Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Twelve
SB8.12.32
TEXT 32
tasyanudhavato retas
caskandamogha-retasah
susmino yuthapasyeva
vasitam anudhavatah
SYNONYMS
tasya—of him (Lord Siva); anudhavatah—who was following; retah—the semen; caskanda—discharged; amogha-retasah—of that person whose discharge of semen never goes in vain; susminah—mad; yuthapasya—of a male elephant; iva—just like; vasitam—to a female elephant able to conceive pregnancy; anudhavatah—following.
TRANSLATION
Just as a maddened bull elephant follows a female elephant who is able to conceive pregnancy, Lord Siva followed the beautiful woman and discharged semen, even though his discharge of semen never goes in vain.
SB8.12.33
TEXT 33
yatra yatrapatan mahyam
retas tasya mahatmanah
tani rupyasya hemnas ca
ksetrany asan mahi-pate
SYNONYMS
yatra—wherever; yatra—and wherever; apatat—fell; mahyam—on the surface of the world; retah—the semen; tasya—of him; maha-atmanah—of the great personality (Lord Siva); tani—all those places; rupyasya—of silver; hemnah—of gold; ca—and; ksetrani—mines; asan—became; mahi-pate—O King.
TRANSLATION
O King, wheresoever on the surface of the globe fell the semen of the great personality of Lord Siva, mines of gold and silver later appeared.
PURPORT
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura comments that those who seek gold and silver can worship Lord Siva for material opulences. Lord Siva lives under a bael tree and does not even construct a house in which to dwell, but although he is apparently poverty-stricken, his devotees are sometimes opulently endowed with large quantities of silver and gold. Pariksit Maharaja later asks about this, and Sukadeva Gosvami replies. SB8.12.34 TEXT 34 sarit-sarahsu sailesu vanesupavanesu ca yatra kva casann rsayas tatra sannihito harah SYNONYMS sarit—near the shores of the rivers; sarahsu—and near the lakes; sailesu—near the mountains; vanesu—in the forests; upavanesu—in the gardens or small forests; ca—also; yatra—wherever; kva—anywhere; ca—also; asan—were exiting; rsayah—great sages; tatra—there; sannihitah—was present; harah—Lord Siva. TRANSLATION Following Mohini, Lord Siva went everywhere—near the shores of the rivers and lakes, near the mountains, near the forests, near the gardens, and wherever there lived great sages. PURPORT Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks that Mohini-murti dragged Lord Siva to so many places, especially to where the great sages lived, to instruct the sages that their Lord Siva had become mad for a beautiful woman. Thus although they were all great sages and saintly persons, they should not think themselves free, but should remain extremely cautious about beautiful women. No one should think himself liberated in the presence of a beautiful woman. The sastras enjoin: matra svasra duhitra va “One should not stay in a solitary place with a woman, even if she be his mother, sister or daughter, for the senses are so uncontrollably powerful that in the presence of a woman one may become agitated, even if he is very learned and advanced.” (Bhag. 9.19.17) SB8.12.35 TEXT 35 skanne retasi so ’pasyad atmanam deva-mayaya jadikrtam nrpa-srestha sannyavartata kasmalat SYNONYMS skanne—when fully discharged; retasi—the semen; sah—Lord Siva; apasyat—saw; atmanam—his own self; deva-mayaya—by the maya of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jadikrtam—had become victimized as a fool; nrpa-srestha—O best of kings (Maharaja Pariksit); sannyavartata—restrained himself further; kasmalat—from illusion. TRANSLATION O Maharaja Pariksit, best of kings, when Lord Siva had fully discharged semen, he could see how he himself had been victimized by the illusion created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he restrained himself from any further maya. PURPORT Once one is agitated by lusty desires upon seeing a woman, those desires increase more and more, but when semen is discharged in the act of sex, the lusty desires diminish. The same principle acted upon Lord Siva. He was allured by the beautiful woman Mohini-murti, but when his semen had been fully discharged, he came to his senses and realized how he had been victimized as soon as he saw the woman in the forest. If one is trained to protect his semen by observing celibacy, naturally he is not attracted by the beauty of a woman. If one can remain a brahmacari, he saves himself so much trouble in material existence. Material existence means enjoying the pleasure of sexual intercourse (yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham [SB 7.9.45]). If one is educated about sex life and is trained to protect his semen, he is saved from the danger of material existence. SB8.12.36 TEXT 36 athavagata-mahatmya atmano jagad-atmanah aparijneya-viryasya na mene tad u hadbhutam SYNONYMS atha—thus; avagata—being fully convinced about; mahatmyah—the greatness; atmanah—of himself; jagat-atmanah—and