S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 11
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
(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 Twenty-nine: Bhakti-yoga
TEXT 1
s'rî-uddhava uvâca
su-dustarâm imâm manye
yoga-caryâm anâtmanah
yathâñjasâ pumân siddhyet
tan me brûhy añjasâcyuta
s'rî-uddhavah uvâca - S'rî Uddhava said; su-dustarâm - very difficult to execute; imâm - this; manye - I think; yoga-caryâm - process of yoga; anâtmanah - for one who has not controlled his mind; yathâ - how; añjasâ - easily; pumân - a person; siddhyet - may accomplish it; tat - that; me - to me; brûhi - please tell; añjasâ - in a simple manner; acyuta - O infallible Lord.
TRANSLATION
S'rî Uddhava said - My dear Lord Acyuta, I fear that the method of yoga described by You is very difficult for one who cannot control his mind. Therefore please explain to me in simple terms how someone can more easily execute it.
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TEXT 2
prâyas'ah pundarîkâksha
yuñyanto yogino manah
vishîdanty asamâdhânân
mano-nigraha-kars'itâh
prâyas'ah - for the most part; pundarîka-aksha - O lotus-eyed Lord; yuñjantah - who engage; yoginah - yogîs; manah - the mind; vishîdanti - become frustrated; asamâdhânât - because of inability to attain trance; manah-nigraha - by the attempt to subdue the mind; kars'itâh - weary.
TRANSLATION
O lotus-eyed Lord, generally those yogîs who try to steady the mind experience frustration because of their inability to perfect the state of trance. Thus they weary in their attempt to bring the mind under control.
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TEXT 3
athâta ânanda-dugham padâmbujam
hamsâh s'rayerann aravinda-locana
sukham nu vis'ves'vara yoga-karmabhis
tvan-mâyayâmî vihatâ na mâninah
atha - now; atah - therefore; ânanda-dugham - the source of all ecstasy; pada-ambujam - Your lotus feet; hamsâh - the swanlike men; s'rayeran - take shelter of; aravinda-locana - O lotus-eyed; sukham - happily; nu - indeed; vis'va-îs'vara - Lord of the universe; yoga-karmabhih - because of their practice of mysticism and fruitive work; tvat-mâyayâ - by Your material energy; amî - these; vihatâh - defeated; na - do not (take shelter); mâninah - those who are falsely proud.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, O lotus-eyed Lord of the universe, swanlike men happily take shelter of Your lotus feet, the source of all transcendental ecstasy. But those who take pride in their accomplishments in yoga and karma fail to take shelter of You and are defeated by Your illusory energy.
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TEXT 4
kim citram acyuta tavaitad as'esha-bandho
dâseshv ananya-s'aranesu yad âtma-sâttvam
yo 'rocayat saha mrigaih svayam îs'varânâm
s'rîmat-kirîtha-tatha-pîdita-pâda-pîthhah
kim - what; citram - wonder; acyuta - O infallible Lord; tava - Your; etat - this; as'esha-bandho - O friend of all; dâseshu - for the servants; ananya-s'araneshu - who have taken no other shelter; yat - which; âtma-sâttvam - intimacy with You; yah - who; arocayat - acted affectionately; saha - with; mrigaih - the animals (monkeys); svayam - Yourself; îs'varânâm - of the great demigods; s'rîmat - effulgent; kirîtha - of the helmets; tatha - by the edges; pîdita - shaken; pâda-pîthhah - whose footstool.
TRANSLATION
My dear infallible Lord, it is not very astonishing that You intimately approach Your servants who have taken exclusive shelter of You. After all, during Your appearance as Lord Râmacandra, even while great demigods like Brahmâ were vying to place the effulgent tips of their helmets upon the cushion where Your lotus feet rested, You displayed special affection for monkeys such as Hanumân because they had taken exclusive shelter of You.
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TEXT 5
tam tvâkhilâtma-dayites'varam âs'ritânâm
sarvârtha-dam sva-krita-vid visrijeta ko nu
ko vâ bhajet kim api vismritaye 'nu bhûtyai
kim vâ bhaven na tava pâda-rajo-jushâm nah
tam - that; tvâ - You; akhila - of all; âtma - the Supreme Soul; dayita - the most dear; îs'varam - and the supreme controller; âs'rîtânâm - of those who take shelter of You; sarva-artha - of all perfections; dam - the bestower; sva-krita - the benefit you have given; vit - who knows; visrijeta - can reject; kah - who; nu - indeed; kah - who; vâ - or; bhajet - can accept; kim api - anything; vismritaye - for forgetfulness; anu - consequently; bhûtyai - for sense gratification; kim - what; vâ - or; bhavet - is; na - not; tava - Your; pâda - of the lotus feet; rajah - the dust; jushâm - for those who are serving; nah - ourselves.
