Adhyaya 16

Verse 1

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच अथ देवऋषी राजन् सम्परेतं नृपात्मजम् । दर्शयित्वेति होवाच ज्ञातीनामनुशोचताम् ॥ १ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King Parīkṣit, by his mystic power the great sage Nārada brought the dead son into the vision of all the lamenting relatives and then spoke as follows.

Verse 2

श्रीनारद उवाच जीवात्मन् पश्य भद्रं ते मातरं पितरं च ते । सुहृदो बान्धवास्तप्ता: शुचा त्वत्कृतया भृशम् ॥ २ ॥

Śrī Nārada Muni said: O living entity, all good fortune unto you. Just see your father and mother. All your friends and relatives are overwhelmed with grief because of your passing away.

Verse 3

कलेवरं स्वमाविश्य शेषमायु: सुहृद्‌वृत: । भुङ्‌क्ष्व भोगान् पितृप्रत्तानधितिष्ठ नृपासनम् ॥ ३ ॥

Because you died untimely, the balance of your lifetime still remains. Therefore you may reenter your body and enjoy the remainder of your life, surrounded by your friends and relatives. Accept the royal throne and all the opulences given by your father.

Verse 4

जीव उवाच कस्मिञ्जन्मन्यमी मह्यं पितरो मातरोऽभवन् । कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणस्य देवतिर्यङ्‌नृयोनिषु ॥ ४ ॥

By the mystic power of Nārada Muni, the living entity reentered his dead body for a short time and spoke in reply to Nārada Muni’s request. He said: According to the results of my fruitive activities, I, the living being, transmigrate from one body to another, sometimes going to the species of the demigods, sometimes to the species of lower animals, sometimes among the vegetables, and sometimes to the human species. Therefore, in which birth were these my mother and father? No one is actually my mother and father. How can I accept these two people as my parents?

Verse 5

बन्धुज्ञात्यरिमध्यस्थमित्रोदासीनविद्विष: । सर्व एव हि सर्वेषां भवन्ति क्रमशो मिथ: ॥ ५ ॥

In this material world, which advances like a river that carries away the living entity, all people become friends, relatives and enemies in due course of time. They also act neutrally, they mediate, they despise one another, and they act in many other relationships. Nonetheless, despite these various transactions, no one is permanently related.

Verse 6

यथा वस्तूनि पण्यानि हेमादीनि ततस्तत: । पर्यटन्ति नरेष्वेवं जीवो योनिषु कर्तृषु ॥ ६ ॥

Just as gold and other commodities are continually transferred from one place to another in due course of purchase and sale, so the living entity, as a result of his fruitive activities, wanders throughout the entire universe, being injected into various bodies in different species of life by one kind of father after another.

Verse 7

नित्यस्यार्थस्य सम्बन्धो ह्यनित्यो द‍ृश्यते नृषु । यावद्यस्य हि सम्बन्धो ममत्वं तावदेव हि ॥ ७ ॥

A few living entities are born in the human species, and others are born as animals. Although both are living entities, their relationships are impermanent. An animal may remain in the custody of a human being for some time, and then the same animal may be transferred to the possession of other human beings. As soon as the animal goes away, the former proprietor no longer has a sense of ownership. As long as the animal is in his possession he certainly has an affinity for it, but as soon as the animal is sold, the affinity is lost.

Verse 8

एवं योनिगतो जीव: स नित्यो निरहङ्‌कृत: । यावद्यत्रोपलभ्येत तावत्स्वत्वं हि तस्य तत् ॥ ८ ॥

Even though one living entity becomes connected with another because of a relationship based on bodies that are perishable, the living entity is eternal. Actually it is the body that is born or lost, not the living entity. One should not accept that the living entity takes birth or dies. The living being actually has no relationship with so-called fathers and mothers. As long as he appears as the son of a certain father and mother as a result of his past fruitive activities, he has a connection with the body given by that father and mother. Thus he falsely accepts himself as their son and acts affectionately. After he dies, however, the relationship is finished. Under these circumstances, one should not be falsely involved with jubilation and lamentation.

Verse 9

एष नित्योऽव्यय: सूक्ष्म एष सर्वाश्रय: स्वद‍ृक् । आत्ममायागुणैर्विश्वमात्मानं सृजते प्रभु: ॥ ९ ॥

The living entity is eternal and imperishable because he actually has no beginning and no end. He never takes birth or dies. He is the basic principle of all types of bodies, yet he does not belong to the bodily category. The living being is so sublime that he is equal in quality to the Supreme Lord. Nonetheless, because he is extremely small, he is prone to be illusioned by the external energy, and thus he creates various bodies for himself according to his different desires.