of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aparijneya-viryasya—who has unlimited potency; na—not; mene—did consider; tat—the miraculous activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in bewildering him; u ha—certainly; adbhutam—as wonderful. TRANSLATION Thus Lord Siva could understand his position and that of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has unlimited potencies. Having reached this understanding, he was not at all surprised by the wonderful way Lord Visnu had acted upon him. PURPORT The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as all-powerful because no one can excel Him in any activity. In Bhagavad-gita (7.7) the Lord says, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: “O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me.” No one can equal the Lord or be greater than Him, for He is the master of everyone. As stated in Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 5.142), ekale isvara krsna, ara saba bhrtya. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the only master of everyone, including even Lord Siva, what to speak of others. Lord Siva was already aware of the supreme power of Lord Visnu, but when he was actually put into bewilderment, he felt proud to have such an exalted master. SB8.12.37 TEXT 37 tam aviklavam avridam alaksya madhusudanah uvaca parama-prito bibhrat svam paurusim tanum SYNONYMS tam—him (Lord Siva); aviklavam—without being agitated by the incident that had taken place; avridam—without being ashamed; alaksya—seeing; madhu-sudanah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Madhusudana, the killer of the demon Madhu; uvaca—said; parama-pritah—being very pleased; bibhrat—assuming; svam—His own; paurusim—original; tanum—form. TRANSLATION Seeing Lord Siva unagitated and unashamed, Lord Visnu [Madhusudana] was very pleased. Thus He resumed His original form and spoke as follows. PURPORT Although Lord Siva was aghast at the potency of Lord Visnu, he did not feel ashamed. Rather, he was proud to be defeated by Lord Visnu. Nothing is hidden from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for He is in everyone’s heart. Indeed, the Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (15.15), sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca: “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” Whatever happened had taken place under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore there was no cause to be sorry or ashamed. Although Lord Siva is never defeated by anyone, when defeated by Lord Visnu he felt proud that he had such an exalted and powerful master. SB8.12.38 TEXT 38 sri-bhagavan uvaca distya tvam vibudha-srestha svam nistham atmana sthitah yan me stri-rupaya svairam mohito ’py anga mayaya SYNONYMS sri-bhagavan uvaca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; distya—all auspiciousness; tvam—unto you; vibudha-srestha—O best of all the demigods; svam—in your own; nistham—fixed situation; atmana—of your own self; sthitah—you are situated; yat—as; me—Mine; stri-rupaya—appearance like a woman; svairam—sufficiently; mohitah—enchanted; api—in spite of; anga—O Lord Siva; mayaya—by My potency. TRANSLATION The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of the demigods, although you have been amply harassed because of My potency in assuming the form of a woman, you are established in your position. Therefore, may all good fortune be upon you. PURPORT Since Lord Siva is the best of the demigods, he is the best of all devotees (vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh). His exemplary character was therefore praised by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who gave His benediction by saying, “May all good fortune be upon you.” When a devotee becomes a little proud, the Supreme Lord sometimes exhibits His supreme power to dissipate the devotee’s misunderstanding. After being amply harassed by Lord Visnu’s potency, Lord Siva resumed his normal, unagitated condition. This is the position of a devotee. A devotee should not be agitated under any circumstances, even in the worst reverses. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (6.22), yasmin sthito na duhkhena gurunapi vicalyate: because of his full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee is never agitated, even in the greatest trials. This pridelessness is possible only for the first-class devotees, of whom Lord Sambhu is one. SB8.12.39 TEXT 39 ko nu me ’titaren mayam visaktas tvad-rte puman tams tan visrjatim bhavan dustaram akrtatmabhih SYNONYMS kah—what; nu—indeed; me—My; atitaret—can surpass; mayam—illusory energy; visaktah—attached to material sense enjoyment; tvat-rte—except for you; puman—person; tan—such conditions; tan—unto the materially attached persons; visrjatim—in surpassing; bhavan—reactions of material activities; dustaram—very difficult to surmount; akrta-atmabhih—by persons unable to control their senses. TRANSLATION My dear Lord Sambhu, who within this