TRANSLATION
Who, then, could dare reject You, the very Soul, the most dear object of worship, and the Supreme Lord of all - You who give all possible perfections to the devotees who take shelter of You? Who could be so ungrateful, knowing the benefits You bestow? Who would reject You and accept something for the sake of material enjoyment, which simply leads to forgetfulness of You? And what lack is there for us who are engaged in the service of the dust of Your lotus feet?
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TEXT 6
naivopayanty apacitim kavayas taves'a
brahmâyushâpi kritam riddha-mudah smarantah
yo 'ntar bahis tanu-bhritâm as'ubham vidhunvann
âcârya-caittya-vapushâ sva-gatim vyanakti
na eva - not at all; upayanti - are able to express; apacitim - their gratitude; kavayah - learned devotees; tava - Your; îs'a - O Lord; brahma-âyushâ - with a lifetime equal to Lord Brahmâ's; api - in spite of; kritam - magnanimous work; riddha - increased; mudah - joy; smarantah - remembering; yah - who; antah - within; bahih - outside; tanu-bhritâm - of those who are embodied; as'ubham - misfortune; vidhunvan - dissipating; âcârya - of the spiritual master; caittya - of the Supersoul; vapushâ - by the forms; sva - own; gatim - path; vyanakti - shows.
TRANSLATION
O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmâ, for You appear in two features - externally as the âcârya and internally as the Supersoul - to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.
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TEXT 7
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
ity uddhavenâty-anurakta-cetasâ
pristho jagat-krîdanakah sva-s'aktibhih
grihîta-mûrti-traya îs'vares'varo
jagâda sa-prema-manohara-smitah
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - thus; uddhavena - by Uddhava; ati-anurakta - extremely attached; cetasâ - whose heart; pristhah - asked; jagat - the universe; krîdanakah - whose plaything; sva-s'aktibhih - by His own energies; grihîta - who has assumed; mûrti - personal forms; trayah - three; îs'vara - of all controllers; îs'varah - the supreme controller; jagâda - He spoke; sa-prema - loving; manah-hara - attractive; smitah - whose smile.
TRANSLATION
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said - Thus questioned by the most affectionate Uddhava, Lord Krishna, the supreme controller of all controllers, who takes the entire universe as His plaything and assumes the three forms of Brahmâ, Vishnu and S'iva, began to reply, lovingly displaying His all-attractive smile.
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TEXT 8
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca
hanta te kathayishyâmi
mama dharmân su-mangalân
yân s'raddhayâcaran martyo
mrityum jayati durjayam
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; hanta - yes; te - to you; kathayishyâmi - I shall speak; mama - relating to Me; dharmân - religious principles; su-mangalân - most auspicious; yân - which; s'raddhayâ - with faith; âcaran - executing; martyah - a mortal human being; mrityum - death; jayati - conquers; durjayam - unconquerable.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said - Yes, I shall describe to you the principles of devotion to Me, by executing which a mortal human being will conquer unconquerable death.
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TEXT 9
kuryât sarvâni karmâni
mad-artham s'anakaih smaran
mayy arpita-manas'-citto
mad-dharmâtma-mano-ratih
kuryât - one should perform; sarvâni - all; karmâni - prescribed activities; mat-artham - for Me; s'anakaih - without becoming impetuous; smaran - remembering; mayi - unto Me; arpita - who has offered; manah-cittah - his mind and his intelligence; mat-dharma - My devotional service; âtma-manah - of his own mind; ratih - the attraction.
TRANSLATION
Always remembering Me, one should perform all his duties for Me without becoming impetuous. With mind and intelligence offered to Me, one should fix his mind in attraction to My devotional service.
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TEXT 10
des'ân punyân âs'rayeta
mad-bhaktaih sâdhubhih s'ritân
devâsura-manushyeshu
mad-bhaktâcaritâni ca
des'ân - places; punyân - sacred; âs'rayeta - he should take shelter of; mat-bhaktaih - by My devotees; sâdhubhih - saintly; s'ritân - resorted to; deva - among the demigods; asura - demons; manushyeshu - and human beings; mat-bhakta - of My devotees; âcaritâni - the activities; ca - and.
TRANSLATION
One should take shelter of holy places where My saintly devotees reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities of My devotees, who appear among the demigods, demons and human beings.
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TEXT 11
prithak satrena vâ mahyam
parva-yâtrâ-mahotsavân
kârayed gîta-nrityâdyair
mahârâja-vibhûtibhih
prithak - alone; satrena - in assembly; vâ - or; mahyam - for Me; parva - monthly observances, such as Ekâdas'i; yâtrâ - special gatherings; mahâ-utsavân - and festivals; kârayet - one should arrange to perform; gîta - with singing; nritya-âdyaih - dancing and so on; mahâ-râja - royal; vibhûtibhih - with signs of opulence.
TRANSLATION
Either alone or in public gatherings, with singing, dancing and other exhibitions of royal opulence, one should arrange to celebrate those holy days, ceremonies and festivals set aside specially for My worship.
