Chapter 21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama

 

3.21.1

vidura uvāca

svāyambhuvasya ca manor

vaḿśaḥ parama-sammataḥ

kathyatāḿ bhagavan yatra

maithunenaidhire prajāḥ

 

viduraḥ uvāca — Vidura said; svāyambhuvasya — of Svāyambhuva; ca — and; manoḥ — of Manu; vaḿśaḥ — the dynasty; parama — most; sammataḥ — esteemed; kathyatām — kindly describe; bhagavan — O worshipful sage; yatra — in which; maithunena — through sexual intercourse; edhire — multiplied; prajāḥ — the progeny.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vidura said: The line of Svāyambhuva Manu was most esteemed. O worshipful sage, I beg you — give me an account of this race, whose progeny multiplied through sexual intercourse.

 

3.21.2

priyavratottānapādau

sutau svāyambhuvasya vai

yathā-dharmaḿ jugupatuḥ

sapta-dvīpavatīḿ mahīm

 

priyavrata — Mahārāja Priyavrata; uttānapādau — and Mahārāja Uttānapāda; sutau — the two sons; svāyambhuvasya — of Svāyambhuva Manu; vai — indeed; yathā — according to; dharmam — religious principles; jugupatuḥ — ruled; sapta-dvīpa-vatīm — consisting of seven islands; mahīm — the world.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The two great sons of Svāyambhuva Manu — Priyavrata and Uttānapāda — ruled the world, consisting of seven islands, just according to religious principles.

 

3.21.3

tasya vai duhitā brahman

devahūtīti viśrutā

patnī prajāpater uktā

kardamasya tvayānagha

 

tasya — of that Manu; vai — indeed; duhitā — the daughter; brahman — O holy brāhmaṇa; devahūti — named Devahūti; iti — thus; viśrutā — was known; patnī — wife; prajāpateḥ — of the lord of created beings; uktā — has been spoken of; kardamasya — of Kardama Muni; tvayā — by you; anagha — O sinless one.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O holy brāhmaṇa, O sinless one, you have spoken of his daughter, known by the name Devahūti, as the wife of the sage Kardama, the lord of created beings.

 

3.21.4

tasyāḿ sa vai mahā-yogī

yuktāyāḿ yoga-lakṣaṇaiḥ

sasarja katidhā vīryaḿ

tan me śuśrūṣave vada

 

tasyām — in her; saḥ — Kardama Muni; vai — in fact; mahā-yogī — great mystic yogī; yuktāyām — endowed; yoga-lakṣaṇaiḥ — with the eightfold symptoms of yogic perfection; sasarja — propagated; katidhā — how many times; vīryam — offspring; tat — that narration; me — to me; śuśrūṣave — who am eager to hear; vada — tell.

 

TRANSLATION

 

How many offspring did that great yogī beget through the princess, who was endowed with eightfold perfection in the yoga principles? Oh, pray tell me this, for I am eager to hear it.

 

3.21.5

rucir yo bhagavān brahman

dakṣo vā brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ

yathā sasarja bhūtāni

labdhvā bhāryāḿ ca mānavīm

 

ruciḥ — Ruci; yaḥ — who; bhagavān — worshipful; brahman — O holy sage; dakṣaḥ — Dakṣa; vā — and; brahmaṇaḥ — of Lord Brahmā; sutaḥ — the son; yathā — in what way; sasarja — generated; bhūtāni — offspring; labdhvā — after securing; bhāryām — as their wives; ca — and; mānavīm — the daughters of Svāyambhuva Manu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O holy sage, tell me how the worshipful Ruci and Dakṣa, the son of Brahmā, generated children after securing as their wives the other two daughters of Svāyambhuva Manu.

 

3.21.6

maitreya uvāca

prajāḥ sṛjeti bhagavān

kardamo brahmaṇoditaḥ

sarasvatyāḿ tapas tepe

sahasrāṇāḿ samā daśa

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; prajāḥ — children; sṛja — beget; iti — thus; bhagavān — the worshipful; kardamaḥ — Kardama Muni; brahmaṇā — by Lord Brahmā; uditaḥ — commanded; sarasvatyām — on the bank of the River Sarasvatī; tapaḥ — penance; tepe — practiced; sahasrāṇām — of thousands; samāḥ — years; daśa — ten.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Maitreya replied: Commanded by Lord Brahmā to beget children in the worlds, the worshipful Kardama Muni practiced penance on the bank of the River Sarasvatī for a period of ten thousand years.

 

3.21.7

tataḥ samādhi-yuktena

kriyā-yogena kardamaḥ

samprapede hariḿ bhaktyā

prapanna-varadāśuṣam

 

tataḥ — then, in that penance; samādhi-yuktena — in trance; kriyā-yogena — by bhakti-yoga worship; kardamaḥ — the sage Kardama; samprapede — served; harim — the Personality of Godhead; bhaktyā — in devotional service; prapanna — to the surrendered souls; varadāśuṣam — the bestower of all blessings.

