Shri VarAha Dvadasii
The Most Holy Appearance Day of Lord Varahadev
The Lead up to the Appearance
of Lord Varahadeva - The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuëöha, Jaya and
Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
Victory of Hiraëyäkña
Over All the Directions of the Universe
The Battle Between Lord Boar
and the Demon Hiraëyäkña
The Killing of the Demon Hiraëyäkña
Lord Varaha-deva dasavatara page
Dasavataras' page
The pregnancy of Diti || Jaya and Vijaya cursed by the four Kumaras || The appearance of Lord Varaha || The victory of Hiranyaksha and his death at the hands of Lord Varaha.
From: Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 3.
After describing the appearance of the white Boar Incarnation that had appeared during the Svayambhuva devastation, Maitreya next described the red Boar Incarnation that had appeared during the Chakshusha devastation. Maitreya related these pastimes to Vidura in the same manner in which he had heard them long ago when Lord Brahma had narrated them to the demigods.
Once upon a time, at sunset, Kashyapa, the son of Marichi, was offering oblations to Lord Vishnu into the sacrificial fire. At this time, his wife, Diti, approached him due to being greatly afflicted by sex desire. Without trying to attract him gradually by her bodily expressions, the beautiful Diti frankly begged her husband, "O learned one, Cupid is forcibly distressing me with his arrows, just as an elephant troubles a banana tree. I want to have sons like my co-wives and so you should be merciful to me." "My father, Daksha, had separately asked each of his daughters, whom we preferred to marry. Then, after understanding our intentions, he handed over thirteen of his daughters to you, and we have been faithful to you ever since that time. O lotus-eyed one, when someone in distress approaches a great person, his pleas should never go in vain."
The hen-pecked Kashyapa could have strongly refused his wife, but because he was also sexually inclined, he tried to pacify Diti, who had become very poor-hearted and talkative, due to the contamination of lust. Kashyapa said, "O afflicted one, I shall soon gratify your desire. It is only due to having a good wife that a man like me can cross over the great ocean of material existence. Indeed, a wife is so helpful that she is called the better half of a man's body. Just as a military commander can easily conquer invaders while remaining protected within a fort, so a man can conquer his senses by taking shelter of a good wife. For this reason, a man could never repay his wife for all the benefit that he derives from her, even if he were to try to do so during his entire lifetime, or even after death."
"My dear Diti, although I cannot sufficiently repay you, I will satisfy your sex desire for the purpose of begetting children. I only request you to wait for a few minutes so that I may not become subject to criticism. The present moment is most inauspicious because at this time Lord Shiva rides upon his bull carrier, accompanied by his horrible ghostly companions. He gives such ghosts the chance of getting a gross material body by placing them into the wombs of women that indulge in sexual intercourse during this forbidden period. Lord Shiva is your sister's husband, and with his three eyes, he will see your forbidden act."
In spite of receiving such good instructions from her husband, Diti was so oppressed by sex desire that she caught hold of Kashyapa's clothes just like a shameless prostitute, and thus she practically forced him to gratify her lusty urge. After offering obeisances unto worshipful fate, Kashyapa lay down with Diti in a secluded place. After finishing the forbidden act, Kashyapa purified himself by bathing and once again sat down to chant the Gayatri mantra, while meditating upon the impersonal aspect of the Absolute. Meanwhile, after having gratified her lust, Diti came to her senses. With her head lowered in shame, she approached her husband and said, "My dear brahmana, please insure that my embryo is not killed by Lord Shiva, because of the great offense that I have committed against him."
Diti then prayed for Lord Shiva's mercy in a very clever manner: "Let me offer my obeisance unto the angry Lord Shiva. He is so great that he can immediately destroy my embryo, but at the same time he is so merciful and forgiving. Lord Shiva is known as the lord of all women, who are excused even by uncivilized hunters, and therefore I beg him to spare me from his wrath."
As Diti stood before him, trembling due to fear of his anger, Kashyapa said, "Because of your polluted mind, the improper time, your disobedience, and your neglect of the demigods, your conception will produce two abominable sons who will create havoc within the world by killing innocent persons, torturing women, and enraging the great souls. As a result, the Supreme Lord will incarnate to kill them, just as Indra smashes mountains with his thunderbolt."
Diti replied, "O my husband, it is a great relief for me to know that my sons will be killed by the all-merciful Supreme Lord, rather than the wrath of the brahmanas. One who offends the brahmanas or causes fear to others is so condemned that even those who are already in hell, or who are of the degraded species in which he will later on appear, feel no compassion toward him."
Kashyapa then informed Diti, "Due to your repentance and firm faith in the Supreme Lord, as well as your adoration for Lord Shiva and myself, one of your grandsons will be a greatly exalted devotee whose fame will rival that of the Lord Himself. Because of his great devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, others will follow in his footsteps, and because of his having satisfied the Supreme Lord, everyone will become pleased with him. As a first-class devotee, your grandson will be able to see the Supreme Lord, within and without; he will be a reservoir of all good qualities; and he will feel very pained to see the suffering of the conditioned souls in this material world."
After hearing about the glories of Prahlada, Diti became very pleased. But, because she could understand that her sons would cause great disturbances to the demigods, she continued to bear the powerful embryos for one hundred years without giving birth. Still, the force of Diti's pregnancy disturbed the entire universe, and the light of sun and moon became impaired.
After observing this fearful condition, the demigods approached Lord Brahma and submitted, "O lord, just see this darkness that is expanding in all directions. O sustainer of the universe, who knows the intentions of all living entities, Diti's pregnancy has caused this great disturbance, and thus our work has become suspended. Please be merciful unto us, for we have fallen into a very miserable condition."
In response, Lord Brahma informed the demigods of what had happened long ago. After having travelled all over the material creation, the four sages Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumara, entered the spiritual sky, wherein the Vaikuntha planets are situated. They were able to do this due to being freed from all material contamination. In the abode of Lord Narayana, the residents have forms similar to that of the Supreme Lord, and everyone is engaged in His unalloyed devotional service. There are many forests full of desire-trees, and throughout all seasons they are filled with fruit and flowers.
While flying in their airplanes, along with their consorts, the inhabitants of Vaikuntha eternally sing of the character and pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Although the consorts that crowd the airplanes have large hips and beautifully smiling faces, they cannot stimulate the passion of the residents of Vaikuntha. This means that in Vaikuntha there is the enjoyment of the association with the opposite sex, but there is no sexual relationship, because everyone is fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness. When the king of bees hums in a high pitch, singing the glories of the Lord, the cuckoos, cranes, chakravakas, swans, parrots and peacocks temporarily stop their singing to listen. Although flowers, such as the champaka, bakula, parijata and lotus are transcendentally fragrant, they are still conscious of tulasi's austerities, and of how the Lord prefers to garland Himself with her leaves. The ladies of Vaikuntha are as beautiful as the goddess of fortune, and yet they are sometimes seen cleaning the marble walls, just to receive the grace of the Supreme Lord, even though there is practically no dust.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Vaikuntha, the four Kumaras felt an unprecedented transcendental happiness. Then, after easily passing through six gates, the sages saw two doormen at the seventh gate that had similar bodily features and carried strong maces. They were four-armed and of bluish complexion, and due to their arched eyebrows, discontented nostrils and reddish eyes, they appeared somewhat agitated. The four Kumaras had opened doors everywhere without any conception of "ours" and "theirs", and so they innocently began to pass through the seventh gate. The sages, who had nothing to cover their bodies but the atmosphere, looked just like five-year-old boys, although they were the oldest created beings, next to Brahma.
Due to possessing a disposition quite unpalatable to the Lord, the two gatekeepers rudely blocked the Kumaras' entrance with their staffs. The Lord is always anxious to serve great sages, and thus the Kumaras were never to be prohibited from entering Vaikuntha. The boy-sages had been very eager to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and so upon being checked by the Lord's two chief doorkeepers, they immediately became agitated. Their eyes red with rage, the Kumaras exclaimed, "Who are these persons who are engaging in the Lord's service and yet have developed a discordant mentality? They must be imposters, and so they suspect others to be just like themselves. In Vaikuntha there is perfect harmony between the Supreme Lord and the other inhabitants. These two persons are dressed like the residents of Vaikuntha, but where has this seed of disharmony come from? Because of seeing duality, they have become contaminated. Therefore, they should be put into the material world, where everyone is conceived of as being either a friend or an enemy."
When the gatekeepers realized that they were being cursed by the brahmanas, they at once became very afraid. After falling down at the Kumaras' feet, they begged, "You are correct in punishing us for having neglected such great souls as yourselves. Still, in consideration of our repentance, we pray that you mercifully insure that the illusion of forgetting the Supreme Personality of Godhead will not overwhelm us as we fall down."
Just at that moment, the Supreme Lord, having learned of this incident, came there on foot accompanied by the goddess of fortune. Thus, the four Kumaras saw Lord Vishnu before them, Whom they had formerly seen only within their hearts while being absorbed in the ecstatic trance of meditation.
The Lord's beautiful blackish body was dressed in bright yellow cloth, and around His neck hung a garland of fresh flowers that was encircled by humming bees. While resting one of His hands upon Garuda's shoulder, the Lord twirled a lotus flower in another. Indeed, His beauty was so excellent that it defeated the pride of the goddess of fortune, and thus the Kumaras looked at Him with unsated eyes.
As the Kumaras joyfully bowed their heads, the breeze that carried the aroma of tulasi leaves from the toes of the Lord's lotus feet entered their nostrils, causing a spiritual transformation in their body and mind, even though they had been fully attached to the impersonal Brahman. In other words, the Kumaras became converted from impersonalists that had desired to merge into the Lord's brahmajyoti, to devotees who desire to render service to the Lord.
After seeing the Lord's transcendental body, the Kumaras advanced to the stage of constant meditation upon His personal feature. Their anger having subsided, the four sages prayed, "Our dear Lord, whatever we had heard about You from our father, Lord Brahma, has now been confirmed by Your kind appearance before us. We now understand that the most elevated transcendentalists are those that constantly engage in hearing about Your pastimes, without caring for any other benediction, including liberation." "O Lord, we don't mind being born in any hellish condition, as long as our hearts and minds are always engaged in Your devotional service."
By dint of the Lord's presence, the Kumaras realized that it had been improper for them to curse the doorkeepers, in spite of the offense that had been committed.
The Supreme Lord then said, "These attendants of Mine, Jaya and Vijaya, have committed a great offense against you by ignoring My desire. I approve of the punishment that you have awarded to My servants. Indeed, since these doormen are My servants, I consider Myself to be the one that has offended you, and for this reason, I seek your forgiveness. Whatever wrong a servant commits causes people in general to blame the master, just as a single spot of white leprosy is considered to pollute the whole skin."
"For Me, the brahmanas are the most worshipable personalities, and so I am prepared to cut off My arm if its conduct proves to be hostile toward you. Because I am the servant of My devotees, My lotus feet have become so sacred that they immediately purify one of all sins. I do not enjoy the offerings that are made into the sacrificial fire with as much relish as I enjoy the delicacies cooked in ghee that are offered to the mouths of the brahmanas who have dedicated their lives unto Me." "The Ganga is the remnants of water left after washing My feet, and it sanctifies the three worlds. If I can take the dust of the Vaishnavas' feet upon My head, then who would refuse to do the same? These servants of Mine have offended you due to not knowing My mind. Still, I will consider it a great favor if you allow them to return to My presence soon, after reaping the consequences of their transgression."
After hearing with wide-open ears, the Lord's extremely humble and beautiful speech, which was difficult to comprehend due to its profound import, the Kumaras pondered over its meaning for some time. Although the sages could not understand the Lord's actual intention, a thrill passed through their bodies due to the delight of simply beholding Him. Understanding their fault in cursing the Lord's faultless servants, the Kumaras said, "O Lord, we cannot understand Your plans, for You have spoken as if we had done something good for You. Your adoration of the brahmanas is meant to teach others, for it is You who are the supreme worshipable Deity." "O Lord, whatever punishment You wish to award to these two innocent persons, or to us, we shall accept without duplicity."
The Lord replied, "O brahmanas, I have already ordained the punishment that you inflicted upon Jaya and Vijay, and thus they will have to accept birth in a demoniac family. But, by concentration of their minds upon Me in anger, they will always remain connected with Me, and soon thereafter, they will return to My abode."
It is to be understood that the Lord Himself engineered the cursing of Jaya and Vijaya. Ordinarily, there is no possibility that the Kumaras could become so angry, that the Lord could neglect His gatekeepers, or that anyone could return to the material world after reaching Vaikuntha. Sometimes, the Lord desires to fight, and because there are no enemies in Vaikuntha, He incarnates into the material world for this purpose. The Lord only likes to perform His pastimes along with His associates, however, and so He chooses a devotee to play the part of His enemy. Then, after making a temporary show of fighting, the Lord recalls His devotee to the spiritual world.
Thereafter, the four Kumaras circumambulated the Lord, offered their obeisances, and departed from the gates of Vaikuntha. The Lord then ordered Jaya and Vijaya, "Depart from here, but do not be afraid. I could have nullified the brahmanas' curse, but I chose not to do so. Lakshmi, whom you had once stopped at the gate while I was sleeping, already predicted your fall. Although seven births in the material world are your designated punishment, I want you to accept three demoniac births instead. By practicing mystic yoga in anger, you will become quickly cleansed of your sinful reactions, and thus be able to return to Me in a very short time."
After saying this, the Lord departed, and Jaya and Vijaya, who had become morose and pale because of the brahmanas' curse, fell down from Vaikuntha. As they were falling, the Kumaras reassured them that after three demoniac births, they would once again return to Vaikuntha. The demigods, who were observing all of this from their celestial airplanes, let out a great roar of disappointment, and thereafter, Jaya and Vijaya entered Diti's womb, after being covered by Kashyapa's powerful semen.
Lord Brahma then concluded by informing the demigods, "It is the prowess of these twin demons that has disturbed you, by minimizing your own potency. I have no remedy for this situation, however, for all of this is taking place by the desire of the Lord. Rest assured that the Supreme Lord will come to our rescue, and so do not bother to speculate any longer about the dense darkness that is covering all directions."
After hearing this, the demigods became relieved from their fear and returned to their respective abodes. Meanwhile, after bearing her embryos for one hundred years, Diti gave birth to twin sons who were great demons. At this time, there were many fearful natural disturbances, such as earthquakes, and raging fires were seen burning everywhere. The inauspicious planets, such as Saturn and Mars, outshone the auspicious ones like Venus and Jupiter; and comets, meteors and thunderbolts appeared in the sky. Fierce winds made a displeasing hissing noise and uprooted great trees; and due to the covering of clouds, all became shrouded in darkness. The ocean became highly agitated, and all of the lotuses that grew within the rivers and lakes withered.
Solar and lunar eclipses occurred repeatedly, and from the mountain caves came sounds like the rattling of chariots. She-jackals vomited fire while crying out ominously, and asses ran here and there in herds, striking the earth with their hard hooves and braying loudly. Being frightened by the braying asses, birds flew shrieking from their nests, and cows passed stool and urine due to fear. Indeed, the terrified cows yielded blood instead of milk, and the clouds rained puss instead of water. The deities in the temples shed tears, and trees fell down even though there were no gusts of wind.
Upon seeing all of these evil omens, everyone except the four Kumaras became seized by fear. Not knowing about the fall of Jaya and Vijaya and their subsequent birth as demons, everyone thought that the dissolution of the universe was at hand.
Kashyapa named the first-born, who was formerly Jaya, Hiranyaksha and the one who was conceived first, who was formerly Vijaya, was named Hiranyakashipu. Soon after their birth, the demoniac twins exhibited uncommon bodily features, and their steel-like frames became so tall that they seemed to touch the sky. Indeed, they blocked the view in all directions, and as they walked, the earth shook with every step.
After performing great austerities, Hiranyakashipu received benedictions from Lord Brahma, and as a result, he became unafraid of death and very proud. Being most powerful, Hiranyakashipu was able to bring the entire three worlds under his control. His brother, Hiranyaksha, had also received Brahma's benediction of near-immortality, and so he became similarly powerful and conceited.
To satisfy his elder brother, Hiranyaksha took his club and began to travel all over the universe, with a fighting spirit. Because no one was able to kill him due to Brahma's benediction, even the demigods fearfully hid upon seeing Hiranyaksha, just as snakes hide out of fear of Garuda.
When Hiranyaksha thus saw Indraloka vacant, he roared loudly, understanding that the demigods had admitted defeat without even fighting. After returning from heaven, Hiranyaksha sportingly dove deep into the ocean, and upon seeing him, all of the great aquatics panicked and fled. Finally, after moving about in the ocean for many years, Hiranyaksha reached Vibhavari, Varuna's capital. Just to make fun of the lord of the waters, Hiranyaksha fell at his feet and smilingly begged, "Give me battle, O supreme lord!"
Upon seeing Hiranyaksha's arrogance, Varuna became enraged. Still, he curbed his anger by means of intelligence and replied, "O dear one, I have given up fighting because I am too old. You are so skilled in battle that I can see no one else but the most ancient person, Lord Vishnu, who can satisfy you."
"O chief of the Daityas, I suggest that you approach Him, and thus become rid of your pride by lying down dead upon the battlefield, surrounded by carnivorous animals."
Without paying any more heed to Varuna, Hiranyaksha departed. Then, when he happened to meet the great sage Narada, the demon learned the whereabouts of the Supreme Lord. After once again entering the depths of the ocean, Hiranyaksha saw the all-powerful Supreme Lord in His boar incarnation bearing the earth upwards, while keeping her on the ends of His tusks. Upon seeing the Lord, the demon laughingly exclaimed, "An amphibious beast! O best of the demigods, dressed in the form of a boar, the earth belongs to us, the inhabitants of the lower regions, and so I cannot allow You to take it away from my presence. You rascal! Today I shall enliven my kinsmen by killing You. When You fall down dead with Your skull smashed by my mace, the demigods and rishis who offer You oblations in sacrifice will also cease to be, just like a tree that can no longer live without roots."
Although the Lord was certainly pained to hear such abusive language, He tolerated it so that He could continue carrying the earth, which had become very frightened.
As Lord Varaha rose out of the water, Hiranyaksha chased Him and roared, "Are You not ashamed of Yourself for running away after being challenged by an adversary? There is nothing that is reproachable for shameless creatures like You!"
Despite these harsh words, Lord Varaha calmly placed the earth upon the surface of the water and then empowered her with the capacity to float. At this time, Lord Brahma and the other demigods praised the Lord for His wonderful act of lifting up the earth, and they showered flowers upon Him. Then, to express His terrible anger, the Lord replied, "Indeed, We are creatures of the jungle and are searching for hunting dogs like you. One who is freed from the entanglement of death has no fear from the loose talk in which you are indulging, for you are bound up by the laws of death. Now, give up your foolish talk and attempt to kill Me. One may be very proud, but he does not deserve a seat in an assembly if he fails to fulfill his promise."
Being thus challenged, Hiranyaksha became very angry and agitated, and his whole body began to tremble. While hissing indignantly, the demon sprang at the Lord and tried to strike Him with his powerful mace. By moving aside, however, the Lord dodged the blow, and then with His own mace, He attempted to smash Hiranyaksha's forehead. Being an expert fighter, the demon blocked the blow with his own mace, however, and thereafter, a fierce encounter took place.
As both combatants struck one another repeatedly with their strong clubs, the smell of blood that flowed from their wounds made them more and more furious. Being very eager for victory, both the Lord and the demon exhibited wonderful maneuvers, so that the battle looked like a contest between two powerful bulls for the sake of a cow.
Lord Brahma had been staying in the sky, along with all of the demigods and celestial rishis, so that he could witness the terrible fight that was being waged for the sake of the earth. Becoming somewhat anxious, he addressed Lord Varaha, "My dear Lord, Hiranyaksha has always oppressed the demigods, brahmanas, cows and other innocent creatures. There is no need for You to play with this serpentine demon any longer, for he is very skilled in utilizing mystic powers, and he is most arrogant and wicked." "My dear infallible Lord, please kill him before the demoniac hour of twilight arrives and thus increases his strength. The auspicious period called abhijit began at noon and has almost passed. Therefore, please dispose of Your formidable enemy quickly and thus establish peace within the world."
