Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 3: “The Status Quo”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Fifteen
Description of the Kingdom of God
SB3.15.1
TEXT 1
maitreya uvaca
prajapatyam tu tat tejah
para-tejo-hanam ditih
dadhara varsani satam
sankamana surardanat
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca—the sage Maitreya said; prajapatyam—of the great Prajapati; tu—but; tat tejah—his powerful semen; para-tejah—others’ prowess; hanam—troubling; ditih—Diti (Kasyapa’s wife); dadhara—bore; varsani—years; satam—hundred; sankamana—being doubtful; sura-ardanat—disturbing to the demigods.
TRANSLATION
Sri Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, Diti, the wife of the sage Kasyapa, could understand that the sons within her womb would be a cause of disturbance to the demigods. As such, she continuously bore the powerful semen of Kasyapa Muni, which was meant to give trouble to others, for one hundred years.
PURPORT
The great sage Sri Maitreya was explaining to Vidura the activities of the demigods, including Lord Brahma. When Diti heard from her husband that the sons she bore within her abdomen would be causes of disturbances to the demigods, she was not very happy. There are two classes of men—devotees and nondevotees. Nondevotees are called demons, and devotees are called demigods. No sane man or woman can tolerate the nondevotees’ giving trouble to devotees. Diti, therefore, was reluctant to give birth to her babies; she waited for one hundred years so that at least she could save the demigods from the disturbance for that period. SB3.15.2 TEXT 2 loke tenahataloke loka-pala hataujasah nyavedayan visva-srje dhvanta-vyatikaram disam SYNONYMS loke—within this universe; tena—by the force of the pregnancy of Diti; ahata—being devoid of; aloke—light; loka-palah—the demigods of various planets; hata-ojasah—whose prowess was diminished; nyavedayan—asked; visva-srje—Brahma; dhvanta-vyatikaram—expansion of darkness; disam—in all directions. TRANSLATION By the force of the pregnancy of Diti, the light of the sun and moon was impaired in all the planets, and the demigods of various planets, being disturbed by that force, asked the creator of the universe, Brahma, “What is this expansion of darkness in all directions?” PURPORT It appears from this verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam that the sun is the source of light for all the planets in the universe. The modern scientific theory which states that there are many suns in each universe is not supported by this verse. It is understood that in each universe there is only one sun, which supplies light to all the planets. In Bhagavad-gita the moon is also stated to be one of the stars. There are many stars, and when we see them glittering at night we can understand that they are reflectors of light; just as moonlight is a reflection of sunlight, other planets also reflect sunlight, and there are many other planets which cannot be seen by our naked eyes. The demoniac influence of the sons in the womb of Diti expanded darkness throughout the universe. SB3.15.3 TEXT 3 deva ucuh tama etad vibho vettha samvigna yad vayam bhrsam na hy avyaktam bhagavatah kalenasprsta-vartmanah SYNONYMS devah ucuh—the demigods said; tamah—darkness; etat—this; vibho—O great one; vettha—you know; samvignah—very anxious; yat—because; vayam—we; bhrsam—very much; na—not; hi—because; avyaktam—unmanifest; bhagavatah—of You (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); kalena—by time; asprsta—untouched; vartmanah—whose way. TRANSLATION The fortunate demigods said: O great one, just see this darkness, which you know very well and which is causing us anxieties. Because the influence of time cannot touch you, there is nothing unmanifest before you. PURPORT Brahma is addressed herein as Vibhu and as the Personality of Godhead. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s incarnation of the mode of passion in the material world. He is nondifferent, in the representative sense, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore the influence of time cannot affect him. The influence of time, which manifests as past, present and future, cannot touch higher personalities like Brahma and other demigods. Sometimes demigods and great sages who have attained such perfection are called tri-kala jna. SB3.15.4 TEXT 4 deva-deva jagad-dhatar lokanatha-sikhamane paresam aparesam tvam bhutanam asi bhava-vit SYNONYMS deva-deva—O god of the demigods; jagat-dhatah—O sustainer of the universe; lokanatha-sikhamane—O head jewel