Verse 10

न ह्यस्यास्ति प्रिय: कश्चिन्नाप्रिय: स्व: परोऽपि वा । एक: सर्वधियां द्रष्टा कर्तृणां गुणदोषयो: ॥ १० ॥

For this living entity, no one is dear, nor is anyone unfavorable. He makes no distinction between that which is his own and that which belongs to anyone else. He is one without a second; in other words, he is not affected by friends and enemies, well-wishers or mischief-mongers. He is only an observer, a witness, of the different qualities of men.

Verse 11

नादत्त आत्मा हि गुणं न दोषं न क्रियाफलम् । उदासीनवदासीन: परावरद‍ृगीश्वर: ॥ ११ ॥

The Supreme Lord [ātmā], the creator of cause and effect, does not accept the happiness and distress that result from fruitive actions. He is completely independent of having to accept a material body, and because He has no material body, He is always neutral. The living entities, being part and parcel of the Lord, possess His qualities in a minute quantity. Therefore one should not be affected by lamentation.

Verse 12

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच इत्युदीर्य गतो जीवो ज्ञातयस्तस्य ते तदा । विस्मिता मुमुचु: शोकं छित्त्वात्मस्‍नेहश‍ृङ्खलाम् ॥ १२ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When the conditioned soul [jīva] in the form of Mahārāja Citraketu’s son had spoken in this way and then left, Citraketu and the other relatives of the dead son were all astonished. Thus they cut off the shackles of their affection, which was due to their relationship with him, and gave up their lamentation.

Verse 13

निर्हृत्य ज्ञातयो ज्ञातेर्देहं कृत्वोचिता: क्रिया: । तत्यजुर्दुस्त्यजं स्‍नेहं शोकमोहभयार्तिदम् ॥ १३ ॥

After the relatives had discharged their duties by performing the proper funeral ceremonies and burning the dead child’s body, they gave up the affection that leads to illusion, lamentation, fear and pain. Such affection is undoubtedly difficult to give up, but they gave it up very easily.

Verse 14

बालघ्‍न्यो व्रीडितास्तत्र बालहत्याहतप्रभा: । बालहत्याव्रतं चेरुर्ब्राह्मणैर्यन्निरूपितम् । यमुनायां महाराज स्मरन्त्यो द्विजभाषितम् ॥ १४ ॥

Queen Kṛtyadyuti’s co-wives, who had poisoned the child, were very much ashamed, and they lost all their bodily luster. While lamenting, O King, they remembered the instructions of Aṅgirā and gave up their ambition to bear children. Following the directions of the brāhmaṇas, they went to the bank of the Yamunā, where they bathed and atoned for their sinful activities.

Verse 15

स इत्थं प्रतिबुद्धात्मा चित्रकेतुर्द्विजोक्तिभि: । गृहान्धकूपान्निष्क्रान्त: सर:पङ्कादिव द्विप: ॥ १५ ॥

Thus enlightened by the instructions of the brāhmaṇas Aṅgirā and Nārada, King Citraketu became fully aware of spiritual knowledge. As an elephant becomes free from a muddy reservoir of water, King Citraketu came out of the dark well of family life.

Verse 16

कालिन्द्यां विधिवत् स्‍नात्वा कृतपुण्यजलक्रिय: । मौनेन संयतप्राणो ब्रह्मपुत्राववन्दत ॥ १६ ॥

The King bathed in the water of the Yamunā, and according to prescribed duties, he offered oblations of water to the forefathers and demigods. Very gravely controlling his senses and mind, he then offered his respects and obeisances to the sons of Lord Brahmā [Aṅgirā and Nārada].

Verse 17

अथ तस्मै प्रपन्नाय भक्ताय प्रयतात्मने । भगवान्नारद: प्रीतो विद्यामेतामुवाच ह ॥ १७ ॥

Thereafter, being very much pleased with Citraketu, who was a self-controlled devotee and surrendered soul, Nārada, the most powerful sage, spoke to him the following transcendental instructions.

