched the feet of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira because the King was His elder. It appears, then, that the Personality of Godhead, Lord Śiva and other devotees, in spite of their being situated in exalted positions, instructed by practical example how to offer obeisances to their superiors. Lord Śiva offered his respectful obeisances to Brahmā because Brahmā was his father, just as Kaśyapa Muni was the father of Vāmana.
Devanagari
र्ये वै समन्तादनु नीललोहितम् ।
नमस्कृत: प्राह शशाङ्कशेखरं
कृतप्रणामं प्रहसन्निवात्मभू: ॥ ४१ ॥
Text
ye vai samantād anu nīlalohitam
namaskṛtaḥ prāha śaśāṅka-śekharaṁ
kṛta-praṇāmaṁ prahasann ivātmabhūḥ
Synonyms
tathā — so; apare — the others; siddha-gaṇāḥ — the Siddhas; mahā-ṛṣibhiḥ — along with the great sages; ye — who; vai — indeed; samantāt — from all sides; anu — after; nīlalohitam — Lord Śiva; namaskṛtaḥ — making obeisances; prāha — said; śaśāṅka-śekharam — to Lord Śiva; kṛta-praṇāmam — having made obeisances; prahasan — smiling; iva — as; ātmabhūḥ — Lord Brahmā.
Translation
All the sages who were sitting with Lord Śiva, such as Nārada and others, also offered their respectful obeisances to Lord Brahmā. After being so worshiped, Lord Brahmā, smiling, began to speak to Lord Śiva.
Purport
Lord Brahmā was smiling because he knew that Lord Śiva is not only easily satisfied but easily irritated as well. He was afraid that Lord Śiva might be in an angry mood because he had lost his wife and had been insulted by Dakṣa. In order to conceal this fear, he smiled and addressed Lord Śiva as follows.
Devanagari
जाने त्वामीशं विश्वस्य जगतो योनिबीजयो: ।
शक्ते: शिवस्य च परं यत्तद्ब्रह्म निरन्तरम् ॥ ४२ ॥
Text
jāne tvām īśaṁ viśvasya
jagato yoni-bījayoḥ
śakteḥ śivasya ca paraṁ
yat tad brahma nirantaram
Synonyms
brahmā uvāca — Lord Brahmā said; jāne — I know; tvām — you (Lord Śiva); īśam — the controller; viśvasya — of the entire material manifestation; jagataḥ — of the cosmic manifestation; yoni-bījayoḥ — of both the mother and father; śakteḥ — of potency; śivasya — of Śiva; ca — and; param — the Supreme; yat — which; tat — that; brahma — without change; nirantaram — with no material qualities.
Translation
Lord Brahmā said: My dear Lord Śiva, I know that you are the controller of the entire material manifestation, the combination father and mother of the cosmic manifestation, and the Supreme Brahman beyond the cosmic manifestation as well. I know you in that way.
Purport
Although Lord Brahmā had received very respectful obeisances from Lord Śiva, he knew that Lord Śiva was in a more exalted position than himself. Lord Śiva’s position is described in Brahma-saṁhitā: there is no difference between Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva in their original positions, but still Lord Śiva is different from Lord Viṣṇu. The example is given that the milk in yogurt is not different from the original milk from which it was made.
Devanagari
विश्वं सृजसि पास्यत्सि क्रीडन्नूर्णपटो यथा ॥ ४३ ॥
Text
chiva-śaktyoḥ svarūpayoḥ
viśvaṁ sṛjasi pāsy atsi
krīḍann ūrṇa-paṭo yathā
Synonyms
tvam — you; eva — certainly; bhagavan — O my lord; etat — this; śiva-śaktyoḥ — being situated in your auspicious energy; svarūpayoḥ — by your personal expansion; viśvam — this universe; sṛjasi — create; pāsi — maintain; atsi — annihilate; krīḍan — working; ūrṇa-paṭaḥ — spider’s web; yathā — just like.
Translation
My dear lord, you create this cosmic manifestation, maintain it, and annihilate it by expansion of your personality, exactly as a spider creates, maintains and winds up its web.