 

TRANSLATION

 

During that period of penance, the sage Kardama, by worship through devotional service in trance, propitiated the Personality of Godhead, who is the quick bestower of all blessings upon those who flee to Him for protection.

 

3.21.8

tāvat prasanno bhagavān

puṣkarākṣaḥ kṛte yuge

darśayām āsa taḿ kṣattaḥ

śābdaḿ brahma dadhad vapuḥ

 

tāvat — then; prasannaḥ — being pleased; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; puṣkara-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; kṛte yuge — in the Satya-yuga; darśayām āsa — showed; tam — to that Kardama Muni; kṣattaḥ — O Vidura; śābdam — which is to be understood only through the Vedas; brahma — the Absolute Truth; dadhat — exhibiting; vapuḥ — His transcendental body.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then, in the Satya-yuga, the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, being pleased, showed Himself to that Kardama Muni and displayed His transcendental form, which can be understood only through the Vedas.

 

3.21.9

sa taḿ virajam arkābhaḿ

sita-padmotpala-srajam

snigdha-nīlālaka-vrāta-

vaktrābjaḿ virajo 'mbaram

 

saḥ — that Kardama Muni; tam — Him; virajam — without contamination; arka-ābham — effulgent like the sun; sita — white; padma — lotuses; utpala — water lilies; srajam — garland; snigdha — slick; nīla — blackish-blue; alaka — of locks of hair; vrāta — an abundance; vaktra — face; abjam — lotuslike; virajaḥ — spotless; ambaram — clothing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kardama Muni saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is free from material contamination, in His eternal form, effulgent like the sun, wearing a garland of white lotuses and water lilies. The Lord was clad in spotless yellow silk, and His lotus face was fringed with slick dark locks of curly hair.

 

3.21.10

kirīṭinaḿ kuṇḍalinaḿ

śańkha-cakra-gadā-dharam

śvetotpala-krīḍanakaḿ

manaḥ-sparśa-smitekṣaṇam

 

kirīṭinam — adorned with a crown; kuṇḍalinam — wearing earrings; śańkha — conch; cakra — disc; gadā — mace; dharam — holding; śveta — white; utpala — lily; krīḍanakam — plaything; manaḥ — heart; sparśa — touching; smita — smiling; īkṣaṇam — and glancing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Adorned with a crown and earrings, He held His characteristic conch, disc and mace in three of His hands and a white lily in the fourth. He glanced about in a happy, smiling mood whose sight captivates the hearts of all devotees.

 

3.21.11

vinyasta-caraṇāmbhojam

aḿsa-deśe garutmataḥ

dṛṣṭvā khe 'vasthitaḿ vakṣaḥ-

śriyaḿ kaustubha-kandharam

 

vinyasta — having been placed; caraṇa-ambhojam — lotus feet; aḿsa-deśe — on the shoulders; garutmataḥ — of Garuḍa; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; khe — in the air; avasthitam — standing; vakṣaḥ — on His chest; śriyam — auspicious mark; kaustubha — the Kaustubha gem; kandharam — neck.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A golden streak on His chest, the famous Kaustubha gem suspended from His neck, He stood in the air with His lotus feet placed on the shoulders of Garuḍa.

 

3.21.12

jāta-harṣo 'patan mūrdhnā

kṣitau labdha-manorathaḥ

gīrbhis tv abhyagṛṇāt prīti-

svabhāvātmā kṛtāñjaliḥ

 

jāta-harṣaḥ — naturally jubilant; apatat — he fell down; mūrdhnā — with his head; kṣitau — on the ground; labdha — having been achieved; manaḥ-rathaḥ — his desire; gīrbhiḥ — with prayers; tu — and; abhyagṛṇāt — he satisfied; prīti-svabhāva-ātmā — whose heart is by nature always full of love; kṛta-añjaliḥ — with folded hands.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Kardama Muni actually realized the Supreme Personality of Godhead in person, he was greatly satisfied because his transcendental desire was fulfilled. He fell on the ground with his head bowed to offer obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Lord. His heart naturally full of love of God, with folded hands he satisfied the Lord with prayers.

 

3.21.13

ṛṣir uvāca

juṣṭaḿ batādyākhila-sattva-rāśeḥ

sāḿsiddhyam akṣṇos tava darśanān naḥ

yad-darśanaḿ janmabhir īḍya sadbhir

āśāsate yogino rūḍha-yogāḥ

 

ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the great sage said; juṣṭam — is attained; bata — ah; adya — now; akhila — all; sattva — of goodness; rāśeḥ — who are the reservoir; sāḿsiddhyam — the complete success; akṣṇoḥ — of the two eyes; tava — of You; darśanāt — from the sight; naḥ — by us; yat — of whom; darśanam — sight; janmabhiḥ — through births; īḍya — O worshipable Lord; sadbhiḥ — gradually elevated in position; āśāsate — aspire; yoginaḥ — yogīs; rūḍha-yogāḥ — having obtained perfection in yoga.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Kardama said: O supreme worshipful Lord, my power of sight is now fulfilled, having attained the greatest perfection of the sight of You, who are the reservoir of all existences. Through many successive births of deep meditation, advanced yogīs aspire to see Your transcendental form.

