Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter One
SB8.1.13
TEXT 13
sa viśva-kāyaḥ puru-hūta-īśaḥ
satyaḥ svayaṁ-jyotir ajaḥ purāṇaḥ
dhatte ’sya janmādy-ajayātma-śaktyā
tāṁ vidyayodasya nirīha āste
SYNONYMS
saḥ—that Supreme Personality of Godhead; viśva-kāyaḥ—the total form of the universe (the whole universe is the external body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead); puru-hūtaḥ—known by so many names; īśaḥ—the supreme controller (with full power); satyaḥ—the ultimate truth; svayam—personally; jyotiḥ—self-effulgent; ajaḥ—unborn, beginningless; purāṇaḥ—the oldest; dhatte—He performs; asya—of this universe; janma-ādi—the creation, maintenance and annihilation; ajayā—by His external energy; ātma-śaktyā—by His personal potency; tām—that external material energy; vidyayā—by His spiritual potency; udasya—giving up; nirīhaḥ—without any desire or activity; āste—He is existing (untouched by the material energy).
TRANSLATION
The entire cosmic manifestation is the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, who has millions of names and unlimited potencies. He is self-effulgent, unborn and changeless. He is the beginning of everything, but He has no beginning. Because He has created this cosmic manifestation by His external energy, the universe appears to be created, maintained and annihilated by Him. Nonetheless, He remains inactive in His spiritual energy and is untouched by the activities of the material energy.
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says in His Śikṣāṣṭaka, nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktiḥ: the Supreme Personality of Godhead has many names, which are all nondifferent from the Supreme Person. This is spiritual existence. By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, consisting of names of the Supreme Lord, we find that the name has all the potencies of the person. The Lord’s activities are many, and according to His activities He has many names. He appeared as the son of mother Yaśodā, and also as the son of mother Devakī, and therefore He is named Devakī-nandana and Yaśodā-nandana. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate: the Lord has a multitude of energies, and therefore He acts in multifarious ways. Yet He has a particular name. The śāstras recommend which names we should chant, such as Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare. It is not that we have to search for some name or manufacture one. Rather, we must follow the saintly persons and the śāstras in chanting His holy name.
Although the material and spiritual energies both belong to the Lord, He is impossible to understand as long as we are in the material energy. And when we come to the spiritual energy, He is very easy to know. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.23): māyāṁ vyudasya cic-chaktyā kaivalye sthita ātmani. Although the external energy belongs to the Lord, when one is in the external energy (mama māyā duratyayā) He is very difficult to understand. However, when one comes to the spiritual energy, one can understand Him. Therefore in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) it is said, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ: one who wants to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead in reality must take to the platform of bhakti, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This bhakti consists of various activities (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam/ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam [SB 7.5.23]), and to understand the Lord one must take to this path of devotional service. Even though the people of the world have forgotten God and may say that God is dead, this is not a fact. One can understand God when one takes to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and thus one can be happy.
SB8.1.14 TEXT 14 athāgre ṛṣayaḥ karmāṇ- īhante ’karma-hetave īhamāno hi puruṣaḥ prāyo ’nīhāṁ prapadyate SYNONYMS atha—therefore; agre—in the beginning; ṛṣayaḥ—all learned ṛṣis, saintly persons; karmāṇi—fruitive activities; īhante—execute; akarma—freedom from fruitive results; hetave—for the purpose of; īhamānaḥ—engaging in such activities; hi—indeed; puruṣaḥ—a person; prāyaḥ—almost always; anīhām—liberation from karma; prapadyate—attains.
TRANSLATION Therefore, to enable people to reach the stage of activities that are not tinged by fruitive results, great saints first engage people in fruitive activities, for unless one begins by performing activities as recommended in the śāstras, one cannot reach the stage of liberation, or activities that produce no reactions. PURPORT In Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) Lord Kṛṣṇa advises, yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: “Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world.” Generally, everyone is attracted to hard labor for becoming happy in this material world, but although various activities are going on all over the world simply for the sake of happiness, unfortunately only problems are being created from such fruitive activities. Therefore it is advised that active persons engage in activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which are called yajña, because then they will gradually come to the platform of devotional service. Yajña means Lord Viṣṇu, the yajña-puruṣa, the enjoyer of all sacrifices (bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram [Bg. 5.29]). The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the enjoyer, and therefore if we begin our activities for His satisfaction, we will gradually lose our taste for material activities.
