VAMANAVATARA-7(SRIMADBHAGAVATAM, CANTO-8, CHAPTER 22)

        
          वामनावतारः-७
 (श्रीमद्भागवतम् अष्टमस्कंधः, अध्यायः२२)
 [The English
translation is largely based on that of  the disciples of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam”
published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
श्रीशुक उवाच-
एवं
विप्रकृतो राजन् बलिर्भगवतासुरः।
भिद्यमानोऽप्यभिन्नात्मा
प्रत्याहाविक्लवं वचः ॥१॥
Sukadeva
Goswami said: O King, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead was
superficially seen to have acted mischievously toward Bali Maharaja, the latter
was fixed in his determination. 
Considering himself not to have fulfilled his promise, he spoke as
follows
बलिरुवाच-
यद्युत्तमश्लोक
भवान् ममेरितं-
  वचो  व्यलीकं सुरवर्य मन्यते।
करोम्यृतं
तन्न भवेत् प्रलम्भनं
  पदं तृतीयं कुरु शीर्ष्णि मे निजम्
॥२॥
Bali
Maharaja said: O best Personality of Godhead, most worshipable for all the
demigods, if You think that my promise has become false, I shall certainly
rectify matters to make it truthful.  I
cannot allow my promise to be false. 
Please, therefore, place Your third lotus footstep on my head.
बिभेमि
नाहं निरयात् पदच्युतो
  न पाशबन्धात् व्यसनाद् दुरत्ययात्।
नैवार्थकृच्छ्राद्
भवतो विनिग्रहा-
  दसाधुवादाद् भृशमुद्विजे यथा ॥३॥
I
do not fear being deprived of all my possessions, living in hellish life, being
bound by the ropes of Varuna, being subjected to unbearable distress or poverty
or being punished by you as much as I fear defamation.    
पुंसां
श्लाघ्यतमं मन्ये दण्डमर्हत्तमार्पितम्।
यं न
माता पिता भ्राता सुहृदश्चादिशन्ति हि ॥४॥
Although  a 
father, mother, brother or friend may sometimes punish one as a
well-wisher, they never punish their subordinate like this.    But because You are the most worshipable
Lord, I regard the punishment You have given me as most exalted.
त्वं
नूनमसुराणां नः पारोक्ष्यः परमो गुरुः।
यो नोऽनेकमदान्धानां
विभ्रंशं चक्षुरादिशत् ॥५॥
Since
Your Lordship is indirectly the greatest well-wisher of us demons, You act for
our best welfare by posing as if our enemy. 
Because demons like us always aspire for a position of false prestige,
by chastising us You give us the eyes by which to see the right path.
यस्मिन्
वैरानुबन्धेन  रूढेन विबुधेतराः|
बहवो
लेभिरे सिद्धिं यामु हैकान्तयोगिनः॥६॥
तेनाहं
निगृहीतोऽस्मि भवता भूरिकर्मणा।
बद्धश्च
वारुणैः पाशैर्नातिव्रीडे न च व्यथे ॥७॥
Many
demons who were continuously inimical toward You finally achieved the
perfection of great mystic yogis.  Your
Lordship can perform one work to serve many purposes, and consequently,
although you have punished me in many ways, I do not feel ashamed of having
been arrested by the ropes of Varuna, nor do I feel aggrieved. 
पितामहो
मे भवदीयसम्मतः
   प्रह्लाद आविष्कृतसाधुवादः।
भवद्विपक्षेण
विचित्रवैशसं
   सम्प्रापितस्त्वंपरमः स्वपित्रा॥८॥
My
grandfather Prahlada Maharaja is famous, being recognised by all Your
devotees.  Although harassed in many ways
by his father, Hiranyakasipu, he still remained faithful, taking shelter at
your lotus feet.
किमात्मनानेन
जहाति योऽन्तः
   किं रिक्थहारैः स्वजनाख्यदस्युभिः।
किं
मायया संसृतिहेतुभूतया
   मर्त्यस्य गेहैः किमिहायुषो व्ययः ॥९॥
What
is the use of the material body, which automatically leaves its owner at the
end of life? And what is the use of all one’s family members, who are actually
plunderers taking away money that is useful for the service of the Lord in
spiritual opulence? What is the use of a wife? 
She is only the source of increasing material conditions.  And what is the use of family, home, country
and community? Attachment for them merely wastes the valuable energy of one’s
life time.
इत्थं
स निश्चित्य पितामहो महा-
   नगाधबोधो भवतः पादपद्मम्।
ध्रुवं
प्रपेदे ह्यकुतोभयं जनाद्
   भीतः स्वपक्षक्षपणस्य सत्तम ॥१०॥
My
grandfather, the best of all men, who achieved unlimited knowledge and was
worshipable for everyone, was afraid of the common men in this world.  Being fully convinced of the substantiality
afforded by shelter at your lotus feet, He took shelter of Your lotus feet,
against the will of his father and demoniac friends, who were killed by Your
own self.
अथाहमप्यात्मरिपोस्तवान्तिकं
  दैवेन नीतः प्रसभं त्याजितश्रीः।
इदं
कृतान्तान्तिकवर्ति जीवितं
  ययाध्रुवं स्तब्धमतिर्न बुध्यते ॥११॥
Only
by providence have I been forcibly brought under Your lotus feet and deprived
of all my opulence.  Because of the
illusion created by temporary opulence, people in general, who live under
material conditions, facing accidental death at every moment, do not understand
that this life is temporary.  Only by
providence have I been saved from that condition.
श्रीशुक
उवाच-
तस्येत्थं
भाषमाणस्य प्रह्लादो भगवत्प्रियः।
आजगाम
कुरुश्रेष्ठ राकापतिरिवोत्थितः॥१२॥
Sukadeva
Goswami said: O best of the Kurus, while Bali Maharaja was describing his
fortunate position in this way, the most dear devotee of the Lord, Prahlada
Maharaja, appeared there, like the moon rising in the night time.
तमिन्द्रसेनः
स्वपितामहं श्रिया
   विराजमानं नलिनायतेक्षणम्।
प्रांशुं
पिशङ्गाम्बरमञ्जनत्विषं
    प्रलम्बबाहुं सुभगं समैक्षत॥१२॥
Then
Bali Maharaja saw his grandfather Prahlada Maharaja, the most fortunate
personality, whose dark body resembled black ointment for the eyes.  His tall elegant figure was dressed in yellow
garments, he had long arms, and his beautiful eyes were like the petals of a
lotus.  He was very dear and pleasing to
everyone.
तस्मै
बलिर्वारुणपाशयन्त्रितः
   समर्हणं नोपजहार पूर्ववत्।
ननाम
मूर्ध्नाश्रुविलोललोचनः
   सव्रीडनीचीनमुखो बभूव ह ॥१३॥
Being
bound by the ropes of Varuna, Bali Maharaja could not offer befitting respect
to Prahlada Maharaja as he had done before. 
Rather, he simply offered respectful obeisances with his head, his eyes
being inundated with tears and his face lowered in shame.
स तत्र
हासीनमुदीक्ष्य सत्पतिं
    सुनन्दनन्दाद्यनुगैरुपासितम्।
उपेत्य
भूमौ शिरसा महामना
    ननाम मूर्ध्ना पुलकाश्रुविक्लवः
॥१४॥
When
the great personality Prahlada Maharaja saw that the Supreme Lord was sitting
there, surrounded and worshiped by His intimate associates like Sunanda, he was
overwhelmed with tears of jubilation. Approaching the Lord and falling to the
ground, he offered obeisances to the Lord with his head. 
प्रह्लाद
उवाच-
त्वयैव
 दत्तं पदमैन्द्रमूर्जितं
   हृतं तदेवाद्य तथैव शोभनम्।
मन्ये
महानस्य कुतो ह्यनुग्रहो
   विभ्रंशितो यच्छ्रिय आत्ममोहनात्॥१५॥
Prahlada
Maharaja said: My Lord, it is Your Lordship who gave this Bali the very great
opulence of the post of heavenly King, and now, today, it is You who have taken
it all away.   I think You have acted
with equal beauty in both ways.  Because
his exalted position as King of heaven was putting him in the darkness of
ignorance, You have done him a very merciful favour by taking away all his
opulence.
यया
हि विद्वानपि मुह्यते यत-
  स्तत् को विचष्टे गतिमात्मनो यथा।
तस्मै
नमस्ते जगदीश्वराय वै
   नारायणायाखिललोकसाक्षिणे ॥१६॥
Material
opulence is so bewildering that it makes even a learned, self-controlled man
forget to search for the goal of self-realisation.  But the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Narayana, the Lord of the universe, can see everything by His will.  Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances to
him.
श्रीशुक
उवाच-
तस्यानुशृण्वतो
राजन् प्रह्लादस्य कृताञ्जलेः।
हिरण्यगर्भो
भगवानुवाच मधुसूदनम् ॥१८॥
Sukadeva
Goswami continued: O King Parikshit, Lord Brahma then began to speak to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, within the hearing of Prahlada Maharaja, who
stood nearby with folded hands.
बद्धं
वीक्ष्य पतिं साध्वी तत्पत्नी भयविह्वला।
प्राञ्जलिः
प्रणतोपेन्द्रं बभाषेऽवाङ्मुखी नृप ॥१९॥
But
Bali Maharaja’s chaste wife, afraid and aggrieved at seeing her husband bound,
immediately offered obeisances to Lord Vamanadeva [Upendra]. She folded her
hands and spoke as follows.
विन्ध्यावलिरुवाच-
क्रीडार्थमात्मन
इदं त्रिजगत् कृतं ते
   स्वाम्यं तु तत्र कुधियोऽपर ईश कुर्युः।
कर्तुः
प्रभोस्तव किमस्यत आवहन्ति
    त्यक्तह्रियस्त्वदवरोपितकर्तृवादाः
॥२०॥
Srimati
Vindhyavali said: O my Lord, You have created the entire universe for the
enjoyment of Your personal pastimes, but foolish,  unintelligent men have claimed proprietorship
for material enjoyment.  Certainly they
are shameless agnostics. Falsely claiming 
proprietorship, they think they can give charity and enjoy. In such a
condition, what good can they can do for You, who are the independent creator,
maintainer and annihilator of this universe?
बह्मोवाच-
भूतभावन
भूतेश देवदेव जगन्मय।
मुञ्चैनं
हृतसर्वस्वं नायमर्हति निग्रहम् ॥२१॥
Lord
Brahma said: O well-wisher and master of all living entities, O worshipable
Deity of all the demigods, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, now this man
has been sufficiently punished, for You have taken everything.  Now You can release him.  He does not deserve to be punished more.  
कृत्स्ना
तेऽनेन दत्ता भूर्लोकाः कर्मार्जिताश्च ये।
निवेदितं
च सर्वस्वमात्माविक्लवया धिया॥२२॥
Bali
Maharaja had already offered everything to Your Lordship.  Without hesitation, he has offered his land,
the planets and whatever he earned by his pious activities, including even his
own body.
यत्पादयोरशठधीः
सलिलं प्रदाय
  दूर्वाङ्कुरैरपि विधाय सतीं सपर्याम्।
अप्युत्तमां
गतिरसौ भजते त्रिलोकीं
   दाश्वानविक्लवमनाः कथमार्तिमृच्छेत्॥२३॥
By
offering even water, newly grown grass, or flower buds at Your lotus feet,
those who maintain no mental duplicity can achieve the most exalted position
within the spiritual world.  This Bali
Maharaja, without duplicity, has now offered everything in the three
worlds.  How then can he deserve to
suffer from arrest?
श्रीभगवानुवाच-
ब्रह्मन्
यमनुगृह्णामि तद्विशो विधुनोम्यहम्।
यन्मदः
पुरुषः स्तब्धो लोकं मां चावमन्यते॥२४॥
  
The
Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Lord Brahma, because of material
opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad.  Thus he has no respect for anyone within the
three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special
favour by first taking away all his possessions.
यदा
कदाचिज्जीवात्मा संसरन् निजकर्मभिः।
नानायोनिष्वनीशोऽयं
पौरुषीं गतिमाव्रजेत् ॥२५॥
While
rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species
because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good
fortune, may happen to become a human being. 
This human birth is very rarely obtained.
जन्मकर्मवयोरूपविद्यैश्वर्यधनादिभिः।
यद्यस्य
न भवेत् स्तम्भस्तत्रायं मदनुग्रहः ॥२६॥
If
a human being is born in an aristocratic family or a higher status of life, if
he performs wonderful activities, if he is youthful, if he has personal beauty,
a good education and good wealth, and if he is nonetheless not proud of his
opulences, it is to be understood that he is especially favoured by the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.  
मानस्तम्भैमित्तानां
जन्मादीनां समन्ततः।
सर्वश्रेयःप्रतीपानां
हन्त मुह्येन्न मत्परः ॥२७॥
Although
aristocratic birth and other such opulences are impediments to advancement in
devotional service because they are causes of false prestige and pride, these
opulences never disturb a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. 
एष दानवदैत्यानामग्रणीः
कीर्तिवर्धनः।
अजैषीदजयां
मायां सीदन्नपि न मुह्यति ॥२८॥
Bali
Maharaja has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in
spite of being bereft of all material opulences, he is fixed in his devotional
service.
क्षीणरिक्थश्च्युतः
स्थानात् क्षिप्तो बद्धश्च शत्रुभिः।
ज्ञातिभिश्च
परित्यक्तो यातनामनुयापितः ॥२९॥
गुरुणा
भर्त्सितः शप्तो जहौ सत्यं न सुव्रतः।
छलैरुक्तो
मया धर्मो नायं त्यजति सत्यवाक् ॥३०॥
Although
bereft of his riches, fallen from his original position, defeated and arrested
by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, although
suffering the pain of being bound and although rebuked and cursed by his
spiritual master, Bali Maharaja, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his
truthfulness.  It was certainly with
pretention that I spoke about religious principles, but he did not give up
religious principles, for he is true to his word.
एष मे
प्रापितः स्थानं दुष्प्रापममरैरपि।
सावर्णेरन्तरस्यायं
भवितेन्द्रो मदाश्रयः ॥३१॥
The
Lord continued: Because of his great tolerance, I have given him a place not
obtainable even by the demigods.  He will
become King of the heavenly planets during the period of the Manu known as
Savarni.
तावत्
सुतलमध्यास्तां विश्वकर्मविनिर्मितम्।
यदाधयो
व्याधयश्च क्लमस्तन्द्रा पराभवः ।
नोपसर्गा
निवसतां संभवन्ति ममेक्षया ॥३२॥
Until
Bali Maharaja achieves the position of King of heaven, he shall live on the
planet Sutala, which was made by Viswakarma according to My order.  Because it is especially protected by Me, it
is free from mental and bodily miseries, fatigue, dizziness, defeat and all
other disturbances.  Bali Maharaja, you
may now go live there peacefully.  
इन्द्रसेन
महाराज याहि भो भद्रमस्तु ते।
सुतलं
स्वर्गिभिः प्रार्थ्यं ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः॥३३॥
O Bali
Maharaja[Indrasena], now you may go to the planet Sutala, which is desired even
by the demigods.  Live there peacefully,
surrounded by your friends and relatives. All good fortune unto you.
न त्वामभिभविष्यन्ति
लिकेशाः किमुतापरे।
त्वच्छासनातिगान् दैत्यांश्चक्रं
मे सूदयिष्यति ॥३४॥
On
the planet Sutala, not even the predominating deities of other planets, what to
speak of ordinary people, will be able to conquer you.  As far as the demons are concerned, if they
transgress your rule, My disc will kill them.  
रक्षिष्ये
सर्वतोऽहं त्वां सानुगं सपरिच्छदम्।
सदा
सन्निहितं वीर तत्र मां द्रक्ष्यते भवान् ॥३५॥
O
great hero, I shall always be with you and give you protection in all respects
along with your associates and paraphernalia. 
Moreover, you will always be able to see Me there.
तत्र दानवदैत्यानां सङ्गात् ते भाव आसुरः।
दृष्ट्वा
मदनुभावं वै सद्यः कुण्ठो विनङ्क्ष्यति॥३६॥
Because
there you will see My supreme prowess, your materialistic ideas and anxieties
that have arisen from your association with the demons and Daavas will
immediately be vanquished.  
॥इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां हितायामष्टमस्कन्धे
     वामनप्रादुर्भावे बलिवामनसंवादो नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः॥           
   
 

     

VAMANAVATARA-6(SRIMADBHAGAVATAM, CANTO-8, CHAPTER 21)

          

         वामनावतारः-६
 (श्रीमद्भागवतम् अष्टमस्कंधः, अध्यायः २१)
 [The English
translation is largely based on that of  the disciples of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam”
published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
सत्यं समीक्ष्याब्जभवो नखेन्दुभि-
  र्हतस्वधामद्युतिरावृतोऽभ्यगात्।
मरीचिमिश्रा  ऋषयो बृहद्व्रताः
   सनन्दनाद्या नरदेव योगिनः ॥१॥
Sri Sukadeva Goswami
continued: When Lord Brahma, who was born of lotus flower, saw that the
effulgence of his residence, Brahmaloka, had been reduced by the glaring
effulgence from the toenails of Lord Vamanadeva, he approached the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.  Lord Brahma was
accompanied by all the great sages, headed by Marichi, and by yogis like
Sanandana, but in the presence of that glaring effulgence, O King, even Lord
Brahma and his associates seemed insignificant.
वेदोपवेदा नियमान्विता यमा-
   स्तर्केतिहासाङ्गपुराणसंहिताः।
ये चापरे योगसमीरदीपित-
    ज्ञानाग्निना रन्धितकर्मकल्मषाः॥२॥
 
ववन्दिरे यत्स्मरणानुभावतः
     स्वायम्भुवं धाम गता अकर्मकम्
  अथाङ्घ्रये प्रोन्नमिताय विष्णो-
      रुपाहरत् पद्मभवोऽर्हणोदकम्।
   समर्च्य  भक्त्याभ्यगृणाच्छुचिश्रवा
       यन्नाभिपङ्केरुहसम्भवः स्वयम्॥३॥
   
