Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter One
SB4.1.40
TEXT 40
urjayam jajnire putra
vasisthasya parantapa
citraketu-pradhanas te
sapta brahmarsayo ’malah
SYNONYMS
urjayam—in Urja; jajnire—took birth; putrah—sons; vasisthasya—of the great sage Vasistha; parantapa—O great one; citraketu—Citraketu; pradhanah—headed by; te—all the sons; sapta—seven; brahma-rsayah—great sages with spiritual knowledge; amalah—without contamination.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Vasistha begot in his wife, Urja, sometimes called Arundhati, seven spotlessly great sages, headed by the sage named Citraketu.
SB4.1.41
TEXT 41
citraketuh surocis ca
viraja mitra eva ca
ulbano vasubhrdyano
dyuman sakty-adayo ’pare
SYNONYMS
citraketuh—Citraketu; surocih ca—and Suroci; virajah—Viraja; mitrah—Mitra; eva—also; ca—and; ulbanah—Ulbana; vasubhrdyanah—Vasubhrdyana; dyuman—Dyuman; sakti-adayah—sons headed by Sakti; apare—from his other wife.
TRANSLATION
The names of these seven sages are as follows: Citraketu, Suroci, Viraja, Mitra, Ulbana, Vasubhrdyana and Dyuman. Some other very competent sons were born from Vasistha’s other wife.
PURPORT
Urja, who is sometimes known as Arundhati and was the wife of Vasistha, was the ninth daughter of Kardama Muni. SB4.1.42 TEXT 42 cittis tv atharvanah patni lebhe putram dhrta-vratam dadhyancam asvasirasam bhrgor vamsam nibodha me SYNONYMS cittih—Citti; tu—also; atharvanah—of Atharva; patni—wife; lebhe—got; putram—son; dhrta-vratam—completely dedicated to a vow; dadhyancam—Dadhyanca; asvasirasam—Asvasira; bhrgoh vamsam—generations of Bhrgu; nibodha—try to understand; me—from me. TRANSLATION Citti, wife of the sage Atharva, gave birth to a son named Asvasira by accepting a great vow called Dadhyanca. Now you may hear from me about the descendants of the sage Bhrgu. PURPORT The wife of Atharva known as Citti is also known as Santi. She was the eighth daughter of Kardama Muni. SB4.1.43 TEXT 43 bhrguh khyatyam maha-bhagah patnyam putran ajijanat dhataram ca vidhataram sriyam ca bhagavat-param SYNONYMS bhrguh—the great sage Bhrgu; khyatyam—in his wife, Khyati; maha-bhagah—greatly fortunate; patnyam—unto the wife; putran—sons; ajijanat—gave birth; dhataram—Dhata; ca—also; vidhataram—Vidhata; sriyam—a daughter named Sri; ca bhagavat-param—and a great devotee of the Lord. TRANSLATION The sage Bhrgu was highly fortunate. In his wife, known as Khyati, he begot two sons, named Dhata and Vidhata, and one daughter, named Sri, who was very much devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB4.1.44 TEXT 44 ayatim niyatim caiva sute merus tayor adat tabhyam tayor abhavatam mrkandah prana eva ca SYNONYMS ayatim—Ayati; niyatim—Niyati; ca eva—also; sute—daughters; meruh—the sage Meru; tayoh—unto those two; adat—gave in marriage; tabhyam—out of them; tayoh—both of them; abhavatam—appeared; mrkandah—Mrkanda; pranah—Prana; eva—certainly; ca—and. TRANSLATION The sage Meru had two daughters, named Ayati and Niyati, whom he gave in charity to Dhata and Vidhata. Ayati and Niyati gave birth to two sons, Mrkanda and Prana. SB4.1.45 TEXT 45 markandeyo mrkandasya pranad vedasira munih kavis ca bhargavo yasya bhagavan usana sutah SYNONYMS markandeyah—Markandeya; mrkandasya—of Mrkanda; pranat—from Prana; vedasirah—Vedasira; munih—great sage; kavih ca—of the name Kavi; bhargavah—of the name Bhargava; yasya—whose; bhagavan—greatly powerful; usana—Sukracarya; sutah—son. TRANSLATION From Mrkanda, Markandeya Muni was born, and from Prana the sage Vedasira, whose son was Usana [Sukracarya], also known as Kavi. Thus Kavi also belonged to the descendants of the Bhrgu dynasty. SB4.1.46-47 TEXTS 46–47 ta ete munayah ksattar lokan sargair abhavayan esa kardama-dauhitra- santanah kathitas tava srnvatah sraddadhanasya sadyah papa-harah parah prasutim manavim daksa upayeme hy ajatmajah SYNONYMS te—they; ete—all; munayah—great sages; ksattah—O Vidura; lokan—the three worlds; sargaih—with their descendants; abhavayan—filled; esah—this; kardama—of the sage Kardama; dauhitra—grandsons; santanah—offspring; kathitah—already spoken; tava—unto you; srnvatah—hearing; sraddadhanasya—of the faithful; sadyah—immediately; papa-harah—reducing all sinful