In response, the Lord heartily laughed, while at the same time He accepted Brahma's prayers with a glance that was laden with love. Then, as Hiranyaksha fearlessly stood nearby, Lord Varaha suddenly sprang at him while aiming His mace at the demon's chin.
Hiranyaksha blocked the blow with his own mace, however, and as a result, the Lord's club slipped from His hand. That blazing mace looked splendid while whirling around and around as it fell, and a great cry of alarm arose from the onlooking demigods and rishis. Still, even though he had an excellent opportunity to strike his unarmed foe, Hiranyaksha respected the etiquette for single-combat by refraining from doing so. This kindled the Lord's fury even more, however, and He invoked His Sudarshana chakra. As this wonderful disc revolved in the Lord's hand, while He was at close quarters with His enemy, the demigods and rishis exclaimed, "May victory be Yours!" "Dispatch him at once!" "Don't play with the demon any longer!"
Seeing Lord Varaha before him with the Sudarshana chakra in His hand, Hiranyaksha resentfully bit his lip and began to hiss like a serpent. Then, that great demon with fearful tusks suddenly sprang into the air while wielding his club, and while doing so, he shouted, "You are slain!"
As Hiranyaksha tried to strike Him, Lord Varaha playfully kicked the mace from his hand with His left foot and then said, "Pick up your weapon, since you are so eager to conquer Me."
Being so challenged, Hiranyaksha picked up his mace and then hurled it impetuously while roaring loudly. Without even flinching, however, Lord Varaha easily caught the mace in His hand, and so the demon felt greatly humiliated. Being reluctant to take back his weapon when the Lord offered it to him, Hiranyaksha instead picked up a flaming trident and violently hurled it. As the trident blazed brightly while soaring through the sky, Lord Varaha tore it to pieces by releasing His Sudarshana chakra. At this, the demon became more enraged, and while letting out a loud roar, he rushed at Lord Varaha impetuously. After striking the Lord on the chest with his hard fist, Hiranyaksha immediately disappeared.
The Lord was not disturbed in the least by the blow, however, any more than an elephant would feel hurt being struck by a flower garland. Thereafter, Hiranyaksha employed many conjuring tricks against the Lord, Who is Yogeshvara, and all who saw the magical display thought that the dissolution of the universe was at hand.
Fierce winds began blowing and the dust that was raised created darkness in all directions. Torrents of stones fell from the sky, along with showers of puss, hair, blood, stool, urine and bones- accompanied by lightning and thunder. Mountains discharged various weapons, and naked demonesses with their hair hanging loose suddenly appeared, carrying tridents. Hosts of Yakshas and Rakshasas were heard uttering cruel and savage slogans as they marched on foot or rode upon horses, elephants and chariots.
By releasing His Sudarshana chakra, however, the Lord was able to dispel all of these illusions, and at that moment, a shudder of terror passed through Diti's heart. While recalling the words of her husband, blood began to flow from her breasts.
When Hiranyaksha saw that his magical creations had been dispelled, he once again made himself visible. In a fit of rage, he tried to crush the Lord within his arms as a last resort. But, to his great surprise, after trying to grab the Lord, the demon found that He was still outside the circle of his arms. Then, as Hiranyaksha angrily struck Him with his fists, Lord Varaha slapped him indifferently at the root of the ear, making him stagger backwards. With his eyeballs bulging out of their sockets, his hair scattered, and his limbs broken, the great demon fell down dead, like an uprooted tree.
Lord Brahma and the other demigods quickly arrived at that spot, to see the slain body of the demon close up. Still biting his lip, Hiranyaksha's bodily luster had not faded, in spite of the absence of the soul, because the Lord's lotus foot remained touching it. Lord Brahma admiringly said, "Oh, who could meet with such a blessed death? This fortunate demon was struck by the lotus foot of the Lord, upon Whom yogis meditate in mystic trance in the hopes of gaining liberation from their unreal, material bodies."
Thereafter, the demigods expressed their great appreciation for the Lord's having assumed His Varaha form and relieving them of their agonizing fear of the demon. After receiving the demigods' praises, the Lord returned to His own abode in the spiritual world, where there is always an uninterrupted festival going on.
Suta Gosvami concluded his narration by saying, "O brahmanas, anyone who hears, chants, or takes pleasure in the wonderful description of Lord Varaha's killing of Hiranyaksha is at once relieved from the results of all kinds of sinful activities, including the killing of a brahmana."
Srimad Bhagavaam 3rd Canto 16th
Chapter.
The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuëöha,
Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
Transations and purports by His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktvedanta Swami Prabhupada.
brahmoväca
iti tad gåëatäà
teñäà
munénäà yoga-dharmiëäm
pratinandya jagädedaà
vikuëöha-nilayo vibhuù
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmä said: After thus
congratulating the sages for their nice words, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, whose abode is in the kingdom of God, spoke as follows.
SB 3.16.2
TEXT 2
çré-bhagavän uväca
etau tau pärñadau mahyaà
jayo vijaya eva ca
kadarthé-kåtya mäà
yad vo
bahv akrätäm atikramam
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead said:
These attendants of Mine, Jaya and Vijaya by name, have committed a great
offense against you because of ignoring Me.
PURPORT
To commit an offense at the feet
of a devotee of the Lord is a great wrong. Even when a living entity is
promoted to Vaikuëöha, there is still the chance that he may
commit offenses, but the difference is that when one is in a Vaikuëöha
planet, even if by chance one commits an offense, he is protected by the
Lord. This is the remarkable fact in the dealings of the Lord and the servitor,
as seen in the present incident concerning Jaya and Vijaya. The word atikramam
used herein indicates that in offending a devotee one neglects the Supreme
Lord Himself.
By mistake the doormen held the
sages from entering Vaikuëöhaloka, but because they were engaged
in the transcendental service of the Lord, their annihilation was not expected
by advanced devotees. The Lord’s presence on the spot was very pleasing
to the hearts of the devotees. The Lord understood that the trouble was
due to His lotus feet not being seen by the sages, and therefore He wanted
to please them by personally going there. The Lord is so merciful that
even if there is some impediment for the devotee, He Himself manages matters
in such a way that the devotee is not bereft of having audience at His
lotus feet. There is a very good example in the life of Haridäsa Öhäkura.
When Caitanya Mahäprabhu was residing at Jagannätha puré,
Haridäsa Öhäkura, who happened to be Muhammadan by birth,
was with Him. In Hindu temples, especially in those days, no one but a
Hindu was allowed to enter. Although Haridäsa Öhäkura was
the greatest of all Hindus in his behavior, he considered himself a Muhammadan
and did not enter the temple. Lord Caitanya could understand his humility,
and since he did not go to see the temple, Lord Caitanya Himself, who is
nondifferent from Jagannätha, used to come and sit with Haridäsa
Öhäkura daily. Here in Çrémad-Bhägavatam we
also find this same behavior of the Lord. His devotees were prevented from
seeing His lotus feet, but the Lord Himself came to see them on the same
lotus feet for which they aspired. It is also significant that He was accompanied
by the goddess of fortune. The goddess of fortune is not to be seen by
ordinary persons, but the Lord was so kind that although the devotees did
not aspire for such an honor, He appeared before them with the goddess
of fortune.
SB 3.16.3
TEXT 3
yas tv etayor dhåto daëòo
bhavadbhir mäm anuvrataiù
sa evänumato ’smäbhir
munayo deva-helanät
TRANSLATION
O great sages, I approve of the
punishment that you who are devoted to Me have meted out to them.
SB 3.16.4
TEXT 4
tad vaù prasädayämy
adya
brahma daivaà paraà
hi me
tad dhéty ätma-kåtaà
manye
yat sva-pumbhir asat-kåtäù
TRANSLATION
To Me, the brähmaëa is
the highest and most beloved personality. The disrespect shown by My attendants
has actually been displayed by Me because the doormen are My servitors.
I take this to be an offense by Myself; therefore I seek your forgiveness
for the incident that has arisen.
PURPORT
The Lord is always in favor of the
brähmaëas and the cows, and therefore it is said, go-brähmaëa-hitäya
ca. Lord Kåñëa, or Viñëu, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, is also the worshipable Deity of the brähmaëas. In
the Vedic literature, in the åg-mantra hymns of the Åg Veda,
it is stated that those who are actually brähmaëas always look
to the lotus feet of Viñëu: oà tad viñëoù
paramaà padaà sadä paçyanti sürayaù.
Those who are qualified brähmaëas worship only the Viñëu
form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which means Kåñëa,
Räma and all Viñëu expansions. A so-called brähmaëa
who is born in the family of brähmaëas but performs activities
aimed against the Vaiñëavas cannot be accepted as a brähmaëa,
because brähmaëa means Vaiñëava and Vaiñëava
means brähmaëa. One who has become a devotee of the Lord is also
a brähmaëa. The formula is brahma jänätéti brähmaëaù.
A brähmaëa is one who has understood Brahman, and a Vaiñëava
is one who has understood the Personality of Godhead. Brahman realization
is the beginning of realization of the Personality of Godhead. One who
understands the Personality of Godhead also knows the impersonal feature
of the Supreme, which is Brahman. Therefore one who becomes a Vaiñëava
is already a brähmaëa. It should be noted that the glories of
the brähmaëa described in this chapter by the Lord Himself refer
to His devotee-brähmaëa, or the Vaiñëava. It should
never be misunderstood that the so-called brähmaëas who are born
in brähmaëa families but have no brahminical qualifications are
referred to in this connection.
SB 3.16.5
TEXT 5
yan-nämäni ca gåhëäti
loko bhåtye kåtägasi
so ’sädhu-vädas tat-kértià
hanti tvacam ivämayaù
TRANSLATION
A wrong act committed by a servant
leads people in general to blame his master, just as a spot of white leprosy
on any part of the body pollutes all of the skin.
PURPORT
A Vaiñëava, therefore,
should be fully qualified. As stated in the Bhägavatam, anyone who
has become a Vaiñëava has developed all the good qualities
of the demigods. There are twenty-six qualifications mentioned in the Caitanya-caritämåta.
A devotee should always see that his Vaiñëava qualities increase
with the advancement of his Kåñëa consciousness. A devotee
should be blameless because any offense by the devotee is a scar on the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. The devotee’s duty is to be always conscious
in his dealings with others, especially with another devotee of the Lord.
SB 3.16.6
TEXT 6
yasyämåtämala-yaçaù-çravaëävagähaù
sadyaù punäti jagad
äçvapacäd vikuëöhaù
so ’haà bhavadbhya upalabdha-sutértha-kértiç
chindyäà sva-bähum
api vaù pratiküla-våttim
TRANSLATION
Anyone in the entire world, even
down to the caëòäla, who lives by cooking and eating the
flesh of the dog, is immediately purified if he takes bath in hearing through
the ear the glorification of My name, fame, etc. Now you have realized
Me without doubt; therefore I will not hesitate to lop off My own arm if
its conduct is found hostile to you.
PURPORT
Real purification can take place
in human society if its members take to Kåñëa consciousness.
This is clearly stated in all Vedic literature. Anyone who takes to Kåñëa
consciousness in all sincerity, even if he is not very advanced in good
behavior, is purified. A devotee can be recruited from any section of human
society, although it is not expected that everyone in all segments of society
is well behaved. As stated in this verse and in many places in Bhagavad-gétä,
even if one is not born in a brähmaëa family, or even if he is
born in a family of caëòälas, if he simply takes to Kåñëa
consciousness he is immediately purified. In Bhagavad-gétä,
Ninth Chapter, verses 30–32, it is clearly stated that even though a man
is not well behaved, if he simply takes to Kåñëa consciousness
he is understood to be a saintly person. As long as a person is in this
material world he has two different relationships in his dealings with
others—one relationship pertains to the body, and the other pertains to
the spirit. As far as bodily affairs or social activities are concerned,
although a person is purified on the spiritual platform, it is sometimes
seen that he acts in terms of his bodily relationships. If a devotee born
in the family of a caëòäla (the lowest caste) is sometimes
found engaged in his habitual activities, he is not to be considered a
caëòäla. In other words, a Vaiñëava should
not be evaluated in terms of his body. The çästra states that
no one should think the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone,
and no one should think that a person coming from a lower-caste family
who has taken to Kåñëa consciousness is still of the
same low caste. These attitudes are forbidden because anyone who takes
to Kåñëa consciousness is understood to be fully purified.
He is at least engaged in the process of purification, and if he sticks
to the principle of Kåñëa consciousness he will very
soon be fully purified. The conclusion is that if one takes to Kåñëa
consciousness with all seriousness, he is to be understood as already purified,
and Kåñëa is ready to give him protection by all means.
The Lord assures herein that He is ready to give protection to His devotee
even if there is need to cut off part of His own body.
SB 3.16.7
TEXT 7
yat-sevayä caraëa-padma-pavitra-reëuà
sadyaù kñatäkhila-malaà
pratilabdha-çélam
na çrér viraktam api
mäà vijahäti yasyäù
prekñä-lavärtha
itare niyamän vahanti
TRANSLATION
The Lord continued: Because I am
the servitor of My devotees, My lotus feet have become so sacred that they
immediately wipe out all sin, and I have acquired such a disposition that
the goddess of fortune does not leave Me, even though I have no attachment
for her and others praise her beauty and observe sacred vows to secure
from her even a slight favor.
PURPORT
The relationship between the Lord
and His devotee is transcendentally beautiful. As the devotee thinks that
it is due to being a devotee of the Lord that he is elevated in all good
qualities, so the Lord also thinks that it is because of His devotion to
the servitor that all His transcendental glories have increased. In other
words, as the devotee is always anxious to render service to the Lord,
so the Lord is ever anxious to render service to the devotee. The Lord
admits herein that although He certainly has the quality that anyone who
receives a slight particle of the dust of His lotus feet becomes at once
a great personality, this greatness is due to His affection for His devotee.
It is because of this affection that the goddess of fortune does not leave
Him and that not only one but many thousands of goddesses of fortune engage
in His service. In the material world, simply to get a little favor from
the goddess of fortune, people observe many rigid regulations of austerity
and penance. The Lord cannot tolerate any inconvenience on the part of
the devotee. He is therefore famous as bhakta-vatsala.
SB 3.16.8
TEXT 8
nähaà tathädmi yajamäna-havir
vitäne
çcyotad-ghåta-plutam
adan huta-bhuì-mukhena
yad brähmaëasya mukhataç
carato ’nughäsaà
tuñöasya mayy avahitair
nija-karma-päkaiù
TRANSLATION
I do not enjoy the oblations offered
by the sacrificers in the sacrificial fire, which is one of My own mouths,
with the same relish as I do the delicacies overflowing with ghee which
are offered to the mouths of the brähmaëas who have dedicated
to Me the results of their activities and who are ever satisfied with My
prasäda.
PURPORT
The devotee of the Lord, or the
Vaiñëava, does not take anything without offering it to the
Lord. Since a Vaiñëava dedicates all the results of his activities
to the Lord, he does not taste anything eatable which is not first offered
to Him. The Lord also relishes giving to the Vaiñëava’s mouth
all eatables offered to Him. It is clear from this verse that the Lord
eats through the sacrificial fire and the brähmaëa’s mouth. So
many articles—grains, ghee, etc.—are offered in sacrifice for the satisfaction
of the Lord. The Lord accepts sacrificial offerings from the brähmaëas
and devotees, and elsewhere it is stated that whatever is given for the
brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas to eat is also accepted by
the Lord. But here it is said that He accepts offerings to the mouths of
brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas with even greater relish.
The best example of this is found in the life of Advaita Prabhu in his
dealings with Haridäsa Öhäkura. Even though Haridäsa
was born of a Muhammadan family, Advaita Prabhu offered him the first dish
of prasäda after the performance of a sacred fire ceremony. Haridäsa
Öhäkura informed him that he was born of a Muhammadan family
and asked why Advaita Prabhu was offering the first dish to a Muhammadan
instead of an elevated brähmaëa. Out of his humbleness, Haridäsa
condemned himself a Muhammadan, but Advaita Prabhu, being an experienced
devotee, accepted him as a real brähmaëa. Advaita Prabhu asserted
that by offering the first dish to Haridäsa Öhäkura, he
was getting the result of feeding one hundred thousand brähmaëas.
The conclusion is that if one can feed a brähmaëa or Vaiñëava,
it is better than performing hundreds of thousands of sacrifices. In this
age, therefore, it is recommended that harer näma [Cc. Ädi 17.21]—chanting
the holy name of God—and pleasing the Vaiñëava are the only
means to elevate oneself to spiritual life.
SB 3.16.9
TEXT 9
yeñäà bibharmy
aham akhaëòa-vikuëöha-yoga-
mäyä-vibhütir amaläìghri-rajaù
kiréöaiù
vipräàs tu ko na viñaheta
yad-arhaëämbhaù
sadyaù punäti saha-candra-laläma-lokän
TRANSLATION
I am the master of My unobstructed
internal energy, and the water of the Ganges is the remnant left after
My feet are washed. That water sanctifies the three worlds, along with
Lord Çiva, who bears it on his head. If I can take the dust of the
feet of the Vaiñëava on My head, who will refuse to do the
same?
PURPORT
The difference between the internal
and external energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that in
the internal energy, or in the spiritual world, all the opulences are undisturbed,
whereas in the external or material energy, all the opulences are temporary
manifestations. The Lord’s supremacy is equal in both the spiritual and
material worlds, but the spiritual world is called the kingdom of God,
and the material world is called the kingdom of mäyä. Mäyä
refers to that which is not actually fact. The opulence of the material
world is a reflection. It is stated in Bhagavad-gétä that this
material world is just like a tree whose roots are up and branches down.
This means that the material world is the shadow of the spiritual world.
Real opulence is in the spiritual world. In the spiritual world the predominating
Deity is the Lord Himself, whereas in the material world there are many
lords. That is the difference between the internal and external energies.
The Lord says that although He is the predominating factor of the internal
energy and although the material world is sanctified just by the water
that has washed His feet, He has the greatest respect for the brähmaëa
and the Vaiñëava. When the Lord Himself offers so much respect
to the Vaiñëava and the brähmaëa, how can one deny
such respect to such personalities?
SB 3.16.10
TEXT 10
ye me tanür dvija-varän
duhatér madéyä
bhütäny alabdha-çaraëäni
ca bheda-buddhyä
drakñyanty agha-kñata-dåço
hy ahi-manyavas tän
gådhrä ruñä
mama kuñanty adhidaëòa-netuù
TRANSLATION
The brähmaëas, the cows
and the defenseless creatures are My own body. Those whose faculty of judgment
has been impaired by their own sin look upon these as distinct from Me.
They are just like furious serpents, and they are angrily torn apart by
the bills of the vulturelike messengers of Yamaräja, the superintendent
of sinful persons.
PURPORT
The defenseless creatures, according
to Brahma-saàhitä, are the cows, brähmaëas, women,
children and old men. Of these five, the brähmaëas and cows are
especially mentioned in this verse because the Lord is always anxious about
the benefit of the brähmaëas and the cows and is prayed to in
this way. The Lord especially instructs, therefore, that no one should
be envious of these five, especially the cows and brähmaëas.
In some of the Bhägavatam readings, the word duhitèù
is used instead of duhatéù. But in either case, the meaning
is the same. Duhatéù means “cow,” and duhitèù
can also be used to mean “cow” because the cow is supposed to be the daughter
of the sun-god. Just as children are taken care of by the parents, women
as a class should be taken care of by the father, husband or grown-up son.
Those who are helpless must be taken care of by their respective guardians,
otherwise the guardians will be subjected to the punishment of Yamaräja,
who is appointed by the Lord to supervise the activities of sinful living
creatures. The assistants, or messengers, of Yamaräja are likened
here to vultures, and those who do not execute their respective duties
in protecting their wards are compared to serpents. Vultures deal very
seriously with serpents, and similarly the messengers will deal very seriously
with neglectful guardians.
SB 3.16.11
TEXT 11
ye brähmaëän mayi
dhiyä kñipato ’rcayantas
tuñyad-dhådaù
smita-sudhokñita-padma-vakträù
väëyänuräga-kalayätmajavad
gåëantaù
sambodhayanty aham iväham upähåtas
taiù
TRANSLATION
On the other hand, they captivate
My heart who are gladdened in heart and who, their lotus faces enlightened
by nectarean smiles, respect the brähmaëas, even though the brähmaëas
utter harsh words. They look upon the brähmaëas as My own Self
and pacify them by praising them in loving words, even as a son would appease
an angry father or as I am pacifying you.