Among the great
personalities who came to worship the lotus feet of the Lord were those who had
attained perfection in self-control (yama) and regulative principles (niyama),
as well as experts in logic, history, general education and the Vedic literature
known as kalpa [dealing with old historical incidents].  Others were experts in the Vedic corollaries
like Brahma-samhita, all the other knowledge of the Vedas [Rg, Yajur, Sama,
Atharva], and also the supplementary Vedic knowledge [Ayur-veda, Dhanur-veda
etc].   Others were those who had been
freed of the reactions to fruitive activities by transcendental knowledge
awakened by practice of yoga. And still others were those who attained
residence in Brahmaloka not by ordinary karma but by advanced Vedic
knowledge.  After devotedly worshiping
the upraised lotus feet of the Supreme Lord with oblations of water, Lord
Brahma, who was born of the lotus emanating from Lord Vishnu’s naval, offered
prayers to the Lord.  
धातुः कमण्डलुजलं तदुरुक्रमस्य      
        पादावनेजनपवित्रतया नरेन्द्र।
   स्वर्धुन्यभून्नभसि सा पतती निमार्ष्टि
         लोकत्रयं भगवतो विशदेव कीर्तिः॥४॥
O King, the water from
Lord Brahma’s kamandalu washed the lotus feet of Lord Vamanadeva, who is
known as Urukrama, the wonderful actor. 
Thus that water became so pure that it was transformed into the water of
the Ganges, which went flowing down from the sky, purifying the three worlds like
the pure fame of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
ब्रह्मादयो लोकनाथाः स्वनाथाय समादृताः
सानुगा बलिमाजह्रुः संक्षिप्तात्मविभूतये ॥५॥
Lord Brahma and all the
predominating deities of the various planetary systems began to worship Lord
Vamanadeva, their supreme master, who had reduced Himself from His
all-pervading form to His original form. 
They collected all the ingredients and paraphernalia for his worship.
तोयैः समर्हणः स्रग्भिर्दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनैः।
धूपैर्दीपैः सुरभिभिर्लाजाक्षतफलाङ्कुरैः ॥६॥
स्तवनैर्जयशब्दैश्च तद्वीर्यमहिमाङ्कितैः।
नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च शंखदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनैः॥७॥
They worshiped the Lord
by offering fragrant flowers, water, padya and arghya, sandalwood pulp and
aguru pulp, incense, lamps, fused rice, unbroken grains, fruits roots and
sprouts.  While so doing, they offered
prayers indicating the glorious activities of the Lord and shouted “Jaya! Jaya!.”
They also danced, played instruments, sang, sounded conch shells and beat kettledrums,
in this way worshiping the Lord.
जाम्बवानृक्षराजस्तु भेरीशब्दैर्मनोजवः।
विजयं दिक्षु सर्वासु महोत्सवमघोषयत्॥८॥
Jambavan, king of the
bears, also joined in the ceremony. Sounding his bugle in all directions, he
declared a great festival for Lord Vamadeva’s victory.
महीं सर्वां हृतां दृष्ट्वा त्रिपदव्याजयाच्ञया।
ऊचुः स्वभर्तुरसुरा दीक्षितस्यात्यमर्षिताः॥९॥
When the demoniac
followers of Maharaja Bali saw that their master, who had been determined in
performing sacrifice, had lost all his possessions to Vamanadeva, who had taken
them away on the plea of begging three paces of land, they were very angry and
spoke as follows.
न वा अयं ब्रह्मबन्धुर्विष्णुर्मायाविनां वरः।
द्विजरूपप्रतिच्छन्नो देवकार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥१०॥
“This Vamana is certainly
not a brahmana but the best of cheaters, Lord Vishnu.  Assuming the form of a brahmana, He has
covered His own form, and thus He is working for the interests of the demigods.”
अनेन याचमानेन शत्रुणा वटुरूपिणा।
सर्वस्वं नो हृतं भर्तुर्न्यस्तदण्डस्य  बर्हिषि॥११॥
“Our lord, Bali Maharaja,
because of his position in performing the yajna, has given up the power
to punish. Taking advantage of this, our eternal enemy, Vishnu, dressed in the
form of a brahmachari beggar, has taken away all his possessions”.
सत्यव्रतस्य सततं दीक्षितस्य विशेषतः।
नानृतं भाषितुं शक्यं ब्राह्मणस्य दयावतः ॥१२॥   
“ Our lord, Bali
Maharaja, is always fixed in truthfulness, and this is especially so at
present, since he has been initiated into performing a sacrifice.  He is always kind and merciful toward the
brahmanas, and he cannot at any time speak lies.”
तस्मादस्य वधो धर्मो भर्तुः शुश्रूषणं च नः।
इत्यायुधानि जगृहुर्बलेरनुचरासुराः ॥१३॥
“Therefore it is our duty
to kill this Vamanadeva, Lord Vishnu.  It
is our religious principle (dharma) and the way to serve our master.”  After making this decision, the demoniac
followers of Maharaja Bali took up their various weapons with a view to killing
Vamanadeva. 
ते सर्वे वामनं हन्तुं शूलपट्टिशपाणयः।
अनिच्छतो बले राजन् प्राद्रवञ्जातमन्यवः ॥१४॥
O king, the demons,
aggravated by their usual anger, took their lances and tridents in hand, and
against the will of Bali Maharaja they pushed forward to kill Vamanadeva.
तानभिद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा दितिजानीकपान् नृप।
प्रहस्यानुचरा विष्णोः प्रत्यषेधन्नुदायुधाः॥१५॥
O King, when the
associates of Lord Vishnu saw the soldiers of the demons coming forward in
violence, they smiled.  Taking up their
weapons, they forbade the demons to continue their attempt.
नन्दः सुनन्दोऽथ जयो विजयः प्रबलो बलः।
कुमुदः कुमुदाक्षश्च विष्वक्सेनः पतत्रिराट्॥१६॥
जयन्तः श्रुतदेवश्च पुष्पदन्तोऽथ सात्वतः।
सर्वे नागायुतप्राणाश्चमूं ते जघ्नुरासुरीम् ॥१७॥
Nanda, Sunanda, jaya, Vijaya,
prabala, Bala, Kumuda, kumudaksha, Vishwaksena, Garuda, Jayanta, Shrutadeva,
Pushpadanta and Satvata were all associates of Lord Vishnu.  They were all as powerful as ten thousand
elephants, and now they began killing the soldiers of the demons.
हन्यमानान् स्वकान् दृष्ट्वा पुरुषानुचरैर्बलिः।
वारयामास संरब्धान् काव्यशापमनुस्मरन् ॥१८॥
When Bali Maharaja saw that his own soldiers were
being killed by the associates of Lord Vishnu, he remembered the curse of
Sukracharya and forbade his soldiers to continue fighting.
हे विप्रचित्ते हे राहो हे नेमे श्रूयतां वचः।
मा युध्यत निवर्तध्वं न नः कालोऽयमर्थकृत्॥१९॥
O Viprachitti, O Rahu, O
Nemi, please hear my words!  don’t fight.
Stop immediately, for the present time is not in our favour.
यः प्रभुः सर्वभूतानां सुखदुःखोपपत्तये।
तं नातिवर्तितुं दैत्याः पौरुषैरीश्वरः पुमान् ॥२०॥

O Daityas, by human efforts no one can supersede the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can bring happiness and distress to all
living entities.
यो नो भवाय प्रागासीदभवाय दिवौकसाम्।
स एव भगवानद्य वर्तते तद्विपर्ययम् ॥२१॥
The supreme time factor , which represents the Supreme
Person, was previously in our favour and not in favour of the demigods, but now
that same time factor is against us.
बलेन सचिवैर्बुद्ध्या दुर्गैर्मन्त्रौषधादिभिः ।
सामादिभिरुपायैश्च कालं नात्येति वै जनः ॥२२॥
No one can surpass the
time representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by material power, by
the counsel of ministers, by intelligence, by fortresses, by mystic mantras, by
drugs, by herbs, by diplomacy or any other means.  
भवद्भिर्निर्जिता ह्येते बहुशोऽनुचरा हरेः।
दैवेनर्द्धैस्त एवाद्य युधि जित्वा नदन्ति नः ॥२३॥
Previously, being empowered by providence, you
defeated a great number of such followers of Lord Vishnu.  But today those same followers, having
defeated us, are roaring in jubilation like lions.
एतान् वयं विजेष्यामो यदि दैवं प्रसीदति।
तस्मात् कालं प्रतीक्षध्वं यो नोऽर्थत्वाय कल्पते॥२४॥
Unless providence is in our favour, we shall not be
able to gain victory.  Therefore we must
wait for that favourable time when our defeating them will be possible.
श्रीशुक उवाच-
पत्युर्निगदितं श्रुत्वा दैत्यदानवयूथपाः।
रसां निविविशू राजन् विष्णुपार्षदताडिताः ॥२५॥
Sri Sukadeva Goswamy
continued: O King, in accordance with the order of their master, Bali Maharaja,
all the chiefs of the demons and the Daityas entered the lower regions of the
universe, to which they were driven by the soldiers of Vishnu.
अथ तार्क्ष्यसुतो ज्ञात्वा विराट्प्रभुचिकीर्षितम्।
बबन्ध वारुणैः पाशैर्बलिं सौत्येऽहनि क्रतौ॥२६॥
Thereafter, on the day of soma-pana, after the
sacrifice was finished, Garuda, king of the birds, understanding the desire of
his master, arrested Bali Maharaja with ropes of Varuna.
हाहाकारो महानासीद् रोदस्योः सर्वतोदिशम्।
गृह्यमाणेऽसुरपतौ विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥२७॥
When Bali Maharaja was thus arrested by Lord Vishnu,
who is the most powerful, there was a great roar of lamentation in all
directions throughout the upper and lower planetary systems of the universe.
तं बद्धं वारुणैः पाशैर्भगवानाह वामनः।
नष्टश्रियं स्थिरप्रज्ञमुदारयशसं नृप ॥२८॥
O  King, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, then spoke to Bali Maharaja, the
most liberal and celebrated personality whom He had arrested with the ropes of
Varuna.  Bali Maharaja had lost all
bodily lustre, but he was nonetheless fixed in his determination.
पदानि त्रीणि दत्तानि भूमेर्मह्यं त्वयासुर।
द्वाभ्यां क्रान्ता मही सर्वा तृतीयमुपकल्पय॥२९॥
O King of the demons, you have promised to give me
three steps of land, but I have occupied the entire universe with two steps.
Now think about where I should put My third.
यावत् तपत्यसौ गोभिर्यावदिन्दुः सहोडुभिः
यावद् वर्षति पर्जन्यस्तावती भूरियं तव॥३०॥
As far as the sun and moon shine with the stars and as
far as the clouds pour rain, all the land throughout the universe is in your
possession.
पदैकेन मया क्रान्तो भूर्लोकः खं दिशस्तनोः।
स्वर्लोकस्तु द्वितीयेन पश्यतस्ते स्वमात्मना ॥३१॥
Of these possessions, with one step I have occupied
Bhurloka, and with My body I have occupied the entire sky and all
directions.  And in your presence, with
My second step, I have occupied the upper planetary system.
प्रतिश्रुतमदातुस्ते निरये वास इष्यते।
विश त्वं निरयं तस्माद् गुरुणा चानुमोदितः ॥३२॥
Because you have been unable to give charity according
to your promise, the rule is that you should go down to live in the hellish
planets.  Therefore, in accordance with
the order of Sukracharya, your spiritual master, now go down and live
there. 
वृथा मनोरथस्तस्य दूरः
स्वर्गः पतत्यधः।
प्रतिश्रुतस्यादानेन योऽर्थिनं विप्रलम्भते॥३३॥
Far from being elevated to the heavenly planets or
fulfilling one’s desires, one who does not properly give a beggar what he has
promised falls down to a hellish condition of life.
विप्रलब्धो ददामीति त्वयाहं चाढ्यमानिना।
तद्व्यलीकफलं  भुङ्क्ष्व निरयं कतिचित् समाः
॥३४॥
Being falsely proud of your possessions, you promised
to give Me land, but you could not fulfill your promise.   Therefore, because your promise was false,
you must live for a few years in hellish life.
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे
     वामनप्रादुर्भावे बलिनिग्रहो नाम एकविंशोऽध्यायः            

VAMANAVATARA-5 (SRIMADBHAGAVATAM, CANTO-8, CHAPTER 20)

                
         वामनावतारः-५
 (श्रीमद्भागवतम्  अष्टमस्कंधः, अध्यायः २०)
श्रीशुक उवाच-
बलिरेवं गृहपतिः कुलाचार्येण भाषितः।
तूष्णीं भूत्वा क्षणं राजन्नुवाचावहितो गुरुम् ॥१॥ 
Sri Sukadeva Goswami
said: O King Parikshit, when Bali Maharaja was thus advised by his spiritual
master, Sukracharya, his family priest, he remained silent for some time, and
then, after full deliberation, he replied to his spiritual master as follows.
बलिरुवाच-
सत्यं भगवता प्रोक्तं धर्मोऽयं गृहमेधिनाम्।
अर्थं कामं यशो वृत्तिं यो न बाधेत कर्हिचित् ॥२॥
Bali Maharaja said: As
you have already stated, the principle of religion (dharma) that does
not hinder one’s economic development, sense gratification, fame and means of
livelihood is the real occupational duty of the 
householder.  I also think that
his religious principle  is correct.
स चाहं वित्तलोभेन प्रत्याचक्षे कथं द्विजम्।
प्रतिश्रुत्य ददामीति प्राह्लादिः कितवो यथा ॥३॥
I am the grandson of
Maharaja Prahlada.  How can I withdraw my
promise because of greed for money when I have already said that I shall give
this land? How can I behave like an ordinary cheater, especially toward a
brahmana
न ह्यसत्यात् परोऽधर्म इति होवाच भूरियम्।
सर्वं सोढुमलं मन्ये ऋतेऽलीकपरं नरम् ॥४॥
There is nothing more
sinful than untruthfulness.  Because of
this, mother earth once said, “I can bear any heavy thing except a person who
is a liar.”
नाहं बिभेमि निरयान्नाधन्यादसुखार्णवात्।
न स्थानच्यवनान्मृत्योर्यथा विप्रप्रलम्भनात् ॥५॥
I do not fear hell, poverty, an ocean of distress,
fall-down from my position or even death itself as much as I fear cheating a
brahmana.
यद् यद्धास्यति लोकेऽस्मिन् सम्परेतं धनादिकम्।
तस्य त्यागे निमित्तं किं विप्रस्तुष्येन्न तेन चेत् ॥६॥
My Lord, you can also see
that all the material opulences of this world are certainly separated from
their possessor at death.  Therefore, if
the brahmana Vamanadeva is not satisfied by whatever gifts one has given, why
not please Him with the riches one is destined to lose at death?
श्रेयः कुर्वन्ति भूतानां साधवो दुस्त्यजासुभिः।
दध्यङ्शिबिप्रभृतयः को विकल्पो धरादिषु ॥७॥
Dadhichi, Sibi and many
other great personalities were willing to sacrifice even their lives for the
benefit of the people in general.  This
is the evidence of history.  So why not
give up this insignificant land?  What is
the serious consideration against it?
यैरियं बुभुजे ब्रह्मन् दैत्येन्द्रैरनिवर्तिभिः।
तेषां कालोऽग्रसील्लोकान् न यशोऽधिगतं भुवि ॥८॥
O best of brahmanas, certainly the great demoniac
kings who were never reluctant to fight enjoyed this world, but in due course
of time everything they had was taken away, except their reputation, by which
they continue to exist.  In other words,
one should try to achieve a good reputation instead of anything else.
सुलभा युधि विप्रर्षे ह्यनिवृत्तास्तनुत्यजः।
न तथा तीर्थ आयाते श्रद्धया ये धनत्यजः ॥९॥
O best of the brahmanas,
many men have laid down their lives on the battlefield, being unafraid of
fighting, but rarely has one gotten the chance to give his accumulated wealth
faithfully to a saintly person who creates holy places.
मनस्विनः कारुणिकस्य शोभनं
    यदर्थिकामोपनयेन दुर्गतिः
कुतः पुनः ब्रह्मविदां भवादृशां
    ततो वटोरस्य ददामि वाञ्छितम् ॥१०॥
By giving charity, a
benevolent and merciful person undoubtedly becomes even more auspicious,
especially when he gives charity to a person like your good self.  Under the circumstances, I must give this
little brahmachari whatever charity He wants from me,
यजन्ति यज्ञक्रतुभिर्यमादृता
   भवन्त आम्नायविधानकोविदाः।
स एव विष्णुर्वरदोऽस्तु वा परो
   दास्याम्यमुष्मै क्षितिमीप्सितां मुने ॥११॥
O great sage, great
saintly persons like you, being completely aware of the Vedic principles for
performing ritualistic ceremonies and yajnas, worship Lord Vishnu in all
circumstances.  Therefore, whether that
same Lord Vishnu has come here to give me all benedictions or to punish me as
an enemy, I must carry out His order and give Him the requested tract of land
without hesitation.
यद्यप्यसावधर्मेण मां बध्नीयादनागसम्।
तथाप्येनं न हिंसिष्ये भीतं ब्रह्मतनुं रिपुम् ॥१२॥
Although He is Vishnu
Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brahmana to come
to me begging.  Under the circumstances,
because He has assumed the form of a brahmana, even if he arrests me  contrary to dharma as I am without
blame, I shall not retaliate, although He is my enemy.
एष वा उत्तमश्लोको न जिहासति यद् यशः।
हत्वा मैनां हरेद् युद्धे शयीत निहतो मया ॥१३॥
If this brahmana really is Lord Vishnu, who is
worshiped by Vedic hymns, He would never give up His widespread reputation;
either He would lie down having been killed by me, or He would kill me in a
fight.
श्रीशुक उवाच-
एवमश्रद्धितं शिष्यमनादेशकरं गुरुः।
शशाप दैवप्रहितः सत्यसन्धं मनस्विनम् ॥१४॥
Sri Sukadeva Goswami
continued: Thereafter, the spiritual master, Sukracharya, being inspired by the
Supreme Lord, cursed his exalted disciple Bali Maharaja, who was so magnanimous
and fixed in truthfulness that instead of respecting his spiritual master’s
instructions, he wanted to disobey his order. 
दृढं पण्डिमान्यज्ञः स्तब्धोऽस्यस्मदुपेक्षया।
मच्छासनातिगो यस्त्वमचिराद्  भ्रश्यते श्रियः ॥१५॥
Although you have no
knowledge, you have become a so-called learned person, and therefore you dare
be so impudent as to disobey my order. 
Because of disobeying me, you shall very soon be bereft of all our
opulence.
एवं शप्तः स्वगुरुणा सत्यान्न चलितो महान्।
वामनाय ददावेनामर्चित्वोदकपूर्वकम् ॥१६॥
Sri Sukadeva Goswami continued: Even after being
cursed in this way by his own spiritual master, Bali Maharaja, being a great
personality, never deviated from his determination.  Therefore, according to custom, he first
offered water to Vamanadeva and then offered Him the gift of land he had
promised.
विन्ध्यावलिस्तदाऽऽगत्य पत्नी जालकमालिनी।
आनिन्ये कलशं हैममवनेजन्यपां भृतम्॥१७॥
Bali Maharaja’s wife,
known as Vindhyavali, who was decorated with a necklace of pearls, immediately
came and had a large golden waterpot brought there, full of water with which to
wirship the Lord by washing His feet.
यजमानः स्वयं तस्य श्रीमत् पादयुगं मुदा।
अवनिज्यावहन्मूर्ध्नि तदपो विश्वपावनीः॥१८॥
Bali Mahararaja, the
worshiper of Lord Vamanadeva, jubilantly washed the Lord’s lotus feet and then
took the water on his head, for that water delivers the entire universe.
तदासुरेन्द्रं दिवि देवतागणा
   गन्धर्वविद्याधरसिद्धचारणाः।
तत्कर्म सर्वेऽपि गृणन्त आर्जवं
   प्रसूनवर्षैर्ववृषुर्मुदान्विताः ॥१९॥
At that time, the
residents of the higher planetary system, namely demigods, the Gandharvas, the
Vidyadharas, the Siddhas and the Charanas, all being very pleased by Bali
Maharaja’s simple, non-duplicitous act, praised his qualities and showered upon
him millions of flowers.
                