material world but you can surpass My illusory energy? People are generally attached to sense enjoyment and conquered by its influence. Indeed, the influence of material nature is very difficult for them to surmount. PURPORT Of the three chief demigods—Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara—all but Visnu are under the influence of maya. In Caitanya-caritamrta, they are described as mayi, which means “under maya’s influence.” But even though Lord Siva associates with maya, he is not influenced. The living entities are affected by maya, but although Lord Siva apparently associates with maya, he is not affected. In other words, all living entities within this material world except for Lord Siva are swayed by maya. Lord Siva is therefore neither visnu-tattva nor jiva-tattva. He is between the two. SB8.12.40 TEXT 40 seyam guna-mayi maya na tvam abhibhavisyati maya sameta kalena kala-rupena bhagasah SYNONYMS sa—that insurmountable; iyam—this; guna-mayi—consisting of the three modes of material nature; maya—illusory energy; na—not; tvam—you; abhibhavisyati—will be able to bewilder in the future; maya—with Me; sameta—joined; kalena—eternal time; kala-rupena—in the form of time; bhagasah—with her different parts. TRANSLATION The material, external energy [maya], who cooperates with Me in creation and who is manifested in the three modes of nature, will not be able to bewilder you any longer. PURPORT When Lord Siva was present, his wife, Durga, was also there. Durga works in cooperation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in creating the cosmic manifestation. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (9.10), mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sacaracaram: “The material energy [prakrti] works under My direction, O son of Kunti, and is producing all moving and unmoving beings.” Prakrti is Durga. srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka [Bs. 5.44] The entire cosmos is created by Durga in cooperation with Lord Visnu in the form of kala, time. Sa iksata lokan nu srja. Sa imal lokan asrjata. This is the version of the Vedas (Aitareya Upanisad 1.1.1–2). Maya happens to be the wife of Lord Siva, and thus Lord Siva is in association with maya, but Lord Visnu here assures Lord Siva that this maya will no longer be able to captivate him. SB8.12.41 TEXT 41 sri-suka uvaca evam bhagavata rajan srivatsankena sat-krtah amantrya tam parikramya saganah svalayam yayau SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam—thus; bhagavata—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rajan—O King; srivatsa-ankena—who always carries the mark of Srivatsa on His breast; sat-krtah—being very much applauded; amantrya—taking permission from; tam—Him; parikramya—circumambulating; sa-ganah—with his associates; sva-alayam—to his own abode; yayau—went back. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, having thus been praised by the Supreme Personality, who bears the mark of Srivatsa on His chest, Lord Siva circumambulated Him. Then, after taking permission from Him, Lord Siva returned to his abode, Kailasa, along with his associates. PURPORT Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks that when Lord Siva was offering obeisances unto Lord Visnu, Lord Visnu arose and embraced him. Therefore the word srivatsankena is used here. The mark of Srivatsa adorns the chest of Lord Visnu, and therefore when Lord Visnu embraced Lord Siva while being circumambulated, the Srivatsa mark touched Lord Siva’s bosom. SB8.12.42 TEXT 42 atmamsa-bhutam tam mayam bhavanim bhagavan bhavah sammatam rsi-mukhyanam prityacastatha bharata SYNONYMS atma-amsa-bhutam—a potency of the Supreme Soul; tam—unto her; mayam—the illusory energy; bhavanim—who is the wife of Lord Siva; bhagavan—the powerful; bhavah—Lord Siva; sammatam—accepted; rsi-mukhyanam—by the great sages; pritya—in jubilation; acasta—began to address; atha—then; bharata—O Maharaja Pariksit, descendant of Bharata. TRANSLATION O descendant of Bharata Maharaja, Lord Siva, in jubilation, then addressed his wife, Bhavani, who is accepted by all authorities as the potency of Lord Visnu. SB8.12.43 TEXT 43 ayi vyapasyas tvam ajasya mayam parasya pumsah para-devatayah aham kalanam rsabho ’pi muhye yayavaso ’nye kim utasvatantrah SYNONYMS ayi—oh; vyapasyah—have seen; tvam—you; ajasya—of the unborn; mayam—the illusory energy; parasya pumsah—of the Supreme Person; para-devatayah—the Absolute Truth; aham—myself; kalanam—of plenary portions; rsabhah—the chief; api—although; muhye—became bewildered; yaya—by her; avasah—imperceptibly; anye—others; kim uta—what to speak of; asvatantrah—fully dependent on maya. TRANSLATION Lord Siva said: O Goddess, you have now seen the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the unborn master of everyone. Although I am one of the principal expansions of His Lordship, even I was illusioned by His energy. What then is to be said of others, who are fully