 

3.21.14

ye māyayā te hata-medhasas tvat-

pādāravindaḿ bhava-sindhu-potam

upāsate kāma-lavāya teṣāḿ

rāsīśa kāmān niraye 'pi ye syuḥ

 

ye — those persons; māyayā — by the deluding energy; te — of You; hata — has been lost; medhasaḥ — whose intelligence; tvat — Your; pāda-aravindam — lotus feet; bhava — of mundane existence; sindhu — the ocean; potam — the boat for crossing; upāsate — worship; kāma-lavāya — for obtaining trivial pleasures; teṣām — their; rāsi — You bestow; īśa — O Lord; kāmān — desires; niraye — in hell; api — even; ye — which desires; syuḥ — can be available.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Your lotus feet are the true vessel to take one across the ocean of mundane nescience. Only persons deprived of their intelligence by the spell of the deluding energy will worship those feet with a view to attain the trivial and momentary pleasures of the senses, which even persons rotting in hell can attain. However, O my Lord, You are so kind that You bestow mercy even upon them.

 

3.21.15

tathā sa cāhaḿ parivoḍhu-kāmaḥ

samāna-śīlāḿ gṛhamedha-dhenum

upeyivān mūlam aśeṣa-mūlaḿ

durāśayaḥ kāma-dughāńghripasya

 

tathā — similarly; saḥ — myself; ca — also; aham — I; parivoḍhu-kāmaḥ — desiring to marry; samāna-śīlām — a girl of like disposition; gṛha-medha — in married life; dhenum — a cow of plenty; upeyivān — have approached; mūlam — the root (lotus feet); aśeṣa — of everything; mūlam — the source; durāśayaḥ — with lustful desire; kāma-dugha — yielding all desires; ańghripasya — (of You) who are the tree.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore, desiring to marry a girl of like disposition who may prove to be a veritable cow of plenty in my married life, to satisfy my lustful desire I too have sought the shelter of Your lotus feet, which are the source of everything, for You are like a desire tree.

 

3.21.16

prajāpates te vacasādhīśa tantyā

lokaḥ kilāyaḿ kāma-hato 'nubaddhaḥ

ahaḿ ca lokānugato vahāmi

baliḿ ca śuklānimiṣāya tubhyam

 

prajāpateḥ — who are the master of all living entities; te — of You; vacasā — under the direction; adhīśa — O my Lord; tantyā — by a rope; lokaḥ — conditioned souls; kila — indeed; ayam — these; kāma-hataḥ — conquered by lusty desires; anubaddhaḥ — are bound; aham — I; ca — and; loka-anugataḥ — following the conditioned souls; vahāmi — offer; balim — oblations; ca — and; śukla — O embodiment of religion; animiṣāya — existing as eternal time; tubhyam — to You.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, You are the master and leader of all living entities. Under Your direction, all conditioned souls, as if bound by rope, are constantly engaged in satisfying their desires. Following them, O embodiment of religion, I also bear oblations for You, who are eternal time.

 

3.21.17

lokāḿś ca lokānugatān paśūḿś ca

hitvā śritās te caraṇātapatram

parasparaḿ tvad-guṇa-vāda-sīdhu-

pīyūṣa-niryāpita-deha-dharmāḥ

 

lokān — worldly affairs; ca — and; loka-anugatān — the followers of worldly affairs; paśūn — beastly; ca — and; hitvā — having given up; śritāḥ — taken shelter; te — Your; caraṇa — of lotus feet; ātapatram — the umbrella; parasparam — with one another; tvat — Your; guṇa — of qualities; vāda — by discussion; sīdhu — intoxicating; pīyūṣa — by the nectar; niryāpita — extinguished; deha-dharmāḥ — the primary necessities of the body.

 

TRANSLATION

 

However, persons who have given up stereotyped worldly affairs and the beastly followers of these affairs, and who have taken shelter of the umbrella of Your lotus feet by drinking the intoxicating nectar of Your qualities and activities in discussions with one another, can be freed from the primary necessities of the material body.

