S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 11
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
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Canto 11: 'General History'
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Chapter Eleven: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities
TEXT 1
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca
baddho mukta iti vyâkhyâ
gunato me na vastutah
gunasya mâyâ-mûlatvân
na me moksho na bandhanam
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; baddhah - in bondage; muktah - liberated; iti - thus; vyâkhyâ - the explanation of the living entity; gunatah - due to the modes of material nature; me - which are My potency; na - not; vastutah - in reality; gunasya - of the modes of material nature; mâyâ - My illusory energy; mûlatvât - because of being the cause; na - not; me - of Me; mokshah - liberation; na - nor; bandhanam - bondage.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, due to the influence of the material modes of nature, which are under My control, the living entity is sometimes designated as conditioned and sometimes as liberated. In fact, however, the soul is never really bound up or liberated, and since I am the supreme Lord of mâyâ, which is the cause of the modes of nature, I also am never to be considered liberated or in bondage.
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TEXT 2
s'oka-mohau sukham duhkham
dehâpattis' ca mâyayâ
svapno yathâtmanah khyâtih
samsritir na tu vâstavî
s'oka - lamentation; mohau - and illusion; sukham - happiness; duhkham - distress; deha-âpattih - accepting a material body; ca - also; mâyayâ - by the influence of mâyâ; svapnah - a dream; yathâ - just as; âtmanah - of the intelligence; khyâtih - merely an idea; samsritih - material existence; na - is not; tu - indeed; vâstavî - real.
TRANSLATION
Just as a dream is merely a creation of one's intelligence but has no actual substance, similarly, material lamentation, illusion, happiness, distress and the acceptance of the material body under the influence of mayâ are all creations of My illusory energy. In other words, material existence has no essential reality.
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TEXT 3
vidyâvidye mama tanû
viddhy uddhava s'arîrinâm
moksha-bandha-karî âdye
mâyayâ me vinirmite
vidyâ- knowledge; avidye - and ignorance; mama - My; tanû - manifested energies; viddhi - please understand; uddhava - O Uddhava; s'arîrinâm - of the embodied living entities; moksha - liberation;-bandha- bondage; karî - causing; âdye - original, eternal; mâyayâ by the potency; me - My; vinirmite - produced.
TRANSLATION
O Uddhava, both knowledge and ignorance, being products of mâyâ, are expansions of My potency. Both knowledge and ignorance are beginningless and perpetually award libertation and bondage to embodied living beings.
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TEXT 4
ekasyaiva mamâms'asya
jîvasyaiva mahâ-mate
bandho 'syâvidyayânâdir
vidyayâ ca tathetarah
ekasya - of the one; eva - certainly; mama - My; ams'asya - part and parcel; jîvasya - of the living entity; eva - certainly; mahâ-mate - o most intelligent one; bandhah - bondage; asya - of him; avidyayâ - by ignorance; anâdih - beginningless; vidyayâ - by knowledge; ca - and; tathâ - similarly; itarah - the opposite of bondage, liberation.
TRANSLATION
O most intelligent Uddhava, the living entity, called jîva, is part and parcel of Me, but due to ignorance he has been suffering in material bondage since time immemorial. By knowledge, however, he can be liberated.
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TEXT 5
atha baddhasya muktasya
vailakshanyam vadâmi te
viruddha-dharminos tâta
sthitayor eka-dharmini
atha - thus; baddhasya - of the condioned soul; muktasya - of the liberated Personality of Godhead; vailakshanyam - different characteristics; vadâmi - I will now speak; te - unto you; viruddha - opposing; dharminoh - whose two natures; tâta - My dear Uddhava; sthitayoh - of the two who are situated; eka-dharmini - in the one body which manifests their different characteristics.
TRANSLATION
Thus, My dear Uddhava, in the same material body we find opposing characteristics, such as great happiness and misery. That is because both the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is eternally liberated, as well as the conditioned soul are within the body. I shall now speak to you about their different characteristics.
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TEXT 6
suparnâv etau sadris'au sakhâyau
yadricchayaitau krita-nîdau ca vrikshe
ekas tayoh khâdati pippalânnam
anyo niranno 'pi balena bhûyân
suparnau - two birds; etau - these; sadris'au - similar; - sakhâyau - friends; yadricchayâ - by chance; etau - these two; krita - made; nîdau - a nest; ca - and; vrikshe - in a tree; ekah - one; tayoh - of the two; khâdati - is eating; pippala - of the tree; annam - the fruits; anyah - the other; nirannah - not eating; api - although; balena - by strength; bhûyân - He is superior.
TRANSLATION
By chance, two birds have made a nest together in the same tree. The two birds are friends and are of a similar nature. One of them, however, is eating the fruits of the tree, whereas the other, who does not eat the fruits, is in a superior position due to His potency.
