The Process of Creation

Verse 1 (bhagavata.2.4.1)

सूत उवाच वैयासकेरिति वचस्तत्त्वनिश्चयमात्मनः । उपधार्य मतिं कृष्णे औत्तरेयः सतीं व्यधात् ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca vaiyāsaker iti vacas tattva-niścayam ātmanaḥ upadhārya matiṁ kṛṣṇe auttareyaḥ satīṁ vyadhāt

Suta said: Having grasped these words of the son of Vyasa, which settled the truth about the self, the son of Uttara fixed his mind steadfastly upon Krishna.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.2.4.2)

आत्मजायासुतागारपशुद्रविणबन्धुषु । राज्ये चाविकले नित्यं विरूढां ममतां जहौ ॥ २ ॥

ātma-jāyā-sutāgāra- paśu-draviṇa-bandhuṣu rājye cāvikale nityaṁ virūḍhāṁ mamatāṁ jahau

He gave up the deep-rooted sense of 'mine' that had always clung to his own body, his wife, his sons, his household, his animals, his wealth, his kinsmen, and even his undivided kingdom.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.2.4.3)

पप्रच्छ चेममेवार्थं यन्मां पृच्छथ सत्तमाः । कृष्णानुभावश्रवणे श्रद्दधानो महामनाः ॥ ३ ॥

papraccha cemam evārthaṁ yan māṁ pṛcchatha sattamāḥ kṛṣṇānubhāva-śravaṇe śraddadhāno mahā-manāḥ

That great soul, full of faith in hearing about the majesty of Krishna, asked this same question that you, O best of sages, are now asking me.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.2.4.4)

संस्थां विज्ञाय संन्यस्य कर्म त्रैवर्गिकं च यत् । वासुदेवे भगवति आत्मभावं दृढं गतः ॥ ४ ॥

saṁsthāṁ vijñāya sannyasya karma trai-vargikaṁ ca yat vāsudeve bhagavati ātma-bhāvaṁ dṛḍhaṁ gataḥ

Knowing that his death was near, he renounced all activity aimed at the three worldly goals of dharma, artha and kama, and became firmly established in loving attachment to Bhagavan Vasudeva.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.2.4.5)

राजोवाच समीचीनं वचो ब्रह्मन् सर्वज्ञस्य तवानघ । तमो विशीर्यते मह्यं हरेः कथयतः कथाम् ॥ ५ ॥

rājovāca samīcīnaṁ vaco brahman sarva-jñasya tavānagha tamo viśīryate mahyaṁ hareḥ kathayataḥ kathām

The king said: O sinless brahmana, your words are entirely fitting, for you know all things; as you narrate the account of Hari, the darkness within me is being dispelled.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.2.4.6)

भूय एव विवित्सामि भगवानात्ममायया । यथेदं सृजते विश्वं दुर्विभाव्यमधीश्वरैः ॥ ६ ॥

bhūya eva vivitsāmi bhagavān ātma-māyayā yathedaṁ sṛjate viśvaṁ durvibhāvyam adhīśvaraiḥ

I wish now to know further: how does Bhagavan, through His own creative power, bring forth this universe — a feat that even the great presiding gods find impossible to fathom?

Verse 7 (bhagavata.2.4.7)

यथा गोपायति विभुर्यथा संयच्छते पुनः । यां यां शक्तिमुपाश्रित्य पुरुशक्तिः परः पुमान् । आत्मानं क्रीडयन् क्रीडन् करोति विकरोति च ॥ ७ ॥

yathā gopāyati vibhur yathā saṁyacchate punaḥ yāṁ yāṁ śaktim upāśritya puru-śaktiḥ paraḥ pumān ātmānaṁ krīḍayan krīḍan karoti vikaroti ca

How does the all-pervading Lord sustain this creation, and how does He again withdraw it? Taking shelter of one energy after another, that Supreme Person of manifold powers, playing as if in sport, both makes and unmakes it, setting His own expansions into play.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.2.4.8)

नूनं भगवतो ब्रह्मन् हरेरद्भुतकर्मणः । दुर्विभाव्यमिवाभाति कविभिश्चापि चेष्टितम् ॥ ८ ॥

nūnaṁ bhagavato brahman harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ durvibhāvyam ivābhāti kavibhiś cāpi ceṣṭitam