 

3.21.18

na te 'jarākṣa-bhramir āyur eṣāḿ

trayodaśāraḿ tri-śataḿ ṣaṣṭi-parva

ṣaṇ-nemy ananta-cchadi yat tri-ṇābhi

karāla-sroto jagad ācchidya dhāvat

 

na — not; te — Your; ajara — of imperishable Brahman; akṣa — on the axle; bhramiḥ — rotating; āyuḥ — span of life; eṣām — of the devotees; trayodaśa — thirteen; aram — spokes; tri-śatam — three hundred; ṣaṣṭi — sixty; parva — functions; ṣaṭ — six; nemi — rims; ananta — innumerable; chadi — leaves; yat — which; tri — three; nābhi — naves; karāla-srotaḥ — with tremendous velocity; jagat — the universe; ācchidya — cutting short; dhāvat — running.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Your wheel, which has three naves, rotates around the axis of the imperishable Brahman. It has thirteen spokes, 360 joints, six rims and numberless leaves carved upon it. Though its revolution cuts short the life-span of the entire creation, this wheel of tremendous velocity cannot touch the life-span of the devotees of the Lord.

 

3.21.19

ekaḥ svayaḿ sañ jagataḥ sisṛkṣayā-

dvitīyayātmann adhi-yogamāyayā

sṛjasy adaḥ pāsi punar grasiṣyase

yathorṇa-nābhir bhagavan sva-śaktibhiḥ

 

ekaḥ — one; svayam — Yourself; san — being; jagataḥ — the universes; sisṛkṣayā — with a desire to create; advitīyayā — without a second; ātman — in Yourself; adhi — controlling; yoga-māyayā — by yogamāyā; sṛjasi — You create; adaḥ — those universes; pāsi — You maintain; punaḥ — again; grasiṣyase — You will wind up; yathā — like; ūrṇa-nābhiḥ — a spider; bhagavan — O Lord; sva-śaktibhiḥ — by its own energy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Lord, You alone create the universes. O Personality of Godhead, desiring to create these universes, You create them, maintain them and again wind them up by Your own energies, which are under the control of Your second energy, called yogamāyā, just as a spider creates a cobweb by its own energy and again winds it up.

 

3.21.20

naitad batādhīśa padaḿ tavepsitaḿ

yan māyayā nas tanuṣe bhūta-sūkṣmam

anugrahāyāstv api yarhi māyayā

lasat-tulasyā bhagavān vilakṣitaḥ

 

na — not; etat — this; bata — indeed; adhīśa — O Lord; padam — material world; tava — Your; īpsitam — desire; yat — which; māyayā — by Your external energy; naḥ — for us; tanuṣe — You manifest; bhūta-sūkṣmam — the elements, gross and subtle; anugrahāya — for bestowing mercy; astu — let it be; api — also; yarhi — when; māyayā — through Your causeless mercy; lasat — splendid; tulasyā — with a wreath of tulasī leaves; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vilakṣitaḥ — is perceived.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Lord, although it is not Your desire, You manifest this creation of gross and subtle elements just for our sensual satisfaction. Let Your causeless mercy be upon us, for You have appeared before us in Your eternal form, adorned with a splendid wreath of tulasī leaves.

 

3.21.21

taḿ tvānubhūtyoparata-kriyārthaḿ

sva-māyayā vartita-loka-tantram

namāmy abhīkṣṇaḿ namanīya-pāda-

sarojam alpīyasi kāma-varṣam

 

tam — that; tvā — You; anubhūtyā — by realizing; uparata — disregarded; kriyā — enjoyment of fruitive activities; artham — in order that; sva-māyayā — by Your own energy; vartita — brought about; loka-tantram — the material worlds; namāmi — I offer obeisances; abhīkṣṇam — continuously; namanīya — worshipable; pāda-sarojam — lotus feet; alpīyasi — on the insignificant; kāma — desires; varṣam — showering.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I continuously offer my respectful obeisances unto Your lotus feet, of which it is worthy to take shelter, because You shower all benedictions on the insignificant. To give all living entities detachment from fruitive activity by realizing You, You have expanded these material worlds by Your own energy.

 

3.21.22

ṛṣir uvāca

ity avyalīkaḿ praṇuto 'bja-nābhas

tam ābabhāṣe vacasāmṛtena

suparṇa-pakṣopari rocamānaḥ

prema-smitodvīkṣaṇa-vibhramad-bhrūḥ

 

ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; iti — thus; avyalīkam — sincerely; praṇutaḥ — having been praised; abja-nābhaḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; tam — to Kardama Muni; ābabhāṣe — replied; vacasā — with words; amṛtena — as sweet as nectar; suparṇa — of Garuḍa; pakṣa — the shoulders; upari — upon; rocamānaḥ — shining; prema — of affection; smita — with a smile; udvīkṣaṇa — looking; vibhramat — gracefully moving; bhrūḥ — eyebrows.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Maitreya resumed: Sincerely extolled in these words, Lord Viṣṇu, shining very beautifully on the shoulders of Garuḍa, replied with words as sweet as nectar. His eyebrows moved gracefully as He looked at the sage with a smile full of affection.

