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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Lord’s Opulence

In this chapter the Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, describes His manifest opulences in terms of His specific potencies of knowledge, strength, influence, and so on.

Śrī Uddhava offered glorification to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and ultimate shelter of all holy places, saying, “The Supreme Lord has no beginning and no end. He is the cause of the birth, maintenance and destruction of all living entities. He is the soul of all beings, and by secretly taking up residence within all living bodies He sees everything. The conditioned souls, on the other hand, are bewildered by His external energy and thus are unable to see Him.” After offering such prayers at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Uddhava revealed his desire to know about the Lord’s various opulences in heaven, on earth, in hell and in all directions. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa then described all these opulences, after which He commented that all power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, charity, charm, good fortune, valor, tolerance and wisdom — wherever they are manifest — are simply expansions from Himself. It therefore cannot be truthfully said that a material object actually possesses these opulences. Such conceptions are the results of mentally combining two ideas to produce an object that exists only in the imagination, such as a sky flower. Material opulences are not substantially true, and therefore one should not become too involved in meditating upon them. The pure devotees of the Supreme Lord utilize their intelligence to properly regulate the activities of their speech, mind and vital force and thus perfect their existence in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Devanagari

श्रीउद्धव उवाच
त्वं ब्रह्म परमं साक्षादनाद्यन्तमपावृतम् ।
सर्वेषामपि भावानां त्राणस्थित्यप्ययोद्भ‍व: ॥ १ ॥

Text

śrī-uddhava uvāca
tvaṁ brahma paramaṁ sākṣād
anādy-antam apāvṛtam
sarveṣām api bhāvānāṁ
trāṇa-sthity-apyayodbhavaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; tvam — You are; brahma — the greatest; paramam — the supreme; sākṣāt — Himself; anādi — without beginning; antam — without end; apāvṛtam — unlimited by anything else; sarveṣām — of all; api — indeed; bhāvānām — things which exist; trāṇa — the protector; sthiti — the life-giver; apyaya — the destruction; udbhavaḥ — and the creation.

Translation

Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord, You are beginningless and endless, the Absolute Truth Himself, unlimited by anything else. You are the protector and life-giver, the destruction and creation of all things that exist.

Purport

Brahma means the greatest of all and the cause of everything. Uddhava here addresses the Lord as the paramam, or supreme brahma, because in His feature as Bhagavān the Lord is the highest feature of the Absolute Truth and the shelter of unlimited spiritual opulences. Unlike those of ordinary living entities, the Lord’s opulences cannot be restricted by time, and thus the Lord is anādy-antam, without beginning or end, and apāvṛtam, unhindered by any superior or equal potency. The opulence of the material world is also resting within the Lord, who alone can protect, maintain, create and destroy the material world. In this chapter, Śrī Uddhava inquires from the Lord about His spiritual and material opulences in order to refine his appreciation of the Lord’s position as the Absolute Truth. Even Lord Viṣṇu, the ultimate creator of the material world, is an expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and thus Śrī Uddhava wishes to fully appreciate the unique status of his personal friend.

Devanagari

उच्चावचेषु भूतेषु दुर्ज्ञेयमकृतात्मभि: ।
उपासते त्वां भगवन् याथातथ्येन ब्राह्मणा: ॥ २ ॥

Text

uccāvaceṣu bhūteṣu
durjñeyam akṛtātmabhiḥ
upāsate tvāṁ bhagavan
yāthā-tathyena brāhmaṇāḥ

Synonyms

ucca — in the superior; avaceṣu — and the inferior; bhūteṣu — created objects and entities; durjñeyam — hard to understand; akṛta-ātmabhiḥ — by the impious; upāsate — they worship; tvām — You; bhagavan — my dear Lord; yāthā-tathyena — in truth; brāhmaṇāḥ — those dedicated to the Vedic conclusion.

Translation

My dear Lord, although it is difficult for the impious to understand that You are situated in all superior and inferior creations, those brāhmaṇas who are actual knowers of the Vedic conclusion worship You in truth.

Purport

The behavior of saintly persons is also to be taken as evidence, and therefore it is here stated that although ignorant, impious persons are bewildered before the Lord’s all-pervading feature, those with purified, clear consciousness worship the Lord as He is. In this chapter Śrī Uddhava inquires about the Lord’s opulences, and here the words uccāvaceṣu bhūteṣu (“within superior and inferior creations”) clearly refer to the Lord’s external opulences, those manifested in the material world. The saintly brāhmaṇas, or Vaiṣṇavas, worship Lord Kṛṣṇa within all things and yet recognize the variety in the Lord’s creation. For example, in worshiping the Deity, the devotees will select the nicest flowers, fruits and ornaments for decorating the transcendental form of the Lord. Similarly, although the Lord is present in the heart of every conditioned soul, the devotee will give more attention to a conditioned soul interested in the message of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Although the Lord is everywhere, the devotees make distinctions, for the sake of the Lord’s service, between His presence in superior (ucca) and inferior (avaceṣu) creations.

Devanagari

येषु येषु च भूतेषु भक्त्या त्वां परमर्षय: ।
उपासीना: प्रपद्यन्ते संसिद्धिं तद् वदस्व मे ॥ ३ ॥

Text

yeṣu yeṣu ca bhūteṣu
bhaktyā tvāṁ paramarṣayaḥ
upāsīnāḥ prapadyante
saṁsiddhiṁ tad vadasva me

Synonyms

yeṣu yeṣu — in which various; ca — also; bhūteṣu — forms; bhaktyā — with devotion; tvām — You; parama-ṛṣayaḥ — the great sages; upāsīnāḥ — worshiping; prapadyante — achieve; saṁsiddhim — perfection; tat — that; vadasva — please speak; me — to me.

Translation

Please tell me of the perfections that great sages achieve by worshiping You with devotion. Also, kindly explain which of Your different forms they worship.

Purport

Śrī Uddhava here inquires about the spiritual opulences of the Lord, which consist primarily of His viṣṇu-tattva expansions such as Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. By worshiping different plenary expansions of the Lord one achieves particular perfections, and Śrī Uddhava wants to know about this.

Devanagari

गूढश्चरसि भूतात्मा भूतानां भूतभावन ।
न त्वां पश्यन्ति भूतानि पश्यन्तं मोहितानि ते ॥ ४ ॥

Text

gūḍhaś carasi bhūtātmā
bhūtānāṁ bhūta-bhāvana
na tvāṁ paśyanti bhūtāni
paśyantaṁ mohitāni te

Synonyms

gūḍhaḥ — hidden; carasi — You are engaged; bhūta-ātmā — the Supersoul; bhūtānām — of the living entities; bhūta-bhāvana — O maintainer of all living beings; na — not; tvām — You; paśyanti — they see; bhūtāni — living entities; paśyantam — who are seeing; mohitāni — bewildered; te — by You.

Translation

O my Lord, maintainer of all, although You are the Supersoul of the living entities, You remain hidden. Thus being bewildered by You, the living entities cannot see You, although You are seeing them.

Purport

The Lord exists as the Supersoul within everything. He also appears in various incarnations or sometimes empowers a devotee to act as an incarnation. All such forms of the Lord are unknown to the nondevotees. The bewildered conditioned souls think that the supreme enjoyer, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is actually meant to be enjoyed by them for their sense gratification. Praying to God for specific material benedictions and assuming God’s creation to be their personal property, the nondevotees cannot understand the actual form of the Lord. They therefore remain foolish and bewildered. Within the universe everything is subject to creation, maintenance and destruction, and thus the Supersoul is the only actual controller in the material world. Unfortunately, when the Supersoul appears in various incarnations to clarify His position, ignorant persons think that the Supersoul is merely another creation of the modes of material nature. As stated in this verse, they cannot see that person who is actually seeing them, and simply remain bewildered.