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TEXT 12
mâm eva sarva-bhûteshu
bahir antar apâvritam
îkshetâtmani câtmânam
yathâ kham amalâs'ayah
mâm - Me; eva - indeed; sarva-bhûteshu - within all living beings; bahih - externally; antah - internally; apâvritam - uncovered; îksheta - one should see; âtmani - within himself; ca - also; âtmânam - the Supreme Soul; yathâ - as; kham - the sky; amala-âs'ayah - having a pure heart.
TRANSLATION
With a pure heart one should see Me, the Supreme Soul within all beings and also within oneself, to be both unblemished by anything material and also present everywhere, both externally and internally, just like the omnipresent sky.
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TEXTS 13 - 14
iti sarvâni bhûtâni
mad-bhâvena mahâ-dyute
sabhâjayan manyamâno
jñânam kevalam âs'ritah
brâhmane pukkase stene
brahmanye 'rke sphulingake
akrûre krûrake caiva
sama-drik pandito matah
iti - in this way; sarvâni - to all; bhûtâni - living beings; mat-bhâvena - with the sense of My presence; mahâ-dyute - O greatly effulgent Uddhava; sabhâjayan - giving respect; manyamânah - so considering; jñânam - knowledge; kevalam - transcendental; âs'ritah - taking shelter of;
brâhmane - in the brâhmana; pukkase - in the outcaste of the Pukkasa tribe; stene - in the thief; brahmanye - in the man who respects brahminical culture; arke - in the sun; sphulingake - in the spark of the fire; akrûre - in the gentle; krûrake - in the cruel; ca - also; eva - indeed; sama-drik - having equal vision; panditah - a learned scholar; matah - is considered.
TRANSLATION
O brilliant Uddhava, one who thus views all living entities with the idea that I am present within each of them, and who by taking shelter of this divine knowledge offers due respect to everyone, is considered actually wise. Such a man sees equally the brâhmana and the outcaste, the thief and the charitable promoter of brahminical culture, the sun and the tiny sparks of fire, the gentle and the cruel.
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TEXT 15
nareshv abhîkshnam mad-bhâvam
pumso bhâvayato 'cirât
spardhâsûyâ-tiraskârâh
sâhankârâ viyanti hi
nareshu - in all persons; abhîkshnam - constantly; mat-bhâvam - the personal presence of Me; pumsah - of the person; bhâvayatah - who is meditating upon; acirât - quickly; spardhâ - the tendency to feel rivalry (against equals); asûyâ - envy (of superiors); tiraskârâh - and abuse (of inferiors); sa - along with; ahankârâh - false ego; viyanti - they disappear; hi - indeed.
TRANSLATION
For him who constantly meditates upon My presence within all persons, the bad tendencies of rivalry, envy and abusiveness, along with false ego, are very quickly destroyed.
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TEXT 16
visrijya smayamânân svân
dris'am vrîdâm ca daihikîm
pranamed danda-vad bhûmâv
â-s'va-cândâla-go-kharam
visrijya - giving up; smayamânân - who are laughing; svân - one's own friends; dris'am - the outlook; vrîdâm - the embarrassment; ca - and; daihikîm - of the bodily conception; pranamet - one should offer obeisances; danda-vat - falling down like a rod; bhûmau - upon the ground; â - even; s'va - to the dogs; cândâla - outcastes; go - cows; kharam - and asses.
TRANSLATION
Disregarding the ridicule of one's companions, one should give up the bodily conception and its accompanying embarrassment. One should offer obeisances before all - even the dogs, outcastes, cows and asses - falling flat upon the ground like a rod.
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TEXT 17
yâvat sarveshu bhûteshu
mad-bhâvo nopajâyate
tâvad evam upâsîta
vân-manah-kâya-vrittibhih
yâvat - as long as; sarveshu - in all; bhûteshu - living entities; mat-bhâvah - the vision of My presence; na upajâyate - does not fully develop; tâvat - for that long; evam - in this way; upâsîta - one must worship; vâk - of his speech; manah - mind; kâya - and body; vrittibhih - by the functions.
TRANSLATION
Until one has fully developed the ability to see Me within all living beings, one must continue to worship Me by this process with the activities of his speech, mind and body.
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TEXT 18
sarvam brahmâtmakam tasya
vidyayâtma-manîshayâ
paripas'yann uparamet
sarvato muita-sams'ayah
sarvam - everything; brahma-âtmakam - based on the Absolute Truth; tasya - for him; vidyayâ - by transcendental knowledge; âtma-manîshayâ - by realization of the Supreme Soul; paripas'yan - seeing everywhere; uparamet - he should desist from material activities; sarvatah - in all cases; mukta-sams'ayah - freed from doubts.
TRANSLATION
By such transcendental knowledge of the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, one is able to see the Absolute Truth everywhere. Freed thus from all doubts, one gives up fruitive activities.