नेदुर्मुहुर्दुन्दुभयो सहस्रशो
  गन्धर्वकिम्पूरुषकिन्नरा जगुः।
मनस्विनानेन कृतं सुदुष्करं
  विद्वानदाद् यद् रिपवे जगत्त्र्यम्॥२०॥
The Gandharvas, the
Kimpurushas and Kinnaras sounded thousands of kettledrums and trumpets again
and again, and they sang in great jubilation, declaring, “How exalted a person
is Bali Maharaja, and what a difficult task he has performed! Even though he
knew that Lord Vishnu was on the side of his enemies, he nonetheless gave the
Lord the entire three worlds in charity.”
तद् वामनं रूपमवर्धताद्भुतं
  हरेरनन्तस्य गुणत्रयात्मकम्।
भूः खं दिशो द्यौर्विवराः पयोधय-
  स्तिर्यङ्नृदेवा ऋषयो यदासत ॥२१॥
The unlimited Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who had assumed the form of Vamana, then began
increasing in size, acting in terms of the material energy, until everything in
the universe was within His body, including the earth, the planetary systems,
the sky, the directions, the various holes in the universe, the seas, the
oceans, the birds, the beasts, human beings, the demigods and the great saintly
persons.
काये बलिस्तस्य महाविभूतेः
  सहर्त्विगाचार्यसदस्य एतत्।
ददर्श विश्वं त्रिगुणं गुणात्मके
   भूतेन्द्रियार्थाशयजीवयुक्तम् ॥२२॥
Bali Maharaja, along with
all the priests, acharyas and members of the assembly, observed the Supreme
Personality of Godhead’s universal body, which was full of six opulences.  That body contained everything within the
universe, including all the gross material elements, the senses, the sense
objects, the mind, intelligence and false ego, the various kinds of living
entities, and the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature.
रसामचष्टाङ्घ्रितलेऽथ पादयो-
  र्महीं महीध्रान् पुरुषस्य जङ्घयोः।
पतत्त्रिणो जानुनि विश्वमूर्ते-
  रूर्वोर्गणम् मारुतमिन्द्रसेनः ॥२३॥
Thereafter, Bali
Maharaja, who was occupying the seat of King Indra, could see the lower
planetary systems, such as Rasatala, on the soles of the feet of the Lord’s
universal form.  He saw on the Lord’s
feet the surface of the globe, on the surface of His calves all the mountains,
on His knees the various birds, and on His thighs the varieties of air.
सन्ध्यां विभोर्वाससि गुह्य ऐक्षत्
   प्रजापतीञ्जघने आत्ममुख्यान् ।
नाभ्यां नभः कुक्षिषु सप्तसिन्धू-
   नुरुक्रमस्योरसि चर्क्षमालाम्॥२४॥
Bali Maharaja saw beneath
the garments of the Lord, who acts wonderfully, the evening twilight.  In the Lord’s private parts he saw the Prajapatis,
and in the round portion of the waist he saw himself with his confidential
associates.  In the Lord’s navel he saw
the sky, on the Lord’s waist he saw the seven oceans, and on the Lord’s bosom
he saw all the clusters of stars.
हृद्यङ्ग धर्मं स्तनयोर्मुरारेः
   ऋतं च सत्यं च मनस्यथेन्दुम्।
श्रियं च वक्षस्यरविन्दहस्तां
   कण्ठे च सामानि समस्तरेफान् ॥२५॥
इन्द्रप्रधानानमरान् भुजेषु
   तत्कर्णयोः ककुभो द्यौश्च मूर्ध्नि।
केशेषु मेघाञ्छ्‍वसनं नासिकाया-
   मक्ष्णोश्च सूर्यं वदने च वह्निम् ॥२६॥
वाण्यां च छन्दांसि रसे जलेशं
   भ्रुवोर्निषेधं च विधिं च पक्ष्मसु।
अहश्च रात्रिं च परस्य पुंसो
   मन्युं ललाटेऽधर एव लोभम् ॥२७॥
स्पर्शे च कामं नृप रेतसोऽम्भः
  पृष्ठे त्वधर्मं क्रमणेषु यज्ञम्।
 छायासु मृत्युं हसिते च मायां
   तनूरुहेष्वोषधिजातयश्च ॥२८॥
नदीश्च नाडीषु शिला नखेषु
   बुद्धावजं देवगणानृषींश्च।
प्राणेषु गात्रे स्थिरजंगमानि
   सर्वाणि भूतानि ददर्श वीरः ॥२९॥
My dear King, on the
heart of Lord Murari he saw dharma; on the chest, both pleasing words and
truthfulness; in the mind, the moon; on the bosom, the goddess of fortune, with
a lotus flower in her hand; on the neck, all the Vedas and all sound
vibrations; on the arms, all the demigods, headed by King Indra; in both ears,
all the directions; on the head, the upper planetary systems; on the hair, the
clouds; in the nostrils, the wind; on the eyes, the sun; and in the mouth,
fire.  From his words came all the Vedic
mantras, on His tongue was the demigod of water, Varunadeva, on His eyebrows
were the regulative principles, on His eyelids were day and night. [When His
eyes were open it was daytime, and when they were closed it was night.]  On his forehead was anger, and on His lips
was greed.  O King, in His touch were
lusty desires, in His semen were all the waters, on His back was irreligion (adharma),
and in His wonderful activities or steps was the fire of sacrifice.  On His shadow was death, in His smile was the
illusory energy (Maya), and on the hairs of His body were all the drugs
and herbs.  In His veins were all rivers,
on His nails were all the stones, in His intelligence were Lord Brahma, the
demigods and the great saintly persons, and throughout His entire body and
senses were all living entities, moving and stationary.  Bali Maharaja thus saw everything in the
gigantic body of the Lord.
सर्वात्मनीदं भुवनं निरीक्ष्य
    सर्वेऽसुराः कश्मलमापुरङ्ग।
सुदर्शनं चक्रमसह्यतेजो
    धनुश्च शार्ङ्गं स्तनयित्नुघोषम् ॥३०॥
O King, when all the
demons, the followers of Maharaja Bali, saw the universal form of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who held everything within His body, when they saw in
the Lord’s hand His disc, known as the Sudarsana chakra, which generates
intolerable heat, and  when they heard
the tumultuous sound of His bow, all of these caused lamentation within their
hearts.
पर्जन्यघोषो जलजः पाञ्चजन्यः
  कौमोदकी विष्णुगदा तरस्विनी।
विद्याधरोऽसिः शतचन्द्रयुक्त-
  स्तूणोत्तमावक्षयसायकौ च ॥३१॥
The Lord’s conch shell,
named Panchajanya, which made sound like that of a cloud; the very
forceful club named Kaumodaki; the sword named Vidyadhara, with a
shield decorated with hundreds of moonlike spots; and also Akshayasayaka,
the best of quivers – all of these appeared together to offer prayers to the
Lord.  
सुनन्दमुख्या उपतस्थुरीशं
   पार्षदमुख्याः सहलोकपालाः।
स्फुरत्किरीटाङ्गदमीनकुण्डल-
   श्रीवत्सरत्नोत्तम मेखलाम्बरैः ॥३२॥
मधुव्रतस्रग्वनमालया वृतो
  रराज राजन् भगवानुरुक्रमः।
क्षितिं पदैकेन बलेर्विचक्रमे
  नभः शरीरेण दिशश्च बाहुभिः ॥३३॥
These associates, headed
by Sunanda and other chief associates and accompanied by all the predominating
deities of the various planets, offered prayers to the Lord, who wore a
brilliant helmet, bracelets, and glittering earrings that resembled fish.  On the Lord’s bosom were the lock of hair
called Srivatsa and the transcendental jewel named Kaustubha.  He wore a yellow garment, covered by a belt,
and He was decorated by a flower garland, surrounded by bees.  Manifesting Himself in this way, O King, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities are wonderful, covered the
entire surface of the earth with one footstep, the sky with His body, and all
directions with His arms.  
पदं द्वितीयं क्रमतस्त्रिविष्टपं
   न वै तृतीयाय तदीयमण्वपि।
उरुक्रमस्याङ्घ्रिरुपर्युपर्यथो
   महर्जनाभ्यां तपसः परं गतः॥३४॥ 
As the Lord took His second step,  He covered the heavenly planets.  And not even a spot remained for the third
step, for the Lord’s foot extended higher and higher, beyond Maharloka,
Janaloka, Tapoloka and even Satyaloka.
 इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे
पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे
           विश्वरूपदर्शनो नाम विंशोऽध्यायः           

VAMANAVATARA-4(SRIMADBHAGAVATAM, CANTO-8, CHAPTER 19)


             
                                          वामनावतारः
                             (श्रीमद्भागवतम् – स्कन्धः८, अध्यायः १९)


 [The English
translation is largely based on that of  the disciples of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam”
published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
श्री शुक उचाच-
इति वैरोचनेर्वाक्यं धर्मयुक्तं सुसूनृतम्।
निशम्य भगवान् प्रीतः प्रतिनन्द्येदमब्रवीत्॥१॥
Sukadeva Goswami
continued: When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, heard Bali
Maharaja speaking in this pleasing way, He was very satisfied, for Bali
Maharaja had spoken in terms of religious principles (dharma).  Thus the Lord began to praise him. 
श्रीभगवानुवाच-
वचस्तवैतज्जनदेव सूनृतं
  कुलोचितं धर्मयुतं यशस्करम्।
यस्य प्रमाणं भृगवः साम्पराये
  पितामहः कुलवृद्धः प्रशान्तः ॥२॥
The Supreme Personality
of Godhead said: O King, you are indeed exalted because your present advisors
are the brahmanas who are descendants of Bhrgu and because your instructor for
your future life is your grandfather, the peaceful and venerable Prahlada
Maharaja.  Your statements are very true,
and they completely agree with religious etiquette.  They are in keeping with the behaviour of
your family, and they enhance your reputation.
न ह्येतस्मिन् कुले कश्चि-
 न्निःसत्त्वः कृपणः पुमान्।
प्रत्याख्याता प्रतिश्रुत्य
  यो वादाता द्विजातये ॥३॥
I know that even until
now, no one taking birth in your family has been poor-minded or miserly.  No one has refused to give charity to
Brahmans, nor after promising to give charity has anyone failed to fulfill his
promise.
न सन्ति तिर्थे युधिचार्थिनार्थिताः
  पराङ्मुखा ये त्वमनस्विनो नृपाः।
युष्मत्कुले यद्यशसामलेन
   प्रह्लाद उद्भाति यथोडुपःखे ॥४॥
O King Bali, never in
your dynasty has the low-minded king been born who upon being requested has
refused charity to brahmanas in holy places or a fight to kshatriyas on a
battlefield.  And your dynasty is even
more glorious due to the presence of Prahlada Maharaja, who is like the
beautiful moon in the sky.
 यतो जातो हिरण्याक्षश्चरन्नेक इमां महीम्।
 प्रतिवीरं दिग्विजये नाविन्दत गदायुधः ॥५॥
It was in your dynasty that Hiranyaksha was born.
Carrying only his own club (mace), he wandered the globe alone, without
assistance, to conquer all directions, and no hero he met could rival him.
यं विनिर्जित्य कृच्छ्रेण विष्णुः क्ष्मोद्धार आगतम्।
नात्मानं जयिनं मेने तद्वीर्यं भूर्यनुस्मरन् ॥६॥
When delivering the earth
from the Garbhodaka Sea, Lord Vishnu, in His incarnation as a boar, killed Hiranyaksha,
who had appeared before him.  The fight
was severe, and the Lord killed Hiranyaksha with great difficulty. Later, as
the Lord thought about the uncommon prowess of Hiranyaksha, He did not consider
Himself  really victorious.
निशम्य तद्वधं भ्राता हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा।
हन्तुं भ्रातृहणं क्रुद्धो जगाम निलयं हरे:॥७॥
When Hiranyakasipu
heard  the news of his brother’s being
killed, with great anger he went to the residence of Vishnu, the killer of his
brother, wanting to kill Lord Vishnu.
तमायान्तं समालोक्य शूलपाणिं कृतान्तवत्।
चिन्तयामास कालज्ञो विष्णुर्मायाविनां वरः ॥८॥
Seeing Hiranyakasipu
coming forward bearing a trident in his hand like personified death, Lord
Vishnu, the best of all mystics and the knower of the progress of time, thought
as follows.
यतो यतोऽहं तत्रासौ मृत्युः प्राणभृतामिव।
अतोऽहमस्य हृदयं प्रवेक्ष्यामि पराग्दृशः॥९॥
Wheresoever I go,
Hiranyakasipu will follow Me, as death follows all living entities.  Therefore it is better for Me to enter the
core of his heart, for then, because of his power to see only externally, he
will not see Me.
एवं स  निश्चित्य
रिपोः शरीर-
     माधावतो निर्विविशेऽसुरेन्द्र।
श्वासानिलान्तर्हितसूक्ष्मदेह-
     स्तत्प्राणरन्ध्रेण विविग्नचेताः ॥१०॥
Lord Vamanadeva
continued: O King of the demons, after Lord Vishnu made this decision, He
entered the body of His enemy Hiranyakasipu, who was running after Him with
great force.  In a subtle body
inconceivable to Hiranyakasipu, Lord Vishnu, who was in great anxiety, entered
Hiranyakasipu’s nostril along with his breath.  
स तन्निकेतं परिमृश्य शून्य-
   मपश्यमानः कुपितो ननाद।
 क्ष्मां द्यां दिशः खं विवरान् समुद्रान्
   विष्णुं विचिन्वन् न ददर्श वीरः ॥११॥
Upon seeing that the
abode of Lord Vishnu was vacant, Hiranyakasipu began searching for Lord Vishnu
everywhere.  Angry at not seeing Him,
Hiranyakasipu screamed loudly and searched the entire universe, including the surface
of the earth, the higher planetary systems, all directions and all the caves
and oceans. But Hiranyakasipu, the greatest hero, did not see Vishnu anywhere.    
अपश्यन्निति होवाच मयान्विष्टमिदं जगत्।
भ्रातृहा मे गतो नूनं यतो नावर्तते पुमान् ॥१२॥
Unable to see Him,
Hiranyakasipu said, “I have searched the entire universe, but I could not find
Vishnu, who has killed my brother. 
Therefore, He must certainly have gone to that place from which no one
returns [In other words, He must now be dead]
वैरानुबन्ध एतावानामृत्योरिह देहिनाम्।
अज्ञानप्रभवो मन्युरहंमानोपबृंहितः॥१३॥
Hiranyakasipu’s anger
against Lord Vishnu persisted until his death. 
Other people in the bodily concept of life maintain anger only because
of false ego and the great influence of ignorance.
पिता प्रह्लादपुत्रस्ते तद्विद्वान् द्विजवत्सलः।
स्वमायुर्द्विजलिङ्गेभ्यो देवेभ्योऽदात् स याचितः॥१४॥
Your father Virochana,
the son of Maharaja Prahlada, was very affectionate toward brahmanas.  Although he knew very well that it was the
demigods who had come to him in the dress of brahmanas, at their request he delivered
to them the duration of his life.
भवानाचरितान् धर्मानास्थितो गृहमेधिभिः।
ब्राह्मणैः पूर्वजैः शूरैरन्यैश्चोद्दामकीर्तिभिः॥१५॥
You also have observed
the principles followed by great personalities who are householder brahmanas,
by your forefathers and by great heroes who are extremely famous for their
exalted activities.
तस्मात् त्वत्तो महीमीषद् वृणेऽहं वरदर्षभात्।
पदानि त्रीणि दैत्येन्द्र संमितानि पदा मम ॥१६॥
O King of the Daityas,
from Your Majesty, best among those who  give charity munificently, I ask only three
paces of land measured by my steps.  
नान्यत् ते कामये राजन् वदान्याज्जगदीश्वरात् ।
नैनः प्राप्नोति वै विद्वान् यावदर्थपरिग्रहः ॥१७॥
O King, controller of the
entire universe, although you are very munificent and are able to give Me as
much land as I want, I do not want anything from you that is unnecessary.  If a learned brahmana takes charity from
others only according to his needs, he does not become entangled in sinful
activities.
बलिरुवाच-
अहो ब्राह्मणदायाद वाचस्ते वृद्धसम्मताः।
त्वं बालो बालिशमतिः स्वार्थं प्रत्यबुधो यथा॥१८॥
Bali Maharaja said: O son of a brahmana, Your words
are as good as those of learned and elderly persons.  Nonetheless, You are a boy, and Your
intelligence is insufficient.  Thus You
are not very prudent in regard to Your self-interest.
मां वचोभिः समाराध्य लोकानामेकमीश्वरम्।
पदत्रयं वृणीते योऽबुद्धिमान् द्वीपदाशुषम्॥१९॥
I am able to give You an
entire island because I am the proprietor of the three divisions of the
universe.  You have come to take
something from me and have pleased me by Your sweet words, but You are asking
only three paces of land.  Therefore You
are not very intelligent.
न पुमान् मामुपव्रज्य भूयो याचितुमर्हति।
तस्माद् वृत्तिकरीं भूमिं वटो कामं प्रतीच्छ मे ॥२०॥
O small boy, one who
approaches me to beg something should not have to ask anything more,
anywhere.  Therefore, if You wish, You
may ask from me as much land as will suffice to maintain You according Your
needs.
श्रीभगवानुवाच-
यावन्तो  विषयाः प्रेष्ठास्त्रिलोक्यामजितेन्द्रियम्।
न शक्नुवन्ति ते सर्वे प्रतिपूरयितुं न्रुप ॥२१॥
The Personality of Godhead said: O my dear King, even
the entirety of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one’s
senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled. 
त्रिभिः क्रमैरसन्तुष्टो द्वीपेनापि न पूर्यते।
नववर्षसमेतेन सप्तद्वीपवरेच्छया ॥२२॥
If I were not satisfied
with three paces of land, then surely I would not be satisfied even with
possessing one of the seven islands, consisting of nine varshas.  Even if I possess one island, I would hope to
get all the seven islands..
सप्तद्वीपाधिपतयो नृपा वैन्यगयादयः।
अर्थैः कामैर्गता नान्तं तृष्णाया इति नः श्रुतम्॥२३॥
We have heard that although powerful kings like Maaraja
Prthu and Maharaja Gaya achieved proprietorship over the seven dvipas,
they could not achieve satisfaction or find the end of their ambitions
.
यदृच्छयोपपन्नेन सन्तुष्टो वर्तते सुखम्।
नासन्तुष्टस्त्रिभिर्लोकैरजितात्मोपसादितैः ॥२४॥
One should be satisfied
with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never
bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even
with possessing the three worlds.
पुंसोऽयं संसृतेर्हेतुरसन्तोषोऽर्थकामयोः।
यदृच्छयोपपन्नेन सन्तोषो मुक्तये स्मृतः ॥२५॥
Material existence causes
discontent in regard to fulfilling one’s lusty desires and accumulating more
and more wealth.  This is the cause for
the continuation of material life, which is full of repeated birth and
death.  But one who is satisfied by
that  which is obtained by destiny is fit
for liberation from this material existence.
यदृच्छालाभतुष्टस्य  तेजो विप्रस्य वर्धते।
तत् प्रशाम्यत्यसन्तोषादम्भसेवाशुशुक्षणिः ॥२६॥
A brahmana who is
satisfied with whatever is providentially obtained is increasingly enlightened
with spiritual power, but the spiritual potency of a dissatisfied brahmana
decreases, as fire diminishes in potency when water is sprinkled upon it. 
तस्माद् त्रीणि पदान्येव वृणे त्वद् वरदर्षभात्।
एतावतैव सिद्धोऽहं वित्तं यावत्प्रयोजनम् ॥२७॥
Therefore, O King, from
you, the best of those who give charity, I ask only three paces of land.  By such a gift I shall be very pleased, for
the way of happiness is to be fully satisfied to receive that which is
absolutely needed.
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्युक्तः स हसन्नाह वाञ्छातः प्रतिगृह्यताम्।
वामनाय महीं दातुं जग्राह जलभाजनम् ॥२८॥
Sukadeva Goswami
continued:  When the Supreme Personality
of Godhead had thus spoken to Bali Maharaja, Bali smiled and told Him, “Alright,
Take whatever You like.” To confirm his promise to give Vamanadeva the desired
land, he then took up his water jug.
.
विष्णवे क्षां प्रदास्यन्तमुशना असुरेश्वरम्।
जानंश्चिकीर्षितं विष्णोः शिष्यं प्राह विदां वरः ॥२९॥
Understanding Lord Vishnu’s
purpose, Sukracharya, the best of the learned, immediately spoke as follows to
his disciple, who was about to offer everything to Lord Vamanadeva.  
श्रीशुक्र उवाच-
एष वैरोचने साक्षाद् भगवान् विष्णुरव्ययः।
कश्यपाददितेर्जातो देवानां कार्यसाधकः ॥३०॥
Sukracharya said: O son
of Virochana, this brahmachari in the form of a dwarf is directly the
imperishable Supreme Personality of godhead, Vishnu.  Accepting Kashyapa Muni as His father and
Aditi as His mother, He has now appeared in order to fulfill the interests of
the demigods.  
प्रतिश्रुतं त्वयैतस्मै यदनर्थमजानता।
न साधु मन्ये दैत्यानां महानुपगतोऽनयः॥३१॥
You do not know what a dangerous position you have
accepted by promising to give Him land, I do not think that this promise is
good for you.  It will bring great harm
to the demons.
एष ते स्थानमैश्वर्यं श्रियं तेजो यशः श्रुतम्।
दास्यत्याच्छिद्य शक्राय मायामाणवको हरिः ॥३२॥
This person falsely
appearing as a brahmachari is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Hari, who has come in this form to take away all your land, wealth, beauty,
power, fame and education.  After taking
everything from you, He will deliver it to Indra, your enemy.
त्रिभिः क्रमैरिमाँल्लोकान् विश्वकायः क्रमिष्यति।
सर्वस्वं विष्णवे दत्त्वा मूढ वर्तिष्यसे कथम्॥३३॥
You have promised to give
Him three steps of land in charity, but when you give it He will occupy the
three worlds.  You are a fool!  You do not know what a great mistake you have
made.  After giving everything to Lord
Vishnu, You will have no means of livelihood. 
How then shall you live?  
क्रमतो गां पदैकेन द्वितीयेन दिवं विभोः।
खं च कायेन महता तार्तीयस्य कुतो गतिः ॥३४॥
Vamanadeva will first
occupy the three worlds with one step, then He will take His second step and
occupy everything in outer space, and then He will expand His universal body to
occupy everything.  Where will you offer
Him the third step?
निष्ठां ते नरके मन्ये ह्यप्रदातुः प्रतिश्रुतम्।
प्रतिश्रुतस्य योऽनीशः प्रतिपादयितुं भवान्॥३५॥
You will certainly be
unable to fulfill your promise, and I think that because of this inability your
eternal residence will be in hell. 
न तद् दानं प्रशंसन्ति येन वृत्तिर्विपद्यते।
दानं यज्ञतपः कर्म लोके वृत्तिमतो यतः ॥३६॥
Learned scholars do not
praise that charity which endangers one’s own livelihood.  Charity, sacrifice, austerity and fruitive
activities are possible for one who is competent to earn his livelihood
properly.  [They are not possible for one
who cannot maintain himself.] 
धर्माय यशसेऽर्थाय कामाय स्वजनाय च।
पञ्चधा विभजन् वित्तमिहामुत्र च मोदते ॥३७॥
Therefore one who is in
full knowledge should divide his accumulated wealth in five parts – for religion
(dharma), for reputation, for opulence, for sense gratification and for
the maintenance of his family members. 
Such a person is happy in this world and in the next.
अत्रापि बह्वृचैर्गीतं शृणु मेऽसुरसत्तम।
सत्यमोमिति यत् प्रोक्तं यन्नेत्याहानृतं हि तत् ॥३८॥
One might argue that since you have
already promised, how can you refuse? O best of the demons, just take from me
the evidence of the Bahvrcha-sruti, which says that a promise is
truthful preceded by the word Om and untruthful if not.
सत्यं पुष्पफलं विद्यादात्मवृक्षस्य गीयते।
वृक्षेऽजीवति तन्न स्यादनृतं मूलमात्मनः ॥३९॥
The Vedas enjoin that the
factual result of the tree of the body is the good fruits and flowers derived
from it.  But if the bodily tree does not
exist, there is no possibility of factual fruits and flowers.  Even if the body is based on untruth, there cannot
be factual fruits and flowers without the help of the bodily tree.
तद् यथा वृक्ष उन्मूलः शुष्यत्युदवर्ततेऽचिराद्।
एवं नष्टानृतः सद्य आत्मा शुष्येन्न संशयः ॥४०॥
When a tree is uprooted
it immediately falls down and begins to dry up. 
Similarly, if one doesn’t take care of the body, which is supposed to be
untruth – in other words, if the untruth is uprooted – the body undoubtedly
becomes dry.
पराग् रिक्तमपूर्णं वा अक्षरं यत् तदोमिति।
यत् किञ्चिदोमिति ब्रूयात् तेन रिष्येत वै पुमान् ।
भिक्षवे सर्वमोङ्कुर्वन्नालं कामेन चत्मने॥४१॥
The utterance of the word
“om” signifies separation from one’s monetary assets.  In other words, by uttering this word one
becomes free from attachment to money because his money is taken away from
him.  To be without money is not very
satisfactory, for in that position one cannot fulfill one’s desires.  In other words, by using the word “Om” one
becomes poverty-stricken.  Especially
when one gives charity to a poor man or beggar, one remains unfulfilled in
self-realization and in sense gratification.
                       
