rule



 

 

 

Canto 10

Prabhupâda Pranâti

 
 

Chapter 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krishna in the Womb

(1-2) S'rî S'uka said: 'Under the protection of the mighty king of Maghada, Jarâsandha [see 9.22: 8], with the assistance of characters like Pralamba, Baka, Cânûra, Trinâvarta, Aghâsura, Mushthika, Arishtha, Dvivida, Pûtanâ, Kes'î, Dhenuka, and Asura kings like Bâna, Bhaumâsura and more of those, there was a systematic persecution [by Kamsa] of the kings of Yadu. (3) Being harassed they sought shelter in the countries of the Kurus, the Pañcâlas, the Kekayas, the S'âlvas, the Vidharbas, the Nishadhas, the Videhas and the Kos'alas. (4-5) Some of their relatives though followed the policy of the son of Ugrasena [Kamsa]. When Kamsa had killed six of the children born from Devakî, the seventh one, a plenary expansion of Vishnu who was celebrated with the name Ananta, therefore as an embryo in the womb of Devakî gave rise to both pleasure and sorrow. (6) When the Supreme Lord, who is also the Supersoul of each living being [see also B.G. 10: 11], learned about the fear for Kamsa of the Yadus who had accepted Him as their refuge, He instructed His spiritual potency [Yoga-mâyâ] as follows: (7) 'Oh Devî so good for all living beings, please go to Vraja, that beautiful place with its cowherds and cows, where Rohinî and the other wives of Vasudeva in seclusion, out of fear for Kamsa, are living in the cowherd community [the gokula] of Nanda. (8) In the womb of Devakî there is the embryo known as [Ananta-]S'esha who is a plenary expansion of Me. Take care of a smooth transition from her womb to the womb of Rohinî [*]. (9) At that time I will, with all My different parts [with My full potency], become Devakî's son, oh all-auspicious one. Meanwhile you will appear as the daughter of Yas'odâ, the wife of Nanda. (10) The people [the s'âktas as opposed to the Vaishnavas] will worship you, with incense, in different forms of sacrifice as being the best Goddess for all desires, for you, with bestowing your blessings, fulfill every wish. (11-12) Depending on the place on earth [**] you will be celebrated with different names like Durgâ, Bhadrakâli, Vijayâ, Vaishnavî, Kumudâ, Candikâ, Krishnâ, Mâdhavî, Kanyakâ [or Kanyâ-kumârî], Mâyâ, Nârâyanî, Îs'ânî, S'âradâ and Ambikâ [***]. (13) Because He changes wombs [from Devakī to the womb of Rohinī] the people of the world will address Him with the name Sankarshana, because He brings pleasure to the people [of Gokula] He will be called Râma, and because of His great physical strength He will be named Balabhadra.'

(14) Thus being instructed by the Supreme Lord, she accepted His words with the mantra 'Om'. After next circumambulating Him, she went away to execute exactly what was told [compare B.G. 16: 24]. (15) When Devakî's embryo, owing to the slumber of yoga [raised by Yoga-mâyâ, see B.G. 2: 69], was transferred to Rohinî, everyone lamented: 'Alas, the baby is lost' [thinking it was a miscarriage]. (16) The Supreme Lord, the Soul of All, who always puts an end to the fear of His devotees, then with His full potency entered the mind of Vasudeva [see also 3.2: 15]. (17) Carrying [within himself] the effulgent shelter of the Original Personality, Vasudeva shone like the sun, and he thus for everyone became difficult to behold or approach. (18) He, the Blessing of the Complete Universe, who is Infallible in All His Parts, was thereafter by the son of S'ûrasena [Vasudeva] in full transferred from mind to mind to his devî [Devakî], so that she, preserving the Supreme Soul and Cause of all Causes, bloomed of happiness like the eastern sky. (19) Devakî with in her womb the Sustainer of All the Universes, could not freely radiate her light, being confined in the Bhoja house like the flames of a covered fire or like the knowledge of a man unable to express himself [****]. (20) But Kamsa saw her radiating with the beauty of having the Invincible One within her womb, and that she cleared the entire atmosphere with her brilliant smiles. He said to himself: 'The one who now has entered the womb of Devakî must be the Lord who is going to kill me. She never before looked like this! (21) What should I do now, not to neglect my self interest? I assume that the Example of Virtue will not give up His ways. The killing of a woman, my sister, especially when she is pregnant, will for ever tarnish my reputation and opulence, and will shorten my life span. (22) That person is dead being alive who lives his life with much cruelty. When the body is finished everyone will condemn him. With his physical concept of life [see also 7.5: 30 and 5.5: 5 and B.G. 16: 18-21] he will certainly enter the deepest darkness [Andhatama, see also 3.20: 18 and 5.26: 9].'