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TEXT 19
ayam hi sarva-kalpânâm
sadhrîcîno mato mama
mad-bhâvah sarva-bhûteshu
mano-vâk-kâya-vrittibhih
ayam - this; hi - indeed; sarva - of all; kalpânâm - processes; sadhrîcînah - the most appropriate; matah - is considered; mama - by Me; mat-bhâvah - seeing Me; sarva-bhûteshu - within all living entities; manah-vâk-kâya-vrittibhih - by the functions of one's mind, words and body.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, I consider this process - using one's mind, words and bodily functions for realizing Me within all living beings - to be the best possible method of spiritual enlightenment.
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TEXT 20
na hy angopakrame dhvamso
mad-dharmasyoddhavânv api
mayâ vyavasitah samyan
nirgunatvâd anâs'ishah
na - there is not; hi - indeed; anga - My dear Uddhava; upakrame - in the attempt; dhvamsah - destruction; mat-dharmasya - of My devotional service; uddhava - My dear Uddhava; anu - the slightest; api - even; mayâ - by Me; vyavasitah - established; samyak - perfectly; nirguna-tvât - because of its being transcendental; anâs'ishah - having no ulterior motive.
TRANSLATION
My dear Uddhava, because I have personally established it, this process of devotional service unto Me is transcendental and free from any material motivation. Certainly a devotee never suffers even the slightest loss by adopting this process.
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TEXT 21
yo yo mayi pare dharmah
kalpyate nishphalâya cet
tad-âyâso nirarthah syâd
bhayâder iva sattama
yah, yah - whatever; mayi - unto Me; pare - the Supreme; dharmah - is religion; kalpyate - tends; nishphalâya - toward becoming free from the result of material work; cet - if; tat - of that; âyâsah - the endeavor; nirarthah - futile; syât - may be; bhaya-âdeh - of fear and so on; iva - as; sat-tama - O best of saintly persons.
TRANSLATION
O Uddhava, greatest of saints, in a dangerous situation an ordinary person cries, becomes fearful and laments, although such useless emotions do not change the situation. But activities offered to Me without personal motivation, even if they are externally useless, amount to the actual process of religion.
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TEXT 22
eshâ buddhimatâm buddhir
manîshâ ca manîshinâm
yat satyam anriteneha
martyenâpnoti mâmritam
eshâ - this; buddhi-matâm - of the intelligent; buddhih - the intelligence; manîshâ - the cleverness; ca - and; manîshinâm - of the clever; yat - which; satyam - the real; anritena - by the false; iha - in this life; martyena - by the mortal; âpnoti - obtains; mâ - Me; amritam - the immortal.
TRANSLATION
This process is the supreme intelligence of the intelligent and the cleverness of the most clever, for by following it one can in this very life make use of the temporary and unreal to achieve Me, the eternal reality.
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TEXT 23
esha te 'bhihitah kritsno
brahma-vâdasya sangrahah
samâsa-vyâsa-vidhinâ
devânâm api durgamah
eshah - this; te - unto you; abhihitah - has been described; kritsnah - completely; brahma-vâdasya - of the science of the Absolute Truth; sangrahah - the survey; samâsa - in brief; vyâsa - in detail; vidhinâ - by both means; devânâm - for the demigods; api - even; durgamah - inaccessible.
TRANSLATION
Thus have I related to you - both in brief and in detail - a complete survey of the science of the Absolute Truth. Even for the demigods, this science is very difficult to comprehend.
PURPORT
The word devânâm indicates those living beings in the mode of goodness (such as demigods, saints and pious philosophers) who nevertheless cannot understand the Absolute Truth because they lack full surrender to the Personality of Godhead.
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TEXT 24
abhîkshnas'as te gaditam
jñânam vispastha-yuktimat
etad vijñâya mucyeta
purusho nastha-sams'ayah
abhîkshnas'ah - repeatedly; te - to you; gaditam - spoken; jñânam - knowledge; vispastha - clear; yukti - logical arguments; mat - having; etat - this; vijñâya - properly understanding; mucyeta - will become liberated; purushah - a person; nastha - destroyed; sams'ayah - his doubts.
TRANSLATION
I have repeatedly spoken this knowledge to you with clear reasoning. Anyone who properly understands it will become free from all doubts and attain liberation.
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TEXT 25
su-viviktam tava pras'nam
mayaitad api dhârayet
sanâtanam brahma-guhyam
param brahmâdhigacchati
sa-viviktam - clearly elucidated; tava - your; pras'nam - question; mayâ - by Me; etat - this; api - even; dhârayet - fixes his attention upon; sanâtanam - eternal; brahma-guhyam - secret of the Vedas; param - supreme; brahma - the Absolute Truth; adhigacchati - he attains.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who fixes his attention on these clear answers to your questions will attain to the eternal, confidential goal of the Vedas - the Supreme Absolute Truth.
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TEXT 26
ya etan mama bhakteshu
sampradadyât su-pushkalam
tasyâham brahma-dâyasya
dadâmy âtmânam âtmanâ
yah - who; etat - this; mama - My; bhakteshu - among the devotees; sampradadyât - instructs; su-pushkalam - liberally; tasya - to him; aham - I; brahma-dâyasya - to the person who is the bestower of knowledge of the Absolute; dadâmi - I give; âtmânam - Myself; âtmanâ - by Myself.