अथैतत् पूर्णमभ्यात्मं यच्च नेत्यनृतं वचः।
सर्वं नेत्यनृतं ब्रूयात् स दुष्कीर्तिः श्वसन् मृतः ॥४२॥
Therefore, the safe
course is to say no.  Although it is a
false-hood, it protects one completely, it draws the compassion of others
toward oneself.  Nonetheless, if one
always pleads that he has nothing, he is condemned, for he is a dead body while
living, or while still breathing he should be killed.
स्त्रीषु नर्म विवाहे च वृत्त्यर्थे प्राणसङ्कटे।
गोब्राह्मणार्थे हिंसायां नानृतं स्याज्जुगुप्सितम् ॥४३॥
In flattering a woman to
bring her under control, in joking, in a marriage ceremony, in earning one’s
livelihood, when one’s life is in danger, in protecting cows and brahminical
culture, or in protecting a person from an enemy’s hand, falsity is never condemned.
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे
       वामनप्रादुर्भावे एकोनविंशोऽध्यायः           

VAMANAVATARA-3(SRIMADBHAGAVATAM, CANTO-8, CHAPTER 18)

                                          वामनावतारः
                             (श्रीमद्भागवतम् – स्कन्धः८, अध्यायः १८)
 [The English
translation is largely based on that of  the disciples of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam”
published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
इत्थं विरिञ्चस्तुतकर्मवीर्यः
   प्रादुर्बभूवामृतभूरदित्याम् ।
चतुर्भुजः शङ्खगदाब्जचक्रः
    पिशङ्गवासा नलिनायतेक्षणः॥१॥
Sukadeva Gosvami said:
After Lord Brahma had thus spoken, glorifying the Supreme Lord’s activities and
prowess, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never subject to death like
an ordinary living being, appeared from the womb of Aditi.  His four hands were decorated with a conch
shell, club, lotus and disc. He was dressed in yellow garments, and His eyes
appeared like the petals of a blooming lotus.
श्यामावदातो झषराजकुण्डल-
   त्विषोल्लसच्छ्रीवदनाम्बुजः पुमान्।
श्रीवत्सवक्षा वलयाङ्गदोल्लसत्
    किरीटकाञ्चीगुणचारुनूपुरः ॥२॥
The body of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, of dark complexion, was free from all blemishes.  His lotus face, decorated with earrings,  resembling fish in shape,  appeared very beautiful and on His bosom was
the mark of Srivatsa.  He wore bangles on
His wrists, armlets on His arms, a helmet on His head, a belt on His waist, a
sacred thread across his chest, and ankle bells decorating His lotus feet.  
मधुव्रतव्रातविघुष्टया स्वया
   विराजितः श्रीवनमालया हरिः।
प्रजापतेर्वेश्मतमः स्वरोचिषा
   विनाशयन् कण्ठनिविष्टकौस्तुभः ॥३॥
An uncommonly beautiful
garland of flowers decorated His bosom, and because the flowers were extremely
fragrant, a large group of bees, making their natural humming sounds, invaded
them for honey.  When the Lord appeared,
wearing the Kaustubha gem on His neck, His effulgence vanquished the darkness
in the home of the Prajapati Kashyapa.
दिशः प्रसेदुः सलिलाशयास्तदा
   प्रजाः प्रहृष्टा ऋतवो गुणान्विताः ।
द्यौरन्तरिक्षं क्षितिरग्निजिह्वा               
   गावो द्विजाः संजहृषुर्नगाश्च ॥४॥
At that time, there was
happiness (clarity, sparkle)  in all
directions, in the reservoirs of water like the rivers and oceans, and in the
core of everyone’s heart.  The various
seasons displayed their respective qualities, and all living entities in the
upper planetary system, in outer space and on the surface of the earth were
jubilant.  The demigods, the cows, the
brahmanas and the hills and mountains were all filled with joy. 
श्रोणायां श्रवणद्वादश्यां मुहूर्तेऽभिजिति प्रभुः।
सर्वे नक्षत्रताराद्याश्चक्रुस्तज्जन्म दक्षिणम् ॥५॥
On the day of
Sravana-dwadasi [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of
Bhadra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Sravana, at the auspicious
moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe.  Considering the Lord’s appearance very
auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the Sun to Saturn, were
munificently charitable.
द्वादश्यां सवितातिष्ठन्मध्यंदिनगतो नृप।
विजया नाम सा प्रोक्ता यस्यां जन्म विदुर्हरेः ॥६॥
O King, when the Lord appeared – on dvadasi,
the twelfth day of the moon – the sun was at the meridian, as every learned
scholar knows.  This dvadasi is
called Vijaya.
शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्मृदङ्गपणवानकाः।
चित्रवादित्रतूर्याणां निर्घोषस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥७॥
Conch shells,
kettledrums, drums, panavas and anakas vibrated in concert.  The sound of these and various other
instruments was tumultuous.
प्रीताश्चाप्सरसोऽनृत्यन् गन्धर्वप्रवरा जगुः।
तुष्टुवुर्मुनयो देवा मनवः पितरोऽग्नयः ॥८॥
Being very pleased, the
celestial dancing girls [Apsaras] danced in jubilation, the best of the
Gandharvas sang songs, and the great sages, demigods, Manus, Pitrs and
fire-gods offered prayers to please the Lord.
सिद्धविद्याधरगणाः सकिम्पुरुषकिन्नरा:
चारणा यक्षरक्षांसि सुपर्णा भुजगोत्तमाः॥९॥
गायन्तोऽतिप्रशंसन्तो नृत्यन्तो विबुधानुगाः।
आदित्या आश्रमपदं कुसुमैः समवाकिरन् ॥१०॥
The Siddhas, Vidyadharas,
Kimpurushas, Kinnaras, Charanas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Suparnas, the best of
serpents, and the followers of the demigods all showered flowers on Aditi’s hermitage,  while singing the glories of the Lord and
dancing.
दृष्ट्वादितिस्तं निजगर्भसंभवं
   परं पुमांसं मुदमाप विस्मिता।
गृहीतदेहं निजयोगमायया
    प्रजापतिश्चाह जयेति विस्मितः ॥११॥

When Aditi saw the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had appeared from her own womb, having
accepted a transcendental body by his own spiritual potency, she was struck
with wonder and was very happy. Upon seeing the child, Kashyapa Prajapati exclaimed
जय जय’ in great
happiness and wonder.
यत् तद् वपुर्भातिविभूषणायुधै-
   रव्यक्तचिद्व्यक्तमधारयद्धरिः।
बभूव तेनैव स वामनो वटुः
    सम्पश्यतोर्दिव्यगतिर्यथा नटः ॥१२॥
The Lord appeared in his
original form, with ornaments and weapons in his hands.  Although this ever-existing form is not
visible in the material world, He nonetheless appeared in this form.  Then, in the presence of His father and
mother, He assumed the form of Vamana, a brahmana-dwarf, a brahmachari, just
like a theatrical actor.
तं वटुं वामनं दृष्ट्वा मोदमाना महर्षयः।
कर्माणि करयामासुः पुरस्कृत्य प्रजापतिम्॥१३॥
When the great sages saw the
Lord as the brahmachari-dwarf Vamana, they were certainly very
pleased.  Thus they placed before them
Kashyapa Muni, the Prajapati, and performed all the ritualistic ceremonies,
such as the birthday ceremony.
तस्योपनीयमानस्य सावित्रीं सविताब्रवीत्।
बृहस्पतिर्ब्रह्मसूत्रं मेखलां कश्यपोऽददात् ॥१४॥
At the sacred thread
ceremony of Vamanadeva, the sun-god personally uttered the Gayatri mantra, Brihaspati
offered the sacred thread, and Kashyapa Muni offered a straw belt.
ददौ कृष्णाजिनं भूमिर्दण्डं सोमो वनस्पतिः।
कौपीनाच्छादनं माता द्यौश्छत्रं जगतः पतेः ॥१५॥
Mother Earth gave HIM a
deerskin, and the demigod of the moon, who is the king of the forest, gave Him
a brahma-danda [the rod of a brahmachari]. 
His mother, Aditi, gave Him cloth for underwear (kaupinam) and
the deity presiding over the heavenly kingdom offered Him an umbrella.
कमण्डलुं वेदगर्भः कुशान् सप्तर्षयो ददुः।
अक्षमालां महाराज सरस्वत्यव्ययात्मनः॥१६॥
O King, Lord Brahma
offered a water pot to the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
seven sages offered him kusa grass, 
and goddess Saraswati gave him a string of rudraksha beads. 
तस्मा इत्युपनीताय यक्षराट् पात्रिकामदात्।
भिक्षां भगवती साक्षादुमादादम्बिका सती॥१७॥
When Vamana had thus been
given the sacred thread, Kubera, King of the yakshas, gave him a begging bowl
to receive alms, and  Bhagavati Uma, the
chaste consort of Siva and the mother of the Universe, gave Him His first
alms. 
स ब्रह्मवर्चसेनैवं सभां सम्भावितो वटुः।
ब्रह्मर्षिगणसंजुष्टामत्यरोचत मारिषः ॥१८॥
Having thus been welcomed
by everyone, Lord Vamanadeva, the best of brahmacharis, exhibited His
bhrahman effulgence.   He surpassed in
effulgence that entire assembly filled with great saintly brahmanas.
समिद्धमाहितं वह्निं कृत्वा परिसमूहनम्।
परिस्तीर्य समभ्यर्च्य समिद्भिरजुहोद् द्विजः ॥१९॥
After Lord Sri Vamadeva set a sacrificial fire, He
offered worship and performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.
श्रुत्वाश्वमेधैर्यजमानमूर्जितम्
   बलिं भृगूणामुपकल्पितैस्ततः।
जगाम तत्राखिलसारसंभृतो
   भारेण गां सन्नमयन् पदे पदे ॥२०॥
When the Lord heard that
Bali Maharaja was performing ashvamedha sacrifice under the
patronage of brahmanas of the Bhrigu dynasty, the Supreme Lord who is full in
every respect, proceeded there to show His mercy to Balimaharaja.  By His weight, He pushed down the earth with
every step 
तं नर्मदाया तट उत्तरे बले-
  र्य ऋत्विजस्ते भृगुकच्छसंज्ञके ॥
प्रवर्तयन्तो भृगवः क्रतूत्तमं
  व्याचक्षतारादुदितं यथा रविम् ॥२१॥
While engaged in
performing the sacrifice in the field known as Bhrgukaccha, on the northern
bank of the Narmada river, the brahminical priests, the descendants of Bhrgu,
saw Vamanadeva to be like the sun rising nearby.
त ऋत्विजो यजमानः सदस्या
  हतत्विषो वामनतेजसा नृप।
सूर्यः किलायात्युतवा विभावसुः
  सनत्कुमारोऽथ दिदृक्षया क्रतोः ॥२२॥
O King, because of
Vamanadeva’s bright effulgence, the priests, along with Bali Maharaja and all
the members of the assembly, were robbed of their splendour.  Thus they began to ask one another whether
the sun-god himself, Sanatkumara or the fire-god had personally come to see the
sacrificial ceremony. 
इत्थं सशिष्येषु भृगुष्वनेकधा
  वितर्क्यमाणो भगवान् स वामनः।
छ्त्रं सदण्डं सजलं कमण्डलुम्
  विवेश बिभ्रद्धहयमेधवाटम् ॥२३॥
While the priests of the
Bhrgu dynasty and their disciples talked and argued in various ways, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, holding in his hands the rod, the
umbrella and a  kamandalu filled
with water, entered the arena of the asvamedha sacrifice.