Devanagari

या: काश्च भूमौ दिवि वै रसायां
विभूतयो दिक्षु महाविभूते ।
ता मह्यमाख्याह्यनुभावितास्ते
नमामि ते तीर्थपदाङ्‍‍घ्रिपद्मम् ॥ ५ ॥

Text

yāḥ kāś ca bhūmau divi vai rasāyāṁ
vibhūtayo dikṣu mahā-vibhūte
tā mahyam ākhyāhy anubhāvitās te
namāmi te tīrtha-padāṅghri-padmam

Synonyms

yāḥ kāḥ — whatever; ca — also; bhūmau — on the earth; divi — in heaven; vai — indeed; rasāyām — in hell; vibhūtayaḥ — potencies; dikṣu — in all directions; mahā-vibhūte — O supremely potent; tāḥ — those; mahyam — unto me; ākhyāhi — please explain; anubhāvitāḥ — manifested; te — by You; namāmi — I offer my humble obeisances; te — Your; tīrtha-pada — the abode of all holy places; aṅghri-padmam — at the lotus feet.

Translation

O supremely potent Lord, please explain to me Your innumerable potencies, which You manifest on the earth, in heaven, in hell and indeed in all directions. I offer my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet, which are the shelter of all holy places.

Purport

Uddhava here inquires about the Lord’s material and spiritual potencies, as manifested within our universe. Just as ordinary animals or insects living in human cities cannot appreciate the scientific, cultural or military achievements of man, similarly, foolish materialists cannot appreciate the mighty opulences of the Personality of Godhead, even those manifested within our universe. For the appreciation of ordinary human beings Uddhava requests the Lord to reveal exactly how and in what forms He expands His potencies. As already explained, the Lord is the essential ingredient of all that exists, and thus any mighty or opulent manifestation must ultimately rest on the Lord Himself.

Devanagari

श्रीभगवानुवाच
एवमेतदहं पृष्ट: प्रश्न‍ं प्रश्न‍‍विदां वर ।
युयुत्सुना विनशने सपत्नैरर्जुनेन वै ॥ ६ ॥

Text

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
evam etad ahaṁ pṛṣṭaḥ
praśnaṁ praśna-vidāṁ vara
yuyutsunā vinaśane
sapatnair arjunena vai

Synonyms

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; evam — thus; etat — this; aham — I; pṛṣṭaḥ — was asked; praśnam — the question or topic; praśna-vidām — of those who know how to inquire; vara — you who are the best; yuyutsunā — by him who desired to fight; vinaśane — in the Battle of Kurukṣetra; sapatnaiḥ — with his rivals or enemies; arjunena — by Arjuna; vai — indeed.

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of those who know how to inquire, on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Arjuna, desiring to fight with his rivals, asked Me the same question that you are now posing.

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa was pleased that His two friends, Arjuna and Uddhava, had posed the same question regarding the opulences of the Personality of Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa considered it wonderful that His two dear friends had asked exactly the same question.

Devanagari

ज्ञात्वा ज्ञातिवधं गर्ह्यमधर्मं राज्यहेतुकम् ।
ततो निवृत्तो हन्ताहं हतोऽयमिति लौकिक: ॥ ७ ॥

Text

jñātvā jñāti-vadhaṁ garhyam
adharmaṁ rājya-hetukam
tato nivṛtto hantāhaṁ
hato ’yam iti laukikaḥ

Synonyms

jñātvā — being aware; jñāti — of his relatives; vadham — the killing; garhyam — abominable; adharmam — irreligion; rājya — to acquire a kingdom; hetukam — having as the motive; tataḥ — from such activity; nivṛttaḥ — retired; haratā — the killer; aham — I am; hataḥ — killed; ayam — this group of relatives; iti — thus; laukikaḥ — mundane.

Translation

On the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra Arjuna thought that killing his relatives would be an abominable, irreligious activity, motivated only by his desire to acquire a kingdom. He therefore desisted from the battle, thinking, “I would be the killer of my relatives. They would be destroyed.” Thus Arjuna was afflicted with mundane consciousness.

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa here explains to Uddhava the circumstances in which Śrī Arjuna posed his questions.

Devanagari

स तदा पुरुषव्याघ्रो युक्त्या मे प्रतिबोधित: ।
अभ्यभाषत मामेवं यथा त्वं रणमूर्धनि ॥ ८ ॥

Text

sa tadā puruṣa-vyāghro
yuktyā me pratibodhitaḥ
abhyabhāṣata mām evaṁ
yathā tvaṁ raṇa-mūrdhani

Synonyms

saḥ — he; tadā — at that time; puruṣa-vyāghraḥ — the tiger among men; yuktyā — by logical argument; me — by Me; pratibodhitaḥ — enlightened in real knowledge; abhyabhāṣata — addressed questions; mām — to Me; evam — thus; yathā — just as; tvam — you; raṇa — of the battle; mūrdhani — in the front.

Translation

At that time I enlightened Arjuna, the tiger among men, with logical arguments, and thus in the front of the battle Arjuna addressed Me with questions in the same way that you are now inquiring.

Devanagari

अहमात्मोद्धवामीषां भूतानां सुहृदीश्वर: ।
अहं सर्वाणि भूतानि तेषां स्थित्युद्भ‍वाप्यय: ॥ ९ ॥

Text

aham ātmoddhavāmīṣāṁ
bhūtānāṁ suhṛd īśvaraḥ
ahaṁ sarvāṇi bhūtāni
teṣāṁ sthity-udbhavāpyayaḥ

Synonyms

aham — I am; ātmā — the Supersoul; uddhava — O Uddhava; amīṣām — of these; bhūtānām — living entities; su-hṛt — the well-wisher; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; aham — I am; sarvāṇi bhūtāni — all entities; teṣām — of them; sthiti — the maintenance; udbhava — creation; apyayaḥ — and annihilation.

Translation

My dear Uddhava, I am the Supersoul of all living entities, and therefore I am naturally their well-wisher and supreme controller. Being the creator, maintainer and annihilator of all entities, I am not different from them.

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that the Personality of Godhead maintains an ablative and genitive relationship with His opulences. In other words, the Lord is not different from all living entities, because they are coming from Him and they belong to Him. The Lord gave a similar explanation to Arjuna in the Tenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (10.20), beginning with the same words, aham ātmā. Although the Lord describes His external, or material, opulences, the Lord’s position is always transcendental and nonmaterial. Just as the living soul within the body gives life to the body, similarly, the Lord, by His supreme potency, gives life to all universal opulences.

Devanagari

अहं गतिर्गतिमतां काल: कलयतामहम् ।
गुणानां चाप्यहं साम्यं गुणिन्यौत्पत्तिको गुण: ॥ १० ॥

Text

ahaṁ gatir gatimatāṁ
kālaḥ kalayatām aham
gunāṇāṁ cāpy ahaṁ sāmyaṁ
guṇiny autpattiko guṇaḥ

Synonyms

aham — I am; gatiḥ — the ultimate goal; gati-matām — of those who seek progress; kālaḥ — time; kalayatām — of those who exert control; aham — I am; gunāṇām — of the modes of material nature; ca — also; api — even; aham — I am; sāmyam — material equilibrium; guṇini — in the pious; autpattikaḥ — natural; guṇaḥ — virtue.

