Initiations SB 1.1.1—SB 1.3.44 Recitation

[Govindam prayers playing; Prabhupāda singing along]

Prabhupāda: [sings Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava] [prema-dhvani] Thank you very much.

Devotees: All glories to Śrī Guru and Gauranga. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda! [devotees offer obeisances]

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Devotee: Shall we put Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda on the altar at this time?

Prabhupāda: Yes, after bathing.

Devotee: After bathing.

Prabhupāda: Read it from the very beginning. Read it.

Devotee (2): Start reading.

Devotee:

oṁ pūrṅam adaḥ pūrṅam idaṁ pūrṅāt pūrṅam udacyate pūrṅasya pūrṅam ādāya pūrṅam evāvaśiṣyate [Īśo Invocation]

[The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.]

"The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him…"

Prabhupāda: No, the verses, the original verse you cannot read?

Devotee: Sanskrit?

Prabhupāda: Yes, Sanskrit.

Devotee:

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre...

Prabhupāda: Original verse read. Anyone who can the original verse?

[aside:] Sit down.

You can read. You can sit down and read. Original verse.

Devotee:

oṁ pūrṅam adaḥ pūrṅam idaṁ pūrṅāt pūrṅam udacyate pūrṅasya pūrṅam ādāya...

Prabhupāda: No translation; simply original verse.

Devotee:

...pūrṅam evāvaśiṣyate [Īśo Invocation]

"The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete..."

Devotee (3):

īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ yat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagat tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

[recitation of both verses goes on simultaneously]

Prabhupāda:

[recites prayers SB 1.1.1. through SB 1.3.44]

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya janmādy asya yato 'nvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāṭ tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ tejo-vāri-mṛdāṁ yathā vinimayo yatra tri-sargo 'mṛṣā dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi [SB 1.1.1]

[O my Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṅa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.]

dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṅāṁ satāṁ vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śivadaṁ tāpa-trayonmūlanam śrīmad-bhāgavate mahā-muni-kṛte kiṁ vā parair īśvaraḥ sadyo hṛdy avarudhyate 'tra kṛtibhiḥ śuśrūṣubhis tat-kṣaṅāt [SB 1.1.2]

[Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṅa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyāsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.]

nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam ā-layaṁ muhur aho rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ [SB 1.1.3]

[O expert and thoughtful men, relish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.]

naimiṣe 'nimiṣa-kṣetre ṛṣayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ satraṁ svargāya lokāya sahasra-samam āsata [SB 1.1.4]

[Once, in a holy place in the forest of Naimiṣāraṅya, great sages headed by the sage Śaunaka assembled to perform a great thousand-year sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Lord and His devotees.]

ta ekadā tu munayaḥ prātar huta-hutāgnayaḥ sat-kṛtaṁ sūtam āsīnaṁ papracchur idam ādarāt [SB 1.1.5]

[One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī, the great sages made inquiries, with great respect, about the following matters.]

tvayā khalu purāṅāni setihāsāni cānagha ākhyātāny apy adhītāni dharma-śāstrāṅi yāny uta [SB 1.1.6]

[The sages said: Respected Sūta Gosvāmī, you are completely free from all vice. You are well versed in all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in the Purāṅas and the histories as well, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them.]

yāni veda-vidāṁ śreṣṭho bhagavān bādarāyaṅaḥ anye ca munayaḥ sūta parāvara-vido viduḥ [SB 1.1.7]

[Being the eldest learned Vedāntist, O Sūta Gosvāmī, you are acquainted with the knowledge of Vyāsadeva, who is the incarnation of Godhead, and you also know other sages who are fully versed in all kinds of physical and metaphysical knowledge.]

vettha tvaṁ saumya tat sarvaṁ tattvatas tad-anugrahāt brūyuḥ snigdhasya śiṣyasya guravo guhyam apy uta [SB 1.1.8]

[And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed you with all the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple. Therefore you can tell us all that you have scientifically learned from them.]

tatra tatrāñjasāyuṣman bhavatā yad viniścitam puṁsām ekāntataḥ śreyas tan naḥ śaṁsitum arhasi [SB 1.1.9]

[Please, therefore, being blessed with many years, explain to us, in an easily understandable way, what you have ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general.]

prāyeṅālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ [SB 1.1.10]

[O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.]

bhūrīṅi bhūri-karmāṅi śrotavyāni vibhāgaśaḥ ataḥ sādho 'tra yat sāraṁ samuddhṛtya manīṣayā brūhi bhadrāya bhūtānāṁ yenātmā suprasīdati [SB 1.1.11]

