Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Purāṇic Literatures
In this chapter Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī describes the expansion of the branches of the Atharva Veda, enumerates the compilers of the Purāṇas and explains the characteristics of a Purāṇa. He then lists the eighteen major Purāṇas and finishes his account by stating that any person who hears about these matters from someone in a proper disciplic succession will acquire spiritual potency.
Devanagari
सूत उवाच
अथर्ववित्सुमन्तुश्च शिष्यमध्यापयत् स्वकाम् ।
संहितां सोऽपि पथ्याय वेददर्शाय चोक्तवान् ॥ १ ॥
अथर्ववित्सुमन्तुश्च शिष्यमध्यापयत् स्वकाम् ।
संहितां सोऽपि पथ्याय वेददर्शाय चोक्तवान् ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
sūta uvāca
atharva-vit sumantuś ca
śiṣyam adhyāpayat svakām
saṁhitāṁ so ’pi pathyāya
vedadarśāya coktavān
atharva-vit sumantuś ca
śiṣyam adhyāpayat svakām
saṁhitāṁ so ’pi pathyāya
vedadarśāya coktavān
Synonyms
sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; atharva-vit — the expert knower of the Atharva Veda; sumantuḥ — Sumantu; ca — and; śiṣyam — to his disciple; adhyāpayat — instructed; svakām — his own; saṁhitām — collection; saḥ — he, the disciple of Sumantu; api — also; pathyāya — to Pathya; vedadarśāya — to Vedadarśa; ca — and; uktavān — spoke.
Translation
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Sumantu Ṛṣi, the authority on the Atharva Veda, taught his saṁhitā to his disciple Kabandha, who in turn spoke it to Pathya and Vedadarśa.
Purport
As confirmed in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa:
atharva-vedaṁ sa muniḥ
sumantur amita-dyutiḥ
śiṣyam adhyāpayām āsa
kabandhaṁ so ’pi ca dvidhā
kṛtvā tu vedadarśāya
tathā pathyāya dattavān
sumantur amita-dyutiḥ
śiṣyam adhyāpayām āsa
kabandhaṁ so ’pi ca dvidhā
kṛtvā tu vedadarśāya
tathā pathyāya dattavān
“That sage Sumantu, whose brilliance was immeasurable, taught the Atharva Veda to his disciple Kabandha. Kabandha in turn divided it into two parts and passed them down to Vedadarśa and Pathya.”
Devanagari
शौक्लायनिर्ब्रह्मबलिर्मोदोष: पिप्पलायनि: ।
वेददर्शस्य शिष्यास्ते पथ्यशिष्यानथो शृणु ।
कुमुद: शुनको ब्रह्मन् जाजलिश्चाप्यथर्ववित् ॥ २ ॥
वेददर्शस्य शिष्यास्ते पथ्यशिष्यानथो शृणु ।
कुमुद: शुनको ब्रह्मन् जाजलिश्चाप्यथर्ववित् ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
śauklāyanir brahmabalir
modoṣaḥ pippalāyaniḥ
vedadarśasya śiṣyās te
pathya-śiṣyān atho śṛṇu
kumudaḥ śunako brahman
jājaliś cāpy atharva-vit
modoṣaḥ pippalāyaniḥ
vedadarśasya śiṣyās te
pathya-śiṣyān atho śṛṇu
kumudaḥ śunako brahman
jājaliś cāpy atharva-vit
Synonyms
śauklāyaniḥ brahmabaliḥ — Śauklāyani and Brahmabali; modoṣaḥ pippalāyaniḥ — Modoṣa and Pippalāyani; vedadarśasya — of Vedadarśa; śiṣyāḥ — the disciples; te — they; pathya-śiṣyān — the disciples of Pathya; atho — furthermore; śṛṇu — please hear; kumudaḥ śunakaḥ — Kumuda and Śunaka; brahman — O brāhmaṇa, Śaunaka; jājaliḥ — Jājali; ca — and; api — also; atharva-vit — full in knowledge of the Atharva Veda..
Translation
Śauklāyani, Brahmabali, Modoṣa and Pippalāyani were disciples of Vedadarśa. Hear from me also the names of the disciples of Pathya. My dear brāhmaṇa, they are Kumuda, Śunaka and Jājali, all of whom knew the Atharva Veda very well.