TRANSLATION
One who liberally disseminates this knowledge among My devotees is the bestower of the Absolute Truth, and to him I give My very own self.
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TEXT 27
ya etat samadhîyîta
pavitram paramam s'uci
sa pûyetâhar ahar mâm
jñâna-dîpena dars'ayan
yah - who; etat - this; samadhîyîta - recites loudly; pavitram - the purifying agent; paramam - supreme; s'uci - clear and transparent; sah - he; pûyeta - becomes purified; ahah ahah - day after day; mâm - Me; jñâna-dîpena - with the lamp of knowledge; dars'ayan - exhibiting.
TRANSLATION
He who loudly recites this supreme knowledge, which is the most lucid and purifying, becomes purified day by day, for he reveals Me to others with the lamp of transcendental knowledge.
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TEXT 28
ya etac chraddhayâ nityam
avyagrah s'rinuyân narah
mayi bhaktim parâm kurvan
karmabhir na sa badhyate
yah - who; etat - this; s'raddhayâ - with faith; nityam - regularly; avyagrah - free from distraction; s'rinuyât - listens; narah - a person; mayi - to Me; bhaktim - devotional service; parâm - transcendental; kurvan - performing; karmabhih - by fruitive actions; na - not; sah - he; badhyate - becomes bound up.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who regularly listens to this knowledge with faith and attention, all the while engaging in My pure devotional service, will never become bound by the reactions of material work.
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TEXT 29
apy uddhava tvayâ brahma
sakhe samavadhâritam
api te vigato mohah
s'okas' câsau mano-bhavah
api - whether; uddhava - O Uddhava; tvayâ - by you; brahma - spiritual knowledge; sakhe - O friend; samavadhâritam - sufficiently understood; api - whether; te - your; vigatah - is removed; mohah - the illusion; s'okah - lamentation; ca - and; asau - this; manah-bhavah - born of your mind.
TRANSLATION
My dear friend Uddhava, have you now completely understood this transcendental knowledge? Are the confusion and lamentation that arose in your mind now dispelled?
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TEXT 30
naitat tvayâ dâmbhikâya
nâstikâya s'athhâya ca
as'us'rûshor abhaktâya
durvinîtâya dîyatâm
na - not; etat - this; tvayâ - by you; dâmbhikâya - to a hypocrite; nâstikâya - to an atheist; s'athhâya - to a cheat; ca - and; as'us'rûshoh - to one who does not listen with faith; abhaktâya - to a nondevotee; durvinîtâya - to one who is not humbly submissive; dîyatâm - should be given.
TRANSLATION
You should not share this instruction with anyone who is hypocritical, atheistic or dishonest, or with anyone who will not listen faithfully, who is not a devotee, or who is simply not humble.
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TEXT 31
etair doshair vihînâya
brahmanyâya priyâya ca
sâdhave s'ucaye brûyâd
bhaktih syâc chûdra-yoshitâm
etaih - of these; doshaih - faulty qualities; vihînâya - to the person who is devoid; brahmanyâya - to one dedicated to the welfare of the brâhmanas; priyâya - kindly disposed; ca - and; sâdhave - saintly; s'ucaye - pure; brûyât - one should speak; bhaktih - devotion; syât - if it is present; s'ûdra - of the common workers; yoshitâm - and women.
TRANSLATION
This knowledge should be taught to one who is free from these bad qualities, who is dedicated to the welfare of the brâhmanas, and who is kindly disposed, saintly and pure. And if common workers and women are found to have devotion for the Supreme Lord, they are also to be accepted as qualified hearers.
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TEXT 32
naitad vijñâya jijñâsor
jñâtavyam avas'ishyate
pîtvâ pîyûsham amritam
pâtavyam nâvas'ishyate
na - not; etat - this; vijñâya - fully understanding; jijñâsoh - of the inquisitive person; jñâtavyam - matter to be understood; avas'ishyate - remains; pîtvâ - having drunk; pîyûsham - palatable; amritam - nectarean beverage; pâtavyam - to be drunk; na - nothing; avas'ishyate - remains.
TRANSLATION
When an inquisitive person comes to understand this knowledge, he has nothing further to know. After all, one who has drunk the most palatable nectar cannot remain thirsty.
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TEXT 33
jñâne karmani yoge ca
vârtâyâm danda-dhârane
yâvân artho nrinâm tâta
tâvâms te 'ham catur-vidhah
jñâne - in the process of knowledge; karmani - in fruitive work; yoge - in mystic yoga; ca - and; vârtâyâm - in ordinary business; danda-dhârane - in political rule; yâvân - whatever; arthah - accomplishment; nrinâm - of men; tâta - My dear Uddhava; tâvân - that much; te - to you; aham - I; catuh-vidhah - fourfold (i.e., the fourfold goals of human life - religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation).
