Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6: “Prescribed Duties for Mankind”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Seven
SB6.7.22
TEXT 22
tasyayam anayasyasit
parebhyo vah parabhavah
praksinebhyah sva-vairibhyah
samrddhanam ca yat surah
SYNONYMS
tasya—that; ayam—this; anayasya—of your ungrateful activity; asit—was; parebhyah—by others; vah—of all of you; parabhavah—the defeat; praksinebhyah—although they were weak; sva-vairibhyah—by your own enemies, who were previously defeated by you; samrddhanam—being yourselves very opulent; ca—and; yat—which; surah—O demigods.
TRANSLATION
Because of your misbehavior toward Brhaspati, you have been defeated by the demons. My dear demigods, since the demons were weak, having been defeated by you several times, how else could you, who were so advanced in opulence, be defeated by them?
PURPORT
The devas are celebrated for fighting with the asuras perpetually. In such fights the asuras were always defeated, but this time the demigods were defeated. Why? The reason, as stated here, was that they had offended their spiritual master. Their impudent disrespect of their spiritual master was the cause of their defeat by the demons. As stated in the sastras, when one disrespects a respectable superior, one loses his longevity and the results of his pious activities, and in this way one is degraded. SB6.7.23 TEXT 23 maghavan dvisatah pasya praksinan gurv-atikramat sampraty upacitan bhuyah kavyam aradhya bhaktitah adadiran nilayanam mamapi bhrgu-devatah SYNONYMS maghavan—O Indra; dvisatah—your enemies; pasya—just see; praksinan—being very weak (formerly); guru-atikramat—because of disrespecting their guru, Sukracarya; samprati—at the present moment; upacitan—powerful; bhuyah—again; kavyam—their spiritual master, Sukracarya; aradhya—worshiping; bhaktitah—with great devotion; adadiran—may take away; nilayanam—the abode, Satyaloka; mama—my; api—even; bhrgu-devatah—who are now strong devotees of Sukracarya, the disciple of Bhrgu. TRANSLATION O Indra, your enemies, the demons, were extremely weak because of their disrespect toward Sukracarya, but since they have now worshiped Sukracarya with great devotion, they have again become powerful. By their devotion to Sukracarya, they have increased their strength so much that now they are even able to easily seize my abode from me. PURPORT Lord Brahma wanted to point out to the demigods that by the strength of the guru one can become most powerful within this world, and by the displeasure of the guru one can lose everything. This is confirmed by the song of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura: yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado “By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.” Although the demons are insignificant in comparison to Lord Brahma, because of the strength of their guru they were so powerful that they could even seize Brahmaloka from Lord Brahma. We therefore pray to the spiritual master: mukam karoti vacalam By the mercy of the guru, even a dumb man can become the greatest orator, and even a lame man can cross mountains. As advised by Lord Brahma, one should remember this sastric injunction if one desires success in his life. SB6.7.24 TEXT 24 tripistapam kim ganayanty abhedya- mantra bhrgunam anusiksitarthah na vipra-govinda-gav-isvaranam bhavanty abhadrani naresvaranam SYNONYMS tri-pista-pam—all the demigods, including Lord Brahma; kim—what; ganayanti—they care for; abhedya-mantrah—whose determination to carry out the orders of the spiritual master is unbreakable; bhrgunam—of the disciples of Bhrgu Muni like Sukracarya; anusiksita-arthah—deciding to follow the instructions; na—not; vipra—the brahmanas; govinda—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; go—the cows; isvaranam—of persons favoring or considering worshipable; bhavanti—are; abhadrani—any misfortunes; nara-isvaranam—or of kings who follow this principle. TRANSLATION Because of their firm determination to follow the instructions of Sukracarya, his disciples, the demons, are now unconcerned about the demigods. In fact, kings or others who have determined faith in the mercy of brahmanas, cows and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and who always worship these three are always strong in their position. PURPORT From the instructions of Lord Brahma it is understood that everyone should very faithfully worship the brahmanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cows. