Srimad Bhagavatam: Cont. 1 Creation, Ch 2 Divinity and Divine Service

CHAPTER TWO

Divinity and Divine Service

Text 1

व्यास उवाच ।

इति सम्प्रश्नसंहृष्टो विप्राणां रौमहर्शणिः

प्रतिपूज्य वचस्तेशां प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे ॥ १.२.१ ॥

vyāsa uvāca
iti sampraśna-saṁhṛṣṭo
viprāṇāṁ raumaharṣaṇiḥ
pratipūjya vacas teṣāṁ
pravaktum upacakrame

Synonyms

vyāsaḥ uvāca — Vyāsa said; iti — thus; sampraśna — perfect inquiries; saṁhṛṣṭaḥ — perfectly satisfied; viprāṇām — of the sages there; raumaharṣaṇiḥ — the son of Romaharṣaṇa, namely Ugraśravā; pratipūjya — after thanking them; vacaḥ— words; teṣām — their; pravaktum — to reply to them; upacakrame — attempted.

Translation

Ugraśravā [Sūta Gosvāmī], the son of Romaharṣaṇa, being fully satisfied by the perfect questions of the brāhmaṇas, thanked them and thus attempted to reply.

Text 2

सूत उवाच ।

यं प्रव्रजन्तमनुपेतमपेतकृत्यं द्वैपायनो विरहकातर आजुहाव

पुत्रेति तन्मयतया तरवोऽभिनेदुस्तं सर्वभूतहृदयं मुनिमानतोऽस्मि ॥ १.२.२ ॥

sūta uvāca
yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ
dvaipāyano viraha-kātara ājuhāva
putreti tan-mayatayā taravo ’bhinedus
taṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato ’smi

Synonyms

sūtaḥ — Sūta Gosvāmī; uvāca — said; yam — whom; pravrajantam — while going away for the renounced order of life; anupetam — without being reformed by the sacred thread; apeta — not undergoing ceremonies; kṛtyam — prescribed duties; dvaipāyanaḥ — Vyāsadeva; viraha — separation; kātaraḥ — being afraid of; ājuhāva — exclaimed; putra iti — O my son; tat-mayatayā — being absorbed in that way; taravaḥ — all the trees; abhineduḥ — responded; tam — unto him; sarva — all; bhūta — living entities; hṛdayam — heart; munim — sage; ānataḥ asmi — offer obeisances.

Translation

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

Text 3

यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम्

संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥ १.२.३ ॥

yaḥ svānubhāvam akhila-śruti-sāram ekam
adhyātma-dīpam atititīrṣatāṁ tamo ’ndham
saṁsāriṇāṁ karuṇayāha purāṇa-guhyaṁ
taṁ vyāsa-sūnum upayāmi guruṁ munīnām

Synonyms

yaḥ — he who; sva-anubhāvam — self-assimilated (experienced); akhila — all around; śruti — the Vedas; sāram — cream; ekam — the only one; adhyātma — transcendental; dīpam — torchlight; atititīrṣatām — desiring to overcome; tamaḥandham — deeply dark material existence; saṁsāriṇām — of the materialistic men; karuṇayā — out of causeless mercy; āha — said; purāṇa — supplement to the Vedas; guhyam — very confidential; tam — unto him; vyāsa-sūnum — the son of Vyāsadeva; upayāmi — let me offer my obeisances; gurum — the spiritual master; munīnām — of the great sages.

Translation

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

Text 4

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्

देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ १.२.४ ॥

nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya
naraṁ caiva narottamam
devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ
tato jayam udīrayet

Synonyms

nārāyaṇam — the Personality of Godhead; namaḥ-kṛtya — after offering respectful obeisances; naram ca eva — and Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi; nara-uttamam — the supermost human being; devīm — the goddess; sarasvatīm — the mistress of learning; vyāsam — Vyāsadeva; tataḥ — thereafter; jayam — all that is meant for conquering; udīrayet — be announced.