[There are many varieties of scriptures, and in all of them there are many prescribed duties, which can be learned only after many years of study in their various divisions. Therefore, O sage, please select the essence of all these scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings, that by such instruction their hearts may be fully satisfied.]

sūta jānāsi bhadraṁ te bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ devakyāṁ vasudevasya jāto yasya cikīrṣayā [SB 1.1.12]

[All blessings upon you, O Sūta Gosvāmī. You know for what purpose the Personality of Godhead appeared in the womb of Devakī as the son of Vasudeva.]

tan naḥ śuśrūṣamāṅānām arhasy aṅgānuvarṅitum yasyāvatāro bhūtānāṁ kṣemāya ca bhavāya ca [SB 1.1.13]

[O Sūta Gosvāmī, we are eager to learn about the Personality of Godhead and His incarnations. Please explain to us those teachings imparted by previous masters [ācāryas], for one is uplifted both by speaking them and by hearing them.]

āpannaḥ saṁsṛtiṁ ghorāṁ yan-nāma vivaśo gṛṅan tataḥ sadyo vimucyeta yad bibheti svayaṁ bhayam [SB 1.1.14]

[Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṅa, which is feared by fear personified.]

ko vā bhagavatas tasya puṅya-ślokeḍya-karmaṅaḥ śuddhi-kāmo na śṛṅuyād yaśaḥ kali-malāpaham [SB 1.1.16]

[Who is there, desiring deliverance from the vices of the age of quarrel, who is not willing to hear the virtuous glories of the Lord?]

tasya karmāṅy udārāṅi parigītāni sūribhiḥ brūhi naḥ śraddadhānānāṁ līlayā dadhataḥ kalāḥ [SB 1.1.17]

[His transcendental acts are magnificent and gracious, and great learned sages like Nārada sing of them. Please, therefore, speak to us, who are eager to hear, about the adventures He performs in His various incarnations.]

athākhyāhi harer dhīmann avatāra-kathāḥ śubhāḥ līlā vidadhataḥ svairam īśvarasyātma-māyayā [SB 1.1.18]

[O wise Sūta, please narrate to us the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Godhead's multi-incarnations. Such auspicious adventures and pastimes of the Lord, the supreme controller, are performed by His internal powers.]

vayaṁ tu na vitṛpyāma uttama-śloka-vikrame yac-chṛṅvatāṁ rasa-jñānāṁ svādu svādu pade pade [SB 1.1.19]

[We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing of His pastimes at every moment.]

kṛtavān kila karmāṅi saha rāmeṅa keśavaḥ atimartyāni bhagavān gūḍhaḥ kapaṭa-mānuṣaḥ [SB 1.1.20]

[Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarāma, played like a human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts.]

kalim āgatam ājñāya kṣetre 'smin vaiṣṅave vayam āsīnā dīrgha-satreṅa kathāyāṁ sakṣaṅā hareḥ [SB 1.1.21]

[Knowing well that the Age of Kali has already begun, we are assembled here in this holy place to hear at great length the transcendental message of Godhead and in this way perform sacrifice.]

tvaṁ naḥ sandarśito dhātrā dustaraṁ nistitīrṣatām kaliṁ sattva-haraṁ puṁsāṁ karṅa-dhāra ivārṅavam [SB 1.1.22]

[We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.]

brūhi yogeśvare kṛṣṅe brahmaṅye dharma-varmaṅi svāṁ kāṣṭhām adhunopete dharmaḥ kaṁ śaraṅaṁ gataḥ [SB 1.1.23]

[Since Śrī Kṛṣṅa, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us to whom the religious principles have now gone for shelter.]

vyāsa uvāca iti sampraśna-saṁhṛṣṭo viprāṅāṁ raumaharṣaṅiḥ pratipūjya vacas teṣāṁ pravaktum upacakrame [SB 1.2.1]

[Śrī Vyāsadeva said: Ugraśravā [Sūta Gosvāmī], the son of Romaharṣaṅa, being fully satisfied by the perfect questions of the brāhmaṅas, thanked them and thus attempted to reply.]

yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ dvaipāyano viraha-kātara ājuhāva putreti tan-mayatayā...