(23) Thus contemplating the ghastly idea of killing [the mother], he refrained from it and kept himself under control. Persisting in enmity he awaited the moment that the Lord would take birth. (24) Whether he sat or lay down, wherever he was, he ate or went, he [filled with hatred] thought about Hrishîkes'a, the Lord of the Senses. He meant the entire world to him. (25) But Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva assembled there, together with the sages, Nârada and other divine personalities and their followers, in order to please Him, the Strongest Man of All, with prayers: (26) 'You are the truth of the vow [see 9.24: 56 and B.G. 9: 22], the truth of the Supreme and the truth of the threefoldness [of e.g. the past, present and future]. You are the source of all truth who pervades all truths, You are the truth of everything that is held true, the original truth of each truth that meets the eye, and the truth of all that pertains to the Supreme Soul, of You, whom we offer our full surrender. (27) The original tree [of this universe, our body], in which one finds two birds [the soul and the Supersoul], is one in its dependence [on matter], is two in its fruits [of happiness and grief], is three in its roots [the three modes], is four in its tastes [the purushârthas, the civil virtues], is five in its knowing [by the senses], is six in its conditions [of lamentation, illusion, old age, death, hunger and thirst], is seven in its layers ['the bark' or the koshas, the different bodies], is eight in its branches [the elements, mind, intelligence and ego], is nine in its apertures and is ten in its foliage [or the ten airs, see 7.15: 42]. (28) You as the One and All are the Original Source of this visible universe [this tree]. You are the mercy [the conservation] when we are thrown in despair [meet destruction]. Those whose intelligence is covered by Your mâyâ and miss the vision of the devotees and scholars, cannot see You behind the diversity. (29) For the sake of every living being, moving or not moving, You watch over the soul and beatitude, in assuming all sorts of forms consisting of pure goodness, that bring transcendental happiness to virtuous souls, and that time and again put an end to those who are wicked. (30) Fully engaged in a constant meditation on You as the abode of the complete consciousness, oh Lotus-eyed Lord, by that one-pointedness as practiced by the greatest, one gets on board of the boat of Your lotus feet that reduces the great ocean of nescience to [the size of] a calf's hoof print [compare 10.1: 5-7]. (31) Once they personally have crossed the so difficult to pass ocean of darkness, oh Light of the World, they [the experienced devotees] who, because of Your mercy for the truth loving souls, are full of goodwill [to help], leave behind the boat [the method] of Your lotus feet in this world [see also B.G. 6: 44]. (32) All others who neglect Your feet, oh Lotus-eyed One, are caught in an illusion of being liberated, and have, bereft of You, an impure intelligence. Even though they are successful in severe practices [of penance and such] they, from their elevated position, fall down again back into the material world [see also B.G. 8: 15-16 and 5.6: 11]. (33) They who follow You in devotion, oh Mâdhava, unlike the non-devotees, do not fall away from the path. Because they are fully attached to You, they are protected by You and move without fear over the heads of those who march against them, oh Master [see also 1.5: 17 and B.G. 18: 78]. (34) For the purpose of maintaining [Your rule], Your Lordship, existing beyond the modes, assumes a form for the benefit and welfare of all embodied souls, so that human society, in accordance with the Veda, by [bhakti] yoga and penance being absorbed in Your worship, may be of sacrifice [see also B.G. 3: 9 & 18: 3]. (35) How could we have arrived at Your wisdom, that drives away the ignorance, if the purity of existence, oh Source of the World, would not be this constancy of You [being present]? The ignorance is completely vanquished when that quality of Yours is awakened by Your Lordship manifesting Yourself, and for that there is no alternative. (36) Oh Lord, on the path of the words and assumptions of those who look after the mind only [the impersonal intellect], Your name, form, qualities and actions cannot be ascertained. You are only realized when one [actually] puts Your name and form into practice [with ceremony and song; see also 1.3: 37-38, 4.18: 5, 7.15: 58 and B.G. 6: 24 & 18: 55]. (37) Constantly hearing, reciting, remembering and contemplating Your auspicious names [see 7.5: 23-24] and forms, he, who is of an undivided attention in service at Your lotus feet, no longer is capable of losing himself in the material world [see also 6.17: 28-31]. (38) In having this planet earth as the place of Your feet, oh Lord, it is our fortune to see the Asura burden removed by You. Due to the causeless mercy of Your manifestation as the Controller of All, we may enjoy the fortune of witnessing, both in heaven and on earth, the marks of Your transcendentally decorated lotus feet [the conch, the lotus, the club and the disc]. (39) For You, who directs our lives, there exists [actually] no such thing as being born [or dying, like we have to face]. However, it suffers no doubt that the cause of one's being born cannot exist without the pleasure [of Your liberating pastimes]. You after all are with the being born, maintaining and dying of us normal souls - which is arranged by the external energy - our safe haven against all fear. (40) In the form of a fish,  a horse,  a tortoise,  a lion, a boar, a swan [or self-realized sage], a king, and as a man of learning among the God-fearing souls [like Lord Vâmana], Your Lordship has appeared as avatâras. Now please save us and the three worlds, oh Controller, diminish the earth's burden, oh best of the Yadus, we dedicate all our prayers to You [see also 1.3]. (41) [and towards Devakî they prayed:] To our fortune, oh mother, the Supreme Personality with all His energies can now be seen in your womb. The Supreme Lord is full of mercy for everyone. Fear therefore never the master of the Bhojas [Kamsa], who wishes to be killed by Him, the protector of the Yadu dynasty, who will become Your son.'