of all the demigods in other planets; paresam—of the spiritual world; aparesam—of the material world; tvam—you; bhutanam—of all living entities; asi—are; bhava-vit—knowing the intentions. TRANSLATION O god of the demigods, sustainer of the universe, head jewel of all the demigods in other planets, you know the intentions of all living entities, in both the spiritual and material worlds. PURPORT Because Brahma is almost on an equal footing with the Personality of Godhead, he is addressed here as the god of the demigods, and because he is the secondary creator of this universe, he is addressed as the sustainer of the universe. He is the head of all the demigods, and therefore he is addressed here as the head jewel of the demigods. It is not difficult for him to understand everything which is happening in both the spiritual and material worlds. He knows everyone’s heart and everyone’s intentions. Therefore he was requested to explain this incident. Why was the pregnancy of Diti causing such anxieties all over the universe? SB3.15.5 TEXT 5 namo vijnana-viryaya mayayedam upeyuse grhita-guna-bhedaya namas te ’vyakta-yonaye SYNONYMS namah—respectful obeisances; vijnana-viryaya—O original source of strength and scientific knowledge; mayaya—by the external energy; idam—this body of Brahma; upeyuse—having obtained; grhita—accepting; guna-bhedaya—the differentiated mode of passion; namah te—offering obeisances unto you; avyakta—unmanifested; yonaye—source. TRANSLATION O original source of strength and scientific knowledge, all obeisances unto you! You have accepted the differentiated mode of passion from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. With the help of external energy you are born of the unmanifested source. All obeisances unto you! PURPORT The Vedas are the original scientific knowledge for all departments of understanding, and this knowledge of the Vedas was first impregnated into the heart of Brahma by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Brahma is the original source of all scientific knowledge. He is born directly from the transcendental body of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, who is never seen by any creature of this material universe and therefore always remains unmanifested. Brahma is stated here to be born of the unmanifested. He is the incarnation of the mode of passion in material nature, which is the separated, external energy of the Supreme Lord. SB3.15.6 TEXT 6 ye tvananyena bhavena bhavayanty atma-bhavanam atmani prota-bhuvanam param sad-asad-atmakam SYNONYMS ye—those who; tva—on you; ananyena—without deviation; bhavena—with devotion; bhavayanti—meditate; atma-bhavanam—who generates all living entities; atmani—within your self; prota—linked; bhuvanam—all the planets; param—the supreme; sat—effect; asat—cause; atmakam—generator. TRANSLATION O lord, all these planets exist within your self, and all the living entities are generated from you. Therefore you are the cause of this universe, and anyone who meditates upon you without deviation attains devotional service. SB3.15.7 TEXT 7 tesam supakva-yoganam jita-svasendriyatmanam labdha-yusmat-prasadanam na kutascit parabhavah SYNONYMS tesam—of them; su-pakva-yoganam—who are mature mystics; jita—controlled; svasa—breath; indriya—the senses; atmanam—the mind; labdha—attained; yusmat—your; prasadanam—mercy; na—not; kutascit—anywhere; parabhavah—defeat. TRANSLATION There is no defeat in this material world for persons who control the mind and senses by controlling the breathing process and who are therefore experienced, mature mystics. This is because by such perfection in yoga they have attained your mercy. PURPORT The purpose of yogic performances is explained here. It is said that an experienced mystic attains full control of the senses and the mind by controlling the breathing process. Therefore, controlling the breathing process is not the ultimate aim of yoga. The real purpose of yogic performances is to control the mind and the senses. Anyone who has such control is to be understood to be an experienced, mature mystic yogi. It is indicated herein that a yogi who has control over the mind and senses has the actual benediction of the Lord, and he has no fear. In other words, one cannot attain the mercy and benediction of the Supreme Lord until one is able to control the mind and the senses. This is actually possible when one fully engages in Krsna consciousness. A person whose senses and mind are always engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord has no possibility of engaging