This door should be closed and after dressing the door... yes, they're closing that's all.

putreti tan-mayatayā taravo 'bhinedus taṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato 'smi [SB 1.2.2]

[Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage (Śukadeva Gosvāmī) who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life [sannyāsa], leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyāsadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, "O my son!" Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father.]

yaḥ svānubhāvam akhila-śruti-sāram ekam adhyātma-dīpam atititīrṣatāṁ tamo 'ndham saṁsāriṅāṁ karuṅayāha purāṅa-guhyaṁ taṁ vyāsa-sūnum upayāmi guruṁ munīnām [SB 1.2.3]

[Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto him [Śuka], the spiritual master of all sages, the son of Vyāsadeva, who, out of his great compassion for those gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence, spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience.]

nārāyaṅaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayam udīrayet [SB 1.2.4]

[Before reciting this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṅa, unto Nara-nārāyaṅa Ṛṣi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, and unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author.]

munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo 'haṁ bhavadbhir loka-maṅgalam yat kṛtaḥ kṛṣṅa-sampraśno yenātmā suprasīdati [SB 1.2.5]

[O sages, I have been justly questioned by you. Your questions are worthy because they relate to Lord Kṛṣṅa and so are of relevance to the world's welfare. Only questions of this sort are capable of completely satisfying the self.]

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje ahaituky apratihatā yayātmā suprasīdati [SB 1.2.6]

[The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.]

vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7]

[By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṅa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.]

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ notpādayed yadi ratiṁ śrama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8]

[The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.]

dharmasya hy āpavargyasya nārtho 'rthāyopakalpate nārthasya dharmaikāntasya kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ [SB 1.2.9]

[All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification.]

kāmasya nendriya-prītir lābho jīveta yāvatā jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ [SB 1.2.10]

[Life's desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one's works.]

vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate [SB 1.2.11]

[Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.]

tac chraddadhānā munayo jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā paśyanty ātmani cātmānaṁ bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā [SB 1.2.12]

[The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedānta-śruti.]

ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṅāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṅam [SB 1.2.13]

[O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.]

tasmād ekena manasā bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca dhyeyaḥ pūjyaś ca nityadā [SB 1.2.14]

[Therefore, with one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees.]

yad-anudhyāsinā yuktāḥ karma-granthi-nibandhanam chindanti kovidās tasya ko na kuryāt kathā-ratim [SB 1.2.15]

[With sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of reactionary work [karma] by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, who will not pay attention to His message?]

śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ puṅya-tīrtha-niṣevaṅāt [SB 1.2.16]

[O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva.]

śṛṅvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṅaḥ puṅya-śravaṅa-kīrtanaḥ hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṅi vidhunoti suhṛt satām [SB 1.2.17]

[Śrī Kṛṣṅa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.]

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā bhagavaty uttama-śloke bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī [SB 1.2.18]

[By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.]

tadā rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ kāma-lobhādayaś ca ye ceta etair anāviddhaṁ sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati [SB 1.2.19]

[As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.]

evaṁ prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ bhagavat-tattva-vijñānaṁ mukta-saṅgasya jāyate [SB 1.2.20]

[Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association.]

bhidyate hṛdaya-granthiś chidyante sarva-saṁśayāḥ kṣīyante cāsya karmāṅi dṛṣṭa evātmanīśvare [SB 1.2.21]

[Thus the knot in the heart is pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master.]

ato vai kavayo nityaṁ bhaktiṁ paramayā mudā vāsudeve bhagavati kurvanty ātma-prasādanīm [SB 1.2.22]

[Certainly, therefore, since time immemorial, all transcendentalists have been rendering devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṅa, the Personality of Godhead, with great delight, because such devotional service is enlivening to the self.]

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti prakṛter guṅās tair yuktaḥ paraḥ puruṣa eka ihāsya dhatte sthity-ādaye hari-viriñci-hareti saṁjñāḥ śreyāṁsi tatra khalu sattva-tanor nṛṅāṁ syuḥ [SB 1.2.23]

[The transcendental Personality of Godhead is indirectly associated with the three modes of material nature, namely passion, goodness and ignorance, and just for the material world's creation, maintenance and destruction He accepts the three qualitative forms of Brahmā, Viṣṅu and Śiva. Of these three, all human beings can derive ultimate benefit from Viṣṅu, the form of the quality of goodness.]

pārthivād dāruṅo dhūmas tasmād agnis trayīmayaḥ tamasas tu rajas tasmāt sattvaṁ yad brahma-darśanam [SB 1.2.24]