(42) S'rî S'uka said: 'After thus having offered their prayers unto the Original Personality whose form is Transcendental, all the demigods, led by Brahmâ and S'iva, returned to their abodes.'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded April 10, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1-2

S'rî S'uka said: 'Under the protection of the mighty king of Maghada, Jarâsandha [see 9.22: 8], with the assistance of characters like Pralamba, Baka, Cânûra, Trinâvarta, Aghâsura, Mushthika, Arishtha, Dvivida, Pûtanâ, Kes'î, Dhenuka, and Asura kings like Bâna, Bhaumâsura and more of those, there was a systematic persecution [by Kamsa] of the kings of Yadu.
S'rî S'uka said: 'Under the protection of the mighty king of Maghada, Jarâsandha [see 9.22: 8], was there with the assistance of Pralamba, Baka, Cânûra, Trinâvarta, Aghâsura, Mushthika, Arishtha, Dvivida, Pûtanâ, Kes'î, Dhenuka, [Narakâsura] and such characters and asura kings like Bâna, Bhaumâsura and more of those, a systematic persecution of the kings of Yadu. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Being harassed they sought shelter in the countries of the Kurus, the Pañcâlas, the Kekayas, the S'âlvas, the Vidharbas, the Nishadhas, the Videhas and the Kos'alas.

They, harassed, sought shelter in the countries of the Kurus and Pañcâlas, the Kekayas, the S'âlvas, the Vidharbas, the Nishadhas, the Videhas and the Kos'alas.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 4-5

Some of their relatives though followed the policy of the son of Ugrasena [Kamsa]. When Kamsa had killed six of the children born from Devakî, the seventh one, a plenary expansion of Vishnu who was celebrated with the name Ananta, therefore as an embryo in the womb of Devakî gave rise to both pleasure and sorrow.

Some of their relatives though began to follow the same policy that he, the son of Ugrasena [Kamsa], had with his killing of six of the children born from Devakî. The seventh one, a plenary expansion of Vishnu, who was celebrated with the name of Ananta, was [thus] as an embryo in the womb of Devakî the cause of as well pleasure as sorrow. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

When the Supreme Lord, who is also the Supersoul of each living being [see also B.G. 10: 11], learned about the fear for Kamsa of the Yadus who had accepted Him as their refuge, He instructed His spiritual potency [Yoga-mâyâ] as follows:

The Supreme Lord who is also the Supersoul of each living being [see also B.G. 10: 11], understanding the fear for Kamsa of the Yadus who sought Him as their supreme refuge, directed His spiritual potency [Yogamâyâ] as follows. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

'Oh Devî so good [for all living beings], please go to Vraja, that beautiful place with its cowherds and cows, where Rohinî and the other wives of Vasudeva in seclusion, out of fear for Kamsa, are living in the cowherd community [the gokula] of Nanda.