Purport
In this verse the word śiva-śakti is significant. Śiva means “auspicious,” and śakti means “energy.” There are many types of energies of the Supreme Lord, and all of them are auspicious. Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara are called guṇa-avatāras, or incarnations of material qualities. In the material world we compare these different incarnations from different angles of vision, but since all of them are expansions of the supreme auspicious, all of them are auspicious, although sometimes we consider one quality of nature to be higher or lower than another. The mode of ignorance, or tamo-guṇa, is considered very much lower than the others, but in the higher sense it is also auspicious. The example may be given herein that the government has both an educational department and criminal department. An outsider may consider the criminal department inauspicious, but from the government’s point of view it is as important as the education department, and therefore the government finances both departments equally, without discrimination.
Devanagari
दक्षेण सूत्रेण ससर्जिथाध्वरम् ।
त्वयैव लोकेऽवसिताश्च सेतवो
यान्ब्राह्मणा: श्रद्दधते धृतव्रता: ॥ ४४ ॥
Text
dakṣeṇa sūtreṇa sasarjithādhvaram
tvayaiva loke ’vasitāś ca setavo
yān brāhmaṇāḥ śraddadhate dhṛta-vratāḥ
Synonyms
tvam — Your Lordship; eva — certainly; dharma-artha-dugha — benefit derived from religion and economic development; abhipattaye — for their protection; dakṣeṇa — by Dakṣa; sūtreṇa — making him the cause; sasarjitha — created; adhvaram — sacrifices; tvayā — by you; eva — certainly; loke — in this world; avasitāḥ — regulated; ca — and; setavaḥ — respect for the varṇāśrama institution; yān — which; brāhmaṇāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; śraddadhate — respect very much; dhṛta-vratāḥ — taking it as a vow.
Translation
My dear lord, Your Lordship has introduced the system of sacrifices through the agency of Dakṣa, and thus one may derive the benefits of religious activities and economic development. Under your regulative principles, the institution of the four varṇās and āśramas is respected. The brāhmaṇas therefore vow to follow this system strictly.
Purport
The Vedic system of varṇa and āśrama is never to be neglected, for these divisions are created by the Supreme Lord Himself for the upkeep of social and religious order in human society. The brāhmaṇas, as the intelligent class of men in society, must vow to steadily respect this regulative principle. The tendency in this Age of Kali to make a classless society and not observe the principles of varṇa and āśrama is a manifestation of an impossible dream. Destruction of the social and spiritual orders will not bring fulfillment of the idea of a classless society. One should strictly observe the principles of varṇa and āśrama for the satisfaction of the creator, for it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā by Lord Kṛṣṇa that the four orders of the social system — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras — are His creation. They should act according to the regulative principles of this institution and satisfy the Lord, just as different parts of the body all engage in the service of the whole. The whole is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His virāṭ-rūpa, or universal form. The brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras are respectively the mouth, arms, abdomen and legs of the universal form of the Lord. As long as they are engaged in the service of the complete whole, their position is secure; otherwise they fall down from their respective positions and become degraded.
Devanagari
कर्तु: स्वलोकं तनुषे स्व: परं वा ।
अमङ्गलानां च तमिस्रमुल्बणं
विपर्यय: केन तदेव कस्यचित् ॥ ४५ ॥
Text
kartuḥ sva-lokaṁ tanuṣe svaḥ paraṁ vā
amaṅgalānāṁ ca tamisram ulbaṇaṁ
viparyayaḥ kena tad eva kasyacit
Synonyms
tvam — Your Lordship; karmaṇām — of the prescribed duties; maṅgala — O most auspicious; maṅgalānām — of the auspicious; kartuḥ — of the performer; sva-lokam — respective higher planetary systems; tanuṣe — expand; svaḥ — heavenly planets; param — transcendental world; vā — or; amaṅgalānām — of the inauspicious; ca — and; tamisram — the name of a particular hell; ulbaṇam — ghastly; viparyayaḥ — the opposite; kena — why; tat eva — certainly that; kasyacit — for someone.