PURPORT
It has been observed in many instances
in the Vedic scriptures that when the brähmaëas or Vaiñëavas
curse someone in an angry mood, the person who is cursed does not take
it upon himself to treat the brähmaëas or Vaiñëavas
in the same way. There are many examples of this. For instance, the sons
of Kuvera, when cursed by the great sage Närada, did not seek revenge
in the same harsh way, but submitted. Here also, when Jaya and Vijaya were
cursed by the four Kumäras, they did not become harsh towards them;
rather, they submitted. That should be the way of treating brähmaëas
and Vaiñëavas. One may sometimes be faced with a grievous situation
created by a brähmaëa, but instead of meeting him with a similar
mood, one should try to pacify him with a smiling face and mild treatment.
Brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas should be accepted as earthly
representatives of Näräyaëa. Nowadays some foolish persons
have manufactured the term daridra-näräyaëa, indicating
that the poor man should be accepted as the representative of Näräyaëa.
But in Vedic literature we do not find that poor men should be treated
as representatives of Näräyaëa. Of course, “those who are
unprotected” are mentioned here, but the definition of this phrase is clear
from the çästras. The poor man should not be unprotected, but
the brähmaëa should especially be treated as the representative
of Näräyaëa and should be worshiped like Him. It is specifically
said that to pacify the brähmaëas, one’s face should be lotuslike.
A lotuslike face is exhibited when one is adorned with love and affection.
In this respect, the example of the father’s being angry at the son and
the son’s trying to pacify the father with smiling and sweet words is very
appropriate.
SB 3.16.12
TEXT 12
tan me sva-bhartur avasäyam
alakñamäëau
yuñmad-vyatikrama-gatià
pratipadya sadyaù
bhüyo mamäntikam itäà
tad anugraho me
yat kalpatäm acirato bhåtayor
viväsaù
TRANSLATION
These servants of Mine have transgressed
against you, not knowing the mind of their master. I shall therefore deem
it a favor done to Me if you order that, although reaping the fruit of
their transgression, they may return to My presence soon and the time of
their exile from My abode may expire before long.
PURPORT
From this statement we can understand
how anxious the Lord is to get his servitor back into Vaikuëöha.
This incident, therefore, proves that those who have once entered a Vaikuëöha
planet can never fall down. The case of Jaya and Vijaya is not a falldown;
it is just an accident. The Lord is always anxious to get such devotees
back again to the Vaikuëöha planets as soon as possible. It is
to be assumed that there is no possibility of a misunderstanding between
the Lord and the devotees, but when there are discrepancies or disruptions
between one devotee and another, one has to suffer the consequences, although
that suffering is temporary. The Lord is so kind to His devotees that He
took all the responsibility for the doormen’s offense and requested the
sages to give them facilities to return to Vaikuëöha as soon
as possible.
SB 3.16.13
TEXT 13
brahmoväca
atha tasyoçatéà
devém
åñi-kulyäà
sarasvatém
näsvädya manyu-dañöänäà
teñäm ätmäpy
atåpyata
TRANSLATION
Brahmä continued: Even though
the sages had been bitten by the serpent of anger, their souls were not
satiated with hearing the Lord’s lovely and illuminating speech, which
was like a series of Vedic hymns.
SB 3.16.14
TEXT 14
satéà vyädäya
çåëvanto
laghvéà gurv-artha-gahvaräm
vigähyägädha-gambhéräà
na vidus tac-cikérñitam
TRANSLATION
The Lord’s excellent speech was
difficult to comprehend because of its momentous import and its most profound
significance. The sages heard it with wide-open ears and pondered it as
well. But although hearing, they could not understand what He intended
to do.
PURPORT
It should be understood that no
one can surpass the Supreme Personality of Godhead in speaking. There is
no difference between the Supreme Person and His speeches, for He stands
on the absolute platform. The sages tried with wide open ears to understand
the words from the lips of the Supreme Lord, but although His speech was
very concise and meaningful, the sages could not completely comprehend
what He was saying. They could not even comprehend the purport of the speech
or what the Supreme Lord wanted to do. Nor could they understand whether
the Lord was angry or pleased with them.
SB 3.16.15
TEXT 15
te yoga-mäyayärabdha-
pärameñöhya-mahodayam
procuù präïjalayo
vipräù
prahåñöäù
kñubhita-tvacaù
TRANSLATION
The four brähmaëa sages
were nevertheless extremely delighted to behold Him, and they experienced
a thrill throughout their bodies. They then spoke as follows to the Lord,
who had revealed the multiglories of the Supreme Personality through His
internal potency, yogamäyä.
PURPORT
The sages were almost too puzzled
to speak before the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the first time,
and the hairs of their bodies stood erect due to their extreme joy. The
highest opulence in the material world is called pärameñöhya,
the opulence of Brahmä. But that material opulence of Brahmä,
who lives on the topmost planet within this material world, cannot compare
to the opulence of the Supreme Lord because the transcendental opulence
in the spiritual world is caused by yogamäyä, whereas the opulence
in the material world is caused by mahämäyä.
SB 3.16.16
TEXT 16
åñaya ücuù
na vayaà bhagavan vidmas
tava deva cikérñitam
kåto me ’nugrahaç ceti
yad adhyakñaù prabhäñase
TRANSLATION
The sages said: O Supreme Personality
of Godhead, we are unable to know what You intend for us to do, for even
though You are the supreme ruler of all, You speak in our favor as if we
had done something good for You.
PURPORT
The sages could understand that
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is above everyone, was speaking
as if He were in the wrong; therefore it was difficult for them to understand
the words of the Lord. They could understand, however, that the Lord was
speaking in such a humble way just to show them His all-merciful favor.
SB 3.16.17
TEXT 17
brahmaëyasya paraà daivaà
brähmaëäù
kila te prabho
vipräëäà deva-devänäà
bhagavän ätma-daivatam
TRANSLATION
O Lord, You are the supreme director
of the brahminical culture. Your considering the brähmaëas to
be in the highest position is Your example for teaching others. Actually
You are the supreme worshipable Deity, not only for the gods but for the
brähmaëas also.
PURPORT
In the Brahma-saàhitä
it is clearly stated that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause
of all causes. There are undoubtedly many demigods, the chiefs of whom
are Brahmä and Çiva. Lord Viñëu is the Lord of
Brahmä and Çiva, not to speak of the brähmaëas in
this material world. As mentioned in Bhagavad-gétä, the Supreme
Lord is very favorable towards all activities performed according to brahminical
culture, or the qualities of control of the senses and mind, cleanliness,
forbearance, faith in scripture, and practical and theoretical knowledge.
The Lord is the Supersoul of everyone. In Bhagavad-gétä it
is said that the Lord is the source of all emanations; thus He is also
the source of Brahmä and Çiva.
SB 3.16.18
TEXT 18
tvattaù sanätano dharmo
rakñyate tanubhis tava
dharmasya paramo guhyo
nirvikäro bhavän mataù
TRANSLATION
You are the source of the eternal
occupation of all living entities, and by Your multimanifestations of Personalities
of Godhead, You have always protected religion. You are the supreme objective
of religious principles, and in our opinion You are inexhaustible and unchangeable
eternally.
PURPORT
The statement in this verse dharmasya
paramo guhyaù refers to the most confidential part of all religious
principles. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gétä. The conclusion
of Lord Kåñëa in His advice to Arjuna is: “Give up all
other religious engagement and just surrender unto Me.” This is the most
confidential knowledge in executing religious principles. In the Bhägavatam
also it is stated that if one does not become Kåñëa conscious
after very rigidly executing one’s specified religious duties, all his
labor in following so-called religious principles is simply a waste of
time. Here also the sages confirm the statement that the Supreme Lord,
not the demigods, is the ultimate goal of all religious principles. There
are many foolish propagandists who say that worship of the demigods is
also a way to reach the supreme goal, but in the authorized statements
of Çrémad-Bhägavatam and Bhagavad-gétä this
is not accepted. Bhagavad-gétä says that one who worships a
particular demigod can reach the demigod’s planet, but one who worships
the Supreme Personality of Godhead can enter into Vaikuëöha.
Some propagandists say that regardless of what one does he will ultimately
reach the supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead, but this is not
valid. The Lord is eternal, the Lord’s servitor is eternal, and the Lord’s
abode is also eternal. They are all described here as sanätana, or
eternal. The result of devotional service, therefore, is not temporary,
as is the achievement of heavenly planets by worshiping the demigods. The
sages wanted to stress that although the Lord, out of His causeless mercy,
says that He worships the brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas,
actually the Lord is worshipable not only by the brähmaëas and
Vaiñëavas but also by the demigods.
SB 3.16.19
TEXT 19
taranti hy aïjasä måtyuà
nivåttä yad-anugrahät
yoginaù sa bhavän kià
svid
anugåhyeta yat paraiù
TRANSLATION
Mystics and transcendentalists,
by the mercy of the Lord, cross beyond nescience by ceasing all material
desires. It is not possible, therefore, that the Supreme Lord can be favored
by others.
PURPORT
Unless one is favored by the Supreme
Lord, one cannot cross over the ocean of the nescience of repeated birth
and death. Here it is stated that yogés or mystics cross beyond
nescience by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are
many kinds of mystics, such as the karma-yogé, jïäna-yogé,
dhyäna-yogé and bhakti-yogé. The karmés particularly
search after the favor of the demigods, the jïänés want
to become one with the Supreme Absolute Truth, and the yogés are
satisfied simply by partial vision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Paramätmä, and ultimately by oneness with Him. But the bhaktas,
the devotees, want to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead
eternally and serve Him. It has already been admitted that the Lord is
eternal, and those who want the favor of the Supreme Lord perpetually are
also eternal. Therefore yogés here means devotees. By the mercy
of the Lord, devotees can easily pass beyond the nescience of birth and
death and attain the eternal abode of the Lord. The Lord is therefore not
in need of another’s favor because no one is equal to or greater than Him.
Actually, everyone needs the favor of the Lord for successful understanding
of his human mission.
SB 3.16.20
TEXT 20
yaà vai vibhütir upayäty
anuvelam anyair
arthärthibhiù sva-çirasä
dhåta-päda-reëuù
dhanyärpitäìghri-tulasé-nava-däma-dhämno
lokaà madhuvrata-pater iva
käma-yänä
TRANSLATION
The goddess of fortune, Lakñmé,
the dust of whose feet is worn on the head by others, waits upon You, as
appointed, for she is anxious to secure a place in the abode of the king
of bees, who hovers on the fresh wreath of tulasé leaves offered
at Your feet by some blessed devotee.
PURPORT
As previously described, tulasé
has attained all superior qualities due to being placed at the lotus feet
of the Lord. The comparison made here is very nice. As the king of bees
hovers over the tulasé leaves offered to the lotus feet of the Lord,
so Lakñmé, the goddess who is sought by the demigods, brähmaëas,
Vaiñëavas and everyone else, always engages in rendering service
to the lotus feet of the Lord. The conclusion is that no one can be the
benefactor of the Lord; everyone is actually the servant of the servant
of the Lord [Cc. Madhya 13.80].
SB 3.16.21
TEXT 21
yas täà vivikta-caritair
anuvartamänäà
nätyädriyat parama-bhägavata-prasaìgaù
sa tvaà dvijänupatha-puëya-rajaù-punétaù
çrévatsa-lakñma
kim agä bhaga-bhäjanas tvam
TRANSLATION
O Lord, You are exceedingly attached
to the activities of Your pure devotees, yet You are never attached to
the goddesses of fortune who constantly engage in Your transcendental loving
service. How can You be purified, therefore, by the dust of the path traversed
by the brähmaëas, and how can You be glorified or made fortunate
by the marks of Çrévatsa on Your chest?
PURPORT
It is said in the Brahma-saàhitä
that the Lord is always served by many hundreds of thousands of goddesses
of fortune in His Vaikuëöha planet, yet because of His attitude
of renunciation of all opulences, He is not attached to any one of them.
The Lord has six opulences—unlimited wealth, unlimited fame, unlimited
strength, unlimited beauty, unlimited knowledge and unlimited renunciation.
All the demigods and other living entities worship Lakñmé,
the goddess of fortune, just to get her favor, yet the Lord is never attached
to her because He can create an unlimited number of such goddesses for
His transcendental service. The goddess of fortune, Lakñmé,
is sometimes envious of the tulasé leaves which are placed at the
lotus feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas
Lakñméjé, although stationed by the chest of the Lord,
sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor. Lakñméjé
sometimes has to go to satisfy her numerous devotees, but tulasé
leaves never forsake their position, and the Lord therefore appreciates
the service of the tulasé more than the service of Lakñmé.
When the Lord says, therefore, that it is due to the causeless mercy of
the brähmaëas that Lakñméjé does not leave
Him, we can understand that Lakñméjé is attracted
by the opulence of the Lord, not by the brähmaëas’ benedictions
upon Him. The Lord is not dependent on anyone’s mercy for His opulence;
He is always self-sufficient. The Lord’s statement that His opulence is
due to the benediction of the brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas
is only to teach others that they should offer respect to the brähmaëas
and Vaiñëavas, the devotees of the Lord.
SB 3.16.22
TEXT 22
dharmasya te bhagavatas tri-yuga
tribhiù svaiù
padbhiç caräcaram idaà
dvija-devatärtham
nünaà bhåtaà
tad-abhighäti rajas tamaç ca
sattvena no varadayä tanuvä
nirasya
TRANSLATION
O Lord, You are the personification
of all religion. Therefore You manifest Yourself in three millenniums,
and thus You protect this universe, which consists of animate and inanimate
beings. By Your grace, which is of pure goodness and is the bestower of
all blessings, kindly drive away the elements of rajas and tamas for the
sake of the demigods and twice-born.
PURPORT
The Lord is addressed in this verse
as tri-yuga, or one who appears in three millenniums—namely the Satya,
Dväpara and Tretä yugas. He is not mentioned as appearing in
the fourth millennium, or Kali-yuga. It is described in Vedic literature
that in Kali-yuga He comes as channa-avatära, or an incarnation, but
He does not appear as a manifest incarnation. In the other yugas, however,
the Lord is a manifest incarnation, and therefore he is addressed as tri-yuga,
or the Lord who appears in three yugas.
Çrédhara Svämé
describes tri-yuga as follows: yuga means “couple,” and tri means “three.”
The Lord is manifested as three couples by His six opulences, or three
couples of opulences. In that way He can be addressed as tri-yuga. The
Lord is the personality of religious principles. In three millenniums religious
principles are protected by three kinds of spiritual culture, namely austerity,
cleanliness and mercy. The Lord is called tri-yuga in that way also. In
the age of Kali these three requisites to spiritual culture are almost
absent, but the Lord is so kind that in spite of Kali-yuga’s being devoid
of these three spiritual qualities, He comes and protects the people of
this age in His covered incarnation as Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya is
called “covered” because although He is Kåñëa Himself,
He presents Himself as a devotee of Kåñëa, not directly
Kåñëa. The devotees pray to Lord Caitanya, therefore,
to eliminate their stock of passion and ignorance, the most conspicuous
assets of this yuga. In the Kåñëa consciousness movement
one cleanses himself of the modes of passion and ignorance by chanting
the holy name of the Lord, Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa,
as introduced by Lord Caitanya.
The four Kumäras were cognizant
of their situation in the modes of passion and ignorance because, although
in Vaikuëöha, they wanted to curse devotees of the Lord. Since
they were conscious of their own weakness, they prayed to the Lord to remove
their still-existing passion and ignorance. The three transcendental qualifications—cleanliness,
austerity and mercy—are the qualifications of the twice-born and the demigods.
Those who are not situated in the quality of goodness cannot accept these
three principles of spiritual culture. For the Kåñëa
consciousness movement, therefore, there are three sinful activities which
are prohibited—namely illicit sex, intoxication, and eating food other
than the prasäda offered to Kåñëa. These three prohibitions
are based on the principles of austerity, cleanliness and mercy. Devotees
are merciful because they spare the poor animals, and they are clean because
they are free of contamination from unwanted foodstuff and unwanted habits.
Austerity is represented by restricted sex life. These principles, indicated
by the prayers of the four Kumäras, should be followed by the devotees
who are engaged in Kåñëa consciousness.
SB 3.16.23
TEXT 23
na tvaà dvijottama-kulaà
yadi hätma-gopaà
goptä våñaù
svarhaëena sa-sünåtena
tarhy eva naìkñyati
çivas tava deva panthä
loko ’grahéñyad åñabhasya
hi tat pramäëam
TRANSLATION
O Lord, You are the protector of
the highest of the twice-born. If You do not protect them by offering worship
and mild words, then certainly the auspicious path of worship will be rejected
by people in general, who act on the strength and authority of Your Lordship.
PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gétä it
is stated by the Lord Himself that the acts and character of great authorities
are followed by people in general. Leaders of ideal character are therefore
needed in society. Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, appeared in this material world just to show the example of perfect
authority, and people have to follow His path. The Vedic injunction is
that one cannot understand the Absolute Truth simply by mental speculation
or logical argument. One has to follow the authorities. Mahäjano yena
gataù sa panthäù [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Great authorities
should be followed; otherwise, if we simply depend on the scriptures, we
are sometimes misled by rascals, or else we cannot understand or follow
the different spiritual injunctions. The best path is to follow the authorities.
The four brähmaëa-sages stated that Kåñëa is
naturally the protector of the cows and brähmaëas: go-brähmaëa-hitäya
ca. When Kåñëa was on this planet, He set a practical
example. He was a cowherd boy, and He was very respectful to the brähmaëas
and devotees.
It is also affirmed herein that
the brähmaëas are the best of the twice-born. Brähmaëas,
kñatriyas and vaiçyas are all twice-born, but the brähmaëas
are the best. When there is a fight between two persons, each of them protects
the upper part of his body—the head, the arms and the belly. Similarly,
for the actual advancement of human civilization, the best part of the
social body, namely the brähmaëas, the kñatriyas and vaiçyas
(the intelligent class of men, the military class and the mercantile men)
should be given special protection. Protection of the laborers should not
be neglected, but special protection should be given to the upper orders.
Of all classes of men, the brähmaëas and the Vaiñëavas
should be given special protection. They should be worshiped. When their
protection is performed, it is just like worshiping God. That is not exactly
protection; it is a duty. One should worship the brähmaëas and
Vaiñëavas by offering them all kinds of endowments and sweet
words, and if one has no means to offer anything, he must at least use
sweet words to pacify them. The Lord personally exhibited this behavior
towards the Kumäras.
If this system is not introduced
by the leaders, then human civilization will be lost. When there is no
protection and special treatment for persons who are devotees of the Lord,
who are highly intelligent in spiritual life, then the whole society is
lost. The word naìkñyati indicates that such a civilization
becomes spoiled and is annihilated. The kind of civilization recommended
is called deva-patha, which means the “royal road of the demigods.” Demigods
are supposed to be fully fixed in devotional service, or Kåñëa
consciousness; that is the auspicious path that should be protected. If
the authorities or the leaders of society do not give special respect to
the brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas and do not offer them
not only sweet words but all facilities, then the path of progress will
be lost to human civilization. The Lord personally wanted to teach this,
and therefore He offered so much praise to the Kumäras.
SB 3.16.24
TEXT 24
tat te ’nabhéñöam
iva sattva-nidher vidhitsoù
kñemaà janäya
nija-çaktibhir uddhåtäreù
naitävatä try-adhipater
bata viçva-bhartus
tejaù kñataà
tv avanatasya sa te vinodaù
TRANSLATION
Dear Lord, You never want the auspicious
path to be destroyed, for You are the reservoir of all goodness. Just to
benefit people in general, You destroy the evil element by Your mighty
potency. You are the proprietor of the three creations and the maintainer
of the entire universe. Therefore Your potency is not reduced by Your submissive
behavior. Rather, by submission You exhibit Your transcendental pastimes.