Purport
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Vedadarśa divided his edition of the Atharva Veda into four parts and instructed them to his four disciples. Pathya divided his edition into three parts and instructed it to the three disciples mentioned here.
Devanagari
बभ्रु: शिष्योऽथाङ्गिरस: सैन्धवायन एव च ।
अधीयेतां संहिते द्वे सावर्णाद्यास्तथापरे ॥ ३ ॥
अधीयेतां संहिते द्वे सावर्णाद्यास्तथापरे ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
babhruḥ śiṣyo ’thāṅgirasaḥ
saindhavāyana eva ca
adhīyetāṁ saṁhite dve
sāvarṇādyās tathāpare
saindhavāyana eva ca
adhīyetāṁ saṁhite dve
sāvarṇādyās tathāpare
Synonyms
Translation
Babhru and Saindhavāyana, disciples of Śunaka, studied the two divisions of their spiritual master’s compilation of the Atharva Veda. Saindhavāyana’s disciple Sāvarṇa and disciples of other great sages also studied this edition of the Atharva Veda.
Devanagari
नक्षत्रकल्प: शान्तिश्च कश्यपाङ्गिरसादय: ।
एते आथर्वणाचार्या: शृणु पौराणिकान् मुने ॥ ४ ॥
एते आथर्वणाचार्या: शृणु पौराणिकान् मुने ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
nakṣatrakalpaḥ śāntiś ca
kaśyapāṅgirasādayaḥ
ete ātharvaṇācāryāḥ
śṛṇu paurāṇikān mune
kaśyapāṅgirasādayaḥ
ete ātharvaṇācāryāḥ
śṛṇu paurāṇikān mune
Synonyms
Translation
Nakṣatrakalpa, Śāntikalpa, Kaśyapa, Āṅgirasa and others were also among the ācāryas of the Atharva Veda. Now, O sage, listen as I name the authorities on Purāṇic literature.
Devanagari
त्रय्यारुणि: कश्यपश्च सावर्णिरकृतव्रण: ।
वैशम्पायनहारीतौ षड् वै पौराणिका इमे ॥ ५ ॥
वैशम्पायनहारीतौ षड् वै पौराणिका इमे ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
trayyāruṇiḥ kaśyapaś ca
sāvarṇir akṛtavraṇaḥ
vaiśampāyana-hārītau
ṣaḍ vai paurāṇikā ime
sāvarṇir akṛtavraṇaḥ
vaiśampāyana-hārītau
ṣaḍ vai paurāṇikā ime
Synonyms
trayyāruṇiḥ kaśyapaḥ ca — Trayyāruṇi and Kaśyapa; sāvarṇiḥ akṛta-vraṇaḥ — Sāvarṇi and Akṛtavraṇa; vaiśampāyana-hārītau — Vaiśampāyana and Hārīta; ṣaṭ — six; vai — indeed; paurāṇikāḥ — spiritual masters of the Purāṇas; ime — these.
Translation
Trayyāruṇi, Kaśyapa, Sāvarṇi, Akṛtavraṇa, Vaiśampāyana and Hārīta are the six masters of the Purāṇas.
Devanagari
अधीयन्त व्यासशिष्यात् संहितां मत्पितुर्मुखात् ।
एकैकामहमेतेषां शिष्य: सर्वा: समध्यगाम् ॥ ६ ॥
एकैकामहमेतेषां शिष्य: सर्वा: समध्यगाम् ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
adhīyanta vyāsa-śiṣyāt
saṁhitāṁ mat-pitur mukhāt
ekaikām aham eteṣāṁ
śiṣyaḥ sarvāḥ samadhyagām
saṁhitāṁ mat-pitur mukhāt
ekaikām aham eteṣāṁ
śiṣyaḥ sarvāḥ samadhyagām
Synonyms
adhīyanta — they have learned; vyāsa-śiṣyāt — from the disciple of Vyāsadeva (Romaharṣaṇa); saṁhitām — the collection of the Purāṇas; mat-pituḥ — of my father; mukhāt — from the mouth; eka-ekām — each learning one portion; aham — I; eteṣām — of these; śiṣyaḥ — the disciple; sarvāḥ — all the collections; samadhyagām — I have thoroughly learned.
Translation
Each of them studied one of the six anthologies of the Purāṇas from my father, Romaharṣaṇa, who was a disciple of Śrīla Vyāsadeva. I became the disciple of these six authorities and thoroughly learned all their presentations of Purāṇic wisdom.