Translation
O most auspicious lord, you have ordained the heavenly planets, the spiritual Vaikuṇṭha planets and the impersonal Brahman sphere as the respective destinations of the performers of auspicious activities. Similarly, for others, who are miscreants, you have destined different kinds of hells which are horrible and ghastly. Yet sometimes it is found that their destinations are just the opposite. It is very difficult to ascertain the cause of this.
Purport
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is called the supreme will. It is by the supreme will that everything is happening. It is said, therefore, that not a blade of grass moves without the supreme will. Generally it is prescribed that performers of pious activities are promoted to the higher planetary systems, devotees are promoted to the Vaikuṇṭhas, or spiritual worlds, and impersonal speculators are promoted to the impersonal Brahman effulgence; but it sometimes so happens that a miscreant like Ajāmila is immediately promoted to the Vaikuṇṭhaloka simply by chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa. Although when Ajāmila uttered this vibration he intended to call his son Nārāyaṇa, Lord Nārāyaṇa took it seriously and immediately gave him promotion to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, despite his background, which was full of sinful activities. Similarly King Dakṣa was always engaged in the pious activities of performing sacrifices, yet simply because of creating a little misunderstanding with Lord Śiva, he was severely taken to task. The conclusion, therefore, is that the supreme will is the ultimate judgment; no one can argue upon this. A pure devotee therefore submits in all circumstances to the supreme will of the Lord, accepting it as all-auspicious.
bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam
hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk
The purport of this verse is that when a devotee is in a calamitous condition he takes it as a benediction of the Supreme Lord and takes responsibility himself for his past misdeeds. In such a condition, he offers still more devotional service and is not disturbed. One who lives in such a disposition of mind, engaged in devotional service, is the most eligible candidate for promotion to the spiritual world. In other words, such a devotee’s claim for promotion to the spiritual world is assured in all circumstances.
Devanagari
भूतेषु सर्वेष्वभिपश्यतां तव ।
भूतानि चात्मन्यपृथग्दिदृक्षतां
प्रायेण रोषोऽभिभवेद्यथा पशुम् ॥ ४६ ॥
Text
bhūteṣu sarveṣv abhipaśyatāṁ tava
bhūtāni cātmany apṛthag-didṛkṣatāṁ
prāyeṇa roṣo ’bhibhaved yathā paśum
Synonyms
na — not; vai — but; satām — of the devotees; tvat-caraṇa-arpita-ātmanām — of those who are completely surrendered at your lotus feet; bhūteṣu — among living entities; sarveṣu — all varieties; abhipaśyatām — perfectly seeing; tava — your; bhūtāni — living entities; ca — and; ātmani — in the Supreme; apṛthak — nondifferent; didṛkṣatām — those who see like that; prāyeṇa — almost always; roṣaḥ — anger; abhibhavet — takes place; yathā — exactly like; paśum — the animals.
Translation
My dear Lord, devotees who have fully dedicated their lives unto your lotus feet certainly observe your presence as Paramātmā in each and every being, and as such they do not differentiate between one living being and another. Such persons treat all living entities equally. They never become overwhelmed by anger like animals, who can see nothing without differentiation.
Purport
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes angry or kills a demon, materially this may appear unfavorable, but spiritually it is a blissful blessing upon him. Therefore pure devotees do not make any distinction between the Lord’s anger and His blessings. They see both with reference to the Lord’s behavior with others and themselves. A devotee does not find fault with the behavior of the Lord in any circumstances.
Devanagari
परोदयेनार्पितहृद्रुजोऽनिशम् ।
परान् दुरुक्तैर्वितुदन्त्यरुन्तुदा-
स्तान्मावधीद्दैववधान्भवद्विध: ॥ ४७ ॥
Text
parodayenārpita-hṛd-rujo ’niśam
parān duruktair vitudanty aruntudās
tān māvadhīd daiva-vadhān bhavad-vidhaḥ
Synonyms
pṛthak — differently; dhiyaḥ — those who are thinking; karma — fruitive activities; dṛśaḥ — observer; durāśayāḥ — mean-minded; para-udayena — by others’ flourishing condition; arpita — given up; hṛt — heart; rujaḥ — anger; aniśam — always; parān — others; duruktaiḥ — harsh words; vitudanti — gives pain; aruntudāḥ — by piercing words; tān — unto them; mā — not; avadhīt — kill; daiva — by providence; vadhān — already killed; bhavat — you; vidhaḥ — like.