dependent on maya? SB8.12.44 TEXT 44 yam mam aprcchas tvam upetya yogat sama-sahasranta uparatam vai sa esa saksat purusah purano na yatra kalo visate na vedah SYNONYMS yam—about whom; mam—from me; aprcchah—inquired; tvam—you; upetya—coming near me; yogat—from performing mystic yoga; sama—years; sahasra-ante—at the end of one thousand; uparatam—ceasing; vai—indeed; sah—He; esah—here is; saksat—directly; purusah—the Supreme Person; puranah—the original; na—not; yatra—where; kalah—eternal time; visate—can enter; na—nor; vedah—the Vedas. TRANSLATION When I finished performing mystic yoga for one thousand years, you asked me upon whom I was meditating. Now, here is that Supreme Person to whom time has no entrance and who the Vedas cannot understand. PURPORT Eternal time enters anywhere and everywhere, but it cannot enter the kingdom of god. Nor can the Vedas understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is an indication of the Lord’s being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. SB8.12.45 TEXT 45 sri-suka uvaca iti te ’bhihitas tata vikramah sarnga-dhanvanah sindhor nirmathane yena dhrtah prsthe mahacalah SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti—thus; te—unto you; abhihitah—explained; tata—my dear King; vikramah—prowess; sarnga-dhanvanah—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who carries the Sarnga bow; sindhoh—of the ocean of milk; nirmathane—in the churning; yena—by whom; dhrtah—was held; prsthe—on the back; maha-acalah—the great mountain. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, the person who bore the great mountain on His back for the churning of the ocean of milk is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Sarnga-dhanva. I have now described to you His prowess. SB8.12.46 TEXT 46 etan muhuh kirtayato ’nusrnvato na risyate jatu samudyamah kvacit yad uttamasloka-gunanuvarnanam samasta-samsara-parisramapaham SYNONYMS etat—this narration; muhuh—constantly; kirtayatah—of one who chants; anusrnvatah—and also hears; na—not; risyate—annihilated; jatu—at any time; samudyamah—the endeavor; kvacit—at any time; yat—because; uttamasloka—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna-anuvarnanam—describing the transcendental qualities; samasta—all; samsara—of material existence; parisrama—misery; apaham—finishing. TRANSLATION The endeavor of one who constantly hears or describes this narration of the churning of the ocean of milk will never be fruitless. Indeed, chanting the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only means to annihilate all sufferings in this material world. SB8.12.47 TEXT 47 asad-avisayam anghrim bhava-gamyam prapannan amrtam amara-varyan asayat sindhu-mathyam kapata-yuvati-veso mohayan yah surarims tam aham upasrtanam kama-puram nato ’smi SYNONYMS asat-avisayam—not understood by the atheists; anghrim—unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhava-gamyam—understood by devotees; prapannan—fully surrendered; amrtam—the nectar; amara-varyan—only unto the demigods; asayat—gave to drink; sindhu-mathyam—produced from the ocean of milk; kapata-yuvati-vesah—appearing as a false young girl; mohayan—captivating; yah—He who; sura-arin—the enemies of the demigods; tam—unto Him; aham—I; upasrtanam—of the devotees; kama-puram—who fulfills all desires; natah asmi—I offer my respectful obeisances. TRANSLATION Assuming the form of a young woman and thus bewildering the demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead distributed to His devotees, the demigods, the nectar produced from the churning of the ocean of milk. Unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always fulfills the desires of His devotees, I offer my respectful obeisances. PURPORT The instruction of this narration concerning the churning of the milk ocean is clearly manifested by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is equal to everyone, because of natural affection He favors His devotees. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (9.29): samo ’ham sarva-bhutesu “I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” This partiality of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is natural. A person cares for his children not because of partiality but in a reciprocation of love. The children depend on the father’s affection, and the father affectionately maintains the children. Similarly, because devotees do not know anything but the lotus feet of the Lord, the Lord is always prepared to give protection to His devotees and fulfill their desires. He therefore says, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati: “O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Mohini-murti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Siva.”
naviviktasano bhavet
balavan indriya-gramo
vidvamsam api karsati
chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga
na me dvesyo ’sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya
mayi te tesu capy aham