PURPORT
Lord Kåñëa was
never reduced in His position by becoming a cowherd boy or by offering
respect to Sudämä Brähmaëa or His other devotees like
Nanda Mahäräja, Vasudeva, Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira
and the Päëòavas’ mother, Kunté. Everyone knew
that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa,
yet His behavior was exemplary. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is sac-cid-änanda-vigraha
[Bs. 5.1]; His form is completely spiritual, full of bliss and knowledge,
and it is eternal. Because the living entities are His parts and parcels,
originally they also belong to the same quality of eternal form as the
Lord, but when they come in contact with mäyä, the material potency,
due to their forgetfulness their existential constitution is covered. We
should try to understand the appearance of Lord Kåñëa
in this spirit, as the Kumäras pray to Him. He is eternally a cowherd
boy at Våndävana, He is eternally the leader of the Battle of
Kurukñetra, and He is eternally the opulent prince of Dvärakä
and the lover of the damsels of Våndävana; all His appearances
are meaningful because they show His real characteristics to the conditioned
souls, who have forgotten their relationship with the Supreme Lord. He
does everything for their benefit. The force exhibited in the Battle of
Kurukñetra by the desire of Kåñëa and through
the agency of Arjuna was also necessary because when people become too
irreligious, force is required. Nonviolence in this respect is rascaldom.
SB 3.16.25
TEXT 25
yaà vänayor damam adhéça
bhavän vidhatte
våttià nu vä tad
anumanmahi nirvyalékam
asmäsu vä ya ucito dhriyatäà
sa daëòo
ye ’nägasau vayam ayuìkñmahi
kilbiñeëa
TRANSLATION
O Lord, whatever punishment You
wish to award to these two innocent persons or also to us we shall accept
without duplicity. We understand that we have cursed two faultless persons.
PURPORT
The sages, the four Kumäras,
now reject their cursing of the two doorkeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, because
they are now conscious that persons who engage in the service of the Lord
cannot be at fault at any stage. It is said that anyone who has implicit
faith in the service of the Lord, or who actually engages in transcendental
loving service, has all the good qualities of the demigods. Therefore,
a devotee cannot be at fault. If sometimes it is found that he is in error
by accident or by some temporary arrangement, that should not be taken
very seriously. The cursing of Jaya and Vijaya is here repented. Now the
Kumäras are thinking in terms of their position in the modes of passion
and ignorance, and they are prepared to accept any kind of punishment from
the Lord. In general, when dealing with devotees, we should not try to
find faults. In Bhagavad-gétä also it is confirmed that the
devotee who faithfully serves the Supreme Lord, even if found to commit
a gross mistake, should be considered a sädhu, or saintly person.
Due to former habits he may commit some wrong, but because he is engaged
in the service of the Lord, that wrong should not be taken very seriously.
SB 3.16.26
TEXT 26
çré-bhagavän uväca
etau suretara-gatià pratipadya
sadyaù
saàrambha-sambhåta-samädhy-anubaddha-yogau
bhüyaù sakäçam
upayäsyata äçu yo vaù
çäpo mayaiva nimitas
tad aveta vipräù
TRANSLATION
The Lord replied: O brähmaëas,
know that the punishment you inflicted on them was originally ordained
by Me, and therefore they will fall to a birth in a demoniac family. But
they will be firmly united with Me in thought through mental concentration
intensified by anger, and they will return to My presence shortly.
PURPORT
The Lord stated that the punishment
inflicted by the sages upon the doorkeepers Jaya and Vijaya was conceived
by the Lord Himself. Without the Lord’s sanction, nothing can happen. It
is to be understood that there was a plan in the cursing of the Lord’s
devotees in Vaikuëöha, and His plan is explained by many stalwart
authorities. The Lord sometimes desires to fight. The fighting spirit also
exists in the Supreme Lord, otherwise how could fighting be manifested
at all? Because the Lord is the source of everything, anger and fighting
are also inherent in His personality. When He desires to fight with someone,
He has to find an enemy, but in the Vaikuëöha world there is
no enemy because everyone is engaged fully in His service. Therefore He
sometimes comes to the material world as an incarnation in order to manifest
His fighting spirit.
In Bhagavad-gétä (4.8)
also it is said that the Lord appears just to give protection to the devotees
and to annihilate the nondevotees. The nondevotees are found in the material
world, not in the spiritual world; therefore, when the Lord wants to fight,
He has to come to this world. But who will fight with the Supreme Lord?
No one is able to fight with Him! Therefore, because the Lord’s pastimes
in the material world are always performed with His associates, not with
others, He has to find some devotee who will play the part of an enemy.
In Bhagavad-gétä the Lord says to Arjuna, “My dear Arjuna,
both you and I have appeared many, many times in this material world, but
you have forgotten, whereas I remember.” Thus Jaya and Vijaya were selected
by the Lord to fight with Him in the material world, and that was the reason
the sages came to see Him and accidentally the doorkeepers were cursed.
It was the Lord’s desire to send them to the material world, not perpetually,
but for some time. Therefore, just as on a theatrical stage someone takes
the part of enemy to the proprietor of the stage, although the play is
for a short time and there is no permanent enmity between the servant and
the proprietor, so the sura janas (devotees) were cursed by the sages to
go to the asura jana, or atheistic families. That a devotee should come
into an atheistic family is surprising, but it is simply a show. After
finishing their mock fighting, both the devotee and the Lord are again
associated in the spiritual planets. That is very explicitly explained
here. The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or
Vaikuëöha planet, for it is the eternal abode. But sometimes,
as the Lord desires, devotees come into this material world as preachers
or as atheists. In each case we must understand that there is a plan of
the Lord. Lord Buddha, for example, was an incarnation, yet he preached
atheism: “There is no God.” But actually there was a plan behind this,
as explained in the Bhägavatam.
SB 3.16.27
TEXT 27
brahmoväca
atha te munayo dåñövä
nayanänanda-bhäjanam
vaikuëöhaà tad-adhiñöhänaà
vikuëöhaà ca svayaà-prabham
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmä said: After seeing
the Lord of Vaikuëöha, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in
the self-illuminated Vaikuëöha planet, the sages left that transcendental
abode.
PURPORT
The transcendental abode of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, as stated in Bhagavad-gétä
and confirmed in this verse, is self-illuminated. In Bhagavad-gétä
it is said that in the spiritual world there is no need of sun, moon or
electricity. This indicates that all the planets there are self-illuminated,
self-sufficient and independent; everything there is complete. Lord Kåñëa
says that once one goes to that Vaikuëöha planet, he never returns.
The inhabitants of Vaikuëöha never return to the material world,
but the incident of Jaya and Vijaya was a different case. They came to
the material world for some time, and then they returned to Vaikuëöha.
SB 3.16.28
TEXT 28
bhagavantaà parikramya
praëipatyänumänya
ca
pratijagmuù pramuditäù
çaàsanto vaiñëavéà
çriyam
TRANSLATION
The sages circumambulated the Supreme
Lord, offered their obeisances and returned, extremely delighted at learning
of the divine opulences of the Vaiñëava.
PURPORT
It is still a respectful practice
to circumambulate the Lord in Hindu temples. Especially in Vaiñëava
temples there is an arrangement for people to offer their respects to the
Deity and circumambulate the temple at least three times.
SB 3.16.29
TEXT 29
bhagavän anugäv äha
yätaà mä bhaiñöam
astu çam
brahma-tejaù samartho ’pi
hantuà necche mataà
tu me
TRANSLATION
The Lord then said to His attendants,
Jaya and Vijaya: Depart this place, but fear not. All glories unto you.
Though I am capable of nullifying the brähmaëas’ curse, I would
not do so. On the contrary, it has My approval.
PURPORT
As explained in connection with
text 26, all the incidents that took place had the approval of the Lord.
Ordinarily, there is no possibility that the four sages could be so angry
with the doorkeepers, nor could the Supreme Lord neglect His two doorkeepers,
nor can one come back from Vaikuëöha after once taking birth
there. All these incidents, therefore, were designed by the Lord Himself
for the sake of His pastimes in the material world. Thus He plainly says
that it was done with His approval. Otherwise, it would have been impossible
for inhabitants of Vaikuëöha to come back to this material world
simply because of a brahminical curse. The Lord especially blesses the
so-called culprits: “All glories unto you.” A devotee, once accepted by
the Lord, can never fall down. That is the conclusion of this incident.
SB 3.16.30
TEXT 30
etat puraiva nirdiñöaà
ramayä kruddhayä yadä
puräpaväritä dväri
viçanté mayy upärate
TRANSLATION
This departure from Vaikuëöha
was foretold by Lakñmé, the goddess of fortune. She was very
angry because when she left My abode and then returned, you stopped her
at the gate while I was sleeping.
SB 3.16.31
TEXT 31
mayi saàrambha-yogena
nistérya brahma-helanam
pratyeñyataà nikäçaà
me
kälenälpéyasä
punaù
TRANSLATION
The Lord assured the two Vaikuëöha
inhabitants, Jaya and Vijaya: By practicing the mystic yoga system in anger,
you will be cleansed of the sin of disobeying the brähmaëas and
within a very short time return to Me.
PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead
advised the two doorkeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, that by dint of bhakti-yoga
in anger they would be delivered from the curses of the brähmaëas.
Çréla Madhva Muni remarks in this connection that by practicing
bhakti-yoga one can become free from all sinful reactions. Even a brahma-çäpa,
or curse by a brähmaëa, which cannot be overcome by any other
means, can be overcome by bhakti-yoga.
One can practice bhakti-yoga in
many rasas. There are twelve rasas, five primary and seven secondary. The
five primary rasas constitute direct bhakti-yoga, but although the seven
secondary rasas are indirect, they are also counted within bhakti-yoga
if they are used in the service of the Lord. In other words, bhakti-yoga
is all-inclusive. If one somehow or other becomes attached to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, he becomes engaged in bhakti-yoga, as described
in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.29.15): kämaà krodhaà
bhayam. The gopés were attracted to Kåñëa by bhakti-yoga
in a relationship of lusty desire (käma). Similarly, Kaàsa
was attached to bhakti-yoga by dint of fear of his death. Thus bhakti-yoga
is so powerful that even becoming an enemy of the Lord and always thinking
of Him can deliver one very quickly. It is said, viñëu-bhaktaù
småto daiva äsuras tad-vipanyayaù: “Devotees of Lord
Viñëu are called demigods, whereas nondevotees are called asuras.”
But bhakti-yoga is so powerful that both demigods and asuras can derive
its benefits if they always think of the Personality of Godhead. The basic
principle of bhakti-yoga is to think of the Supreme Lord always. The Lord
says in Bhagavad-gétä (18.65), man-manä bhava mad-bhaktaù:
“Always think of Me.” It doesn’t matter which way one thinks; the very
thought of the Personality of Godhead is the basic principle of bhakti-yoga.
In the material planets there are
different grades of sinful activities, of which disrespecting a brähmaëa
or a Vaiñëava is the most sinful. Here it is clearly stated
that one can overcome even that grave sin simply by thinking of Viñëu,
not even favorably but in anger. Thus even if those who are not devotees
always think of Viñëu, they become free from all sinful activities.
Kåñëa consciousness is the highest form of thought. Lord
Viñëu is thought of in this age by chanting Hare Kåñëa,
Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa,
Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.
From the statements of the Bhägavatam it appears that if one thinks
of Kåñëa, even as an enemy, that particular qualification—thinking
of Viñëu, or Kåñëa—cleanses one of all sins.
SB 3.16.32
TEXT 32
dväùsthäv ädiçya
bhagavän
vimäna-çreëi-bhüñaëam
sarvätiçayayä lakñmyä
juñöaà svaà
dhiñëyam äviçat
TRANSLATION
After thus speaking at the door
of Vaikuëöha, the Lord returned to His abode, where there are
many celestial airplanes and all-surpassing wealth and splendor.
PURPORT
It is clear from this verse that
all the incidents took place at the entrance of Vaikuëöhaloka.
In other words, the sages were not actually within Vaikuëöhaloka,
but were at the gate. It could be asked, “How could they return to the
material world if they entered Vaikuëöhaloka?” But factually
they did not enter, and therefore they returned. There are many similar
incidents where great yogés and brähmaëas, by dint of
their yoga practice, have gone from this material world to Vaikuëöhaloka—but
they were not meant to stay there. They came back. It is also confirmed
here that the Lord was surrounded by many Vaikuëöha airplanes.
Vaikuëöhaloka is described here as having splendid opulence,
far surpassing the splendor of this material world.
All other living creatures, including
the demigods, are born of Brahmä, and Brahmä is born of Lord
Viñëu. Kåñëa states in Bhagavad-gétä,
in the Tenth Chapter, ahaà sarvasya prabhavaù: [Bg. 10.8]
Lord Viñëu is the origin of all manifestations in the material
world. Those who know that Lord Viñëu is the origin of everything,
who are conversant with the process of creation and who understand that
Viñëu, or Kåñëa, is the most worshipable
object of all living entities, engage themselves in Viñëu worship
as Vaiñëavas. The Vedic hymns also confirm this: oà
tad viñëoù paramaà padam. The goal of life is
to understand Viñëu. The Bhägavatam also confirms this
elsewhere. Foolish people, not knowing that Viñëu is the supreme
worshipable object, create so many worshipable objects in this material
world, and therefore they fall down.
SB 3.16.33
TEXT 33
tau tu gérväëa-åñabhau
dustaräd dhari-lokataù
hata-çriyau brahma-çäpäd
abhütäà vigata-smayau
TRANSLATION
But those two gatekeepers, the best
of the demigods, their beauty and luster diminished by the curse of the
brähmaëas, became morose and fell from Vaikuëöha, the
abode of the Supreme Lord.
SB 3.16.34
TEXT 34
tadä vikuëöha-dhiñaëät
tayor nipatamänayoù
hähä-käro mahän
äséd
vimänägryeñu putrakäù
TRANSLATION
Then, as Jaya and Vijaya fell from
the Lord’s abode, a great roar of disappointment arose from all the demigods,
who were sitting in their splendid airplanes.
SB 3.16.35
TEXT 35
täv eva hy adhunä präptau
pärñada-pravarau hareù
diter jaöhara-nirviñöaà
käçyapaà teja
ulbaëam
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmä continued: Those
two principal doorkeepers of the Personality of Godhead have now entered
the womb of Diti, the powerful semen of Kaçyapa Muni having covered
them.
PURPORT
Here is clear proof of how a living
entity coming originally from Vaikuëöhaloka is encaged in material
elements. The living entity takes shelter within the semen of a father,
which is injected within the womb of a mother, and with the help of the
mother’s emulsified ovum the living entity grows a particular type of a
body. In this connection it is to be remembered that the mind of Kaçyapa
Muni was not in order when he conceived the two sons, Hiraëyäkña
and Hiraëyakaçipu. Therefore the semen he discharged was simultaneously
extremely powerful and mixed with the quality of anger. It is to be concluded
that while conceiving a child one’s mind must be very sober and devotional.
For this purpose the Garbhädhäna-saàskära is recommended
in the Vedic scriptures. If the mind of the father is not sober, the semen
discharged will not be very good. Thus the living entity, wrapped in the
matter produced from the father and mother, will be demoniac like Hiraëyäkña
and Hiraëyakaçipu. The conditions of conception are to be carefully
studied. This is a very great science.
SB 3.16.36
TEXT 36
tayor asurayor adya
tejasä yamayor hi vaù
äkñiptaà teja
etarhi
bhagaväàs tad vidhitsati
TRANSLATION
It is the prowess of these twin
asuras [demons] that has disturbed you, for it has minimized your power.
There is no remedy within my power, however, for it is the Lord Himself
who desires to do all this.
PURPORT
Although Hiraëyakaçipu
and Hiraëyäkña, formerly Jaya and Vijaya, became asuras,
the demigods of this material world could not control them, and therefore
Lord Brahmä said that neither he nor all the demigods could counteract
the disturbance they created. They came within the material world by the
order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He alone could counteract
such disturbances. In other words, although Jaya and Vijaya assumed the
bodies of asuras, they remained more powerful than anyone, thus proving
that the Supreme Personality of Godhead desired to fight because the fighting
spirit is also within Him. He is the original in everything, but when He
desires to fight He must fight with a devotee. Therefore by His desire
only were Jaya and Vijaya cursed by the Kumäras. The Lord ordered
the gatekeepers to go down to the material world to become His enemies
so that He could fight with them and His fighting desires would be satisfied
by the service of His personal devotees.
Brahmä showed the demigods
that the situation created by the darkness, for which they were disturbed,
was the desire of the Supreme Lord. He wanted to show that even though
these two attendants were coming in the forms of demons, they were very
powerful, greater than the demigods, who could not control them. No one
can surpass the acts of the Supreme Lord. The demigods were also advised
not to try to counteract this incident, because it was ordered by the Lord.
Similarly, anyone who is ordered by the Lord to perform some action in
this material world, especially preaching His glories, cannot be counteracted
by anyone; the will of the Lord is executed under all circumstances.
SB 3.16.37
TEXT 37
viçvasya yaù sthiti-layodbhava-hetur
ädyo
yogeçvarair api duratyaya-yogamäyaù
kñemaà vidhäsyati
sa no bhagaväàs tryadhéças
taträsmadéya-vimåçena
kiyän ihärthaù
TRANSLATION
My dear sons, the Lord is the controller
of the three modes of nature and is responsible for the creation, preservation
and dissolution of the universe. His wonderful creative power, yogamäyä,
cannot be easily understood even by the masters of yoga. That most ancient
person, the Personality of Godhead, will alone come to our rescue. What
purpose can we serve on His behalf by deliberating on the subject?
PURPORT
When something is arranged by the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should not be disturbed by it, even
if it appears to be a reverse according to one’s calculations. For example,
sometimes we see that a powerful preacher is killed, or sometimes he is
put into difficulty, just as Haridäsa Öhäkura was. He was
a great devotee who came into this material world to execute the will of
the Lord by preaching the Lord’s glories. But Haridäsa was punished
at the hands of the Kazi by being beaten in twenty-two marketplaces. Similarly,
Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, and Prahläda Mahäräja was
put through so many tribulations. The Päëòavas, who were
direct friends of Kåñëa, lost their kingdom, their wife
was insulted, and they had to undergo many severe tribulations. Seeing
all these reverses affect devotees, one should not be disturbed; one should
simply understand that in these matters there must be some plan of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Bhägavatam’s conclusion is that
a devotee is never disturbed by such reverses. He accepts even reverse
conditions as the grace of the Lord. One who continues to serve the Lord
even in reverse conditions is assured that he will go back to Godhead,
back to the Vaikuëöha planets. Lord Brahmä assured the demigods
that there was no use in talking about how the disturbing situation of
darkness was taking place, since the actual fact was that it was ordered
by the Supreme Lord. Brahmä knew this because he was a great devotee;
it was possible for him to understand the plan of the Lord.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports
of the Third Canto, Sixteenth Chapter, of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam,
entitled “The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuëöha, Jaya and Vijaya,
Cursed by the Sages.”
Chapter Seventeen
Victory of Hiraëyäkña Over All the Directions of the Universe
SB 3.17.1
TEXT 1
maitreya uväca
niçamyätma-bhuvä
gétaà
käraëaà çaìkayojjhitäù
tataù sarve nyavartanta
tridiväya divaukasaù
TRANSLATION
Çré Maitreya said:
The demigods, the inhabitants of the higher planets, were freed from all
fear upon hearing the cause of the darkness explained by Brahmä, who
was born from Viñëu. Thus they all returned to their respective
planets.
PURPORT
The demigods, who are denizens of
higher planets, are also very much afraid of incidents such as the universe’s
becoming dark, and so they consulted Brahmä. This indicates that the
quality of fear exists for every living entity in the material world. The
four principal activities of material existence are eating, sleeping, fearing
and mating. The fear element exists also in the demigods. On every planet,
even in the higher planetary systems, including the moon and the sun, as
well as on this earth, the same principles of animal life exist. Otherwise,
why are the demigods also afraid of the darkness? The difference between
the demigods and ordinary human beings is that the demigods approach authority,
whereas the inhabitants of this earth defy authority. If people would only
approach the authority, then every adverse condition in this universe could
be rectified. Arjuna was also disturbed on the Battlefield of Kurukñetra,
but he approached the authority, Kåñëa, and his problem
was solved. The conclusive instruction of this incident is that we may
be disturbed by some material condition, but if we approach the authority
who can actually explain the matter, then our problem is solved. The demigods
approached Brahmä for the meaning of the disturbance, and after hearing
from him they were satisfied and returned home peacefully.