मौञ्ज्या मेखलया वीतमुपवीताजिनोत्तरम्।
जटिलं वामनं विप्रं मायामाणवकं हरिम् ॥२४॥
प्रविष्टं वीक्ष्य भृगवः सशिष्यास्ते सहाग्निभिः।
प्रत्यगृह्णन् समुत्थाय संक्षिप्तास्तस्य तेजसा॥२५॥
Appearing as a brahmana
boy, wearing a belt of straw, a sacred thread, an upper garment of deerskin,
and matted locks of hair, Lord Vamanadeva entered the arena of
sacrifice.  His brilliant effulgence
diminished the brilliance of all the priests and their disciples, who thus stood
from their seats and welcomed the Lord properly by offering obeisances.
यजमानः प्रमुदितो दर्शनीयं मनोरमम्।
रूपानुरूपावयवं तस्मा आसनमाहरत् ॥२६॥
Bali Maharaha, jubilant
at seeing Lord Vamanadeva, whose beautiful limbs contributed equally to the
beauty of His entire body, offered Him a seat with great satisfaction.
स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्याथ पादौ भगवतो बलिः।
अवनिज्यार्चयामास मुक्तसङ्गमनोरमम्॥२७॥
Thus offering a proper
reception to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always beautiful to the
liberated souls, Bali Maharaja worshiped him by washing his lotus feet.
तत्पादशौचं जनकल्मषापहं
  स धर्मविन्मूर्ध्न्यदधात् सुमङ्गलम् ।
यद् देवदेवो गिरिशश्चन्द्रमौलि-
  र्दधार मूर्ध्ना परया च भक्त्या ॥२८॥
Lord Siva, the best of
demigods, who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon, receives on his
head with great devotion the Ganges water emanating from the toe of
Vishnu.  Being aware of religious
principles (dharma), Bali Maharaja knew this.  Consequently, following in the footsteps of
Lord Siva, he also placed on his head the water that had washed the Lord’s
lotus feet.
बलिरुवाच –
स्वागतं ते नमस्तुभ्यं ब्रह्मन् किं करवाम ते ।
ब्रह्मर्षीणां तपः साक्षान्मन्ये त्वाऽऽर्यवपुर्धरम्॥२९॥
Bali Maharaja then said
to Lord Vamanadeva: O brahmana, I offer You my hearty welcome and my respectful
obeisances.  Please let us know what we
may do for You.  We think of You as the
personified austerity of the great brahmana-sages. 
अद्य नः पितरस्तृप्ता अद्य नः पावितं कुलम्।
अद्य स्विष्टः क्रतुरयं यद् भवानागतो गृहान् ॥३०॥
O my Lord, because You
have kindly arrived at our home, all my forefathers are satisfied, our family
and entire dynasty have been sanctified, and the sacrifice we are performing is
now complete because of Your presence.
अद्याग्नयो मे सुहुता यथाविधि
  द्विजात्मज त्वच्चरणावनेजनैः।
हतांहसो वार्भिरियं च भूरहो
  तथा पुनीता तनुभिः पदैस्तव ॥३१॥
O son of a brahmana, today
the fire of sacrifice is ablaze according to the injunction of the sastra,
and I have been freed from all the sinful reactions of my life by the water
that has washed Your lotus feet. O my Lord, by the touch of Your small lotus
feet the entire surface of the world has been sanctified.  
यद् यद् वटो वाञ्छसि तत् प्रतीच्छ मे
  त्वामर्थिनं विप्रसुतानुतर्कये।
गां काञ्चनं गुणवद् धाम मृष्टं
  तथान्नपेयमुत वा विप्र कन्याम् ।
ग्रामान् समृद्धांस्तुरगान् गजान् वा
   रथांस्तथार्हत्तम सम्प्रतीच्छ॥३२॥
O son of a brahmana, it
appears that You have come here to ask me for something.  Therefore, whatever You want You may take
from me.   O best of those who are worshipable.  You may take from me a cow, gold, a furnished
house, palatable food and drink, the daughter of a brahmana for Your wife,
prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire.
॥इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे
     वामनप्रादुर्भावे बलिवामनसंवादे अष्टादशोऽध्यायः॥           
    
 


VAMANAVATARA -2 (SHRIMADBHAGAVATAM, CANTO-8, CHAPTER 17)

                        वामनावतारः २
    (श्रीमद्भागवतम् – अष्टमस्कन्धः, अध्यायः १७)
 [The English
translation is largely based on that of  the disciples of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam”
published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
इत्युक्ता सादिती राजन् स्वभर्त्रा कश्यपेन वै।
अन्वतिष्ठद् व्रतमिदं द्वादशाहमतन्द्रिता ॥१॥
Sukadeva Goswami said: O
King, after Aditi was thus advised by her husband, Kashyapa Muni, she strictly
followed his instructions without laziness and in this way performed the payo-vrata
ritualistic ceremony.
चिन्तयन्त्येकया बुद्ध्या महापुरुषमीश्वरम्।
प्रगृह्येन्द्रियदुष्टाश्वान् मनसा बुद्धिसारथिः ॥२॥
मनश्चैकाग्रया बुद्ध्या भगवत्यखिलात्मनि।
वासुदेवे समाधाय चचार ह पयोव्रतम्॥३॥
With full, undiverted
attention, Aditi thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and in this way
brought under full control her mind and senses, which resembled forceful
horses.  She concentrated her mind upon
the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva.  Thus she
performed the ritualistic ceremony known as payo-vrata.
तस्याः प्रादुरभूत्तात भगवानादिपूरुषः ।
पीतवासाश्चतुर्बाहुः शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः॥४॥
My dear king, the
original Supreme Personality of Godhead, dressed in yellow garments and bearing
a conchshell, disc, club ad lotus in His four hands, then appeared before
Aditi.
तं नेत्रगोचरं वीक्ष्य सहसोत्थाय सादरम्।
ननाम भुवि कायेन दण्डवत् प्रीतिविह्वला॥५॥
When the Supreme
Personality of Godhead became visible to Aditi’s eyes, Aditi was so overwhelmed
by transcendental bliss that she at once stood up and then fell to the ground
like a rod to offer the Lord her respectful obeisances.
सोत्थाय बद्धाञ्जलिरीडितुं स्थिता
    नोत्सेह  आनन्दजलाकुलेक्षणा।
बभूव तूष्णीं पुलकाकुलाकृति-
   स्तद्दर्शनात्युत्सवगात्र वेपथुः ॥६॥   
Aditi stood silently with
folded hands, unable to offer prayers to the Lord.  Because of transcendental bliss, tears filled
her eyes, and the hairs on her body stood on end.  Because she could see the Supreme Personality
of Godhead face to face, she felt ecstasy, and her body trembled.
प्रीत्या शनैर्गद्गदया गिरा हरिं
    तुष्टाव सा देव्यदितिः कुरूद्वह।
उद्वीक्षती सा पिबतीव चक्षुषा
    रमापतिं यज्ञपतिं जगत्पतिम् ॥७॥
O Maharaja Parikshit, the
demigoddess Aditi then began offering her prayers to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in a faltering voice and with great love.  She appeared as though drinking through her
eyes the Supreme Lord, who is the husband of the goddess of fortune, the
enjoyer of all sacrificial ceremonies, and the master and Lord of the entire
universe.  
आदितिरुवाच-
यज्ञेश यज्ञपुरुषाच्युत तीर्थपाद
   तीर्थश्रवः श्रवणमङ्गलनामधेय।
आपन्नलोकवृजिनोपशमोदयाद्य
   शं नः कृधीश भगवन्नसि दीननाथः ॥८॥
The goddess Aditi said: O
master and enjoyer of all sacrificial ceremonies, O infallible and most famous
person, whose name, when chanted, spreads all good fortune!  O original Supreme Personality of Godhead,
supreme controller, shelter of all holy places, You are the shelter of all
poor, suffering living entities, and You have appeared to diminish their
suffering.  Please be kind to us and
spread our good fortune.  
विश्वाय विश्वभवनस्थितिसंयमाय
   स्वैरं गृहीतपुरुशक्तिगुणाय भूम्ने।
स्वस्थाय शश्वदुपबृंहितपूर्णबोध-
    व्यापादितात्मतमसे हरये नमस्ते॥९॥
My Lord, You are the
all-pervading universal form, the fully independent creator, maintainer and destroyer
of this universe.  Although You engage
Your energy in matter, You are always situated in Your original form and never
fall from that position, for Your knowledge is infallible and always suitable
to any situation.  You are never
bewildered by illusion.  O my Lord, let
me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.
आयुः परं वपुरभीष्टमतुल्यलक्ष्मी-
    र्द्योभूरसाः सकलयोगगुणास्त्रिवर्गः।
ज्ञानं च केवलमनन्त भवन्ति तुष्टात्
    त्वत्तो नृणां किमु सपत्नजयादिराशीः॥१०॥
O  unlimited one, if Your Lordship is satisfied,
one can very easily obtain a lifetime as long as that of Lord Brahma, a body
either in the upper, lower or middle planetary systems, unlimited material
opulence, religion (dharma), economic development (artha) and
satisfaction of the senses (kama), full transcendental knowledge, and
the eight yogic perfections, what to speak of such petty achievements as
conquering one’s rivals.
श्रीशुक उवाच-
अदित्यैवं स्तुतो राजन् भगवान् पुष्करेक्षणः।
क्षेत्रज्ञः सर्वभूतानामिति होवाच भारत॥११॥
Sukadeva Goswami said: O
king Parikshit, best of the Bharata dynasty, when the lotus-eyed Lord, the
Supersoul of all living entities, was thus worshiped by Aditi, He replied as
follows.
श्रीभगवानुवाच-
देवमातर्भवत्या मे विज्ञातं चिरकाङ्क्षितम्।
यत् सपत्नैर्हृतश्रीणां च्यावितानां स्वधामतः॥१२॥
The Supreme Personality
of Godhead said: O mother of the demigods, I have already understood your
long-cherished desires for the welfare of your sons, who have been deprived of
all opulences and driven from their residence by their enemies.
तान् विनिर्जित्य समरे दुर्मदानसुरर्षभान्।
प्रतिलब्धजयश्रीभिः पुत्रैरिच्छस्युपासितुम् ॥१३॥
O Devi, O goddess, I can
understand that you want to regain your sons and be together with them to
worship Me, after defeating in battle the demons who are puffed up by strength and
after retrieving your abode and opulences.
इन्द्रज्येष्ठैः स्वतनयैर्हतानां युधि विद्विषाम्।
स्त्रियो रुदन्तीरासाद्य द्रष्टुमिच्छसि दुःखिताः ॥१४॥
You want to see the wives
of the demons lamenting for the death of their husbands when those demons, the
enemies of your sons, are killed in battle by the demigods, of whom Indra is
the chief.  
आत्मजान् सुसमृद्धांस्त्वं प्रत्याहृतयशःश्रियः।
नाकपृष्ठमधिष्ठाय क्रीडतो द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥१५॥
You want your sons to regain their lost reputation and
opulence and enjoy life again on their heavenly planet as usual.
प्रायोऽधुना तेऽसुरयूथनाथा
   अपारणीया इति देवि मे मतिः
यत्तेऽनुकूलेश्वरविप्रगुप्ता
   न विक्रमस्तत्र सुखं ददाति ॥१६॥
O mother of the demigods,
in My opinion almost all the chiefs of the demons are now unconquerable, for
they are being protected by brahmanas, whom the Supreme Lord always
favours.  Thus the use of power against
them now will not at all be a source of happiness.
अथाप्युपायो मम देवि चिन्त्यः
  संतोषितस्य व्रतचर्यया ते।
ममार्चनं नार्हति गन्तुमन्यथा
  श्रद्धानुरूपं फलहेतुकत्वात् ॥१७॥
Yet because I have been
satisfied by the activities of your vow, O goddess Aditi, I must find some
means to favour you, for worship of Me never goes in vain but certainly gives
the desired result according to what one deserves.
त्वयार्चितश्चाहमपत्यगुप्तये
  पयोव्रतेनानुगुणं समीडितः।
स्वांशेन पुत्रत्वमुपेत्य ते सुतान्
  गोप्तास्मि मारीचतपस्यधिष्ठितः ॥१८॥
You have prayed to Me and
properly worshiped Me by performing the great payo-vrata ceremony for the sake
of protecting your sons.  Because of
Kashyapa Muni’s austerities, I shall agree to become your son and thus protect
your other sons.  
उपधाव पतिं भद्रे प्रजापतिमकल्मषम्
मां च भावयती पत्यावेवंरूपमवस्थितम् ॥१९॥
Always thinking of Me as
being situated within the body of your husband, Kashyapa, go worship your
husband, who has been purified by his austerity.
नैतत् परस्मा आख्येयं पृष्टयापि कथंचन।
सर्वं संपद्यते देवि देवगुह्यं सुसंवृतम् ॥२०॥
O lady, even if someone inquires, you should not
disclose this fact to anyone.  That which
is very confidential is successful if kept secret.
श्रीशुक उवाच-
एतावदुक्त्वा भगवांस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत।
अदितिर्दुर्लभं लब्ध्वा हरेर्जन्मात्मनि प्रभोः।
उपाधावत् पतिं भक्त्या परया कृतकृत्यवत्॥२१॥
Sukadeva Goswami said: After
speaking in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead disappeared from that
very spot.  Aditi, having received the
extremely valuable benediction that the Lord would appear as her son,
considered herself very successful, and with great devotion she approached her
husband.  
स वै समाधियोगेन कश्यपस्तदबुध्यत।
प्रविष्टमात्मनि हरेरंशं ह्यवितथेक्षणः॥२२॥
Being situated in a
meditational trance, Kashyapa Muni, whose vision is never mistaken, could see
that a plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead had entered within
him.  
सोऽदित्यां वीर्यमाधत्त तपसा चिरसम्भृतम्।
समाहितमना राजन् दारुण्यग्निं यथानिलः ॥२३॥
O King, as the wind
promotes friction between two pieces of wood and thus gives rise to fire
Kashyapa Muni, whose transcendental position was fully absorbed in the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, transferred his potency, restrained for long years, into
the womb of Aditi.
अदितेर्धिष्ठितं गर्भं भगवन्तं सनातनम् ।
हिरण्यगर्भो विज्ञाय समीडे गुह्यनामभिः ॥२४॥
When Lord Brahma
understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead was now within the womb of
Aditi, he began to offer prayers to the Lord by reciting transcendental
names. 
ब्रह्मोवाच-
जयोरुगाय भगवन्नुरुक्रम नमोऽस्तु ते।
नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय त्रिगुणाय नमो नमः॥२५॥
Lord Brahma said: O
Supreme Personality of Godhead, all glories unto you, who are glorified by all
and whose activities are all uncommon. I offer my respectful obeisances unto
You, O Lord of the transcendentalists, controller of the three modes of nature,
I offer my respectful obeisances unto You again and again.  
नमस्ते पृश्निगर्भाय वेदगर्भाय वेधसे।
त्रिनाभाय त्रिपृष्ठाय शिपिविष्टाय विष्णवे ॥२६॥
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You, the all-pervading Lord Vishnu, who have entered the cores
of the hearts of all living entities. 
All the three worlds reside within Your navel, yet You are above the
three worlds.  Formerly You appeared as
the son of Prisni. To You, the supreme creator, who are understood only
through Vedic knowledge, I offer my respectful obeisances.
त्वमादिरन्तो भुवनस्य मध्य-
    मनन्तशक्तिं पुरुषं यमाहुः
कालो भवानाक्षिपतीश विश्वं
    स्रोतो यथान्तःपतितं गभीरम् ॥२७॥
O my lord, You are the beginning,
the manifestation and the ultimate dissolution of the three worlds, and You are
celebrated in the Vedas as the reservoir of unlimited potencies, the Supreme
person. O my Lord, as waves attract branches and leaves that have fallen into
deep water, You, the supreme eternal time factor, attract everything in this
universe.  
त्वं वै प्रजानां स्थिरजङ्गमानां
   प्रजापतीनामपि सम्भविष्णुः।
दिवौकसां देव दिवश्च्युतानां
    परायणं नौरिव मज्जतोऽप्सु॥२८॥  
   
My Lord, You are the
original generator of all living entities, stationary or moving, and You are
also the generator of the Prajapatis.  O
my Lord, as a boat is the only hope for a person drowning in the water, You are
the only shelter for the demigods, who are now bereft of their heavenly
position.
॥इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे
          वामनप्रादुर्भावे सप्तदशोऽध्यायः॥           
  

VAMANAVATARA -1 (SRIMADBHAGAVATAM CANTO 8, CHAPTER 16)

