Source
Texts:
The
Lord's Opulence
Text
1
S'rî
Uddhava said: 'You are the greatest, the Supreme Himself,
unrestrained without a beginning and an end; the true protector
and the maintenance, destruction and creation of all in
existence.
S'rî
Uddhava said - My dear Lord, You are beginningless and
endless, the Absolute Truth Himself, unlimited by anything
else. You are the protector and life-giver, the destruction
and creation of all things that exist.
Text
2
O, Supreme
Lord, for the impious being hard to understand, do the brahmins
worship You in Your reality of abiding in the superior as well
as the inferior entities of creation.
My
dear Lord, although it is difficult for the impious to
understand that You are situated in all superior and
inferior creations, those brâhmanas who are actual
knowers of the Vedic conclusion worship You in truth.
Text
3
Please speak to
me about the variety and the forms [see
catur
vyûha],
with which the great sages, with devotion worshiping You,
achieve that perfection.
Please
tell me of the perfections that great sages achieve by
worshiping You with devotion. Also, kindly explain which of
Your different forms they worship.
Text
4
O Maintainer of
All Beings, hidden are You engaged as the Very Soul of the
Living Beings who, bewildered by You seeing them, do not see
You.
O
my Lord, maintainer of all, although You are the Supersoul
of the living entities, You remain hidden. Thus being
bewildered by You, the living entities cannot see You,
although You are seeing them.
Text
5
And, please,
explain to me o greatest Might, what are all the potencies
manifested by You in all directions on the earth, in heaven and
in hell; my obeisances at Your lotus feet, the abode of all
holy places.'
O
supremely potent Lord, please explain to me Your innumerable
potencies, which You manifest on the earth, in heaven, in
hell and indeed in all directions. I offer my humble
obeisances at Your lotus feet, which are the shelter of all
holy places.
Text
6
The Supreme
Lord said: 'This question, o best of those who know to inquire,
did Arjuna ask Me as he desired to fight his rivals at the
destruction [at Kurukshetra,
see B.G. 2.54,
13:
1-2,
14:
21,
18:
1].
The
Supreme Personality of Godhead said - O best of those who
know how to inquire, on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra,
Arjuna, desiring to fight with his rivals, asked Me the same
question that you are now posing.
Text
7
Aware of the
fact that the killing of his relatives was a irreligious,
abominable, thing to do with the sovereignty as a motive,
refrained he saying worldly-minded, 'Then I am the slayer and
they the ones slain' [B.G.: 1:
37-45, compare
2:
19].
On
the Battlefield of Kurukshetra Arjuna thought that killing
his relatives would be an abominable, irreligious activity,
motivated only by his desire to acquire a kingdom. He
therefore desisted from the battle, thinking, 'I would be
the killer of my relatives. They would be destroyed.' Thus
Arjuna was afflicted with mundane consciousness.
Text
8
He, the tiger
among men, just like you, in front of the battle asking Me
questions, was at the time by Me with logical arguments
enlightened on the matter.
At
that time I enlightened Arjuna, the tiger among men, with
logical arguments, and thus in the front of the battle
Arjuna addressed Me with questions in the same way that you
are now inquiring.
Text
9
I am of these
living entities, the Soul, o Uddhava, their Well-wisher and
Controller, I am the maintenance, creation and annihilation of
all of the living beings.
My
dear Uddhava, I am the Supersoul of all living entities, and
therefore I am naturally their well-wisher and supreme
controller. Being the creator, maintainer and annihilator of
all entities, I am not different from them.
Text
10
I am the goal
of the ones seeking progress, the Time of those who exert
control, the modes of nature I am as well, and also am I the
equilibrium and the natural virtue in the pious.
I
am the ultimate goal of all those seeking progress, and I am
time among those who exert control. I am the equilibrium of
the modes of material nature, and I am natural virtue among
the pious.
Text
11
Of everything
of quality am I the primary thread, of all things great am I
the totality, of the subtle am I the spirit soul indeed and
among the things difficult to conquer am I the
mind.
Among
things possessing qualities I am the primary manifestation
of nature, and among great things I am the total material
creation. Among subtle things I am the spirit soul, and of
things that are difficult to conquer I am the mind.
Text
12
I am
Hiranyagarbha
[Brahmâ the original teacher] of the Veda's, of
the mantras I am three-lettered omkâra,
of the letters I am the first [the 'a'], and of the
sacred metres I am the three-feet [the gâyatrî-mantra].