SB 3.17.2
TEXT 2
ditis tu bhartur ädeçäd
apatya-pariçaìkiné
pürëe varña-çate
sädhvé
putrau prasuñuve yamau
TRANSLATION
The virtuous lady Diti had been
very apprehensive of trouble to the gods from the children in her womb,
and her husband predicted the same. She brought forth twin sons after a
full one hundred years of pregnancy.
SB 3.17.3
TEXT 3
utpätä bahavas tatra
nipetur jäyamänayoù
divi bhuvy antarikñe ca
lokasyoru-bhayävahäù
TRANSLATION
On the birth of the two demons there
were many natural disturbances, all very fearful and wonderful, in the
heavenly planets, the earthly planets and in between them.
SB 3.17.4
TEXT 4
sahäcalä bhuvaç
celur
diçaù sarväù
prajajvaluù
solkäç cäçanayaù
petuù
ketavaç cärti-hetavaù
TRANSLATION
There were earthquakes along the
mountains on the earth, and it appeared that there was fire everywhere.
Many inauspicious planets like Saturn appeared, along with comets, meteors
and thunderbolts.
PURPORT
When natural disturbances occur
on a planet, one should understand that a demon must have taken birth there.
In the present age the number of demoniac people is increasing; therefore
natural disturbances are also increasing. There is no doubt about this,
as we can understand from the statements of the Bhägavatam.
SB 3.17.5
TEXT 5
vavau väyuù suduùsparçaù
phüt-kärän érayan
muhuù
unmülayan naga-patén
vätyänéko rajo-dhvajaù
TRANSLATION
There blew winds which were most
uninviting to the touch, hissing again and again and uprooting gigantic
trees. They had storms for their armies and clouds of dust for their ensigns.
PURPORT
When there are natural disturbances
like blowing cyclones, too much heat or snowfall, and uprooting of trees
by hurricanes, it is to be understood that the demoniac population is increasing
and so the natural disturbance is also taking place. There are many countries
on the globe, even at the present moment, where all these disturbances
are current. This is true all over the world. There is insufficient sunshine,
and there are always clouds in the sky, snowfall and severe cold. These
assure that such places are inhabited by demoniac people who are accustomed
to all kinds of forbidden, sinful activity.
SB 3.17.6
TEXT 6
uddhasat-taòid-ambhoda-
ghaöayä nañöa-bhägaëe
vyomni praviñöa-tamasä
na sma vyädåçyate
padam
TRANSLATION
The luminaries in the heavens were
screened by masses of clouds, in which lightning sometimes flashed as though
laughing. Darkness reigned everywhere, and nothing could be seen.
SB 3.17.7
TEXT 7
cukroça vimanä värdhir
udürmiù kñubhitodaraù
sodapänäç ca saritaç
cukñubhuù çuñka-paìkajäù
TRANSLATION
The ocean with its high waves wailed
aloud as if stricken with sorrow, and there was a commotion among the creatures
inhabiting the ocean. The rivers and lakes were also agitated, and lotuses
withered.
SB 3.17.8
TEXT 8
muhuù paridhayo ’bhüvan
sarähvoù çaçi-süryayoù
nirghätä ratha-nirhrädä
vivarebhyaù prajajïire
TRANSLATION
Misty halos appeared around the
sun and the moon during solar and lunar eclipses again and again. Claps
of thunder were heard even without clouds, and sounds like those of rattling
chariots emerged from the mountain caves.
SB 3.17.9
TEXT 9
antar-grämeñu mukhato
vamantyo vahnim ulbaëam
sågälolüka-öaìkäraiù
praëedur açivaà
çiväù
TRANSLATION
In the interior of the villages
she-jackals yelled portentously, vomiting strong fire from their mouths,
and jackals and owls also joined them with their cries.
SB 3.17.10
TEXT 10
saìgétavad rodanavad
unnamayya çirodharäm
vyamuïcan vividhä väco
gräma-siàhäs tatas
tataù
TRANSLATION
Raising their necks, dogs cried
here and there, now in the manner of singing and now of wailing.
SB 3.17.11
TEXT 11
kharäç ca karkaçaiù
kñattaù
khurair ghnanto dharä-talam
khärkära-rabhasä
mattäù
paryadhävan varüthaçaù
TRANSLATION
O Vidura, the asses ran hither and
thither in herds, striking the earth with their hard hooves and wildly
braying.
PURPORT
Asses also feel very respectable
as a race, and when they run in flocks hither and thither in so-called
jollity, it is understood to be a bad sign for human society.
SB 3.17.12
TEXT 12
rudanto räsabha-trastä
néòäd udapatan
khagäù
ghoñe ’raëye ca paçavaù
çakån-mütram akurvata
TRANSLATION
Frightened by the braying of the
asses, birds flew shrieking from their nests, while cattle in the cowsheds
as well as in the woods passed dung and urine.
SB 3.17.13
TEXT 13
gävo ’trasann asåg-dohäs
toyadäù püya-varñiëaù
vyarudan deva-liìgäni
drumäù petur vinänilam
TRANSLATION
Cows, terrified, yielded blood in
place of milk, clouds rained pus, the images of the gods in the temples
shed tears, and trees fell down without a blast of wind.
SB 3.17.14
TEXT 14
grahän puëyatamän
anye
bhagaëäàç
cäpi dépitäù
aticerur vakra-gatyä
yuyudhuç ca parasparam
TRANSLATION
Ominous planets such as Mars and
Saturn shone brighter and surpassed the auspicious ones such as Mercury,
Jupiter and Venus as well as a number of lunar mansions. Taking seemingly
retrograde courses, the planets came in conflict with one another.
PURPORT
The entire universe is moving under
the three modes of material nature. Those living entities who are in goodness
are called the pious species—pious lands, pious trees, etc. It is similar
with the planets also; many planets are considered pious, and others are
considered impious. Saturn and Mars are considered impious. When the pious
planets shine very brightly, it is an auspicious sign, but when the inauspicious
planets shine very brightly, this is not a very good sign.
SB 3.17.15
TEXT 15
dåñövänyäàç
ca mahotpätän
atat-tattva-vidaù prajäù
brahma-puträn åte bhétä
menire viçva-samplavam
TRANSLATION
Marking these and many other omens
of evil times, everyone but the four sage-sons of Brahmä, who were
aware of the fall of Jaya and Vijaya and of their birth as Diti’s sons,
was seized with fear. They did not know the secrets of these portents and
thought that the dissolution of the universe was at hand.
PURPORT
According to Bhagavad-gétä,
Seventh Chapter, the laws of nature are so stringent that it is impossible
for the living entity to surpass their enforcement. It is also explained
that only those who are fully surrendered to Kåñëa in
Kåñëa consciousness can be saved. We can learn from the
description of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam that it is because
of the birth of two great demons that there were so many natural disturbances.
It is to be indirectly understood, as previously described, that when there
are constant disturbances on the earth, that is an omen that some demoniac
people have been born or that the demoniac population has increased. In
former days there were only two demons—those born of Diti—yet there were
so many disturbances. At the present day, especially in this age of Kali,
these disturbances are always visible, which indicates that the demoniac
population has certainly increased.
To check the increase of demoniac
population, the Vedic civilization enacted so many rules and regulations
of social life, the most important of which is the garbhädhäna
process for begetting good children. In Bhagavad-gétä Arjuna
informed Kåñëa that if there is unwanted population (varëa-saìkara),
the entire world will appear to be hell. People are very anxious for peace
in the world, but there are so many unwanted children born without the
benefit of the garbhädhäna ceremony, just like the demons born
from Diti. Diti was so lusty that she forced her husband to copulate at
a time which was inauspicious, and therefore the demons were born to create
disturbances. In having sex life to beget children, one should observe
the process for begetting nice children; if each and every householder
in every family observes the Vedic system, then there are nice children,
not demons, and automatically there is peace in the world. If we do not
follow regulations in life for social tranquillity, we cannot expect peace.
Rather, we will have to undergo the stringent reactions of natural laws.
SB 3.17.16
TEXT 16
täv ädi-daityau sahasä
vyajyamänätma-pauruñau
vavådhäte ’çma-säreëa
käyenädri-paté
iva
TRANSLATION
These two demons who appeared in
ancient times soon began to exhibit uncommon bodily features; they had
steellike frames which began to grow just like two great mountains.
PURPORT
There are two classes of men in
the world; one is called the demon, and the other is called the demigod.
The demigods concern themselves with the spiritual upliftment of human
society, whereas the demons are concerned with physical and material upliftment.
The two demons born of Diti began to make their bodies as strong as iron
frames, and they were so tall that they seemed to touch outer space. They
were decorated with valuable ornaments, and they thought that this was
success in life. Originally it was planned that Jaya and Vijaya, the two
doorkeepers of Vaikuëöha, were to take birth in this material
world, where, by the curse of the sages, they were to play the part of
always being angry with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As demoniac
persons, they became so angry that they were not concerned with the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, but simply with physical comforts and physical
upliftment.
SB 3.17.17
TEXT 17
divi-spåçau hema-kiréöa-koöibhir
niruddha-käñöhau
sphurad-aìgadä-bhujau
gäà kampayantau caraëaiù
pade pade
kaöyä sukäïcyärkam
atétya tasthatuù
TRANSLATION
Their bodies became so tall that
they seemed to kiss the sky with the crests of their gold crowns. They
blocked the view of all directions and while walking shook the earth at
every step. Their arms were adorned with brilliant bracelets, and they
stood as if covering the sun with their waists, which were bound with excellent
and beautiful girdles.
PURPORT
In the demoniac way of civilization,
people are interested in getting a body constructed in such a way that
when they walk on the street the earth will tremble and when they stand
it will appear that they cover the sun and the vision of the four directions.
If a race appears strong in body, their country is materially considered
to be among the highly advanced nations of the world.
SB 3.17.18
TEXT 18
prajäpatir näma tayor akärñéd
yaù präk sva-dehäd
yamayor ajäyata
taà vai hiraëyakaçipuà
viduù prajä
yaà taà hiraëyäkñam
asüta sägrataù
TRANSLATION
Kaçyapa, Prajäpati,
the creator of the living entities, gave his twin sons their names; the
one who was born first he named Hiraëyäkña, and the one
who was first conceived by Diti he named Hiraëyakaçipu.
PURPORT
There is an authoritative Vedic
literature called Piëòa-siddhi in which the scientific understanding
of pregnancy is very nicely described. It is stated that when the male
secretion enters the menstrual flux in the uterus in two successive drops,
the mother develops two embryos in her womb, and she brings forth twins
in a reverse order to that in which they were first conceived; the child
conceived first is born later, and the one conceived later is brought forth
first. The first child conceived in the womb lives behind the second child,
so when birth takes place the second child appears first, and the first
child appears second. In this case it is understood that Hiraëyäkña,
the second child conceived, was delivered first, whereas Hiraëyakaçipu,
the child who was behind him, having been conceived first, was born second.
SB 3.17.19
TEXT 19
cakre hiraëyakaçipur
dorbhyäà brahma-vareëa
ca
vaçe sa-päläû
lokäàs trén
akuto-måtyur uddhataù
TRANSLATION
The elder child, Hiraëyakaçipu,
was unafraid of death from anyone within the three worlds because he received
a benediction from Lord Brahmä. He was proud and puffed up due to
this benediction and was able to bring all three planetary systems under
his control.
PURPORT
As will be revealed in later chapters,
Hiraëyakaçipu underwent severe austerity and penance to satisfy
Brahmä and thus receive a benediction of immortality. Actually, it
is impossible even for Lord Brahmä to give anyone the benediction
of becoming immortal, but indirectly Hiraëyakaçipu received
the benediction that no one within this material world would be able to
kill him. In other words, because he originally came from the abode of
Vaikuëöha, he was not to be killed by anyone within this material
world. The Lord desired to appear Himself to kill him. One may be very
proud of his material advancement in knowledge, but he cannot be immune
to the four principles of material existence, namely birth, death, old
age and disease. It was the Lord’s plan to teach people that even Hiraëyakaçipu,
who was so powerful and strongly built, could not live more than his destined
duration of life. One may become as strong and puffed up as Hiraëyakaçipu
and bring under his control all the three worlds, but there is no possibility
of continuing life eternally or keeping the conquered booty forever. So
many emperors have ascended to power, and they are now lost in oblivion;
that is the history of the world.
SB 3.17.20
TEXT 20
hiraëyäkño ’nujas
tasya
priyaù préti-kåd
anvaham
gadä-päëir divaà
yäto
yuyutsur mågayan raëam
TRANSLATION
His younger brother, Hiraëyäkña,
was always ready to satisfy his elder brother by his activities. Hiraëyäkña
took a club on his shoulder and traveled all over the universe with a fighting
spirit just to satisfy Hiraëyakaçipu.
PURPORT
The demoniac spirit is to train
all family members to exploit the resources of this universe for personal
sense gratification, whereas the godly spirit is to engage everything in
the service of the Lord. Hiraëyakaçipu was himself very powerful,
and he made his younger brother, Hiraëyäkña, powerful
to assist him in fighting with everyone and lording it over material nature
as long as possible. If possible, he wanted to rule the universe eternally.
These are demonstrations of the spirit of the demoniac living entity.
SB 3.17.21
TEXT 21
taà vékñya duùsaha-javaà
raëat-käïcana-nüpuram
vaijayantyä srajä juñöam
aàsa-nyasta-mahä-gadam
TRANSLATION
Hiraëyäkña’s temper
was difficult to control. He had anklets of gold tinkling about his feet,
he was adorned with a gigantic garland, and he rested his huge mace on
one of his shoulders.
SB 3.17.22
TEXT 22
mano-vérya-varotsiktam
asåëyam akuto-bhayam
bhétä nililyire deväs
tärkñya-trastä
ivähayaù
TRANSLATION
His mental and bodily strength as
well as the boon conferred upon him had made him proud. He feared death
at the hands of no one, and there was no checking him. The gods, therefore,
were seized with fear at his very sight, and they hid themselves even as
snakes hide themselves for fear of Garuòa.
PURPORT
The asuras are generally strongly
built, as described here, and therefore their mental condition is very
sound, and their prowess is also extraordinary. Hiraëyäkña
and Hiraëyakaçipu, having received the boon that they would
not be killed by any other living entity within this universe, were almost
immortal, and thus they were completely fearless.
SB 3.17.23
TEXT 23
sa vai tirohitän dåñövä
mahasä svena daitya-räö
sendrän deva-gaëän
kñébän
apaçyan vyanadad bhåçam
TRANSLATION
On not finding Indra and the other
demigods, who had previously been intoxicated with power, the chief of
the Daityas, seeing that they had all vanished before his might, roared
loudly.
SB 3.17.24
TEXT 24
tato nivåttaù kréòiñyan
gambhéraà bhéma-nisvanam
vijagähe mahä-sattvo
värdhià matta iva dvipaù
TRANSLATION
After returning from the heavenly
kingdom, the mighty demon, who was like an elephant in wrath, for the sake
of sport dived into the deep ocean, which was roaring terribly.
SB 3.17.25
TEXT 25
tasmin praviñöe varuëasya
sainikä
yädo-gaëäù
sanna-dhiyaù sasädhvasäù
ahanyamänä api tasya varcasä
pradharñitä dürataraà
pradudruvuù
TRANSLATION
On his entering the ocean, the aquatic
animals who formed the host of Varuëa were stricken with fear and
ran far away. Thus Hiraëyäkña showed his splendor without
dealing a blow.
PURPORT
Materialistic demons sometimes appear
to be very powerful and are seen to establish their supremacy throughout
the world. Here also it appears that Hiraëyäkña, by his
demoniac strength, actually established his supremacy throughout the universe,
and the demigods were afraid of his uncommon power. Not only were the demigods
in space afraid of the demons Hiraëyakaçipu and Hiraëyäkña,
but so also were the aquatic animals within the sea.
SB 3.17.26
TEXT 26
sa varña-pügän udadhau
mahä-balaç
caran mahorméï chvasaneritän
muhuù
maurvyäbhijaghne gadayä
vibhävarém
äsediväàs täta
puréà pracetasaù
TRANSLATION
Moving about in the ocean for many,
many years, the mighty Hiraëyäkña smote the gigantic wind-tossed
waves again and again with his iron mace and reached Vibhävaré,
the capital of Varuëa.
PURPORT
Varuëa is supposed to be the
predominating deity of the waters, and his capital, which is known as Vibhävaré,
is within the watery kingdom.
SB 3.17.27
TEXT 27
tatropalabhyäsura-loka-pälakaà
yädo-gaëänäm
åñabhaà pracetasam
smayan pralabdhuà praëipatya
nécavaj
jagäda me dehy adhiräja
saàyugam
TRANSLATION
Vibhävaré is the home
of Varuëa, lord of the aquatic creatures and guardian of the lower
regions of the universe, where the demons generally reside. There Hiraëyäkña
fell at Varuëa’s feet like a lowborn man, and to make fun of him he
said with a smile, “Give me battle, O Supreme Lord!”
PURPORT
The demoniac person always challenges
others and tries to occupy others’ property by force. Here these symptoms
are fully displayed by Hiraëyäkña, who begged war from
a person who had no desire to fight.
SB 3.17.28
TEXT 28
tvaà loka-pälo ’dhipatir
båhac-chravä
véryäpaho durmada-véra-mäninäm
vijitya loke ’khila-daitya-dänavän
yad räjasüyena puräyajat
prabho
TRANSLATION
You are the guardian of an entire
sphere and a ruler of wide fame. Having crushed the might of arrogant and
conceited warriors and having conquered all the Daityas and Dänavas
in the world, you once performed a Räjasüya sacrifice to the
Lord.
SB 3.17.29
TEXT 29
sa evam utsikta-madena vidviñä
dåòhaà pralabdho
bhagavän apäà patiù
roñaà samutthaà
çamayan svayä dhiyä
vyavocad aìgopaçamaà
gatä vayam
TRANSLATION
Thus mocked by an enemy whose vanity
knew no bounds, the worshipful lord of the waters waxed angry, but by dint
of his reason he managed to curb the anger that had sprung up in him, and
he replied: O dear one, we have now desisted from warfare, having grown
too old for combat.
PURPORT
As we see, war mongering materialists
always create fighting without reason.
SB 3.17.30
TEXT 30
paçyämi nänyaà
puruñät purätanäd
yaù saàyuge tväà
raëa-märga-kovidam
ärädhayiñyaty asurarñabhehi
taà
manasvino yaà gåëate
bhavädåçäù
TRANSLATION
You are so skilled in war that I
do not see anyone else but the most ancient person, Lord Viñëu,
who can give satisfaction in battle to you. Therefore, O chief of the asuras,
approach Him, whom even heroes like you mention with praise.
PURPORT
Aggressive materialistic warriors
are actually punished by the Supreme Lord for their policy of unnecessarily
disturbing world peace. Therefore Varuëa advised Hiraëyäkña
that the right course to satisfy his fighting spirit would be to seek to
fight with Viñëu.
SB 3.17.31
TEXT 31
taà véram äräd
abhipadya vismayaù
çayiñyase véra-çaye
çvabhir våtaù
yas tvad-vidhänäm asatäà
praçäntaye
rüpäëi dhatte sad-anugrahecchayä
TRANSLATION
Varuëa continued: On reaching
Him you will be rid of your pride at once and will lie down on the field
of battle, surrounded by dogs, for eternal sleep. It is in order to exterminate
wicked fellows like you and to show His grace to the virtuous that He assumes
His various incarnations like Varäha.
PURPORT
Asuras do not know that their bodies
consist of the five elements of material nature and that when they fall
they become objects of pastimes for dogs and vultures. Varuëa advised
Hiraëyäkña to meet Viñëu in His boar incarnation
so that his hankering for aggressive war would be satisfied and his powerful
body would be vanquished.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports
of the Third Canto, Seventeenth Chapter, of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam,
entitled “Victory of Hiraëyäkña Over All the Directions
of the Universe.”