Sūta Gosvāmī declared to the great assembly of sages at Naimiṣāraṇya:
ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā “O best among the twice-born, it is concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties [dharma] according to caste divisions and order of life, is to please the Lord Hari.” (Bhāg. 1.2.13) According to Vedic principles, everyone must act according to his classification as brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha or sannyāsī. Everyone should progress toward perfection by acting in such a way that Kṛṣṇa will be pleased (saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam [SB 1.2.13]). One cannot please Kṛṣṇa by sitting idly; one must act according to the directions of the spiritual master for the sake of pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and then one will gradually come to the stage of pure devotional service. As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.12):
naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ “Knowledge of self-realization, even though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the infallible [God].” Jñānīs recommend that one adopt naiṣkarmya by not doing anything but simply meditating and thinking of Brahman, but this is impossible unless one realizes Parabrahman, Kṛṣṇa. If there is no Kṛṣṇa consciousness, any kind of activity, be it philanthropic, political or social, simply causes karma-bandhana, bondage to material work.
As long as one is entangled in karma-bandhana, one must accept different types of bodies that spoil the human form of facility. Therefore, in Bhagavad-gītā (6.3) karma-yoga is recommended:
ārurukṣor muner yogaṁ “For one who is a neophyte in the yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who has already attained to yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.” Nonetheless:
karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya “One who restrains the senses and organs of action, but whose mind dwells on sense objects, certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.” (Bg. 3.6) One should act for Kṛṣṇa very seriously in order to become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious and should not sit down to imitate such great personalities as Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura condemned such imitation. Me said:
duṣṭa mana! tumi kisera vaiṣṇava? “My dear mind, what kind of devotee are you? Simply for cheap adoration, you sit in a solitary place and pretend to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, but this is all cheating.” Recently at Māyāpur an African devotee wanted to imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but after fifteen days he became restless and went away. Do not suddenly try to imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Engage yourself in Kṛṣṇa conscious activities, and gradually you will come to the stage of liberation (muktir hitvānyathā rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ).
SB8.1.15 TEXT 15 īhate bhagavān īśo na hi tatra visajjate ātma-lābhena pūrṇārtho nāvasīdanti ye ’nu tam SYNONYMS īhate—engages in activities of creation, maintenance and annihilation; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; īśaḥ—the supreme controller; na—not; hi—indeed; tatra—in such activities; visajjate—He becomes entangled; ātma-lābhena—because of His own gain; pūrṇa-arthaḥ—who is self-satisfied; na—not; avasīdanti—are disheartened; ye—persons who; anu—follow; tam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in opulence by His own gain, yet He acts as the creator, maintainer and annihilator of this material world. In spite of acting in that way, He is never entangled. Hence devotees who follow in His footsteps are also never entangled. PURPORT As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9), yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: “work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world.” If we do not act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we shall be entangled, like silkworms in cocoons. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, appears in order to teach us how to work so that we will not be entangled in this material world. Our real problem is that we are entangled in materialistic activities, and because we are conditioned, our struggle continues through punishment in material existence in one body after another in different forms of life. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.7):
mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke “The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.” The living entities are actually minute forms who are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is full in everything, and the small particles of the Lord are also originally qualified like Him, but because of their minute existence, they are infected by material attraction and thus entangled. We must therefore follow the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and then, like Kṛṣṇa, who is never entangled by His material activities of creation, maintenance and annihilation, we will have nothing for which to lament (nāvasīdanti ye ’nu tam). Kṛṣṇa personally gives instructions in Bhagavad-gītā, and anyone who follows these instructions is liberated.
Following Kṛṣṇa’s instructions is possible when one is a devotee, for Kṛṣṇa instructs that one should become a devotee. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: “Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me.” (Bg. 18.65) Always thinking of Kṛṣṇa means chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but unless one is an initiated devotee he cannot do this. As soon as one becomes a devotee, he engages in Deity worship (mad-yājī). A devotee’s business is to offer obeisances to the Lord and the spiritual master constantly. This principle is the recognized way to come to the platform of bhakti. As soon as one comes to this platform, he gradually understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and simply by understanding Kṛṣṇa one is liberated from material bondage.