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is go-brahmana-hitaya ca: He is always very kind to cows and brahmanas. Therefore one who worships Govinda must satisfy Him by worshiping the brahmanas and cows. If a government worships the brahmanas, the cows and Krsna, Govinda, it is never defeated anywhere; otherwise it must always be defeated and condemned everywhere. At the present moment, all over the world, governments have no respect for brahmanas, cows and Govinda, and consequently there are chaotic conditions all over the world. In summary, although the demigods were very powerful in material opulence, the demons defeated them in battle because the demigods had behaved disrespectfully toward a brahmana, Brhaspati, who was their spiritual master. SB6.7.25 TEXT 25 tad visvarupam bhajatasu vipram tapasvinam tvastram athatmavantam sabhajito ’rthan sa vidhasyate vo yadi ksamisyadhvam utasya karma SYNONYMS tat—therefore; visvarupam—Visvarupa; bhajata—just worship as guru; asu—immediately; vipram—who is a perfect brahmana; tapasvinam—undergoing great austerities and penances; tvastram—the son of Tvasta; atha—as well as; atma-vantam—very independent; sabhajitah—being worshiped; arthan—the interests; sah—he; vidhasyate—will execute; vah—of all of you; yadi—if; ksamisyadhvam—you tolerate; uta—indeed; asya—his; karma—activities (to support the Daityas). TRANSLATION O demigods, I instruct you to approach Visvarupa, the son of Tvasta, and accept him as your guru. He is a pure and very powerful brahmana undergoing austerity and penances. Pleased by your worship, he will fulfill your desires, provided that you tolerate his being inclined to side with the demons. PURPORT Lord Brahma advised the demigods to accept the son of Tvasta as their spiritual master although he was always inclined toward the benefit of the asuras. SB6.7.26 TEXT 26 sri-suka uvaca ta evam udita rajan brahmana vigata-jvarah rsim tvastram upavrajya parisvajyedam abruvan SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sukadeva Gosvami said; te—all the demigods; evam—thus; uditah—being advised; rajan—O King Pariksit; brahmana—by Lord Brahma; vigata-jvarah—being relieved from the aggrievement caused by the demons; rsim—the great sage; tvastram—to the son of Tvasta; upavrajya—going; parisvajya—embracing; idam—this; abruvan—spoke. TRANSLATION Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus advised by Lord Brahma and relieved of their anxiety, all the demigods went to the sage Visvarupa, the son of Tvasta. My dear King, they embraced him and spoke as follows. SB6.7.27 TEXT 27 sri-deva ucuh vayam te ’tithayah prapta asramam bhadram astu te kamah sampadyatam tata pitrnam samayocitah SYNONYMS sri-devah ucuh—the demigods said; vayam—we; te—your; atithayah—guests; praptah—arrived at; asramam—your abode; bhadram—good fortune; astu—let there be; te—unto you; kamah—the desire; sampadyatam—let it be executed; tata—O darling; pitrnam—of us, who are just like your fathers; samayocitah—suitable to the present time. TRANSLATION The demigods said: Beloved Visvarupa, may there be all good fortune for you. We, the demigods, have come to your asrama as your guests. Please try to fulfill our desires according to the time, since we are on the level of your parents. SB6.7.28 TEXT 28 putranam hi paro dharmah pitr-susrusanam satam api putravatam brahman kim uta brahmacarinam SYNONYMS putranam—of sons; hi—indeed; parah—superior; dharmah—religious principle; pitr-susrusanam—the service of the parents; satam—good; api—even; putra-vatam—of those who have sons; brahman—O dear brahmana; kim uta—what to speak; brahmacarinam—of brahmacaris. TRANSLATION O brahmana, the highest duty of a son, even though he has sons of his own, is to serve his parents, and what to speak of a son who is a