SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 3

(1) Maitreya said: 'The merciful praiseworthy sage who was thus speaking of renunciation to the daughter of Manu replied of what he recalled that was said by Lord Vishnu.

(2) The sage said: 'Do not be disappointed, o princess; setting yourself thus towards the Supreme Lord, o praiseworthy one, He will infallibly come very soon into your womb. (3) May God bless you, who took up the sacred vows of sense-control, religious observance and austerities, the giving of money in charity and the worship of the Lord above with great faith. (4) He, worshiped by you will spread my fame; He, as your son, will cut the knot in your heart teaching the knowledge of the all-pervading spirit [Brahman]'.

(5) Maitreya said: 'Devahûti close in her great respect for the direction of this father of mankind had full faith in the Original Personality of God and thus worshiped the most worshipable one situated in everyone's heart. (6) After many, many years the Supreme Lord, the killer of Madhu, entered the semen of Kardama, and appeared the way fire does in firewood. (7) At that time musical instruments resounded from the rainclouds in the sky, the Gandharvas sang to Him and the Apsaras were dancing in joyful ecstasy. (8) Beautiful flowers were dropped by the gods from heaven and in all directions, in all the waters and each his mind there was happiness. (9) The selfborn one [Brahmâ] along with his sages, like Marîci and others, then came to that place of Kardama at the Sarasvatî river. (10) The Supreme Lord of the Spirit of pure existence had, by a plenary portion, o killer of the enemy, appeared for explaining the truth of Sânkhya [the analytic of yoga] so that one may know of the Independent Unborn One. (11) With a pure heart in worship of the Ultimate and glad about His intended activities is it the following that was spoken to Kardama and Devahûti.

(12) Brahmâ said: 'By you, Kardama, it was accomplished to worship Me without duplicity, o son; since you have fully accepted my instructions, you have, in your honoring of others, honored me. (13) Sons should render service to their father to the acceptance of exactly this extent therewith with due deference obeying the commands of the spiritual teacher. (14) These thin-waisted chaste daughters of yours, o dear son, will by their own descendants variously contribute to this creation. (15) Please give therefore today your daughters away, in accord with their temperament and taste, to the foremost of the sages, thus spreading your fame over the universe. (16) I know that the original enjoyer, the bestower of all desired by the living entities, has incarnated by His own energy, assuming the body of Kapila Muni, o sage. (17) By scripture and the practice of the yogic uniting of consciousness will He, who is known by His golden hair, lotus-eyes and lotus-marked feet, uproot the roots of profitminded labor. (18) And, Devahûti, the killer of the demon Kaithabha has entered your womb and cutting the knot of ignorance and doubt He will travel all over the world. (19) This personality will be the head of the perfected ones, be approved by the teachers of example [the âcâryas] in vedic analysis and to your greater fame be celebrated in the world as Kapila'.

(20) Maitreya said: 'Having reassured the couple did Hamsa [another name for Brahmâ as flying the transcendental swan] the creator of the universe along with the Kumâras [his sons] and Nârada [the spokesman] return to his supreme position over the three worlds. (21) After the departure of Brahmâ, o Vidura, handed Kardama as was told, his daughters over to the ones who were thereafter responsible for the creation of the world population. (22-23) Kalâ he handed over to Marîci, Anasûyâ he then gave to Atri, S'raddhâ he gave Angirâ and Havirbhû was given to Pulastya. Gati he gave Pulaha and the virtuous Kriyâ he found suitable for Kratu; Bhrigu he gave Khyâti and also Arundhatî was given away to sage Vasishthha. (24) Atharvâ he gave to S'ânti, by whom the sacrificial ceremonies are performed. Thus were the foremost brahmins married to their wives and were they maintained by him. (25) When they were married this way, o Vidura, did the sages take leave of Kardama to go to their hermitages, departing in joy over what they had obtained.