in material activities. The devotees of the Lord are not defeated anywhere in the universe. It is stated, narayana-parah sarve: one who is narayana-para, or a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is not afraid anywhere, whether he is sent to hell or promoted to heaven (Bhag. 6.17.28). SB3.15.8 TEXT 8 yasya vaca prajah sarva gavas tantyeva yantritah haranti balim ayattas tasmai mukhyaya te namah SYNONYMS yasya—of whom; vaca—by the Vedic directions; prajah—living entities; sarvah—all; gavah—bulls; tantya—by a rope; iva—as; yantritah—are directed; haranti—offer, take away; balim—presentation, ingredients for worship; ayattah—under control; tasmai—unto him; mukhyaya—unto the chief person; te—unto you; namah—respectful obeisances. TRANSLATION All the living entities within the universe are conducted by the Vedic directions, as a bull is directed by the rope attached to its nose. No one can violate the rules laid down in the Vedic literatures. To the chief person, who has contributed the Vedas, we offer our respect! PURPORT The Vedic literatures are the laws of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One cannot violate the injunctions given in the Vedic literatures any more than one can violate the state laws. Any living creature who wants real benefit in life must act according to the direction of the Vedic literature. The conditioned souls who have come to this material world for material sense gratification are regulated by the injunctions of the Vedic literature. Sense gratification is just like salt. One cannot take too much or too little, but one must take some salt in order to make one’s foodstuff palatable. Those conditioned souls who have come to this material world should utilize their senses according to the direction of the Vedic literature, otherwise they will be put into a more miserable condition of life. No human being or demigod can enact laws like those of the Vedic literature because the Vedic regulations are prescribed by the Supreme Lord. SB3.15.9 TEXT 9 sa tvam vidhatsva sam bhumams tamasa lupta-karmanam adabhra-dayaya drstya apannan arhasiksitum SYNONYMS sah—he; tvam—you; vidhatsva—perform; sam—good fortune; bhuman—O great lord; tamasa—by the darkness; lupta—have been suspended; karmanam—of prescribed duties; adabhra—magnanimous, without reservation; dayaya—mercy; drstya—by your glance; apannan—us, the surrendered; arhasi—are able; iksitum—to see. TRANSLATION The demigods prayed to Brahma: Please look upon us mercifully, for we have fallen into a miserable condition; because of the darkness, all our work has been suspended. PURPORT Because of complete darkness throughout the universe, the regular activities and engagements of all the different planets were suspended. In the North and South Poles of this planet there are sometimes no divisions of day and night; similarly, when the sunlight does not approach the different planets within the universe, there is no distinction between day and night. SB3.15.10 TEXT 10 esa deva diter garbha ojah kasyapam arpitam disas timirayan sarva vardhate ’gnir ivaidhasi SYNONYMS esah—this; deva—O lord; diteh—of Diti; garbhah—womb; ojah—semen; kasyapam—of Kasyapa; arpitam—deposited; disah—directions; timirayan—causing complete darkness; sarvah—all; vardhate—overloads; agnih—fire; iva—as; edhasi—fuel. TRANSLATION As fuel overloads a fire, so the embryo created by the semen of Kasyapa in the womb of Diti has caused complete darkness throughout the universe. PURPORT The darkness throughout the universe is explained herewith as being caused by the embryo created in the womb of Diti by the semen of Kasyapa. SB3.15.11 TEXT 11 maitreya uvaca sa prahasya maha-baho bhagavan sabda-gocarah pratyacastatma-bhur devan prinan ruciraya gira SYNONYMS maitreyah uvaca—Maitreya said; sah—he; prahasya—smiling; maha-baho—O mighty-armed (Vidura); bhagavan—the possessor of all opulences; sabda-gocarah—who is understood by transcendental sound vibration; pratyacasta—replied; atma-bhuh—Lord Brahma; devan—the demigods; prinan—satisfying; ruciraya—with sweet; gira—words. TRANSLATION Sri Maitreya said: Thus Lord Brahma, who is understood by transcendental vibration, tried to satisfy the demigods, being pleased with their words of prayer. PURPORT Brahma could understand the misdeeds of Diti, and therefore he smiled at the whole situation. He replied to the demigods present there in words they could understand. SB3.15.12 TEXT 12 brahmovaca manasa me suta yusmat- purvajah sanakadayah cerur vihayasa lokal lokesu vigata-sprhah SYNONYMS brahma uvaca—Lord Brahma