                           वामनावतारः- १
(श्रीमद्भागवतम् –अष्टमस्कन्धः, अध्यायः १६)
 [The English translation is largely based on that
of  the disciples of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam”
published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
श्रीशुक उवाच-
एवं पुत्रेषु नष्टेषु देवमातादितिस्तदा।
हृते त्रिविष्टपे दैत्यैः पर्यतप्यदनाथवत्॥१॥
Sukadeva Goswami said: O King, when Aditi’s sons, the
demigods, had thus disappeared from heaven and the demons had occupied their
places, Aditi began lamenting, as if she had no protector.
एकदा कश्यपस्तस्या आश्रमं भगवानगात्।
निरुत्सवं निरानन्दं समाधेर्विरतश्चिरात्॥२॥
After many, many days,
the great powerful sage Kashyapa Muni arose from a trance of meditation
and returned home to see   Aditi’s hermitage
which was neither jubilant nor festive.
स पत्नीं दीनवदनां कृतासनपरिग्रहः।
सभाजितो यथा न्यायमिदमाह कुरूद्वह॥३॥
O best of Kurus, when
Kashyapa Muni had been properly received and welcomed, he took his seat and
then spoke as follows to his wife Aditi, who was very morose.
अप्यभद्रं न विप्राणां भद्रे लोकेऽधुनाऽऽगतम्।
न धर्मस्य न लोकस्य मृत्योश्छन्दानुवर्तिनः ॥४॥
O most gentle one, I
wonder whether anything inauspicious has now taken place with regard to
religious (dharmic) principles, the brahmanas or the people in
general, who are subject to the whims of death.
अपि वाकुशलं किञ्चिद् गृहेषु गृहमेधिनि।
धर्मस्यार्थस्य कामस्य यत्र योगो ह्ययोगिनाम् ॥५॥
O my wife, who are very
much attached to household life, if dharma (principles of religion), artha
(economic development) and kama (satisfaction of the senses) are
properly followed in household life, one’s activities are as good as those of a
transcendentalist.  I wonder whether
there have been any discrepancies in following these principles.
अपि वातिथयोऽभ्येत्य कुटुम्बासक्तया त्वया।
गृहादपूजिता याताः प्रत्युत्थानेन वा क्वचित्॥६॥
I wonder whether because
of being too attached to the members of your family, you failed to properly
receive uninvited guests, who therefore were not welcomed and went away.
गृहेषु येष्वतिथयो नार्चिता सलिलैरपि।
यदि निर्यान्ति ते नूनं फेरुराजगृहोपमाः ॥७॥
Homes from which guests go away without
having been received even with an offering of a little water are like those
holes in the field which are the homes of jackals.
अप्यग्नयस्तु वेलायां न हुता हविषा सति।
त्वयोद्विग्नधिया भद्रे प्रोषिते मयि कर्हिचित्त्॥८॥
O chaste and auspicious woman, when I left home for
other places, were you in so much anxiety that you did not offer oblations of
ghee into the fire?
यत्पूजया कामदुघान् याति लोकान् गृहान्वितः।
ब्राह्मणोऽग्निश्च वै विष्णोः सर्वदेवात्मनो मुखम् ॥९॥
By worshiping the fire
and the brahmanas, a householder can achieve the desired goal of
residing in the higher planets, for the sacrificial fire and the brahmanas are
to be considered the mouth of Lord Vishnu, who is the Supersoul of all the
demigods.
अपि सर्वे कुशलिनस्तव पुत्रा मनस्विनि।
लक्षयेऽस्वस्थमात्मानं भवत्या लक्षणैरहम् ॥१०॥
O great-minded lady, are
all your sons faring well? Seeing your withered face, I can perceive that your
mind is not tranquil.  How is this so?
अदितिरुवाच-
भद्रं द्विजगवां ब्रह्मन् धर्मस्यास्य जनस्य च ।
त्रिवर्गस्य परं क्षेत्रं गृहमेधिन् गृहा इमे ॥११॥
Aditi said: O my
respected brahmana husband, all is well with the brahmanas, the cows, dharma
and the welfare of other people.  O
master of the house, the three principles of dharma, artha and kama
flourish in household life, which is consequently full of good fortune.
अग्नयोऽतिथयो भृत्या भिक्षवो ये च लिप्सवः।
सर्वं भगवतो ब्रह्मन्ननुध्यानान्न रिष्यति ॥१२॥
O beloved husband, the
fires, guests, servants and beggars are all being properly cared for by
me.  Because I always think of you, there
is no possibility that any of the dharmic principles will be neglected.
को नु मे भगवन् कामो न सम्पद्येत मानसः।
यस्या भवान् प्रजाध्यक्ष एवं धर्मान् प्रभाषते ॥१३॥
O my Lord, since you are a Prajapati and are
personally my instructor in the principles of religion (dharma), where
is the possibility that all my desires will not be fulfilled?
तवैव मारीच  मनः शरीरजाः
   प्रजा इमाः सत्त्वरजस्तमोजुषः
समो भवांस्तास्वसुरादिषु प्रभो
   तथापि भक्तं भजते महेश्वरः ॥१४॥
O son of Marichi, because
you are a great personality you are equal toward all the demons and demigods,
who are born either from your body or from your mind and who possess one or
another of the three qualities – sattva-guna, rajo-guna or tamo-guna.  But although the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, the Supreme controller, is equal toward all living entities, He is
especially favourable to the devotees.
तस्मादीश भजन्त्या मे श्रेयश्चिन्तय सुव्रत।
हृतश्रियोहृतस्थानान् सपत्नैः पाहि नः प्रभो॥१५॥
Therefore, most gentle
lord, kindly favour your maidservant.  We
have now been deprived of our opulence and residence by our competitors, the
demons.  Kindly give us protection
.
परैर्विवासिता साहं मग्ना व्यसनसागरे।
ऐश्वर्यं श्रीर्यशः स्थानं हृतानि प्रबलैर्मम॥१६॥
The demons, our formidably powerful enemies, have
taken away our opulence, our beauty, our fame and even our residence. Indeed,
we have now been exiled, and we are drowning in an ocean of trouble.
यथा तानि पुनः साधो प्रपद्येरन् ममात्मजाः।
तथा विधेहि कल्याणं धिया कल्याणकृत्तम ॥१७॥
O best of sages, best of
all those who grant auspicious benedictions, please consider our situation and
bestow upon my sons the benedictions by which they can regain what they have
lost.
श्रीशुक उवाच –
एवमभ्यर्थितोऽदित्या  कस्तामाह स्मयन्निव।
अहो मायाबलं विष्णोः  स्नेह बद्धमिदं जगत्॥१८॥
Sukadeva Goswami
continued: When Kashyapa Muni was thus requested by Aditi, he slightly smiled,
“Alas”, he said, “how powerful is the illusory energy (Maya) of Lord Vishnu,
by which the entire world is bound by affection for children.”
क्व देहो भौतिकोऽनात्मा क्व चात्मा प्रकृतेः परः।
कस्य के पतिपुत्राद्या मोह एव हि कारणम्॥१९॥
Kashyapa Muni continued: What is this material body, made of five elements? It is
different from the spirit soul. Indeed, the spirit soul is completely different
from the material elements from which the body is made. But because of bodily
attachment, one is regarded as a husband or son.  These illusory relationships are caused by
misunderstanding
.
उपतिष्ठस्व पुरुषं भगवन्तं जनार्दनम्।
सर्वभूतगुहावासं वासुदेवं जगद्गुरुम् ॥२०॥
My dear Aditi, engage in
devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of
everything, who can subdue everyone’s enemies, and who abides within everyone’s
heart.  Only that Supreme Person –
Krishna or Vasudeva – can bestow all auspicious benedictions upon everyone, for
He is the spiritual master of the universe.
स विधास्यति ते कामान् हरिर्दीनानुकम्पनः।
अमोघा भगवत्भक्तिर्नेतरेति मतिर्मम॥२१॥
The Supreme Personality
of Godhead, who is very merciful to those who are suffering, will fulfill all
your desires, for devotional service unto Him is infallible. Any method other
than devotional service is useless.  That
is my opinion.  
अदितिरुवाच-
केनाहं विधिना ब्रह्मन्नुपस्थास्ये जगत्पतिम्।
यथा मे सत्यसङ्कल्पो विदध्यात् स मनोरथम्॥२२॥
Aditi said: O brahmana, tell me the regulative
principles by which I may worship the supreme master of the world so that the
Lord will be pleased with me and fulfill all my desires.     
आदिश त्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ विधिं तदुपधावनम्।
आशु तुष्यति मे देवः सीदन्त्याः सह पुत्रकैः ॥२३॥
O best of brahmanas,
kindly instruct me in the perfect method of worshiping the Supreme Personality
of Godhead in devotional service, by which the Lord may very soon be pleased
with me and save me, along with my sons, from this most dangerous condition.
कश्यप उवाच-
एतन्मे भगवान् पृष्टः प्रजाकामस्य पद्मजः।
यदाह ते प्रवक्ष्यामि व्रतं केशवतोषणम्॥२४॥
Sri Kashyapa Muni said:
When I desired offspring, I placed inquiries before Lord Brahma, who is born
from a lotus flower.  Now I shall explain
to you the same process Lord Brahma instructed me, by which Kesava, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, is satisfied (pleased).
फाल्गुनस्यामलेपक्षे द्वादशाहं पयोव्रतः।
अर्चयेदरविन्दाक्षं भक्त्या परमयान्वितः ॥२५॥
In the bright fortnight
of the month of Phalguna [February-March], for twelve days ending with Dvadasi,
one should observe the vow of subsisting only on milk and should worship the lotus-eyed
Supreme Personality of Godhead (Krishna) with all devotion.
सिनीवाल्यां मृदाऽऽलिप्य स्नायात् क्रोडविदीर्णया।
यदि लभ्येत वै स्रोतस्येतं मन्त्रमुदिरयेत् ॥२६॥
If dirt dug up by a boar
is available, on the day of the dark moon one should smear this dirt on his
body and then bathe in a flowing river. 
While bathing, one should chant the following mantra.
त्वं देव्यादिवराहेण रसायाः स्थानमिच्छता।
उद्धृतासि नमस्तुभ्यं पाप्मानं मे प्रणाशय ॥२७॥
O Mother Earth, You were
raised by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a boar because of
your desiring to have a place to stay.  I
pray that you kindly vanquish all the reactions of my sinful life. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto you.
निर्वर्तितात्मनियमो देवमर्चेत् समाहितः।
अर्चायां स्थण्डिले सूर्ये जले वह्नौ गुरावपि॥२८॥
Thereafter, one should
perform his daily spiritual duties and then, with great attention, offer
worship to the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and also to the
altar, the sun, water, fire and the spiritual master.
नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते पुरुषाय महीयसे।
सर्वभूतनिवासाय वासुदेवाय साक्षिणे ॥२९॥
O Supreme Personality of
Godhead, greatest of all, who lives in everyone’s heart and in whom everyone
lives, O witness of everything, O Vasudeva, supreme and all-pervading person, I
offer my respectful obeisances unto You.
नमोऽव्यक्ताय सूक्ष्माय प्रधानपुरुषाय च।
चतुर्विंशद्गुणज्ञाय गुणसंख्यानहेतवे॥३०॥
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You, the Supreme Person, Being very subtle, You are never
visible to material eyes.  You are the
knower of the twenty-four elements, and You are the inaugurator of the
sankhya-yoga system.
नमो द्विशीर्ष्णे त्रिपदे चतुःशृङ्गाय तन्तवे।
सप्तहस्ताय यज्ञाय त्रयीविद्यात्मने नमः ॥३१॥
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You, the Sureme Personality of Godhead, who have two heads [prayaniya
and udayaniya], three legs [savana-traya], four horns [the four
vedas] and seven hands [the seve chandas, such as Gayatri].  I offer my obeisances unto You, whose heart
and soul are the three Vedic rituals [karma-kanda, jnana-kanda and upasana
kanda
] and who expand these rituals in the form of sacrifice.  
नमः शिवाय रुद्राय नमः शक्तिधराय च।
सर्वविद्याधिपतये भूतानां पतये नमः ॥३२॥
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You, Lord Siva, or Rudra, who are the reservoir of all
potencies, the reservoir of all knowledge, and the master of everyone.
नमो हिरण्यगर्भाय प्राणाय जगदात्मने।
योगैश्वर्यशरीराय  नमस्ते योगहेतवे ॥३३॥
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You, who are situated as Hiranyagarbha, the source of
life, the Supersoul of every living entity. 
Your body is the source of the opulence of all mystic power. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto You.
नमस्त आदिदेवाय साक्षिभूताय ते नमः।
नारायणाय ऋषये नराय हरये नमः ॥३४॥
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You, who are the original Personality of Godhead, the witness
in everyone’s heart, and the incarnation of Nara-Narayana Rishi in the form of
a human being. O Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto
You.
नमो मरकतश्यामवपुषेऽधिगतश्रिये।
केशवाय नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्ते पीतवाससे ॥३५॥
My Lord, I offer my
obeisances unto You, who are dressed in yellow garments, whose bodily hue
resembles the marakata gem, and who have full control over the goddess
of fortune. O my Lord Kesava, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. 
त्वं सर्ववरदः पुंसां वरेण्य वरदर्षभ।
अतस्ते श्रेयसे धीराः पादरेणुमुपासते ॥३६॥
O most exalted and
worshipable Lord, best of those who bestow benediction, You can fulfill the
desires of everyone, and therefore those who are sober, for their own welfare,
worship the dust of Your lotus feet.
अन्ववर्तन्त यं देवाः श्रीश्च तत्पादपद्मयोः।
स्पृहयन्त इवामोदं भगवान् मे प्रसीदताम्॥३७॥
All the demigods, as well
as the goddess of fortune, engage in the service of His lotus feet.  Indeed, they respect the fragrance of those
lotus feet.  May the Supreme Personality
of Godhead be pleased with me.
एतैर्मन्त्रैर्हृषीकेशमावाहनपुरस्कृतम्।
अर्चयेच्छ्रद्धया युक्तः पाद्योपस्पर्शनादिभिः॥३८॥
Kashyapa Muni continued:
By chanting all these mantras, welcoming (avahana) the Supreme
Personality of Godhood with faith and devotion, and offering Him items of
worship [such as padya and arghya], one should worship Kesava,
Hrishikesha, Krishna,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 
अर्चित्वा गन्धमाल्याद्यैः पयसा स्नपयेद्विभुम्।
वस्त्रोपवीताभरणपाद्योपस्पर्शनैस्ततः|
गन्धधूपादिभिश्चार्चेद् द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया ॥३९॥
In the beginning, the
devotee should chant the dwadasakshara mantra and offer flower
garlands, incense and so on.  After
worshiping the Lord in this way, one should bathe the Lord with milk and dress
Him with proper garments, a sacred thread, and ornaments.  After offering water to wash the Lord’s feet,
one should again worship the Lord with fragrant flowers, incense and other
paraphernalia.
शृतं पयसि नैवेद्यं शाल्यन्नं विभवे सति।
ससर्पिः सगुडं दत्त्वा जुहुयान्मूलविद्यया ॥४०॥
If one can afford to, one should offer the Deity fine
rice boiled in milk with clarified butter and molasses.  While chanting the same original mantra, one
should offer all this into the fire.
निवेदितं तद् भक्ताय दद्यात् भुञ्जीत वा स्वयम्।
दत्त्वाऽऽचमनमर्चित्वाताम्बूलं च निवेदयेत्॥४१॥
One should offer all the prasada
to a Vishnava or offer him some of the prasada and then take some
oneself.  After this, one should offer
the Deity achamana and then betel nut and then again worship the Lord.
जपेदष्टोत्तरशतं स्तुवीत स्तुतिभिः प्रभुम्।
कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं भूमौ प्रणमेद् दण्डवन्मुदा ॥४२॥
Thereafter, one should
silently murmur the mantra 108 times and offer prayers to the Lord for His
glorification.  Then one should
circumambulate the Lord and finally, with great delight and satisfaction, offer
obeisances, prostrating straight like a rod [dandavat]
कृत्वा शिरसि तच्छेषां देवमुद्वासयेत् ततः।
द्व्यवरान् भोजयेद् विप्रान् पायसेन यथोचितम्॥४३॥
After touching to one’s head all the flowers and water
offered to the Deity, one should do udvasana of the Deity. Then one
should feed at least two brahmanas with sweet rice.
भुञ्जीत तैरनुज्ञातः सेष्टः शेषं सभाजितैः।
ब्रह्मचार्यथ तद्रात्र्यां श्वोभूते प्रथमेऽहनि॥४४॥
स्नातः शुचिर्यथोक्तेन विधिना सुसमाहितः।
पयसा स्नापयित्वार्चेद् यावद् व्रतसमापनम्॥४५॥
One should perfectly
honour the respectable brahmanas one has fed, and then, after taking
their permission, one should take prasada with his friends and
relatives.  For that night, one should
observe strict celibacy, and the next morning, after bathing again, with purity
and attention one should bathe the Deity of Vishnu with milk and worship Him
according to the methods formerly stated in detail. This should be repeated as
long as the prescribed period of this vow is not over.
पयोभक्षो व्रतमिदं चरेद् विष्ण्वर्चनादृतः।
पूर्ववज्जुहुयादग्निं ब्राह्मणांश्चापि भोजयेत् ॥४६॥
Worshiping Lord Vishnu
with great faith and devotion and living only by drinking milk, one should
follow this vow. One should also offer oblations to the fire and feed the brahmanas
as mentioned above.  
एवं त्वहरहः कुर्याद् द्वादशाहं पयोव्रतः।
हरेराराधनं होममर्हणं  द्विजतर्पणम् ॥४७॥
In this way, until twelve
days have passed, one should observe this payovrata, worshiping the Lord
every day, executing the routine duties, performing sacrifices and feeding
brahmanas.  
प्रतिपद्दिनमारभ्य यावच्छुक्लत्रयोदशी।
ब्रह्मचर्यमधःस्वप्नं स्नानं त्रिषवणं चरेत्॥४८॥
From Pratipat
until the thirteenth day of the next bright moon (sukla-trayodasi), one
should observe complete celibacy, sleep on the floor, bathe three times a day
and thus execute the vow. 
वर्जयेदसदालापं भोगानुच्चावचांस्तथा।
अहिंस्रः सर्वभूतानां वासुदेवपरायणः ॥४९॥
During this period, one
should not unnecessarily talk of material subjects or topics of sense
gratification, one should be completely free from envy of all living entities,
and one should be a pure and simple devotee of Lord Vasudeva.
त्रयोदश्यामथो विष्णोः स्नपनं पञ्चकैर्विभोः।
कारयेच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना विधिकोविदैः ॥५०॥
Thereafter, following the
directions of the sastra with help from
brahmanas who know the sastra,
on the thirteenth day of the moon one should bathe Lord Vishnu with five
substances [milk, yogurt, ghee, sugar and honey]
पूजां च महतीं कुर्याद् वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः।
चरुं निरूप्य पयसि शिपिविष्टाय विष्णवे॥५१॥
सूक्तेन तेन पुरुषं यजेत सुसमाहितः।
नैवेद्यं चातिगुणवद् दद्यात् पुरुषतुष्टिदम्॥५२॥
Giving up the miserly
habit of not spending money, one should arrange for the gorgeous worship of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, who is situated in the heart of every
living entity.  With great attention, one
must prepare an oblation of grains boiled in ghee and milk and must chant the Purusha
Sukta mantra.
  The offerings of food
should be of varieties of tastes.  In
this way, one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

आचार्यं ज्ञानसंपन्नं वस्त्राभरणधेनुभिः।
तोषयेदृत्विजश्चैव तद् विद्ध्याराधनं हरेः ॥५३॥
One should satisfy the
spiritual master [acharya], who is very learned in Vedic literature, and
should satisfy his assistant priests [known as hota, udgata, adhvaryu and
brahma
]. One should please them by offering them clothing, ornaments and
cows.  This is the ceremony called vishnu-aradhana,
or worship of Lord Vishnu.
   
भोजयेत् तान् गुणवता सदन्नेन शुचिस्मिते।
अन्यांश्च ब्राहमणाञ्छक्त्या ये च तत्र समागताः ॥५४॥
O most auspicious lady,
one should perform all the ceremonies under the direction of learned acharyas
and should satisfy them and their priests. 
By distributing prasada, one should also satisfy the brahmanas
and others who have assembled.
दक्षिणां गुरवे दद्यादृत्विग्भ्यश्च  यथार्हतः।
अन्नाद्येन श्वपाकांश्च प्रीणयेत्समुपागतान् ॥५५॥
One should satisfy the
spiritual master and assistant priests by giving them cloth, ornament, cows and
also some monetary contribution.  And by
distributing prasada one should satisfy everyone assembled, including even the
lowest of men, the chandalas [eaters of dog flesh].
भुक्तवत्सु च सर्वेषु दीनान्धकृपणेषु च ।
विष्णोस्तत्प्रीणनं  विद्वान् भुञ्जीत सह बन्धुभिः॥५६॥
One should distribute Vishnu-prasada
to everyone, including the poor man, the blind man,  the nondevotee and the non-brahmana.  Knowing that Lord Vishnu is very pleased when
everyone is sumptuously fed with Vishna-Prasada, the performer of yajna
should then take prasada with his friends and relatives.
नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च स्तुतिभिः स्वस्तिवाचकैः।
कारयेत्तत्कथाभिश्च पूजां भगवतोऽन्वहम्॥५७॥
Every day from pratipat
to trayodasi, one should continue the ceremony, to the accompaniment of
dancing, singing, the beating of a drum, the chanting of prayers and
all-auspicious mantras, and recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam.  In this way, one should worship the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
एतत्पयोव्रतं नाम पुरुषाराधनं परम् ।
पितामहेनाभिहितं मया ते समुदाहृतम् ॥५८॥
This is the religious
ritualistic ceremony known as payo-vrata, by which one may worship the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.  I
received this information from Brahma, my grandfather, and now I have described
it to you in all details.  
त्वं चानेन महाभागे सम्यक् चीर्णेन केशवम्।
आत्मना शुद्धभावेन नियतात्मा भजाव्ययम् ॥५९॥
O most fortunate lady,
establishing your mind in a good spirit, execute this process of payo-vrata
and thus worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kesava, who is inexhaustible.
अयं वै सर्वयज्ञाख्यः सर्वव्रतमिति स्मृतम्।
तपःसारमिदं भद्रे दानं चेश्वरतर्पणम्॥६०॥
This payo-vrata is also
known as sarva-yajna.  In other
words, by performing this sacrifice one can perform all other sacrifices
automatically.  This is also acknowledged
to be the best of all ritualistic ceremonies. 
O gentle lady, it is the essence of all austerities, and it is the
process of giving charity and pleasing the supreme controller.
त एव नियमाः साक्षात्त एव च यमोत्तमाः।
तपो दानं व्रतं यज्ञो येन तुष्यत्यधोक्षजः ॥६१॥
This is the best process
for pleasing the transcendental Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as
Adhokshaja.  It is the best of all
regulative principles, the best austerity, the best process of giving charity,
and the best process of sacrifice.
तस्मादेतद् व्रतं भद्रे प्रयता श्रद्धया चर।
भगवान् परितुष्टस्ते वरानाशु विधास्यति॥६२॥
Therefore, my dear gentle
lady, follow this ritualistic vow, strictly observing the regulative
principles.  By this process, the Supreme
Person will very soon be pleased with you and will satisfy all your desires.
॥इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे
        अदितिपयोव्रतकथनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः॥           
    

EMERGENCE OF GODDESS LAKSHMI FROM THE MILKY OCEAN (BHAGAVATAM CANTO 8, CHAPTER 8)