Devanagari
कश्यपोऽहं च सावर्णी रामशिष्योऽकृतव्रण: ।
अधीमहि व्यासशिष्याच्चत्वारो मूलसंहिता: ॥ ७ ॥
अधीमहि व्यासशिष्याच्चत्वारो मूलसंहिता: ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
kaśyapo ’haṁ ca sāvarṇī
rāma-śiṣyo ’kṛtavraṇaḥ
adhīmahi vyāsa-śiṣyāc
catvāro mūla-saṁhitāḥ
rāma-śiṣyo ’kṛtavraṇaḥ
adhīmahi vyāsa-śiṣyāc
catvāro mūla-saṁhitāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Romaharṣaṇa, a disciple of Vedavyāsa, divided the Purāṇas into four basic compilations. The sage Kaśyapa and I, along with Sāvarṇi and Akṛtavraṇa, a disciple of Rāma, learned these four divisions.
Devanagari
पुराणलक्षणं ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मर्षिभिर्निरूपितम् ।
शृणुष्व बुद्धिमाश्रित्य वेदशास्त्रानुसारत: ॥ ८ ॥
शृणुष्व बुद्धिमाश्रित्य वेदशास्त्रानुसारत: ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
purāṇa-lakṣaṇaṁ brahman
brahmarṣibhir nirūpitam
śṛṇuṣva buddhim āśritya
veda-śāstrānusārataḥ
brahmarṣibhir nirūpitam
śṛṇuṣva buddhim āśritya
veda-śāstrānusārataḥ
Synonyms
Translation
O Śaunaka, please hear with attention the characteristics of a Purāṇa, which have been defined by the most eminent learned brāhmaṇas in accordance with Vedic literature.
Devanagari
सर्गोऽस्याथ विसर्गश्च वृत्तिरक्षान्तराणि च ।
वंशो वंशानुचरितं संस्था हेतुरपाश्रय: ॥ ९ ॥
दशभिर्लक्षणैर्युक्तं पुराणं तद्विदो विदु: ।
केचित् पञ्चविधं ब्रह्मन् महदल्पव्यवस्थया ॥ १० ॥
वंशो वंशानुचरितं संस्था हेतुरपाश्रय: ॥ ९ ॥
दशभिर्लक्षणैर्युक्तं पुराणं तद्विदो विदु: ।
केचित् पञ्चविधं ब्रह्मन् महदल्पव्यवस्थया ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
sargo ’syātha visargaś ca
vṛtti-rakṣāntarāṇi ca
vaṁśo vaṁśānucaritaṁ
saṁsthā hetur apāśrayaḥ
vṛtti-rakṣāntarāṇi ca
vaṁśo vaṁśānucaritaṁ
saṁsthā hetur apāśrayaḥ
daśabhir lakṣaṇair yuktaṁ
purāṇaṁ tad-vido viduḥ
kecit pañca-vidhaṁ brahman
mahad-alpa-vyavasthayā
purāṇaṁ tad-vido viduḥ
kecit pañca-vidhaṁ brahman
mahad-alpa-vyavasthayā
Synonyms
sargaḥ — the creation; asya — of this universe; atha — then; visargaḥ — the secondary creation; ca — and; vṛtti — maintenance; rakṣā — protection by sustenance; antarāṇi — the reigns of the Manus; ca — and; vaṁśaḥ — the dynasties of great kings; vaṁśa-anucaritam — the narrations of their activities; saṁsthā — the annihilation; hetuḥ — the motivation (for the living entities’ involvement in material activities); apāśrayaḥ — the supreme shelter; daśabhiḥ — with the ten; lakṣaṇaiḥ — characteristics; yuktam — endowed; purāṇam — a Purāṇa; tat — of this matter; vidaḥ — those who know; viduḥ — they know; kecit — some authorities; pañca-vidham — fivefold; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; mahat — of great; alpa — and lesser; vyavasthayā — according to the distinction.
Translation
O brāhmaṇa, authorities on the matter understand a Purāṇa to contain ten characteristic topics: the creation of this universe, the subsequent creation of worlds and beings, the maintenance of all living beings, their sustenance, the rule of various Manus, the dynasties of great kings, the activities of such kings, annihilation, motivation and the supreme shelter. Other scholars state that the great Purāṇas deal with these ten topics, while lesser Purāṇas may deal with five.