Verse 18

ॐ नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते वासुदेवाय धीमहि । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च ॥ १८ ॥ नमो विज्ञानमात्राय परमानन्दमूर्तये । आत्मारामाय शान्ताय निवृत्तद्वैतद‍ृष्टये ॥ १९ ॥

[Nārada gave Citraketu the following mantra.] O Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, who are addressed by the oṁkāra [praṇava], I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. O Lord Vāsudeva, I meditate upon You. O Lord Pradyumna, Lord Aniruddha and Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, I offer You my respectful obeisances. O reservoir of spiritual potency, O supreme bliss, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who are self-sufficient and most peaceful. O ultimate truth, one without a second, You are realized as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān and are therefore the reservoir of all knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Verse 19

ॐ नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते वासुदेवाय धीमहि । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च ॥ १८ ॥ नमो विज्ञानमात्राय परमानन्दमूर्तये । आत्मारामाय शान्ताय निवृत्तद्वैतद‍ृष्टये ॥ १९ ॥

[Nārada gave Citraketu the following mantra.] O Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, who are addressed by the oṁkāra [praṇava], I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. O Lord Vāsudeva, I meditate upon You. O Lord Pradyumna, Lord Aniruddha and Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, I offer You my respectful obeisances. O reservoir of spiritual potency, O supreme bliss, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who are self-sufficient and most peaceful. O ultimate truth, one without a second, You are realized as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān and are therefore the reservoir of all knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Verse 20

आत्मानन्दानुभूत्यैव न्यस्तशक्त्यूर्मये नम: । हृषीकेशाय महते नमस्तेऽनन्तमूर्तये ॥ २० ॥

Perceiving Your personal bliss, You are always transcendental to the waves of material nature. Therefore, my Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. You are the supreme controller of the senses, and Your expansions of form are unlimited. You are the greatest, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Verse 21

वचस्युपरतेऽप्राप्य य एको मनसा सह । अनामरूपश्चिन्मात्र: सोऽव्यान्न: सदसत्पर: ॥ २१ ॥

The words and mind of the conditioned soul cannot approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for material names and forms are not applicable to the Lord, who is entirely spiritual, beyond the conception of gross and subtle forms. The impersonal Brahman is another of His forms. May He, by His pleasure, protect us.

Verse 22

यस्मिन्निदं यतश्चेदं तिष्ठत्यप्येति जायते । मृण्मयेष्विव मृज्जातिस्तस्मै ते ब्रह्मणे नम: ॥ २२ ॥

As pots made completely of earth are situated on earth after being created and are transformed into earth again when broken, this cosmic manifestation is caused by the Supreme Brahman, situated in the Supreme Brahman, and annihilated in the same Supreme Brahman. Therefore, since the Supreme Lord is the cause of Brahman, let us offer Him our respectful obeisances.

Verse 23

यन्न स्पृशन्ति न विदुर्मनोबुद्धीन्द्रियासव: । अन्तर्बहिश्च विततं व्योमवत्तन्नतोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ २३ ॥

The Supreme Brahman emanates from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and expands like the sky. Although untouched by anything material, it exists within and without. Nonetheless, the mind, intelligence, senses and living force can neither touch Him nor know Him. I offer unto Him my respectful obeisances.

Verse 24

देहेन्द्रियप्राणमनोधियोऽमी यदंशविद्धा: प्रचरन्ति कर्मसु । नैवान्यदा लौहमिवाप्रतप्तं स्थानेषु तद् द्रष्ट्रपदेशमेति ॥ २४ ॥

As iron has the power to burn when made red-hot in the association of fire, so the body, senses, living force, mind and intelligence, although merely lumps of matter, can function in their activities when infused with a particle of consciousness by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As iron cannot burn unless heated by fire, the bodily senses cannot act unless favored by the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 25

ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महानुभावाय महाविभूतिपतये सकलसात्वतपरिवृढनिकर करकमलकुड्‌मलोपलालितचरणारविन्दयुगल परमपरमेष्ठिन्नमस्ते ॥ २५ ॥

O transcendental Lord, who are situated in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Your two lotus feet are always massaged by a multitude of the best devotees with their lotus-bud hands. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, complete in six opulences. You are the supreme person mentioned in the Puruṣa-sūkta prayers. You are the most perfect, self-realized master of all mystic power. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Verse 26

श्रीशुक उवाच भक्तायैतां प्रपन्नाय विद्यामादिश्य नारद: । ययावङ्गिरसा साकं धाम स्वायम्भुवं प्रभो ॥ २६ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Nārada, having become the spiritual master of Citraketu, instructed him fully in this prayer because Citraketu was fully surrendered. O King Parīkṣit, Nārada then left with the great sage Aṅgirā for the topmost planet, known as Brahmaloka.