brahmacari? SB6.7.29-30 TEXTS 29–30 acaryo brahmano murtih pita murtih prajapateh bhrata marutpater murtir mata saksat ksites tanuh dayaya bhagini murtir dharmasyatmatithih svayam agner abhyagato murtih sarva-bhutani catmanah SYNONYMS acaryah—the teacher or spiritual master who instructs Vedic knowledge by his personal behavior; brahmanah—of all the Vedas; murtih—the personification; pita—the father; murtih—the personification; prajapateh—of Lord Brahma; bhrata—the brother; marut-pateh murtih—the personification of Indra; mata—the mother; saksat—directly; ksiteh—of the earth; tanuh—the body; dayayah—of mercy; bhagini—the sister; murtih—the personification; dharmasya—of religious principles; atma—the self; atithih—the guest; svayam—personally; agneh—of the fire-god; abhyagatah—the invited guest; murtih—the personification; sarva-bhutani—all living entities; ca—and; atmanah—of the Supreme Lord Visnu. TRANSLATION The acarya, the spiritual master who teaches all the Vedic knowledge and gives initiation by offering the sacred thread, is the personification of all the Vedas. Similarly, a father personifies Lord Brahma; a brother, King Indra; a mother, the planet earth; and a sister, mercy. A guest personifies religious principles, an invited guest personifies the demigod Agni, and all living entities personify Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. PURPORT According to the moral instructions of Canakya Pandita, atmavat sarva-bhutesu: one should observe all living entities to be on the same level as oneself. This means that no one should be neglected as inferior; because Paramatma is seated in everyone’s body, everyone should be respected as a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This verse describes the different ways in which one should respect a guru, a father, a brother, a sister, a guest and so on. SB6.7.31 TEXT 31 tasmat pitrnam artanam artim para-parabhavam tapasapanayams tata sandesam kartum arhasi SYNONYMS tasmat—therefore; pitrnam—of the parents; artanam—who are in distress; artim—the grief; para-parabhavam—being defeated by the enemies; tapasa—by the strength of your austerities; apanayan—taking away; tata—O dear son; sandesam—our desire; kartum arhasi—you deserve to execute. TRANSLATION Dear son, we have been defeated by our enemies, and therefore we are very much aggrieved. Please mercifully fulfill our desires by relieving our distress through the strength of your austerities. Please fulfill our prayers. SB6.7.32 TEXT 32 vrnimahe tvopadhyayam brahmistham brahmanam gurum yathanjasa vijesyamah sapatnams tava tejasa SYNONYMS vrnimahe—we choose; tva—you; upadhyayam—as teacher and spiritual master; brahmistham—being perfectly aware of the Supreme Brahman; brahmanam—a qualified brahmana; gurum—the perfect spiritual master; yatha—so that; anjasa—very easily; vijesyamah—we shall defeat; sapatnan—our rivals; tava—your; tejasa—by the power of austerity. TRANSLATION Since you are completely aware of the Supreme Brahman, you are a perfect brahmana, and therefore you are the spiritual master of all orders of life. We accept you as our spiritual master and director so that by the power of your austerity we may easily defeat the enemies who have conquered us. PURPORT One must approach a particular type of guru to execute a particular type of duty. Therefore although Visvarupa was inferior to the demigods, the demigods accepted him as their guru to conquer the demons. SB6.7.33 TEXT 33 na garhayanti hy arthesu yavisthanghry-abhivadanam chandobhyo ’nyatra na brahman vayo jyaisthyasya karanam SYNONYMS na—not; garhayanti—forbid; hi—indeed; arthesu—in acquiring interests; yavistha-anghri—at the lotus feet of a junior; abhivadanam—offering obeisances; chandobhyah—the Vedic mantras; anyatra—apart from; na—not; brahman—O brahmana; vayah—age; jyaisthyasya—of seniority; karanam—the cause. TRANSLATION The demigods continued: Do not fear criticism for being younger than us. Such etiquette does not apply in regard to Vedic mantras. Except in relationship to Vedic mantras, seniority is determined by age, but one may offer respectful obeisances even to a younger person who is advanced