activities; parah—great; prasutim—Prasuti; manavim—daughter of Manu; daksah—King Daksa; upayeme—married; hi—certainly; aja-atmajah—son of Brahma. TRANSLATION My dear Vidura, the population of the universe was thus increased by the descendants of these sages and the daughters of Kardama. Anyone who hears the descriptions of this dynasty with faith will be relieved from all sinful reactions. Another of Manu’s daughters, known as Prasuti, married the son of Brahma named Daksa. SB4.1.48 TEXT 48 tasyam sasarja duhitrh sodasamala-locanah trayodasadad dharmaya tathaikam agnaye vibhuh SYNONYMS tasyam—unto her; sasarja—created; duhitrh—daughters; sodasa—sixteen; amala-locanah—with lotuslike eyes; trayodasa—thirteen; adat—gave; dharmaya—to Dharma; tatha—so; ekam—one daughter; agnaye—to Agni; vibhuh—Daksa. TRANSLATION Daksa begot sixteen very beautiful daughters with lotuslike eyes in his wife Prasuti. Of these sixteen daughters, thirteen were given in marriage to Dharma, and one daughter was given to Agni. SB4.1.49-52 TEXTS 49–52 pitrbhya ekam yuktebhyo bhavayaikam bhava-cchide sraddha maitri daya santis tustih pustih kriyonnatih buddhir medha titiksa hrir murtir dharmasya patnayah sraddhasuta subham maitri prasadam abhayam daya santih sukham mudam tustih smayam pustir asuyata yogam kriyonnatir darpam artham buddhir asuyata medha smrtim titiksa tu ksemam hrih prasrayam sutam murtih sarva-gunotpattir nara-narayanav rsi SYNONYMS pitrbhyah—to the Pitas; ekam—one daughter; yuktebhyah—the assembled; bhavaya—to Lord Siva; ekam—one daughter; bhava-chide—who delivers from the material entanglement; sraddha, maitri, daya, santih, tustih, pustih, kriya, unnatih, buddhih, medha, titiksa, hrih, murtih—names of thirteen daughters of Daksa; dharmasya—of Dharma; patnayah—the wives; sraddha—Sraddha; asuta—gave birth to; subham—Subha; maitri—Maitri; prasadam—Prasada; abhayam—Abhaya; daya—Daya; santih—Santi; sukham—Sukha; mudam—Muda; tustih—Tusti; smayam—Smaya; pustih—Pusti; asuyata—gave birth to; yogam—Yoga; kriya—Kriya; unnatih—Unnati; darpam—Darpa; artham—Artha; buddhih—Buddhi; asuyata—begot; medha—Medha; smrtim—Smrti; titiksa—Titiksa; tu—also; ksemam—Ksema; hrih—Hri; prasrayam—Prasraya; sutam—son; murtih—Murti; sarva-guna—of all respectable qualities; utpattih—the reservoir; nara-narayanau—both Nara and Narayana; rsi—the two sages. TRANSLATION One of the remaining two daughters was given in charity to the Pitrloka, where she resides very amicably, and the other was given to Lord Siva, who is the deliverer of sinful persons from material entanglement. The names of the thirteen daughters of Daksa who were given to Dharma are Sraddha, Maitri, Daya, Santi, Tusti, Pusti, Kriya, Unnati, Buddhi, Medha, Titiksa, Hri and Murti. These thirteen daughters produced the following sons: Sraddha gave birth to Subha, Maitri produced Prasada, Daya gave birth to Abhaya, Santi gave birth to Sukha, Tusti gave birth to Muda, Pusti gave birth to Smaya, Kriya gave birth to Yoga, Unnati gave birth to Darpa, Buddhi gave birth to Artha, Medha gave birth to Smrti, Titiksa gave birth to Ksema, and Hri gave birth to Prasraya. Murti, a reservoir of all respectable qualities, gave birth to Sri Nara-Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB4.1.53 TEXT 53 yayor janmany ado visvam abhyanandat sunirvrtam manamsi kakubho vatah praseduh sarito ’drayah SYNONYMS yayoh—both of whom (Nara and Narayana); janmani—on the appearance; adah—that; visvam—universe; abhyanandat—became glad; su-nirvrtam—full of joy; manamsi—everyone’s mind; kakubhah—the directions; vatah—the air; praseduh—became pleasant; saritah—the rivers; adrayah—the mountains. TRANSLATION On the occasion of the appearance of Nara-Narayana, the entire world was full of joy. Everyone’s mind became tranquil, and thus in all directions the air, the rivers and the mountains became pleasant. SB4.1.54-55 TEXTS 54–55 divy avadyanta turyani petuh kusuma-vrstayah munayas tustuvus tusta jagur gandharva-kinnarah nrtyanti sma striyo devya asit parama-mangalam deva brahmadayah sarve upatasthur abhistavaih SYNONYMS divi—in the heavenly planets; avadyanta—vibrated; turyani—a band of instruments; petuh—they showered; kusuma—of flowers; vrstayah—showers; munayah—the sages; tustuvuh—chanted