Translation

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

Text 5

मुनयः साधु पृष्टोऽहं भवद्भिर्लोकमङ्गलम्

यत्कृतः कृष्णसम्प्रश्नो येनात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ १.२.५ ॥

munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo ’haṁ
bhavadbhir loka-maṅgalam
yat kṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa-sampraśno
yenātmā suprasīdati

Synonyms

munayaḥ — O sages; sādhu — this is relevant; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; aham — myself; bhavadbhiḥ — by all of you; loka — the world; maṅgalam — welfare; yat — because; kṛtaḥ — made; kṛṣṇa — the Personality of Godhead; sampraśnaḥ — relevant question; yena — by which; ātmā — self; suprasīdati — completely pleased.

Translation

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

Text 6

स वै पुंसां परो धर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे

अहैतुक्यप्रतिहता ययात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ १.२.६ ॥

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati

Synonyms

saḥ — that; vai — certainly; puṁsām — for mankind; paraḥ — sublime; dharmaḥ — occupation; yataḥ — by which; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; adhokṣaje — unto the Transcendence; ahaitukī — causeless; apratihatā — unbroken; yayā— by which; ātmā — the self; suprasīdati — completely satisfied.

Translation

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

Text 7

वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तियोगः प्रयोजितः

जनयत्याशु वैराग्यं ज्ञानं च यदहैतुकम् ॥ १.२.७ ॥

vāsudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ
janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ
jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam

Synonyms

vāsudeve — unto Kṛṣṇa; bhagavati — unto the Personality of Godhead; bhakti-yogaḥ — contact of devotional service; prayojitaḥ — being applied; janayati — does produce; āśu — very soon; vairāgyam — detachment; jñānam — knowledge; ca — and; yat — that which; ahaitukam — causeless.

Translation

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

Text 8

धर्मः स्वनुष्ठितः पुंसां विष्वक्सेनकथासु यः

नोत्पादयेद्यदि रतिं श्रम एव हि केवलम् ॥ १.२.८ ॥

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ
viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ
notpādayed yadi ratiṁ
śrama eva hi kevalam

Synonyms

dharmaḥ — occupation; svanuṣṭhitaḥ — executed in terms of one’s own position; puṁsām — of humankind; viṣvaksena— the Personality of Godhead (plenary portion); kathāsu — in the message of; yaḥ — what is; na — not; utpādayet — does produce; yadi — if; ratim — attraction; śramaḥ — useless labor; eva — only; hi — certainly; kevalam — entirely.

Translation

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

Text 9

धर्मस्य ह्यापवर्ग्यस्य नार्थोऽर्थायोपकल्पते

नार्थस्य धर्मैकान्तस्य कामो लाभाय हि स्मृतः ॥ १.२.९ ॥

dharmasya hy āpavargyasya
nārtho ’rthāyopakalpate
nārthasya dharmaikāntasya
kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ

Synonyms

dharmasya — occupational engagement; hi — certainly; āpavargyasya — ultimate liberation; na — not; arthaḥ — end; arthāya — for material gain; upakalpate — is meant for; na — neither; arthasya — of material gain; dharma-eka-antasya— for one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service; kāmaḥ — sense gratification; lābhāya — attainment of; hi— exactly; smṛtaḥ — is described by the great sages.

Translation

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

Text 10

कामस्य नेन्द्रियप्रीतिर्लाभो जीवेत यावता

जीवस्य तत्त्वजिज्ञासा नार्थो यश्चेह कर्मभिः ॥ १.२.१० ॥

kāmasya nendriya-prītir
lābho jīveta yāvatā
jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā
nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ

Synonyms

kāmasya — of desires; na — not; indriya — senses; prītiḥ — satisfaction; lābhaḥ — gain; jīveta — self-preservation; yāvatā— so much so; jīvasya — of the living being; tattva — the Absolute Truth; jijñāsā — inquiries; na — not; arthaḥ — end; yaḥ ca iha — whatsoever else; karmabhiḥ — by occupational activities.

Translation

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

Text 11

वदन्ति तत्तत्त्वविदस्तत्त्वं यज्ज्ञानमद्वयम्

ब्रह्मेति परमात्मेति भगवानिति शब्द्यते ॥ १.२.११ ॥

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate

Synonyms

vadanti — they say; tat — that; tattva-vidaḥ — the learned souls; tattvam — the Absolute Truth; yat — which; jñānam — knowledge; advayam — nondual; brahma iti — known as Brahman; paramātmā iti — known as Paramātmā; bhagavān iti— known as Bhagavān; śabdyate — it so sounded.