said; manasah—born from the mind; me—my; sutah—sons; yusmat—than you; purva-jah—born previously; sanaka-adayah—headed by Sanaka; ceruh—traveled; vihayasa—by traveling in outer space or flying in the sky; lokan—to the material and spiritual worlds; lokesu—among the people; vigata-sprhah—without any desire. TRANSLATION Lord Brahma said: My four sons Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumara, who were born from my mind, are your predecessors. Sometimes they travel throughout the material and spiritual skies without any definite desire. PURPORT When we speak of desire we refer to desire for material sense gratification. Saintly persons like Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumara have no material desire, but sometimes they travel all over the universe, out of their own accord, to preach devotional service. SB3.15.13 TEXT 13 ta ekada bhagavato vaikunthasyamalatmanah yayur vaikuntha-nilayam sarva-loka-namaskrtam SYNONYMS te—they; ekada—once upon a time; bhagavatah—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vaikunthasya—of Lord Visnu; amala-atmanah—being freed from all material contamination; yayuh—entered; vaikuntha-nilayam—the abode named Vaikuntha; sarva-loka—by the residents of all the material planets; namaskrtam—worshiped. TRANSLATION After thus traveling all over the universes, they also entered into the spiritual sky, for they were freed from all material contamination. In the spiritual sky there are spiritual planets known as Vaikunthas, which are the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees and are worshiped by the residents of all the material planets. PURPORT The material world is full of cares and anxieties. In any one of the planets, beginning from the highest down to the lowest, Patala, every living creature must be full of cares and anxieties because in the material planets one cannot live eternally. The living entities, however, are actually eternal. They want an eternal home, an eternal residence, but because of accepting a temporal abode in the material world, they are naturally full of anxiety. In the spiritual sky the planets are called Vaikuntha because the residents of these planets are free from all anxieties. For them there is no question of birth, death, old age and diseases, and therefore they are not anxious. On the other hand, the residents of the material planets are always afraid of birth, death, disease and old age, and therefore they are full of anxieties. SB3.15.14 TEXT 14 vasanti yatra purusah sarve vaikuntha-murtayah ye ’nimitta-nimittena dharmenaradhayan harim SYNONYMS vasanti—they live; yatra—where; purusah—persons; sarve—all; vaikuntha-murtayah—having a four-handed form similar to that of the Supreme Lord, Visnu; ye—those Vaikuntha persons; animitta—without desire for sense gratification; nimittena—caused by; dharmena—by devotional service; aradhayan—continuously worshiping; harim—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. TRANSLATION In the Vaikuntha planets all the residents are similar in form to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They all engage in devotional service to the Lord without desires for sense gratification. PURPORT The residents and the form of living in Vaikuntha are described in this verse. The residents are all like the Supreme Personality of Godhead Narayana. In the Vaikuntha planets Krsna’s plenary feature as four-handed Narayana is the predominating Deity, and the residents of Vaikunthaloka are also four-handed, just contrary to our conception here in the material world. Nowhere in the material world do we find a human being with four hands. In Vaikunthaloka there is no occupation but the service of the Lord, and this service is not rendered with a purpose. Although every service has a particular result, the devotees never aspire for the fulfillment of their own desires; their desires are fulfilled by rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord. SB3.15.15 TEXT 15 yatra cadyah puman aste bhagavan sabda-gocarah sattvam vistabhya virajam svanam no mrdayan vrsah SYNONYMS yatra—in the Vaikuntha planets; ca—and; adyah—original; puman—person; aste—is there; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sabda-gocarah—understood through the Vedic literature; sattvam—the mode of goodness; vistabhya—accepting; virajam—uncontaminated; svanam—of His own associates; nah—us; mrdayan—increasing happiness; vrsah—the personification of religious principles. TRANSLATION In the Vaikuntha planets is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original