Chapter Eighteen
The Battle Between Lord Boar
and the Demon Hiraëyäkña
SB 3.18.1
TEXT 1
maitreya uväca
tad evam äkarëya jaleça-bhäñitaà
mahä-manäs tad vigaëayya
durmadaù
harer viditvä gatim aìga
näradäd
rasätalaà nirviviçe
tvaränvitaù
TRANSLATION
Maitreya continued: The proud and
falsely glorious Daitya paid little heed to the words of Varuëa. O
dear Vidura, he learned from Närada the whereabouts of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and hurriedly betook himself to the depths of the
ocean.
PURPORT
Materialistic warmongers are not
even afraid to fight with their mightiest enemy, the Personality of Godhead.
The demon was very encouraged to learn from Varuëa that there was
one fighter who could actually combat him, and he was very enthusiastic
to search out the Supreme Personality of Godhead just to give Him a fight,
even though it was predicted by Varuëa that by fighting with Viñëu
he would become prey for dogs, jackals and vultures. Since demoniac persons
are less intelligent, they dare to fight with Viñëu, who is
known as Ajita, or one who has never been conquered.
SB 3.18.2
TEXT 2
dadarça taträbhijitaà
dharä-dharaà
pronnéyamänävanim
agra-daàñörayä
muñëantam akñëä
sva-ruco ’ruëa-çriyä
jahäsa cäho vana-gocaro
mågaù
TRANSLATION
He saw there the all-powerful Personality
of Godhead in His boar incarnation, bearing the earth upward on the ends
of His tusks and robbing him of his splendor with His reddish eyes. The
demon laughed: Oh, an amphibious beast!
PURPORT
In a previous chapter we have discussed
the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as Varäha, the
boar. While Varäha, with His tusks, engaged in uplifting the submerged
earth from the depths of the waters, this great demon Hiraëyäkña
met Him and challenged Him, calling Him a beast. Demons cannot understand
the incarnations of the Lord; they think that His incarnations as a fish
or boar or tortoise are big beasts only. They misunderstand the body of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even in His human form, and they deride
His descent. In the Caitanya-sampradäya there is sometimes a demoniac
misconception about the descent of Nityänanda Prabhu. Nityänanda
Prabhu’s body is spiritual, but demoniac persons consider the body of the
Supreme Personality to be material, just like ours. Avajänanti mäà
müòhäù: [Bg. 9.11] persons who have no intelligence
deride the transcendental form of the Lord as material.
SB 3.18.3
TEXT 3
ähainam ehy ajïa mahéà
vimuïca no
rasaukasäà viçva-såjeyam
arpitä
na svasti yäsyasy anayä
mamekñataù
surädhamäsädita-sükaräkåte
TRANSLATION
The demon addressed the Lord: O
best of the demigods, dressed in the form of a boar, just hear me. This
earth is entrusted to us, the inhabitants of the lower regions, and You
cannot take it from my presence and not be hurt by me.
PURPORT
Çrédhara Svämé,
commenting on this verse, states that although the demon wanted to deride
the Personality of Godhead in the form of a boar, actually he worshiped
Him in several words. For example, he addressed Him as vana-gocaraù,
which means “one who is a resident of the forest,” but another meaning
of vana-gocaraù is “one who lies on the water.” Viñëu
lies on the water, so the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be properly
addressed in this way. The demon also addressed Him as mågaù,
indicating, unintentionally, that the Supreme Personality is sought after
by great sages, saintly persons and transcendentalists. He also addressed
Him as ajïa. Çrédhara Svämé says that jïa
means “knowledge,” and there is no knowledge which is unknown to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Indirectly, therefore, the demon said that Viñëu
knows everything. The demon addressed Him as surädhama. Sura means
“the demigods,” and adhama means “Lord of all there is.” He is Lord of
all the demigods; therefore He is the best of all demigods, or God. When
the demon used the phrase “in my presence,” the implied meaning was, “In
spite of my presence, You are completely able to take away the earth.”
Na svasti yäsyasi: “unless You kindly take this earth from our custody,
there can be no good fortune for us.”
SB 3.18.4
TEXT 4
tvaà naù sapatnair
abhaväya kià bhåto
yo mäyayä hanty asurän
parokña-jit
tväà yogamäyä-balam
alpa-pauruñaà
saàsthäpya müòha
pramåje suhåc-chucaù
TRANSLATION
You rascal, You have been nourished
by our enemies to kill us, and You have killed some demons by remaining
invisible. O fool, Your power is only mystic, so today I shall enliven
my kinsmen by killing You.
PURPORT
The demon used the word abhaväya,
which means “for killing.” Çrédhara Svämé comments
that this “killing” means liberating, or, in other words, killing the process
of continued birth and death. The Lord kills the process of birth and death
and keeps Himself invisible. The activities of the Lord’s internal potency
are inconceivable, but by a slight exhibition of this potency, the Lord,
by His grace, can deliver one from nescience. Çucaù means
“miseries”; the miseries of material existence can be extinguished by the
Lord by His potential energy of internal yogamäyä. In the Upaniñads
(Çvetäçvatara Upaniñad 6.8) it is stated, paräsya
çaktir vividhaiva çrüyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport].
The Lord is invisible to the eyes of the common man, but His energies act
in various ways. When demons are in adversity, they think that God is hiding
Himself and is working by His mystic potency. They think that if they can
find God they can kill Him just by seeing Him. Hiraëyäkña
thought that way, and he challenged the Lord: “You have done tremendous
harm to our community, taking the part of the demigods, and You have killed
our kinsmen in so many ways, always keeping Yourself hidden. Now I see
You face to face, and I am not going to let You go. I shall kill You and
save my kinsmen from Your mystic misdeeds.”
Not only are demons always anxious
to kill God with words and philosophy, but they think that if one is materially
powerful he can kill God with materially fatal weapons. Demons like Kaàsa,
Rävaëa and Hiraëyakaçipu thought themselves powerful
enough to kill even God. Demons cannot understand that God, by His multifarious
potencies, can work so wonderfully that He can be present everywhere and
still remain in His eternal abode, Goloka Våndävana.
SB 3.18.5
TEXT 5
tvayi saàsthite gadayä
çérëa-çérñaëy
asmad-bhuja-cyutayä ye ca tubhyam
balià haranty åñayo
ye ca deväù
svayaà sarve na bhaviñyanty
amüläù
TRANSLATION
The demon continued: When You fall
dead with Your skull smashed by the mace hurled by my arms, the demigods
and sages who offer You oblations and sacrifice in devotional service will
also automatically cease to exist, like trees without roots.
PURPORT
Demons are very much disturbed when
devotees worship the Lord in the prescribed ways recommended in the scriptures.
In the Vedic scriptures, the neophyte devotees are advised to engage in
nine kinds of devotional service, such as to hear and chant the holy name
of God, to remember Him always, to chant on beads Hare Kåñëa,
Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa,
Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare,
to worship the Lord in the form of His Deity incarnation in the temples,
and to engage in various activities of Kåñëa consciousness
to increase the number of godly persons for perfect peace in the world.
Demons do not like such activity. They are always envious of God and His
devotees. Their propaganda not to worship in the temple or church but simply
to make material advancement for satisfaction of the senses is always current.
The demon Hiraëyäkña, upon seeing the Lord face to face,
wanted to make a permanent solution by killing the Personality of Godhead
with his powerful mace. The example of an uprooted tree mentioned here
by the demon is very significant. Devotees accept that God is the root
of everything. Their example is that just as the stomach is the source
of energy of all the limbs of the body, God is the original source of all
energy manifested in the material and spiritual worlds; therefore, as supplying
food to the stomach is the process to satisfy all the limbs of the body,
Kåñëa consciousness, or developing love of Kåñëa,
is the sublime method for satisfying the source of all happiness. The demon
wants to uproot this source because if the root, God, were to be checked,
the activities of the Lord and the devotees would automatically stop. The
demon would be very much satisfied by such a situation in society. Demons
are always anxious to have a godless society for their sense gratification.
According to Çrédhara Svämé, this verse means
that when the demon would be deprived of his mace by the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, not only the neophyte devotees but also the ancient sagacious
devotees of the Lord would be very much satisfied.
SB 3.18.6
TEXT 6
sa tudyamäno ’ri-durukta-tomarair
daàñörägra-gäà
gäm upalakñya bhétäm
todaà måñan
niragäd ambu-madhyäd
grähähataù sa-kareëur
yathebhaù
TRANSLATION
Although the Lord was pained by
the shaftlike abusive words of the demon, He bore the pain. But seeing
that the earth on the ends of His tusks was frightened, He rose out of
the water just as an elephant emerges with its female companion when assailed
by an alligator.
PURPORT
The Mäyävädé
philosopher cannot understand that the Lord has feelings. The Lord is satisfied
if someone offers Him a nice prayer, and similarly, if someone decries
His existence or calls Him by ill names, God is dissatisfied. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead is decried by the Mäyävädé
philosophers, who are almost demons. They say that God has no head, no
form, no existence and no legs, hands or other bodily limbs. In other words,
they say that He is dead or lame. All these misconceptions of the Supreme
Lord are a source of dissatisfaction to Him; He is never pleased with such
atheistic descriptions. In this case, although the Lord felt sorrow from
the piercing words of the demon, He delivered the earth for the satisfaction
of the demigods, who are ever His devotees. The conclusion is that God
is as sentient as we are. He is satisfied by our prayers and dissatisfied
by our harsh words against Him. In order to give protection to His devotee,
He is always ready to tolerate insulting words from the atheists.
SB 3.18.7
TEXT 7
taà niùsarantaà
saliläd anudruto
hiraëya-keço dviradaà
yathä jhañaù
karäla-daàñöro
’çani-nisvano ’bravéd
gata-hriyäà kià
tv asatäà vigarhitam
TRANSLATION
The demon, who had golden hair on
his head and fearful tusks, gave chase to the Lord while He was rising
from the water, even as an alligator would chase an elephant. Roaring like
thunder, he said: Are You not ashamed of running away before a challenging
adversary? There is nothing reproachable for shameless creatures!
PURPORT
When the Lord was coming out of
the water, taking the earth in His arms to deliver it, the demon derided
Him with insulting words, but the Lord did not care because He was very
conscious of His duty. For a dutiful man there is nothing to fear. Similarly,
those who are powerful have no fear of derision or unkind words from an
enemy. The Lord had nothing to fear from anyone, yet He was merciful to
His enemy by neglecting him. Although apparently He fled from the challenge,
it was just to protect the earth from calamity that He tolerated Hiraëyäkña’s
deriding words.
SB 3.18.8
TEXT 8
sa gäm udastät salilasya
gocare
vinyasya tasyäm adadhät
sva-sattvam
abhiñöuto viçva-såjä
prasünair
äpüryamäëo vibudhaiù
paçyato ’reù
TRANSLATION
The Lord placed the earth within
His sight on the surface of the water and transferred to her His own energy
in the form of the ability to float on the water. While the enemy stood
looking on, Brahmä, the creator of the universe, extolled the Lord,
and the other demigods rained flowers on Him.
PURPORT
Those who are demons cannot understand
how the Supreme Personality of Godhead floated the earth on water, but
to devotees of the Lord this is not a very wonderful act. Not only the
earth but many, many millions of planets are floating in the air, and this
floating power is endowed upon them by the Lord; there is no other possible
explanation. The materialists can explain that the planets are floating
by the law of gravitation, but the law of gravitation works under the control
or direction of the Supreme Lord. That is the version of Bhagavad-gétä,
which confirms, by the Lord’s statement, that behind the material laws
or nature’s laws and behind the growth, maintenance, production and evolution
of all the planetary systems—behind everything—is the Lord’s direction.
The Lord’s activities could be appreciated only by the demigods, headed
by Brahmä, and therefore when they saw the uncommon prowess of the
Lord in keeping the earth on the surface of the water, they showered flowers
on Him in appreciation of His transcendental activity.
SB 3.18.9
TEXT 9
paränuñaktaà tapanéyopakalpaà
mahä-gadaà käïcana-citra-daàçam
marmäëy abhékñëaà
pratudantaà duruktaiù
pracaëòa-manyuù
prahasaàs taà babhäñe
TRANSLATION
The demon, who had a wealth of ornaments,
bangles and beautiful golden armor on his body, chased the Lord from behind
with a great mace. The Lord tolerated his piercing ill words, but in order
to reply to him, He expressed His terrible anger.
PURPORT
The Lord could have chastised the
demon immediately while the demon was deriding the Lord with ill words,
but the Lord tolerated him to please the demigods and to show that they
should not be afraid of demons while discharging their duties. Therefore
His toleration was displayed mainly to drive away the fears of the demigods,
who should know that the Lord is always present to protect them. The demon’s
derision of the Lord was just like the barking of dogs; the Lord did not
care about it, since He was doing His own work in delivering the earth
from the midst of the water. Materialistic demons always possess large
amounts of gold in various shapes, and they think that a large amount of
gold, physical strength and popularity can save them from the wrath of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
SB 3.18.10
TEXT 10
çré-bhagavän uväca
satyaà vayaà bho vana-gocarä
mågä
yuñmad-vidhän mågaye
gräma-siàhän
na måtyu-päçaiù
pratimuktasya vérä
vikatthanaà tava gåhëanty
abhadra
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead said:
Indeed, We are creatures of the jungle, and We are searching after hunting
dogs like you. One who is freed from the entanglement of death has no fear
from the loose talk in which you are indulging, for you are bound up by
the laws of death.
PURPORT
Demons and atheistic persons can
go on insulting the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they forget that
they are subjected to the laws of birth and death. They think that simply
by decrying the existence of the Supreme Lord or defying His stringent
laws of nature, one can be freed from the clutches of birth and death.
In Bhagavad-gétä it is said that simply by understanding the
transcendental nature of God one can go back home, back to Godhead. But
demons and atheistic persons do not try to understand the nature of the
Supreme Lord; therefore they remain in the entanglement of birth and death.
SB 3.18.11
TEXT 11
ete vayaà nyäsa-harä
rasaukasäà
gata-hriyo gadayä drävitäs
te
tiñöhämahe ’thäpi
kathaïcid äjau
stheyaà kva yämo balinotpädya
vairam
TRANSLATION
Certainly We have stolen the charge
of the inhabitants of Rasätala and have lost all shame. Although bitten
by your powerful mace, I shall stay here in the water for some time because,
having created enmity with a powerful enemy, I now have no place to go.
PURPORT
The demon should have known that
God cannot be driven out of any place, for He is all-pervading. Demons
think of their possessions as their property, but actually everything belongs
to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can take anything at any time
He likes.
SB 3.18.12
TEXT 12
tvaà pad-rathänäà
kila yüthapädhipo
ghaöasva no ’svastaya äçv
anühaù
saàsthäpya cäsmän
pramåjäçru svakänäà
yaù sväà pratijïäà
nätipiparty asabhyaù
TRANSLATION
You are supposed to be the commander
of many foot soldiers, and now you may take prompt steps to overthrow Us.
Give up all your foolish talk and wipe out the cares of your kith and kin
by slaying Us. One may be proud, yet he does not deserve a seat in an assembly
if he fails to fulfill his promised word.
PURPORT
A demon may be a great soldier and
commander of a large number of infantry, but in the presence of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead he is powerless and is destined to die. The Lord,
therefore, challenged the demon not to go away, but to fulfill his promised
word to kill Him.
SB 3.18.13
TEXT 13
maitreya uväca
so ’dhikñipto bhagavatä
pralabdhaç ca ruñä
bhåçam
äjahärolbaëaà
krodhaà
kréòyamäno ’hi-räò
iva
TRANSLATION
Çré Maitreya said:
The demon, being thus challenged by the Personality of Godhead, became
angry and agitated, and he trembled in anger like a challenged cobra.
PURPORT
A cobra is very fierce before ordinary
persons, but before an enchanter who can play with him, he is a plaything.
Similarly, a demon may be very powerful in his own domain, but before the
Lord he is insignificant. The demon Rävaëa was a fierce figure
before the demigods, but when he was before Lord Rämacandra he trembled
and prayed to his deity, Lord Çiva, but to no avail.
SB 3.18.14
TEXT 14
såjann amarñitaù
çväsän
manyu-pracalitendriyaù
äsädya tarasä daityo
gadayä nyahanad dharim
TRANSLATION
Hissing indignantly, all his senses
shaken by wrath, the demon quickly sprang upon the Lord and dealt Him a
blow with his powerful mace.
SB 3.18.15
TEXT 15
bhagaväàs tu gadä-vegaà
visåñöaà
ripuëorasi
avaïcayat tiraçcéno
yogärüòha iväntakam
TRANSLATION
The Lord, however, by moving slightly
aside, dodged the violent mace-blow aimed at His breast by the enemy, just
as an accomplished yogé would elude death.
PURPORT
The example is given herein that
the perfect yogé can overcome a deathblow although it is offered
by the laws of nature. It is useless for a demon to beat the transcendental
body of the Lord with a powerful mace, for no one can surpass His prowess.
Those who are advanced transcendentalists are freed from the laws of nature,
and even a deathblow cannot act on them. Superficially it may be seen that
a yogé is attacked by a deathblow, but by the grace of the Lord
he can overcome many such attacks for the service of the Lord. As the Lord
exists by His own independent prowess, by the grace of the Lord the devotees
also exist for His service.
SB 3.18.16
TEXT 16
punar gadäà sväm
ädäya
bhrämayantam abhékñëaçaù
abhyadhävad dhariù kruddhaù
saàrambhäd dañöa-dacchadam
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead now exhibited
His anger and rushed to meet the demon, who bit his lip in rage, took up
his mace again and began to repeatedly brandish it about.
SB 3.18.17
TEXT 17
tataç ca gadayärätià
dakñiëasyäà
bhruvi prabhuù
äjaghne sa tu täà
saumya
gadayä kovido ’hanat
TRANSLATION
Then with His mace the Lord struck
the enemy on the right of his brow, but since the demon was expert in fighting,
O gentle Vidura, he protected himself by a maneuver of his own mace.
SB 3.18.18
TEXT 18
evaà gadäbhyäà
gurvébhyäà
haryakño harir eva ca
jigéñayä susaàrabdhäv
anyonyam abhijaghnatuù
TRANSLATION
In this way, the demon Haryakña
and the Lord, the Personality of Godhead, struck each other with their
huge maces, each enraged and seeking his own victory.
PURPORT
Haryakña is another name
for Hiraëyäkña, the demon.
SB 3.18.19
TEXT 19
tayoù spådhos tigma-gadähatäìgayoù
kñatäsrava-ghräëa-vivåddha-manyvoù
vicitra-märgäàç
carator jigéñayä
vyabhäd iläyäm iva
çuñmiëor mådhaù
TRANSLATION
There was keen rivalry between the
two combatants; both had sustained injuries on their bodies from the blows
of each other’s pointed maces, and each grew more and more enraged at the
smell of blood on his person. In their eagerness to win, they performed
maneuvers of various kinds, and their contest looked like an encounter
between two forceful bulls for the sake of a cow.
PURPORT
Here the earth planet is called
ilä. This earth was formerly known as Ilävåta-varña,
and when Mahäräja Parékñit ruled the earth it was
called Bhärata-varña. Actually, Bhärata-varña is
the name for the entire planet, but gradually Bhärata-varña
has come to mean India. As India has recently been divided into Pakistan
and Hindustan, similarly the earth was formerly called Ilävåta-varña,
but gradually as time passed it was divided by national boundaries.
SB 3.18.20
TEXT 20
daityasya yajïävayavasya
mäyä-
gåhéta-väräha-tanor
mahätmanaù
kauravya mahyäà dviñator
vimardanaà
didåkñur ägäd
åñibhir våtaù svaräö
TRANSLATION
O descendant of Kuru, Brahmä,
the most independent demigod of the universe, accompanied by his followers,
came to see the terrible fight for the sake of the world between the demon
and the Personality of Godhead, who appeared in the form of a boar.
PURPORT
The fight between the Lord, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the demon is compared to a fight between
bulls for the sake of a cow. The earth planet is also called go, or cow.
As bulls fight between themselves to ascertain who will have union with
a cow, there is always a constant fight between the demons and the Supreme
Lord or His representative for supremacy over the earth. Here the Lord
is significantly described as yajïävayava. One should not consider
the Lord to have the body of an ordinary boar. He can assume any form,
and He possesses all such forms eternally. It is from Him that all other
forms have emanated. This boar form is not to be considered the form of
an ordinary hog; His body is actually full of yajïa, or worshipful
offerings. Yajïa (sacrifices) are offered to Viñëu. Yajïa
means the body of Viñëu. His body is not material; therefore
He should not be taken to be an ordinary boar.