Purport
The ten subjects of a great Purāṇa are also described in the Second Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.10.1):
śrī-śuka uvāca
atra sargo visargaś ca
sthānaṁ poṣaṇam ūtayaḥ
manvantareśānukathā
nirodho muktir āśrayaḥ
atra sargo visargaś ca
sthānaṁ poṣaṇam ūtayaḥ
manvantareśānukathā
nirodho muktir āśrayaḥ
“Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there are ten divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the universe, subcreation, planetary systems, protection by the Lord, the creative impetus, the change of Manus, the science of God, returning home (back to Godhead), liberation and the summum bonum.”
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Purāṇas such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam deal with these ten topics, whereas lesser Purāṇas deal with only five. As stated in Vedic literature:
sargaś ca pratisargaś ca
vaṁśo manvantarāṇi ca
vaṁśānucaritaṁ ceti
purāṇaṁ pañca-lakṣaṇam
vaṁśo manvantarāṇi ca
vaṁśānucaritaṁ ceti
purāṇaṁ pañca-lakṣaṇam
“Creation, secondary creation, the dynasties of kings, the reigns of Manus and the activities of various dynasties are the five characteristics of a Purāṇa.” Purāṇas covering five categories of knowledge are understood to be secondary Purāṇic literature.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has explained that the ten principal topics of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are found within each of the twelve cantos. One should not try to assign each of the ten topics to a particular canto. Nor should the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam be artificially interpreted to show that it deals with the topics successively. The simple fact is that all aspects of knowledge important to human beings, summarized in the ten categories mentioned above, are described with various degrees of emphasis and analysis throughout the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Devanagari
अव्याकृतगुणक्षोभान्महतत्रिस्त्रवृतोऽहम: ।
भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियार्थानां सम्भव: सर्ग उच्यते ॥ ११ ॥
भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियार्थानां सम्भव: सर्ग उच्यते ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
avyākṛta-guṇa-kṣobhān
mahatas tri-vṛto ’hamaḥ
bhūta-sūkṣmendriyārthānāṁ
sambhavaḥ sarga ucyate
mahatas tri-vṛto ’hamaḥ
bhūta-sūkṣmendriyārthānāṁ
sambhavaḥ sarga ucyate
Synonyms
avyākṛta — of the unmanifest stage of nature; guṇa-kṣobhāt — by the agitation of the modes; mahataḥ — from the basic mahat-tattva; tri-vṛtaḥ — threefold; ahamaḥ — from the false ego; bhūta-sūkṣma — of the subtle forms of perception; indriya — of the senses; arthānām — and the objects of sense perception; sambhavaḥ — the generation; sargaḥ — creation; ucyate — is called.
Translation
From the agitation of the original modes within the unmanifest material nature, the mahat-tattva arises. From the mahat-tattva comes the element false ego, which divides into three aspects. This threefold false ego further manifests as the subtle forms of perception, as the senses and as the gross sense objects. The generation of all these is called creation.
Devanagari
पुरुषानुगृहीतानामेतेषां वासनामय: ।
विसर्गोऽयं समाहारो बीजाद् बीजं चराचरम् ॥ १२ ॥
विसर्गोऽयं समाहारो बीजाद् बीजं चराचरम् ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
puruṣānugṛhītānām
eteṣāṁ vāsanā-mayaḥ
visargo ’yaṁ samāhāro
bījād bījaṁ carācaram
eteṣāṁ vāsanā-mayaḥ
visargo ’yaṁ samāhāro
bījād bījaṁ carācaram
Synonyms
puruṣa — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His pastime role of creation; anugṛhītānām — which have received the mercy; eteṣām — of these elements; vāsanā-mayaḥ — consisting predominantly of the remnants of past desires of the living entities; visargaḥ — the secondary creation; ayam — this; samāhāraḥ — manifest amalgamation; bījāt — from a seed; bījam — another seed; cara — moving beings; acaram — and nonmoving beings.
Translation
The secondary creation, which exists by the mercy of the Lord, is the manifest amalgamation of the desires of the living entities. Just as a seed produces additional seeds, activities that promote material desires in the performer produce moving and nonmoving life forms.
Purport
Just as a seed grows into a tree that produces thousands of new seeds, material desire develops into fruitive activity that stimulates thousands of new desires within the heart of the conditioned soul. The word puruṣānugṛhītānām indicates that by the mercy of the Supreme Lord one is allowed to desire and act in this world.