person and who can be understood through the Vedic literature. He is full of the uncontaminated mode of goodness, with no place for passion or ignorance. He contributes religious progress for the devotees. PURPORT The kingdom of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the spiritual sky cannot be understood by any process other than hearing from the description of the Vedas. No one can go see it. In this material world also, one who is unable to pay to go to a far distant place by motorized conveyances can only understand about that place from authentic books. Similarly, the Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual sky are beyond this material sky. The modern scientists who are trying to travel in space are having difficulty going even to the nearest planet, the moon, to say nothing of the highest planets within the universe. There is no possibility that they can go beyond the material sky, enter the spiritual sky and see for themselves the spiritual planets, Vaikuntha. Therefore, the kingdom of God in the spiritual sky can be understood only through the authentic descriptions of the Vedas and Puranas. In the material world there are three modes of material qualities—goodness, passion and ignorance—but in the spiritual world there is no trace of the modes of passion and ignorance; there is only the mode of goodness, which is uncontaminated by any tinge of ignorance or passion. In the material world, even if a person is completely in goodness, he is sometimes subject to be polluted by tinges of the modes of ignorance and passion. But in the Vaikuntha world, the spiritual sky, only the mode of goodness in its pure form exists. The Lord and His devotees reside in the Vaikuntha planets, and they are of the same transcendental quality, namely, suddha-sattva, the mode of pure goodness. The Vaikuntha planets are very dear to the Vaisnavas, and for the progressive march of the Vaisnavas toward the kingdom of God, the Lord Himself helps His devotees. SB3.15.16 TEXT 16 yatra naihsreyasam nama vanam kama-dughair drumaih sarvartu-sribhir vibhrajat kaivalyam iva murtimat SYNONYMS yatra—in the Vaikuntha planets; naihsreyasam—auspicious; nama—named; vanam—forests; kama-dughaih—yielding desire; drumaih—with trees; sarva—all; rtu—seasons; sribhih—with flowers and fruits; vibhrajat—splendid; kaivalyam—spiritual; iva—as; murtimat—personal. TRANSLATION In those Vaikuntha planets there are many forests which are very auspicious. In those forests the trees are desire trees, and in all seasons they are filled with flowers and fruits because everything in the Vaikuntha planets is spiritual and personal. PURPORT In the Vaikuntha planets the land, the trees, the fruits and flowers and the cows—everything—is completely spiritual and personal. The trees are desire trees. On this material planet the trees can produce fruits and flowers according to the order of material energy, but in the Vaikuntha planets the trees, the land, the residents and the animals are all spiritual. There is no difference between the tree and the animal or the animal and the man. Here the word murtimat indicates that everything has a spiritual form. Formlessness, as conceived by the impersonalists, is refuted in this verse; in the Vaikuntha planets, although everything is spiritual, everything has a particular form. The trees and the men have form, and because all of them, although differently formed, are spiritual, there is no difference between them. SB3.15.17 TEXT 17 vaimanikah sa-lalanas caritani sasvad gayanti yatra samala-ksapanani bhartuh antar-jale ’nuvikasan-madhu-madhavinam gandhena khandita-dhiyo ’py anilam ksipantah SYNONYMS vaimanikah—flying in their airplanes; sa-lalanah—along with their wives; caritani—activities; sasvat—eternally; gayanti—sing; yatra—in those Vaikuntha planets; samala—all inauspicious qualities; ksapanani—devoid of; bhartuh—of the Supreme Lord; antah-jale—in the midst of the water; anuvikasat—blossoming; madhu—fragrant, laden with honey; madhavinam—of the madhavi flowers; gandhena—by the fragrance; khandita—disturbed; dhiyah—minds; api—even though; anilam—breeze; ksipantah—deriding. TRANSLATION In the Vaikuntha planets the inhabitants fly in their airplanes, accompanied by their wives and consorts, and eternally sing of the character and activities of the Lord, which are always devoid of all inauspicious qualities. While singing the glories of the Lord, they deride even the presence of the blossoming madhavi flowers, which are fragrant and laden with honey. PURPORT It appears from this verse