Verse 27

चित्रकेतुस्तु तां विद्यां यथा नारदभाषिताम् । धारयामास सप्ताहमब्भक्ष: सुसमाहित: ॥ २७ ॥

Fasting and drinking only water, Citraketu for one week continuously chanted with great care and attention the mantra given by Nārada Muni.

Verse 28

तत: स सप्तरात्रान्ते विद्यया धार्यमाणया । विद्याधराधिपत्यं च लेभेऽप्रतिहतं नृप ॥ २८ ॥

O King Parīkṣit, after only one week of repeatedly practicing the mantra received from the spiritual master, Citraketu achieved the rule of the planet of the Vidyādharas as an intermediate product of his spiritual advancement in knowledge.

Verse 29

तत: कतिपयाहोभिर्विद्ययेद्धमनोगति: । जगाम देवदेवस्य शेषस्य चरणान्तिकम् ॥ २९ ॥

Thereafter, within a very few days, by the influence of the mantra that Citraketu had practiced, his mind became increasingly enlightened in spiritual progress, and he attained shelter at the lotus feet of Anantadeva.

Verse 30

मृणालगौरं शितिवाससं स्फुरत्- किरीटकेयूरकटित्रकङ्कणम् । प्रसन्नवक्त्रारुणलोचनं वृतं ददर्श सिद्धेश्वरमण्डलै: प्रभुम् ॥ ३० ॥

Upon reaching the shelter of Lord Śeṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Citraketu saw that He was as white as the white fibers of a lotus flower. He was dressed in bluish garments and adorned with a brilliantly glittering helmet, armlets, belt and bangles. His face was smiling, and His eyes were reddish. He was surrounded by such exalted liberated persons as Sanat-kumāra.

Verse 31

तद्दर्शनध्वस्तसमस्तकिल्बिष: स्वस्थामलान्त:करणोऽभ्ययान्मुनि: । प्रवृद्धभक्त्या प्रणयाश्रुलोचन: प्रहृष्टरोमानमदादिपुरुषम् ॥ ३१ ॥

As soon as Mahārāja Citraketu saw the Supreme Lord, he was cleansed of all material contamination and situated in his original Kṛṣṇa consciousness, being completely purified. He became silent and grave, and because of love for the Lord, tears fell from his eyes, and his hairs stood on end. With great devotion and love, he offered his respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead.

Verse 32

स उत्तमश्लोकपदाब्जविष्टरं प्रेमाश्रुलेशैरुपमेहयन्मुहु: । प्रेमोपरुद्धाखिलवर्णनिर्गमो नैवाशकत्तं प्रसमीडितुं चिरम् ॥ ३२ ॥

With tears of love and affection, Citraketu repeatedly moistened the resting place of the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet. Because his voice was choked in ecstasy, for a considerable time he was unable to utter any of the letters of the alphabet to offer the Lord suitable prayers.

Verse 33

तत: समाधाय मनो मनीषया बभाष एतत्प्रतिलब्धवागसौ । नियम्य सर्वेन्द्रियबाह्यवर्तनं जगद्गुरुं सात्वतशास्त्रविग्रहम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Thereafter, by controlling his mind with his intelligence and thus restricting his senses from external engagements, he recovered suitable words with which to express his feelings. Thus he began offering prayers to the Lord, who is the personification of the holy scriptures [the sātvata-saṁhitās like the Brahma-saṁhitā and the Nārada-pañcarātra] and who is the spiritual master of all. He offered his prayers as follows.

Verse 34

चित्रकेतुरुवाच अजित जित: सममतिभि: साधुभिर्भवान् जितात्मभिर्भवता । विजितास्तेऽपि च भजता- मकामात्मनां य आत्मदोऽतिकरुण: ॥ ३४ ॥

Citraketu said: O unconquerable Lord, although You cannot be conquered by anyone, You are certainly conquered by devotees who have control of the mind and senses. They can keep You under their control because You are causelessly merciful to devotees who desire no material profit from You. Indeed, You give Yourself to them, and because of this You also have full control over Your devotees.