Translation

I am the ultimate goal of all those seeking progress, and I am time among those who exert control. I am the equilibrium of the modes of material nature, and I am natural virtue among the pious.

Devanagari

गुणिनामप्यहं सूत्रं महतां च महानहम् ।
सूक्ष्माणामप्यहं जीवो दुर्जयानामहं मन: ॥ ११ ॥

Text

guṇinām apy ahaṁ sūtraṁ
mahatāṁ ca mahān aham
sūkṣmāṇām apy ahaṁ jīvo
durjayānām ahaṁ manaḥ

Synonyms

guṇinām — among things possessing qualities; api — indeed; aham — I am; sūtram — the primary sūtra-tattva; mahatām — among great things; ca — also; mahān — the total material manifestation; aham — I am; sūkṣmāṇām — among subtle things; api — indeed; aham — I am; jīvaḥ — the spirit soul; durjayānām — among things difficult to conquer; aham — I am; manaḥ — the mind.

Translation

Among things possessing qualities I am the primary manifestation of nature, and among great things I am the total material creation. Among subtle things I am the spirit soul, and of things that are difficult to conquer I am the mind.

Devanagari

हिरण्यगर्भो वेदानां मन्त्राणां प्रणवस्‍त्रिवृत् ।
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि पदानिच्छन्दसामहम् ॥ १२ ॥

Text

hiraṇyagarbho vedānāṁ
mantrāṇāṁ praṇavas tri-vṛt
akṣarāṇām a-kāro ’smi
padāni cchandasām aham

Synonyms

hiraṇya-garbhaḥ — Lord Brahmā; vedānām — of the Vedas; mantrāṇām — of mantras; praṇavaḥ — the oṁkāra; tri-vṛt — consisting of three letters; akṣarāṇām — of letters; a-kāraḥ — the first letter, a; asmi — I am; padāni — the three-line Gāyatrī mantra; chandasām — among sacred meters; aham — I am.

Translation

Among the Vedas I am their original teacher, Lord Brahmā, and of all mantras I am the three-lettered oṁkāra. Among letters I am the first letter, “a,” and among sacred meters I am the Gāyatrī mantra.

Devanagari

इन्द्रोऽहं सर्वदेवानां वसूनामस्मि हव्यवाट् ।
आदित्यानामहं विष्णू रुद्राणां नीललोहित: ॥ १३ ॥

Text

indro ’haṁ sarva-devānāṁ
vasūnām asmi havya-vāṭ
ādityānām ahaṁ viṣṇū
rudrāṇāṁ nīla-lohitaḥ

Synonyms

indraḥ — Lord Indra; aham — I am; sarva-devānām — among the demigods; vasūnām — among the Vasus; asmi — I am; havya-vāṭ — the carrier of oblations, the fire-god Agni; ādityānām — among the sons of Aditi; aham — I am; viṣṇuḥ — Viṣṇu; rudrāṇām — among the Rudras; nīla-lohitaḥ — Lord Śiva.

Translation

Among the demigods I am Indra, and among the Vasus I am Agni, the god of fire. I am Viṣṇu among the sons of Aditi, and among the Rudras I am Lord Śiva.

Purport

Lord Viṣṇu appeared among the sons of Aditi as Vāmanadeva.

Devanagari

ब्रह्मर्षीणां भृगुरहं राजर्षीणामहं मनु: ।
देवर्षीणां नारदोऽहं हविर्धान्यस्मि धेनुषु ॥ १४ ॥

Text

brahmarṣīṇāṁ bhṛgur ahaṁ
rājarṣīṇām ahaṁ manuḥ
devarṣīṇāṁ nārado ’haṁ
havirdhāny asmi dhenuṣu

Synonyms

brahma-ṛṣīṇām — among the saintly brāhmaṇas; bhṛguḥ — Bhṛgu Muni; aham — I am; rāja-ṛṣīṇām — among the saintly kings; aham — I am; manuḥ — Manu; deva-ṛṣīṇām — among the saintly demigods; nāradaḥ — Nārada Muni; aham — I am; havirdhānī — Kāmadhenu; asmi — I am; dhenuṣu — among cows.

Translation

Among saintly brāhmaṇas I am Bhṛgu Muni, and I am Manu among saintly kings. I am Nārada Muni among saintly demigods, and I am Kāmadhenu among cows.

Devanagari

सिद्धेश्वराणां कपिल: सुपर्णोऽहं पतत्रिणाम् ।
प्रजापतीनां दक्षोऽहं पितृणामहमर्यमा ॥ १५ ॥

Text

siddheśvarāṇāṁ kapilaḥ
suparṇo ’haṁ patatriṇām
prajāpatīnāṁ dakṣo ’haṁ
pitṝṇām aham aryamā

Synonyms

siddha-īśvarāṇām — among perfected beings; kapilaḥ — I am Lord Kapila; suparṇaḥ — Garuḍa; aham — I am; patatriṇām — among birds; prajāpatīnām — among the progenitors of mankind; dakṣaḥ — Dakṣa; aham — I am; pitṝṇām — among the forefathers; aham — I am; aryamā — Aryamā.

Translation

I am Lord Kapila among perfected beings and Garuḍa among birds. I am Dakṣa among the progenitors of mankind, and I am Aryamā among the forefathers.

Devanagari

मां विद्ध्युद्धव दैत्यानां प्रह्लादमसुरेश्वरम् ।
सोमं नक्षत्रौषधीनां धनेशं यक्षरक्षसाम् ॥ १६ ॥

Text

māṁ viddhy uddhava daityānāṁ
prahlādam asureśvaram
somaṁ nakṣatrauṣadhīnāṁ
dhaneśaṁ yakṣa-rakṣasām

Synonyms

mām — Me; viddhi — you should know; uddhava — My dear Uddhava; daityānām — among the sons of Diti, the demons; prahlādam — Prahlāda Mahārāja; asura-īśvaram — the lord of the asuras; somam — the moon; nakṣatra-oṣadhīnām — among the stars and herbs; dhana-īśam — the lord of wealth, Kuvera; yakṣa-rakṣasām — among the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas.

Translation

My dear Uddhava, among the demoniac sons of Diti know Me to be Prahlāda Mahārāja, the saintly lord of the asuras. Among the stars and herbs I am their lord, Candra (the moon), and among Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the lord of wealth, Kuvera.

Devanagari

ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां यादसां वरुणं प्रभुम् ।
तपतां द्युमतां सूर्यं मनुष्याणां च भूपतिम् ॥ १७ ॥

Text

airāvataṁ gajendrāṇāṁ
yādasāṁ varuṇaṁ prabhum
tapatāṁ dyumatāṁ sūryaṁ
manuṣyāṇāṁ ca bhū-patim

Synonyms

airāvatam — the elephant Airāvata; gaja-indrāṇām — among lordly elephants; yādasām — among aquatics; varuṇam — Varuṇa; prabhum — the lord of seas; tapatām — among things that heat; dyu-matām — among things that illuminate; sūryam — I am the sun; manuṣyāṇām — among human beings; ca — also; bhū-patim — the king.

Translation

I am Airāvata among lordly elephants, and among aquatics I am Varuṇa, the lord of the seas. Among all things that heat and illuminate I am the sun, and among human beings I am the king.