SB8.1.16 TEXT 16 tam īhamānaṁ nirahaṅkṛtaṁ budhaṁ nirāśiṣaṁ pūrṇam ananya-coditam nṝñ śikṣayantaṁ nija-vartma-saṁsthitaṁ prabhuṁ prapadye ’khila-dharma-bhāvanam SYNONYMS tam—unto the same Supreme Personality of Godhead; īhamānam—who is acting for our benefit; nirahaṅkṛtam—who is without entanglement or desire for gain; budham—who is completely in knowledge; nirāśiṣam—without desires to enjoy the fruits of His activities; pūrṇam—who is full and therefore has no need to fulfill desires; ananya—by others; coditam—induced or inspired; nṝn—all of human society; śikṣayantam—to teach (the real path of life); nija-vartma—His own personal way of life; saṁsthitam—to establish (without deviation); prabhum—unto the Supreme Lord; prapadye—I request everyone to surrender; akhila-dharma-bhāvanam—who is the master of all religious principles or the occupational duties for a human being.
TRANSLATION The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, works just like an ordinary human being, yet He does not desire to enjoy the fruits of work. He is full in knowledge, free from material desires and diversions, and completely independent. As the supreme teacher of human society, He teaches His own way of activities, and thus He inaugurates the real path of religion. I request everyone to follow Him. PURPORT This is the sum and substance of our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We are simply requesting human society to follow in the footsteps of the teacher of Bhagavad-gītā. Follow the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, and your life will be successful. That is the summary of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. The organizer of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is teaching everyone how to follow Lord Rāmacandra, how to follow Lord Kṛṣṇa, and how to follow Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this material world, we need a leader for a monarchy or good government. Lord Śrī Rāmacandra, by His practical example, showed how to live for the benefit of all human society. He fought with demons like Rāvaṇa, He carried out the orders of His father, and He remained the faithful husband of mother Sītā. Thus there is no comparison to Lord Rāmacandra’s acting as an ideal king. Indeed, people still hanker for rāma-rājya, a government conducted like that of Lord Rāmacandra. Similarly, although Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He taught His disciple and devotee Arjuna how to lead a life ending in going back home, back to Godhead (tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna [Bg. 4.9]). All teachings—political, economic, social, religious, cultural and philosophical—are to be found in Bhagavad-gītā. One only has to follow them strictly. The Supreme Personality of Godhead also comes as Lord Caitanya just to play the part of a pure devotee. Thus the Lord teaches us in different ways just to make our lives successful, and Svāyambhuva Manu requests us to follow Him.
Svāyambhuva Manu is the leader of mankind, and he has given a book called Manu-saṁhitā to guide human society. Herein he directs us to follow the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different incarnations. These incarnations are described in Vedic literature, and Jayadeva Gosvāmī has described ten important incarnations in summary (keśava dhṛta-mīna-śarīra jaya jagad-īśa hare, keśava dhṛta-nara-hari-rūpa jaya jagad-īśa hare, keśava dhṛta-buddha-śarīra jaya jagad-īśa hare, etc.). Svāyambhuva Manu instructs us to follow the instructions of God’s incarnations, especially Kṛṣṇa’s instructions of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is.
Appreciating bhakti-mārga as instructed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya thus depicted the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu:
vairāgya-vidyā-nija-bhakti-yoga- “Let me take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has descended in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach us real knowledge, His devotional service, and detachment from whatever does not foster Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of transcendental mercy. Let me surrender unto His lotus feet.” (Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka 6.74) In this age of Kali, people cannot follow the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore the Lord Himself takes the part of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya to teach personally how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. He asks everyone to follow Him and to become a guru to deliver the fallen souls of Kali-yuga.
yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa “Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.” (Cc. Madhya 7.128) The coherent purpose of Lord Rāmacandra, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is to teach human society how to be happy by following the instructions of the Supreme Lord.