Vedic prayers; tustah—pacified; jaguh—began to sing; gandharva—the Gandharvas; kinnarah—the Kinnaras; nrtyanti sma—danced; striyah—the beautiful damsels; devyah—of the heavenly planets; asit—were visible; parama-mangalam—the highest good fortune; devah—the demigods; brahma-adayah—Brahma and others; sarve—all; upatasthuh—worshiped; abhistavaih—with respectful prayers. TRANSLATION In the heavenly planets, bands began to play, and they showered flowers from the sky. The pacified sages chanted Vedic prayers, the denizens of heaven known as the Gandharvas and Kinnaras sang, the beautiful damsels of the heavenly planets danced, and in this way, at the time of the appearance of Nara-Narayana, all signs of good fortune were visible. Just at that time, great demigods like Brahma also offered their respectful prayers. SB4.1.56 TEXT 56 deva ucuh yo mayaya viracitam nijayatmanidam khe rupa-bhedam iva tat-praticaksanaya etena dharma-sadane rsi-murtinadya praduscakara purusaya namah parasmai SYNONYMS devah—the demigods; ucuh—said; yah—who; mayaya—by the external energy; viracitam—was created; nijaya—by His own; atmani—being situated in Him; idam—this; khe—in the sky; rupa-bhedam—bunches of clouds; iva—as if; tat—of Himself; praticaksanaya—for manifesting; etena—with this; dharma-sadane—in the house of Dharma; rsi-murtina—with the form of a sage; adya—today; praduscakara—appeared; purusaya—unto the Personality of Godhead; namah—respectful obeisances; parasmai—the Supreme. TRANSLATION The demigods said: Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the transcendental Personality of Godhead, who created as His external energy this cosmic manifestation, which is situated in Him as the air and clouds are situated in space, and who has now appeared in the form of Nara-Narayana Rsi in the house of Dharma. PURPORT The universal form of the Lord is the cosmic manifestation, which is an exhibition of the external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In space there are innumerable varieties of planets and also the air, and in the air there are variously colored clouds, and sometimes we see airplanes running from one place to another. Thus the entire cosmic manifestation is full of variety, but actually that variety is a manifestation of the external energy of the Supreme Lord, and that energy is situated in Him. Now the Lord Himself, after manifesting His energy, appeared within the creation of His energy, which is simultaneously one with and different from Himself, and therefore the demigods offered their respects to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who manifests Himself in such varieties. There are some philosophers, called nondualists, who because of their impersonal conception think that varieties are false. ln this verse it is specifically stated, yo mayaya viracitam. This indicates that the varieties are a manifestation of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus because the energy is nondifferent from the Godhead, the varieties are also factual. The material varieties may be temporary, but they are not false. They are a reflection of the spiritual varieties. Here the word praticaksanaya, “there are varieties,” announces the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared as Nara-Narayana Rsi and who is the origin of all varieties of material nature. SB4.1.57 TEXT 57 so ’yam sthiti-vyatikaropasamaya srstan sattvena nah sura-ganan anumeya-tattvah drsyad adabhra-karunena vilokanena yac chri-niketam amalam ksipataravindam SYNONYMS sah—that; ayam—He; sthiti—of the created world; vyatikara—calamities; upasamaya—for destroying; srstan—created; sattvena—by the mode of goodness; nah—us; sura-ganan—the demigods; anumeya-tattvah—understood by the Vedas; drsyat—glance over; adabhra-karunena—merciful; vilokanena—glance; yat—which; sri-niketam—the home of the goddess of fortune; amalam—spotless; ksipata—supersedes; aravindam—lotus. TRANSLATION Let that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is understood by truly authorized Vedic literature and who has created peace and prosperity to destroy all calamities of the created world, be kind enough to bestow His glance upon the demigods. His merciful glance can supersede