Purport

It is significant to know that Lord Kṛṣṇa is represented within this universe by the lord or supreme in all categories. No one can be as aristocratic and perfect as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, nor can anyone estimate the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa is without doubt the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devanagari

उच्चै:श्रवास्तुरङ्गाणां धातूनामस्मि काञ्चनम् ।
यम: संयमतां चाहम् सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकि: ॥ १८ ॥

Text

uccaiḥśravās turaṅgāṇāṁ
dhātūnām asmi kāñcanam
yamaḥ saṁyamatāṁ cāham
sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ

Synonyms

uccaiḥśravāḥ — the horse Uccaiḥśravā; turaṅgāṇām — among horses; dhātūnām — among metals; asmi — I am; kāñcanam — gold; yamaḥ — Yamarāja; saṁyamatām — among those who punish and suppress; ca — also; aham — I; sarpāṇām — among serpents; asmi — am; vāsukiḥ — Vāsuki.

Translation

Among horses I am Uccaiḥśravā, and I am gold among metals. I am Yamarāja among those who suppress and punish, and among serpents I am Vāsuki.

Devanagari

नागेन्द्राणामनन्तोऽहं मृगेन्द्र: श‍ृङ्गिदंष्ट्रिणाम् ।
आश्रमाणामहं तुर्यो वर्णानां प्रथमोऽनघ ॥ १९ ॥

Text

nāgendrāṇām ananto ’haṁ
mṛgendraḥ śṛṅgi-daṁṣṭriṇām
āśramāṇām ahaṁ turyo
varṇānāṁ prathamo ’nagha

Synonyms

nāga-indrāṇām — among the best of many-hooded snakes; anantaḥ — Anantadeva; aham — I am; mṛga-indraḥ — the lion; śṛṅgi-daṁṣṭriṇām — among animals with sharp horns or teeth; āśramāṇām — among the four social orders of life; aham — I am; turyaḥ — the fourth, sannyāsa; varṇānām — among the four occupational orders; prathamaḥ — the first, the brāhmaṇas; anagha — O sinless one.

Translation

O sinless Uddhava, among the best of snakes I am Anantadeva, and among those animals with sharp horns or teeth I am the lion. Among the social orders I am the fourth, or the renounced order of life, and among the occupational divisions I am the first, the brāhmaṇas.

Devanagari

तीर्थानां स्रोतसां गङ्गा समुद्र: सरसामहम् ।
आयुधानां धनुरहं त्रिपुरघ्नो धनुष्मताम् ॥ २० ॥

Text

tīrthānāṁ srotasāṁ gaṅgā
samudraḥ sarasām aham
āyudhānāṁ dhanur ahaṁ
tripura-ghno dhanuṣmatām

Synonyms

tirthānām — among holy places; srotasām — among flowing things; gaṅgā — the sacred Ganges; samudraḥ — the ocean; sarasām — among steady bodies of water; aham — I am; āyudhānām — among weapons; dhanuḥ — the bow; aham — I am; tri-pura-ghnaḥ — Lord Śiva; dhanuḥ-matām — among those who wield the bow.

Translation

Among sacred and flowing things I am the holy Ganges, and among steady bodies of water I am the ocean. Among weapons I am the bow, and of the wielders of weapons I am Lord Śiva.

Purport

Lord Śiva used his bow to completely cover with arrows the three demoniac cities built by Maya Dānava.

Devanagari

धिष्ण्यानामस्म्यहं मेरुर्गहनानां हिमालय: ।
वनस्पतीनामश्वत्थ ओषधीनामहं यव: ॥ २१ ॥

Text

dhiṣṇyānām asmy ahaṁ merur
gahanānāṁ himālayaḥ
vanaspatīnām aśvattha
oṣadhīnām ahaṁ yavaḥ

Synonyms

dhiṣṇyānām — residences; asmi — am; aham — I; meruḥ — Mount Sumeru; gahanānām — of impervious places; himālayaḥ — the Himālayas; vanaspatīnām — among trees; aśvatthaḥ — banyan tree; oṣadhīnām — among plants; aham — I; yavaḥ — barley.

Translation

Among residences I am Mount Sumeru, and of impervious places I am the Himālayas. Among trees I am the holy fig tree, and among plants I am those that bear grains.

Purport

Oṣadhīnām here indicates those plants that fructify once and then die. Among them, those that give grains, which sustain human life, represent Kṛṣṇa. Without grains it is not possible to produce milk products, nor can one properly perform Vedic fire sacrifices without offerings of grains.

Devanagari

पुरोधसां वसिष्ठोऽहं ब्रह्मिष्ठानां बृहस्पति: ।
स्कन्दोऽहं सर्वसेनान्यामग्रण्यां भगवानज: ॥ २२ ॥

Text

purodhasāṁ vasiṣṭho ’haṁ
brahmiṣṭhānāṁ bṛhaspatiḥ
skando ’haṁ sarva-senānyām
agraṇyāṁ bhagavān ajaḥ

Synonyms

purodhasām — among priests; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha Muni; aham — I am; brahmiṣṭhānām — among those fixed in the Vedic conclusion and purpose; bṛhaspatiḥ — Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods; skandaḥ — Kārtikeya; aham — I am; sarva-senānyām — among all military leaders; agraṇyām — among those advancing in pious life; bhagavān — the great personality; ajaḥ — Lord Brahmā.

Translation

Among priests I am Vasiṣṭha Muni, and among those highly situated in Vedic culture I am Bṛhaspati. I am Kārtikeya among great military leaders, and among those advancing in superior ways of life I am the great personality Lord Brahmā.

Devanagari

यज्ञानां ब्रह्मयज्ञोऽहं व्रतानामविहिंसनम् ।
वाय्वग्‍न्यर्काम्बुवागात्मा शुचीनामप्यहं शुचि: ॥ २३ ॥

Text

yajñānāṁ brahma-yajño ’haṁ
vratānām avihiṁsanam
vāyv-agny-arkāmbu-vāg-ātmā
śucīnām apy ahaṁ śuciḥ

Synonyms

yajñānām — of sacrifices; brahma-yajñaḥ — study of the Veda; aham — I am; vratānām — of vows; avihiṁsanam — nonviolence; vāyu — wind; agni — fire; arka — the sun; ambu — water; vāk — and speech; ātmā — personified; śucīnām — of all purifiers; api — indeed; aham — I am; śuciḥ — pure.

Translation

Among sacrifices I am study of the Veda, and I am nonviolence among vows. Among all things that purify I am the wind, fire, the sun, water and speech.

Devanagari

योगानामात्मसंरोधो मन्त्रोऽस्मि विजिगीषताम् ।
आन्वीक्षिकी कौशलानां विकल्प: ख्यातिवादिनाम् ॥ २४ ॥

Text

yogānām ātma-saṁrodho
mantro ’smi vijigīṣatām
ānvīkṣikī kauśalānāṁ
vikalpaḥ khyāti-vādinām

Synonyms

yogānām — among the eight stages of yoga practice (aṣṭāṅga); ātma-saṁrodhaḥ — the ultimate stage, samādhi, in which the soul is completely separated from illusion; mantraḥ — prudent political counsel; asmi — I am; vijigīṣatām — among those desiring victory; ānvīkṣikī — spiritual science, by which one can distinguish between matter and spirit; kauśalānām — among all processes of expert discrimination; vikalpaḥ — diversity of perception; khyāti-vādinām — among the speculative philosophers.

Translation

Among the eight progressive states of yoga I am the final stage, samādhi, in which the soul is completely separated from illusion. Among those desiring victory I am prudent political counsel, and among processes of expert discrimination I am the science of the soul, by which one distinguishes spirit from matter. Among all speculative philosophers I am diversity of perception.