'O Devî, so auspicious, go to Vraja beautiful with her cowherds and cows, where Rohinî and other wives of Vasudeva are living in the cowherd-community [Gokula] of Nanda in seclusion out of fear for Kamsa. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

In the womb of Devakî there is the embryo known as [Ananta-]S'esha who is a plenary expansion of Me. Take care of a smooth transition from her womb to the womb of Rohinî [*].

In the womb of Devakî there is the embryo known as [Ananta-] S'esha that is a plenary expansion of Me; make a smooth transfer by motivating Him to move out of her into the womb of Rohinî [*]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

At that time I will, with all My different parts [with My full potency], become Devakî's son, oh all-auspicious one. Meanwhile you will appear as the daughter of Yas'odâ, the wife of Nanda.

Then will I with My full potency do My share in becoming Devakî's son, o all-auspicious one, while you as well will appear as the daughter of Yas'odâ, the wife of Nanda. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

The people [the s'âktas as opposed to the Vaishnavas] will worship you, with incense, in different forms of sacrifice as being the best Goddess for all desires, for you, with bestowing your blessings, fulfill every wish.

The people [the s'âktas as opposed to the Vaishnavas] will with incense worship you as the fulfillment of all their desires in different forms of sacrifice, because you for all that one may desire are the one capable of bestowing the blessings. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11-12

Depending on the place on earth [**] you will be celebrated with different names like Durgâ, Bhadrakâli, Vijayâ, Vaishnavî, Kumudâ, Candikâ, Krishnâ, Mâdhavî, Kanyakâ [or Kanyâ-kumârî], Mâyâ, Nârâyanî, Îs'ânî, S'âradâ and Ambikâ [***].

Depending on the place on earth [**] will you be given different names like Durgâ, Bhadrakâli, Vijayâ, Vaishnavî and Kumudâ, Candikâ, Krishnâ, Mâdhavî, Kanyakâ [or Kanyâ-kumârî], and Mâyâ, Nârâyanî, Îs'ânî, S'âradâ and also Ambikâ [***].  (Vedabase)

    

Text 13

Because He changes wombs [from Devakī to the womb of Rohinī] the people of the world will address Him with the name Sankarshana, because He brings pleasure to the people [of Gokula] He will be called Râma, and because of His great physical strength He will be named Balabhadra.'

Because of His changing wombs will the people of the world address Him [the son of Rohinî] with the name of Sankarshana, for His bringing pleasure to the people [making them devotees] is He called [Bala-]Râma and for His great physical strength is He called Balabhadra.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

Thus being instructed by the Supreme Lord she accepted His words with the mantra 'Om'. After next circumambulating Him she went away to execute exactly what was told [compare B.G. 16: 24].

Thus instructed by the Supreme Lord she responded with 'So be it' and 'Om', thus accepting His order, and after circumambulating Him descended she to execute exactly as was told [compare B.G. 16: 24]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

When Devakî's embryo, owing to the slumber of yoga [raised by Yoga-mâyâ, see B.G. 2: 69], was transferred to Rohinî, everyone lamented: 'Alas, the baby is lost' [thinking it was a miscarriage].

When Devakî's embryo by the slumber of yoga [or Yogamâyâ, see B.G. 2: 69] was transferred to Rohinî lamented everyone 'Alas, the baby is lost' [thinking it was a miscarriage]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 16

The Supreme Lord, the Soul of All, who always puts an end to the fear of His devotees, then with His full potency entered the mind of Vasudeva [see also 3.2: 15].

The Supreme Lord, the one love of all who always puts an end to the fear of His devotees, then with all the potency of His grace entered the mind of Vasudeva [see also 3.2: 15]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Carrying [within himself] the effulgent shelter of the Original Personality, Vasudeva shone like the sun, and he thus for everyone became difficult to behold or approach.