in chanting Vedic mantras. Therefore although you are junior in relationship to us, you may become our priest without hesitation. PURPORT It is said, vrddhatvam vayasa vina: one may be senior without being advanced in age. Even if one is not old, one gains seniority if he is senior in knowledge. Visvarupa was junior in relationship to the demigods because he was their nephew, but the demigods wanted to accept him as their priest, and therefore he would have to accept obeisances from them. The demigods explained that this should not be a cause for hesitation; he could become their priest because he was advanced in Vedic knowledge. Similarly. Canakya Pandita advises, nicad apy uttamam jnanam: one may accept education from a member of a lower social order. The brahmanas, the members of the most elevated varna, are teachers, but a person in a lower family, such as a family of ksatriyas, vaisyas or even sudras, may be accepted as a teacher if he has knowledge. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved of this when He expressed this opinion before Ramananda Raya (Cc. Madhya 8.128): kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya It does not matter whether one is a brahmana, sudra, grhastha or sannyasi. These are all material designations. A spiritually advanced person has nothing to do with such designations. Therefore, if one is advanced in the science of Krsna consciousness, regardless of his position in human society, he may become a spiritual master. SB6.7.34 TEXT 34 sri-rsir uvaca abhyarthitah sura-ganaih paurahitye maha-tapah sa visvarupas tan aha prasannah slaksnaya gira SYNONYMS sri-rsih uvaca—Sukadeva Gosvami continued to speak; abhyarthitah—being requested; sura-ganaih—by the demigods; paurahitye—in accepting the priesthood; maha-tapah—highly advanced in austerity and penances; sah—he; visvarupah—Visvarupa; tan—to the demigods; aha—spoke; prasannah—being satisfied; slaksnaya—sweet; gira—with words. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When all the demigods requested the great Visvarupa to be their priest, Visvarupa, who was advanced in austerities, was very pleased. He replied to them as follows. SB6.7.35 TEXT 35 sri-visvarupa uvaca vigarhitam dharma-silair brahmavarca-upavyayam katham nu mad-vidho natha lokesair abhiyacitam pratyakhyasyati tac-chisyah sa eva svartha ucyate SYNONYMS sri-visvarupah uvaca—Sri Visvarupa said; vigarhitam—condemned; dharma-silaih—by persons respectful to the religious principles; brahma-varcah—of brahminical strength or power; upavyayam—causes loss; katham—how; nu—indeed; mat-vidhah—a person like me; nathah—O lords; loka-isaih—by the ruling powers of different planets; abhiyacitam—request; pratyakhyasyati—will refuse; tat-sisyah—who is on the level of their disciple; sah—that; eva—indeed; sva-arthah—real interest; ucyate—is described as. TRANSLATION Sri Visvarupa said: O demigods, although the acceptance of priesthood is decried as causing the loss of previously acquired brahminical power, how can someone like me refuse to accept your personal request? You are all exalted commanders of the entire universe. I am your disciple and must take many lessons from you. Therefore I cannot refuse you. I must agree for my own benefit. PURPORT The professions of a qualified brahmana are pathana, pathana, yajana, yajana, dana and pratigraha. The words yajana and yajana mean that a brahmana becomes the priest of the populace for the sake of their elevation. One who accepts the post of spiritual master neutralizes the sinful reactions of the yajamana, the one on whose behalf he performs yajna. Thus the results of the pious acts previously performed by the priest or spiritual master are diminished. Therefore priesthood is not accepted by learned brahmanas. Nevertheless, the greatly learned brahmana Visvarupa became the priest of the demigods because of his profound respect for them. SB6.7.36 TEXT 36 akincananam hi dhanam silonchanam teneha nirvartita-sadhu-satkriyah katham vigarhyam nu karomy adhisvarah paurodhasam hrsyati yena durmatih SYNONYMS akincananam—of persons who have taken to austerities and penances to become