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TEXT 7
âtmânam anyam ca sa veda vidvân
apippalâdo na tu pippalâdah
yo 'vidyayâ yuk sa tu nitya-baddho
vidyâ-mayo yah sa tu nitya-muktah
âtmânam - Himself; anyam - the other; ca - also; sah - He; veda - knows; vidvân - being omniscient; apippala-adah - not eating the fruits of the tree; na - not; tu - but; pippala-adah - the one who is eating the fruits of the tree; yah - who; avidyayâ - with ignorance; yuk - filled; sah - he; tu -indeed; nitya - eternally; baddhah - conditioned; vidyâ mayah - full of perfect knowledge; yah - who; sah - he; tu - indeed; nitya - eternally; muktah - liberated.
TRANSLATION
The bird who does not eat the fruits of the tree is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who by His omniscience perfectly understands His own position and that of the conditioned living entity, represented by the eating bird. That living entity, on the other hand, does not understand himself or the Lord. He is covered by ignorance and is thus called eternally conditioned, whereas the Personality of Godhead, being full of perfect knowledge, is eternally liberated.
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TEXT 8
deha-stho 'pi na deha-stho
vidvân svapnâd yathotthitah
adeha-stho 'pi deha-sthah
kumatih svapna-drig yathâ
deha - in the material body; sthah - situated; api - although; na - not; deha - in the body; sthah - situated; vidvân - an an elightened person; svapnât - from a dream; yatha - just as; utthitah - having risen; adeha - not in the body; sthah - situated; api - although; deha - in the body;sthah - situated; ku-matih - a foolish person; svapna - a dream; drik - seeing; yathâ - just as.
TRANSLATION
One who is enlightened in self-realization, although living within the material body, sees himself as transcendental to the body, just as one who has arisen from a dream gives up identification with the dream body. A foolish person, however, although not identical with his material body but transcendental to it, thinks himself to be situated in the body, just as one who is dreaming sees himself as situated in an imaginary body.
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TEXT 9
indriyair indriyârtheshu
gunair api guneshu ca
grihyamânesv aham' kuryân
na vidvân yas tv avikriyah
indriyaih - by the senses; indriya - of the senses;artheshu - in the objects; gunaih - by those generated from the modes of nature; api - even; guneshu - in those generated by the same modes; ca - also; grihyamâneshu - as they are being accepted; aham - false ego; kuryât - should create; na - not; vidvân - one who is enlightened; yah - who; tu - indeed; avikriyah - is not affected by material desire.
TRANSLATION
An enlightened person who is free from the contamination of material desire does not consider himself to be the performer of bodily activities; rather, he knows that in all such activities it is only the senses, born of the modes of nature, that are contacting sense objects born of the same modes of nature.
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TEXT 10
daivâdhîne s'arîre 'smin
guna-bhâvyena karmanâ
vartamâno 'budhas tatra
kartâsmîti nibadhyate
daiva - of one's previous fruitive activities; adhîne - which is under the influence; s'arîre - in the material body; asmin - in this; guna - by the modes of nature; bhâvyena - which are produced; karmanâ - by fruitive activities; vartamânah - being situated; abudhah - one who is foolish; tatra - within the bodily functions; kartâ - the doer; asmi - I am; iti - thus; nibadhyate - is bound up.
TRANSLATION
An unintelligent person situated within the body created by his previous fruitive activities thinks, "I am the performer of action." Bewildered by false ego, such a foolish person is therefore bound up by fruitive activities, which are in fact carried out by the modes of nature.
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TEXT 11
evam' viraktah s'ayana
âsanâthana-majjane
dars'ana-spars'ana-ghrâna-
bhojana-s'ravanâdishu
na tathâ badhyate vidvân
tatra tatrâdayan gunân
evam - thus; viraktah - detached from material enjoyment; s'ayana - in lying or sleeping; âsana - in sitting;atana - walking; majjane - or in bathing; dars'ana -in seeing; spars'ana - touching; ghrâna - smelling; bhojana -eating; s'ravana - hearing; âdishu - and so on; na - not; tathâ - in that way; badhyate - is bound; vidvân - an intelligent person; tatra tatra - wherever he goes; âdayan - causing to experience; gunân - the senses, born of the modes of nature.
TRANSLATION
An enlightened person fixed in detachment engages his body in lying down, sitting, walking, bathing, seeing, touching, smelling, eating, hearing and so on, but is never entangled by such activities. Indeed, remaining as a witness to all bodily functions, he merely engages his bodily senses with their objects and does not become entangled like an unintelligent person.
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TEXT 12-13
prakriti-stho 'py asam'sakto
yathâ kham' savitânilah
vais'âradyekshayâsanga-
s'itayâ chinna-sam's'ayah
pratibuddha iva svapnân
nânâtvâd vinivartate
prakriti - in the material world; sthah - situated; api - even though; asam'saktah - completely detached from sense gratification; yathâ - just as; kham - the sky; savitâ - the sun; anilah - the wind; vais'âradyâ - by most expert;îkshyâ - vision; asanga - through detachment; s'itayâ - sharpened; chinna - cut to pieces; sam's'ayah - doubts;
pratibuddha - awakened; iva - like; svapnât - from a dream; nânâtvât - from the duality of variety of the material world; vinivartate - one turns away or renounces.