(26) And he Kardama, having understood that He, who appears in the three yugas [Vishnu, only seen as a covered 'channa' - avatâra in the last, fourth yuga], the supreme intelligence of all the wise, had descended, went to Him in His seclusion, offered his obeisances and spoke to Him as follows: (27) 'Oh, finally after such a long time is the divine of mercy for the ones so afflicted in the entanglement of their own misdeeds in this world. (28) After many births, mature yogis who are perfect by their absorption in yoga endeavor to see in seclusion His feet. (29) That very same Supreme Lordship, He who is in support of His own devotees, has today, irrespective of the negligence of us ordinary householders high and low, appeared in our homes. (30) To be true to Your own words You have descended in my house, desirous to disseminate the knowledge of the Supreme Personality who increases the honor of the devotees. (31) By whichever of those truly apt forms of You, who Yourself are without a material form, You please the ones on Your path. (32) The seat of Your feet is surely always worth the worshipful respect of the great sages who desire to understand the Absolute Truth. Unto You, who are full of riches, renunciation, fame, knowledge, strength and beauty [the so-called six opulences of the Lord] I do surrender myself. (33) I surrender myself to Lord Kapila, who is the transcendental Supreme Personality, the origin of the world and full cognizance of the time and the three modes of nature; the Maintainer of All the Worlds, who in Himself after His own potency dissolved His manifestations and who is the power of independence. (34) This moment I request You, o father of all created beings, as You relieved me of my debts and fulfilled my desires, that I may accept the path of an itinerant mendicant so that I will wander about with You in my heart, keeping myself free from lamentation.

(35) The Supreme Lord said: 'Whatever I have spoken of in the scripture or by ordinary speech is in fact the authority for the people; therefore I took birth with you to be true to that which I've told you, o sage. (36) This birth of Mine in this world is for explaining, to the ones seeking liberation from the troubles of the material position, the truths so highly esteemed in self-realization. (37) Please know that this body was assumed by Me, so that I can now introduce again this path of the soul which is so difficult to know and has been lost in the course of time. (38) Now welcomed by Me, go as you desire, acting to the renounced order; to overcome the insurmountable of death, engage for the eternal of life in devotional service unto Me. (39) With your intellect always fixed upon Me, the supreme self-effulgent soul of all living beings, you will indeed see Me in your heart and achieve freedom from fear and lamentation. (40) My mother I shall also give this knowledge which opens the door of spiritual life in putting an end to all fruitive activities, so that also she will conquer the fear.'

(41) Maitreya said: 'The progenitor of human society thus addressed by Kapila, circumambulated Him and, verily pacified, then left for the forest. (42) He accepted the vow of silence, and solely taking shelter of the soul, the sage traveled unaccompanied the earth without having a dwelling place or making fire. (43) He fixed his mind in the spirit of that which is beyond cause and effect, which manifests itself as the three modes of nature, itself being free from them and which is only perceived through devotion. (44) Not identifying with the body with no interest in matter and the duality he, with an equal vision, saw himself, having turned inward, with a perfectly composed mind being sober, undisturbed and as an ocean with its waves pacified. (45) Unto Vâsudeva, the Personality of Godhead, the omniscient Supersoul within everyone, he situated himself in transcendence, by devotional service being freed from material bondage. (46) He saw the Supreme Personality of God as the soul situated in all living beings and, above that, that all living beings in the Supreme Person exist on that soul. (47) Freed from all like and dislike he, with his mind in every respect freed in the connectedness of devotion for the Supreme Lord, attained the ultimate goal of the devotee.

Maitreya said: 'The merciful praiseworthy sage who was thus speaking of renunciation to the daughter of Manu replied of what he recalled that was said by Lord Vishnu.

Recalling the words of Lord Vishnu, the merciful sage Kardama replied as follows to Svâyambhuva Manu's praiseworthy daughter, Devahûti, who was speaking words full of renunciation. (Vedabase)

Text 2

The sage said: 'Do not be disappointed, o princess; setting yourself thus towards the Supreme Lord, o praiseworthy one, He will infallibly come very soon into your womb.