SB8.1.17 TEXT 17 śrī-śuka uvāca iti mantropaniṣadaṁ vyāharantaṁ samāhitam dṛṣṭvāsurā yātudhānā jagdhum abhyadravan kṣudhā SYNONYMS śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti—thus; mantra-upaniṣadam—the Vedic mantra (uttered by Svāyambhuva Manu); vyāharantam—taught or chanted; samāhitam—concentrated the mind (without being agitated by material conditions); dṛṣṭvā—upon seeing (him); asurāḥ—the demons; yātudhānāḥ—the Rākṣasas; jagdhum—desired to devour; abhyadravan—running very fast; kṣudhā—to satisfy their appetite.
TRANSLATION Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Svāyambhuva Manu was thus in a trance, chanting the mantras of Vedic instruction known as the Upaniṣads. Upon seeing him, the Rākṣasas and asuras, being very hungry, wanted to devour him. Therefore they ran after him with great speed. SB8.1.18 TEXT 18 tāṁs tathāvasitān vīkṣya yajñaḥ sarva-gato hariḥ yāmaiḥ parivṛto devair hatvāśāsat tri-viṣṭapam SYNONYMS tān—the demons and Rākṣasas; tathā—in that way; avasitān—who were determined to devour Svāyambhuva Manu; vīkṣya—upon observing; yajñaḥ—Lord Viṣṇu, known as Yajña; sarva-gataḥ—who is seated in everyone’s heart; hariḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yāmaiḥ—with His sons named the Yāmas; parivṛtaḥ—surrounded; devaiḥ—by the demigods; hatvā—after killing (the demons); aśāsat—ruled (taking the post of Indra); tri-viṣṭapam—the heavenly planets.
TRANSLATION The Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, who sits in everyone’s heart, appearing as Yajñapati, observed that the Rākṣasas and demons were going to devour Svāyambhuva Manu. Thus the Lord, accompanied by His sons named the Yāmas and by all the other demigods, killed the demons and Rākṣasas. He then took the post of Indra and began to rule the heavenly kingdom. PURPORT The various names of the demigods—Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lord Indra and so on—are not personal names; they are names of different posts. In this regard, we understand that Lord Viṣṇu sometimes becomes Brahmā or Indra when there is no suitable person to occupy these posts.
SB8.1.19 TEXT 19 svārociṣo dvitīyas tu manur agneḥ suto ’bhavat dyumat-suṣeṇa-rociṣmat pramukhās tasya cātmajāḥ SYNONYMS svārociṣaḥ—Svārociṣa; dvitīyaḥ—the second; tu—indeed; manuḥ—Manu; agneḥ—of Agni; sutaḥ—the son; abhavat—became; dyumat—Dyumat; suṣeṇa—Suṣeṇa; rociṣmat—Rociṣmat; pramukhāḥ—beginning with them; tasya—of him (Svārociṣa); ca—also; ātma-jāḥ—sons.
TRANSLATION The son of Agni named Svārociṣa became the second Manu. His several sons were headed by Dyumat, Suṣeṇa and Rociṣmat. PURPORT manvantaraṁ manur devā There are many incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Manu, the manu-putrāḥ (the sons of Manu), the king of the heavenly planets, and the seven great sages are all partial incarnations of the Supreme Lord. Manu himself, his sons Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, the demigods created by Dakṣa, and the ṛṣis like Marīci were all partial incarnations of the Lord during the reign of Svāyambhuva Manu. During that time, the incarnation of the Lord as Yajña took charge of ruling the heavenly planets. The next Manu was Svārociṣa. The Manus and the sages and demigods are further described in the following eleven verses.
SB8.1.20 TEXT 20 tatrendro rocanas tv āsīd devāś ca tuṣitādayaḥ ūrja-stambhādayaḥ sapta ṛṣayo brahma-vādinaḥ SYNONYMS tatra—in this manvantara; indraḥ—Indra; rocanaḥ—Rocana, the son of Yajña; tu—but; āsīt—became; devāḥ—demigods; ca—also; tuṣita-ādayaḥ—Tuṣita and others; ūrja—Ūrja; stambha—Stambha; ādayaḥ—and others; sapta—seven; ṛṣayaḥ—great saints; brahma-vādinaḥ—all faithful devotees.