TRANSLATION
Although the sky, or space, is the resting place of everything, the sky does not mix with anything, nor is it entangled. Similarly, the sun is not at all attached to the water in which it is reflected within innumerable reservoirs, and the mighty wind blowing everywhere is not affected by the innumerable aromas and atmospheres through which it passes. In the same way, a self-realized soul is completely detached from the material body and the material world around it. He is like a person who has awakened and arisen from a dream. With expert vision sharpened by detachment, the self-realized soul cuts all doubts to pieces through knowledge of the self and completely withdraws his consciousness from the expansion of material variety.
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TEXT 14
yasya syur vîta-sañkalpâh
prânendriya-rnano-dhiyâm
vrittayah sa vinirmukto
deha-stho 'pi hi tad-gunaih
yasya - of whom; syuh - they are; vîta - freed from; sañkalpâh - material desire; prâna - of the vital energy; indriya - the senses; manah - the mind; dhiyâm - and of intelligence; vrittayah - the functions; sah - such a person; vinirmuktah - completely freed; deha - in the body; sthah - situated; api - even though; hi - certainly; tat - of the body; gunaih - from all the qualities.
TRANSLATION
A person is considered to be completely liberated from the gross and subtle material bodies when all the functions of his vital energy, senses, mind and intelligence are performed without material desire. Such a person, although situated within the body, is not entangled.
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TEXT 15
yasyâtmâ him'syate him'srair
yena kiñcid yadricchayâ
arcyate vâ kvacit tatra
na vyatikriyate budhah
yasya - of whom; âtmâ - the body; him'syate - is attacked; him'sraih - by sinful people or violent animals; yena - by someone; kiñcit - somewhat; yadricchayâ - somehow or other; arcyate - is worshiped; vâ - or; kvacit - somewhere; tatra - therein; na - not; vyatikriyate - is transformed or affected; budhah - one who is intelligent.
TRANSLATION
Sometimes for no apparent reason one's body is attacked by cruel people or violent animals. At other times and in other places, one will suddenly be offered great respect or worship. One who becomes neither angry when attacked nor satisfied when worshiped is actually intelligent.
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TEXT 16
na stuvîta na nindeta
kurvatah sâdhv asâdhu vâ
vadato guna-dosâbhyâm'
varjitah sama-drin munih
na stuvîta - does not praise; na nindeta - does not criticize; kurvatah - those who are working; sâdhu - very nicely; asâdhu - very badly; vâ - or; vadatah - those who are speaking; guna-doshâbhyâm - from good and bad qualities; varjitah - freed; sama-drik - seeing things equally; munih - a saintly sage.
TRANSLATION
A saintly sage sees with equal vision and therefore is not affected by that which is materially good or bad. Indeed, although he observes others performing good and bad work and speaking properly and improperly, the sage does not praise or criticize anyone.
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TEXT 17
na kuryân na vadet kiñcin
na dhyâyet sâdhv asâdhu vâ
âtmârâmo 'nayâ vrittyâ
vicarej jada-van munih
na kuryât - should not do; na vadet - should not speak; kiñcit - anything; na dhyâyet - should not contemplate; sâdhu asâdhu vâ - either good or bad things; âtma-ârâmah - one who is taking pleasure in self-realization; anayâ - with this; vrittyâ - life-style; vicaret - he should wander; jada-vat - just like a stunted person; munih - a saintly sage.
TRANSLATION
For the purpose of maintaining his body, a liberated sage should not act, speak or contemplate in terms of material good or bad. Rather, he should be detached in all material circumstances, and taking pleasure in self-realization, he should wander about engaged in this liberated life-style, appearing like a retarded person to outsiders.
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TEXT 18
s'abda-brahmani nishnâto
na nishnâyât pare yadi
s'ramas tasya s'rama-phalo
hy adhenum iva rakshatah
s'abda-brahmani - in the Vedic literature; nishnâtah - expert through complete study; na nishnâyât - does not absorb the mind; pare - in the Supreme; yadi - if; s'ramah - labor; tasya - his; s'rama - of great endeavor; phalah - the fruit; hi - certainly; adhenum - a cow that gives no milk; iva - like; rakshatah - of one who is taking care of.
TRANSLATION
If through meticulous study one becomes expert in reading Vedic literature but makes no endeavor to fix one's mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then one's endeavor is certainly like that of a man who works very hard to take care of a cow that gives no milk. In other words, the fruit of one's laborious study of Vedic knowledge will simply be the labor itself. There will be no other tangible result.