The sage said: Do not be disappointed with yourself, O princess. You are actually praiseworthy. The infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead will shortly enter your womb as your son. (Vedabase)

Text 3

May God bless you, who took up the sacred vows of sense-control, religious observance and austerities, the giving of money in charity and the worship of the Lord above with great faith.

You have undertaken sacred vows. God will bless you. Hence you should worship the Lord with great faith, through sensory control, religious observances, austerities and gifts of your money in charity. (Vedabase)

Text 4

He, worshiped by you will spread my fame; He, as your son, will cut the knot in your heart teaching the knowledge of the all-pervading spirit [Brahman].

The Personality of Godhead, being worshiped by you, will spread my name and fame. He will vanquish the knot of your heart by becoming your son and teaching knowledge of Brahman. (Vedabase)

Text 5

Maitreya said: 'Devahûti close in her great respect for the direction of this father of mankind had full faith in the Original Personality of God and thus worshiped the most worshipable one situated in everyone's heart.

S'rî Maitreya said: Devahûti was fully faithful and respectful toward the direction of her husband, Kardama, who was one of the Prajâpatis, or generators of human beings in the universe. O great sage, she thus began to worship the master of the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart. (Vedabase)

Text 6

After many, many years the Supreme Lord, the killer of Madhu, entered the semen of Kardama, and appeared the way fire does in firewood.

After many, many years, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Madhusûdana, the killer of the demon Madhu, having entered the semen of Kardama, appeared in Devahûti just as fire comes from wood in a sacrifice. (Vedabase)

Text 7

At that time musical instruments resounded from the rainclouds in the sky, the Gandharvas sang to Him and the Apsaras were dancing in joyful ecstasy.

At the time of His descent on earth, demigods in the form of raining clouds sounded musical instruments in the sky. The celestial musicians, the Gandharvas, sang the glories of the Lord, while celestial dancing girls known as Apsaras danced in joyful ecstasy. (Vedabase)

Text 8

Beautiful flowers were dropped by the gods from heaven and in all directions, in all the waters and each his mind there was happiness.

At the time of the Lord's appearance, the demigods flying freely in the sky showered flowers. All the directions, all the waters and everyone's mind became very satisfied. (Vedabase)

Text 9

The selfborn one [Brahmâ] along with his sages, like Marîci and others, then came to that place of Kardama at the Sarasvatî river.

Brahmâ, the first-born living being, went along with Marîci and other sages to the place of Kardama's hermitage, which was surrounded by the River Sarasvatî. (Vedabase)

Text 10

The Supreme Lord of the Spirit of pure existence had, by a plenary portion, o killer of the enemy, appeared for explaining the truth of Sânkhya [the analytic of yoga] so that one may know of the independent unborn one.

Maitreya continued: O killer of the enemy, the unborn Lord Brahmâ, who is almost independent in acquiring knowledge, could understand that a portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His quality of pure existence, had appeared in the womb of Devahûti just to explain the complete state of knowledge known as sânkhya-yoga. (Vedabase)

Text 11

With a pure heart in worship of the Ultimate and glad about His intended activities is it the following that was spoken to Kardama and Devahûti.

After worshiping the Supreme Lord with gladdened senses and a pure heart for His intended activities as an incarnation, Brahmâ spoke as follows to Kardama and Devahûti. (Vedabase)

Text 12

Brahmâ said: 'By you, Kardama, it was accomplished to worship Me without duplicity, o son,; since you have fully accepted my instructions, you have, in your honoring of others, honored me.

Lord Brahmâ said: My dear son Kardama, since you have completely accepted my instructions without duplicity, showing them proper respect, you have worshiped me properly. Whatever instructions you took from me you have carried out, and thereby you have honored me. (Vedabase)

Text 13

Sons should render service to their father to the acceptance of exactly this extent therewith with due deference obeying the commands of the spiritual teacher.

Sons ought to render service to their father exactly to this extent. One should obey the command of his father or spiritual master with due deference, saying, "Yes, sir. (Vedabase)"

Text 14

These thin-waisted chaste daughters of yours, o dear son, will by their own descendants variously contribute to this creation.