Verse 35

तव विभव: खलु भगवन् जगदुदयस्थितिलयादीनि । विश्वसृजस्तेꣷशांशा स्तत्र मृषा स्पर्धन्ति पृथगभिमत्या ॥ ३५ ॥

My dear Lord, this cosmic manifestation and its creation, maintenance and annihilation are all but Your opulences. Since Lord Brahmā and the other creators are nothing but small portions of a portion of You, their partial power to create does not make them God [īśvara]. Their consciousness of themselves as separate Lords is therefore merely false prestige. It is not valid.

Verse 36

परमाणुपरममहतो- स्त्वमाद्यन्तान्तरवर्ती त्रयविधुर: । आदावन्तेऽपि च सत्त्वानां यद् ध्रुवं तदेवान्तरालेऽपि ॥ ३६ ॥

You exist in the beginning, middle and end of everything, from the most minute particle of the cosmic manifestation — the atom — to the gigantic universes and total material energy. Nonetheless, You are eternal, having no beginning, end or middle. You are perceived to exist in these three phases, and thus You are permanent. When the cosmic manifestation does not exist, You exist as the original potency.

Verse 37

क्षित्यादिभिरेष किलावृत: सप्तभिर्दशगुणोत्तरैरण्डकोश: । यत्र पतत्यणुकल्प: सहाण्डकोटिकोटिभिस्तदनन्त: ॥ ३७ ॥

Every universe is covered by seven layers — earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego — each ten times greater than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta].

Verse 38

विषयतृषो नरपशवो य उपासते विभूतीर्न परं त्वाम् । तेषामाशिष ईश तदनु विनश्यन्ति यथा राजकुलम् ॥ ३८ ॥

O Lord, O Supreme, unintelligent persons who thirst for sense enjoyment and who worship various demigods are no better than animals in the human form of life. Because of their animalistic propensities, they fail to worship Your Lordship, and instead they worship the insignificant demigods, who are but small sparks of Your glory. With the destruction of the entire universe, including the demigods, the benedictions received from the demigods also vanish, just like the nobility when a king is no longer in power.

Verse 39

कामधियस्त्वयि रचिता न परम रोहन्ति यथा करम्भबीजानि । ज्ञानात्मन्यगुणमये गुणगणतोऽस्य द्वन्द्वजालानि ॥ ३९ ॥

O Supreme Lord, if persons obsessed with material desires for sense gratification through material opulence worship You, who are the source of all knowledge and are transcendental to material qualities, they are not subject to material rebirth, just as sterilized or fried seeds do not produce plants. Living entities are subjected to the repetition of birth and death because they are conditioned by material nature, but since You are transcendental, one who is inclined to associate with You in transcendence escapes the conditions of material nature.

Verse 40

जितमजित तदा भवता यदाह भागवतं धर्ममनवद्यम् । निष्किञ्चना ये मुनय आत्मारामा यमुपासतेऽपवर्गाय ॥ ४० ॥

O unconquerable one, when You spoke about bhāgavata-dharma, which is the uncontaminated religious system for achieving the shelter of Your lotus feet, that was Your victory. Persons who have no material desires, like the Kumāras, who are self-satisfied sages, worship You to be liberated from material contamination. In other words, they accept the process of bhāgavata-dharma to achieve shelter at Your lotus feet.

Verse 41

विषममतिर्न यत्र नृणां त्वमहमिति मम तवेति च यदन्यत्र । विषमधिया रचितो य: स ह्यविशुद्ध: क्षयिष्णुरधर्मबहुल: ॥ ४१ ॥

Being full of contradictions, all forms of religion but bhāgavata-dharma work under conceptions of fruitive results and distinctions of “you and I” and “yours and mine.” The followers of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam have no such consciousness. They are all Kṛṣṇa conscious, thinking that they are Kṛṣṇa’s and Kṛṣṇa is theirs. There are other, low-class religious systems, which are contemplated for the killing of enemies or the gain of mystic power, but such religious systems, being full of passion and envy, are impure and temporary. Because they are full of envy, they are full of irreligion.

Verse 42

क: क्षेमो निजपरयो: कियान्वार्थ: स्वपरद्रुहा धर्मेण । स्वद्रोहात्तव कोप: परसम्पीडया च तथाधर्म: ॥ ४२ ॥

How can a religious system that produces envy of one’s self and of others be beneficial for oneself and for them? What is auspicious about following such a system? What is actually to be gained? By causing pain to one’s own self due to self-envy and by causing pain to others, one arouses Your anger and practices irreligion.