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TEXT 19
gâm' dugdha-dohâm asatîm' ca bhâryâm'
deham' parâdhînam asat-prajâm' ca
vittam' tv atîrthî-kritam anga vâcam'
hînâm' mayâ rakshati duhkha-duhkhî
gâm - a cow; dugdha - whose milk; dohâm - already taken; asatîm - unchaste; ca - also;bhâryâm - a wife; deham - a body; para - upon others; adhînam - always dependent; asat - useless; prajâm - children; ca - also; vittam - wealth; tu - but; atîrthî-kritam - not given to the proper recipient; anga - o Uddhava; vâcam - Vedic knowledge; hînâm - devoid; mayâ - of knowledge of Me; rakshati - he takes care of; duhkha-duhkhî - he who suffers one misery after another.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, that man is certainly most miserable who takes care of a cow that gives no milk, an unchaste wife, a body totally dependent on others, useless children or wealth not utilized for the right purpose. Similarly, one who studies Vedic knowledge devoid of My glories is also most miserable.
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TEXT 20
yasyâm' na me pâvanam anga karma
sthity-udbhava-prâna-nirodham asya
lîlâvatârepsita-janma vâ syâd
vandhyâm' giram' tâm' bibhriyân na dhîrah
yasyâm - in which (literature); na - not; me - My; pâvanam - puryfying; anga - o Uddhava; karma - activities; sthiti - maintenance; udbhava - creation; prâna-nirodham - and annihilation; asya - of the material world; lîlâ-avatâra - among the pastime incarnations; îpsita - desired; janma - appearance; vâ - or; syât - is; vandhyâm - barren; giram - vibration; tâm - this; bibhriyât - should support; na - not; dhîrah - an intelligent person.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, an intelligent person should never take to literatures that do not contain descriptions of My activities, which purify the whole universe. Indeed, I create, maintain and annihilate the entire material manifestation. Among all My pastime incarnations, the most beloved are Krishna and Balarâma. Any so-called knowledge that does not recognize these activities of Mine is simply barren and is not acceptable to those who are actually intelligent.
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TEXT 21
evam' jijñâsayâpohya
nânâtva-bhramam âtmani
upârameta virajam'
mano mayy arpya sarva-ge
evam - thus (as I have now concluded); jijñâsayâ - by analytic study; apohya - giving up; nânâtva - of material variety; bhramam - the mistake of rotating; âtmani - in the self; upârameta - one should cease from material life; virajam - pure; manah - the mind; mayi - in Me; arpya - fixing; sarva-ge - who am all-pervading.
TRANSLATION
Coming to this conclusion of all knowledge, one should give up the false conception of material variety that one imposes upon the soul and thus cease one's material existence. The mind should be fixed on Me, since I am all-pervading.
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TEXT 22
yady anîs'o dhârayitum'
mano brahmani nis'calam
mayi sarvâni karmâni
nirapekshah samâcara
yadi - if; anîs'ah - incapable; dhârayitum - to fix; manah - the mind; brahmani - on the spiritual platform; nis'calam - free from sense gratification; mayi - in Me; sarvâni - all; karmâni - activities; nirapekshah - without trying to enjoy the fruits; samâcara - execute.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, if you are not able to free your mind from all material disturbance and thus absorb it completely on the spiritual platform, then perform all your activities as an offering to Me, without trying to enjoy the fruits.
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TEXT 23-24
s'raddhâlur mat-kathâh s'rinvan
su-bhadrâ loka-pâvanîh
gâyann anusmaran karma
janma câbhinayan muhuh
mad-arthe dharma-kâmârthân
âcaran mad-apâs'rayah
labhate nis'calâm' bhaktim'
mayy uddhava sanâtane
s'raddhâluh - a faithful person; mat-kathâh - narrations about Me; s'rinvan - hearing; su-bhadrâh - which are all-auspicious; loka - the entire world; pâvanîh - purifying; gâyan - singing; anusmaran - remembering constantly; karma - My activities; janma - My birth; ca - also; abhinayan - reliving through dramatical performances, etc.; muhuh - again and again;
mat-arthe - for My pleasure; dharma - religious activities; kâma - sense activities; arthân - and commercial activities; âcaran - performing; mat - in Me; apâs'rayah - having one's shelter; labhate - one obtains; nis'calâm - without deviation; bhaktim - devotional service; mayi - to Me; uddhava - O Uddhava; sanâtane - dedicated to My eternal form.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, narrations of My pastimes and qualities are all-auspicious and purify the entire universe. A faithful person who constantly hears, glorifies and remembers such transcendental activities, who through dramatic performances relives My pastimes, beginning with My appearance, and who takes full shelter of Me, dedicating his religious, sensual and occupational activities for My satisfaction, certainly obtains unflinching devotional service to Me, the eternal Personality of Godhead.