Lord Brahmâ then praised Kardama Muni's nine daughters, saying: All your thin-waisted daughters are certainly very chaste. I am sure they will increase this creation by their own descendants in various ways. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Please give therefore today your daughters away, in accord with their temperament and taste, to the foremost of the sages, thus spreading your fame over the universe.

Therefore, today please give away your daughters to the foremost of the sages, with due regard for the girls' temperaments and likings, and thereby spread your fame all over the universe. (Vedabase)

Text 16

I know that the original enjoyer, the bestower of all desired by the living entities, has incarnated by His own energy, assuming the body of Kapila Muni, o sage.

O Kardama, I know that the original Supreme Personality of Godhead has now appeared as an incarnation by His internal energy. He is the bestower of all desired by the living entities, and He has now assumed the body of Kapila Muni. (Vedabase)

Text 17

By scripture and the practice of the yogic uniting of consciousness will He, who is known by His golden hair, lotus-eyes and lotus-marked feet, uproot the roots of profitminded labor.

By mystic yoga and the practical application of knowledge from the scriptures, Kapila Muni, who is characterized by His golden hair, His eyes just like lotus petals and His lotus feet, which bear the marks of lotus flowers, will uproot the deep-rooted desire for work in this material world. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

Devahûti, the killer of the demon Kaithabha has entered your womb and cutting the knot of ignorance and doubt He will travel all over the world.

Lord Brahmâ then told Devahûti: My dear daughter of Manu, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead who killed the demon Kaithabha is now within your womb. He will cut off all the knots of your ignorance and doubt. Then He will travel all over the world. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

This personality will be the head of the perfected ones, be approved by the teachers of example [the âcâryas] in vedic analysis and to your greater fame, be celebrated in the world as Kapila'.

Your son will be the head of all the perfected souls. He will be approved by the âcâryas expert in disseminating real knowledge, and among the people He will be celebrated by the name Kapila. As the son of Devahûti, He will increase your fame. (Vedabase)

Text 20:

Maitreya said: 'Having reassured the couple did Hamsa [another name for Brahmâ as flying the transcendental swan] the creator of the universe along with the Kumâras [his sons] and Nârada [the spokesman] return to his supreme position over the three worlds.

S'rî Maitreya said: After thus speaking to Kardama Muni and his wife Devahûti, Lord Brahmâ, the creator of the universe, who is also known as Hamsa, went back to the highest of the three planetary systems on his swan carrier with the four Kumâras and Nârada. (Vedabase)

Text 21:

After the departure of Brahmâ, o Vidura, handed Kardama as was told, his daughters over to the ones who were thereafter responsible for the creation of the world population.

O Vidura, after the departure of Brahmâ, Kardama Muni, having been ordered by Brahmâ, handed over his nine daughters, as instructed, to the nine great sages who created the population of the world. (Vedabase)

Text 22-23:

Kalâ he handed over to Marîci, Anasûyâ he then gave to Atri, S'raddhâ he gave Angirâ and Havirbhû was given to Pulastya. Gati he gave Pulaha and the virtuous Kriyâ he found suitable for Kratu; Bhrigu he gave Khyâti and also Arundhatî was given away to sage Vasishthha.

Kardama Muni handed over his daughter Kalâ to Marîci, and another daughter, Anasûyâ, to Atri. He delivered S'raddhâ to Angirâ, and Havirbhû to Pulastya. He delivered Gati to Pulaha, the chaste Kriyâ to Kratu, Khyati to Bhrigu, and Arundhatî to Vasishthha. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

Atharvâ he gave to S'ânti, by whom the sacrificial ceremonies are performed. Thus were the foremost brahmins married to their wives and were they maintained by him.

He delivered S'ânti to Atharvâ. Because of S'ânti, sacrificial ceremonies are well performed. Thus he got the foremost brâhmanas married, and he maintained them along with their wives. (Vedab a se)

Text 25:

When they were married this way, o Vidura, did the sages take leave of Kardama to go to their hermitages, departing in joy over what they had obtained.