[Firewood is a transformation of earth, but smoke is better than the raw wood. And fire is still better, for by fire we can derive the benefits of superior knowledge [through Vedic sacrifices]. Similarly, passion [rajas] is better than ignorance [tamas], but goodness [sattva] is best because by goodness one can come to realize the Absolute Truth.]

bhejire munayo 'thāgre bhagavantam adhokṣajam sattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ kṣemāya kalpante ye 'nu tān iha [SB 1.2.25]

[Previously all the great sages rendered service unto the Personality of Godhead due to His existence above the three modes of material nature. They worshiped Him to become free from material conditions and thus derive the ultimate benefit. Whoever follows such great authorities is also eligible for liberation from the material world.]

mumukṣavo ghora-rūpān hitvā bhūta-patīn atha nārāyaṅa-kalāḥ śāntā bhajanti hy anasūyavaḥ [SB 1.2.26]

[Those who are serious about liberation are certainly nonenvious, and they respect all. Yet they reject the horrible and ghastly forms of the demigods and worship only the all-blissful forms of Lord Viṣṅu and His plenary portions.]

rajas-tamaḥ-prakṛtayaḥ sama-śīlā bhajanti vai pitṛ-bhūta-prajeśādīn śriyaiśvarya-prajepsavaḥ [SB 1.2.27]

[Those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance worship those in the same category—namely the forefathers, other living beings and the demigods who are in charge of cosmic activities—for they are urged by a desire to be materially benefited with women, wealth, power and progeny.]

vāsudeva-parā vedā vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ vāsudeva-parā yogā vāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥ vāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁ vāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥ vāsudeva-paro dharmo vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ [SB 1.2.28–29]

[In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Śrī Kṛṣṅa, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.]

sa evedaṁ sasarjāgre bhagavān ātma-māyayā sad-asad-rūpayā cāsau guṅamayāguṅo vibhuḥ [SB 1.2.30]

[In the beginning of the material creation, that Absolute Personality of Godhead [Vāsudeva], in His transcendental position, created the energies of cause and effect by His own internal energy.]

tayā vilasiteṣv eṣu guṅeṣu guṅavān iva antaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhāti vijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥ [SB 1.2.31]

[After creating the material substance, the Lord [Vāsudeva] expands Himself and enters into it. And although He is within the material modes of nature and appears to be one of the created beings, He is always fully enlightened in His transcendental position.]

yathā hy avahito vahnir dāruṣv ekaḥ sva-yoniṣu nāneva bhāti viśvātmā bhūteṣu ca tathā pumān [SB 1.2.32]

[The Lord, as Supersoul, pervades all things, just as fire permeates wood, and so He appears to be of many varieties, though He is the absolute one without a second.]

asau guṅamayair bhāvair bhūta-sūkṣmendriyātmabhiḥ sva-nirmiteṣu nirviṣṭo bhuṅkte bhūteṣu tad-guṅān [SB 1.2.33]

[The Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these modes by the subtle mind.]

bhāvayaty eṣa sattvena lokān vai loka-bhāvanaḥ līlāvatārānurato deva-tiryaṅ-narādiṣu [SB 1.2.34]

[Thus the Lord of the universes maintains all planets inhabited by demigods, men and lower animals. Assuming the roles of incarnations, He performs pastimes to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness.]

sūta uvāca jagṛhe pauruṣaṁ rūpaṁ bhagavān mahad-ādibhiḥ sambhūtaṁ ṣoḍaśa-kalam ādau loka-sisṛkṣayā [SB 1.3.1]

Why? They're not performing yajña? Let them perform yajña. Go on go on reading. Begin reading

jagṛhe pauruṣaṁ rūpaṁ bhagavān mahad-ādibhiḥ sambhūtaṁ ṣoḍaśa-kalam ādau loka-sisṛkṣayā [SB 1.3.1]

[Sūta said: In the beginning of the creation, the Lord first expanded Himself in the universal form of the puruṣa incarnation and manifested all the ingredients for the material creation. And thus at first there was the creation of the sixteen principles of material action. This was for the purpose of creating the material universes.]

yasyāmbhasi śayānasya yoga-nidrāṁ vitanvataḥ nābhi-hradāmbujād āsīd brahmā viśva-sṛjāṁ patiḥ [SB 1.3.2]

[A part of the puruṣa lies down within the water of the universe, from the navel lake of His body sprouts a lotus stem, and from the lotus flower atop this stem, Brahmā, the master of all engineers in the universe, becomes manifest.]