                              श्रीमद्भागवते अष्टमस्कंधे अध्यायः ८ श्लोकाः १-२९)
                                       (  लक्ष्म्या
प्रादुर्भावः
, तया भगवतो वरणं च)
[The
translations in English are by the disciples of His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam” published by
the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
[Context :  Churning of milky ocean by the devas
and asuras, emergence of the terrible poison, kalakuta,  from the milky ocean and Lord Siva’s act of
drinking the poison and holding it in his neck to save devas and asuras
engaged in churning the ocean]
पीते गरे वृषाङ्केन
प्रीतास्तेऽमरदानवाः।
ममन्थुस्तरसा सिन्धुं
हविर्धानी ततोऽभवत्॥१॥
Upon Lord Siva’s drinking
the poison, both the demigods and the demons, being very pleased, began to
churn the ocean with renewed vigour.  AS
a result of this, there appeared a cow known as Surabhi.
तामग्निहोत्रीमृषयो
जगृहुर्ब्रह्मवादिनः।
यज्ञस्य देवयानस्य
मेध्याय हविषे नृप ॥२॥
O King Parikshit, great
sages who were completely aware of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies took charge
of that surabhi cow, which produced all the yogurt, milk and ghee absolutely
necessary for offering oblations into the fire. 
They did this just for the sake of pure ghee, which they wanted for the
performance of sacrifices to elevate themselves to the higher planetary
systems, up to Brahmaloka.
तत उच्चैःश्रवा नाम
हयोऽभूच्चन्द्रपाण्डुरः ।
तस्मिन् बलिः स्पृहां
चक्रे नेन्द्र ईश्वरशिक्षया ॥३॥
Thereafter a horse named
Ucchaishravas,
which was as white as the moon, was generated.  Bali Maharaja desired to possess this horse,
and Indra, the King of heaven, did not protest, for he had previously been so
advised by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  
तत ऐरावतो नाम वारणेन्द्रो
विनिर्गतः।
दन्तैश्चतुर्भिः श्वेताद्रेर्हरन्
भगवतो महिम्॥४॥
As the next result of the
churning, the king of elephants, named Airavata, was generated.  This elephant was white, and with its four
tusks it defied the glories of Kailasa Mountain, the glorious abode of Lord
Siva.
ऐरावणादयस्त्वष्टौ
दिग् गजा अभवंस्ततः।
अभ्रमुप्रभृतयोऽष्टौ
च करिण्यस्त्वभवन्नृप॥५॥
Thereafter, O King, there
emerged from the milky ocean eight great elephants, corresponding to the eight
quarters. They were headed by Airavana
Eight she-elephants, headed by Abhramu,  also emerged from the milky ocean.
कौस्तुभाख्यमभूद् रत्नं
पद्मरागो महोदधेः।
तस्मिन् हरिः स्पृहां
चक्रे वक्षोऽलङ्करणे मणौ
ततोऽभवत् पारिजातः
सुरलोकविभूषणम्।
पूरयत्यर्थिनोऽर्थैः
शश्वद् भुवि यया भवान् ॥६॥
Generated thereafter from
the great ocean were the celebrated gems Kautubha-mani and Padmaraga-mani.
Lord Vishnu, to decorate his chest, desired to possess them.  Generated next was the parijata tree,
which decorates the celestial planets.  O
King, as you fulfil the desires of everyone on this planet, the parijata
fulfils the desires of everyone.
ततश्चाप्सरसो जाता
निष्ककण्ठ्यः सुवाससः।
रमण्यः स्वर्गिणां
वल्गुगतिलीलावलोकनैः॥७॥
Next there appeared the
Apsaras
[the celestial dancers]. They were fully decorated with golden
ornaments and lockets and were dressed in fine and attractive clothing.  The apsaras by their slow, attractive
movements and playful glances captivate  the inhabitants of the heavenly planets. 
ततश्चाविरभूत् साक्षाच्छ्री
रमा भगवत्परा।
रञ्जयन्ती दिशः कान्त्या
विद्युत् सौदामनी यथा ॥८॥
Then there appeared
Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, Rama
absolutely dedicated to the Supreme Lord illuminating the quarters by
her lustre, like flashes of lightning.
तस्यां चक्रुः स्पृहां
सर्वे ससुरासुरमानवाः।
रूपौदार्यवयोवर्णमहिमाक्षिप्तचेतसः
॥९॥
Because of her exquisite
beauty, her bodily features, her youth, her complexion and her glories,
everyone, including the demigods, the demons and the human beings, desired
her.  They were attracted because she is
the source of all opulences. 
तस्या आसनमानिन्ये
महेन्द्रो महदद्भुतम्।
मूर्तिमत्यः सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा
हेमकुम्भैर्जलं शुचि॥१०॥
The King of heaven, Indra,
brought a suitable sitting place for the goddess of fortune.  All the rivers of sacred water, such as the
Ganges and Yamuna, personified themselves, and each of them brought pure water
in golden water pots for mother Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune
.
आभिषेचनिका भूमिराहरत्
सकलौषधीः।
गावः पञ्च पवित्राणि
वसन्तो मधुमाधवौ॥११॥
Personified Earth (bhumi)
collected and brought all the herbs needed for intalling the Goddess. The cow
delivered five products, namely milk, yogurt, ghee, urine and cow dung. Spring
personified collected everything produced in spring, during the months of Chaitra
and Vaisakha [April and May].
ऋषयः कल्पयाञ्चक्रुरभिषेकं
यथाविधि।
जगुर्भद्राणि गन्धर्वा
नट्यश्च ननृतुर्जगुः ॥१२॥
The great sages performed
the bathing ceremony of the goddess of fortune as directed in the authorized
scriptures, the Gandharvas chanted all-auspicious Vedic mantras, and the
professional women dancers danced and sang authorised songs prescribed in the
Vedas.
मेघा मृदङ्गपणवमुरजानकगोमुखान्।
व्यनादयञ्छङ्खवेणुवीणास्तुमुलनिःस्वनान्॥१३॥
The clouds in personified
form beat various types of drums, known as mridangas, panavas, murajas
and anakas. They also blew conch shells and bugles known as gomukhas
and played flutes and stringed instruments. 
The combined sound of these instruments was tumultuous.   
ततोऽभिषिषिचुर्देवीं
श्रियं पद्मकरां सतीम् ।
दिगिभाः पूर्णकलशैः
सूक्तवाक्यैर्द्विजेरितैः॥१४॥
Thereafter, the great
elephants from all the directions carried big water jugs full of Ganges water
and bathed the goddess of fortune, to the accompaniment of Vedic mantras
chanted by learned brahmanas. While thus being bathed, the goddess of fortune
maintained her original style, with a lotus flower in her hand.
समुद्रः पीतकौशेयवाससी
समुपाहरत्।
वरुणः स्रजं वैजयन्तीं
मधुना मत्तषट्पदाम्॥१५॥
The ocean, which is the
source of all valuable jewels, supplied the upper and lower portions of a
yellow silken garment. The predominating deity of the water, Varuna, presented
flower garlands surrounded by six-legged bumblebees, drunken with honey. 
भूषणानि विचित्राणि
विश्वकर्मा प्रजापतिः।
हारं सरस्वती पद्ममजो
नागाश्च कुण्डले ॥१६॥
Viswakarma, one of the prajapatis,
supplied varieties of decorated ornaments. 
The goddess of learning, Sarasvati, supplied a necklace, Lord Brahma
supplied a lotus flower, and the inhabitants of Nagaloka supplied
earrings
.
ततः  कृतस्वस्त्ययनोत्पलस्रजं
  नदद्द्विरेफां परिगृह्य पाणिना।l
चचाल वक्त्रं सुकपोलकुण्डलं
  सव्रीडहासं दधती सुशोभनम् ॥१७॥
Thereafter, mother
Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, having been properly celebrated with an
auspicious  ritualistic ceremony, began
moving about, holding in her hand a garland of lotus flowers, which were
surrounded by humming bumblebees. 
Smiling with shyness, her cheeks decorated by her earrings, she looked
extremely beautiful.
स्तनद्वयं चातिकृशोदरी
समं
  निरन्तरं चन्दनकुङ्कुमोक्षितम्।
ततस्ततो नूपुरवल्गुशिञ्जितै-
  र्विसर्पती हेमलतेव सा बभौ॥१८॥
Her two breasts, which
were symmetrical and nicely situated, were covered with sandalwood paste and kumkum
powder, and her waist was very thin.  As
she walked here and there, her ankle bells jingling softly, she appeared like a
creeper of gold.
विलोकयन्ती निरवद्यमात्मनः।
  पदं ध्रुवं चाव्यभिचारिसद्गुणम्।
गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धचारण-
   त्रैविष्टपेयादिषु नान्यविन्दत॥१९॥
While walking among the
Gandharvas, Yakshas, asuras, siddhas, Charanas and denizens of heaven,
Lakshmidevi, the goddess of fortune, was scrutinizingly examining them, but she
could not find anyone naturally endowed with all good qualities.  None of them was devoid of faults, and
therefore she could not take shelter of any of them.
नूनं तपो यस्य न मन्युनिर्जयो
   ज्ञानं क्वचित् तच्च न सङ्गवर्जितम्।
कश्चिन्महांस्तस्य
न कामनिर्जयः
   स ईश्वरः किं परतोव्यपाश्रयः॥२०॥
The goddess of fortune,
examining the assembly, thought in this way: Someone who has undergone great
austerity has not yet conquered anger. 
Someone possesses knowledge, but he has not conquered material
desires.  Someone is a very great
personality but he cannot conquer lusty desires. Even a great personality
depends on something else. How, then, can he be the supreme controller?
धर्मः क्वचित् तत्र
न भूतसौहृदं
  त्यागः क्वचित् तत्र न मुक्तिकारणम्।
वीर्यं न पुंसोऽस्त्यजवेगनिष्कृतं
   न हि द्वितीयो गुणसङ्गवर्जितः ॥२१॥
Someone may possess full
knowledge of religion (dharma) but still not be kind to all living
entities.  In someone, whether human or
demigod, there may be renunciation, but that is not the cause of
liberation.  Someone may possess great
power and yet be unable to check the power of eternal time.  Someone else may have renounced attachment to
the material world, yet he cannot compare to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.  Therefore, no one is completely
freed from the influence of the material modes of nature.
क्वचिच्चिरायुर्न हि
शीलमङ्गलं
 क्वचित् तदप्यस्ति न वेद्यमायुषः ।
यत्रोभयं कुत्र च सोऽप्यमङ्गलः
 सुमङ्गलः कश्च न काङ्क्षते हि माम्
॥२२॥
Someone may have longevity
but not have auspiciousness or good behaviour. 
Someone may have both auspiciousness and good behaviour, but the
duration of his life is not fixed. 
Although such demigods as Siva have eternal life, they have inauspicious
habits like living in crematorium.  And
even if others are well qualified in all respects, they have no strong desire
for me.
एवं विमृश्याव्यभिचारिसद्गुणैर्वरं
   निजैकाश्रयतयागुणाश्रयम्।
वव्रे वरं सर्वगुणैरपेक्षितं
   रमा मुकुन्दं निरपेक्षमीप्सितम्
॥२३॥
Sukadeva Goswami
continued: In this way, after full deliberation, the goddess of fortune
accepted Mukunda as her husband because although He is independent and not in
want of her, He possesses all transcendental qualities and mystic powers and is
therefore the most desirable.
तस्यांसदेश उशतीं नवकञ्जमालां
  माद्यन्मधुव्रतवरूथगिरोपघुष्टाम्।
तस्थौ निधाय निकटे
तदुरः स्वधाम
 सव्रीडहासविकसन्नयनेन याता ।२४॥
Approaching the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the goddess of fortune placed upon His shoulders the
garland of newly grown lotus flowers, which was surounded by humming bumblebees
searching for honey.  Then, expecting to
get a place on the bosom of the Lord, she remained standing by His side, her
face smiling in shyness. 
तस्याः श्रियस्त्रिजगतो
जनको जनन्या
  वक्षोनिवासमकरोत् परमं विभूतेः।
श्रीः स्वाः प्रजाः
सकरुणेन निरीक्षणेन
  यत्र स्थितैधयत साधिपतींस्त्रिलोकान्
॥२५॥
The Supreme Personality of
Godhead is the father of the three worlds, and His bosom is the residence of
mother Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, the proprietor of all opulences.  The goddess of fortune, by her favourable and
merciful glance, can increase the opulence of the three worlds, along with
their inhabitants and their directors, the demigods.   
शङ्खतूर्यमृदङ्गानां
वादित्राणां पृथुः स्वनः।
देवानुगानां सस्त्रीणां
नृत्यतां गायतामभूत् ॥२६॥
The inhabitants of
Gandharvaloka and Chandraloka then took the opportunity to play their musical
instruments, such as conchshells, bugles and drums.  They began dancing and singing along with
their wives.
ब्रह्मरुद्राङ्गिरोमुख्याः
सर्वे विश्वसृजो विभुम्।
ईडिरेऽवितथैर्मन्त्रैस्तल्लिङ्गैः
पुष्पवर्षिणः॥२७॥
Lord Brahma, Lord Siva,
the great sage Angira, and similar directors of universal management showered
flowers and chanted mantras indicating the transcendental glories of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.
श्रिया विलोकिता देवाः
सप्रजापतयः प्रजाः।
शीलादिगुणसंपन्ना लेभिरे
निर्वृतिं पराम् ॥२८॥
All the demigods, along
with the prajapatis and their descendants, being blessed by Goddess Lakshmi’s
glance upon them, were immediately enriched with good behaviour and transcendental
qualities. Thus they were very much satisfied.
निःसत्त्वा लोलुपा
राजन् निरुद्योगा गतत्रपाः।
यदा चोपेक्षिता लक्ष्म्या
बभूवुर्दैत्यदानवाः ॥२९॥

O
King, because of being neglected by the goddess of fortune, the demons and
Rakshasas were depressed, bewildered and frustrated, and thus they became
shameless.  

BRAHMA KRUTA BHAGAVAT STUTI (BHAGAVATAM -CANTO 8, CHAPTER 5

                 ब्रह्माकृतभगवत्स्तुतिः
             (श्रीमद्भागवते अष्टमस्कंधे अध्यायः ५ श्लोकाः २४-५०)
[The
translations in English are by the disciples of His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam” published by
the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
[Context: Devas,
vanquished by the asuras, approached Brahma who consoled them and took
them to the abode of Maha Vishnu seeking the latter’s help]
श्रीशुक उवाच-
इत्याभाष्य सुरान्
वेधाः सह देवैररिन्दम।
अजितस्य पदं साक्षाज्जगाम
तमसः परम्॥२४॥
O Maharaja Parikshit,
subduer of all enemies, after Lord Brahma finished speaking to the demigods, he
took them with him to the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which is
beyond the material world.  The Lord’s
abode is on an island called Svetadvipa, which is situated in the ocean of
milk. 
तत्रादृष्टस्वरूपाय
श्रुतपूर्वाय वै विभो।
स्तुतिमब्रूत दैवीभिर्गीर्भिस्त्ववहितेन्द्रियः
॥२५॥
There [at Svetadvipa],
Lord Brahma offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even though
he had never seen the Supreme Lord. 
Simply because Lord Brahma had heard about the Supreme Personality of
Godhead from Vedic literature, with a fixed mind he offered the Lord prayers as
written or approved by Vedic literature
.
ब्रह्मोवाच-
अविक्रियं सत्यमनन्तमाद्यं
गुहाशयं निष्कलमप्रतर्क्यम्।
मनोऽग्रयानं वचसानिरुक्तं
नमामहे देववरं वरेण्यम् ॥२६॥
Lord Brahma said: O
Supreme Lord, O changeless, unlimited, supreme truth, You are the origin of
everything.  Being all-pervading, You are
in everyone’s heart and also in the atom. 
You have no material qualities. Indeed, You are inconceivable.  The mind canot catch You by speculation, and
words fail to describe You.  You are the
supreme master of everyone, and therefore You are worshipable for
everyone.  We offer our respectful obeisances
unto You.
 