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TEXT 25
sat-sanga-labdhayâ bhaktyâ
mayi mâm' sa upâsitâ
sa vai me dars'itam' sadbhir
añjasâ vindate padam
sat - of the devotees of the Lord; sanga - by the association; labdhayâ - obtained; bhaktyâ - by devotion; mayi - to Me; mâm - of Me; sah - he; upâsitâ - worshiper; sah - that very person; vai - undoubtedly; me - My; dars'itam - revealed; sadbhih - by My pure devotees; añjasâ - very easily; vindate - achieves; padam - My lotus feet or My eternal abode.
TRANSLATION
One who has obtained pure devotional service by association with My devotees always engages in worshiping Me. Thus he very easily goes to My abode, which is revealed by My pure devotees.
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TEXT 26-27
s'rî-uddhava uvâca
sâdhus tavottama-s'loka
matah kîdrig-vidhah prabho
bhaktis tvayy upayujyeta
kîdris'î sadbhir âdritâ
etan me purushâdhyaksha
lokâdhyaksha jagat-prabho
pranatâyânuraktâya
prapannâya ca kathyatâm
s'rî-uddhavah uvâca - S'rî Uddhava said; sâdhuh - a saintly person; tava - in Your; uttama-s'loka - my dear Lord; matah - opinion; kîdrik-vidhah - what kind would he be; prabho - my dear Personality of Godhead; bhaktih - devotional service; tvayi - unto Your Lordship; upayujyeta - deserves to be executed;
kîdrs'î - what type is it; sadbhih - by Your pure devotees such as Nârada; âdritâ - honored; etat - this; me - to me; purusha-adhyaksha - O ruler of the universal controllers; loka-adhyaksha - O Supreme Lord of Vaikunthha; jagat-prabho - O God of the universe; pranatâya - unto Your surrendered devotee; anuraktâya - who loves You; prapannâya - who has no other shelter than You; ca - also; kathyatâm - let this be spoken.
TRANSLATION
S'rî Uddhava said: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, what type of person do You consider to be a true devotee, and what type of devotional service is approved by great devotees as worthy of being offered to Your Lordship? My dear ruler of the universal controllers, O Lord of Vaikunthha and almighty God of the universe, I am Your devotee, and because I love You I have no other shelter than You. Therefore please explain this to me.
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TEXT 28
tvam' brahma paramam' vyoma
purushah prakriteh parah
avatîrno 'si bhagavan
svecchopâtta-prithag-vapuh
tvam - You; brahma paramam - the Absolute Truth; vyoma - like the sky (You are detached from everything); purushah - the Personality of Godhead; prakriteh - to material nature; parah - transcendental; avatîrnah - incarnated; asi - You are; bhagavan - the Lord; sva - of Your own (devotees); icchâ - according to the desire; upâtta - accepted; prithak - different; vapuh - bodies.
TRANSLATION
My dear Lord, as the Absolute Truth You are transcendental to material nature, and like the sky You are never entangled in any way. Still, being controlled by Your devotees' love, You accept many different forms, incarnating according to Your devotees' desires.
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TEXT 29-32
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca
kripâlur akrita-drohas
titikshuh sarva-dehinâm
satya-sâro 'navadyâtmâ
samah sarvopakârakah
kâmair ahata-dhîr dânto
mriduh s'ucir akiñcanah
anîho mita-bhuk s'ântah
sthiro mac-charano munih
apramatto gabhîrâtmâ
dhritimân jita-shad-gunah
amânî mâna-dah kalyo
maitrah kârunikah kavih
âjñâyaivam' gunân doshân
mayâdishthân api svakân
dharmân santyajya yah sarvân
mâm' bhajeta sa tu sattamah
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; kripâluh - unable to tolerate the suffering of others; akrita-drohah - never injuring others; titikshuh - forgiving; sarva-dehinâm - toward all living entities; satya-sârah - one who lives by truth and whose strength and firmness come from truthfulness; anavadya-âtmâ - a soul free from envy, jealousy, etc.;
samah - whose consciousness is equal both in happiness and in distress; sarva-upakârakah - always endeavoring as far as possible for the welfare of all others; kâmaih - by material desires; ahata - undisturbed; dhîh - whose intelligence; dântah - controlling the external senses; mriduh - without a harsh mentality; s'ucih - always well-behaved; akiñcanah - without possessiveness; anîhah - free from worldly activities; mita-bhuk - eating austerely; s'ântah - controlling the mind;
sthirah - remaining steady in one's prescribed duty; mat-s'aranah - accepting Me as the only shelter; munih - thoughtful; apramattah - cautious and sober; gabhîra-âtmâ - not superficial, and thus unchanging; dhriti-mân - not weak or miserable even in distressing circumstances; jita - having conquered; shath-gunah - the six material qualities, namely hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age and death; amânî - without desire for prestige; mâna-dah - offering all respects to others; kalyah - expert in reviving the Krishna consciousness of others;