Among
the Vedas I am their original teacher, Lord Brahmâ,
and of all mantras I am the three-lettered omkâra.
Among letters I am the first letter, 'a,' and among sacred
meters I am the Gâyatrî mantra.
Text
13
Among all the
gods I am Indra,
among the Vasus
I am Agni,
among the sons of Aditi I am Vishnu [Vâmana]
and among the Rudras
I am the One Red-Blue [S'iva, see also 3.12:
7].
Among
the demigods I am Indra, and among the Vasus I am Agni, the
god of fire. I am Vishnu among the sons of Aditi, and among
the Rudras I am Lord S'iva.
Text
14
Bhrigu
I am among the brahmin sages, among the brahmin kings I am
Manu,
among the brahmin demigods am I Nârada
and among the cows am I Kâmadhenu
[the cow of plenty].
Among
saintly brâhmanas I am Bhrigu Muni, and I am Manu
among saintly kings. I am Nârada Muni among saintly
demigods, and I am Kâmadhenu among cows.
Text
15
Of the
perfected in control am I Kapila,
Garuda
I am among the birds, Daksha
among the founding fathers, and Aryamâ
among the forefathers.
I
am Lord Kapila among perfected beings and Garuda among
birds. I am Daksha among the progenitors of mankind, and I
am Aryamâ among the forefathers.
Text
16
O Uddhava know
Me among the sons of Diti as Prahlâda,
the controller of the unenlightened, know Me as the moon to the
stars and the herbs, and as Kuvera,
the lord of wealth among the yakshas
and râkshasas.
My
dear Uddhava, among the demoniac sons of Diti know Me to be
Prahlâda Mahârâja, the saintly lord of the
asuras. Among the stars and herbs I am their lord, Candra
(the moon), and among Yakshas and Râkshasas I am the
lord of wealth, Kuvera.
Text
17
Airâvata
I am among the lordly elephants, Varuna,
the master among the aquatics, of the things that heat and
illumine am I the sun, and among the human beings am I the
master of the realm.
I
am Airâvata among lordly elephants, and among aquatics
I am Varuna, the lord of the seas. Among all things that
heat and illuminate I am the sun, and among human beings I
am the king.
Text
18
Ucchais'ravâ
I am among the horses, the gold among the metals,
Yamarâja
among the regulators and also am I Vâsuki
among the serpents.
Among
horses I am Uccaihs'ravâ, and I am gold among metals.
I am Yamarâja among those who suppress and punish, and
among serpents I am Vâsuki.
Text
19
Anantadeva
I am among the hooded snakes, the lion among all beasts with
teeth and horns, among the spiritual orders [the
status-groups, the âs'ramas]
I am the fourth [the sannyâsis] and among the
vocations [varnas]
I am the first [the brahmins] o sinless
one.
O
sinless Uddhava, among the best of snakes I am Anantadeva,
and among those animals with sharp horns and teeth I am the
lion. Among the social orders I am the fourth, or the
renounced order of life, and among the occupational
divisions I am the first, the brâhmanas.
Text
20
Among the holy
places and what flows I am the Ganges, the ocean I am among the
expanses of water, the bow among the weapons and the destroyer
of Tripura
[S'iva] among the wielders of the bow.
Among
sacred and flowing things I am the holy Ganges, and among
steady bodies of water I am the ocean. Among weapons I am
the bow, and of the wielders of weapons I am Lord
S'iva.
Text
21
Meru
I am among the mountains, among the places impervious I am the
Himalayas, among the trees the as'vattha,
and among the plants I am the ones bearing grains
[barley].
Among
residences I am Mount Sumeru, and of impervious places I am
the Himalayas. Among trees I am the holy fig tree, and among
plants I am those that bear grains.
Text
22
Among the
priests I am Vasishthha,
among those vowed
to the Veda I am Brihaspati,
Kârttikeya
[Skanda] I am among the military leaders and among
those of spiritual progress I am the highest lord unborn
[Brahmâ,
the Creator].
Among
priests I am Vasishthha Muni, and among those highly
situated in Vedic culture I am Brihaspati. I am
Kârtikeya among great military leaders, and among
those advancing in superior ways of life I am the great
personality Lord Brahmâ.
Text
23
Of the
sacrifices I am the study of the Veda, of the vows I am the vow
of nonviolence, and of all purifiers am I the pure fire, wind,
sun, water and speech in person.