TRANSLATION During the reign of Svārociṣa, the post of Indra was assumed by Rocana, the son of Yajña. Tuṣita and others became the principal demigods, and Ūrja, Stambha and others became the seven saints. All of them were faithful devotees of the Lord. SB8.1.21 TEXT 21 ṛṣes tu vedaśirasas tuṣitā nāma patny abhūt tasyāṁ jajñe tato devo vibhur ity abhiviśrutaḥ SYNONYMS ṛṣeḥ—of the saintly person; tu—indeed; vedaśirasaḥ—Vedaśirā; tuṣitā—Tuṣitā; nāma—named; patnī—the wife; abhūt—begat; tasyām—in her (womb); jajñe—took birth; tataḥ—thereafter; devaḥ—the Lord; vibhuḥ—Vibhu; iti—thus; abhiviśrutaḥ—celebrated as.
TRANSLATION Vedaśirā was a very celebrated ṛṣi. From the womb of his wife, whose name was Tuṣitā, came the avatāra named Vibhu. SB8.1.22 TEXT 22 aṣṭāśīti-sahasrāṇi munayo ye dhṛta-vratāḥ anvaśikṣan vrataṁ tasya kaumāra-brahmacāriṇaḥ SYNONYMS aṣṭāśīti—eighty-eight; sahasrāṇi—thousand; munayaḥ—great saintly persons; ye—those who; dhṛta-vratāḥ—fixed in vows; anvaśikṣan—took instructions; vratam—vows; tasya—from him (Vibhu); kaumāra—who was unmarried; brahmacāriṇaḥ—and fixed in the brahmacārī stage of life.
TRANSLATION Vibhu remained a brahmacāri and never married throughout his life. From him, eighty-eight thousand other saintly persons took lessons on self-control, austerity and similar behavior. SB8.1.23 TEXT 23 tṛtīya uttamo nāma priyavrata-suto manuḥ pavanaḥ sṛñjayo yajña- hotrādyās tat-sutā nṛpa SYNONYMS tṛtīyaḥ—the third; uttamaḥ—Uttama; nāma—named; priyavrata—of King Priyavrata; sutaḥ—the son; manuḥ—he became the Manu; pavanaḥ—Pavana; sṛñjayaḥ—Sṛñjaya; yajñahotra-ādyāḥ—Yajñahotra and others; tat-sutāḥ—the sons of Uttama; nṛpa—O King.
TRANSLATION O King, the third Manu, Uttama, was the son of King Priyavrata. Among the sons of this Manu were Pavana, Sṛñjaya and Yajñahotra. SB8.1.24 TEXT 24 vasiṣṭha-tanayāḥ sapta ṛṣayaḥ pramadādayaḥ satyā vedaśrutā bhadrā devā indras tu satyajit SYNONYMS vasiṣṭha-tanayāḥ—the sons of Vasiṣṭha; sapta—seven; ṛṣayaḥ—the sages; pramada-ādayaḥ—headed by Pramada; satyāḥ—the Satyas; vedaśrutāḥ—Vedaśrutas; bhadrāḥ—Bhadras; devāḥ—demigods; indraḥ—the King of heaven; tu—but; satyajit—Satyajit.
TRANSLATION During the reign of the third Manu, Pramada and other sons of Vasiṣṭha became the seven sages. The Satyas, Vedaśrutas and Bhadras became demigods, and Satyajit was selected to be Indra, the King of heaven. SB8.1.25 TEXT 25 dharmasya sūnṛtāyāṁ tu bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ satyasena iti khyāto jātaḥ satyavrataiḥ saha SYNONYMS dharmasya—of the demigod in charge of religion; sūnṛtāyām—in the womb of his wife named Sūnṛtā; tu—indeed; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; puruṣa-uttamaḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; satyasenaḥ—Satyasena; iti—thus; khyātaḥ—celebrated; jātaḥ—took birth; satyavrataiḥ—the Satyavratas; saha—with.
TRANSLATION In this manvantara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared from the womb of Sūnṛtā, who was the wife of Dharma, the demigod in charge of religion. The Lord was celebrated as Satyasena, and He appeared with other demigods, known as the Satyavratas. SB8.1.26 TEXT 26 so ’nṛta-vrata-duḥśīlān asato yakṣa-rākṣasān bhūta-druho bhūta-gaṇāṁś cāvadhīt satyajit-sakhaḥ SYNONYMS saḥ—He (Satyasena); anṛta-vrata—who are fond of speaking lies; duḥśīlān—misbehaved; asataḥ—miscreant; yakṣa-rākṣasān—Yakṣas and Rākṣasas; bhūta-druhaḥ—who are always against the progress of other living beings; bhūta-gaṇān—the ghostly living entities; ca—also; avadhīt—killed; satyajit-sakhaḥ—with His friend Satyajit.