TRANSLATION
Through analytic knowledge, ritualistic work, mystic yoga, mundane business and political rule, people seek to advance in religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. But because you are My devotee, whatever men can accomplish in these multifarious ways you will very easily find within Me.
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TEXT 34
martyo yadâ tyakta-samasta-karmâ
niveditâtmâ vicikîrshito me
tadâmritatvam pratipadyamâno
mayâtma-bhûyâya ca kalpate vai
martyah - a mortal; yadâ - when; tyakta - having given up; samasta - all; karmâ - his fruitive activities; nivedita-âtmâ - having offered his very self; vicikîrshitah - desirous of doing something special; me - for Me; tadâ - at that time; amritatvam - immortality; pratipadyamânah - in the process of attaining; mayâ - with Me; âtma-bhûyâya - for equal opulence; ca - also; kalpate - he becomes qualified; vai - indeed.
TRANSLATION
A person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers himself entirely unto Me, eagerly desiring to render service unto Me, achieves liberation from birth and death and is promoted to the status of sharing My own opulences.
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TEXT 35
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
sa evam âdars'ita-yoga-mârgas
tadottamahs'loka-vaco nis'amya
baddhâñjalih prîty-uparuddha-kanthho
na kiñcid ûce 's'ru-pariplutâkshah
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; sah - he (Uddhava); evam - thus; âdars'ita - shown; yoga-mârgah - the path of yoga; tadâ - then; uttamah-s'loka - of Lord S'rî Krishna; vacah - the words; nis'amya - having heard; baddha-añjalih - with hands folded in prayer; prîti - out of love; uparuddha - choked; kanthhah - his throat; na kiñcit - nothing; ûce - he said; as'ru - with tears; paripluta - overflowing; akshah - his eyes.
TRANSLATION
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said - Hearing these words spoken by Lord Krishna, and having thus been shown the entire path of yoga, Uddhava folded his hands to offer obeisances. But his throat choked up with love and his eyes overflowed with tears; so he could say nothing.
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TEXT 36
visthabhya cittam pranayâvaghûrnam
dhairyena râjan bahu-manyamânah
kritâñjalih prâha yadu-pravîram
s'îrshnâ spris'ams tac-caranâravindam
visthabhya - restraining; cittam - his mind; pranaya - with love; avaghûrnam - completely agitated; dhairyena - with steadfastness; râjan - O King; bahu-manyamânah - feeling grateful; krita-añjalih - his hands folded; prâha - he spoke; yadu-pravîram - to the greatest hero of the Yadus; s'îrshnâ - with his head; spris'an - touching; tat - His; carana-aravindam - lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
Steadying his mind, which had become overwhelmed with love, Uddhava felt extremely grateful to Lord Krishna, the greatest hero of the Yadu dynasty. My dear King Parîkshit, Uddhava bowed down to touch the Lord's lotus feet with his head and then spoke with folded hands.
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TEXT 37
s'rî-uddhava uvâca
vidrâvito moha-mahândhakâro
ya âs'rito me tava sannidhânât
vibhâvasoh kim nu samîpa-gasya
s'îtam tamo bhîh prabhavanty ajâdya
s'rî-uddhavah uvâca - S'rî Uddhava said; vidrâvitah - is driven away; moha - of delusion; mahâ-andhakârah - the great darkness; yah - which; âs'ritah - was taken shelter of; me - by me; tava - Your; sannidhânât - by the presence; vibhâvasoh - of the sun; kim - what; nu - indeed; samîpa-gasya - for one who has come into the proximity; s'îtam - cold; tamah - darkness; bhîh - fear; prabhavanti - have power; aja - O unborn; âdya - O primeval Lord.
TRANSLATION
S'rî Uddhava said - O unborn, primeval Lord, although I had fallen into the great darkness of illusion, my ignorance has now been dispelled by Your merciful association. Indeed, how can cold, darkness and fear exert their power over one who has approached the brilliant sun?
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TEXT 38
pratyarpito me bhavatânukampinâ
bhrityâya vijñâna-mayah pradîpah
hitvâ krita-jñas tava pâda-mûlam
ko 'nyam samîyâc charanam tvadîyam
pratyarpitah - offered in return; me - to me; bhavatâ - by Your good self; anukampinâ - who is merciful; bhrityâya - to Your servant; vijñâna-mayah - of transcendental knowledge; pradîpah - the torchlight; hitvâ - giving up; krita-jñah - who is grateful; tava - Your; pâda-mûlam - the sole of the lotus feet; kah - who; anyam - to another; samîyât - can go; s'aranam - for shelter; tvadîyam - Your.
TRANSLATION
In return for my insignificant surrender, You have mercifully bestowed upon me, Your servant, the torchlight of transcendental knowledge. Therefore, what devotee of Yours who has any gratitude could ever give up Your lotus feet and take shelter of another master?