Devanagari
वृत्तिर्भूतानि भूतानां चराणामचराणि च ।
कृता स्वेन नृणां तत्र कामाच्चोदनयापि वा ॥ १३ ॥
कृता स्वेन नृणां तत्र कामाच्चोदनयापि वा ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
vṛttir bhūtāni bhūtānāṁ
carāṇām acarāṇi ca
kṛtā svena nṛṇāṁ tatra
kāmāc codanayāpi vā
carāṇām acarāṇi ca
kṛtā svena nṛṇāṁ tatra
kāmāc codanayāpi vā
Synonyms
vṛttiḥ — the sustenance; bhūtāni — living beings; bhūtānām — of living beings; carāṇām — of those that move; acarāṇi — those that do not move; ca — and; kṛtā — executed; svena — by one’s own conditioned nature; nṛṇām — for human beings; tatra — therein; kāmāt — out of lust; codanayā — in pursuit of Vedic injunction; api — indeed; vā — or.
Translation
Vṛtti means the process of sustenance, by which the moving beings live upon the nonmoving. For a human, vṛtti specifically means acting for one’s livelihood in a manner suited to his personal nature. Such action may be carried out either in pursuit of selfish desire or in accordance with the law of God.
Devanagari
रक्षाच्युतावतारेहा विश्वस्यानु युगे युगे ।
तिर्यङ्मर्त्यर्षिदेवेषु हन्यन्ते यैस्त्रयीद्विष: ॥ १४ ॥
तिर्यङ्मर्त्यर्षिदेवेषु हन्यन्ते यैस्त्रयीद्विष: ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
rakṣācyutāvatārehā
viśvasyānu yuge yuge
tiryaṅ-martyarṣi-deveṣu
hanyante yais trayī-dviṣaḥ
viśvasyānu yuge yuge
tiryaṅ-martyarṣi-deveṣu
hanyante yais trayī-dviṣaḥ
Synonyms
rakṣā — protection; acyuta-avatāra — of the incarnations of Lord Acyuta; īhā — the activities; viśvasya — of this universe; anu yuge yuge — in each age; tiryak — among the animals; martya — human beings; ṛṣi — sages; deveṣu — and demigods; hanyante — are killed; yaiḥ — by which incarnations; trayī-dviṣaḥ — the Daityas, who are enemies of Vedic culture.
Translation
In each age, the infallible Lord appears in this world among the animals, human beings, sages and demigods. By His activities in these incarnations He protects the universe and kills the enemies of Vedic culture.
Purport
The protective activities of the Lord, indicated by the word rakṣā, constitute one of the ten fundamental topics of a Mahā-purāṇa, or a great Purāṇic literature.
Devanagari
मन्वन्तरं मनुर्देवा मनुपुत्रा: सुरेश्वरा: ।
ऋषयोऽशांवताराश्च हरे: षड्विधमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥
ऋषयोऽशांवताराश्च हरे: षड्विधमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
manvantaraṁ manur devā
manu-putrāḥ sureśvarāḥ
ṛṣayo ’ṁśāvatārāś ca
hareḥ ṣaḍ-vidham ucyate
manu-putrāḥ sureśvarāḥ
ṛṣayo ’ṁśāvatārāś ca
hareḥ ṣaḍ-vidham ucyate
Synonyms
manu-antaram — the reign of each Manu; manuḥ — the Manu; devāḥ — the demigods; manu-putrāḥ — the sons of Manu; sura-īśvarāḥ — the different Indras; ṛṣayaḥ — the chief sages; aṁśa-avatārāḥ — the incarnations of portions of the Supreme Lord; ca — and; hareḥ — of Lord Hari; ṣaṭ-vidham — sixfold; ucyate — is said.