Purport

Any science is based on the faculty of expert discrimination. By skillful definition of isolated and interactive components one becomes expert in any field. Ultimately the most intelligent person can isolate the spirit soul from matter and describe the properties of matter and spirit as both isolated and interactive components of reality. The proliferation of innumerable philosophical speculations is due to differing modes of perception within the material world. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone’s heart and awards a particular degree of knowledge or ignorance according to one’s desire and merit. Thus the Lord Himself is the basis of the mundane process of philosophical speculation, for He creates differing and alternating modes of perception within the conditioned souls. It is to be understood that one can acquire perfect knowledge only by hearing directly from Lord Kṛṣṇa and not by hearing from conditioned philosophers who imperfectly perceive the creation of the Lord through the screen of their personal desires.

Devanagari

स्‍त्रीणां तु शतरूपाहं पुंसां स्वायम्भुवो मनु: ।
नारायणो मुनीनां च कुमारो ब्रह्मचारिणाम् ॥ २५ ॥

Text

strīṇāṁ tu śatarūpāhaṁ
puṁsāṁ svāyambhuvo manuḥ
nārāyaṇo munīnāṁ ca
kumāro brahmacāriṇām

Synonyms

strīṇām — among ladies; tu — indeed; śatarūpā — Śatarūpā; aham — I am; puṁsām — among male personalities; svāyambhuvaḥ manuḥ — the great prajāpati Svāyambhuva Manu; nārāyaṇaḥ — the sage Nārāyaṇa; munīnām — among saintly sages; ca — also; kumāraḥ — Sanat-kumāra; brahmacāriṇām — among brahmacārīs.

Translation

Among ladies I am Śatarūpā, and among male personalities I am her husband, Svāyambhuva Manu. I am Nārāyaṇa among the sages and Sanat-kumāra among brahmacārīs.

Devanagari

धर्माणामस्मि संन्यास: क्षेमाणामबहिर्मति: ।
गुह्यानां सुनृतं मौनं मिथुनानामजस्त्वहम् ॥ २६ ॥

Text

dharmāṇām asmi sannyāsaḥ
kṣemāṇām abahir-matiḥ
guhyānāṁ su-nṛtaṁ maunaṁ
mithunānām ajas tv aham

Synonyms

dharmāṇām — among religious principles; asmi — I am; sannyāsaḥ — renunciation; kṣemāṇām — among all types of security; abahiḥ-matiḥ — awareness within (of the eternal soul); guhyānām — of secrets; sunṛtam — pleasant speech; maunam — silence; mithunānām — of sexual pairs; ajaḥ — Brahmā, the original prajāpati; tu — indeed; aham — I am.

Translation

Among religious principles I am renunciation, and of all types of security I am consciousness of the eternal soul within. Of secrets I am pleasant speech and silence, and among sexual pairs I am Brahmā.

Purport

One who realizes the eternal soul within no longer fears any material situation and thus is qualified to accept the renounced order of life, sannyāsa. Certainly fear is one of the great miseries of material life; therefore the gift of fearlessness is very valuable and represents Lord Kṛṣṇa. Both in ordinary pleasant speech and silence, very few confidential things are revealed, and thus diplomacy and silence are both aids to secrecy. Lord Brahmā is prominent among sexual pairs because the original beautiful couple, Svāyambhuva Manu and Śatarūpā, emerged from Lord Brahmā’s body, as explained in Chapter Twelve of the Third Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Devanagari

संवत्सरोऽस्म्यनिमिषामृतूनां मधुमाधवौ ।
मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहं नक्षत्राणां तथाभिजित् ॥ २७ ॥

Text

saṁvatsaro ’smy animiṣām
ṛtūnāṁ madhu-mādhavau
māsānāṁ mārgaśīrṣo ’haṁ
nakṣatrāṇāṁ tathābhijit

Synonyms

saṁvatsaraḥ — the year; asmi — I am; animiṣām — among the vigilant cycles of time; ṛtūnām — among seasons; madhu-mādhavau — spring; māsānām — among months; mārgaśīrṣaḥ — Mārgaśīrṣa (November-December); aham — I am; nakṣatrāṇām — among asterisms; tathā — similarly; abhijit — Abhijit.

Translation

Among the vigilant cycles of time I am the year, and among seasons I am spring. Among months I am Mārgaśīrṣa, and among lunar houses I am the auspicious Abhijit.

Devanagari

अहं युगानां च कृतं धीराणां देवलोऽसित: ।
द्वैपायनोऽस्मि व्यासानां कवीनां काव्य आत्मवान् ॥ २८ ॥

Text

ahaṁ yugānāṁ ca kṛtaṁ
dhīrāṇāṁ devalo ’sitaḥ
dvaipāyano ’smi vyāsānāṁ
kavīnāṁ kāvya ātmavān

Synonyms

aham — I am; yugānām — among ages; ca — also; kṛtam — Satya-yuga; dhīrāṇām — among steady sages; devalaḥ — Devala; asitaḥ — Asita; dvaipāyanaḥ — Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana; asmi — I am; vyāsānām — among the editors of the Vedas; kavīnām — among learned scholars; kāvyaḥ — Śukrācārya; ātma-vān — learned in spiritual science.

Translation

Among ages I am the Satya-yuga, the age of truth, and among steady sages I am Devala and Asita. Among those who have divided the Vedas I am Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa, and among learned scholars I am Śukrācārya, the knower of spiritual science.

Devanagari

वासुदेवो भगवतां त्वं तु भागवतेष्वहम् ।
किम्पुरुषाणां हनुमान् विद्याध्राणां सुदर्शन: ॥ २९ ॥

Text

vāsudevo bhagavatāṁ
tvaṁ tu bhāgavateṣv aham
kimpuruṣānāṁ hanumān
vidyādhrāṇāṁ sudarśanaḥ

Synonyms

vāsudevaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhagavatām — of those entitled to the name Bhagavān; tvam — you; tu — indeed; bhāgavateṣu — among My devotees; aham — I am; kimpuruṣāṇām — among the Kimpuruṣas; hanumān — Hanumān; vidyādhrāṇām — among the Vidyādharas; sudarśanaḥ — Sudarśana.

Translation

Among those entitled to the name Bhagavān I am Vāsudeva, and indeed, you, Uddhava, represent Me among the devotees. I am Hanumān among the Kimpuruṣas, and among the Vidyādharas I am Sudarśana.

Purport

The Vedic literatures state that one who possesses perfect knowledge of the creation and destruction of all entities and who is completely situated in omniscience is to be known as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. Although many great personalities are sometimes called Bhagavān, ultimately Bhagavān is the one supreme entity who possesses unlimited opulences. Throughout history, many important personalities have been addressed as “lord,” but ultimately there is only one Supreme Lord. In the Lord’s catur-vyūha, or quadruple expansion, the first manifestation is Vāsudeva, who here represents all of the Lord’s expansions in the viṣṇu-tattva category.

Devanagari

रत्नानां पद्मरागोऽस्मि पद्मकोश: सुपेशसाम् ।
कुशोऽस्मि दर्भजातीनां गव्यमाज्यं हवि:ष्वहम् ॥ ३० ॥

Text

ratnānāṁ padma-rāgo ’smi
padma-kośaḥ su-peśasām
kuśo ’smi darbha-jātīnāṁ
gavyam ājyaṁ haviḥṣv aham

Synonyms

ratnānām — of jewels; padma-rāgaḥ — the ruby; asmi — I am; padma-kośaḥ — the lotus cup; su-peśasām — among beautiful things; kuśaḥ — the sacred kuśa grass; asmi — I am; darbha-jātīnām — among all types of grass; gavyam — cow products; ājyam — offering of ghee; haviḥṣu — among oblations; aham — I am.