yasyāvayava-saṁsthānaiḥ kalpito loka-vistaraḥ tad vai bhagavato rūpaṁ viśuddhaṁ sattvam ūrjitam [SB 1.3.3]

[It is believed that all the universal planetary systems are situated on the extensive body of the puruṣa, but He has nothing to do with the created material ingredients. His body is eternally in spiritual existence par excellence.]

paśyanty ado rūpam adabhra-cakṣuṣā sahasra-pādoru-bhujānanādbhutam sahasra-mūrdha-śravaṅākṣi-nāsikaṁ sahasra-mauly-ambara-kuṅḍalollasat [SB 1.3.4]

[The devotees, with their perfect eyes, see the transcendental form of the puruṣa who has thousands of legs, thighs, arms and faces-all extraordinary. In that body there are thousands of heads, ears, eyes and noses. They are decorated with thousands of helmets and glowing earrings and are adorned with garlands.]

etan nānāvatārāṅāṁ nidhānaṁ bījam avyayam yasyāṁśāṁśena sṛjyante deva-tiryaṅ-narādayaḥ [SB 1.3.5]

[This form [the second manifestation of the puruṣa] is the source and indestructible seed of multifarious incarnations within the universe. From the particles and portions of this form, different living entities, like demigods, men and others, are created.]

sa eva prathamaṁ devaḥ kaumāraṁ sargam āśritaḥ cacāra duścaraṁ brahmā brahmacaryam akhaṅḍitam [SB 1.3.6]

[First of all, in the beginning of creation, there were the four unmarried sons of Brahmā [the Kumāras], who, being situated in a vow of celibacy, underwent severe austerities for realization of the Absolute Truth.]

dvitīyaṁ tu bhavāyāsya rasātala-gatāṁ mahīm uddhariṣyann upādatta yajñeśaḥ saukaraṁ vapuḥ [SB 1.3.7]

[The supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices accepted the incarnation of a boar [the second incarnation], and for the welfare of the earth He lifted the earth from the nether regions of the universe.]

tṛtīyam ṛṣi-sargaṁ vai devarṣitvam upetya saḥ tantraṁ sātvatam ācaṣṭa naiṣkarmyaṁ karmaṅāṁ yataḥ [SB 1.3.8]

[In the millennium of the ṛṣis, the Personality of Godhead accepted the third empowered incarnation in the form of Devarṣi Nārada, who is a great sage among the demigods. He collected expositions of the Vedas which deal with devotional service and which inspire nonfruitive action.]

turye dharma-kalā-sarge nara-nārāyaṅāv ṛṣī bhūtvātmopaśamopetam akarod duścaraṁ tapaḥ [SB 1.3.9]

[In the fourth incarnation, the Lord became Nara and Nārāyaṅa, the twin sons of the wife of King Dharma. Thus He undertook severe and exemplary penances to control the senses.]

pañcamaḥ kapilo nāma siddheśaḥ kāla-viplutam provācāsuraye sāṅkhyaṁ tattva-grāma-vinirṅayam [SB 1.3.10]

[The fifth incarnation, named Lord Kapila, is foremost among perfected beings. He gave an exposition of the creative elements and metaphysics to Āsuri Brāhmaṅa, for in course of time this knowledge had been lost.]

ṣaṣṭham atrer apatyatvaṁ vṛtaḥ prāpto 'nasūyayā ānvīkṣikīm alarkāya prahlādādibhya ūcivān [SB 1.3.11]

[The sixth incarnation of the puruṣa was the son of the sage Atri. He was born from the womb of Anasūyā, who prayed for an incarnation. He spoke on the subject of transcendence to Alarka, Prahlāda and others [Yadu, Haihaya, etc.]]

tataḥ saptama ākūtyāṁ rucer yajño 'bhyajāyata sa yāmādyaiḥ sura-gaṅair apāt svāyambhuvāntaram [SB 1.3.12]

[The seventh incarnation was Yajña, the son of Prajāpati Ruci and his wife Ākūti. He controlled the period during the reign of Svāyambhuva Manu and was assisted by demigods such as His son Yāma.]

aṣṭame merudevyāṁ tu nābher jāta urukramaḥ darśayan vartma dhīrāṅāṁ sarvāśrama-namaskṛtam [SB 1.3.13]

[The eighth incarnation was King Ṛṣabha, son of King Nābhi and his wife Merudevī. In this incarnation the Lord showed the path of perfection, which is followed by those who have fully controlled their senses and who are honored by all orders of life.]