Translation
Persons who observe everything with differentiation, who are simply attached to fruitive activities, who are mean-minded, who are always pained to see the flourishing condition of others and who thus give distress to them by uttering harsh and piercing words have already been killed by providence. Thus there is no need for them to be killed again by an exalted personality like you.
Purport
Persons who are materialistic and always engaged in fruitive activities for material profit cannot endure seeing the flourishing life of others. Except for a few persons in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the entire world is full of such envious persons, who are perpetually full of anxieties because they are attached to the material body and are without self-realization. Since their hearts are always filled with anxiety, it is understood that they have already been killed by providence. Thus Lord Śiva, as a self-realized Vaiṣṇava, was advised not to kill Dakṣa. A Vaiṣṇava is described as para-duḥkha-duḥkhī because although he is never distressed in any condition of life, he is distressed to see others in a distressed condition. Vaiṣṇavas, therefore, should not try to kill by any action of the body or mind but should try to revive the Kṛṣṇa consciousness of others out of compassion for them. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has been started to deliver the envious persons of the world from the clutches of māyā, and even though devotees are sometimes put into trouble, they push on the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in all tolerance. Lord Caitanya advises:
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
“One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” (Śikṣāṣṭaka 3)
A Vaiṣṇava should follow the examples of such Vaiṣṇavas as Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Nityānanda Prabhu and also Lord Jesus Christ. There is no need to kill anyone who has already been killed. But it should be noted herewith that a Vaiṣṇava should not tolerate the blaspheming of Viṣṇu or Vaiṣṇavas, although he should tolerate personal insults to himself.
Devanagari
दुरन्तया स्पृष्टधिय: पृथग्दृश: ।
कुर्वन्ति तत्र ह्यनुकम्पया कृपां
न साधवो दैवबलात्कृते क्रमम् ॥ ४८ ॥
Text
durantayā spṛṣṭa-dhiyaḥ pṛthag-dṛśaḥ
kurvanti tatra hy anukampayā kṛpāṁ
na sādhavo daiva-balāt kṛte kramam
Synonyms
yasmin — in some place; yadā — when; puṣkara-nābha-māyayā — by the illusory energy of Puṣkaranābha, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; durantayā — insurmountable; spṛṣṭa-dhiyaḥ — bewildered; pṛthak-dṛśaḥ — the same persons who see differently; kurvanti — do; tatra — there; hi — certainly; anukampayā — out of compassion; kṛpām — mercy; na — never; sādhavaḥ — saintly persons; daiva-balāt — by providence; kṛte — being done; kramam — prowess.
Translation
My dear lord, if in some places materialists, who are already bewildered by the insurmountable illusory energy of the Supreme Godhead, sometimes commit offenses, a saintly person, with compassion, does not take this seriously. Knowing that they commit offenses because they are overpowered by the illusory energy, he does not show his prowess to counteract them.
Purport
It is said that the beauty of a tapasvī, or saintly person, is forgiveness. There are many instances in the spiritual history of the world in which many saintly persons, although unnecessarily harassed, did not take action, although they could have done so. Parīkṣit Mahārāja, for example, was unnecessarily cursed by a brāhmaṇa boy, and this was very much regretted by the boy’s father, but Parīkṣit Mahārāja accepted the curse and agreed to die within a week as the brāhmaṇa boy desired. Parīkṣit Mahārāja was the emperor and was full in power both spiritually and materially, but out of compassion and out of respect for the brāhmaṇa community, he did not counteract the action of the brāhmaṇa boy but agreed to die within seven days. Because it was desired by Kṛṣṇa that Parīkṣit Mahārāja agree to the punishment so that the instruction of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam would thus be revealed to the world, Parīkṣit Mahārāja was advised not to take action. A Vaiṣṇava is personally tolerant for the benefit of others. When he does not show his prowess, this does not mean that he is lacking in strength; rather, it indicates that he is tolerant for the welfare of the entire human society.