Translation

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

Text 12

तच्छ्रद्दधाना मुनयो ज्ञानवैराग्ययुक्तया

पश्यन्त्यात्मनि चात्मानं भक्त्या श्रुतगृहीतया ॥ १.२.१२ ॥

tac chraddadhānā munayo
jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā
paśyanty ātmani cātmānaṁ
bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā

Synonyms

tat — that; śraddadhānāḥ — seriously inquisitive; munayaḥ — sages; jñāna — knowledge; vairāgya — detachment; yuktayā — well equipped with; paśyanti — see; ātmani — within himself; ca — and; ātmānam — the Paramātmā; bhaktyā— in devotional service; śruta — the Vedas; gṛhītayā — well received.

Translation

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

Text 13

अतः पुम्भिर्द्विजश्रेष्ठा वर्णाश्रमविभागशः

स्वनुष्ठितस्य धर्मस्य संसिद्धिर्हरितोषणम् ॥ १.२.१३ ॥

ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā
varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ
svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya
saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam

Synonyms

ataḥ — so; pumbhiḥ — by the human being; dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ — O best among the twice-born; varṇa-āśrama — the institution of four castes and four orders of life; vibhāgaśaḥ — by the division of; svanuṣṭhitasya — of one’s own prescribed duties; dharmasya — occupational; saṁsiddhiḥ — the highest perfection; hari — the Personality of Godhead; toṣaṇam — pleasing.

Translation

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

Text 14

तस्मादेकेन मनसा भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः

श्रोतव्यः कीर्तितव्यश्च ध्येयः पूज्यश्च नित्यदा ॥ १.२.१४ ॥

tasmād ekena manasā
bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca
dhyeyaḥ pūjyaś ca nityadā

Synonyms

tasmāt — therefore; ekena — by one; manasā — attention of the mind; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; sātvatām— of the devotees; patiḥ — protector; śrotavyaḥ — is to be heard; kīrtitavyaḥ — to be glorified; ca — and; dhyeyaḥ — to be remembered; pūjyaḥ — to be worshiped; ca — and; nityadā — constantly.

Translation

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

Text 15

यदनुध्यासिना युक्ताः कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम्

छिन्दन्ति कोविदास्तस्य को न कुर्यात्कथारतिम् ॥ १.२.१५ ॥

yad-anudhyāsinā yuktāḥ
karma-granthi-nibandhanam
chindanti kovidās tasya
ko na kuryāt kathā-ratim

Synonyms

yat — which; anudhyā — remembrance; asinā — sword; yuktāḥ — being equipped with; karma — reactionary work; granthi — knot; nibandhanam — interknit; chindanti — cut; kovidāḥ — intelligent; tasya — His; kaḥ — who; na — not; kuryāt — shall do; kathā — messages; ratim — attention.

Translation

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

Text 16

शुश्रूषोः श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचिः

स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्राः पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ १.२.१६ ॥

śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya
vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ
syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ
puṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇāt

Synonyms

śuśrūṣoḥ — one who is engaged in hearing; śraddadhānasya — with care and attention; vāsudeva — in respect to Vāsudeva; kathā — the message; ruciḥ — affinity; syāt — is made possible; mahat-sevayā — by service rendered to pure devotees; viprāḥ — O twice-born; puṇya-tīrtha — those who are cleansed of all vice; niṣevaṇāt — by service.

Translation

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

Text 17

शृण्वतां स्वकथाः कृष्णः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः

हृद्यन्तःस्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १.२.१७ ॥

śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām

Synonyms

śṛṇvatām — those who have developed the urge to hear the message of; sva-kathāḥ — His own words; kṛṣṇaḥ — the Personality of Godhead; puṇya — virtues; śravaṇa — hearing; kīrtanaḥ — chanting; hṛdi antaḥ sthaḥ — within one’s heart; hi — certainly; abhadrāṇi — desire to enjoy matter; vidhunoti — cleanses; suhṛt — benefactor; satām — of the truthful.