Verse 43

न व्यभिचरति तवेक्षा यया ह्यभिहितो भागवतो धर्म: । स्थिरचरसत्त्वकदम्बे- ष्वपृथग्धियो यमुपासते त्वार्या: ॥ ४३ ॥

My dear Lord, one’s occupational duty is instructed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā according to Your point of view, which never deviates from the highest goal of life. Those who follow their occupational duties under Your supervision, being equal to all living entities, moving and nonmoving, and not considering high and low, are called Āryans. Such Āryans worship You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Verse 44

न हि भगवन्नघटितमिदं त्वद्दर्शनान्नृणामखिलपापक्षय: । यन्नाम सकृच्छ्रवणात् पुक्कशोऽपि विमुच्यते संसारात् ॥ ४४ ॥

My Lord, it is not impossible for one to be immediately freed from all material contamination by seeing You. Not to speak of seeing You personally, merely by hearing the holy name of Your Lordship only once, even caṇḍālas, men of the lowest class, are freed from all material contamination. Under the circumstances, who will not be freed from material contamination simply by seeing You?

Verse 45

अथ भगवन् वयमधुना त्वदवलोकपरिमृष्टाशयमला: । सुरऋषिणा यत्कथितं तावकेन कथमन्यथा भवति ॥ ४५ ॥

Therefore, my dear Lord, simply seeing You has now wiped away all the contamination of sinful activities and their results of material attachment and lusty desires, which always filled my mind and the core of my heart. Whatever is predicted by the great sage Nārada Muni cannot be otherwise. In other words, I have obtained Your audience as a result of being trained by Nārada Muni.

Verse 46

विदितमनन्त समस्तं तव जगदात्मनो जनैरिहाचरितम् । विज्ञाप्यं परमगुरो: कियदिव सवितुरिव खद्योतै: ॥ ४६ ॥

O unlimited Supreme Personality of Godhead, whatever a living entity does in this material world is well known to You because You are the Supersoul. In the presence of the sun there is nothing to be revealed by the light of a glowworm. Similarly, because You know everything, in Your presence there is nothing for me to make known.

Verse 47

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते सकलजगत्स्थितिलयोदयेशाय । दुरवसितात्मगतये कुयोगिनां भिदा परमहंसाय ॥ ४७ ॥

My dear Lord, You are the creator, maintainer and annihilator of this cosmic manifestation, but persons who are too materialistic and who always see separateness do not have eyes with which to see You. They cannot understand Your real position, and therefore they conclude that the cosmic manifestation is independent of Your opulence. My Lord, You are the supreme pure, and You are full in all six opulences. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Verse 48

यं वै श्वसन्तमनु विश्वसृज: श्वसन्ति यं चेकितानमनु चित्तय उच्चकन्ति । भूमण्डलं सर्षपायति यस्य मूर्ध्नि तस्मै नमो भगवतेऽस्तु सहस्रमूर्ध्ने ॥ ४८ ॥

My dear Lord, it is after You endeavor that Lord Brahmā, Indra and the other directors of the cosmic manifestation become occupied with their activities. It is after You perceive the material energy, My Lord, that the senses begin to perceive. The Supreme Personality of Godhead holds all the universes on His heads like seeds of mustard. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, that Supreme Personality, who has thousands of hoods.

Verse 49

श्रीशुक उवाच संस्तुतो भगवानेवमनन्तस्तमभाषत । विद्याधरपतिं प्रीतश्चित्रकेतुं कुरूद्वह ॥ ४९ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, being very much pleased with the prayers offered by Citraketu, the King of the Vidyādharas, replied to him as follows, O best of the Kuru dynasty, Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

Verse 50

श्रीभगवानुवाच यन्नारदाङ्गिरोभ्यां ते व्याहृतं मेऽनुशासनम् । संसिद्धोऽसि तया राजन् विद्यया दर्शनाच्च मे ॥ ५० ॥

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, replied as follows: O King, as a result of your having accepted the instructions spoken about Me by the great sages Nārada and Aṅgirā, you have become completely aware of transcendental knowledge. Because you are now educated in the spiritual science, you have seen Me face to face. Therefore you are now completely perfect.

Verse 51

अहं वै सर्वभूतानि भूतात्मा भूतभावन: । शब्दब्रह्म परं ब्रह्म ममोभे शाश्वती तनू ॥ ५१ ॥

All living entities, moving and nonmoving, are My expansions and are separate from Me. I am the Supersoul of all living beings, who exist because I manifest them. I am the form of the transcendental vibrations like oṁkāra and Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Rāma, and I am the Supreme Absolute Truth. These two forms of Mine — namely, the transcendental sound and the eternally blissful spiritual form of the Deity, are My eternal forms; they are not material.