ṛṣibhir yācito bheje navamaṁ pārthivaṁ vapuḥ dugdhemām oṣadhīr viprās tenāyaṁ sa uśattamaḥ [SB 1.3.14]

[O brāhmaṅas, in the ninth incarnation, the Lord, prayed for by sages, accepted the body of a king [Pṛthu] who cultivated the land to yield various products, and for that reason the earth was beautiful and attractive.]

rūpaṁ sa jagṛhe mātsyaṁ cākṣuṣodadhi-samplave nāvy āropya mahī-mayyām apād vaivasvataṁ manum [SB 1.3.15]

[When there was a complete inundation after the period of the Cākṣuṣa Manu and the whole world was deep within water, the Lord accepted the form of a fish and protected Vaivasvata Manu, keeping him up on a boat.]

surāsurāṅām udadhiṁ mathnatāṁ mandarācalam dadhre kamaṭha-rūpeṅa pṛṣṭha ekādaśe vibhuḥ [SB 1.3.16]

[The eleventh incarnation of the Lord took the form of a tortoise whose shell served as a pivot for the Mandarācala Hill, which was being used as a churning rod by the theists and atheists of the universe.]

dhānvantaraṁ dvādaśamaṁ trayodaśamam eva ca apāyayat surān anyān mohinyā mohayan striyā [SB 1.3.17]

[In the twelfth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Dhanvantari, and in the thirteenth He allured the atheists by the charming beauty of a woman and gave nectar to the demigods to drink.]

caturdaśaṁ nārasiṁhaṁ bibhrad daityendram ūrjitam dadāra karajair ūrāv erakāṁ kaṭa-kṛd yathā [SB 1.3.18]

[In the fourteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Nṛsiṁha and bifurcated the strong body of the atheist Hiraṅyakaśipu with His nails, just as a carpenter pierces cane.]

pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam [SB 1.3.19]

[In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf brāhmaṅa [Vāmana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.]

avatāre ṣoḍaśame paśyan brahma-druho nṛpān triḥ-sapta-kṛtvaḥ kupito niḥ-kṣatrām akaron mahīm [SB 1.3.20]

[In the sixteenth incarnation of the Godhead, the Lord [as Bhṛgupati] annihilated the administrative class [kṣatriyas] twenty-one times, being angry with them because of their rebellion against the brāhmaṅas [the intelligent class]]

tataḥ saptadaśe jātaḥ satyavatyāṁ parāśarāt cakre veda-taroḥ śākhā dṛṣṭvā puṁso 'lpa-medhasaḥ [SB 1.3.21]

[Thereafter, in the seventeenth incarnation of Godhead, Śrī Vyāsadeva appeared in the womb of Satyavatī through Parāśara Muni, and he divided the one Veda into several branches and subbranches, seeing that the people in general were less intelligent.]

nara-devatvam āpannaḥ sura-kārya-cikīrṣayā samudra-nigrahādīni cakre vīryāṅy ataḥ param [SB 1.3.22]

[In the eighteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as King Rāma. In order to perform some pleasing work for the demigods, He exhibited superhuman powers by controlling the Indian Ocean and then killing the atheist King Rāvaṅa, who was on the other side of the sea.]

ekonaviṁśe viṁśatime vṛṣṅiṣu prāpya janmanī rāma-kṛṣṅāv iti bhuvo bhagavān aharad bharam [SB 1.3.23]

[In the nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, the Lord advented Himself as Lord Balarāma and Lord Kṛṣṅa in the family of Vṛṣṅi [the Yadu dynasty], and by so doing He removed the burden of the world.]

tataḥ kalau sampravṛtte sammohāya sura-dviṣām buddho nāmnāñjana-sutaḥ kīkaṭeṣu bhaviṣyati [SB 1.3.24]

[Then, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son of Añjanā, in the province of Gayā, just for the purpose of deluding those who are envious of the faithful theist.]

athāsau yuga-sandhyāyāṁ dasyu-prāyeṣu rājasu janitā viṣṅu-yaśaso nāmnā kalkir jagat-patiḥ [SB 1.3.25]

[Thereafter, at the conjunction of two yugas, the Lord of the creation will take His birth as the Kalki incarnation and become the son of Viṣṅu Yaśā. At this time almost all the rulers of the earth will have degenerated into plunderers.]

avatārā hy asaṅkhyeyā hareḥ sattva-nidher dvijāḥ yathāvidāsinaḥ kulyāḥ sarasaḥ syuḥ sahasraśaḥ [SB 1.3.26]

[O brāhmaṅas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water.]