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TEXT 39
vriknas' ca me su-dridhah sneha-pâs'o
dâs'ârha-vrishny-andhaka-sâtvateshu
prasâritah sristhi-vivriddhaye tvayâ
sva-mâyayâ hy âtma-subodha-hetinâ
vriknah - cut off; ca - and; me - my; su-dridhah - very firm; sneha-pâs'ah - binding rope of affection; dâs'ârha-vrishni-andhaka-sâtvateshu - for the Dâs'ârhas, Vrishnis, Andhakas and Sâtvatas; prasâritah - cast; sristhi - of Your creation; vivriddhaye - for the increase; tvayâ - by You; sva-mâyayâ - through Your illusory energy; hi - indeed; âtma - of the soul; su-bodha - of proper knowledge; hetinâ - by the sword.
TRANSLATION
The firmly binding rope of my affection for the families of the Dâs'ârhas, Vrishnis, Andhakas and Sâtvatas - a rope You originally cast over me by Your illusory energy for the purpose of developing Your creation - is now cut off by the weapon of transcendental knowledge of the self.
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TEXT 40
namo 'stu te mahâ-yogin
prapannam anus'âdhi mâm
yathâ tvac-caranâmbhoje
ratih syâd anapâyinî
namah astu - let me offer my obeisances; te - unto You; mahâ-yogin - O greatest of mystics; prapannam - who am surrendered; anus'âdhi - please instruct; mâm - me; yathâ - how; tvat - Your; carana-ambhoje - at the lotus feet; ratih - transcendental attraction; syât - may be; anapâyinî - undeviating.
TRANSLATION
Obeisances unto You, O greatest of yogîs. Please instruct me, who am surrendered unto You, how I may have undeviating attachment to Your lotus feet.
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TEXTS 41 - 44
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca
gacchoddhava mayâdistho
badary-âkhyam mamâs'ramam
tatra mat-pâda-tîrthode
snânopaspars'anaih s'ucih
îkshayâlakanandâyâ
vidhûtâs'esha-kalmashah
vasâno valkalâny anga
vanya-bhuk sukha-nihsprihah
titikshur dvandva-mâtrânâm
sus'îlah samyatendriyah
s'ântah samâhita-dhiyâ
jñâna-vijñâna-samyutah
matto 'nus'ikshitam yat te
viviktam anubhâvayan
mayy âves'ita-vâk-citto
mad-dharma-nirato bhava
ativrajya gatîs tisro
mâm eshyasi tatah param
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; gaccha - please go; uddhava - O Uddhava; mayâ - by Me; âdisthah - ordered; badarî-âkhyam - named Badarikâ; mama - My; âs'ramam - to the hermitage; tatra - there; mat-pâda - emanating from My feet; tîrtha - of the holy places; ude - in the water; snâna - by bathing; upaspars'anaih - and by touching for purification; s'ucih - cleansed;
îkshayâ - by glancing; alakanandâyâh - upon the river Gangâ; vidhûta - cleansed; as'esha - of all; kalmashah - sinful reactions; vasânah - wearing; valkalâni - bark; anga - My dear Uddhava; vanya - fruits, nuts, roots, etc., of the forest; bhuk - eating; sukha - happy; nihsprihah - and free from desire;
titikshuh - tolerant; dvandva-mâtrânâm - of all dualities; su-s'îlah - exhibiting saintly character; samyata-indriyah - with controlled senses; s'ântah - peaceful; samâhita - perfectly concentrated; dhiyâ - with intelligence; jñâna - with knowledge; vijñâna - and realization; samyutah - endowed;
mattah - from Me; anus'ikshitam - learned; yat - that which; te - by you; viviktam - ascertained with discrimination; anubhâvayan - thoroughly meditating upon; mayi - in Me; âves'ita - absorbed; vâk - your words; cittah - and mind; mat-dharma - My transcendental qualities; niratah - constantly endeavoring to realize; bhava - be thus situated; ativrajya - crossing beyond; gatîh - the destinations of material nature; tisrah - three; mâm - unto Me; eshyasi - you will come; tatah param - thereafter.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said - My dear Uddhava, take My order and go to My âs'rama called Badarikâ. Purify yourself by both touching and also bathing in the holy waters there, which have emanated from My lotus feet. Rid yourself of all sinful reactions with the sight of the sacred Alakanandâ River. Dress yourself in bark and eat whatever is naturally available in the forest. Thus you should remain content and free from desire, tolerant of all dualities, good-natured, self-controlled, peaceful and endowed with transcendental knowledge and realization. With fixed attention, meditate constantly upon these instructions I have imparted to you and assimilate their essence. Fix your words and thoughts upon Me, and always endeavor to increase your realization of My transcendental qualities. In this way you will cross beyond the destinations of the three modes of nature and finally come back to Me.