the beauty of the spotless lotus flower which is the home of the goddess of fortune. PURPORT The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the origin of the cosmic manifestation, is covered by the wonderful activities of material nature, just as outer space or the illumination of the sun and moon is sometimes covered by clouds or dust. It is very difficult to find the origin of the cosmic manifestation; therefore material scientists conclude that nature is the ultimate cause of all manifestations. But from sastra, or authentic literature like Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic scriptures, we understand that behind this wonderful cosmic manifestation is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in order to maintain the regular procedures of the cosmic manifestation and to be visible to the eyes of persons who are in the mode of goodness, the Lord appears. He is the cause of the creation and dissolution of the cosmic manifestation. The demigods therefore prayed for His merciful glance upon them in order to be blessed. SB4.1.58 TEXT 58 evam sura-ganais tata bhagavantav abhistutau labdhavalokair yayatur arcitau gandhamadanam SYNONYMS evam—thus; sura-ganaih—by the demigods; tata—O Vidura; bhagavantau—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; abhistutau—having been praised; labdha—having obtained; avalokaih—the glance (of mercy); yayatuh—departed; arcitau—having been worshiped; gandha-madanam—to the Gandhamadana Hill. TRANSLATION [Maitreya said:] O Vidura, thus the demigods worshiped with prayers the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as the sage Nara-Narayana. The Lord glanced upon them with mercy and then departed for Gandhamadana Hill. SB4.1.59 TEXT 59 tav imau vai bhagavato harer amsav ihagatau bhara-vyayaya ca bhuvah krsnau yadu-kurudvahau SYNONYMS tau—both; imau—these; vai—certainly; bhagavatah—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hareh—of Hari; amsau—part and parcel expansion; iha—here (in this universe); agatau—has appeared; bhara-vyayaya—for mitigation of the burden; ca—and; bhuvah—of the world; krsnau—the two Krsnas (Krsna and Arjuna); yadu-kuru-udvahau—who are the best of the Yadu and Kuru dynasties respectively. TRANSLATION That Nara-Narayana Rsi, who is a partial expansion of Krsna, has now appeared in the dynasties of Yadu and Kuru, in the forms of Krsna and Arjuna respectively, to mitigate the burden of the world. PURPORT Narayana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Nara is a part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana. Thus the energy and the energetic together are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Maitreya informed Vidura that Nara, the portion of Narayana, had appeared in the family of the Kurus and that Narayana, the plenary expansion of Krsna, had come as Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with the purpose of delivering suffering humanity from the pangs of material burdens. In other words, Narayana Rsi was now present in the world in the forms of Krsna and Arjuna. SB4.1.60 TEXT 60 svahabhimaninas cagner atmajams trin ajijanat pavakam pavamanam ca sucim ca huta-bhojanam SYNONYMS svaha—Svaha, the wife of Agni; abhimaninah—the presiding deity of fire; ca—and; agneh—from Agni; atmajan—sons; trin—three; ajijanat—produced; pavakam—Pavaka; pavamanam ca—and Pavamana; sucim ca—and Suci; huta-bhojanam—eating the oblations of sacrifice. TRANSLATION The predominating deity of fire begot in his wife, Svaha, three children, named Pavaka, Pavamana and Suci, who exist by eating the oblations offered to the fire of sacrifice. PURPORT After describing the descendants of the thirteen wives of Dharma, who were all daughters of Daksa, Maitreya now describes the fourteenth daughter of Daksa, Svaha, and her three sons. Oblations offered in the sacrificial fire are meant for the demigods, and on behalf of the demigods the three sons of Agni and Svaha, namely Pavaka, Pavamana and Suci, accept the oblations. SB4.1.61 TEXT 61 tebhyo ’gnayah samabhavan catvarimsac ca panca ca ta evaikonapancasat sakam pitr-pitamahaih SYNONYMS tebhyah—from them; agnayah—fire-gods; samabhavan—were