maitrah - never cheating anyone, and thus a true friend; kârunikah - acting always due to compassion, not personal ambition; kavih - completely learned; âjñâya - knowing; evam - thus; gunân - good qualities; doshân - bad qualities; mayâ - by Me; âdishthân - taught; api - even; svakân - one's own; dharmân - religious principles; santyajya - giving up; yah - one who; sarvân - all; mâm - Me; bhajeta - worships; sah - he; tu - indeed; sat-tamah - the best among saintly persons.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Uddhava, a saintly person is merciful and never injures others. Even if others are aggressive he is tolerant and forgiving toward all living entities. His strength and meaning in life come from the truth itself, he is free from all envy and jealousy, and his mind is equal in material happiness and distress. Thus, he dedicates his time to work for the welfare of all others. His intelligence is never bewildered by material desires, and he has controlled his senses. His behavior is always pleasing, never harsh and always exemplary, and he is free from possessiveness. He never endeavors in ordinary, worldly activities, and he strictly controls his eating. He therefore always remains peaceful and steady. A saintly person is thoughtful and accepts Me as his only shelter. Such a person is very cautious in the execution of his duties and is never subject to superficial transformations, because he is steady and noble, even in a distressing situation. He has conquered over the six material qualities - namely hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age and death. He is free from all desire for prestige and offers honor to others. He is expert in reviving the Krishna consciousness of others and therefore never cheats anyone. Rather, he is a well-wishing friend to all, being most merciful. Such a saintly person must be considered the most learned of men. He perfectly understands that the ordinary religious duties prescribed by Me in various Vedic scriptures possess favorable qualities that purify the performer, and he knows that neglect of such duties constitutes a discrepancy in one's life. Having taken complete shelter at My lotus feet, however, a saintly person ultimately renounces such ordinary religious duties and worships Me alone. He is thus considered to be the best among all living entities.
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TEXT 33
jñâtvâjñâtvâtha ye vai mâm
yâvân yas' câsmi yâdris'ah
bhajanty ananya-bhâvena
te me bhaktatamâ matâh
jñâtvâ - knowing; ajñâtvâ - not knowing; atha - thus; ye - those who; vai - certainly; mâm - Me; yâvân - as; yah - who; ca - also; asmi - I am; yâdris'ah - how I am; bhajanti - worship; ananya-bhâvena - with exclusive devotion; te - they; me - by Me; bhakta-tamâh - the best devotees; matâh - are considered.
TRANSLATION
My devotees may or may not know exactly what I am, who I am and how I exist, but if they worship Me with unalloyed love, then I consider them to be the best of devotees.
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TEXT 34-41
mal-linga-mad-bhakta-jana-
dars'ana-spars'anârcanam
paricaryâ stutih prahva-
guna-karmânukîrtanam
mat-kathâ-s'ravane s'raddhâ
mad-anudhyânam uddhava
sarva-lâbhopaharanam'
dâsyenâtma-nivedanam
maj-janma-karma-kathanam'
mama parvânumodanam
gîta-tândava-vâditra-
goshthhîbhir mad-grihotsavah
yâtrâ bali-vidhânam' ca
sarva-vârshika-parvasu
vaidikî tântrikî dîkshâ
madîya-vrata-dhâranam
mamârcâ-sthâpane s'raddhâ
svatah sam'hatya codyamah
udyânopavanâkrîda-
pura-mandira-karmani
sammârjanopalepâbhyâm
seka-mandala-vartanaih
griha-s'us'rûshanam' mahyam'
dâsa-vad yad amâyayâ
amânitvam adambhitvam'
kritasyâparikîrtanam
api dîpâvalokam' me
nopayuñjyân niveditam
yad yad ishthatamam' loke
yac câti-priyam âtmanah
tat tan nivedayen mahyam'
tad ânantyâya kalpate
mat-linga - My appearance in this world as the Deity, etc.; mat-bhakta jana - My devotees; dars'ana - seeing; spars'ana - touching; arcanam - and worshiping; paricaryâ - rendering personal service; stutih - offering prayers of glorification; prahva - obeisances; guna - My qualities; karma - and activities; anukîrtanam - constantly glorifying;
mat-kathâ - topics about Me; s'ravane - in hearing; s'raddhâ - faith due to love; mat-anudhyânam - always meditating on Me; uddhava - O Uddhava; sarva-lâbha - all that one acquires; upaharanam - offering; dâsyena - by accepting oneself as My servant; âtma-nivedanam - self-surrender;
mat-janma-karma-kathanam - glorifying My birth and activities; mama - My; parva - in festivals such as Janmâshthamî; anumodanam - taking great pleasure; gîta - by songs; tândava - dancing; vâditra - musical instruments; goshthîbhih - and discussions among devotees; mat-griha - in My temple; utsavah - festivals;