Translation

Among jewels I am the ruby, and among beautiful things I am the lotus cup. Among all types of grass I am the sacred kuśa, and of oblations I am ghee and other ingredients obtained from the cow.

Purport

Pañca-gavya refers to five sacrificial ingredients obtained from the cow, namely milk, ghee, yogurt, dung and urine. The cow is so valuable that even its dung and urine are antiseptic and fit for sacrificial offering. Kuśa grass is also used for religious occasions. Mahārāja Parīkṣit constructed a sitting place from kuśa grass during the last week of his life. Among beautiful things the lotus cup formed by lotus petals represents Lord Kṛṣṇa, and among jewels the ruby, which is similar to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s own Kaustubha gem, symbolizes the potency of the Lord.

Devanagari

व्यवसायिनामहं लक्ष्मी: कितवानां छलग्रह: ।
तितिक्षास्मि तितिक्षूणां सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

vyavasāyinām ahaṁ lakṣmīḥ
kitavānāṁ chala-grahaḥ
titikṣāsmi titikṣūṇāṁ
sattvaṁ sattvavatām aham

Synonyms

vyavasāyinām — of the enterprising; aham — I am; lakṣmīḥ — fortune; kitavānām — of cheaters; chala-grahaḥ — the gambling; titikṣā — the forgiveness; asmi — I am; titikṣūṇām — among the tolerant; sattvam — the goodness; sattva-vatām — among those in the mode of goodness; aham — I am.

Translation

Among the enterprising I am fortune, and among the cheaters I am gambling. I am the forgiveness of the tolerant and the good qualities of those in the mode of goodness.

Devanagari

ओज: सहो बलवतां कर्माहं विद्धि सात्वताम् ।
सात्वतां नवमूर्तीनामादिमूर्तिरहं परा ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

ojaḥ saho balavatāṁ
karmāhaṁ viddhi sātvatām
sātvatāṁ nava-mūrtīnām
ādi-mūrtir ahaṁ parā

Synonyms

ojaḥ — the sensory strength; sahaḥ — and mental strength; balavatām — of the strong; karma — the devotional activities; aham — I am; viddhi — please know; sātvatām — among the devotees; sātvatām — among those devotees; nava-mūrtīnām — who worship Me in nine forms; ādi-mūrtiḥ — the original form, Vāsudeva; aham — I am; parā — the Supreme.

Translation

Of the powerful I am bodily and mental strength, and I am the devotional activities of My devotees. My devotees worship Me in nine different forms, among which I am the original and primary Vāsudeva.

Purport

Generally, the Vaiṣṇavas worship the Personality of Godhead as Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Nārāyaṇa, Hayagrīva, Varāha, Nṛsiṁha and Brahmā. It is understood that when a suitable living entity is not available to fill the post of Brahmā, the Lord Himself assumes the position; therefore Lord Brahmā is mentioned in the list. Lord Viṣṇu sometimes appears as Indra and sometimes as Brahmā, and it is Viṣṇu appearing as Brahmā who is indicated in this connection.

Devanagari

विश्वावसु: पूर्वचित्तिर्गन्धर्वाप्सरसामहम् ।
भूधराणामहं स्थैर्यं गन्धमात्रमहं भुव: ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

viśvāvasuḥ pūrvacittir
gandharvāpsarasām aham
bhūdharāṇām ahaṁ sthairyaṁ
gandha-mātram ahaṁ bhuvaḥ

Synonyms

viśvāvasuḥ — Viśvāvasu; pūrvacittiḥ — Pūrvacitti; gandharva-apsarasām — among the Gandharvas and Apsarās; aham — I am; bhūdharāṇām — of the mountains; aham — I am; sthairyam — the steadiness; gandha-mātram — the perception of aroma; aham — I am; bhuvaḥ — of the earth.

Translation

Among the Gandharvas I am Viśvāvasu, and I am Pūrvacitti among the heavenly Apsaras. I am the steadiness of mountains and the fragrant aroma of the earth.

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.9) Lord Kṛṣṇa says, puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛthivyāṁ ca: “I am the fragrance of the earth.” The original fragrance of the earth is very pleasing and represents Lord Kṛṣṇa. Although unpleasant aromas may be artificially produced, they do not represent the Lord.

Devanagari

अपां रसश्च परमस्तेजिष्ठानां विभावसु: ।
प्रभा सूर्येन्दुताराणां शब्दोऽहं नभस: पर: ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

apāṁ rasaś ca paramas
tejiṣṭhānāṁ vibhāvasuḥ
prabhā sūryendu-tārāṇāṁ
śabdo ’haṁ nabhasaḥ paraḥ

Synonyms

apām — of water; rasaḥ — the taste; ca — also; paramaḥ — excellent; tejiṣṭhānām — among most brilliant things; vibhāvasuḥ — the sun; prabhā — the effulgence; sūrya — of the sun; indu — the moon; tārāṇām — and the stars; śabdaḥ — the sound vibration; aham — I am; nabhasaḥ — of the sky; paraḥ — transcendental.

Translation

I am the sweet taste of water, and among brilliant things I am the sun. I am the effulgence of the sun, moon and stars, and I am the transcendental sound that vibrates in the sky.

Devanagari

ब्रह्मण्यानां बलिरहं वीराणामहमर्जुन: ।
भूतानां स्थितिरुत्पत्तिरहं वै प्रतिसङ्क्रम: ॥ ३५ ॥

Text

brahmaṇyānāṁ balir ahaṁ
vīrāṇām aham arjunaḥ
bhūtānāṁ sthitir utpattir
ahaṁ vai pratisaṅkramaḥ

Synonyms

brahmaṇyānām — of those dedicated to brahminical culture; baliḥ — Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana; aham — I am; vīrāṇām — of heroes; aham — I am; arjunaḥ — Arjuna; bhūtānām — of all living beings; sthitiḥ — the maintenance; utpattiḥ — the creation; aham — I am; vai — indeed; pratisaṅkramaḥ — the annihilation.

Translation

Among those dedicated to brahminical culture I am Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, and I am Arjuna among heroes. Indeed, I am the creation, maintenance and annihilation of all living entities.

Devanagari

गत्युक्त्युत्सर्गोपादानमानन्दस्पर्शलक्षणम् ।
आस्वादश्रुत्यवघ्राणमहं सर्वेन्द्रियेन्द्रियम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Text

gaty-ukty-utsargopādānam
ānanda-sparśa-lakṣanam
āsvāda-śruty-avaghrāṇam
ahaṁ sarvendriyendriyam

Synonyms

gati — movement of the legs (walking, running, etc.); ukti — speech; utsarga — evacuation; upādānam — accepting with the hands; ānanda — the material pleasure of the sex organs; sparśa — touch; lakṣaṇam — sight; āsvāda — taste; śruti — hearing; avaghrāṇam — smell; aham — I am; sarva-indriya — of all the senses; indriyam — the potency to experience their objects.

Translation

I am the functions of the five working senses — the legs, speech, anus, hands and sex organs — as well as those of the five knowledge-acquiring senses — touch, sight, taste, hearing and smell. I am also the potency by which each of the senses experiences its particular sense object.