produced; catvarimsat—forty; ca—and; panca—five; ca—and; te—they; eva—certainly; ekona-pancasat—forty-nine; sakam—along with; pitr-pitamahaih—with the fathers and grandfather. TRANSLATION From those three sons another forty-five descendants were generated, who are also fire-gods. The total number of fire-gods is therefore forty-nine, including the fathers and the grandfather. PURPORT The grandfather is Agni, and the sons are Pavaka, Pavamana and Suci. Counting these four, plus forty-five grandsons, there are altogether forty-nine different fire-gods. SB4.1.62 TEXT 62 vaitanike karmani yan- namabhir brahma-vadibhih agneyya istayo yajne nirupyante ’gnayas tu te SYNONYMS vaitanike—offering of oblations; karmani—the activity; yat—of the fire-gods; namabhih—by the names; brahma-vadibhih—by impersonalist brahmanas; agneyyah—for Agni; istayah—sacrifices; yajne—in the sacrifice; nirupyante—are the objective; agnayah—the forty-nine fire-gods; tu—but; te—those. TRANSLATION These forty-nine fire-gods are the beneficiaries of the oblations offered in the Vedic sacrificial fire by impersonalist brahmanas. PURPORT Impersonalists who perform Vedic fruitive sacrifices are attracted to the various fire-gods and offer oblations in their name. The forty-nine fire-gods are described herewith. SB4.1.63 TEXT 63 agnisvatta barhisadah saumyah pitara ajyapah sagnayo ’nagnayas tesam patni daksayani svadha SYNONYMS agnisvattah—the Agnisvattas; barhisadah—the Barhisadas; saumyah—the Saumyas; pitarah—the forefathers; ajyapah—the Ajyapas; sa-agnayah—those whose means is by fire; anagnayah—those whose means is without fire; tesam—of them; patni—the wife; daksayani—the daughter of Daksa; svadha—Svadha. TRANSLATION The Agnisvattas, the Barhisadas, the Saumyas and the Ajyapas are the Pitas. They are either sagnika or niragnika. The wife of all these Pitas is Svadha, who is the daughter of King Daksa. SB4.1.64 TEXT 64 tebhyo dadhara kanye dve vayunam dharinim svadha ubhe te brahma-vadinyau jnana-vijnana-parage SYNONYMS tebhyah—from them; dadhara—produced; kanye—daughters; dve—two; vayunam—Vayuna; dharinim—Dharini; svadha—Svadha; ubhe—both of them; te—they; brahma-vadinyau—impersonalists; jnana-vijnana-para-ge—expert in both transcendental and Vedic knowledge. TRANSLATION Svadha, who was offered to the Pitas, begot two daughters named Vayuna and Dharini, both of whom were impersonalists and were expert in transcendental and Vedic knowledge. SB4.1.65 TEXT 65 bhavasya patni tu sati bhavam devam anuvrata atmanah sadrsam putram na lebhe guna-silatah SYNONYMS bhavasya—of Bhava (Lord Siva); patni—the wife; tu—but; sati—named Sati; bhavam—to Bhava; devam—a demigod; anuvrata—faithfully engaged in service; atmanah—of herself; sadrsam—similar; putram—a son; na lebhe—did not obtain; guna-silatah—by good qualities and by character. TRANSLATION The sixteenth daughter, whose name was Sati, was the wife of Lord Siva. She could not produce a child, although she always faithfully engaged in the service of her husband. SB4.1.66 TEXT 66 pitary apratirupe sve bhavayanagase rusa apraudhaivatmanatmanam ajahad yoga-samyuta SYNONYMS pitari—as a father; apratirupe—unfavorable; sve—her own; bhavaya—unto Lord Siva; anagase—faultless; rusa—with anger; apraudha—before attaining maturity; eva—even; atmana—by herself; atmanam—the body; ajahat—gave up; yoga-samyuta—by mystic yoga. TRANSLATION The reason is that Sati’s father, Daksa, used to rebuke Lord Siva in spite of Siva’s faultlessness. Consequently, before attaining a mature age, Sati gave up her body by dint of yogic mystic power. PURPORT Lord Siva, being the head of all mystic yogis, never even constructed a home for his residence. Sati was the daughter of a great king, Daksa, and because his youngest daughter, Sati, selected as her husband Lord Siva, King Daksa was not very much satisfied with her. Therefore whenever she met her father, he unnecessarily criticized her husband, although Lord Siva was faultless. Because of this, before attaining a mature age Sati gave up the body given by her father, Daksa, and therefore she could not produce a child. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, First Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Genealogical Table of the Daughters of Manu.”