detached from worldly possessions; hi—certainly; dhanam—the wealth; sila—the collecting of grains left in the field; unchanam—and the collecting of grains left in the wholesale marketplace; tena—by that means; iha—here; nirvartita—accomplishing; sadhu—of the exalted devotees; sat-kriyah—all the pious activities; katham—how; vigarhyam—reproachable; nu—indeed; karomi—I shall execute; adhisvarah—O great governors of the planetary systems; paurodhasam—the duty of priesthood; hrsyati—is pleased; yena—by which; durmatih—one who is less intelligent. TRANSLATION O exalted governors of various planets, the true brahmana, who has no material possessions, maintains himself by the profession of accepting silonchana. In other words, he picks up grains left in the field and on the ground in the wholesale marketplace. By this means, householder brahmanas who actually abide by the principles of austerity and penance maintain themselves and their families and perform all necessary pious activities. A brahmana who desires to achieve happiness by gaining wealth through professional priesthood must certainly have a very low mind. How shall I accept such priesthood? PURPORT A first-class brahmana does not accept any rewards from his disciples or yajamanas. Practicing austerities and penances, he instead goes to the agricultural field and collects food grains left by the agriculturalists to be collected by brahmanas. Similarly, such brahmanas go to marketplaces where grains are purchased and sold wholesale, and there they collect grains left by the merchants. In this way, such exalted brahmanas maintain their bodies and families. Such priests never demand anything from their disciples to live in opulence, imitating ksatriyas or vaisyas. In other words, a pure brahmana voluntarily accepts a life of poverty and lives in complete dependence on the mercy of the Lord. Not very many years ago, a brahmana in Krsnanagara, near Navadvipa, was offered some help from the local Zamindar, Vraja Krsnacandra. The brahmana refused to accept the help. He said that since he was very happy in his householder life, taking rice given by his disciples and cooking vegetables of tamarind leaves, there was no question of taking help from the Zamindar. The conclusion is that although a brahmana may receive much opulence from his disciples, he should not utilize the rewards of his priesthood for his personal benefit; he must use them for the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB6.7.37 TEXT 37 tathapi na pratibruyam gurubhih prarthitam kiyat bhavatam prarthitam sarvam pranair arthais ca sadhaye SYNONYMS tatha api—still; na—not; pratibruyam—I may refuse; gurubhih—by persons on the level of my spiritual master; prarthitam—request; kiyat—of small value; bhavatam—of all of you; prarthitam—the desire; sarvam—whole; pranaih—by my life; arthaih—by my possessions; ca—also; sadhaye—I shall execute. TRANSLATION All of you are my superiors. Therefore although accepting priesthood is sometimes reproachable, I cannot refuse even a small request from you. I agree to be your priest. I shall fulfill your request by dedicating my life and possessions. SB6.7.38 TEXT 38 sri-badarayanir uvaca tebhya evam pratisrutya visvarupo maha-tapah paurahityam vrtas cakre paramena samadhina SYNONYMS sri-badarayanih uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; tebhyah—unto them (the demigods); evam—thus; pratisrutya—promising; visvarupah—Visvarupa; maha-tapah—the most exalted personality; paurahityam—the priesthood; vrtah—surrounded by them; cakre—executed; paramena—supreme; samadhina—with attention. TRANSLATION Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King, after making this promise to the demigods, the exalted Visvarupa, surrounded by the demigods, performed the necessary priestly activities with great enthusiasm and attention. PURPORT The word samadhina is very important. Samadhi means complete absorption with an undiverted mind. Visvarupa, who was a most learned brahmana, not only accepted the request of the demigods, but took their request seriously and performed the activities of priesthood with an undiverted