yâtrâ - celebrations; bali-vidhânam - making offerings; ca - also; sarva - in all; vârshika - annual; parvasu - in the celebrations; vaidikî - mentioned in the Vedas; tântrikî - mentioned in literatures such as the Pañcarâtra; dîkshâ - initiation; madîya - in relation to Me; vrata - vows; dhâranam - observing;
mama - My; arcâ - of the Deity form; sthâpane - in the installation; s'raddhâ - being faithfully attached; svatah - by oneself; sam'hatya - with others; ca - also; udyamah - endeavor; udyâna - of flower gardens; upavana - orchards; âkrîda - places of pastimes; pura - devotional cities; mandira - and temples; karmani - in the construction;
sammârjana - by thoroughly sweeping and dusting; upalepâbhyâm - then by smearing water and cow dung; seka - by sprinkling scented water; mandala-vartanaih - by construction of mandalas; griha - of the temple, which is My home; s'us'rûshanam - service; mahyam - for My sake; dâsa-vat - being like a servant; yat - which; amâyayâ - without duplicity;
amânitvam - being without false prestige; adambhitvam - being prideless; kritasya - one's devotional activities; aparikîrtanam - not advertising; api - moreover; dîpa - of lamps; avalokam - the light; me - which belong to Me; na - not; upayuñjyât - one should engage; niveditam - things already offered to others;
yat yat - anything; ishtha-tamam - most desired; loke - in the material world; yat ca - and anything; ati-priyam - most dear; âtmanah - of oneself; tat tat - that very thing; nivedayet - one should offer; mahyam - unto Me; tat - that offering; ânantyâya - for immortality; kalpate - qualifies one.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, one can give up false pride and prestige by engaging in the following devotional activities. One may purify oneself by seeing, touching, worshiping, serving, and offering prayers of glorification and obeisances to My form as the Deity and to My pure devotees. One should also glorify My transcendental qualities and activities, hear with love and faith the narrations of My glories and constantly meditate on Me. One should offer to Me whatever one acquires, and accepting oneself as My eternal servant, one should give oneself completely to Me. One should always discuss My birth and activities and enjoy life by participating in festivals, such as Janmâshthamî, which glorify My pastimes. In My temple, one should also participate in festivals and ceremonies by singing, dancing, playing musical instruments and discussing Me with other Vaishnavas. One should observe all the regularly celebrated annual festivals by attending ceremonies, pilgrimages and making offerings. One should also observe religious vows such as Ekâdas'î and take initiation by the procedures mentioned in the Vedas, Pañcarâtra and other, similar literatures. One should faithfully and lovingly support the installation of My Deity, and individually or in cooperation with others one should work for the construction of Krishna conscious temples and cities as well as flower gardens, fruit gardens and special areas to celebrate My pastimes. One should consider oneself to be My humble servant, without duplicity, and thus should help to clean the temple, which is My home. First one should sweep and dust thoroughly, and then one should further cleanse with water and cow dung. Having dried the temple, one should sprinkle scented water and decorate the temple with mandalas. One should thus act just like My servant. A devotee should never advertise his devotional activities; therefore his service will not be the cause of false pride. One should never use lamps that are offered to Me for other purposes simply because there is need of illumination, and similarly, one should never offer to Me anything that has been offered to or used by others. Whatever is most desired by one within this material world, and whatever is most dear to oneself &emdash; one should offer that very thing to Me. Such an offering qualifies one for eternal life.
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TEXT 42
sûryo 'gnir brâhmanâ gâvo
vaishnavah kham' maruj jalam
bhûr âtmâ sarva-bhûtânî
bhadra pûjâ-padâni me
sûryah - the sun; agnih - fire; brâhmanâh - the brâhmanas; gâvah - the cows; vaishnavah - the devotee of the Lord; kham - the sky; marut - the wind; jalam - water; bhûh - the earth; âtmâ - the individual soul; sarva-bhûtânî - all living entities; bhadra - O saintly Uddhava; pûjâ - of worship; padâni - the places; me - of Me.
TRANSLATION
O saintly Uddhava, please know that you may worship Me in the sun, fire, brâhmanas, cows, Vaishnavas, sky, wind, water, earth, individual soul and all living entities.