TRANSLATION Satyasena, along with His friend Satyajit, who was the King of heaven, Indra, killed all the untruthful, impious and misbehaved Yakṣas, Rākṣasas and ghostly living entities, who gave pains to other living beings. SB8.1.27 TEXT 27 caturtha uttama-bhrātā manur nāmnā ca tāmasaḥ pṛthuḥ khyātir naraḥ ketur ity ādyā daśa tat-sutāḥ SYNONYMS caturtha—the fourth Manu; uttama-bhrātā—the brother of Uttama; manuḥ—became the Manu; nāmnā—celebrated by the name; ca—also; tāmasaḥ—Tāmasa; pṛthuḥ—Pṛthu; khyātiḥ—Khyāti; naraḥ—Nara; ketuḥ—Ketu; iti—thus; ādyāḥ—headed by; daśa—ten; tat-sutāḥ—sons of Tāmasa Manu.
TRANSLATION The brother of the third Manu, Uttama, was celebrated by the name Tāmasa, and he became the fourth Manu. Tāmasa had ten sons, headed by Pṛthu, Khyāti, Nara and Ketu. SB8.1.28 TEXT 28 satyakā harayo vīrā devās triśikha īśvaraḥ jyotirdhāmādayaḥ sapta ṛṣayas tāmase ’ntare SYNONYMS satyakāḥ—the Satyakas; harayaḥ—the Haris; vīrāḥ—the Vīras; devāḥ—the demigods; triśikhaḥ—Triśikha; īśvaraḥ—the King of heaven; jyotirdhāma-ādayaḥ—headed by the celebrated Jyotirdhāma; sapta—seven; ṛṣayaḥ—sages; tāmase—the reign of Tāmasa Manu; antare—within.
TRANSLATION During the reign of Tāmasa Manu, among the demigods were the Satyakas, Haris and Vīras. The heavenly King, Indra, was Triśikha. The sages in saptarṣi-dhāma were headed by Jyotirdhāma. SB8.1.29 TEXT 29 devā vaidhṛtayo nāma vidhṛtes tanayā nṛpa naṣṭāḥ kālena yair vedā vidhṛtāḥ svena tejasā SYNONYMS devāḥ—the demigods; vaidhṛtayaḥ—the Vaidhṛtis; nāma—by the name; vidhṛteḥ—of Vidhṛti; tanayāḥ—who were the sons; nṛpa—O King; naṣṭāḥ—were lost; kālena—by the influence of time; yaiḥ—by whom; vedāḥ—the Vedas; vidhṛtāḥ—were protected; svena—by their own; tejasā—power.
TRANSLATION O King, in the Tāmasa manvantara the sons of Vidhṛti, who were known as the Vaidhṛtis, also became demigods. Since in course of time the Vedic authority was lost, these demigods, by their own powers, protected the Vedic authority. PURPORT In the Tāmasa manvantara there were two kinds of demigods, and one of them was known as the Vaidhṛtis. The duty of the demigods is to protect the authority of the Vedas. The word devatā refers to one who carries the authority of the Vedas, whereas Rākṣasas are those who defy the Vedic authority. If the authority of the Vedas is lost, the entire universe becomes chaotic. Therefore, it is the duty of the demigods, as well as kings and aides of governments, to give full protection to the Vedic authority; otherwise human society will be in a chaotic condition in which there cannot be peace or prosperity.
SB8.1.30 TEXT 30 tatrāpi jajñe bhagavān hariṇyāṁ harimedhasaḥ harir ity āhṛto yena gajendro mocito grahāt SYNONYMS tatrāpi—in that period; jajñe—appeared; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariṇyām—in the womb of Hariṇī; harimedhasaḥ—begotten by Harimedhā; hariḥ—Hari; iti—thus; āhṛtaḥ—called; yena—by whom; gaja-indraḥ—the King of the elephants; mocitaḥ—was freed; grahāt—from the mouth of a crocodile.