that the Vaikuntha planets are full of all opulences. There are airplanes in which the inhabitants travel in the spiritual sky with their sweethearts. There is a breeze carrying the fragrance of blossoming flowers, and this breeze is so nice that it also carries the honey of the flowers. The inhabitants of Vaikuntha, however, are so interested in glorifying the Lord that they do not like the disturbance of such a nice breeze while they are chanting the Lord’s glories. In other words, they are pure devotees. They consider glorification of the Lord more important than their own sense gratification. In the Vaikuntha planets there is no question of sense gratification. To smell the fragrance of a blossoming flower is certainly very nice, but it is simply for sense gratification. The inhabitants of Vaikuntha give first preference to the service of the Lord, not their own sense gratification. Serving the Lord in transcendental love yields such transcendental pleasure that, in comparison, sense gratification is counted as insignificant. SB3.15.18 TEXT 18 paravatanyabhrta-sarasa-cakravaka- datyuha-hamsa-suka-tittiri-barhinam yah kolahalo viramate ’cira-matram uccair bhrngadhipe hari-katham iva gayamane SYNONYMS paravata—pigeons; anyabhrta—cuckoo; sarasa—crane; cakravaka—cakravaka; datyuha—gallinule; hamsa—swan; suka—parrot; tittiri—partridge; barhinam—of the peacock; yah—which; kolahalah—tumult; viramate—stops; acira-matram—temporarily; uccaih—loudly; bhrnga-adhipe—king of the bumblebees; hari-katham—the glories of the Lord; iva—as; gayamane—while singing. TRANSLATION When the king of bees hums in a high pitch, singing the glories of the Lord, there is a temporary lull in the noise of the pigeon, the cuckoo, the crane, the cakravaka, the swan, the parrot, the partridge and the peacock. Such transcendental birds stop their own singing simply to hear the glories of the Lord. PURPORT This verse reveals the absolute nature of Vaikuntha. There is no difference between the birds there and the human residents. The situation in the spiritual sky is that everything is spiritual and variegated. Spiritual variegatedness means that everything is animate. There is nothing inanimate. Even the trees, the ground, the plants, the flowers, the birds and the beasts are all on the level of Krsna consciousness. The special feature of Vaikunthaloka is that there is no question of sense gratification, In the material world even an ass enjoys his sound vibration, but in the Vaikunthas such nice birds as the peacock, the cakravaka and the cuckoo prefer to hear the vibration of the glories of the Lord from the bees. The principles of devotional service, beginning with hearing and chanting, are very prominent in the Vaikuntha world. SB3.15.19 TEXT 19 mandara-kunda-kurabotpala-campakarna- punnaga-naga-bakulambuja-parijatah gandhe ’rcite tulasikabharanena tasya yasmims tapah sumanaso bahu manayanti SYNONYMS mandara—mandara; kunda—kunda; kuraba—kuraba; utpala—utpala; campaka—campaka; arna—arna flower; punnaga—punnaga; naga—nagakesara; bakula—bakula; ambuja—lily; parijatah—parijata; gandhe—fragrance; arcite—being worshiped; tulasika—tulasi; abharanena—with a garland; tasyah—of her; yasmin—in which Vaikuntha; tapah—austerity; su-manasah—good minded, Vaikuntha minded; bahu—very much; manayanti—glorify. TRANSLATION Although flowering plants like the mandara, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arna, punnaga, nagakesara, bakula, lily and parijata are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still conscious of the austerities performed by tulasi, for tulasi is given special preference by the Lord, who garlands Himself with tulasi leaves. PURPORT The importance of tulasi leaves is very clearly mentioned here. Tulasi plants and their leaves are very important in devotional service. Devotees are recommended to water the tulasi tree every day and collect the leaves to worship the Lord. One time an atheistic svami remarked, “What is the use of watering the tulasi plant? It is better to water eggplant. By watering the eggplant one can get some fruits, but what is the use of watering the tulasi?” These foolish creatures, unacquainted with devotional service, sometimes play havoc with the education of people in general. The most important thing about the spiritual world is that there is no envy among the devotees there. This is true even among the flowers, which are all conscious of the greatness of tulasi. In the Vaikuntha world entered by the four Kumaras, even the birds and flowers are conscious of service to the Lord.