 

3.21.23

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

viditvā tava caityaḿ me

puraiva samayoji tat

yad-artham ātma-niyamais

tvayaivāhaḿ samarcitaḥ

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; viditvā — understanding; tava — your; caityam — mental condition; me — by Me; purā — previously; eva — certainly; samayoji — was arranged; tat — that; yat-artham — for the sake of which; ātma — of the mind and senses; niyamaiḥ — by discipline; tvayā — by you; eva — only; aham — I; samarcitaḥ — have been worshiped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: Having come to know what was in your mind, I have already arranged for that for which you have worshiped Me well through your mental and sensory discipline.

 

3.21.24

na vai jātu mṛṣaiva syāt

prajādhyakṣa mad-arhaṇam

bhavad-vidheṣv atitarāḿ

mayi sańgṛbhitātmanām

 

na — not; vai — indeed; jātu — ever; mṛṣā — useless; eva — only; syāt — it may be; prajā — of the living entities; adhyakṣa — O leader; mat-arhaṇam — worship of Me; bhavat-vidheṣu — unto persons like you; atitarām — entirely; mayi — on Me; sańgṛbhita — are fixed; ātmanām — of those whose minds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord continued: My dear ṛṣi, O leader of the living entities, for those who serve Me in devotion by worshiping Me, especially persons like you who have given up everything unto Me, there is never any question of frustration.

 

3.21.25

prajāpati-sutaḥ samrāṇ

manur vikhyāta-mańgalaḥ

brahmāvartaḿ yo 'dhivasan

śāsti saptārṇavāḿ mahīm

 

prajāpati-sutaḥ — the son of Lord Brahmā; samrāṭ — the Emperor; manuḥ — Svāyambhuva Manu; vikhyāta — well known; mańgalaḥ — whose righteous acts; brahmāvartam — Brahmāvarta; yaḥ — he who; adhivasan — living in; śāsti — rules; sapta — seven; arṇavām — oceans; mahīm — the earth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Emperor Svāyambhuva Manu, the son of Lord Brahmā, who is well known for his righteous acts, has his seat in Brahmāvarta and rules over the earth with its seven oceans.

 

3.21.26

sa ceha vipra rājarṣir

mahiṣyā śatarūpayā

āyāsyati didṛkṣus tvāḿ

paraśvo dharma-kovidaḥ

 

saḥ — Svāyambhuva Manu; ca — and; iha — here; vipra — O holy brāhmaṇa; rāja-ṛṣiḥ — the saintly king; mahiṣyā — along with his queen; śatarūpayā — called Śatarūpā; āyāsyati — will come; didṛkṣuḥ — desiring to see; tvām — you; paraśvaḥ — the day after tomorrow; dharma — in religious activities; kovidaḥ — expert.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The day after tomorrow, O brāhmaṇa, that celebrated emperor, who is expert in religious activities, will come here with his queen, Śatarūpā, wishing to see you.

 

3.21.27

ātmajām asitāpāńgīḿ

vayaḥ-śīla-guṇānvitām

mṛgayantīḿ patiḿ dāsyaty

anurūpāya te prabho

 

ātma-jām — his own daughter; asita — black; apāńgīm — eyes; vayaḥ — grown-up age; śīla — with character; guṇa — with good qualities; anvitām — endowed; mṛgayantīm — searching for; patim — a husband; dāsyati — he will give; anurūpāya — who are suitable; te — unto you; prabho — My dear sir.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He has a grown-up daughter whose eyes are black. She is ready for marriage, and she has good character and all good qualities. She is also searching for a good husband. My dear sir, her parents will come to see you, who are exactly suitable for her, just to deliver their daughter as your wife.

 

3.21.28

samāhitaḿ te hṛdayaḿ

yatremān parivatsarān

sā tvāḿ brahman nṛpa-vadhūḥ

kāmam āśu bhajiṣyati

 

samāhitam — has been fixed; te — your; hṛdayam — heart; yatra — on whom; imān — for all these; parivatsarān — years; sā — she; tvām — you; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; nṛpa-vadhūḥ — the princess; kāmam — as you desire; āśu — very soon; bhajiṣyati — will serve.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That princess, O holy sage, will be just the type you have been thinking of in your heart for all these long years. She will soon be yours and will serve you to your heart's content.

 

3.21.29

yā ta ātma-bhṛtaḿ vīryaḿ

navadhā prasaviṣyati

vīrye tvadīye ṛṣaya

ādhāsyanty añjasātmanaḥ

 

yā — she; te — by you; ātma-bhṛtam — sown in her; vīryam — the seed; nava-dhā — nine daughters; prasaviṣyati — will bring forth; vīrye tvadīye — in the daughters begotten by you; ṛṣayaḥ — the sages; ādhāsyanti — will beget; añjasā — in total; ātmanaḥ — children.

 

TRANSLATION

 

She will bring forth nine daughters from the seed sown in her by you, and through the daughters you beget, the sages will duly beget children.