Verse 52

लोके विततमात्मानं लोकं चात्मनि सन्ततम् । उभयं च मया व्याप्तं मयि चैवोभयं कृतम् ॥ ५२ ॥

In this world of matter, which the conditioned soul accepts as consisting of enjoyable resources, the conditioned soul expands, thinking that he is the enjoyer of the material world. Similarly, the material world expands in the living entity as a source of enjoyment. In this way they both expand, but because they are My energies, they are both pervaded by Me. As the Supreme Lord, I am the cause of these effects, and one should know that both of them rest in Me.

Verse 53

यथा सुषुप्त: पुरुषो विश्वं पश्यति चात्मनि । आत्मानमेकदेशस्थं मन्यते स्वप्न उत्थित: ॥ ५३ ॥ एवं जागरणादीनि जीवस्थानानि चात्मन: । मायामात्राणि विज्ञाय तद् द्रष्टारं परं स्मरेत् ॥ ५४ ॥

When a person is in deep sleep, he dreams and sees in himself many other objects, such as great mountains and rivers or perhaps even the entire universe, although they are far away. Sometimes when one awakens from a dream he sees that he is in a human form, lying in his bed in one place. Then he sees himself, in terms of various conditions, as belonging to a particular nationality, family and so on. All the conditions of deep sleep, dreaming and wakefulness are but energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should always remember the original creator of these conditions, the Supreme Lord, who is unaffected by them.

Verse 54

यथा सुषुप्त: पुरुषो विश्वं पश्यति चात्मनि । आत्मानमेकदेशस्थं मन्यते स्वप्न उत्थित: ॥ ५३ ॥ एवं जागरणादीनि जीवस्थानानि चात्मन: । मायामात्राणि विज्ञाय तद् द्रष्टारं परं स्मरेत् ॥ ५४ ॥

When a person is in deep sleep, he dreams and sees in himself many other objects, such as great mountains and rivers or perhaps even the entire universe, although they are far away. Sometimes when one awakens from a dream he sees that he is in a human form, lying in his bed in one place. Then he sees himself, in terms of various conditions, as belonging to a particular nationality, family and so on. All the conditions of deep sleep, dreaming and wakefulness are but energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should always remember the original creator of these conditions, the Supreme Lord, who is unaffected by them.

Verse 55

येन प्रसुप्त: पुरुष: स्वापं वेदात्मनस्तदा । सुखं च निर्गुणं ब्रह्म तमात्मानमवेहि माम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Know Me to be the Supreme Brahman, the all-pervading Supersoul through whom the sleeping living entity can understand his dreaming condition and his happiness beyond the activities of the material senses. That is to say, I am the cause of the activities of the sleeping living being.

Verse 56

उभयं स्मरत: पुंस: प्रस्वापप्रतिबोधयो: । अन्वेति व्यतिरिच्येत तज्ज्ञानं ब्रह्म तत्परम् ॥ ५६ ॥

If one’s dreams during sleep are merely subject matters witnessed by the Supersoul, how can the living entity, who is different from the Supersoul, remember the activities of dreams? The experiences of one person cannot be understood by another. Therefore the knower of the facts, the living entity who inquires into the incidents manifested in dreams and wakefulness, is different from the circumstantial activities. That knowing factor is Brahman. In other words, the quality of knowing belongs to the living entities and to the Supreme Soul. Thus the living entity can also experience the activities of dreams and wakefulness. In both stages the knower is unchanged, but is qualitatively one with the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 57

यदेतद्विस्मृतं पुंसो मद्भ‍ावं भिन्नमात्मन: । तत: संसार एतस्य देहाद्देहो मृतेर्मृति: ॥ ५७ ॥

When a living entity, thinking himself different from Me, forgets his spiritual identity of qualitative oneness with Me in eternity, knowledge and bliss, his material, conditional life begins. In other words, instead of identifying his interest with Mine, he becomes interested in his bodily expansions like his wife, children and material possessions. In this way, by the influence of his actions, one body comes from another, and after one death, another death takes place.