Devanagari
दुरन्तयास्पृष्टमति: समस्तदृक् ।
तया हतात्मस्वनुकर्मचेत:-
स्वनुग्रहं कर्तुमिहार्हसि प्रभो ॥ ४९ ॥
Text
durantayāspṛṣṭa-matiḥ samasta-dṛk
tayā hatātmasv anukarma-cetaḥsv
anugrahaṁ kartum ihārhasi prabho
Synonyms
bhavān — Your Lordship; tu — but; puṁsaḥ — of the person; paramasya — the supreme; māyayā — by the material energy; durantayā — of great potency; aspṛṣṭa — unaffected; matiḥ — intelligence; samasta-dṛk — seer or knower of everything; tayā — by the same illusory energy; hata-ātmasu — bewildered at heart; anukarma-cetaḥsu — whose hearts are attracted by fruitive activities; anugraham — mercy; kartum — to do; iha — in this case; arhasi — desire; prabho — O lord.
Translation
My dear lord, you are never bewildered by the formidable influence of the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore you are omniscient and should be merciful and compassionate toward those who are bewildered by the same illusory energy and are very much attached to fruitive activities.
Purport
A Vaiṣṇava is never bewildered by the influence of the external energy because he is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The Lord states in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14):
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te
“My divine energy consisting of the three modes of material nature is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” A Vaiṣṇava should take care of those who are bewildered by this māyā instead of becoming angry with them, because without a Vaiṣṇava’s mercy they have no way to get out of the clutches of māyā. Those who have been condemned by māyā are rescued by the mercy of devotees:
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.” Those who are under the influence of the illusory energy are attracted to fruitive activities, but a Vaiṣṇava preacher attracts their hearts to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
त्वयासमाप्तस्य मनो प्रजापते: ।
न यत्र भागं तव भागिनो ददु:
कुयाजिनो येन मखो निनीयते ॥ ५० ॥
Text
tvayāsamāptasya mano prajāpateḥ
na yatra bhāgaṁ tava bhāgino daduḥ
kuyājino yena makho ninīyate
Synonyms
kuru — just execute; adhvarasya — of the sacrifice; uddharaṇam — complete regularly; hatasya — killed; bhoḥ — O; tvayā — by you; asamāptasya — of the unfinished sacrifice; mano — O Lord Śiva; prajāpateḥ — of Mahārāja Dakṣa; na — not; yatra — where; bhāgam — share; tava — your; bhāginaḥ — deserving to take the share; daduḥ — did not give; ku-yājinaḥ — bad priests; yena — by the bestower; makhaḥ — sacrifice; ninīyate — gets the result.
Translation
My dear Lord Śiva, you are a shareholder of a portion of the sacrifice, and you are the giver of the result. The bad priests did not deliver your share, and therefore you destroyed everything, and the sacrifice remains unfinished. Now you can do the needful and take your rightful share.
Devanagari
भृगो: श्मश्रूणि रोहन्तु पूष्णो दन्ताश्च पूर्ववत् ॥ ५१ ॥
Text
prapadyetākṣiṇī bhagaḥ
bhṛgoḥ śmaśrūṇi rohantu
pūṣṇo dantāś ca pūrvavat
Synonyms
jīvatāt — let him be alive; yajamānaḥ — the performer of the sacrifice (Dakṣa); ayam — this; prapadyeta — let him get back; akṣiṇī — by the eyes; bhagaḥ — Bhagadeva; bhṛgoḥ — of the sage Bhṛgu; śmaśrūṇi — mustache; rohantu — may grow again; pūṣṇaḥ — of Pūṣādeva; dantāḥ — the chain of teeth; ca — and; pūrva-vat — like before.
Translation
My dear lord, by your mercy the performer of the sacrifice [King Dakṣa] may get back his life, Bhaga may get back his eyes, Bhṛgu his mustache, and Pūṣā his teeth.