 

3.21.30

tvaḿ ca samyag anuṣṭhāya

nideśaḿ ma uśattamaḥ

mayi tīrthī-kṛtāśeṣa-

kriyārtho māḿ prapatsyase

 

tvam — you; ca — and; samyak — properly; anuṣṭhāya — having carried out; nideśam — command; me — My; uśattamaḥ — completely cleansed; mayi — unto Me; tīrthī-kṛta — having resigned; aśeṣa — all; kriyā — of actions; arthaḥ — the fruits; mām — to Me; prapatsyase — you will attain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

With your heart cleansed by properly carrying out My command, resigning to Me the fruits of all your acts, you will finally attain to Me.

 

3.21.31

kṛtvā dayāḿ ca jīveṣu

dattvā cābhayam ātmavān

mayy ātmānaḿ saha jagad

drakṣyasy ātmani cāpi mām

 

kṛtvā — having shown; dayām — compassion; ca — and; jīveṣu — toward living beings; dattvā — having given; ca — and; abhayam — assurance of safety; ātma-vān — self-realized; mayi — in Me; ātmānam — yourself; saha jagat — along with the universe; drakṣyasi — you will perceive; ātmani — in yourself; ca — and; api — also; mām — Me.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Showing compassion to all living entities, you will attain self-realization. Giving assurance of safety to all, you will perceive your own self as well as all the universes in Me, and Myself in you.

 

3.21.32

sahāhaḿ svāḿśa-kalayā

tvad-vīryeṇa mahā-mune

tava kṣetre devahūtyāḿ

praṇeṣye tattva-saḿhitām

 

saha — with; aham — I; sva-aḿśa-kalayā — My own plenary portion; tvat-vīryeṇa — by your semen; mahā-mune — O great sage; tava kṣetre — in your wife; devahūtyām — in Devahūti; praṇeṣye — I shall instruct; tattva — of the ultimate principles; saḿhitām — the doctrine.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O great sage, I shall manifest My own plenary portion through your wife, Devahūti, along with your nine daughters, and I shall instruct her in the system of philosophy that deals with the ultimate principles or categories.

 

3.21.33

maitreya uvāca

evaḿ tam anubhāṣyātha

bhagavān pratyag-akṣajaḥ

jagāma bindusarasaḥ

sarasvatyā pariśritāt

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; evam — thus; tam — to him; anubhāṣya — having spoken; atha — then; bhagavān — the Lord; pratyak — directly; akṣa — by senses; jaḥ — who is perceived; jagāma — went away; bindu-sarasaḥ — from Lake Bindu-sarovara; sarasvatyā — by the River Sarasvatī; pariśritāt — encircled.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Maitreya went on: Thus having spoken to Kardama Muni, the Lord, who reveals Himself only when the senses are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, departed from that lake called Bindu-sarovara, which was encircled by the River Sarasvatī.

 

3.21.34

nirīkṣatas tasya yayāv aśeṣa-

siddheśvarābhiṣṭuta-siddha-mārgaḥ

ākarṇayan patra-rathendra-pakṣair

uccāritaḿ stomam udīrṇa-sāma

 

nirīkṣataḥ tasya — while he was looking on; yayau — He left; aśeṣa — all; siddha-īśvara — by liberated souls; abhiṣṭuta — is praised; siddha-mārgaḥ — the way to the spiritual world; ākarṇayan — hearing; patra-ratha-indra — of Garuḍa (king of birds); pakṣaiḥ — by the wings; uccāritam — vibrated; stomam — hymns; udīrṇa-sāma — forming the Sāma Veda.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While the sage stood looking on, the Lord left by the pathway leading to Vaikuṇṭha, a path extolled by all great liberated souls. The sage stood listening as the hymns forming the basis of the Sāma Veda were vibrated by the flapping wings of the Lord's carrier, Garuḍa.

 

3.21.35

atha samprasthite śukle

kardamo bhagavān ṛṣiḥ

āste sma bindusarasi

taḿ kālaḿ pratipālayan

 

atha — then; samprasthite śukle — when the Lord had gone; kardamaḥ — Kardama Muni; bhagavān — the greatly powerful; ṛṣiḥ — sage; āste sma — stayed; bindu-sarasi — on the bank of Lake Bindu-sarovara; tam — that; kālam — time; pratipālayan — awaiting.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then, after the departure of the Lord, the worshipful sage Kardama stayed on the bank of Bindu-sarovara, awaiting the time of which the Lord had spoken.

 

3.21.36

manuḥ syandanam āsthāya

śātakaumbha-paricchadam

āropya svāḿ duhitaraḿ

sa-bhāryaḥ paryaṭan mahīm

 

manuḥ — Svāyambhuva Manu; syandanam — the chariot; āsthāya — having mounted; śātakaumbha — made of gold; paricchadam — the outer cover; āropya — putting on; svām — his own; duhitaram — daughter; sa-bhāryaḥ — along with his wife; paryaṭan — traveling all over; mahīm — the globe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Svāyambhuva Manu, with his wife, mounted his chariot, which was decorated with golden ornaments. Placing his daughter on it with them, he began traveling all over the earth.