Verse 58

लब्ध्वेह मानुषीं योनिं ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्भवाम् । आत्मानं यो न बुद्ध्येत न क्‍वचित्क्षेममाप्नुयात् ॥ ५८ ॥

A human being can attain perfection in life by self-realization through the Vedic literature and its practical application. This is possible especially for a human being born in India, the land of piety. A man who obtains birth in such a convenient position but does not understand his self is unable to achieve the highest perfection, even if he is exalted to life in the higher planetary systems.

Verse 59

स्मृत्वेहायां परिक्लेशं तत: फलविपर्ययम् । अभयं चाप्यनीहायां सङ्कल्पाद्विरमेत्कवि: ॥ ५९ ॥

Remembering the great trouble found in the field of activities performed for fruitive results, and remembering how one receives the reverse of the results one desires — whether from material actions or from the fruitive activities recommended in the Vedic literatures — an intelligent man should cease from the desire for fruitive actions, for by such endeavors one cannot achieve the ultimate goal of life. On the other hand, if one acts without desires for fruitive results — in other words, if one engages in devotional activities — he can achieve the highest goal of life with freedom from miserable conditions. Considering this, one should cease from material desires.

Verse 60

सुखाय दु:खमोक्षाय कुर्वाते दम्पती क्रिया: । ततोऽनिवृत्तिरप्राप्तिर्दु:खस्य च सुखस्य च ॥ ६० ॥

As husband and wife, a man and woman plan together to attain happiness and decrease unhappiness, working jointly in many ways, but because their activities are full of desires, these activities are never a source of happiness, and they never diminish distress. On the contrary, they are a cause of great unhappiness.

Verse 61

एवं विपर्ययं बुद्ध्वा नृणां विज्ञाभिमानिनाम् । आत्मनश्च गतिं सूक्ष्मां स्थानत्रयविलक्षणाम् ॥ ६१ ॥ द‍ृष्टश्रुताभिर्मात्राभिर्निर्मुक्त: स्वेन तेजसा । ज्ञानविज्ञानसन्तृप्तो मद्भ‍क्त: पुरुषो भवेत् ॥ ६२ ॥

One should understand that the activities of persons who are proud of their material experience bring only results contradictory to those such persons conceive while awake, sleeping and deeply sleeping. One should further understand that the spirit soul, although very difficult for the materialist to perceive, is above all these conditions, and by the strength of one’s discrimination, one should give up the desire for fruitive results in the present life and in the next. Thus becoming experienced in transcendental knowledge, one should become My devotee.

Verse 62

एवं विपर्ययं बुद्ध्वा नृणां विज्ञाभिमानिनाम् । आत्मनश्च गतिं सूक्ष्मां स्थानत्रयविलक्षणाम् ॥ ६१ ॥ द‍ृष्टश्रुताभिर्मात्राभिर्निर्मुक्त: स्वेन तेजसा । ज्ञानविज्ञानसन्तृप्तो मद्भ‍क्त: पुरुषो भवेत् ॥ ६२ ॥

One should understand that the activities of persons who are proud of their material experience bring only results contradictory to those such persons conceive while awake, sleeping and deeply sleeping. One should further understand that the spirit soul, although very difficult for the materialist to perceive, is above all these conditions, and by the strength of one’s discrimination, one should give up the desire for fruitive results in the present life and in the next. Thus becoming experienced in transcendental knowledge, one should become My devotee.

Verse 63

एतावानेव मनुजैर्योगनैपुण्यबुद्धिभि: । स्वार्थ: सर्वात्मना ज्ञेयो यत्परात्मैकदर्शनम् ॥ ६३ ॥

Persons who try to reach the ultimate goal of life must expertly observe the Supreme Absolute Person and the living entity, who are one in quality in their relationship as part and whole. This is the ultimate understanding of life. There is no better truth than this.

Verse 64

त्वमेतच्छ्रद्धया राजन्नप्रमत्तो वचो मम । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नो धारयन्नाशु सिध्यसि ॥ ६४ ॥

O King, if you accept this conclusion of Mine, being unattached to material enjoyment, adhering to Me with great faith and thus becoming proficient and fully aware of knowledge and its practical application in life, you will achieve the highest perfection by attaining Me.

Verse 65

श्रीशुक उवाच आश्वास्य भगवानित्थं चित्रकेतुं जगद्गुरु: । पश्यतस्तस्य विश्वात्मा ततश्चान्तर्दधे हरि: ॥ ६५ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After thus instructing Citraketu and assuring him of perfection in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme spiritual master, the supreme soul, Saṅkarṣaṇa, disappeared from that place as Citraketu looked on.