Translation
In each reign of Manu, six types of personalities appear as manifestations of Lord Hari: the ruling Manu, the chief demigods, the sons of Manu, Indra, the great sages and the partial incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
राज्ञां ब्रह्मप्रसूतानां वंश त्रैकालिकोऽन्वय: ।
वंशानुचरितं तेषां वृत्तं वंशधराश्च ये ॥ १६ ॥
वंशानुचरितं तेषां वृत्तं वंशधराश्च ये ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
rājñāṁ brahma-prasūtānāṁ
vaṁśas trai-kāliko ’nvayaḥ
vaṁśānucaritaṁ teṣāṁ
vṛttaṁ vaṁśa-dharās ca ye
vaṁśas trai-kāliko ’nvayaḥ
vaṁśānucaritaṁ teṣāṁ
vṛttaṁ vaṁśa-dharās ca ye
Synonyms
rājñām — of the kings; brahma-prasūtānām — born originally from Brahmā; vaṁśaḥ — dynasty; trai-kālikaḥ — extending into the three phases of time (past, present and future); anvayaḥ — the series; vaṁśa-anucaritam — histories of the dynasties; teṣām — of these dynasties; vṛttam — the activities; vaṁśa-dharāḥ — the prominent members of the dynasties; ca — and; ye — which.
Translation
Dynasties are lines of kings originating with Lord Brahmā and extending continuously through past, present and future. The accounts of such dynasties, especially of their most prominent members, constitute the subject of dynastic history.
Devanagari
नैमित्तिक: प्राकृतिको नित्य आत्यन्तिको लय: ।
संस्थेति कविभि: प्रोक्तश्चतुर्धास्य स्वभावत: ॥ १७ ॥
संस्थेति कविभि: प्रोक्तश्चतुर्धास्य स्वभावत: ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
naimittikaḥ prākṛtiko
nitya ātyantiko layaḥ
saṁstheti kavibhiḥ proktaś
caturdhāsya svabhāvataḥ
nitya ātyantiko layaḥ
saṁstheti kavibhiḥ proktaś
caturdhāsya svabhāvataḥ
Synonyms
naimittikaḥ — occasional; prākṛtikaḥ — elemental; nityaḥ — continuous; ātyantikaḥ — ultimate; layaḥ — annihilation; saṁsthā — the dissolution; iti — thus; kavibhiḥ — by learned scholars; proktaḥ — described; caturdhā — in four aspects; asya — of this universe; svabhāvataḥ — by the inherent energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Translation
There are four types of cosmic annihilation — occasional, elemental, continuous and ultimate — all of which are effected by the inherent potency of the Supreme Lord. Learned scholars have designated this topic dissolution.
Devanagari
हेतुर्जीवोऽस्य सर्गादेरविद्याकर्मकारक: ।
यं चानुशायिनं प्राहुरव्याकृतमुतापरे ॥ १८ ॥
यं चानुशायिनं प्राहुरव्याकृतमुतापरे ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
hetur jīvo ’sya sargāder
avidyā-karma-kārakaḥ
yaṁ cānuśāyinaṁ prāhur
avyākṛtam utāpare
avidyā-karma-kārakaḥ
yaṁ cānuśāyinaṁ prāhur
avyākṛtam utāpare
Synonyms
hetuḥ — the cause; jīvaḥ — the living being; asya — of this universe; sarga-ādeḥ — of the creation, maintenance and destruction; avidyā — out of ignorance; karma-kārakaḥ — the performer of material activities; yam — whom; ca — and; anuśāyinam — the underlying personality; prāhuḥ — they call; avyākṛtam — the unmanifest; uta — indeed; apare — others.
Translation
Out of ignorance the living being performs material activities and thereby becomes in one sense the cause of the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe. Some authorities call the living being the personality underlying the material creation, while others say he is the unmanifest self.
Purport
The Supreme Lord Himself creates, maintains and annihilates the cosmos. However, such activities are performed in response to the desires of conditioned souls, who are described herein as hetu, or the cause of cosmic activity. The Lord creates this world to facilitate the conditioned soul’s attempt to exploit nature and ultimately to facilitate his self-realization.
Since conditioned souls cannot perceive their own constitutional identity, they are described here as avyākṛtam, or unmanifest. In other words, the living entity cannot perceive his real form unless he is completely Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Devanagari
व्यतिरेकान्वयो यस्य जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तिषु ।
मायामयेषु तद् ब्रह्म जीववृत्तिष्वपाश्रय: ॥ १९ ॥
मायामयेषु तद् ब्रह्म जीववृत्तिष्वपाश्रय: ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
vyatirekānvayo yasya
jāgrat-svapna-suṣuptiṣu
māyā-mayeṣu tad brahma
jīva-vṛttiṣv apāśrayaḥ
jāgrat-svapna-suṣuptiṣu
māyā-mayeṣu tad brahma
jīva-vṛttiṣv apāśrayaḥ
Synonyms
vyatireka — the presence as separate; anvayaḥ — and as conjoint; yasya — of which; jāgrat — within waking consciousness; svapna — sleep; suṣuptiṣu — and deep sleep; māyā-mayeṣu — within the products of the illusory energy; tat — that; brahma — the Absolute Truth; jīva-vṛttiṣu — within the functions of the living entities; apāśrayaḥ — the unique shelter.