TRANSLATION Also in this manvantara, the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, took birth from the womb of Hariṇī, the wife of Harimedhā, and He was known as Hari. Hari saved His devotee Gajendra, the King of the elephants, from the mouth of a crocodile. SB8.1.31 TEXT 31 śrī-rājovāca bādarāyaṇa etat te śrotum icchāmahe vayam harir yathā gaja-patiṁ grāha-grastam amūmucat SYNONYMS śrī-rājā uvāca—King Parīkṣit said; bādarāyaṇe—O son of Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsadeva); etat—this; te—from you; śrotum icchāmahe—desire to hear; vayam—we; hariḥ—the Lord Hari; yathā—the manner in which; gaja-patim—the King of the elephants; grāha-grastam—when attacked by the crocodile; amūmucat—delivered.
TRANSLATION King Parīkṣit said: My lord, Bādarāyaṇi, we wish to hear from you in detail how the King of the elephants, when attacked by a crocodile, was delivered by Hari. SB8.1.32 TEXT 32 tat-kathāsu mahat puṇyaṁ dhanyaṁ svastyayanaṁ śubham yatra yatrottamaśloko bhagavān gīyate hariḥ SYNONYMS tat-kathāsu—in those narrations; mahat—great; puṇyam—pious; dhanyam—glorious; svastyayanam—auspicious; śubham—all good; yatra—whenever; yatra—wherever; uttamaślokaḥ—the Lord, who is known as Uttamaśloka (He who is described by transcendental literature); bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gīyate—is glorified; hariḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION Any literature or narration in which the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamaśloka, is described and glorified is certainly great, pure, glorious, auspicious and all good. PURPORT The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is spreading all over the world simply by describing Kṛṣṇa. We have published many books, including Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta in seventeen volumes, four hundred pages each, as well as Bhagavad-gītā and The Nectar of Devotion. We are also publishing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in sixty volumes. Wherever a speaker holds discourses from these books and an audience hears him, this will create a good and auspicious situation. Therefore the preaching of Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be done very carefully by the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, especially the sannyāsīs. This will create an auspicious atmosphere.
SB8.1.33 TEXT 33 śrī-sūta uvāca parīkṣitaivaṁ sa tu bādarāyaṇiḥ prāyopaviṣṭena kathāsu coditaḥ uvāca viprāḥ pratinandya pārthivaṁ mudā munīnāṁ sadasi sma śṛṇvatām SYNONYMS śrī-sūtaḥ uvāca—Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said; parīkṣitā—by Mahārāja Parīkṣit; evam—thus; saḥ—he; tu—indeed; bādarāyaṇiḥ—Śukadeva Gosvāmī; prāya-upaviṣṭena—Parīkṣit Mahārāja, who was awaiting impending death; kathāsu—by the words; coditaḥ—being encouraged; uvāca—spoke; viprāḥ—O brāhmaṇas; pratinandya—after congratulating; pārthivam—Mahārāja Parīkṣit; mudā—with great pleasure; munīnām—of great sages; sadasi—in the assembly; sma—indeed; śṛṇvatām—who desired to hear.
TRANSLATION Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: O brāhmaṇas, when Parīkṣit Mahārāja, who was awaiting impending death, thus requested Śukadeva Gosvāmī to speak, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, encouraged by the King’s words, offered respect to the King and spoke with great pleasure in the assembly of sages, who desired to hear him. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, First Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Manus, Administrators of the Universe.” THIS WEB PAGE URL: http://causelessmercy.com/SB8.1.1.htm
varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ
svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya
saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam
na śobhate jñānam alaṁ nirañjanam
karma kāraṇam ucyate
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva
śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate
ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate
pratiṣṭhāra tare, nirjanera ghare,
tava hari-nāma kevala kaitava
jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ
manaḥ ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi
prakṛti-sthāni karṣati
śikṣārtham ekaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-śarīra-dhārī
kṛpāmbudhir yas tam ahaṁ prapadye
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa
manu-putrāḥ sureśvaraḥ
ṛṣayo ’ṁśāvatāraś ca
hareḥ ṣaḍ vidham ucyate