Translation

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

Text 18

नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया

भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी ॥ १.२.१८ ॥

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

Synonyms

naṣṭa — destroyed; prāyeṣu — almost to nil; abhadreṣu — all that is inauspicious; nityam — regularly; bhāgavata — Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, or the pure devotee; sevayā — by serving; bhagavati — unto the Personality of Godhead; uttama — transcendental; śloke — prayers; bhaktiḥ — loving service; bhavati — comes into being; naiṣṭhikī — irrevocable.

Translation

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

Text 19

तदा रजस्तमोभावाः कामलोभादयश्च ये

चेत एतैरनाविद्धं स्थितं सत्त्वे प्रसीदति ॥ १.२.१९ ॥

tadā rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ
kāma-lobhādayaś ca ye
ceta etair anāviddhaṁ
sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati

Synonyms

tadā — at that time; rajaḥ — in the mode of passion; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; bhāvāḥ — the situation; kāma — lust and desire; lobha — hankering; ādayaḥ — others; ca — and; ye — whatever they are; cetaḥ — the mind; etaiḥ — by these; anāviddham — without being affected; sthitam — being fixed; sattve — in the mode of goodness; prasīdati — thus becomes fully satisfied.

Translation

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

Text 20

एवं प्रसन्नमनसो भगवद्भक्तियोगतः

भगवत्तत्त्वविज्ञानं मुक्तसङ्गस्य जायते ॥ १.२.२० ॥

evaṁ prasanna-manaso
bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ
bhagavat-tattva-vijñānaṁ
mukta-saṅgasya jāyate

Synonyms

evam — thus; prasanna — enlivened; manasaḥ — of the mind; bhagavat-bhakti — the devotional service of the Lord; yogataḥ — by contact of; bhagavat — regarding the Personality of Godhead; tattva — knowledge; vijñānam — scientific; mukta — liberated; saṅgasya — of the association; jāyate — becomes effective.

Translation

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

Text 21

भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिश्छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः

क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि दृष्ट एवात्मनीश्वरे ॥ १.२.२१ ॥

bhidyate hṛdaya-granthiś
chidyante sarva-saṁśayāḥ
kṣīyante cāsya karmāṇi
dṛṣṭa evātmanīśvare

Synonyms

bhidyate — pierced; hṛdaya — heart; granthiḥ — knots; chidyante — cut to pieces; sarva — all; saṁśayāḥ — misgivings; kṣīyante — terminated; ca — and; asya — his; karmāṇi — chain of fruitive actions; dṛṣṭe — having seen; eva — certainly; ātmani — unto the self; īśvare — dominating.

Translation

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

Text 22

अतो वै कवयो नित्यं भक्तिं परमया मुदा

वासुदेवे भगवति कुर्वन्त्यात्मप्रसादनीम् ॥ १.२.२२ ॥

ato vai kavayo nityaṁ
bhaktiṁ paramayā mudā
vāsudeve bhagavati
kurvanty ātma-prasādanīm

Synonyms

ataḥ — therefore; vai — certainly; kavayaḥ — all transcendentalists; nityam — from time immemorial; bhaktim — service unto the Lord; paramayā — supreme; mudā — with great delight; vāsudeve — Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavati — the Personality of Godhead; kurvanti — do render; ātma — self; prasādanīm — that which enlivens.

Translation

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

Text 23

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति प्रकृतेर्गुणास्तैर्युक्तः परमपुरुष एक इहास्य धत्ते

स्थित्यादये हरिविरिञ्चिहरेति सञ्ज्ञाः श्रेयांसि तत्र खलु सत्त्वतनोर्नृणां स्युः ॥ १.२.२३ ॥

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti prakṛter guṇās tair
yuktaḥ paraḥ puruṣa eka ihāsya dhatte
sthity-ādaye hari-viriñci-hareti saṁjñāḥ
śreyāṁsi tatra khalu sattva-tanor nṛṇāṁ syuḥ

Synonyms

sattvam — goodness; rajaḥ — passion; tamaḥ — the darkness of ignorance; iti — thus; prakṛteḥ — of the material nature; guṇāḥ — qualities; taiḥ — by them; yuktaḥ — associated with; paraḥ — transcendental; puruṣaḥ — the personality; ekaḥ— one; iha asya — of this material world; dhatte — accepts; sthiti-ādaye — for the matter of creation, maintenance and destruction, etc.; hari — Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead; viriñci — Brahmā; hara — Lord Śiva; iti — thus; saṁjñāḥ — different features; śreyāṁsi — ultimate benefit; tatra — therein; khalu — of course; sattva — goodness; tanoḥ — form; nṛṇām — of the human being; syuḥ — derived.