He, carrying the spiritual effulgence of the Original Personality, shone like the sun and became difficult to behold or approach for each and everyone. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

He, the Blessing of the Complete Universe, who is Infallible in All His Parts, was thereafter by the son of S'ûrasena [Vasudeva] in full transferred from mind to mind to his devî [Devakî], so that she, preserving the Supreme Soul and Cause of all Causes, bloomed of happiness like the eastern sky.

Thereafter was He, the Blessing of All the Universe Infallible in All His Parts, from mind to mind by the son of S'ûrasena [Vasudeva] fully transferred so that the Supreme Soul and Cause of all Causes was carried by his devî [Devakî] who bloomed of happiness like the eastern sky ['with the transference of the light of a setting sun to a rising moon']. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

Devakî with in her womb the Sustainer of All the Universes, could not freely radiate her light, being confined in the Bhoja house like the flames of a covered fire or like the knowledge of a man unable to express himself [****].

Devakî with in her womb having the Sustainer of All the Universes, could in that situation, as the flames of a fire confined in the Bhoja-house, not distribute her light just like it is with the knowledge of a person unable to express himself [*4]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

But Kamsa saw her radiating with the beauty of having the Invincible One within her womb, and that she cleared the entire atmosphere with her brilliant smiles. He said to himself: 'The one who now has entered the womb of Devakî must be the Lord who is going to kill me. She never before looked like this!

Kamsa seeing her, who with the beauty of the radiance of having the Invincible One within her cleared the entire atmosphere with her brilliant smiles, said to himself: 'The one who now has entered the womb of Devakî for sure is the Lord who is going to kill me; she never before looked like this! (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

What should I do now, not to neglect my self interest? I assume that the Example of Virtue will not give up His ways. The killing of a woman, my sister, especially when she is pregnant, will for ever tarnish my reputation and opulence, and will shorten my life span.

How must I, considering that the Holy Example will not give up His prowess, proceed now not to neglect my interest? The killing of a woman, of my sister, especially when she is pregnant, will for ever vanquish my fame and opulence and shorten my life span. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

That person is dead being alive who lives his life with much cruelty. When the body is finished everyone will condemn him. With his physical concept of life [see also 7.5: 30 and 5.5: 5 and B.G. 16: 18-21] he will certainly enter the deepest darkness [Andhatama, see also 3.20: 18 and 5.26: 9].'


That person is dead even being alive who lives his life with much cruelty; when the body is finished will all human beings condemn him and will he with his bodily concept of life [see also 7.5: 30 and 5.5: 5 and B.G. 16: 18-21] no doubt enter the deepest darkness [Andhatama, see also 3.20: 18 and 5.26: 9].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Thus contemplating the ghastly idea of killing [the mother], he refrained from it and kept himself under control. Persisting in enmity he awaited the moment that the Lord would take birth.

Thus contemplating the ghastly idea of murder, refrained he, keeping himself under control, from following that course. Persisting in enmity he awaited the moment the Lord would be born. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Whether he sat or lay down, wherever he was, he ate or went, he [filled with hatred] thought about Hrishîkes'a, the Lord of the Senses. He meant the entire world to him.

Sitting or lying down, wherever he was, ate, walked or went thought he [in hate thus] of Hrishîkes'a, the Lord of the Senses, thinking the whole world to be Him and nothing more. (Vedabase)

  

Text 25

But Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva assembled there, together with the sages, Nârada and other divine personalities and their followers, in order to please Him, the Strongest Man of All, with prayers:

But Lord Brahmâ, Lord S'iva arriving there with the sages, Nârada and other godly personalities and their followers all together with their transcendental prayers pleased Him, the Blessing of All: (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

'You are the truth of the vow [see 9.24: 56 and B.G. 9: 22], the truth of the Supreme and the truth of the threefoldness [of e.g. the past, present and future]. You are the source of all truth who pervades all truths, You are the truth of everything that is held true, the original truth of each truth that meets the eye, and the truth of all that pertains to the Supreme Soul, of You, whom we offer our full surrender.