ṛṣayo manavo devā manu-putrā mahaujasaḥ kalāḥ sarve harer eva saprajāpatayaḥ smṛtāḥ [SB 1.3.27]

[All the ṛṣis, Manus, demigods and descendants of Manu, who are especially powerful, are plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord. This also includes the Prajāpatis.]

ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam...

Karandhara: Should we recite all the prayers first and then have the fire sacrifice with all the prayers like we do with initiations, or we start the fire...

Prabhupāda: Initiation?

Karandhara: Well... during the initiation we say all the prayers once and then have the fire sacrifice and say the prayers again.

Prabhupāda: No simply fire sacrifice.

ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ mṛḍayanti yuge yuge [SB 1.3.28]

[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.]

janma guhyaṁ bhagavato ya etat prayato naraḥ sāyaṁ prātar gṛṅan bhaktyā duḥkha-grāmād vimucyate [SB 1.3.29]

[Whoever carefully recites the mysterious appearances of the Lord with devotion in the morning and in the evening gets relief from all miseries of life.]

etad rūpaṁ bhagavato hy arūpasya cid-ātmanaḥ māyā-guṅair viracitaṁ mahadādibhir ātmani [SB 1.3.30]

[The conception of the virāṭ universal form of the Lord, as appearing in the material world, is imaginary. It is to enable the less intelligent [and neophytes] to adjust to the idea of the Lord's having form. But factually the Lord has no material form.]

yathā nabhasi meghaugho reṅur vā pārthivo 'nile evaṁ draṣṭari dṛśyatvam āropitam abuddhibhiḥ [SB 1.3.31]

[Clouds and dust are carried by the air, but less intelligent persons say that the sky is cloudy and the air is dirty. Similarly, they also implant material bodily conceptions on the spirit self.]

ataḥ paraṁ yad avyaktam avyūḍha-guṅa-bṛṁhitam adṛṣṭāśruta-vastutvāt sa jīvo yat punar-bhavaḥ [SB 1.3.32]

[Beyond this gross conception of form is another, subtle conception of form which is without formal shape and is unseen, unheard and unmanifest. The living being has his form beyond this subtlety, otherwise he could not have repeated births.]

yatreme sad-asad-rūpe pratiṣiddhe sva-saṁvidā avidyayātmani kṛte iti tad brahma-darśanam [SB 1.3.33]

[Whenever a person experiences, by self-realization, that both the gross and subtle bodies have nothing to do with the pure self, at that time he sees himself as well as the Lord.]

yady eṣoparatā devī māyā vaiśāradī matiḥ sampanna eveti vidur mahimni sve mahīyate [SB 1.3.34]

[If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with self-realization and thus becomes situated in his own glory.]

evaṁ janmāni karmāṅi hy akartur ajanasya ca varṅayanti sma kavayo veda-guhyāni hṛt-pateḥ [SB 1.3.35]

[Thus learned men describe the births and activities of the unborn and inactive, which is undiscoverable even in the Vedic literatures. He is the Lord of the heart.]

sa vā idaṁ viśvam amogha-līlaḥ sṛjaty avaty atti na sajjate 'smin bhūteṣu cāntarhita ātma-tantraḥ ṣāḍ-vargikaṁ jighrati ṣaḍ-guṅeśaḥ [SB 1.3.36]

[The Lord, whose activities are always spotless, is the master of the six senses and is fully omnipotent with six opulences. He creates the manifested universes, maintains them and annihilates them without being in the least affected. He is within every living being and is always independent.]

na cāsya kaścin nipuṅena dhātur avaiti jantuḥ kumanīṣa ūtīḥ nāmāni rūpāṅi mano-vacobhiḥ santanvato naṭa-caryām ivājñaḥ [SB 1.3.37]

[The foolish with a poor fund of knowledge cannot know the transcendental nature of the forms, names and activities of the Lord, who is playing like an actor in a drama. Nor can they express such things, neither in their speculations nor in their words.]

sa veda dhātuḥ padavīṁ parasya duranta-vīryasya rathāṅga-pāṅeḥ yo 'māyayā santatayānuvṛttyā bhajeta tat-pāda-saroja-gandham [SB 1.3.38]

[Only those who render unreserved, uninterrupted, favorable service unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṅa, who carries the wheel of the chariot in His hand, can know the creator of the universe in His full glory, power and transcendence.]