विपश्चितं प्राणमनोधियात्मनामर्थेन्द्रियाभासमनिद्रमव्रणम्।
छायातपौ यत्र न गृध्रपक्षौ
तमक्षरं खं त्रियुगं व्रजामहे ॥२७॥
The Supreme Personality of
Godhead directly and indirectly knows how everything, including the living
force, mind and intelligence, is working under His control. He is the
illuminator of everything and has no ignorance. 
He does not have a material body subject to the reactions of previous
activities, and He is free from the ignorance of partiality and materialistic
education.  I therefore take shelter  of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, who is
eternal, all-pervading and as great as the sky and who appears with six
opulences in three yugas [Satya, Treta and Dwapara]
अजस्य चक्रं त्वजयेर्यमाणं
मनोमयं पञ्चदशारमाशु।
त्रिणाभि विद्युच्चलमष्टनेमि
यदक्षमाहुस्तमृतं प्रपद्ये॥२८॥
In the cycle of material
activities, the material body resembles the wheel of a mental chariot.  The ten senses [five for working and five for
gathering knowledge] and the five life airs within the body form the fifteen
spokes of the chariot’s wheel.  The three
modes of nature [goodness, passion and ignorance] are its center of activities,
and the eight ingredients of nature [earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind,
intelligence and false ego] comprise the rim of the wheel.  The external, material energy moves this
wheel like electrical energy.  Thus the
wheel revolves very quickly around its hub or central support, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul and the ultimate truth.  We offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.
य एकवर्णं तमसः परं
तदलोकमव्यक्तमनन्तपारम्।
आसाञ्चकारोपसुपर्णमेनमुपासते
योगरथेन धीराः ॥२९॥
The Supreme Personality of
Godhead is situated in pure goodness (शुद्धसत्त्व), and
therefore he is eka-varna – the omkara (pranava).  Because the Lord is beyond the cosmic
manifestation, which is considered to be darkness, He is not visible to
material eyes.  He is not separated from
us by time or space, but is present everywhere. 
Seated on His carrier, Garuda, He is worshiped by means of mystical yogic
power by those who have achieved freedom from agitation. 
न यस्य कश्चातितितर्ति
मायां यया जनो मुह्यति वेद नार्थम्।
तं निर्जितात्मात्मगुणं
परेशं नमाम भूतेषु समं चरन्तम् ॥३०॥
No one can overcome the
Supreme Personality of Godhead’s illusory energy [maya], which is so
strong  that it bewilders every-one,
making one lose the sense to understand the aim of life. That same maya,
however, is subdued by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who rules everyone
and who is equally disposed toward all living entities. Let us offer our
obeisances unto Him. 
इमे वयं यत्प्रिययैव
तन्वा सत्त्वेन सृष्टा बहिरन्तराविः।
गतिं न सूक्ष्मामृषयश्च
विद्महे कुतोऽसुराद्या इतरप्रधानाः ॥३१॥
Since our bodies are made
of sattva-guna, we, the demigods, are internally and externally situated
in goodness.  All the great saints are
also situated in that way.  Therefore, if
even we cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is to said
of those who are most insignificant in their bodily constitutions, being
situated in the modes of passion and ignorance? How can they understand the
Lord? Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.  
पादौ महीयं स्वकृतैव
यस्य चतुर्विधो यत्र हि भूतसर्गः ।
स वै महापूरुष आत्मतन्त्रः
प्रसीदतां ब्रह्म महाविभूतिः ॥३२॥
On this earth there are
four kinds of living entities, who are all created by Him.  The material creation rests on His lotus
feet.  He is the great Supreme Person,
full of opulence and power.  May He be
pleased with us. 
अम्भस्तु यद्रेतः उदारवीर्यं
सिध्यन्ति जीवन्त्युत वर्धमानाः।
लोकास्त्रयोऽथाखिललोकपालाः
प्रसीदतां ब्रह्म महाविभूतिः ॥३३॥
The entire cosmic
manifestation has emerged from water, and it is because of water that all
living entities endure, live and develop. 
This water is nothing but the semen of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.  Therefore, may the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who has such great potency, be pleased with us. 
सोमं मनो यस्य समामनन्ति
दिवौकसां वै बलमन्ध आयुः।
ईशो नगानां प्रजनः
प्रजानां प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥३४॥
Soma, the moon, is the
source of food grains, strength and longevity for all the demigods. He is also
the master of all vegetation and the source of generation for all living
entities.  As stated by learned scholars,
the moon is the mind of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  May that Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
source of all opulences, be pleased with us.
अग्निर्मुखं यस्य तु
जातवेदा जातः क्रियाकाण्डनिमित्तजन्मा।
अन्तःसमुद्रेऽनुचरन्
स्वधातून् प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥३५॥
Fire, which is born for
the sake of accepting oblations in ritualistic ceremonies, is the mouth of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.  Fire
exists within the depths of the ocean to produce wealth, and fire is also
present in the abdomen to digest food and produce various secretions for the
maintenance of the body.  May that
supremely powerful Personality of Godhead be pleased with us.
यच्चक्षुरासीत् तरणिर्देवयानं
त्रयीमयो ब्रह्मणः एष धिष्ण्यम्।
द्वारं च मुक्तेरमृतं
च मृत्युः प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥३६॥
The sun-god marks the path
of liberation, which is called archiradi-vartma. He is the chief source
for understanding of the Vedas, he is the abode where the Absolute Truth can be
worshiped, he is the gateway to liberation, and he is the source of eternal life
as well as the cause of death.  The
sun-god is the eye of the Lord.  May the
Supreme Lord, who is supremely opulent, be pleased with us. 
प्राणादभूद् यस्य चराचराणां
प्राणः सहो बलमोजश्च वायुः।
अन्वास्म सम्राजमिवानुगा
वयं प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥३७॥
All living entities,
moving and nonmoving, receive their vital force, their bodily strength and
their very lives from the air.  All of us
follow the air for our vital force, exactly as servants follow an emperor.  The vital force of air is generated from the
original vital force of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  May that supreme Lord be pleased with us.
श्रोत्राद् दिशो यस्य
हृदश्च खानि प्रजज्ञिरे खं पुरुषस्य नाभ्याः।
प्राणेन्द्रियात्मासुशरीरकेतः
प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥३८॥  
May the supremely powerful
Personality of Godhead be pleased with us. 
The different directions are generated from His ears, the holes of the
body come from His heart, and the vital force, the senses, the mind, the air
within the body, and the ether, which is the shelter of the body, come from His
navel.
बलान्महेन्द्रस्त्रिदशाः
प्रसादान्मन्योर्गिरीशो धिषणाद् विरिञ्चः।
खेभ्यश्च छन्दांस्यृषयो
मेढ्रतः कः प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥३९॥
Mahendra, the King of
Heaven, was generated from the prowess of the Lord, the demigods were generated
from the mercy of the Lord, Lord Siva was generated from the anger of the Lord,
and Lord Brahma from His sober intelligence. Vedic mantras were generated from
the bodily holes of the Lord, and the great saints and prajapatis were
generated from is genitals.  May that
supremely powerful Lord be pleased with us.   
श्रीर्वक्षसः पितरश्छाययाऽऽसन्
धर्मः स्तनादितरः पृष्ठतोऽभूत् ।
द्यौर्यस्य शीर्ष्णोऽप्सरसो
विहारात् प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥४०॥
The goddess of fortune was
generated from His chest, the inhabitants of Pitrloka from His shadow, dharma
from his bosom, and adharma  from
His back.  The heavenly planets were
generated from the top of His head, and the apsaras from his sense
enjoyment. May that supremely powerful Personality of Godhead be pleased with
us.     
विप्रो मुखं ब्रह्म
च यस्य गुह्यं राजन्य आसीद् भुजयोर्बलं च ।
ऊर्वोर्विडोजोऽङ्घ्रिरवेदशूद्रौ
प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥४१॥  
The brahmanas and
Vedic knowledge come from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the kshatriyas
and bodily strength come from His arms, the vaisyas and their expert
knowledge in productivity and wealth come from His thighs, and the sudras,  who are outside of Vedic knowledge, come from
His feet.  May that Supreme Personality
of Godhead, who is full in prowess, be pleased with us.
लोभोऽधरात् प्रीतिरुपर्यभूद्
द्युतिर्नस्तः पशव्यःस्पर्शेन कामः।
भ्रुवोर्यमः पक्ष्मभवस्तु
कालः प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥४२॥
Greed is generated from
his lower lip, affection from His upper lip, bodily lustre from his nose, animalistic
lusty desires from His sense of touch, Yamaraja from His eyebrows, and eternal
time from his eye lashes.  May that
Supreme Lord be pleased with us.   
द्रव्यं वयः कर्म गुणान्
विशेषं यद्योगमायाविहितान् वदन्ति।
यद् दुर्विभाव्यं प्रबुधापबाधं
प्रसीदतां नः स महाविभूतिः॥४३॥
All learned men say that
the five elemets, eternal time, fruitive activity, the three modes of material
nature, and the varieties produced by these modes are all creations of
Yogamaya. This material is therefore extremely difficult to understand, but
those who are highly learned have rejected it. 
May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the controller of
everything, be pleased with us.  
नमोस्तु तस्मा उपशान्तशक्तये
स्वाराज्यलाभप्रतिपूरितात्मने।
गुणेषु मायारचितेषु
वृत्तिभिर्न सज्जमानाय नभस्वदूतये॥४४॥
Let us offer our respectful
obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is completely silent,
free from endeavour, and completely satisfied by His own achievements.  He is not attached to the activities of the
material world through His senses. 
Indeed, in performing His pastimes in this material world, He is just
like the unattached air.
स त्वं नो दर्शयात्मानमस्मत्करणगोचरम्।
प्रपन्नानां दिदृक्षूणां
सस्मितं ते मुखाम्बुजम् ॥४५॥
O Supreme Personality of
Godhead, we are surrendered unto you, yet we wish to see You.  Please make Your original form and smiling
lotus face visible to our eyes and appreciable to our other senses.
तैस्तैः स्वेच्छाधृतै
रूपैः काले काले स्वयं विभो ।
कर्म दुर्विषहं यन्नो
भगवांस्तत् करोति हि ॥४६॥
O Lord, O Supreme
Personality of Godhead, by Your sweet will You appear in various incarnations,
millennium after millennium, and act wonderfully, performing uncommon
activities that would be impossible for us.
क्लेशभूर्यल्पसाराणि
कर्माणि विफलानि वा।
देहिनां विषयार्तानां
न तथैवार्पितं त्वयि॥४७॥
Karmis are always anxious to
accumulate wealth for their sense gratification, but for that purpose they must
work very hard. Yet even though they work hard, the results are not
satisfying.  Indeed, sometimes their work
results only in frustration.  But devotees
who have dedicated their lives to the service of the Lord can achieve
substantial results without working very hard. 
These results exceed the devotee’s expectations.
नावमः कर्मकल्पोऽपि
विफलायेश्वरार्पितः ।
कल्पते पुरुषस्यैव
स ह्यात्मा दयितो हितः ॥४८॥
Activities dedicated to
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even if performed in small measure, never
go in vain.  The Supreme Personality of
Godhead, being the supreme father, is naturally very dear and alwasys ready to
act for the good of the living entities.  
यथा हि स्कन्धशाखानां
तरोर्मूलावसेचनम्।
एवमाराधनं विष्णोः
सर्वेषामात्मनश्च हि॥४९॥
   
When one pours water on
the root of a tree, the trunk and branches of the tree are automatically
pleased.  Similarly, when one becomes a
devotee of Lord Vishnu, everyone is served, for the Lord is the Supersoul of everyone.
नमस्तुभ्यमनन्ताय दुर्वितर्क्यात्मकर्मणे।
निर्गुणाय गुणेशाय
सत्त्वस्थाय च साम्प्रतम् ॥५०॥

My Lord, all obeisances unto You, who are eternal, beyond time’s
limits of past, present and future.  You
are inconceivable in You activities, You are the master of the three modes of
material nature, and, being transcendental to material qualities, You are free
from material contamination.  You are the
controller of all three of the modes of nature, but at the present You are in
favour of the quality of goodness. Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto
You. 

GARBHAGATA VISHNOR BRAHMADI KRUTA STUTI (BHAGAVATAM, CANTO 10,CHAPTER 2)

   
               गर्भगतविष्णोर्ब्रह्मादिकृतस्तुतिः
                  (श्रीमद्भागवते दशमस्कंधे अध्यायः २ श्लोकाः २५-४२)
[The
translations in English are by the disciples of His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as given in the “Srimad Bhagavatam” published by
the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust]
ब्रह्मा भवश्च तत्रैत्य मुनिभिर्नारदादिभिः।
देवैः सानुचरैः साकं गीर्भिर्वृषणमैडयन्
॥२५॥
Lord Brahma and Lord Siva,
accompanied by great sages like Narada, Devala and Vyasa and by other demigods
like Indra, Chandra and Varuna, invisibly approached the room of Devaki where where
they all joined in offering their respectful obeisances and prayers to please
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can bestow blessings upon every one.
[Note: Kamsa had confined
her in the room fearing the prediction of an unembodied voice, अशरीरवाक्, that
Devaki’s eighth child will kill him]
सत्यव्रतं सत्यपरं
त्रिसत्यं सत्यस्य योनिं निहितं च सत्ये।
सत्यस्य सत्यमृतसत्यनेत्रं
सत्यात्मकं त्वां शरणं प्रपनाः ॥२६॥
O Lord, You never deviate
from Your vow, which is always perfect because whatever you decide is perfectly
correct and cannot be stopped by anyone. 
Being present in the the three phases of cosmic manifestation –
creation, maintenance and annihilation – You are the Supreme Truth. Indeed,
unless one is completely truthful, one cannot achieve Your favour, which
therefore cannot be achieved by hypocrites. You are the active principle, the
real truth, in all the ingredients of creation, and therefore, you are known as
antaryami, the inner force. You are equal to everyone, and Your
instructions apply for everyone, for all time. 
You are the beginning of all truth. 
Therefore, offering our obeisances, we surrender unto You. Kindly give
us protection.
एकायनोऽसौ द्विफलस्त्रिमूलश्चतूरसः
पञ्चविधः षडात्मा।
सप्तत्वगष्टविटपो नवाक्षो
दशच्छदी द्विखगो ह्यादिवृक्षः ॥२७॥
The body [the total body
and the individual body are of the same composition] may figuratively be called
“the original tree”. From this tree, which fully depends on the ground of
material nature, come two kinds of fruit – the enjoyment of happiness and the
suffering of distress.  The cause of the
tree, forming its three roots, is association with the three modes of material
nature -goodness, passion and ignorance (sattwa, rajas and tamas).  The fruits of bodily happiness have four
tastes- religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation (dharma,
artha, kaama
and moksha)- which are experienced through five senses
for acquiring knowledge in the midst of six circumstances: lamentation,
illusion, old age, death, hunger and thirst.. The seven layers of the bark
covering the tree are skin, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and semen, and the
eight branches of the tree are the five gross and three subtle elements- earth,
water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego.  The tree of the body has nine hollows – the eyes,
the ears, the nostrils, the mouth, the rectum and the genitals – and ten
leaves, the ten airs passing through the body. In this tree of the body there
are two birds: one is the individual soul, and the other is the Supersoul.     
त्वमेक एवास्य सतः
प्रसूतिस्त्वं सन्निधानं  त्वमनुग्रहश्च।
त्वन्मायया मोहितचेतसस्त्वां
पश्यन्ति नाना न विपश्चितो ये ॥२८॥
The efficient cause of
this material world, manifested with the many varieties as the original tree,
is You, O Lord.  You are also the
maintainer of this material world, and after annihilation You are the one in
whom everything is conserved.  Those who
are covered by Your external energy (maya) cannot see You behind this
manifestation, but theirs is not the vision of learned devotees.  
बिभर्षि रूपाण्यवबोध
आत्मा क्षेमाय लोकस्य चराचरस्य।
सत्त्वोपपन्नानि सुखावहानि
सतामभद्राणि मुहुः खलानाम् ॥२९॥
O Lord, You are always in
full knowledge, and to bring all good fortune to all living creatures, You
appear in different incarnations, all of them transcendental to the material
creation.  You are pleasing to the pious
and religious devotees,  but for
nondevotees You are the annihilator.
त्वय्यम्बुजाक्षाखिलसत्त्वधाम्नि
समाधिनाऽऽवेशित चेतसैके।
त्वत्पादपोतेन महत्कृतेन
कुर्वन्ति गोवत्सपदं भवाब्धिम् ॥३०॥
O Lotus-eyed Lord, by
concentrating one’s meditation on Your lotus feet, which are the reservoir of
all existence, and by accepting those lotus feet as the boat by which to cross
the ocean of nescience, one follows in the footsteps of mahajanas (great
saints, sages and devotees).  By this
simple process, one can cross the ocean of nescience as easily as one steps
over the hoofprint of a calf.   
स्वयं समुत्तीर्य सुदुस्तरं
द्युमन् भवार्णवं भीममदभ्रसौहृदाः।
भवत्पदाम्भोरुहनावमत्र
ते निधाय याताः सदनुग्रहो भवान् ॥३१॥
O Lord, who resemble the
shining sun, You are always ready to fulfil the desire of Your devotee, and
therefore You are known as a desire tree ( vaanchha-kalpataru). When acharyas
completely take shelter under Your lotus feet in order to cross the fierce
ocean of nescience, they leave behind on earth the method by which they cross,
and because You are very merciful to Your other devotees, You accept this
method to help them.  
येऽन्येऽरविन्दाक्ष
विमुक्तमानिनस्त्वय्यस्तभावादविशुद्धबुद्धयः।
आरुह्य कृच्छ्रेण परं
पदं ततः पतन्त्यधोऽनादृतयुष्मदङ्घ्रयः ॥३२॥
[Some one may say that
aside from devotees, who always seek shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet, there
are those who are not devotees but who have accepted different processes for
attaining salvation. What happens to them? In answer to this question, Lord Brahma
and other demigods said:] O Lotus-eyed Lord, although non-devotees who accept
severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think
themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure.  They fall down from their position of imagined
superiority because they have o regard for Your lotus feet.  
तथा न ते माधव तावकाः
क्वचिद् भ्रश्यन्ति मार्गात्त्वयि बद्धसौहृदाः ।
त्वयाभिगुप्ता विचरन्ति
निर्भया विनायकानीकपमूर्धसु प्रभो ॥३३॥
O Madhava, Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Lord of the goddess of fortune, if devotees completely
in love with You sometimes fall from the path of devotion, they do not fall
like nondevotees, for You still protect them. 
Thus they fearlessly traverse the heads of their opponents and continue
to progress in devotional service
.
सत्त्वं विशुद्धं श्रयते
भवान् स्थितौ शरीरिणां श्रेयउपायनं वपुः।
वेदक्रियायोगतपःसमाधिभिस्तवार्हणं
येन जनः समीहते ॥३४॥
O Lord, during the time of
maintenance You manifest several incarnations, all with transcendental bodies,
beyond the material modes of nature. 
When You appear in this way, You bestow all good fortune upon the living
entities by teaching them to perform Vedic activities such as ritualistic
ceremonies, mystic yoga, austerities, penances, and ultiimately samadhi,
ecstatic absorption in thoughts of you. 
Thus You are worshiped by the Vedic principles.
सत्त्वं न चेद् धातरिदं
निजं भवेद् विज्ञानमज्ञानभिदापमार्जनम्।
गुणप्रकाशैरनुमीयते
भवा प्रकाशते यस्य च येन वा गुणाः ॥३५॥
O Lord, cause of all
causes, If Your transcendental body were not beyond the modes of material
nature, one could not understand the difference between matter and
transcendence.  Only by Your presence can
one understand the transcendental nature of Your Lordship, who are the
controller of material nature.  Your
transcendental nature is very difficult to understand unless one is influenced
by the presence of Your transcendental form.
न नामरूपे गुणजन्मकर्मभिर्निरूपितव्ये
तव तस्य साक्षिणः।
मनोवचोभ्यामनुमेयवर्त्मनो
देव क्रियायां प्रतियन्त्यथापि हि ॥३६॥
O Lord, Your
transcendental name and form are not ascertained by those who merely speculate
on the path of imagination.  Your name,
form and attributes can be ascertained only through devotional service.

शृण्वन्
गृणन् संस्मरयंश्च चिन्तयन् नामानि रूपाणि च मङ्गलानि ते।
क्रियासु यस्त्वच्चरणारविन्दयोराविष्टचेता
न भवाय कल्पते  ॥३७॥
Even while engaged in
various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus
feet, and who constantly hear, chant, contemplate and cause others to remember
Your transcendental names and forms, are always on the transcendental platform,
and thus they can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead
.
दिष्ट्या हरेऽस्या
भवतः पदो भुवो भारोऽपनीतस्तव जन्मनेशितुः।
दिष्ट्याङ्कितां त्वत्पदकैः
सुशोभनैर्द्रक्ष्याम गां द्यां च तवानुकम्पिताम् ॥३८॥
O Lord, we are fortunate
because the heavy burden of the demons upon this earth is immediately removed
by Your appearance.  Indeed, we are
certainly fortunate, for we shall be able to see upon this earth and in the
heavenly planets the marks of lotus, conchshell, club and disc that adorn Your
lotus feet.

न तेऽभवस्येश भवस्य कारणं विना विनोदं बत तर्कयामहे।
भवो निरोधः स्थितिरप्यविद्यया
कृता यतस्त्वय्यभयाश्रयात्मनि॥३९॥
O Supreme Lord, You are
not an ordinary living entity appearing in this material world as a result of
fruitive activities.  Therefore Your
appearance or birth in this world has no other cause than Your pleasure
potency.  Similarly, the living entities,
who are part of You, have no cause for miseries like birth, death and old age,
except when these living entities are conducted by Your external energy.  
मत्स्याश्वकच्छपनृसिंहवराहहंसराजन्यविप्रविबुधेषु
कृतावतारः।
त्वं पासि नस्त्रिभुवनं
च यथाधुनेश भारं भुवो हर यदूत्तम वन्दनं ते ॥४०॥
O Supreme controller, Your
Lordship previously accepted incarnations as a fish, a horse, a tortoise,
Narasimhadeva, a boar, a swan, Lord Ramachandra, Parasurama and, among the
demigods, Vamanadeva, to protect the entire world by Your mercy.  Now please protect us again by Your mercy by
diminishing the disturbances in this world. 
दिष्ट्याम्ब ते कुक्षिगतः
परः पुमानंशेन साक्षाद् भगवान् भवाय नः।
मा भूद् भयं भोजपतेर्मुमूर्षोर्गोप्ता
यदूनां भविता तवात्मजः ॥४१॥
O Mother Devaki, by your
good fortune and ours, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, with all His
plenary portions, such as Baladeva, is now within your womb.  Therefore you need not fear Kamsa, who has
decided to be killed by the Lord. Your eternal son, Krishna, will be the
protector of the entire Yadu dynasty.  

इत्यभिष्टूय
पुरुषं यद्रूपमनिदं यथा।
ब्रह्मेशानौ पुरोधाय देवाः
प्रतिययुर्दिवम् ॥४२॥   

After thus offering prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Lord Vishnu, the Transcendence, all the demigods, with Lord Brahma and Lord
Siva before them, returned to their homes in the heavenly planets.