Brahmä is described in this
verse as svaräö. Actually, full independence is exclusive to
the Lord Himself, but as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, every living
entity has a minute quantity of independence. Each and every one of the
living entities within this universe has this minute independence, but
Brahmä, being the chief of all living entities, has a greater potential
of independence than any other. He is the representative of Kåñëa,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and has been assigned to preside over
universal affairs. All other demigods work for him; therefore he is described
here as svaräö. He is always accompanied by great sages and transcendentalists,
all of whom came to see the bullfight between the demon and the Lord.
SB 3.18.21
TEXT 21
äsanna-çauëòéram
apeta-sädhvasaà
kåta-pratékäram
ahärya-vikramam
vilakñya daityaà bhagavän
sahasra-ëér
jagäda näräyaëam
ädi-sükaram
TRANSLATION
After arriving at the place of combat,
Brahmä, the leader of thousands of sages and transcendentalists, saw
the demon, who had attained such unprecedented power that no one could
fight with him. Brahmä then addressed Näräyaëa, who
was assuming the form of a boar for the first time.
SB 3.18.22-23
TEXTS 22–23
brahmoväca
eña te deva devänäm
aìghri-mülam upeyuñäm
vipräëäà saurabheyéëäà
bhütänäm apy anägasäm
ägas-kåd bhaya-kåd
duñkåd
asmad-räddha-varo ’suraù
anveñann apratiratho
lokän aöati kaëöakaù
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmä said: My dear Lord,
this demon has proved to be a constant pinprick to the demigods, the brähmaëas,
the cows and innocent persons who are spotless and always dependent upon
worshiping Your lotus feet. He has become a source of fear by unnecessarily
harassing them. Since he has attained a boon from me, he has become a demon,
always searching for a proper combatant, wandering all over the universe
for this infamous purpose.
PURPORT
There are two classes of living
entities; one is called sura, or the demigods, and the other is called
asura, or the demons. Demons are generally fond of worshiping the demigods,
and there are evidences that by such worship they get extensive power for
their sense gratification. This later proves to be a cause of trouble to
the brähmaëas, demigods and other innocent living entities. Demons
habitually find fault with the demigods, brähmaëas and innocent,
to whom they are a constant source of fear. The way of the demon is to
take power from the demigods and then tease the demigods themselves. There
is an instance of a great devotee of Lord Çiva who obtained a boon
from Lord Çiva that the head of whomever he touched with his hand
would come off its trunk. As soon as the boon was offered to him, the demon
wanted to touch the very head of Lord Çiva. That is their way. The
devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead do not, however, ask any
favor for sense gratification. Even if they are offered liberation, they
refuse it. They are happy simply engaging in the transcendental loving
service of the Lord.
SB 3.18.24
TEXT 24
mainaà mäyävinaà
dåptaà
niraìkuçam asattamam
äkréòa bälavad
deva
yathäçéviñam
utthitam
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmä continued: My dear
Lord, there is no need to play with this serpentine demon, who is always
very skilled in conjuring tricks and is arrogant, self-sufficient and most
wicked.
PURPORT
No one is unhappy when a serpent
is killed. It is a practice among village boys to catch a serpent by the
tail and play with it for some time and then kill it. Similarly, the Lord
could have killed the demon at once, but He played with him in the same
way as a child plays with a snake before killing it. Brahmä requested,
however, that since the demon was more wicked and undesirable than a serpent,
there was no need to play with him. It was his wish that he be killed at
once, without delay.
SB 3.18.25
TEXT 25
na yävad eña vardheta
sväà veläà
präpya däruëaù
sväà deva mäyäm
ästhäya
tävaj jahy agham acyuta
TRANSLATION
Brahmä continued: My dear Lord,
You are infallible. Please kill this sinful demon before the demoniac hour
arrives and he presents another formidable approach favorable to him. You
can kill him by Your internal potency without doubt.
SB 3.18.26
TEXT 26
eñä ghoratamä sandhyä
loka-cchambaö-karé prabho
upasarpati sarvätman
suräëäà jayam
ävaha
TRANSLATION
My Lord, the darkest evening, which
covers the world, is fast approaching. Since You are the Soul of all souls,
kindly kill him and win victory for the demigods.
SB 3.18.27
TEXT 27
adhunaiño ’bhijin näma
yogo mauhürtiko hy agät
çiväya nas tvaà
suhådäm
äçu nistara dustaram
TRANSLATION
The auspicious period known as abhijit,
which is most opportune for victory, commenced at midday and has all but
passed; therefore, in the interest of Your friends, please dispose of this
formidable foe quickly.
SB 3.18.28
diñöyä tväà
vihitaà måtyum
ayam äsäditaù svayam
vikramyainaà mådhe
hatvä
lokän ädhehi çarmaëi
TRANSLATION
This demon, luckily for us, has
come of his own accord to You, his death ordained by You; therefore, exhibiting
Your ways, kill him in the duel and establish the worlds in peace.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports
of the Third Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam,
entitled “The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraëyäkña.”
Chapter Nineteen
The Killing of the Demon Hiraëyäkña
SB 3.19.1
TEXT 1
maitreya uväca
avadhärya viriïcasya
nirvyalékämåtaà
vacaù
prahasya prema-garbheëa
tad apäìgena so ’grahét
TRANSLATION
Çré Maitreya said:
After hearing the words of Brahmä, the creator, which were free from
all sinful purposes and as sweet as nectar, the Lord heartily laughed and
accepted his prayer with a glance laden with love.
PURPORT
The word nirvyaléka is very
significant. The prayers of the demigods or devotees of the Lord are free
from all sinful purposes, but the prayers of demons are always filled with
sinful purposes. The demon Hiraëyäkña became powerful
by deriving a boon from Brahmä, and after attaining that boon he created
a disturbance because of his sinful intentions. The prayers of Brahmä
and other demigods are not to be compared to the prayers of the demons.
Their purpose is to please the Supreme Lord; therefore the Lord smiled
and accepted the prayer to kill the demon. Demons, who are never interested
in praising the Supreme Personality of Godhead because they have no information
of Him, go to the demigods, and in Bhagavad-gétä this is condemned.
Persons who go to the demigods and pray for advancement in sinful activities
are considered to be bereft of all intelligence. Demons have lost all intelligence
because they do not know what is actually their self-interest. Even if
they have information of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they decline
to approach Him; it is not possible for them to get their desired boons
from the Supreme Lord because their purposes are always sinful. It is said
that the dacoits in Bengal used to worship the goddess Kälé
for fulfillment of their sinful desires to plunder others’ property, but
they never went to a Viñëu temple because they might have been
unsuccessful in praying to Viñëu. Therefore the prayers of
the demigods or the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are
always untinged by sinful purposes.
SB 3.19.2
TEXT 2
tataù sapatnaà mukhataç
carantam akuto-bhayam
jaghänotpatya gadayä
hanäv asuram akñajaù
TRANSLATION
The Lord, who had appeared from
the nostril of Brahmä, sprang and aimed His mace at the chin of His
enemy, the Hiraëyäkña demon, who was stalking fearlessly
before Him.
SB 3.19.3
TEXT 3
sä hatä tena gadayä
vihatä bhagavat-karät
vighürëitäpatad reje
tad adbhutam iväbhavat
TRANSLATION
Struck by the demon’s mace, however,
the Lord’s mace slipped from His hand and looked splendid as it fell down
whirling. This was miraculous, for the mace was blazing wonderfully.
SB 3.19.4
TEXT 4
sa tadä labdha-tértho
’pi
na babädhe niräyudham
mänayan sa mådhe dharmaà
viñvaksenaà prakopayan
TRANSLATION
Even though the demon had an excellent
opportunity to strike his unarmed foe without obstruction, he respected
the law of single combat, thereby kindling the fury of the Supreme Lord.
SB 3.19.5
TEXT 5
gadäyäm apaviddhäyäà
hähä-käre vinirgate
mänayäm äsa tad-dharmaà
sunäbhaà cäsmarad
vibhuù
TRANSLATION
As the Lord’s mace fell to the ground
and a cry of alarm arose from the witnessing crowd of gods and åñis,
the Personality of Godhead acknowledged the demon’s love of righteousness
and therefore invoked His Sudarçana discus.
SB 3.19.6
TEXT 6
taà vyagra-cakraà diti-puträdhamena
sva-pärñada-mukhyena
viñajjamänam
citrä väco ’tad-vidäà
khe-caräëäà
tatra smäsan svasti te ’muà
jahéti
TRANSLATION
As the discus began to revolve in
the Lord’s hands and the Lord contended at close quarters with the chief
of His Vaikuëöha attendants, who had been born as Hiraëyäkña,
a vile son of Diti, there issued from every direction strange expressions
uttered by those who were witnessing from airplanes. They had no knowledge
of the Lord’s reality, and they cried, “May victory attend You! Pray dispatch
him. Play no more with him.”
SB 3.19.7
TEXT 7
sa taà niçämyätta-rathäìgam
agrato
vyavasthitaà padma-paläça-locanam
vilokya cämarña-pariplutendriyo
ruñä sva-danta-cchadam
ädaçac chvasan
TRANSLATION
When the demon saw the Personality
of Godhead, who had eyes just like lotus petals, standing in position before
him, armed with His Sudarçana discus, his senses were overpowered
by indignation. He began to hiss like a serpent, and he bit his lip in
great resentment.
SB 3.19.8
TEXT 8
karäla-daàñöraç
cakñurbhyäà
saïcakñäëo
dahann iva
abhiplutya sva-gadayä
hato ’séty ähanad dharim
TRANSLATION
The demon, who had fearful tusks,
stared at the Personality of Godhead as though to burn Him. Springing into
the air, he aimed his mace at the Lord, exclaiming at the same time, “You
are slain!”
SB 3.19.9
TEXT 9
padä savyena täà
sädho
bhagavän yajïa-sükaraù
lélayä miñataù
çatroù
präharad väta-raàhasam
TRANSLATION
O saintly Vidura, while His enemy
looked on, the Lord in His boar form, the enjoyer of all sacrificial offerings,
playfully knocked down the mace with His left foot, even as it came upon
Him with the force of a tempest.
SB 3.19.10
TEXT 10
äha cäyudham ädhatsva
ghaöasva tvaà jigéñasi
ity uktaù sa tadä bhüyas
täòayan vyanadad bhåçam
TRANSLATION
The Lord then said: “Take up your
weapon and try again, eager as you are to conquer Me.” Challenged in these
words, the demon aimed his mace at the Lord and once more loudly roared.
SB 3.19.11
TEXT 11
täà sa äpatatéà
vékñya
bhagavän samavasthitaù
jagräha lélayä
präptäà
garutmän iva pannagém
TRANSLATION
When the Lord saw the mace flying
toward Him, He stood firmly where He was and caught it with the same ease
as Garuòa, the king of birds, would seize a serpent.
SB 3.19.12
TEXT 12
sva-pauruñe pratihate
hata-mäno mahäsuraù
naicchad gadäà déyamänäà
hariëä vigata-prabhaù
TRANSLATION
His valor thus frustrated, the great
demon felt humiliated and was put out of countenance. He was reluctant
to take back the mace when it was offered by the Personality of Godhead.
SB 3.19.13
TEXT 13
jagräha tri-çikhaà
çülaà
jvalaj-jvalana-lolupam
yajïäya dhåta-rüpäya
vipräyäbhicaran yathä
TRANSLATION
He now took a trident which was
as rapacious as a flaming fire and hurled it against the Lord, the enjoyer
of all sacrifices, even as one would use penance for a malevolent purpose
against a holy brähmaëa.
SB 3.19.14
TEXT 14
tad ojasä daitya-mahä-bhaöärpitaà
cakäsad antaù-kha udérëa-dédhiti
cakreëa ciccheda niçäta-neminä
harir yathä tärkñya-patatram
ujjhitam
TRANSLATION
Hurled by the mighty demon with
all his strength, the flying trident shone brightly in the sky. The Personality
of Godhead, however, tore it to pieces with His discus Sudarçana,
which had a sharp-edged rim, even as Indra cut off a wing of Garuòa.
PURPORT
The context of the reference given
herein regarding Garuòa and Indra is this. Once upon a time, Garuòa,
the carrier of the Lord, snatched away a nectar pot from the hands of the
demigods in heaven in order to liberate his mother, Vinatä, from the
clutches of his stepmother, Kadrü, the mother of the serpents. On
learning of this, Indra, the King of heaven, hurled his thunderbolt against
Garuòa. With a view to respect the infallibility of Indra’s weapon,
Garuòa, though otherwise invincible, being the Lord’s own mount,
dropped one of his wings, which was shattered to pieces by the thunderbolt.
The inhabitants of higher planets are so sensible that even in the process
of fighting they observe the preliminary rules and regulations of gentleness.
In this case, Garuòa wanted to show respect for Indra; since he
knew that Indra’s weapon must destroy something, he offered his wing.
SB 3.19.15
TEXT 15
våkëe sva-çüle
bahudhäriëä hareù
pratyetya vistérëam
uro vibhütimat
pravåddha-roñaù
sa kaöhora-muñöinä
nadan prahåtyäntaradhéyatäsuraù
TRANSLATION
The demon was enraged when his trident
was cut to pieces by the discus of the Personality of Godhead. He therefore
advanced toward the Lord and, roaring aloud, struck his hard fist against
the Lord’s broad chest, which bore the mark of Çrévatsa.
Then he went out of sight.
PURPORT
Çrévatsa is a curl
of white hair on the chest of the Lord which is a special sign of His being
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Vaikuëöhaloka or in Goloka
Våndävana, the inhabitants are exactly of the same form as the
Personality of Godhead, but by this Çrévatsa mark on the
chest of the Lord He is distinguished from all others.
SB 3.19.16
TEXT 16
tenettham ähataù kñattar
bhagavän ädi-sükaraù
näkampata manäk kväpi
srajä hata iva dvipaù
TRANSLATION
Hit in this manner by the demon,
O Vidura, the Lord, who had appeared as the first boar, did not feel the
least quaking in any part of His body, any more than an elephant would
when struck with a wreath of flowers.
PURPORT
As previously explained, the demon
was originally a servitor of the Lord in Vaikuëöha, but somehow
or other he fell as a demon. His fight with the Supreme Lord was meant
for his liberation. The Lord enjoyed the striking on His transcendental
body, just like a fully grown-up father fighting with his child. Sometimes
a father takes pleasure in having a mock fight with his small child, and
similarly the Lord felt Hiraëyäkña’s striking on His body
to be like flowers offered for worship. In other words, the Lord desired
to fight in order to enjoy His transcendental bliss; therefore He enjoyed
the attack.
SB 3.19.17
TEXT 17
athorudhäsåjan mäyäà
yoga-mäyeçvare harau
yäà vilokya prajäs
trastä
menire ’syopasaàyamam
TRANSLATION
The demon, however, employed many
conjuring tricks against the Personality of Godhead, who is the Lord of
yogamäyä. At the sight of this the people were filled with alarm
and thought that the dissolution of the universe was near.
PURPORT
The fighting enjoyment of the Supreme
Lord with His devotee, who had been converted into a demon, appeared severe
enough to bring about the dissolution of the universe. This is the greatness
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; even the wavering of His little
finger appears to be a great and very dangerous movement in the eyes of
the inhabitants of the universe.
SB 3.19.18
TEXT 18
pravavur väyavaç caëòäs
tamaù päàsavam
airayan
digbhyo nipetur gräväëaù
kñepaëaiù prahitä
iva
TRANSLATION
Fierce winds began to blow from
all directions, spreading darkness occasioned by dust and hail storms;
stones came in volleys from every corner, as if thrown by machine guns.
SB 3.19.19
TEXT 19
dyaur nañöa-bhagaëäbhraughaiù
sa-vidyut-stanayitnubhiù
varñadbhiù püya-keçäsåg-
vië-müträsthéni
cäsakåt
TRANSLATION
The luminaries in outer space disappeared
due to the sky’s being overcast with masses of clouds, which were accompanied
by lightning and thunder. The sky rained pus, hair, blood, stool, urine
and bones.
SB 3.19.20
TEXT 20
girayaù pratyadåçyanta
nänäyudha-muco ’nagha
dig-väsaso yätudhänyaù
çülinyo mukta-mürdhajäù
TRANSLATION
O sinless Vidura, mountains discharged
weapons of various kinds, and naked demonesses armed with tridents appeared
with their hair hanging loose.
SB 3.19.21
TEXT 21
bahubhir yakña-rakñobhiù
patty-açva-ratha-kuïjaraiù
ätatäyibhir utsåñöä
hiàsrä väco ’tivaiçasäù
TRANSLATION
Cruel and savage slogans were uttered
by hosts of ruffian Yakñas and Räkñasas, who all either
marched on foot or rode on horses, elephants or chariots.
SB 3.19.22
TEXT 22
präduñkåtänäà
mäyänäm
äsuréëäà
vinäçayat
sudarçanästraà
bhagavän
präyuìkta dayitaà
tri-pät
TRANSLATION
The Lord, the personal enjoyer of
all sacrifices, now discharged His beloved Sudarçana, which was
capable of dispersing the magical forces displayed by the demon.
PURPORT
Even famous yogés and demons
can sometimes enact very magical feats by their mystic power, but in the
presence of the Sudarçana cakra, when it is let loose by the Lord,
all such magical jugglery is dispersed. The instance of the quarrel between
Durväsä Muni and Mahäräja Ambaréña is
a practical example in this matter. Durväsä Muni wanted to display
many magical wonders, but when the Sudarçana cakra appeared, Durväsä
himself was afraid and fled to various planets for his personal protection.
The Lord is described here as tri-pät, which means that He is the
enjoyer of three kinds of sacrifices. In Bhagavad-gétä the
Lord confirms that He is the beneficiary and enjoyer of all sacrifices,
penances and austerities. The Lord is the enjoyer of three kinds of yajïa.
As further described in Bhagavad-gétä, there are sacrifices
of goods, sacrifices of meditation and sacrifices of philosophical speculation.
Those on the paths of jïäna, yoga and karma all have to come
in the end to the Supreme Lord because väsudevaù sarvam iti
[Bg. 7.19]—the Supreme Lord is the ultimate enjoyer of everything. That
is the perfection of all sacrifice.
SB 3.19.23
TEXT 23
tadä diteù samabhavat
sahasä hådi vepathuù
smarantyä bhartur ädeçaà
stanäc cäsåk prasusruve
TRANSLATION
At that very moment, a shudder suddenly
ran through the heart of Diti, the mother of Hiraëyäkña.
She recalled the words of her husband, Kaçyapa, and blood flowed
from her breasts.
PURPORT
At Hiraëyäkña’s
last moment, his mother, Diti, remembered what her husband had said. Although
her sons would be demons, they would have the advantage of being killed
by the Personality of Godhead Himself. She remembered this incident by
the grace of the Lord, and her breasts flowed blood instead of milk. In
many instances we find that when a mother is moved by affection for her
sons, milk flows from her breasts. In the case of the demon’s mother, the
blood could not transform into milk, but it flowed down her breasts as
it was. Blood transforms into milk. To drink milk is auspicious, but to
drink blood is inauspicious, although they are one and the same thing.
This formula is applicable in the case of cow’s milk also.
SB 3.19.24
TEXT 24
vinañöäsu sva-mäyäsu
bhüyaç cävrajya
keçavam
ruñopagühamäno
’muà
dadåçe ’vasthitaà
bahiù
TRANSLATION
When the demon saw his magic forces
dispelled, he once again came into the presence of the Personality of Godhead,
Keçava, and, full of rage, tried to embrace Him within his arms
to crush Him. But to his great amazement he found the Lord standing outside
the circle of his arms.
PURPORT
In this verse the Lord is addressed
as Keçava because He killed the demon Keçé in the
beginning of creation. Keçava is also a name of Kåñëa.