atheha dhanyā bhagavanta itthaṁ yad vāsudeve 'khila-loka-nāthe kurvanti sarvātmakam ātma-bhāvaṁ na yatra bhūyaḥ parivarta ugraḥ [SB 1.3.39]

[Only by making such inquiries in this world can one be successful and perfectly cognizant, for such inquiries invoke transcendental ecstatic love unto the Personality of Godhead, who is the proprietor of all the universes, and guarantee cent-percent immunity from the dreadful repetition of birth and death.]

idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma purāṅaṁ brahma-sammitam uttama-śloka-caritaṁ cakāra bhagavān ṛṣiḥ niḥśreyasāya lokasya dhanyaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ mahat [SB 1.3.40]

[This scripture named Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is compiled by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and all-perfect.]

tad idaṁ grāhayām āsa sutam ātmavatāṁ varam sarva-vedetihāsānāṁ sāraṁ sāraṁ samuddhṛtam [SB 1.3.41]

[Śrī Vyāsadeva delivered it to his son, who is the most respected among the self-realized, after extracting the cream of all Vedic literatures and histories of the universe.]

sa tu saṁśrāvayām āsa mahārājaṁ parīkṣitam prāyopaviṣṭaṁ gaṅgāyāṁ parītaṁ paramarṣibhiḥ [SB 1.3.42]

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva, in his turn delivered the Bhāgavatam to the great Emperor Parīkṣit, who sat surrounded by sages on the bank of the Ganges, awaiting death without taking food or drink.]

kṛṣṅe sva-dhāmopagate dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa purāṅārko 'dhunoditaḥ [SB 1.3.43]

[This Bhāgavata Purāṅa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṅa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṅa.]

tatra kīrtayato viprā viprarṣer bhūri-tejasaḥ ahaṁ cādhyagamaṁ tatra niviṣṭas tad-anugrahāt... [SB 1.3.44]

[O learned brāhmaṅas, when Śukadeva Gosvāmī recited Bhāgavatam there [in the presence of Emperor Parīkṣit], I heard him with rapt attention, and thus, by his mercy, I learned the Bhāgavatam from that great and powerful sage. Now I shall try to make you hear the very same thing as I learned it from him and as I have realized it.]

Pradyumna: [leads chanting of prayers for fire sacrifice] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat]

vande ahaṁ śrī-guru śrī-yuta-padakamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṅavāṁś ca śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṅa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam sa advaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṅa-caitanya-devaṁ śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṅa-pādān saha-gaṅa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

nama oṁ viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṅī-pracāriṅe nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṅe

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

nama oṁ viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṅī-pracāriṅe nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṅe

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

nama oṁ viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-sarasvatīti nāmine

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhaye kṛṣṅa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

mādhuryojjvala-premāḍhya-śrī-rūpānuga-bhaktida śrī-gaura-karuṅā-śakti-vigrahāya namo 'stu te

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namas te gaura-vāṅī-śrī-mūrtaye dīna-tāriṅe rūpānuga-viruddhāpasiddhānta-dhvānta-hāriṅe

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namo gaura-kiśorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtaye vipralambha-rasāmbhode pādāmbujāya te namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namo bhaktivinodāya sac-cid-ānanda-nāmine gaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

gaurāvirbhāva-bhūmes tvaṁ nirdeṣṭā saj-jana-priyaḥ vaiṣṅava-sārvabhaumaḥ ṣrī-jagannāthāya te namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṅavebhyo namo namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṅa-prema-pradāya te kṛṣṅāya kṛṣṅa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṅaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

he kṛṣṅa karuṅā-sindho dīna-bandho jagat-pate gopeśa gopikā-kānta rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama manda-mater gate mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau rādhā-madana-mohanau

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

dīvyad-vṛndāraṅya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ śrīmad-ratnāgāra-siṁhāsana-sthau śrī-śrī-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

śrīmān rāsa-rasārambhī vaṁśī-vaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ karṣan veṅu-svanair gopīr gopīnāthaḥśriye 'stu naḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari vṛṣabhānu-sute devī praṅamāmi hari-priye

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namo brahmaṅya-devāya go-brāhmaṅa-hitāya ca jagad-dhitāya kṛṣṅāya govindāya namo namaḥ

Prabhupāda: That's all. Arāti?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupāda: Yes. Kīrtana. Begin kīrtana.

[48:05]

[kīrtana]

Prabhupāda: [prema-dhvani] Thank you very much.

Devotees: All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. [end]