'The truth of the vow [see 9.24: 56 and B.G. 9: 22], the truth of the Supreme, the truth in the threefold [of e.g. past, present and future] You are; You are the source of all truth pervading all truths, who of the truth of the elements and of all [the relative] that is held true is the original truth; of each sacred truth being the origin is everything true pertaining to You, whom we offer our full surrender. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

The original tree [of this universe, our body], in which one finds two birds [the soul and the Supersoul], is one in its dependence [on matter], is two in its fruits [of happiness and grief], is three in its roots [the three modes], is four in its tastes [the purushârthas, the civil virtues], is five in its knowing [by the senses], is six in its conditions [of lamentation, illusion, old age, death, hunger and thirst], is seven in its layers ['the bark' or the koshas, the different bodies], is eight in its branches [the elements, mind, intelligence and ego], is nine in its apertures and is ten in its foliage [or the ten airs, see 7.15: 42].

One in dependence [on matter], two in the fruitful [happy/unhappy], three in its roots [the modes] four in tastes [the purushârthas], five in knowing [the senses], six in conditions [of lamentation, illusion, old age, death, hunger and thirst], seven in layers ['the bark' or the koshas], eight in its branches [the elements, mind, intelligence and ego], with nine apertures, with the tenfold in its covering ['the leaves' or the ten airs, see 7.15: 42] and with two birds [the soul and Supersoul] in it, is indeed that body [individual as also the complete] the original tree. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

You as the One and All are the Original Source of this visible universe [this tree]. You are the mercy [the conservation] when we are thrown in despair [meet destruction]. Those whose intelligence is covered by Your mâyâ and miss the vision of the devotees and scholars, cannot see You behind the diversity.

You as the One and All art of this visible universe indeed the Original Source, Yours is the conservation upon annihilation; those whose intelligence is covered by Your mâyâ see You not in the manifold - not those do see who are void of spiritual learning. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

For the sake of every living being, moving or not moving, You watch over the soul and beatitude, in assuming all sorts of forms consisting of pure goodness, that bring transcendental happiness to virtuous souls, and that time and again put an end to those who are wicked.

Assuming all sorts of forms You nevertheless remain the intelligence above them when You for the sake of each living being everywhere, moving or nonmoving, as the transcendental happiness again and again annihilate all the inauspiciousness non-devoted that hinders the truthful. (Vedabase)


Text 30

Fully engaged in a constant meditation on You as the abode of the complete consciousness, oh Lotus-eyed Lord, by that one-pointedness as practiced by the greatest, one gets on board of the boat of Your lotus feet that reduces the great ocean of nescience to [the size of] a calf's hoofprint [compare 10.1: 5-7].

Fully engaged in a constant meditation upon You as the abode of the complete of consciousness, o Lotus-eyed One, does one, by that one-pointedness as practiced by the greatest, board the boat of Your lotus feet that reduces the great ocean of nesciene to a calf's hoofprint [compare 10.1: 5-7]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 31

Once they personally have crossed the so difficult to pass ocean of darkness, oh Light of the World, they [the experienced devotees] who, because of Your mercy for the truth loving souls, are full of goodwill [to help], leave behind the boat [the method] of Your lotus feet in this world [see also B.G. 6: 44].

Personally crossing the fierce ocean of darkness that is so hard to overcome, o Light of the World, do the ones with plenty of love for the fallen souls [the advanced devotees] leave behind them the boat of Your lotus feet in this world as they head for the ultimate of You, ever so kind to the followers [see also B.G. 6: 44]. (Vedabase)


Text 32

All others who neglect Your feet, oh Lotus-eyed One, are caught in an illusion of being liberated, and have, bereft of You, an impure intelligence. Even though they are successful in severe practices [of penance and such] they, from their elevated position, fall down again back into the material world [see also B.G. 8: 15-16 and 5.6: 11].

All others, o Lotus-eyed One, who, in the illusion of being liberated variously speculate with an impure intelligence - even though they are successful in severe practices of penance -, fall, in neglect of Your feet, down from the highest position back into the material world again [see also B.G. 8: 15-16 and 5.6: 11]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

They who follow You in devotion, oh Mâdhava, unlike the non-devotees, do not fall away from the path. Because they are fully attached to You, they are protected by You and move without fear over the heads of those who march against them, oh Master [see also 1.5: 17 and B.G. 18: 78].