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TEXT 45
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
sa evam ukto hari-medhasoddhavah
pradakshinam tam parisritya pâdayoh
s'iro nidhâyâs'ru-kalâbhir ârdra-dhîr
nyashiñcad advandva-paro 'py apakrame
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; sah - he; evam - thus; uktah - addressed; hari-medhasâ - by the Supreme Lord, whose intelligence takes away the misery of material life; uddhavah - Uddhava; pradakshinam - facing with his right side; tam - Him; parisritya - circumambulating; pâdayoh - at the two feet; s'irah - his head; nidhâya - placing; as'ru-kalâbhih - with the teardrops; ârdra - melted; dhîh - whose heart; nyashiñcat - he drenched; advandva-parah - uninvolved in material dualities; api - although; apakrame - at the time of leaving.
TRANSLATION
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said - Thus addressed by Lord Krishna, whose intelligence destroys all the suffering of material life, S'rî Uddhava circumambulated the Lord and then fell down, placing his head upon the Lord's feet. Although Uddhava was free from the influence of all material dualities, his heart was breaking, and at this time of departure he drenched the Lord's lotus feet with his tears.
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TEXT 46
su-dustyaja-sneha-viyoga-kâtaro
na s'aknuvams tam parihâtum âturah
kricchram yayau mûrdhani bhartri-pâduke
bibhran namaskritya yayau punah punah
su-dustyaja - impossible to give up; sneha - (from Him) in whom he had reposed such affection; viyoga - because of separation; kâtarah - beside himself; na s'aknuvan - being incapable; tam - Him; parihâtum - to abandon; âturah - overwhelmed; kricchram yayau - he experienced great pain; mûrdhani - upon his head; bhartri - of his master; pâduke - the slippers; bibhran - carrying; namaskritya - bowing down to offer obeisances; yayau - he went away; punah punah - again and again.
TRANSLATION
Greatly fearing separation from Him for whom he felt such indestructible affection, Uddhava was distraught, and he could not give up the Lord's company. Finally, feeling great pain, he bowed down to the Lord again and again, placed the slippers of his master upon his head, and departed.
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TEXT 47
tatas tam antar hridi sannives'ya
gato mahâ-bhâgavato vis'âlâm
yathopadisthâm jagad-eka-bandhunâ
tapah samâsthâya harer agâd gatim
tatah - then; tam - Him; antah - within; hridi - his mind; sannives'ya - placing; gatah - going; mahâ-bhâgavatah - the great devotee; vis'âlâm - to Badarikâs'rama; yathâ - as; upadisthâm - described; jagat - of the universe; eka - by the only; bandhunâ - friend; tapah - austerities; samâsthâya - properly executing; hareh - of the Supreme Lord; agât - he attained; gatim - the destination.
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, placing the Lord deeply within his heart, the great devotee Uddhava went to Badarikâs'rama. By engaging there in austerities, he attained to the Lord's personal abode, which had been described to him by the only friend of the universe, Lord Krishna Himself.
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TEXT 48
ya etad ânanda-samudra-sambhritam
jñânâmritam bhâgavatâya bhâshitam
krishnena yoges'vara-sevitânghrinâ
sac-chraddhayâsevya jagad vimucyate
yah - anyone who; etat - this; ânanda - of ecstasy; samudra - ocean; sambhritam - collected; jñâna - of knowledge; amritam - the nectar; bhâgavatâya - to His devotee; bhâshitam - spoken; krishnena - by Krishna; yoga-îs'vara - by the masters of yoga; sevita - served; anghrinâ - whose lotus feet; sat - true; s'raddhayâ - with faith; âsevya - rendering service; jagat - the whole world; vimucyate - becomes liberated.
TRANSLATION
Thus Lord Krishna, whose lotus feet are served by all great yoga masters, spoke to His devotee this nectarean knowledge, which comprises the entire ocean of spiritual bliss. Anyone within this universe who receives this narration with great faith is assured of liberation.
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TEXT 49
bhava-bhayam apahantum jñâna-vijñâna-sâram
nigama-krid upajahre bhringa-vad veda-sâram
amritam udadhitas' câpâyayad bhritya-vargân
purusham rishabham âdyam krishna-samjñam nato 'smi
bhava - of material life; bhayam - the fear; apahantum - in order to take away; jñâna-vijñâna - of knowledge and self-realization; sâram - the essence; nigama - of the Vedas; krit - the author; upajahre - delivered; bhringa-vat - like a bee; veda-sâram - the essential meaning of the Vedas; amritam - the nectar; udadhitah - from the ocean; ca - and; apâyayat - made to drink; bhritya-vargân - His many devotees; purusham - to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rishabham - the greatest; âdyam - the first of all beings; krishna-samjñam - named Lord Krishna; natah - bowed down; asmi - I am.
TRANSLATION
I offer my obeisances to that Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original and greatest of all beings, Lord S'rî Krishna. He is the author of the Vedas, and just to destroy His devotees' fear of material existence, like a bee He has collected this nectarean essence of all knowledge and self-realization. Thus He has awarded to His many devotees this nectar from the ocean of bliss, and by His mercy they have drunk it.
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