 

3.21.37

tasmin sudhanvann ahani

bhagavān yat samādiśat

upāyād āśrama-padaḿ

muneḥ śānta-vratasya tat

 

tasmin — on that; su-dhanvan — O great bowman Vidura; ahani — on the day; bhagavān — the Lord; yat — which; samādiśat — foretold; upāyāt — he reached; āśrama-padam — the holy hermitage; muneḥ — of the sage; śānta — completed; vratasya — whose vows of austerity; tat — that.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Vidura, they reached the hermitage of the sage, who had just completed his vows of austerity on the very day foretold by the Lord.

 

3.21.38-39

yasmin bhagavato netrān

nyapatann aśru-bindavaḥ

kṛpayā samparītasya

prapanne 'rpitayā bhṛśam

 

tad vai bindusaro nāma

sarasvatyā pariplutam

puṇyaḿ śivāmṛta-jalaḿ

maharṣi-gaṇa-sevitam

 

yasmin — in which; bhagavataḥ — of the Lord; netrāt — from the eye; nyapatan — fell down; aśru-bindavaḥ — teardrops; kṛpayā — by compassion; samparītasya — who was overwhelmed; prapanne — on the surrendered soul (Kardama); arpitayā — placed upon; bhṛśam — extremely;

 

tat — that; vai — indeed; bindu-saraḥ — lake of tears; nāma — called; sarasvatyā — by the River Sarasvatī; pariplutam — overflowed; puṇyam — holy; śiva — auspicious; amṛta — nectar; jalam — water; mahā-ṛṣi — of great sages; gaṇa — by hosts; sevitam — served.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The holy Lake Bindu-sarovara, flooded by the waters of the River Sarasvatī, was resorted to by hosts of eminent sages. Its holy water was not only auspicious but as sweet as nectar. It was called Bindu-sarovara because drops of tears had fallen there from the eyes of the Lord, who was overwhelmed by extreme compassion for the sage who had sought His protection.

 

3.21.40

puṇya-druma-latā-jālaiḥ

kūjat-puṇya-mṛga-dvijaiḥ

sarvartu-phala-puṣpāḍhyaḿ

 

puṇya — pious; druma — of trees; latā — of creepers; jālaiḥ — with clusters; kūjat — uttering cries; puṇya — pious; mṛga — animals; dvijaiḥ — with birds; sarva — in all; ṛtu — seasons; phala — in fruits; puṣpa — in flowers; āḍhyam — rich; vana-rāji — of groves of trees; śriyā — by the beauty; anvitam — adorned.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The shore of the lake was surrounded by clusters of pious trees and creepers, rich in fruits and flowers of all seasons, that afforded shelter to pious animals and birds, which uttered various cries. It was adorned by the beauty of groves of forest trees.

 

3.21.41

matta-dvija-gaṇair ghuṣṭaḿ

matta-bhramara-vibhramam

matta-barhi-naṭāṭopam

āhvayan-matta-kokilam

 

matta — overjoyed; dvija — of birds; gaṇaiḥ — by flocks; ghuṣṭam — resounded; matta — intoxicated; bhramara — of bees; vibhramam — wandering; matta — maddened; barhi — of peacocks; naṭa — of dancers; āṭopam — pride; āhvayat — calling one another; matta — merry; kokilam — cuckoos.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The area resounded with the notes of overjoyed birds. Intoxicated bees wandered there, intoxicated peacocks proudly danced, and merry cuckoos called one another.

 

3.21.42-43

kadamba-campakāśoka-

karañja-bakulāsanaiḥ

kunda-mandāra-kuṭajaiś

cūta-potair alańkṛtam

 

kāraṇḍavaiḥ plavair haḿsaiḥ

kurarair jala-kukkuṭaiḥ

sārasaiś cakravākaiś ca

cakorair valgu kūjitam

 

kadamba — kadamba flowers; campaka — campaka flowers; aśoka — aśoka flowers; karañja — karañja flowers; bakula — bakula flowers; āsanaiḥ — by āsana trees; kunda — kunda; mandāra — mandāra; kuṭajaiḥ — and by kuṭaja trees; cūta-potaiḥ — by young mango trees; alańkṛtam — adorned;

 

kāraṇḍavaiḥ — by kāraṇḍava ducks; plavaiḥ — by plavas; haḿsaiḥ — by swans; kuraraiḥ — by ospreys; jala-kukkuṭaiḥ — by waterfowl; sārasaiḥ — by cranes; cakravākaiḥ — by cakravāka birds; ca — and; cakoraiḥ — by cakora birds; valgu — pleasing; kūjitam — vibration of birds' sounds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lake Bindu-sarovara was adorned by flowering trees such as kadamba, campaka, aśoka, karañja, bakula, āsana, kunda, mandāra, kuṭaja and young mango trees. The air was filled with the pleasing notes of kāraṇḍava ducks, plavas, swans, ospreys, waterfowl, cranes, cakravākas and cakoras.