Unlike the non-devotees do they, the followers of devotion o Mâdhava, not fall away from the path because they are fully attached to You, so that protected by You they move without fear over the heads, o Master, of those who march in opposition [see also 1.5: 17 and B.G. 18: 78]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

For the purpose of maintaining [Your rule], Your Lordship, existing beyond the modes, assumes a form for the benefit and welfare of all embodied souls, so that human society, in accordance with the Veda, by [bhakti] yoga and penance being absorbed in Your worship, may be of sacrifice [see also B.G. 3: 9 & 18: 3].

For the purpose of maintaining does Your Lordship existing beyond the modes accept a form for the benefit and welfare of all the embodied who, as human people united performing to the Veda, in austerity and fully absorbed in Your worship do their offerings [see also B.G. 3: 9 & 18: 3]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

How could we have arrived at Your wisdom, that drives away the ignorance, if the purity of existence, oh Source of the World, would not be this constancy of You [being present]? The ignorance is completely vanquished when that quality of Yours is awakened by Your Lordship manifesting Yourself, and for that there is no alternative.

If the pure of existence, o Source of the World, would not be this constant of You, how could the wisdom have become that drives away the ignorance; the ignorance is completely vanquished by the awakening of that quality of You that Your Lordship exhibits and for which there is no alternative. (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

Oh Lord, on the path of the words and assumptions of those who look after the mind only [the impersonal intellect], Your name, form, qualities and actions cannot be ascertained. You are only realized when one [actually] puts Your name and form into practice [with ceremony and song; see also 1.3: 37-38, 4.18: 5, 7.15: 58 and B.G. 6: 24 & 18: 55].

The name and form of You cannot be ascertained by the words and theses of those who look into the mind [only], o Lord, Your name and form are only realized by putting them in practice [see also 1.3: 37-38, 4.18: 5, 7.15: 58 and B.G: 6: 24 & 18: 55]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

Constantly hearing, reciting, remembering and contemplating Your auspicious names [see 7.5: 23-24] and forms, he, who is of an undivided attention in service at Your lotus feet, no longer is capable of losing himself in the material world [6.17: 28-31].

Constantly hearing, reciting, remembering and contemplating Your auspicious names [see 7.5: 23-24] and forms is he who is of an undivided attention in action at Your lotus feet not able to imagine [a reality apart from You, see also 6.17: 28-31].(Vedabase)

 

Text 38

In having this planet earth as the place of Your feet, oh Lord, it is our fortune to see the Asura burden removed by You. Due to the causeless mercy of Your manifestation as the Controller of All, we may enjoy the fortune of witnessing, both in heaven and on earth, the marks of Your transcendentally decorated lotus feet [the conch, the lotus, the club and the disc].

It is the fortune of us here, o Lord, to have with this earth as the place of Your Lordship's feet the asura burden removed; due to the causeless mercy of the appearance of You as the Controller will we be as fortunate as to witness in heaven as well as on earth the marks of Your [with the conch, the lotus, the club and the disc] transcendentally decorated lotus feet. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

For You, who directs our lives, there exists [actually] no such thing as being born [or dying, like we have to face]. However, it suffers no doubt that the cause of one's being born cannot exist without the pleasure [of Your liberating pastimes]. You after all are with the being born, maintaining and dying of us normal souls - which is arranged by the external energy - our safe haven against all fear.

For You there is no birth or death o Director of Our Lives, however, it goes without saying that the cause of appearing cannot be without the pleasure of Your pastimes; the birth, death and maintenance of the normal souls is by the external energy so arranged because of You, our Shelter Against All fear. (Vedabase)


Text 40

In the form of a fish,  a horse,  a tortoise,  a lion, a boar, a swan [or self-realized sage], a king, and as a man of learning among the God-fearing souls [like Lord Vâmana], Your Lordship has appeared as avatâras. Now please save us and the three worlds, oh Controller, diminish the earth's burden, oh best of the Yadus, we dedicate all our prayers to You [see also 1.3].