Devanagari
भवतानुगृहीतानामाशु मन्योऽस्त्वनातुरम् ॥ ५२ ॥
Text
ṛtvijāṁ cāyudhāśmabhiḥ
bhavatānugṛhītānām
āśu manyo ’stv anāturam
Synonyms
devānām — of the demigods; bhagna-gātrāṇām — whose limbs are badly broken; ṛtvijām — of the priests; ca — and; āyudha-aśmabhiḥ — by weapons and by stones; bhavatā — by you; anugṛhītānām — being favored; āśu — at once; manyo — O Lord Śiva (in an angry mood); astu — let there be; anāturam — recovery from injuries.
Translation
O Lord Śiva, may the demigods and the priests whose limbs have been broken by your soldiers recover from the injuries by your grace.
Devanagari
यज्ञस्ते रुद्रभागेन कल्पतामद्य यज्ञहन् ॥ ५३ ॥
Text
yad-ucchiṣṭo ’dhvarasya vai
yajñas te rudra bhāgena
kalpatām adya yajña-han
Synonyms
eṣaḥ — this; te — your; rudra — O Lord Śiva; bhāgaḥ — portion; astu — let it be; yat — whatever; ucchiṣṭaḥ — is the remainder; adhvarasya — of the sacrifice; vai — indeed; yajñaḥ — the sacrifice; te — your; rudra — O Rudra; bhāgena — by the portion; kalpatām — may be completed; adya — today; yajña-han — O destroyer of the sacrifice.
Translation
O destroyer of the sacrifice, please take your portion of the sacrifice and let the sacrifice be completed by your grace.
Purport
A sacrifice is a ceremony performed to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Canto, Second Chapter, it is stated that everyone should try to understand whether the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied by his activity. In other words, the aim of our activities should be to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as in an office it is the duty of the worker to see that the proprietor or the master is satisfied, so everyone’s duty is to see whether the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied by one’s activity. Activities to satisfy the Supreme Godhead are prescribed in the Vedic literature, and execution of such activities is called yajña. In other words, acting on behalf of the Supreme Lord is called yajña. One should know very well that any activity besides yajña is the cause of material bondage. That is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9): yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ. Karma-bandhanaḥ means that if we do not work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, then the reaction of our work will bind us. One should not work for his own sense gratification. Everyone should work for the satisfaction of God. That is called yajña.
After the yajña was performed by Dakṣa, all the demigods expected prasāda, the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Viṣṇu. Lord Śiva is one of the demigods, so naturally he also expected his share of the prasāda from the yajña. But Dakṣa, out of his envy of Lord Śiva, neither invited Śiva to participate in the yajña nor gave him his share after the offering. But after the destruction of the yajña arena by the followers of Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā pacified him and assured him that he would get his share of prasāda. Thus he was requested to rectify whatever destruction was caused by his followers.
In Bhagavad-gītā (3.11) it is said that all the demigods are satisfied when one performs yajña. Because the demigods expect prasāda from yajñas, yajña must be performed. Those who engage in sense gratificatory, materialistic activities must perform yajña; otherwise they will be implicated. Thus Dakṣa, being the father of mankind, was performing yajña, and Lord Śiva expected his share. But since Śiva was not invited, there was trouble. By the mediation of Lord Brahmā, however, everything was settled satisfactorily.
The performance of yajña is a very difficult task because all the demigods must be invited to participate in the yajña. In this Kali-yuga it is not possible to perform such costly sacrifices, nor is it possible to invite the demigods to participate. Therefore in this age it is recommended, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ (Bhāg. 11.5.32). Those who are intelligent should know that in the Kali-yuga there is no possibility of performing the Vedic sacrifices. But unless one pleases the demigods, there will be no regulated seasonal activities or rainfall. Everything is controlled by the demigods. Under the circumstances, in this age, in order to keep the balance of social peace and prosperity, all intelligent men should execute the performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña by chanting the holy names Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. One should invite people, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and then distribute prasāda. This yajña will satisfy all the demigods, and thus there will be peace and prosperity in the world. Another difficulty in performing the Vedic rituals is that if one fails to satisfy even one demigod out of the many hundreds of thousands of demigods, just as Dakṣa failed to satisfy Lord Śiva, there will be disaster. But in this age the performance of sacrifice has been simplified: one can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and by pleasing Kṛṣṇa one can satisfy all the demigods automatically.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Brahmā Satisfies Lord Śiva.”