Among
sacrifices I am study of the Veda, and I am nonviolence
among vows. Among all things that purify I am the wind,
fire, the sun, water and speech.
Text
24
Of
the yogaprocess am I the final stage of samâdhi,
prudent counsel I am among those desiring victory, of all
discrimination I am the metaphysical logic [or the
spiritual science of distinguishing spirit from matter],
and among the speculative philosophers am I the
choice.
Among
the eight progressive states of yoga I am the final stage,
samâdhi, in which the soul is completely separated
from illusion. Among those desiring victory I am prudent
political counsel, and among processes of expert
discrimination I am the science of the soul, by which one
distinguishes spirit from matter. Among all speculative
philosophers I am diversity of perception.
Text
25
Among
the ladies I am S'atarûpâ
[wife of Manu, see 3.12:
54]
and among the men am I Svâyambhuva
Manu,
sage Nârâyana [see 10.87:
4]
I am among the sages as also Sanat
Kumâra
among the celibates.
Among
ladies I am S'atarûpâ, and among male
personalities I am her husband, Svâyambhuva Manu. I am
Nârâyana among the sages and Sanat-kumâra
among brahmacârîs.
Text
26
Of
the principles of religion I am renunciation, of all things
basic am I the inner awareness, of the secrets I am the
friendliness and the silence, and of the sexual couple am I the
Unborn one [the original prajâpati
that is Brahmâ] indeed.
Among
religious principles I am renunciation, and of all types of
security I am consciousness of the eternal soul within. Of
secrets I am pleasant speech and silence, and among sexual
pairs I am Brahmâ.
Text
27
Of
what's ever wakeful I am the solar year, of the seasons I am
the spring, among the months I am Mârgas'îrsha
[November-December], and of the lunar mansions [the
27 nakshatras] I am Abhijit.
Among
the vigilant cycles of time I am the year, and among seasons
I am spring. Among months I am Mârgas'îrsha, and
among lunar houses I am the auspicious Abhijit.
Text
28
Of the yugas I
am Satya-yuga,
among the sober ones I am Devala
and
Asita, of the
vedic editors I am Dvaipâyana [Vyâsadeva]
and among the scholars learned in spirituality I am
S'ukrâcârya.
Among
ages I am the Satya-yuga, the age of truth, and among steady
sages I am Devala and Asita. Among those who have divided
the Vedas I am Krishna Dvaipâyana Vedavyâsa, and
among learned scholars I am S'ukrâcârya, the
knower of spiritual science.
Text
29
Of those
entitled to the name Bhagavân
[the Supreme Lord] am I Vâsudeva,
among My devotees am I indeed you [Uddhava], among the
ape-like am I Hanumân,
and among the scientists I am Sudars'ana.
Among
those entitled to the name Bhagavân I am
Vâsudeva, and indeed, you, Uddhava, represent Me among
the devotees. I am Hanumân among the Kimpurushas, and
among the Vidyâdharas I am Sudars'ana.
Text
30
Of the jewels
am I the ruby, of all things beautiful am I the lotus cup, of
all types of grass am I the kus'a
grass and of
the oblations am I the ghee
of the cow.
Among
jewels I am the ruby, and among beautiful things I am the
lotus cup. Among all types of grass I am the sacred kus'a,
and of oblations I am ghee and other ingredients obtained
from the cow.
Text
31
Of the
enterprising am I the fortune, of the cheaters I am the
gambling, the forgiveness I am among the tolerant and the
character I am among those in the mode of
goodness.
Among
the enterprising I am fortune, and among the cheaters I am
gambling. I am the forgiveness of the tolerant and the good
qualities of those in the mode of goodness.
Text
32
The mental and
physical strength I am of the strong; please know that among
the devotees I am the [devotional] work done and that
among My nine forms [nava
mûrti],
by which these sâtvatas
are worshiping Me, I am the Supreme Original Form
[Vâsudeva]
Of
the powerful I bodily and mental strength, and I am the
devotional activities of My devotees. My devotees worship Me
in nine different forms, among which I am the original and
primary Vâsudeva.
Text
33
Among
the singers of heaven I am Vis'vâvasu,
and among the heavenly dancing girls I am Pûrvacitti;
I am the steadiness of the mountains and the aroma perceived of
the earth.