Translation
The Supreme Absolute Truth is present throughout all the stages of awareness — waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep — throughout all the phenomena manifested by the illusory energy, and within the functions of all living entities, and He also exists separate from all these. Thus situated in His own transcendence, He is the ultimate and unique shelter.
Devanagari
पदार्थेषु यथा द्रव्यं सन्मात्रं रूपनामसु ।
बीजादिपञ्चतान्तासु ह्यवस्थासु युतायुतम् ॥ २० ॥
बीजादिपञ्चतान्तासु ह्यवस्थासु युतायुतम् ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
padārtheṣu yathā dravyaṁ
san-mātraṁ rūpa-nāmasu
bījādi-pañcatāntāsu
hy avasthāsu yutāyutam
san-mātraṁ rūpa-nāmasu
bījādi-pañcatāntāsu
hy avasthāsu yutāyutam
Synonyms
pada-artheṣu — within material objects; yathā — just as; dravyam — the basic substance; sat-mātram — the sheer existence of things; rūpa-nāmasu — among their forms and names; bīja-ādi — beginning from the seed (i.e., from the time of conception); pañcatā-antāsu — ending with death; hi — indeed; avasthāsu — throughout the various phases of bodily existence; yuta-ayutam — both conjoined and separate.
Translation
Although a material object may assume various forms and names, its essential ingredient is always present as the basis of its existence. Similarly, both conjointly and separately, the Supreme Absolute Truth is always present with the created material body throughout its phases of existence, beginning with conception and ending with death.
Purport
Moist clay can be molded into various shapes and named “waterpot,” “flowerpot” or “storage pot.” Despite the various names and forms, the essential ingredient, earth, is constantly present. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is present throughout a material body’s stages of bodily existence. The Lord is identical with material nature, being its ultimate generating source. At the same time, the unique Supreme Being exists separately, aloof in His own abode.
Devanagari
विरमेत यदा चित्तं हित्वा वृत्तित्रयं स्वयम् ।
योगेन वा तदात्मानं वेदेहाया निवर्तते ॥ २१ ॥
योगेन वा तदात्मानं वेदेहाया निवर्तते ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
virameta yadā cittaṁ
hitvā vṛtti-trayaṁ svayam
yogena vā tadātmānaṁ
vedehāyā nivartate
hitvā vṛtti-trayaṁ svayam
yogena vā tadātmānaṁ
vedehāyā nivartate
Synonyms
virameta — desists; yadā — when; cittam — the mind; hitvā — giving up; vṛtti-trayam — the functions of material life in the three phases of waking, sleep and deep sleep; svayam — automatically; yogena — by regulated spiritual practice; vā — or; tadā — then; ātmānam — the Supreme Soul; veda — he knows; īhāyāḥ — from material endeavor; nivartate — he ceases.
Translation
Either automatically or because of one’s regulated spiritual practice, one’s mind may stop functioning on the material platform of waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep. Then one understands the Supreme Soul and withdraws from material endeavor.
Purport
As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.33), jarayaty āśu yā kośaṁ nigīrṇam analo yathā: “Bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body of the living entity without separate endeavor, just as fire in the stomach digests all that we eat.” The subtle material body is inclined to exploit nature through sex, greed, false pride and madness. Loving service to the Lord, however, dissolves the stubborn false ego and lifts one to pure blissful consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the sublime perfection of existence.
Devanagari
एवंलक्षणलक्ष्याणि पुराणानि पुराविद: ।
मुनयोऽष्टादश प्राहु: क्षुल्लकानि महान्ति च ॥ २२ ॥
मुनयोऽष्टादश प्राहु: क्षुल्लकानि महान्ति च ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ lakṣaṇa-lakṣyāṇi
purāṇāni purā-vidaḥ
munayo ’ṣṭādaśa prāhuḥ
kṣullakāni mahānti ca
purāṇāni purā-vidaḥ
munayo ’ṣṭādaśa prāhuḥ
kṣullakāni mahānti ca
Synonyms
Translation
Sages expert in ancient histories have declared that the Purāṇas, according to their various characteristics, can be divided into eighteen major Purāṇas and eighteen secondary Purāṇas.