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TEXT 43-45
sûrye tu vidyayâ trayyâ
havishâgnau yajeta mâm
âtithyena tu viprâgrye
goshv anga yavasâdinâ
vaishnave bandhu-sat-krityâ
hridî khe dhyâna-nishthhayâ
vâyau mukhya-dhiyâ toye
dravyais toya-purahsaraih
sthandile mantra-hridayair
bhogair âtmânam âtmani
kshetra-jñam' sarva-bhûteshu
samatvena yajeta mâm
sûrye - in the sun; tu - indeed; vidyayâ trayyâ - by offering selected Vedic hymns of praise, worship and obeisances; havishâ - with offerings of clarified butter; agnau - in the fire; yajeta - one should worship; mâm - Me; âtithyena - by respectfully receiving them as guests even when uninvited; tu - indeed; vipra - of brâhmanas; agrye - in the best; gosu - in the cows; anga - O Uddhava; yavasa-âdinâ - by offering grass and other paraphernalia for their maintenance;
vaishnave - in the Vaishnava; bandhu - with loving friendship; sat-krityâ - by honoring; hridi - within the heart; kje - within the inner space; dhyâna - in meditation; nishthhayâ - by being fixed; vâyau - in the air; mukhya - the most important; dhiyâ - considering by intelligence; toye - in water; dravyaih - by material elements; toya-purah-saraih - by water, etc.;
sthandile - in the earth; mantra-hridayaih - by application of confidential mantras; bhogaih - by offering of materially enjoyable objects; âtmânam - the jîva soul; âtmani - within the body; kshetra-jñam - the Supersoul; sarva-bhüteshu - within all living beings; samatvena - seeing Him equally everywhere; yajeta - one should worship; mâm - Me.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, one should worship Me within the sun by chanting selected Vedic mantras and by performing worship and offering obeisances. One may worship Me within fire by offering oblations of ghee, and one may worship Me among the brâhmanas by respectfully receiving them as guests, even when uninvited. I can be worshiped within the cows by offerings of grass and other suitable grains and paraphernalia for the pleasure and health of the cows, and one may worship Me within the Vaishnavas by offering loving friendship to them and honoring them in all respects. Through steady meditation I am worshiped within the inner space of the heart, and within the air I can be worshiped by knowledge that prâna, the life air, is the chief among elements. I am worshiped within water by offerings of water itself, along with other elements such as flowers and tulas? leaves, and one may worship Me within the earth by proper application of confidential seed mantras. One may worship Me within the individual living entity by offering food and other enjoyable substances, and one may worship Me within all living entities by seeing the Supersoul within all of them, thus maintaining equal vision.
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TEXT 46
dhishnyeshv ity eshu mad-rûpam'
s'ankha-cakra-gadâmbujaih
yuktam' catur-bhujam' s'ântam'
dhyâyann arcet samâhitah
dhishnyeshu - in the previously mentioned places of worship; iti - thus (by the previously mentioned processes); eshu - in them; mat-rûpam - My transcendental form; s'ankha - with the conchshell; cakra - Sudars'ana disc; gadâ - club; ambujaih - and lotus flower; yuktam - equipped; catuh-bhujam - with four arms; s'ântam - peaceful; dhyâyan - meditating; arcet - one should worship; samâhitah - with complete attention.
TRANSLATION
Thus, in the previously mentioned places of worship and according to the processes I have described, one should meditate on My peaceful, transcendental form with four arms holding a conchshell, Sudars'ana disc, club and lotus flower. In this way, one should worship Me with fixed attention.
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TEXT 47
ishthâ-pûrtena mâm evam'
yo yajeta samâhitah
labhate mayi sad-bhaktim'
mat-smritih sâdhu-sevayâ
ishthâ - by sacrificial performances for one's own benefit; pûrtena - and pious works for the benefit of others, such as digging wells; mâm - Me; evam - thus; yah - one who; yajeta - worships; samâhitah - with mind fixed in Me; labhate - such a person obtains; mayi - in Me; sat-bhaktim - unflinching devotional service; mat-smritih - realized knowledge of Me; sâdhu - with all superior qualities; sevayâ - by service.
TRANSLATION
One who has executed sacrificial performances and pious works for My satisfaction, and who thus worships Me with fixed attention, obtains unflinching devotional service unto Me. By the excellent quality of his service such a worshiper obtains realized knowledge of Me.
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TEXT 48
prâyena bhakti-yogena
sat-sangena vinoddhava
nopâyo vidyate samyak
prâyanam' hi satâm aham
prâyena - for all practical purposes; bhakti-yogena - devotional service unto Me; sat-sangena - which is made possible by association with My devotees; vinâ - without; uddhava - O Uddhava; na - not;upâyah - any means; vidyate - there is; samyak - that actually works; prâyanam - the true path of life or actual shelter; hi - because; satâm - of liberated souls; aham - I.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, I am personally the ultimate shelter and way of life for saintly liberated persons, and thus if one does not engage in My loving devotional service, which is made possible by associating with My devotees, then for all practical purposes, one possesses no effective means for escaping from material existence.
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TEXT 49
athaitat parama' guhyam'
s'rinvato yadu-nandana
su-gopyam api vakshyâmi
tvam' me bhrityah suhrit sakhâ
atha - thus; etat - this; paramam - supreme; guhyam - secret; s'rinvatah - to you who are listening; yadu-nandana - O beloved of the Yadu dynasty; su-gopyam - most confidential; api - even; vakshyâmi - I will speak; tvam - you; me - of Me; bhrityah - are the servant; su-hrit - well-wisher; sakhâ - and friend.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, O beloved of the Yadu dynasty, because you are My servant, well-wisher and friend, I shall now speak to you the most confidential knowledge. Please hear as I explain these great mysteries to you.
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