Among
the Gandharvas I am Vis'vâvasu, and I am
Pûrvacitti among the heavenly Apsaras. I am the
steadiness of mountains and the fragrant aroma of the
earth.
Text
34
I am the fine
taste of water and among the things most brilliant am I the
sun; the effulgence I am of the moon, the stars and the sun,
and I am the transcendental soundvibration in the sky [see
also 11.15:
19].
I
am the sweet taste of water, and among brilliant things I am
the sun. I am the effulgence of the sun, moon and stars, and
I am the transcendental sound that vibrates in the
sky.
Text
35
Of the ones of
brahminical culture am I Bali,
of the heroes I am Arjuna
and indeed am I the rising, the stability and the final
mergence of all living beings.
Among
those dedicated to brahminical culture I am Bali
Mahârâja, the son of Virocana, and I am Arjuna
among heroes. Indeed, I am the creation, maintenance and
annihilation of all living entities.
Text
36
Of the sensual
power of the senses am I the walking, the speech, the
evacuation, the handling and the sexual joy [the
karmendriyas];
and the touch, the sight, the taste, the hearing and the smell
[the jnanendriyas].
I
am the functions of the five working senses - the legs,
speech, anus, hands and sex organs - as well as those of the
five knowledge-acquiring senses - touch, sight, taste,
hearing and smell. I am also the potency by which each of
the senses experiences its particular sense object.
Text
37
This all I
enumerated - the subtle form of the earth [smell], of
the air [touch], of the sky [sound], of the
water [taste], of the fire [light]; the
totality of matter, the sixteen elements [those five basic
elements, the indriyas and the mind], the person, the
unmanifest and the modes of rajas,
tamas
and sattva
- am I, the Supreme, the spiritual knowledge and the steady
conviction [therewith].
I
am form, taste, aroma, touch and sound; false ego; the
mahat-tattva; earth, water, fire, air and sky; the living
entity; material nature; the modes of goodness, passion and
ignorance; and the transcendental Lord. All these items,
along with knowledge of their individual symptoms and the
steady conviction that results from this knowledge,
represent Me.
Text
38
I am the
Supreme Controller of the living entity, the
gunas
and the greater reality; I, the Soul of all, am indeed
everything, the one apart of whom nothing whatsoever
exists.
As
the Supreme Lord I am the basis of the living entity, of the
modes of nature and of the mahat-tattva. Thus I am
everything, and nothing whatsoever can exist without
Me.
Text
39
Counting the
atoms might be achieved by Me after some time but not so the
opulences of Me, I who create the universes by the millions
[compare 10.14:
7].
Even
though over a period of time I might count all the atoms of
the universe, I could not count all of My opulences which I
manifest within innumerable universes.
Text
40
Whatever power,
beauty, fame, dominion [see siddhis],
humility, renunciation, enjoyment, fortune, strength, tolerance
or wisdom there might be, is an integral part of
Me.
Whatever
power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, renunciation,
mental pleasure, fortune, strength, tolerance or spiritual
knowledge there may be is simply an expansion of My
opulence.
Text
41
All these
spiritual potencies I briefly enumerated to you [see also
B.G. 7,
9
and
10] are,
with each of them [in expansions of the Lord and as]
put in corresponding words [in the scriptures, in the
teachings], likewise there as transformations of the
mind.
I
have briefly described to you all My spiritual opulences and
also the extraordinary material features of My creation,
which are perceived by the mind and defined in different
ways according to circumstances.
Text
42
Control the
mind, control the speech, control the breathing and the senses;
control your self by your soul so that you never again will
stumble on the path of material existence.
Therefore,
control your speaking, subdue the mind, conquer the life
air, regulate the senses and through purified intelligence
bring your rational faculties under control. In this way you
will never again fall onto the path of material
existence.
Text
43
For sure is
someone who is not completely by his intelligence controlling
the speech and the mind, a transcendentalist whose vows,
penance and charity run out like water from an unbaked
pot.
A
transcendentalist who does not completely control his words
and mind by superior intelligence will find that his
spiritual vows, austerities and charity flow away just as
water flows out of an unbaked clay pot.
Text
44
Therefore
should the one devoted to Me aligned in My bhakti control his
words, life air and mind and thus, by that intelligence,
fulfill his life's purpose.
Being
surrendered to Me, one should control the speech, mind and
life air, and then through loving devotional intelligence
one will completely fulfill the mission of life.