Devanagari
ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं लैङ्गं सगारुडं ।
नारदीयं भागवतमाग्नेयं स्कान्दसंज्ञितम् ॥ २३ ॥
भविष्यं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं सवामनम् ।
वाराहं मात्स्यं कौर्मं च ब्रह्माण्डाख्यमिति त्रिषट् ॥ २४ ॥
नारदीयं भागवतमाग्नेयं स्कान्दसंज्ञितम् ॥ २३ ॥
भविष्यं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं सवामनम् ।
वाराहं मात्स्यं कौर्मं च ब्रह्माण्डाख्यमिति त्रिषट् ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
brāhmaṁ pādmaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ ca
śaivaṁ laiṅgaṁ sa-gāruḍaṁ
nāradīyaṁ bhāgavatam
āgneyaṁ skānda-saṁjñitam
śaivaṁ laiṅgaṁ sa-gāruḍaṁ
nāradīyaṁ bhāgavatam
āgneyaṁ skānda-saṁjñitam
bhaviṣyaṁ brahma-vaivartaṁ
mārkaṇḍeyaṁ sa-vāmanam
vārāhaṁ mātsyaṁ kaurmaṁ ca
brahmāṇḍākhyam iti tri-ṣaṭ
mārkaṇḍeyaṁ sa-vāmanam
vārāhaṁ mātsyaṁ kaurmaṁ ca
brahmāṇḍākhyam iti tri-ṣaṭ
Synonyms
brāhmam — the Brahma Purāṇa; pādmam — the Padma Purāṇa; vaiṣṇavam — the Viṣṇu Purāṇa; ca — and; śaivam — the Śiva Purāṇa; laiṅgam — the Liṅga Purāṇa; sa-gāruḍam — along with the Garuḍa Purāṇa; nāradīyam — the Nārada Purāṇa; bhāgavatam — the Bhāgavata Purāṇa; āgneyam — the Agni Purāṇa; skānda — the Skanda Purāṇa; saṁjñitam — known as; bhaviṣyam — the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa; brahma-vaivartam — the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa; mārkaṇḍeyam — the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa; sa-vāmanam — together with the Vāmana Purāṇa; vārāham — the Varāha Purāṇa; mātsyam — the Matsya Purāṇa; kaurmam — the Kūrma Purāṇa; ca — and; brahmāṇḍa-ākhyam — known as the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa; iti — thus; tri-ṣaṭ — three times six.
Translation
The eighteen major Purāṇas are the Brahma, Padma, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Liṅga, Garuḍa, Nārada, Bhāgavata, Agni, Skanda, Bhaviṣya, Brahma-vaivarta, Mārkaṇḍeya, Vāmana, Varāha, Matsya, Kūrma and Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇas.
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has quoted from the Varāha Purāṇa, Śiva Purāṇa and Matsya Purāṇa in confirmation of the above two verses.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मन्निदं समाख्यातं शाखाप्रणयनं मुने: ।
शिष्यशिष्यप्रशिष्याणां ब्रह्मतेजोविवर्धनम् ॥ २५ ॥
शिष्यशिष्यप्रशिष्याणां ब्रह्मतेजोविवर्धनम् ॥ २५ ॥
Verse text
brahmann idaṁ samākhyātaṁ
śākhā-praṇayanaṁ muneḥ
śiṣya-śiṣya-praśiṣyāṇāṁ
brahma-tejo-vivardhanam
śākhā-praṇayanaṁ muneḥ
śiṣya-śiṣya-praśiṣyāṇāṁ
brahma-tejo-vivardhanam
Synonyms
brahman — O brāhmaṇa; idam — this; samākhyātam — thoroughly described; śākhā-praṇayanam — the expansion of the branches; muneḥ — of the sage (Śrīla Vyāsadeva); śiṣya — of the disciples; śiṣya-praśiṣyāṇām — and the subsequent disciples of his disciples; brahma-tejaḥ — spiritual potency; vivardhanam — which increases.
Translation
I have thoroughly described to you, O brāhmaṇa, the expansion of the branches of the Vedas by the great sage Vyāsadeva, his disciples and the disciples of his disciples. One who listens to this narration will increase in spiritual strength.
Purport
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Twelfth Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Purāṇic Literatures.”