As a fish, as a horse, as a tortoise, as a lion, as a boar, as a swan [or selfrealized sage], as a king and as a man of learning among the godfearing [like Lord Vâmana] has Your Lordship appeared as avatâras; please now save us and the three worlds, o Controller, diminish the earth's burden, o Best of the Yadus, all our prayers are for You [see also 1.3]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 41

[and towards Devakî they prayed:] To our fortune, oh mother, the Supreme Personality with all His energies can now be seen in your womb. The Supreme Lord is full of mercy for everyone. Fear therefore never the master of the Bhojas [Kamsa], who wishes to be killed by Him, the protector of the Yadu dynasty, who will become Your son.'

[and towards Devakî:] To our fortune, o mother is the Supreme Personality with all His energies now seen in your womb, so, for the Supreme Lord His auspiciousness for all, never fear the Bhoja-master [Kamsa] fixed on being killed by Him, the protector of the Yadu dynasty who will become Your son.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 42

S'rî S'uka said: 'After thus having offered their prayers unto the Original Personality whose form is Transcendental, all the demigods, led by Brahmâ and S'iva, returned to their abodes.'

S'rî S'uka said: 'This way having offered prayers unto the Original Personality whose form is Transcendental [or Vishnu] returned all the demigods with Brahmâ and S'iva in front of them to their abodes.' (Vedabase)

  


*: Svâmî Prabhupâda comments: 'Symbolically, mother Devakî's constant fear of Kamsa was purifying her. A pure devotee should always fear material association, and in this way all the Asuras of material association will be killed, as the Shad-garbhâsuras were killed by Kamsa. It is said that from the mind, Marîci appears. In other words, Marîci is an incarnation of the mind. Marîci has six sons: Kâma, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Mâtsarya (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy). The Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in pure devotional service. This is confirmed in the Vedas: bhaktir evainam dars'ayati. Only bhakti can bring one in contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared from the womb of Devakî, and therefore Devakî symbolically represents bhakti, and Kamsa symbolically represents material fear. When a pure devotee always fears material association, his real position of bhakti is manifested, and he naturally becomes uninterested in material enjoyment. When the six sons of Marîci are killed by such fear and one is freed from material contamination, within the womb of bhakti the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears. Thus the seventh pregnancy of Devakî signifies the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After the six sons Kâma, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Mâtsarya are killed, the S'esha incarnation creates a suitable situation for the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, when one awakens his natural Krishna consciousness, Lord Krishna appears. This is the explanation given by S'rîla Vis'vanâtha Cakravartî Thhâkura.'

**: The names by which Mâyâdevî is known in different places have been listed by Vallabhâcârya as follows. In Vârânasî she is known as Durgâ, in Avantî she is known as Bhadrakâlî, in Orissa she is known as Vijayâ, and in Kulahâpura she is known as Vaishnavî or Mahâlakshmî (the representatives of Mahâlakshmî and Ambikâ are present in Bombay). In the country known as Kâmarûpa she is known as Candikâ, in Northern India as S'âradâ, and in Cape Comorin as Kanyakâ. Thus she is distributed according to various names in various places.

***: S'rîla Vijayadhvaja Tîrthapâda, in his Pada-ratnâvalî-tîkâ, has explained the meanings of the different representations. Mâyâ is known as Durgâ because she is approached with great difficulty, as Bhadrâ because she is auspicious, and as Kâlî because she is deep blue. Because she is the most powerful energy, she is known as Vijayâ; because she is one of the different energies of Vishnu, she is known as Vaishnavî; and because she enjoys in this material world and gives facilities for material enjoyment, she is known as Kumudâ. Because she is very severe to her enemies, the Asuras, she is known as Candikâ, and because she gives all sorts of material facilities, she is called Krishnâ. In this way the material energy is differently named and situated in different places on the surface of the globe.

****: S'rî Caitanya Mahâprabhu said:

yâre dekha, târe kaha 'krishna'-upades'a
âmâra âjñâya guru hañâ târa' ei des'a

"Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord S'rî Krishna as they are given in Bhagavad Gîtâ and S'rîmad Bhâgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land." (Cc. Madhya 7.128)

 

 

 

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The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
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The two images to the right and the left are both details from a painting titled:
'The Gods in Vishnu's heaven with Vishnu sitting enthroned on a heap of lotus petals', Punjab Hills (India),
1745 - 1754.
© Victoria & Albert Museum
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.

 

 

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