Devanagari

पृथिवी वायुराकाश आपो ज्योतिरहं महान् ।
विकार: पुरुषोऽव्यक्तं रज: सत्त्वं तम: परम् ।
अहमेतत्प्रसङ्ख्यानं ज्ञानं तत्त्वविनिश्चय: ॥ ३७ ॥

Text

pṛthivī vāyur ākāśa
āpo jyotir ahaṁ mahān
vikāraḥ puruṣo ’vyaktaṁ
rajaḥ sattvaṁ tamaḥ param
aham etat prasaṅkhyānaṁ
jñānaṁ tattva-viniścayaḥ

Synonyms

pṛthivī — the subtle form of earth, aroma; vāyuḥ — the subtle form of air, touch; ākāśaḥ — the subtle form of sky, sound; āpaḥ — the subtle form of water, taste; jyotiḥ — the subtle form of fire, form; aham — false ego; mahān — the mahat-tattva; vikāraḥ — the sixteen elements (earth, water, fire, air and sky, the five working senses, the five knowledge-acquiring senses and the mind); puruṣaḥ — the living entity; avyaktam — material nature, prakṛti; rajaḥ — the mode of passion; sattvam — the mode of goodness; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; param — the Supreme Lord; aham — I am; etat — this; prasaṅkhyānam — all that has been enumerated; jñānam — knowledge of the above-mentioned elements by individual symptoms; tattva-viniścayaḥ — steady conviction, which is the fruit of knowledge.

Translation

I am form, taste, aroma, touch and sound; false ego; the mahat-tattva; earth, water, fire, air and sky; the living entity; material nature; the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance; and the transcendental Lord. All these items, along with knowledge of their individual symptoms and the steady conviction that results from this knowledge, represent Me.

Purport

Having given a brief but detailed synopsis of His personal opulences within this world, the Lord now briefly summarizes the opulences that expand from His bodily effulgence. It is stated in Brahma-saṁhitā that all of the material universes with their infinite varieties, transformations and opulences rest on the bodily effulgence of the Lord. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has elaborately explained this point in his commentary on this verse.

Devanagari

मयेश्वरेण जीवेन गुणेन गुणिना विना ।
सर्वात्मनापि सर्वेण न भावो विद्यते क्व‍‍चित् ॥ ३८ ॥

Text

mayeśvareṇa jīvena
guṇena guṇinā vinā
sarvātmanāpi sarveṇa
na bhāvo vidyate kvacit

Synonyms

mayā — Me; īśvareṇa — the Supreme Lord; jīvena — the living entity; guṇena — the modes of nature; guṇinā — the mahat-tattva; vinā — without; sarva-ātmanā — the soul of all that exists; api — indeed; sarveṇa — everything; na — not; bhāvaḥ — existence; vidyate — there is; kvacit — whatsoever.

Translation

As the Supreme Lord I am the basis of the living entity, of the modes of nature and of the mahat-tattva. Thus I am everything, and nothing whatsoever can exist without Me.

Purport

Without the manifestation of the mahat-tattva, or total material existence, and the jīva, or living entity, nothing can exist within the material world. Everything we experience is a combination of the living entity and matter, in its various subtle and gross categories. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the entire basis of the existence of both the living entity and matter. Nothing can possibly exist even for a moment without the mercy of the Supreme Lord. One should not foolishly conclude that the Lord is therefore material. As has been clearly explained in this canto of the Bhāgavatam, both the living entity and the Supreme Lord are completely transcendental to material nature. The living entity, however, has the propensity to dream that he is material, whereas the Lord constantly remembers the transcendental position of both Himself and the conditioned dreaming entity. As the Lord is transcendental, His abode is also far beyond the reach of the modes of nature. The actual purpose of life is to understand by mature conviction the transcendental Lord, His transcendental abode, our own transcendental position and the process by which we may go back home, back to Godhead.

Devanagari

सङ्ख्यानं परमाणूनां कालेन क्रियते मया ।
न तथा मे विभूतीनां सृजतोऽण्डानि कोटिश: ॥ ३९ ॥

Text

saṅkhyānaṁ paramāṇūnāṁ
kālena kriyate mayā
na tathā me vibhūtīnāṁ
sṛjato ’ṇḍāni koṭiśaḥ

Synonyms

saṅkhyānam — counting; parama-aṇūnām — of the atoms; kālena — after some time; kriyate — is done; mayā — by Me; na — not; tathā — in the same way; me — of Me; vibhūtīnām — of the opulences; sṛjataḥ — who am creating; aṇḍāni — universes; koṭiśaḥ — by the innumerable millions.

Translation

Even though over a period of time I might count all the atoms of the universe, I could not count all of My opulences which I manifest within innumerable universes.

Purport

The Lord here explains that Uddhava should not expect a complete catalog of the Lord’s opulences, since even the Lord Himself finds no limit to such opulences. According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, kālena indicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is within every atom and can therefore easily calculate the total number of atoms. However, although the Lord is certainly omniscient, even He Himself cannot supply a finite number for His opulences, because they are infinite.

Devanagari

तेज: श्री: कीर्तिरैश्वर्यं ह्रीस्त्याग: सौभगं भग: ।
वीर्यं तितिक्षा विज्ञानं यत्र यत्र स मेंऽशक: ॥ ४० ॥

Text

tejaḥ śrīḥ kīrtir aiśvaryaṁ
hrīs tyāgaḥ saubhagaṁ bhagaḥ
vīryaṁ titikṣā vijñānaṁ
yatra yatra sa me ’ṁśakaḥ

Synonyms

tejaḥ — power; śrīḥ — beautiful, valuable things; kīrtiḥ — fame; aiśvaryam — opulence; hrīḥ — humility; tyāgaḥ — renunciation; saubhagam — that which pleases the mind and senses; bhagaḥ — good fortune; vīryam — strength; titikṣā — tolerance; vijñānam — spiritual knowledge; yatra yatra — wherever; saḥ — this; me — My; aṁśakaḥ — expansion.

Translation

Whatever power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, renunciation, mental pleasure, fortune, strength, tolerance or spiritual knowledge there may be is simply an expansion of My opulence.

Purport

Although the Lord stated in the previous verse that His opulences are innumerable, the Lord here gives a specific resume and demonstration of His opulences.

Devanagari

एतास्ते कीर्तिता: सर्वा: सङ्‍क्षेपेण विभूतय: ।
मनोविकारा एवैते यथा वाचाभिधीयते ॥ ४१ ॥

Text

etās te kīrtitāḥ sarvāḥ
saṅkṣepeṇa vibhūtayaḥ
mano-vikārā evaite
yathā vācābhidhīyate

Synonyms

etāḥ — these; te — to you; kīrtitāḥ — described; sarvāḥ — all; saṅkṣepeṇa — briefly; vibhūtayaḥ — spiritual opulences; manaḥ — of the mind; vikārāḥ — transformations; eva — indeed; ete — these; yathā — accordingly; vācā — by words; abhidhīyate — each is described.

Translation

I have briefly described to you all My spiritual opulences and also the extraordinary material features of My creation, which are perceived by the mind and defined in different ways according to circumstances.

Purport

According to Sanskrit grammar, and as confirmed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the words etāḥ and ete describe two distinct sets of the Lord’s opulences. The Lord has described His opulent plenary expansions, such as Vāsudeva, Nārāyaṇa, the Supersoul, etc., and further the Lord has described the outstanding features of the material creation, which are also included among the glories of the Personality of Godhead. The plenary manifestations of the Lord, such as Vāsudeva, Nārāyaṇa, etc., are all eternal, unchanging transcendental features of the Lord and are indicated by the term etāḥ. The extraordinary aspects of material creation, however, are circumstantial and dependent on individual perception, and they are therefore described here by the words mano-vikārā evaite yathā vācābhidhīyate. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that by consistent logical application of synonyms, etāḥ refers to the Lord’s eternal spiritual manifestations, beyond the perception of the material senses, whereas ete refers to those opulences that can be perceived by conditioned souls. He gives the example that the paraphernalia and intimate associates of a king are all considered to be part and parcel of the king and are therefore granted royal status. Similarly, the opulent features of material creation are reflected expansions of the Lord’s personal opulences and thus may be considered nondifferent from Him. One should not, however, wrongly assume that such insignificant material opulences occupy the same status as the Lord’s plenary features as the Personality of Godhead, which are qualitatively and quantitatively equal to the Lord.