Kåñëa is the origin of all incarnations, and it is confirmed
in Brahma-saàhitä that Govinda, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, the cause of all causes, exists simultaneously in His different
incarnations and expansions. The demon’s attempt to measure the Supreme
Personality of Godhead is significant. The demon wanted to embrace Him
with his arms, thinking that with his limited arms he could capture the
Absolute by material power. He did not know that God is the greatest of
the great and the smallest of the small. No one can capture the Supreme
Lord or bring Him under his control. But the demoniac person always attempts
to measure the length and breadth of the Supreme Lord. By His inconceivable
potency the Lord can become the universal form, as explained in Bhagavad-gétä,
and at the same time He can remain within the box of His devotees as their
worshipable Deity. There are many devotees who keep a statue of the Lord
in a small box and carry it with them everywhere; every morning they worship
the Lord in the box. The Supreme Lord, Keçava, or the Personality
of Godhead, Kåñëa, is not bound by any measurement of
our calculation. He can remain with His devotee in any suitable form, yet
He is unapproachable by any amount of demoniac activities.
SB 3.19.25
TEXT 25
taà muñöibhir
vinighnantaà
vajra-särair adhokñajaù
kareëa karëa-müle
’han
yathä tväñöraà
marut-patiù
TRANSLATION
The demon now began to strike the
Lord with his hard fists, but Lord Adhokñaja slapped him in the
root of the ear, even as Indra, the lord of the Maruts, hit the demon Våtra.
PURPORT
The Lord is explained here to be
adhokñaja, beyond the reach of all material calculation. Akñaja
means “the measurement of our senses,” and adhokñaja means “that
which is beyond the measurement of our senses.”
SB 3.19.26
TEXT 26
sa ähato viçva-jitä
hy avajïayä
paribhramad-gätra udasta-locanaù
viçérëa-bähv-aìghri-çiroruho
’patad
yathä nagendro lulito nabhasvatä
TRANSLATION
Though struck indifferently by the
Lord, the conqueror of all, the demon’s body began to wheel. His eyeballs
bulged out of their sockets. His arms and legs broken and the hair on his
head scattered, he fell down dead, like a gigantic tree uprooted by the
wind.
PURPORT
It does not take even a moment for
the Lord to kill any powerful demon, including Hiraëyäkña.
The Lord could have killed him long before, but He allowed the demon to
display the full extent of his magical feats. One may know that by magical
feats, by scientific advancement of knowledge or by material power one
cannot become the equal of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His one
signal is sufficient to destroy all our attempts. His inconceivable power,
as displayed here, is so strong that the demon, despite all his demoniac
maneuvers, was killed by the Lord when the Lord desired, simply by one
slap.
SB 3.19.27
TEXT 27
kñitau çayänaà
tam akuëöha-varcasaà
karäla-daàñöraà
paridañöa-dacchadam
ajädayo vékñya
çaçaàsur ägatä
aho imaà ko nu labheta saàsthitim
TRANSLATION
Aja [Brahmä] and others arrived
on the spot to see the fearfully tusked demon lying on the ground, biting
his lip. The glow of his face was yet unfaded, and Brahmä admiringly
said: Oh, who could meet such blessed death?
PURPORT
Although the demon was dead, his
bodily luster was unfaded. This is very peculiar because when a man or
animal is dead, the body immediately becomes pale, the luster gradually
fades, and decomposition takes place. But here, although Hiraëyäkña
lay dead, his bodily luster was unfaded because the Lord, the Supreme Spirit,
was touching his body. One’s bodily luster remains fresh only as long as
the spirit soul is present. Although the demon’s soul had departed his
body, the Supreme Spirit touched the body, and therefore his bodily luster
did not fade. The individual soul is different from the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. One who sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead when he quits
his body is certainly very fortunate, and therefore personalities like
Brahmä and the other demigods eulogized the death of the demon.
SB 3.19.28
TEXT 28
yaà yogino yoga-samädhinä
raho
dhyäyanti liìgäd
asato mumukñayä
tasyaiña daitya-åñabhaù
padähato
mukhaà prapaçyaàs
tanum utsasarja ha
TRANSLATION
Brahmä continued: He was struck
by a forefoot of the Lord, whom yogés, seeking freedom from their
unreal material bodies, meditate upon in seclusion in mystic trance. While
gazing on His countenance, this crest jewel of Diti’s sons has cast off
his mortal coil.
PURPORT
The process of yoga is very clearly
described in this verse of Çrémad-Bhägavatam. It is
said here that the ultimate end of the yogés and mystics who perform
meditation is to get rid of this material body. Therefore they meditate
in secluded places to attain yogic trance. Yoga has to be performed in
a secluded place, not in public or in a demonstration on stage, as nowadays
practiced by many so-called yogés. Real yoga aims at ridding one
of the material body. Yoga practice is not intended to keep the body fit
and young. Such advertisements of so-called yoga are not approved by any
standard method. Particularly mentioned in this verse is the word yam,
or “unto whom,” indicating that meditation should be targeted on the Personality
of Godhead. Even if one concentrates his mind on the boar form of the Lord,
that is also yoga. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gétä, one who concentrates
his mind constantly in meditation upon the Personality of Godhead in one
of His many varieties of forms is the first-class yogé, and he can
very easily attain trance simply by meditating upon the form of the Lord.
If one is able to continue such meditation on the Lord’s form at the time
of one’s death, one is liberated from this mortal body and is transferred
to the kingdom of God. This opportunity was given to the demon by the Lord,
and therefore Brahmä and other demigods were astonished. In other
words, the perfection of yoga practice can be attained by a demon also
if he is simply kicked by the Lord.
SB 3.19.29
TEXT 29
etau tau pärñadäv
asya
çäpäd yätäv
asad-gatim
punaù katipayaiù sthänaà
prapatsyete ha janmabhiù
TRANSLATION
These two personal assistants of
the Supreme Lord, having been cursed, have been destined to take birth
in demoniac families. After a few such births, they will return to their
own positions.
SB 3.19.30
TEXT 30
devä ücuù
namo namas te ’khila-yajïa-tantave
sthitau gåhétämala-sattva-mürtaye
diñöyä hato ’yaà
jagatäm aruntudas
tvat-päda-bhaktyä vayam
éça nirvåtäù
TRANSLATION
The demigods addressed the Lord:
All obeisances unto You! You are the enjoyer of all sacrifices, and You
have assumed the form of a boar, in pure goodness, for the purpose of maintaining
the world. Fortunately for us, this demon, who was a torment to the worlds,
has been slain by You, and we too, O Lord, are now at ease, in devotion
to Your lotus feet.
PURPORT
The material world consists of three
modes—goodness, passion and ignorance—but the spiritual world is pure goodness.
It is said here that the form of the Lord is pure goodness, which means
that it is not material. In the material world there is no pure goodness.
In the Bhägavatam the stage of pure goodness is called sattvaà
viçuddham. Viçuddham means “pure.” In pure goodness there
is no contamination by the two inferior qualities, namely passion and ignorance.
The form of the boar, therefore, in which the Lord appeared, is nothing
of the material world. There are many other forms of the Lord, but none
of them belong to the material qualities. Such forms are nondifferent from
the Viñëu form, and Viñëu is the enjoyer of all
sacrifices.
The sacrifices which are recommended
in the Vedas are meant to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In
ignorance only, people try to satisfy many other agents, but the real purpose
of life is to satisfy the Supreme Lord, Viñëu. All sacrifices
are meant to please the Supreme Lord. The living entities who know this
perfectly well are called demigods, godly or almost God. Since the living
entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, it is his duty to serve
the Lord and please Him. The demigods are all attached to the Personality
of Godhead, and for their pleasure the demon, who was a source of trouble
to the world, was killed. Purified life is meant to please the Lord, and
all sacrifices performed in purified life are called Kåñëa
consciousness. This Kåñëa consciousness is developed
by devotional service, as clearly mentioned here.
SB 3.19.31
TEXT 31
maitreya uväca
evaà hiraëyäkñam
asahya-vikramaà
sa sädayitvä harir ädi-sükaraù
jagäma lokaà svam akhaëòitotsavaà
saméòitaù puñkara-viñöarädibhiù
TRANSLATION
Çré Maitreya continued:
After thus killing the most formidable demon Hiraëyäkña,
the Supreme Lord Hari, the origin of the boar species, returned to His
own abode, where there is always an uninterrupted festival. The Lord was
praised by all the demigods, headed by Brahmä.
PURPORT
The Lord is spoken of herewith as
the origin of the boar species. As stated in the Vedänta-sütra
(1.1.2), the Absolute Truth is the origin of everything. Therefore it is
to be understood that all 8,400,000 species of bodily forms originate from
the Lord, who is always ädi, or the beginning. In Bhagavad-gétä
Arjuna addresses the Lord as ädyam, or the original. Similarly, in
the Brahma-saàhitä the Lord is addressed as ädi-puruñam,
the original person. Indeed, in Bhagavad-gétä (10.8) the Lord
Himself declares, mattaù sarvaà pravartate: “From Me everything
proceeds.”
In this situation the Lord assumed
the shape of a boar to kill the demon Hiraëyäkña and pick
up the earth from the Garbha Ocean. Thus He became ädi-sükara,
the original boar. In the material world a boar or pig is considered most
abominable, but the ädi-sükara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
was not treated as an ordinary boar. Even Lord Brahmä and the other
demigods praised the Lord’s form as a boar.
This verse confirms the statement
in Bhagavad-gétä that the Lord appears as He is from His transcendental
abode for the sake of killing the miscreants and saving the devotees. By
killing the demon Hiraëyäkña He fulfilled His promise
to kill the demons and always protect the demigods headed by Brahmä.
The statement that the Lord returned to His own abode indicates that He
has His own particular transcendental residence. Since He is full of all
energies, He is all-pervasive in spite of His residing in Goloka Våndävana,
just as the sun, although situated in a particular place within the universe,
is present by its sunshine throughout the universe.
Although the Lord has His particular
abode in which to reside, He is all-pervasive. The impersonalists accept
one aspect of the Lord’s features, the all-pervasive aspect, but they cannot
understand His localized situation in His transcendental abode, where He
always engages in fully transcendental pastimes. Especially mentioned in
this verse is the word akhaëòitotsavam. Utsava means “pleasure.”
Whenever some function takes place to express happiness, it is called utsava.
Utsava, the expression of complete happiness, is always present in the
Vaikuëöhalokas, the abode of the Lord, who is worshipable even
by demigods like Brahmä, to say nothing of other, less important entities
such as human beings.
The Lord descends from His abode
to this world, and therefore He is called avatära, which means “one
who descends.” Sometimes avatära is understood to refer to an incarnation
who assumes a material form of flesh and bone, but actually avatära
refers to one who descends from higher regions. The Lord’s abode is situated
far above this material sky, and He descends from that higher position;
thus He is called avatära.
SB 3.19.32
TEXT 32
mayä yathänüktam avädi
te hareù
kåtävatärasya sumitra
ceñöitam
yathä hiraëyäkña
udära-vikramo
mahä-mådhe kréòanavan
niräkåtaù
TRANSLATION
Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura,
I have explained to you the Personality of Godhead’s coming down as the
first boar incarnation and killing in a great fight a demon of unprecedented
prowess as if he were just a plaything. This has been narrated by me as
I heard it from my predecessor spiritual master.
PURPORT
Here the sage Maitreya admits that
he explained the incident of the killing of Hiraëyäkña
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a straight narration; he did not
manufacture anything or add interpretation, but explained whatever he had
heard from his spiritual master. Thus he accepted as bona fide the system
of paramparä, or receiving the transcendental message in disciplic
succession. Unless received by this bona fide process of hearing from a
spiritual master, the statement of an äcärya or preceptor cannot
be valid.
It is also stated here that although
the demon Hiraëyäkña was unlimited in prowess, he was
just like a doll for the Lord. A child breaks so many dolls without real
endeavor. Similarly, although a demon may be very powerful and extraordinary
in the eyes of an ordinary man in the material world, to the Lord, killing
such a demon is no difficulty. He can kill millions of demons as simply
as a child plays with dolls and breaks them.
SB 3.19.33
TEXT 33
süta uväca
iti kauñäraväkhyätäm
äçrutya bhagavat-kathäm
kñattänandaà
paraà lebhe
mahä-bhägavato dvija
TRANSLATION
Çré Süta Gosvämé
continued: My dear brähmaëa, Kñattä [Vidura] the
great devotee of the Lord achieved transcendental bliss by hearing the
narration of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the
authoritative source of the sage Kauñärava [Maitreya], and
he was very pleased.
PURPORT
If anyone wants to derive transcendental
pleasure by hearing the pastimes of the Lord, he must hear from the authoritative
source, as explained here. Maitreya heard the narration from his bona fide
spiritual master, and Vidura also heard from Maitreya. One becomes an authority
simply by presenting whatever he has heard from his spiritual master, and
one who does not accept a bona fide spiritual master cannot be an authority.
This is clearly explained here. If one wants to have transcendental pleasure,
he must find a person with authority. It is also stated in the Bhägavatam
that simply by hearing from an authoritative source, with the ear and the
heart, one can relish the pastimes of the Lord, otherwise it is not possible.
Sanätana Gosvämé, therefore, has especially warned that
one should not hear anything about the personality of the Lord from the
lips of a nondevotee. Nondevotees are considered to be like serpents; as
milk is poisoned by a serpent’s touch, so, although the narration of the
pastimes of the Lord is as pure as milk, when administered by serpentlike
nondevotees it becomes poisonous. Not only does it have no effect in transcendental
pleasure, but it is dangerous also. Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu has warned
that no description of the pastimes of the Lord should be heard from the
Mäyäväda, or impersonalist, school. He has clearly said,
mäyävädi-bhäñya çunile haya sarva näça:
if anyone hears the Mäyävädés’ interpretation of
the pastimes of the Lord, or their interpretation of Bhagavad-gétä,
Çrémad-Bhägavatam or any other Vedic literature, then
he is doomed. Once one is associated with impersonalists, he can never
understand the personal feature of the Lord and His transcendental pastimes.
Süta Gosvämé was
speaking to the sages headed by Çaunaka, and therefore he addressed
them in this verse as dvija, twice-born. The sages assembled in Naimiñäraëya
hearing Çrémad-Bhägavatam from Süta Gosvämé
were all brähmaëas, but to acquire the qualifications of a brähmaëa
is not everything. Merely to be twice-born is not perfection. Perfection
is attained when one hears the pastimes and activities of the Lord from
a bona fide source.
SB 3.19.34
TEXT 34
anyeñäà puëya-çlokänäm
uddäma-yaçasäà
satäm
upaçrutya bhaven modaù
çrévatsäìkasya
kià punaù
TRANSLATION
What to speak of hearing the pastimes
of the Lord, whose chest is marked with Çrévatsa, people
may take transcendental pleasure even in hearing of the works and deeds
of the devotees, whose fame is immortal.
PURPORT
Bhägavatam literally means
the pastimes of the Lord and the Lord’s devotees. For example, there are
pastimes of Lord Kåñëa and narrations of devotees like
Prahläda, Dhruva and Mahäräja Ambaréña. Both
pastimes pertain to the Supreme Personality of Godhead because the devotees’
pastimes are in relation with Him. The Mahäbhärata, for example,
the history of the Päëòavas and their activities, is sacred
because the Päëòavas had a direct relationship with the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.
SB 3.19.35
TEXT 35
yo gajendraà jhaña-grastaà
dhyäyantaà caraëämbujam
kroçanténäà
kareëünäà
kåcchrato ’mocayad drutam
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead delivered
the king of the elephants, who was attacked by an alligator and who meditated
upon the lotus feet of the Lord. At that time the female elephants who
accompanied him were crying, and the Lord saved them from the impending
danger.
PURPORT
The example of the elephant in danger
who was saved by the Supreme Lord is especially cited here because even
if one is an animal he can approach the Personality of Godhead in devotional
service, whereas even a demigod cannot approach the Supreme Person unless
he is a devotee.
SB 3.19.36
TEXT 36
taà sukhärädhyam
åjubhir
ananya-çaraëair nåbhiù
kåtajïaù ko na
seveta
durärädhyam asädhubhiù
TRANSLATION
What grateful soul is there who
would not render his loving service to such a great master as the Personality
of Godhead? The Lord can be easily pleased by spotless devotees who resort
exclusively to Him for protection, though the unrighteous man finds it
difficult to propitiate Him.
PURPORT
Every living entity, especially
persons in the human race, must feel grateful for the benedictions offered
by the grace of the Supreme Lord. Anyone, therefore, with a simple heart
of gratefulness must be Kåñëa conscious and offer devotional
service to the Lord. Those who are actually thieves and rogues do not recognize
or acknowledge the benedictions offered to them by the Supreme Lord, and
they cannot render Him devotional service. Ungrateful persons are those
who do not understand how much benefit they are deriving by the arrangement
of the Lord. They enjoy the sunshine and moonshine, and they get water
free of charge, yet they do not feel grateful, but simply go on enjoying
these gifts of the Lord. Therefore, they must be called thieves and rogues.
SB 3.19.37
TEXT 37
yo vai hiraëyäkña-vadhaà
mahädbhutaà
vikréòitaà
käraëa-sükarätmanaù
çåëoti gäyaty
anumodate ’ïjasä
vimucyate brahma-vadhäd api
dvijäù
TRANSLATION
O brähmaëas, anyone who
hears, chants, or takes pleasure in the wonderful narration of the killing
of the Hiraëyäkña demon by the Lord, who appeared as the
first boar in order to deliver the world, is at once relieved of the results
of sinful activities, even the killing of a brähmaëa.
PURPORT
Since the Personality of Godhead
is in the absolute position, there is no difference between His pastimes
and His personality. Anyone who hears about the pastimes of the Lord associates
with the Lord directly, and one who associates directly with the Lord is
certainly freed from all sinful activities, even to the extent of the killing
of a brähmaëa, which is considered the most sinful activity in
the material world. One should be very eager to hear about the activities
of the Lord from the bona fide source, the pure devotee. If one simply
gives aural reception to the narration and accepts the glories of the Lord,
then he is qualified. The impersonalist philosophers cannot understand
the activities of the Lord. They think that all His activities are mäyä;
therefore they are called Mäyävädés. Since everything
to them is mäyä, these narrations are not for them. Some impersonalists
are reluctant to hear Çrémad-Bhägavatam, although many
of them are now taking an interest in it just for monetary gain. Actually,
however, they have no faith. On the contrary, they describe it in their
own way. We should not hear, therefore, from the Mäyävädés.
We have to hear from Süta Gosvämé or Maitreya, who actually
present the narrations as they are, and only then can we relish the pastimes
of the Lord; otherwise the effects on the neophyte audience will be poisonous.
SB 3.19.38
TEXT 38
TEXT
etan mahä-puëyam alaà
pavitraà
dhanyaà yaçasyaà
padam äyur-äçiñäm
präëendriyäëäà
yudhi çaurya-vardhanaà
näräyaëo ’nte gatir
aìga çåëvatäm
TRANSLATION
This most sacred narrative confers
extraordinary merit, wealth, fame, longevity, and all the objects of one’s
desire. On the field of battle it promotes the strength of one’s vital
organs and organs of action. One who listens to it at the last moment of
his life is transferred to the supreme abode of the Lord, O dear Çaunaka.
PURPORT
Devotees are generally attracted
by the narratives of the pastimes of the Lord, and even though they do
not prosecute austerities or meditation, this very process of hearing attentively
about the pastimes of the Lord will endow them with innumerable benefits,
such as wealth, fame, longevity and other desirable aims of life. If one
continues to hear Çrémad-Bhägavatam, which is full of
narratives of the pastimes of the Lord, at the end of this life, one is
sure to be transferred to the eternal, transcendental abode of the Lord.
Thus hearers are benefited both ultimately and for as long as they are
in the material world. That is the supreme, sublime result of engaging
in devotional service. The beginning of devotional service is to spare
some time and listen to Çrémad-Bhägavatam from the right
source. Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu also recommended five items of devotional
service, namely to serve the devotees of the Lord, to chant Hare Kåñëa,
to hear Çrémad-Bhägavatam, to worship the Deity of the
Lord and to live in a place of pilgrimage. Just performing these five activities
can deliver one from the miserable condition of material life.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports
of the Third Canto, Nineteenth Chapter, of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam,
entitled “The Killing of the Demon Hiraëyäkña.”
This
inormation comes to us by courtesy of Bhaktivedanta
VedaBase