mind. In other words, he accepted the priesthood not for material gain, but to profit the demigods. Such is the duty of a priest. The word purah means “family,” and hita means “benefit.” Thus the word purohita indicates that the priest is the well-wisher of the family. Another meaning of the word purah is “first.” A priest’s first duty is to see that his disciples benefit spiritually and materially by all means. Then he is satisfied. A priest should never be interested in performing Vedic rituals for his personal benefit. SB6.7.39 TEXT 39 sura-dvisam sriyam guptam ausanasyapi vidyaya acchidyadan mahendraya vaisnavya vidyaya vibhuh SYNONYMS sura-dvisam—of the enemies of the demigods; sriyam—the opulence; guptam—protected; ausanasya—of Sukracarya; api—although; vidyaya—by the talents; acchidya—collecting; adat—delivered; maha-indraya—unto King Indra; vaisnavya—of Lord Visnu; vidyaya—by a prayer; vibhuh—the most powerful Visvarupa. TRANSLATION The opulence of the demons, who are generally known as the enemies of the demigods, was protected by the talents and tactics of Sukracarya, but Visvarupa, who was most powerful, composed a protective prayer known as the Narayana-kavaca. By this intelligent mantra, he took away the opulence of the demons and gave it to Mahendra, the King of heaven. PURPORT The distinction between the demigods (devas) and demons (asuras) is that the demigods are all devotees of Lord Visnu whereas the demons are devotees of demigods like Lord Siva, Goddess Kali and Goddess Durga. Sometimes the demons are also devotees of Lord Brahma. For example, Hiranyakasipu was a devotee of Lord Brahma, Ravana was a devotee of Lord Siva, and Mahisasura was a devotee of Goddess Durga. The demigods are devotees of Lord Visnu (visnu-bhaktah smrto daiva), whereas the demons (asuras tad-viparyayah) are always against the visnu-bhaktas, or Vaisnavas. To oppose the Vaisnavas, the demons become devotees of Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Kali, Durga, and so on. In the days of yore, many long years ago, there was animosity between the devas and the asuras, and the same spirit still continues, for the devotees of Lord Siva and Goddess Durga are always envious of Vaisnavas, who are devotees of Lord Visnu. This strain between the devotees of Lord Siva and Lord Visnu has always existed. In the higher planetary systems, fights between the demons and the demigods continue for a long, long time. Herein we see that Visvarupa made for the demigods a protective covering, saturated with a Visnu mantra. Sometimes the Visnu mantra is called Visnu-jvara, and the Siva mantra is called Siva-jvara. We find in the sastras that sometimes the Siva-jvara and Visnu-jvara are employed in the fights between the demons and the demigods. The word sura-dvisam, which in this verse means “of the enemies of the demigods,” also refers to the atheists. Srimad-Bhagavatam elsewhere says that Lord Buddha appeared for the purpose of bewildering the demons or atheists. The Supreme Personality of Godhead always awards His benediction to devotees. The Lord Himself confirms this in Bhagavad-gita (9.31): kaunteya pratijanihi “O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” SB6.7.40 TEXT 40 yaya guptah sahasrakso jigye ’sura-camur vibhuh tam praha sa mahendraya visvarupa udara-dhih SYNONYMS yaya—by which; guptah—protected; sahasra-aksah—the thousand-eyed demigod, Indra; jigye—conquered; asura—of the demons; camuh—military power; vibhuh—becoming very powerful; tam—that; praha—spoke; sah—he; mahendraya—unto the King of heaven, Mahendra; visvarupah—Visvarupa; udara-dhih—very broad-minded. TRANSLATION Visvarupa, who was most liberal, spoke to King Indra [Sahasraksa] the secret hymn that protected Indra and conquered the military power of the demons. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to the Sixth Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Brhaspati.”
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ’pi **
pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande
sri-gurum dina-taranam
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ’guru’ haya
na me bhaktah pranasyati