Translation

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

Text 24

पार्थिवाद्दारुणो धूमस्तस्मादग्निस्त्रयीमयः

तमसस्तु रजस्तस्मात्सत्त्वं यद्ब्रह्मदर्शनम् ॥ १.२.२४ ॥

pārthivād dāruṇo dhūmas
tasmād agnis trayīmayaḥ
tamasas tu rajas tasmāt
sattvaṁ yad brahma-darśanam

Synonyms

pārthivāt — from earth; dāruṇaḥ — firewood; dhūmaḥ — smoke; tasmāt — from that; agniḥ — fire; trayī — Vedic sacrifices; mayaḥ — made of; tamasaḥ — in the mode of ignorance; tu — but; rajaḥ — the mode of passion; tasmāt — from that; sattvam — the mode of goodness; yat — which; brahma — the Absolute Truth; darśanam — realization.

Translation

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

Text 25

भेजिरे मुनयोऽथाग्रे भगवन्तमधोक्षजम्

सत्त्वं विशुद्धं क्षेमाय कल्पन्ते येऽनु तानिह ॥ १.२.२५ ॥

bhejire munayo ’thāgre
bhagavantam adhokṣajam
sattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ kṣemāya
kalpante ye ’nu tān iha

Synonyms

bhejire — rendered service unto; munayaḥ — the sages; atha — thus; agre — previously; bhagavantam — unto the Personality of Godhead; adhokṣajam — the Transcendence; sattvam — existence; viśuddham — above the three modes of nature; kṣemāya — to derive the ultimate benefit; kalpante — deserve; ye — those; anu — follow; tān — those; iha — in this material world.

Translation

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

.

Text 26

मुमुक्षवो घोररूपान्हित्वा भूतपतीनथ

नारायणकलाः शान्ता भजन्ति ह्यनसूयवः ॥ १.२.२६ ॥

mumukṣavo ghora-rūpān
hitvā bhūta-patīn atha
nārāyaṇa-kalāḥ śāntā
bhajanti hy anasūyavaḥ

Synonyms

mumukṣavaḥ — persons desiring liberation; ghora — horrible, ghastly; rūpān — forms like that; hitvā — rejecting; bhūta-patīn — demigods; atha — for this reason; nārāyaṇa — the Personality of Godhead; kalāḥ — plenary portions; śāntāḥ — all-blissful; bhajanti — do worship; hi — certainly; anasūyavaḥ — nonenvious.

Translation

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

Text 27

रजस्तमःप्रकृतयः समशीला भजन्ति वै

पितृभूतप्रजेशादीन्श्रियैश्वर्यप्रजेप्सवः ॥ १.२.२७ ॥

rajas-tamaḥ-prakṛtayaḥ
sama-śīlā bhajanti vai
pitṛ-bhūta-prajeśādīn
śriyaiśvarya-prajepsavaḥ

Synonyms

rajaḥ — the mode of passion; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; prakṛtayaḥ — of that mentality; sama-śīlāḥ — of the same categories; bhajanti — do worship; vai — actually; pitṛ — the forefathers; bhūta — other living beings; prajeśa-ādīn — controllers of cosmic administration; śriyā — enrichment; aiśvarya — wealth and power; prajā — progeny; īpsavaḥ — so desiring.

Translation

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

Texts 28-29

वासुदेवपरा वेदा वासुदेवपरा मखाः

वासुदेवपरा योग वासुदेवपराः क्रियाः ॥ १.२.२८ ॥

वासुदेवपरं ज्ञानं वासुदेवपरं तपः

वासुदेवपरो धर्मो वासुदेवपरा गतिः ॥ १.२.२९ ॥

vāsudeva-parā vedā
vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ
vāsudeva-parā yogā
vāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥ

vāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁ
vāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥ
vāsudeva-paro dharmo
vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ

Synonyms

vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; parāḥ — the ultimate goal; vedāḥ — revealed scriptures; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; parāḥ — for worshiping; makhāḥ — sacrifices; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; parāḥ — the means of attaining; yogāḥ — mystic paraphernalia; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; parāḥ — under His control; kriyāḥ — fruitive activities; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; param — the supreme; jñānam — knowledge; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; param — best; tapaḥ — austerity; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; paraḥ — superior quality; dharmaḥ — religion; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; parāḥ — ultimate; gatiḥ — goal of life.

