SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 2

The king asked: 'How explained Nârada, being instructed by Lord Brahmâ o brahmin, the modes and their transcendence, and to whom explained he it?

The king asked: 'How did Nârada, being instructed by Lord Brahmâ, o brahmin, explain the modes and their transcendence, and whom did he explain it to?' (Vedabase)

Text 2

This I wish to understand o best one: what is the reality of those who are in the Absolute of the truth of the Lord who is so full of wonderful potencies and whose narrations are so beneficial to all the worlds?

This I wish to understand o best one: what is the reality of those who are in the Absolute of the truth of the Lord who is so full of wonderful potencies and of whom the narrations are so auspicious for all the worlds? (Vedabase)

Text 3

Please continue speaking, o you of great fortune, so that I, with my mind focussed upon the Supreme One of the soul, Lord S'rî Krishna, freed from material attachment may relinquish my body.

Please continue, o one of great fortune, as I likewise unto the Supreme of the soul have put myself to Lord Krishna, with my thoughts freed from material association in the renouncing of my body. (Vedabase)

Text 4

Those who with faith regularly take to this spiritual matter and as well seriously persist in the endeavor, will after not too long a time see the Supreme Lord appear in their hearts.

Those who with faith, regularly take to the matter and as well seriously endure in the endeavor, will after not too long a time see the Supreme Lord appear in their hearts. (Vedabase)

Text 5

When one thus through one's ears receives the sounds [of the Bhâgavatam], this lotus flower of the loving relationship with Krishna will wash away all the impurities, the way the autumnal rain cleanses the water of the pools.

Thus receiving it through their ears from the love of their own liberation, this lotus [the Bhâgavatam] of Krishna cleanses the lower from qualities like the waters of autumn do. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Once being cleansed a person who took to the shelter of Krishna's feet will never want to give up on that liberation, just like a traveler who going through the miseries of life will never want to give up his home [the Soul, see also B.G. 5: 17; 8: 16; 8: 21-28; 9: 3; 15: 3-4; 15: 6].

Once being cleansed will the person, who took to the shelter of Krishna's feet, never give up that liberation, just like a traveler, who going through the miseries of life, will never give up his home [see also B.G. 5: 17; 8: 16; 8: 21-28; 9: 3; 15: 3-4; 15: 6]. (Vedabase)

Text 7

When it thus is not a question of being material o brahmin, can you from your selfknowledge, tell me whether the living being in this undertaking accidentally arrives at a body or because of some cause?

As it is not a question of being material, o brahmin, can you as you may know from your good self tell me whether the living being in the beginning comes to the body accidentally or of some cause? (Vedabase)

Text 8

If He is in the possession of the lotusflower of this world that as it were sprouted from His abdomen, then what is the difference between the Original Person to the measure of this extent [of the Virâth Rûpa] and the situation one speaks of with the different embodiments [of the living entities]?

If He is in possession of the lotusflower of this world, that as it were sprouted from His abdomen, then what is the difference between the Original Person with this certain measurement [of the Virât Rûpa] and the situation that one speaks of with the many different embodiments? (Vedabase)

Text 9

How could he on the lotus flower who was not born from matter himself but from the navel, he [Brahmâ] who gave life to all the ones born with a material body, through His mercy see His Form?

How could he who was not born from matter himself and who gave life to all the ones born with a material body, through His mercy see His Form while being born from the lotusflower of the navel? (Vedabase)

Text 10

And also [how can it be that] He as the Original Person maintaining, creating and annihilating the material worlds, remains untouched by His own external energy while He as the Lord of all energies rests in the heart of everyone?

And also [how can it be that] He as the Original Person maintaining, creating and annihilating the material worlds remains untouched by His own external energy while resting as the Lord of all energies in the heart of everyone? (Vedabase)

Text 11

Formerly I heard you discuss [in chapter 2.5] the different [planets or] worlds with their governors as the different parts of the body of the Original Person. So what [can you tell us] about those governors who by their different places are the different parts of Him?

Also as you formerly explained how by the different parts of the body of the Original Person the worlds were there with their respective rulers, what thus by the worlds of such a one [can you tell] about those rulers I heard of? (Vedabase)

Text 12

And what about a day of Brahmâ [a kalpa] and the periods between them [vikalpas]? What can you say about the time measures we call the past, the future and the present? And how about the lifespan allotted to embodied beings?

And what about the duration of time in periods or the secondary notions about it as also what to say about the time measuring the sound of the past, future and present - and how about the determining of the duration of life of all beings of whatever world as well? (Vedabase)

Text 13

O purest of the twice-born, what could be the beginning of time and what can you say about the way time, in the context of one's karma, is experienced as being short or long?

O purest of the twice born, what may be the beginning of time and what about the way in terms of one's karma it is experienced as being short or long? (Vedabase)

Text 14

And also to what extent is one ruled by one's accruing karma in relation to the different modes of nature and the different life forms resulting from it as a consequence of one's desire?

Then again to what extend is one taken over by accruing [karma] to the different modes of nature in the different life forms which are also certainly the result of one's desire. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Please describe to us how the creation of the lower regions, the four quarters of heaven, the sky, the planets and the stars, the hills, rivers, the seas and the islands and their inhabitants took place.