 

3.21.44

tathaiva hariṇaiḥ kroḍaiḥ

śvāvid-gavaya-kuñjaraiḥ

gopucchair haribhir markair

nakulair nābhibhir vṛtam

 

tathā eva — likewise; hariṇaiḥ — by deer; kroḍaiḥ — by boars; śvāvit — porcupines; gavaya — a wild animal closely resembling the cow; kuñjaraiḥ — by elephants; gopucchaiḥ — by baboons; haribhiḥ — by lions; markaiḥ — by monkeys; nakulaiḥ — by mongooses; nābhibhiḥ — by musk deer; vṛtam — surrounded.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Its shores abounded with deer, boars, porcupines, gavayas, elephants, baboons, lions, monkeys, mongooses and musk deer.

 

3.21.45-47

praviśya tat tīrtha-varam

ādi-rājaḥ sahātmajaḥ

dadarśa munim āsīnaḿ

tasmin huta-hutāśanam

vidyotamānaḿ vapuṣā

 

tapasy ugra-yujā ciram

nātikṣāmaḿ bhagavataḥ

snigdhāpāńgāvalokanāt

tad-vyāhṛtāmṛta-kalā-

pīyūṣa-śravaṇena ca

 

prāḿśuḿ padma-palāśākṣaḿ

jaṭilaḿ cīra-vāsasam

upasaḿśritya malinaḿ

yathārhaṇam asaḿskṛtam

 

praviśya — entering; tat — that; tīrtha-varam — best of sacred places; ādi-rājaḥ — the first monarch (Svāyambhuva Manu); saha-ātmajaḥ — along with his daughter; dadarśa — saw; munim — the sage; āsīnam — sitting; tasmin — in the hermitage; huta — being offered oblations; huta-aśanam — the sacred fire; vidyotamānam — shining brilliantly; vapuṣā — by his body;

 

tapasi — in penance; ugra — terribly; yujā — engaged in yoga; ciram — for a long time; na — not; atikṣāmam — very emaciated; bhagavataḥ — of the Lord; snigdha — affectionate; apāńga — sidelong; avalokanāt — from the glance; tat — of Him; vyāhṛta — from the words; amṛta-kalā — moonlike; pīyūṣa — the nectar; śravaṇena — by hearing; ca — and;

 

prāḿśum — tall; padma — lotus flower; palāśa — petal; akṣam — eyes; jaṭilam — matted locks; cīra-vāsasam — having rags for clothes; upasaḿśritya — having approached; malinam — soiled; yathā — like; arhaṇam — gem; asaḿskṛtam — unpolished.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Entering that most sacred spot with his daughter and going near the sage, the first monarch, Svāyambhuva Manu, saw the sage sitting in his hermitage, having just propitiated the sacred fire by pouring oblations into it. His body shone most brilliantly; though he had engaged in austere penance for a long time, he was not emaciated, for the Lord had cast His affectionate sidelong glance upon him and he had also heard the nectar flowing from the moonlike words of the Lord. The sage was tall, his eyes were large, like the petals of a lotus, and he had matted locks on his head. He was clad in rags. Svāyambhuva Manu approached and saw him to be somewhat soiled, like an unpolished gem.

 

3.21.48

athoṭajam upāyātaḿ

nṛdevaḿ praṇataḿ puraḥ

saparyayā paryagṛhṇāt

pratinandyānurūpayā

 

atha — then; uṭajam — the hermitage; upāyātam — approached; nṛdevam — the monarch; praṇatam — bowed down; puraḥ — in front; saparyayā — with honor; paryagṛhṇāt — received him; pratinandya — greeting him; anurūpayā — befitting the King's position.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing that the monarch had come to his hermitage and was bowing before him, the sage greeted him with benediction and received him with due honor.

 

3.21.49

gṛhītārhaṇam āsīnaḿ

saḿyataḿ prīṇayan muniḥ

smaran bhagavad-ādeśam

ity āha ślakṣṇayā girā

 

gṛhīta — received; arhaṇam — honor; āsīnam — seated; saḿyatam — remained silent; prīṇayan — delighting; muniḥ — the sage; smaran — remembering; bhagavat — of the Lord; ādeśam — the order; iti — thus; āha — spoke; ślakṣṇayā — sweet; girā — with a voice.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After receiving the sage's attention, the King sat down and was silent. Recalling the instructions of the Lord, Kardama then spoke to the King as follows, delighting him with his sweet accents.

 

3.21.50

nūnaḿ cańkramaṇaḿ deva

satāḿ saḿrakṣaṇāya te