Translation

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

Text 30

स एवेदं ससर्जाग्रे भगवानात्ममायया

सदसद्रूपया चासौ गुणमयागुणो विभुः ॥ १.२.३० ॥

sa evedaṁ sasarjāgre
bhagavān ātma-māyayā
sad-asad-rūpayā cāsau
guṇamayāguṇo vibhuḥ

Synonyms

saḥ — that; eva — certainly; idam — this; sasarja — created; agre — before; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; ātma-māyayā — by His personal potency; sat — the cause; asat — the effect; rūpayā — by forms; ca — and; asau — the same Lord; guṇa-maya — in the modes of material nature; aguṇaḥ — transcendental; vibhuḥ — the Absolute.

Translation

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

Text 31

तया विलसितेष्वेषु गुणेषु गुणवानिव

अन्तःप्रविष्ट आभाति विज्ञानेन विजृम्भितः ॥ १.२.३१ ॥

tayā vilasiteṣv eṣu
guṇeṣu guṇavān iva
antaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhāti
vijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥ

Synonyms

tayā — by them; vilasiteṣu — although in the function; eṣu — these; guṇeṣu — the modes of material nature; guṇavān — affected by the modes; iva — as if; antaḥ — within; praviṣṭaḥ — entered into; ābhāti — appears to be; vijñānena — by transcendental consciousness; vijṛmbhitaḥ — fully enlightened.

Translation

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

Text 32

यथा ह्यवहितो वह्निर्दारुष्वेकः स्वयोनिषु

नानेव भाति विश्वात्मा भूतेषु च तथा पुमान् ॥ १.२.३२ ॥

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

Synonyms

yathā — as much as; hi — exactly like; avahitaḥ — surcharged with; vahniḥ — fire; dāruṣu — in wood; ekaḥ — one; sva-yoniṣu — the source of manifestation; nānā iva — like different entities; bhāti — illuminates; viśva-ātmā — the Lord as Paramātmā; bhūteṣu — in the living entities; ca — and; tathā — in the same way; pumān — the Absolute Person.

Translation

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

Text 33

असौ गुणमयैर्भावैर्भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियात्मभिः

स्वनिर्मितेषु निर्विष्टो भुङ्क्ते भूतेषु तद्गुणान् ॥ १.२.३३ ॥

asau guṇamayair bhāvair
bhūta-sūkṣmendriyātmabhiḥ
sva-nirmiteṣu nirviṣṭo
bhuṅkte bhūteṣu tad-guṇān

Synonyms

asau — that Paramātmā; guṇa-mayaiḥ — influenced by the modes of nature; bhāvaiḥ — naturally; bhūta — created; sūkṣma — subtle; indriya — senses; ātmabhiḥ — by the living beings; sva-nirmiteṣu — in His own creation; nirviṣṭaḥ — entering; bhuṅkte — causes to enjoy; bhūteṣu — in the living entities; tat-guṇān — those modes of nature.

Translation

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

Text 34

भावयत्येष सत्त्वेन लोकान्वै लोकभावनः

लीलावतारानुरतो देवतिर्यङ्नरादिषु ॥ १.२.३४ ॥

bhāvayaty eṣa sattvena
lokān vai loka-bhāvanaḥ
līlāvatārānurato
deva-tiryaṅ-narādiṣu

Synonyms

bhāvayati — maintains; eṣaḥ — all these; sattvena — in the mode of goodness; lokān — all over the universe; vai — generally; loka-bhāvanaḥ — the master of all the universes; līlā — pastimes; avatāra — incarnation; anurataḥ — assuming the role; deva — the demigods; tiryak — lower animals; nara-ādiṣu — in the midst of human beings.

Translation

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

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the First Canto, Second Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Divinity and Divine Service.”

(Sources: ISCKON)