Thus married, the sages took leave of Kardama and departed full of joy, each for his own hermitage, O Vidura. (Vedabase)

Text 26:

And he Kardama, having understood that He, who appears in the three yugas [Vishnu, only seen as a covered 'channa' - avatâra in the last, fourth yuga], the supreme intelligence of all the wise, had descended, went to Him in His seclusion, offered his obeisances and spoke to Him as follows:

When Kardama Muni understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the chief of all the demigods, Vishnu, had descended, Kardama approached Him in a secluded place, offered obeisances and spoke as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 27:

'Oh, finally after such a long time is the divine of mercy for the ones so afflicted in the entanglement of their own misdeeds in this world.

Kardama Muni said: Oh, after a long time the demigods of this universe have become pleased with the suffering souls who are in material entanglement because of their own misdeeds. (Vedabase)

Text 28

After many births, mature yogis who are perfect by their absorption in yoga endeavor to see in seclusion His feet.

After many births, mature yogis, by complete trance in yoga, endeavor in secluded places to see the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 29

That very same Supreme Lordship, He who is in support of His own devotees, has today, irrespective of the negligence of us ordinary householders high and low, appeared in our homes.

Not considering the negligence of ordinary householders like us, that very same Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in our homes just to support His devotees. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

To be true to your own words You have descended in my house, desirous to disseminate the knowledge of the Supreme Personality who increases the honor of the devotees.

Kardama Muni said: You, my dear Lord, who are always increasing the honor of Your devotees, have descended in my home just to fulfill Your word and disseminate the process of real knowledge. (Vedabase)

Text 31:

By whichever of those truly apt forms of You, who Yourself are without a material form, You please the ones on Your path.

My dear Lord, although You have no material form, You have Your own innumerable forms. They truly are Your transcendental forms, which are pleasing to Your devotees. (Vedabase)

Text 32:

The seat of Your feet is surely always worth the worshipful respect of the great sages who desire to understand the Absolute Truth. Unto You, who are full of riches, renunciation, fame, knowledge, strength and beauty [the so-called six opulences of the Lord] I do surrender myself.

My dear Lord, Your lotus feet are the reservoir that always deserves to receive worshipful homage from all great sages eager to understand the Absolute Truth. You are full in opulence, renunciation, transcendental fame, knowledge, strength and beauty, and therefore I surrender myself unto Your lotus feet. (Vedabase)

Text 33:

I surrender myself to Lord Kapila, who is the transcendental Supreme Personality, the origin of the world and full cognizance of the time and the three modes of nature; the Maintainer of All the Worlds, who in Himself after His own potency dissolved His manifestations and who is the power of independence.

I surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, descended in the form of Kapila, who is independently powerful and transcendental, who is the Supreme Person and the Lord of the sum total of matter and the element of time, who is the fully cognizant maintainer of all the universes under the three modes of material nature, and who absorbs the material manifestations after their dissolution. (Vedabase)

Text 34:

This moment I request You, o father of all created beings, as You relieved me of my debts and fulfilled my desires, that I may accept the path of an itinerant mendicant so that I will wander about with You in my heart, keeping myself free from lamentation.

Today I have something to ask from You, who are the Lord of all living entities. Since I have now been liberated by You from my debts to my father, and since all my desires are fulfilled, I wish to accept the order of an itinerant mendicant. Renouncing this family life, I wish to wander about, free from lamentation, thinking always of You in my heart. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

The Supreme Lord said: 'Whatever I have spoken of in the scripture or by ordinary speech is in fact the authority for the people; therefore I took birth with you to be true to that which I've told you, o sage.

The Personality of Godhead Kapila said: Whatever I speak, whether directly or in the scriptures, is authoritative in all respects for the people of the world. O Muni, because I told you before that I would become your son, I have descended to fulfill this truth. (Vedabase)

Text 36:

This birth of Mine in this world is for explaining, to the ones seeking liberation from the troubles of the material position, the truths so highly esteemed in self-realization.