Please describe us how life underneath the earth, in the four quarters of heaven, in the sky, on the planets and about the stars, on the hills, in the rivers, the seas and on the islands comes about and what are these inhabitants? (Vedabase)

Text 16

What is the extent and measure of [the] outer space [universe] and the inner space, and what are their divisions? And what is the character and action of the great souls and the vocations and age groups of society?

What is the extent and measurement of the outer space universe and the innerspace and what are their divisions? And what is the character and action of the great souls and the vocations and age-groups of society? (Vedabase)

Text 17

What are the different ages, how long do they take and what is their nature? And which incarnation of the Lord performs what kind of wonderful activities in each and every age?

What are the different ages, how long do they take and what is their nature and which incarnation of the Lord performs what kind of wonderful activities in each and every age? (Vedabase)

Text 18

What are the different religious duties of human society at large and what are the duties of the three classes [labor, trade and intellect] and their administration [the fourth class]? And what would the obligations be towards people in distress?

What are the specific religious affiliations of human society in general and what are the duties of the three classes [labor, trade and intellect] and their administration [the fourth class] as also what would the obligations be to people in distress? (Vedabase)

Text 19

How many elements are there in creation, what are their characteristics and how do they react? What are the rules and regulations of the devotional service for de Original Person in the culture of yoga and what are the different spiritual methods that lead thereto?

And what is the number of elements of creation and what are their characteristics and interaction? What are the rules and regulations of the devotional practice to the Original Person in the cultivation of yoga and what are the different spiritual methods leading thereto? (Vedabase)

Text 20

What are the powers the yoga master acquires, where do they lead to, how do the yogis detach from the astral body and what is the transcendental knowledge found in the Vedas, their subsidiary literatures [the Upaveda], the law books and the Vedic stories and historical accounts?

What are the opulences of the yogamaster, where do they lead to, how do the yogîs detach from the astral body and what is the transcendental knowledge found in the religiosity about the historical accounts and the vedic stories? (Vedabase)

Text 21

How do the different ways of the living beings come about and how do they find their end? What are the procedures for performing rituals, pious works and deeds of self-interest and what are the regulations for the three goals of life [the economic, religious and sensual interests]?

What is the specific order of all those transient living beings and how does it end? What are the good deeds, rituals and also the regulative principles concerning the religion, the means of existence and the pleasing of the senses? (Vedabase)

Text 22

How do all those who either live in union with the Lord or go against Him find their existence and to what extend are those who are liberated conditioned relative to the ones who lead a life less determined?

How do all those who either live in union with the Lord or go against Him come about and what is the conditioning of the ones liberated as also that of the ones that live undetermined? (Vedabase)

Text 23

How does the independent Supreme Lord enjoy His pastimes from His own inner potency and how can He forsake them when He as the Almighty One remains a witness to the external of His capacity?

As the independent Supreme Lord enjoying His pastimes from His own inner potency also gives them up as He wants to the external of His capacity, He as the Almighty remains just as a witness. (Vedabase)

Text 24

About all this and more that I didn't ask you o fortunate one, I've been wondering from the beginning. Please explain in accordance with the truth o great sage, that what you want to tell me with us all having fallen at your feet.

About all this and more that I didn't ask you, o Supreme Person, I've been wondering from the beginning. Please explain in accordance with the truth, o great sage, what you want to tell me with us all having fallen at your feet. (Vedabase)

Text 25

Surely in these matters of factual knowing you are as good as Brahmâ who originated directly from the Lord, while others who following the customs accordingly may only speak from borrowed knowledge.

Surely in these matters of factual knowing you are like Brahmâ originating directly from the Lord, while others are only following to custom after what of borrowed knowledge could be said. (Vedabase)

Text 26

I never tire o brahmin, of drinking, in the hunger of my fasting, from the nectar of the infallible which flows from the ocean of what you say.' "

I never get tired, o brahmin, of drinking, in hunger of my fasting, of the nectar of the Infallible flowing from the ocean of your speech'." (Vedabase)

Text 27

Sûta Gosvâmî said: "He [S'ukadeva] thus in that assembly being questioned by the king on topics concerning the highest truth like these, was, as the instrument of the Creator, very pleased with this servant of Vishnu.

Suta Gosvâmî said: "He [S'ukadeva] thus being questioned by the king on topics of the highest truth like these, was, as the instrument of the Creator, very pleased in meeting this servant of Vishnu. (Vedabase)

Text 28

He instructed this Purâna called the Bhâgavatam the way it was transmitted by the Supreme Lord to Lord Brahmâ at the beginning of the first day [or kalpa] of creation.

He said: 'This science of the Personality of God called the Bhâgavatam consisting of the story in pursuance of the Vedas was given to the spirit by the Supreme Lord at the beginning of the age wherein the Creator found his existence.' (Vedabase)

Text 29

This was the first thing he [in 2.1: 8] said in preparation of a full description from the beginning to the end of everything that the king, the best of the Pându dynasty, had asked and would ask more."

He then prepared himself to describe in full whatever the king, the best of the dynasty of Pându, all asked in his from the beginning to the end continuing inquiries." (Vedabase)