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura comments as follows on this verse. “The Lord’s external opulences are called mano-vikārāḥ, or ‘related to mental transformation,’ because ordinary people perceive extraordinary features of the material world according to their personal state of mind. Thus the word vācābhidhīyate indicates that conditioned souls describe the Lord’s material creation according to specific material circumstances. Because of the circumstantial relative definitions of material opulence, such opulence is never to be considered a direct plenary manifestation of the Lord’s personal form. When one’s state of mind is transformed into a favorable or affectionate state, one defines a manifestation of the Lord’s energy as ‘my son,’ ‘my father,’ ‘my husband,’ ‘my uncle,’ ‘the son of my brother,’ ‘my friend,’ and so on. One forgets that every living entity is actually part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that whatever opulences, talents or outstanding features one may exhibit are actually the potencies of the Lord. Similarly, when the mind is transformed into a negative or inimical state, one thinks, ‘This person will be the ruin of me,’ ‘This person must be finished by me,’ ‘He is my enemy’ or ‘I am his enemy,’ ‘He is a killer’ or ‘He should be killed.’ The negative state of mind is also expressed when one is attracted to the extraordinary material aspects of particular persons or objects but forgets that they are manifestations of the potency of the Personality of Godhead. Even the demigod Indra, who is quite obviously a manifestation of the Lord’s material opulences, is misunderstood by others. For example, Indra’s wife, Śacī, thinks that Indra is ‘my husband,’ whereas Aditi thinks that he is ‘my son.’ Jayanta thinks that he is ‘my father,’ Bṛhaspati thinks that he is ‘my disciple,’ whereas the demons feel that Indra is their personal enemy. Thus different personalities define him according to their mental state. The Lord’s material opulences, being relatively perceived, are therefore called mano-vikāra, which means they are dependent on mental states. This relative perception is material because it does not recognize the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the actual source of the particular opulence. If one sees Lord Kṛṣṇa as the source of all opulences and gives up all desires to enjoy or possess the Lord’s opulences, then one can see the spiritual nature of these opulences. At that time, even though one may continue to perceive the variety and distinctions of the material world, one will become perfect in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One should not conclude, as do the voidist philosophers, that the Lord’s spiritual manifestations in the viṣṇu-tattva and liberated jīva categories are also products of relative perception and mental states. This useless idea is contrary to the entire body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s teachings to Śrī Uddhava.”

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the word vācā also indicates the various Vedic literatures that describe the particular processes by which the Lord manifests His spiritual and material opulences, and in this context yathā indicates the specific procedures of manifestation and creation.

Devanagari

वाचं यच्छ मनो यच्छ प्राणान् यच्छेन्द्रियाणि च ।
आत्मानमात्मना यच्छ न भूय: कल्पसेऽध्वने ॥ ४२ ॥

Text

vācaṁ yaccha mano yaccha
prāṇān yacchedriyāṇi ca
ātmānam ātmanā yaccha
na bhūyaḥ kalpase ’dhvane

Synonyms

vācam — speech; yaccha — control; manaḥ — the mind; yaccha — control; prāṇān — your breathing; yaccha — control; indriyāṇi — the senses; ca — also; ātmānam — the intelligence; ātmanā — by purified intelligence; yaccha — control; na — never; bhūyaḥ — again; kalpase — you will fall; adhvane — on the path of material existence.

Translation

Therefore, control your speaking, subdue the mind, conquer the life air, regulate the senses and through purified intelligence bring your rational faculties under control. In this way you will never again fall onto the path of material existence.

Purport

One should see all things as expansions of the Supreme Lord’s potency, and thus with speech, mind and senses one should offer respect to all things, without minimizing any living entity or material object. Since everything belongs to the Lord, everything ultimately should be engaged in the Lord’s service with great care. A self-realized devotee tolerates personal insult and does not become envious of any living entity, nor does he see anyone as his enemy. This is practical enlightenment. Although a pure devotee may criticize those who obstruct the Lord’s mission, such criticism is never personally motivated nor is it ever based on enviousness. An advanced devotee of the Lord may chastise his followers or criticize the demoniac, but only to carry out the mission of the Supreme Lord and never out of personal enmity or enviousness. For one who completely gives up the material concept of life there is no possibility of entering again onto the path of birth and death.

Devanagari

यो वै वाङ्‍मनसी सम्यगसंयच्छन् धिया यति: ।
तस्य व्रतं तपो दानं स्रवत्यामघटाम्बुवत् ॥ ४३ ॥

Text

yo vai vāṅ-manasī saṁyag
asaṁyacchan dhiyā yatiḥ
tasya vrataṁ tapo dānaṁ
sravaty āma-ghaṭāmbu-vat

Synonyms

yaḥ — one who; vai — certainly; vāk-manasī — the speech and mind; saṁyak — completely; asaṁyacchan — not controlling; dhiyā — by intelligence; yatiḥ — a transcendentalist; tasya — his; vratam — vows; tapaḥ — austerities; dānam — charity; sravati — run out; āma — unbaked; ghaṭa — in a pot; ambu-vat — like water.

Translation

A transcendentalist who does not completely control his words and mind by superior intelligence will find that his spiritual vows, austerities and charity flow away just as water flows out of an unbaked clay pot.

Purport

When a clay pot is properly baked it holds any liquid substance without leakage. If a clay pot is not properly baked, however, water or any other liquid within it will seep out and be lost. Similarly, a transcendentalist who does not control his speech and mind will find that his spiritual discipline and austerity gradually seep away and are lost. Dāna, or “charity,” refers to work performed for the welfare of others. Those who are trying to give the highest charity by preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not engage in speaking cleverly for the satisfaction of beautiful women, nor should they attempt to become artificially intellectual simply for the sake of mundane academic prestige. One should not even think of intimate sexual relationships, nor should one daydream of acquiring a prestigious position. Otherwise, one’s determination to strictly practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be lost, as described here. One must control the mind, senses and speech by higher intelligence so that one’s life will be successful.

Devanagari

तस्माद्वचोमन:प्राणान् नियच्छेन्मत्परायण: ।
मद्भ‍‍क्तियुक्तया बुद्ध्या तत: परिसमाप्यते ॥ ४४ ॥

Text

tasmād vaco manaḥ prāṇān
niyacchen mat-parāyaṇaḥ
mad-bhakti-yuktayā buddhyā
tataḥ parisamāpyate

Synonyms

tasmāt — therefore; vacaḥ — words; manaḥ — the mind; prāṇān — the life airs; niyacchet — one should control; mat-parāyaṇaḥ — who is devoted to Me; mat — unto Me; bhakti — with devotion; yuktayā — endowed; buddhyā — by such intelligence; tataḥ — thus; parisamāpyate — one fulfills the mission of life.

Translation

Being surrendered to Me, one should control the speech, mind and life air, and then through loving devotional intelligence one will completely fulfill the mission of life.

Purport

One can develop loving devotional intelligence by perfectly chanting the Brahma-gāyatrī mantra awarded at the moment of brāhmaṇa initiation. By clear intelligence, one becomes naturally and spontaneously disinterested in the rewards offered by mental speculation and fruitive activities and takes full shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Sixteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Lord’s Opulence.”