My appearance in this world is especially to explain the philosophy of Sânkhya, which is highly esteemed for self-realization by those desiring freedom from the entanglement of unnecessary material desires. (Vedabase)

Text 37:

Please know that this body was assumed by Me, so that I can now introduce again this path of the soul which is so difficult to know and has been lost in the course of time.

This path of self-realization, which is difficult to understand, has now been lost in the course of time. Please know that I have assumed this body of Kapila to introduce and explain this philosophy to human society again. (Vedabase)

Text 38:

Now welcomed by Me, go as you desire, acting to the renounced order; to overcome the insurmountable of death, engage for the eternal of life in devotional service unto Me.

Now, being sanctioned by Me, go as you desire, surrendering all your activities to Me. Conquering insurmountable death, worship Me for eternal life. (Vedabase)

Text 39:

With your intellect always fixed upon Me, the supreme self-effulgent soul of all living beings, you will indeed see Me in your heart and achieve freedom from fear and lamentation.

In your own heart, through your intellect, you will always see Me, the supreme self-effulgent soul dwelling within the hearts of all living entities. Thus you will achieve the state of eternal life, free from all lamentation and fear. (Vedabase)

Text 40:

My mother I shall also give this knowledge which opens the door of spiritual life in putting an end to all fruitive activities, so that also she will conquer the fear.'

I shall also describe this sublime knowledge, which is the door to spiritual life, to My mother, so that she also can attain perfection and self-realization, ending all reactions to fruitive activities. Thus she also will be freed from all material fear. (Vedabase)

Text 41:

Maitreya said: 'The progenitor of human society thus addressed by Kapila, circumambulated Him and, verily pacified, then left for the forest.

S'rî Maitreya said: Thus when Kardama Muni, the progenitor of human society, was spoken to in fullness by his son, Kapila, he circumambulated Him, and with a good, pacified mind he at once left for the forest. (Vedabase)

Text 42:

He accepted the vow of silence, and solely taking shelter of the soul, the sage traveled unaccompanied the earth without having a dwelling place or making fire.

The sage Kardama accepted silence as a vow in order to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and take shelter of Him exclusively. Without association, he traveled over the surface of the globe as a sannyâsî, devoid of any relationship with fire or shelter. (Vedabase)

Text 43:

He fixed his mind in the spirit of that which is beyond cause and effect, which manifests itself as the three modes of nature, itself being free from them and which is only perceived through devotion.

He fixed his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, who is beyond cause and effect, who manifests the three modes of material nature, who is beyond those three modes, and who is perceived only through unfailing devotional service. (Vedabase)

Text 44:

Not identifying with the body with no interest in matter and the duality he, with an equal vision, saw himself, having turned inward, with a perfectly composed mind being sober, undisturbed and as an ocean with its waves pacified.

Thus he gradually became unaffected by the false ego of material identity and became free from material affection. Undisturbed, equal to everyone and without duality, he could indeed see himself also. His mind was turned inward and was perfectly calm, like an ocean unagitated by waves. (Vedabase)

Text 45:

Unto Vâsudeva, the Personality of Godhead, the omniscient Supersoul within everyone, he situated himself in transcendence, by devotional service being freed from material bondage.

He thus became liberated from conditioned life and became self-situated in transcendental devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva, the omniscient Supersoul within everyone. (Vedabase)

Text 46:

He saw the Supreme Personality of God as the soul situated in all living beings and, above that, that all living beings in the Supreme Person exist on that soul.

He began to see that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is seated in everyone's heart, and that everyone is existing on Him, because He is the Supersoul of everyone. (Vedabase)

Text 47:

Freed from all like and dislike he, with his mind in every respect freed in the connectedness of devotion for the Supreme Lord, attained the ultimate goal of the devotee.

Freed from all hatred and desire, Kardama Muni, being equal to everyone because of discharging uncontaminated devotional service, ultimately attained the path back to Godhead. (Vedabase)