O brahmana, the wonderful deeds of Bhagavan Hari surely appear beyond comprehension, so much so that they seem inconceivable even to the wisest of poet-sages.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.2.4.9)

यथा गुणांस्तु प्रकृतेर्युगपत् क्रमशोऽपि वा । बिभर्ति भूरिशस्त्वेकः कुर्वन् कर्माणि जन्मभिः ॥ ९ ॥

yathā guṇāṁs tu prakṛter yugapat kramaśo ’pi vā bibharti bhūriśas tv ekaḥ kurvan karmāṇi janmabhiḥ

That one Lord alone sustains the qualities of material nature — whether all at once or in due sequence — appearing in countless forms and performing His deeds through repeated incarnations.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.2.4.10)

विचिकित्सितमेतन्मे ब्रवीतु भगवान् यथा । शाब्दे ब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परस्मिंश्च भवान्खलु ॥ १० ॥

vicikitsitam etan me bravītu bhagavān yathā śābde brahmaṇi niṣṇātaḥ parasmiṁś ca bhavān khalu

Please, O powerful one, resolve this doubt of mine, for you are truly well-versed both in the Veda's sacred sound and in the Supreme Truth beyond it.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.2.4.11)

सूत उवाच इत्युपामन्त्रितो राज्ञा गुणानुकथने हरेः । हृषीकेशमनुस्मृत्य प्रतिवक्तुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ ११ ॥

sūta uvāca ity upāmantrito rājñā guṇānukathane hareḥ hṛṣīkeśam anusmṛtya prativaktuṁ pracakrame

Suta said: Thus requested by the king to narrate the qualities of Hari, Shukadeva called Hrishikesha to mind, and began to speak in reply.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.2.4.12)

श्री शुक उवाच नमः परस्मै पुरुषाय भूयसे सदुद्भवस्थाननिरोधलीलया । गृहीतशक्तित्रितयाय देहिना- मन्तर्भवायानुपलक्ष्यवर्त्मने ॥ १२ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca namaḥ parasmai puruṣāya bhūyase sad-udbhava-sthāna-nirodha-līlayā gṛhīta-śakti-tritayāya dehinām antarbhavāyānupalakṣya-vartmane

Shri Shukadeva said: Obeisance to the Supreme Person, the vast whole, who through the sport of creation, maintenance and dissolution of the manifest world takes up the three energies; who dwells within all embodied beings, and whose ways cannot be traced.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.2.4.13)

भूयो नमः सद्वृजिनच्छिदेऽसता- मसम्भवायाखिलसत्त्वमूर्तये । पुंसां पुनः पारमहंस्य आश्रमे व्यवस्थितानामनुमृग्यदाशुषे ॥ १३ ॥

bhūyo namaḥ sad-vṛjina-cchide ’satām asambhavāyākhila-sattva-mūrtaye puṁsāṁ punaḥ pāramahaṁsya āśrame vyavasthitānām anumṛgya-dāśuṣe

Obeisance again to Him who cuts away the sufferings of the pious and denies further scope to the impious, whose form is the essence of all existence, and who grants to those established in the paramahamsa order that very goal they seek.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.2.4.14)

नमो नमस्तेऽस्त्वृषभाय सात्वतां विदूरकाष्ठाय मुहुः कुयोगिनाम् । निरस्तसाम्यातिशयेन राधसा स्वधामनि ब्रह्मणि रंस्यते नमः ॥ १४ ॥

namo namas te ’stv ṛṣabhāya sātvatāṁ vidūra-kāṣṭhāya muhuḥ kuyoginām nirasta-sāmyātiśayena rādhasā sva-dhāmani brahmaṇi raṁsyate namaḥ

Repeated obeisance to You, foremost among the Satvatas, who remain ever beyond the reach of false practitioners of yoga; whose glory admits no equal or superior, and who take Your delight in Your own abode, the spiritual Brahman — obeisance unto You.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.2.4.15)

यत्कीर्तनं यत्स्मरणं यदीक्षणं यद्वन्दनं यच्छ्रवणं यदर्हणम् । लोकस्य सद्यो विधुनोति कल्मषं तस्मै सुभद्रश्रवसे नमो नमः ॥ १५ ॥

yat-kīrtanaṁ yat-smaraṇaṁ yad-īkṣaṇaṁ yad-vandanaṁ yac-chravaṇaṁ yad-arhaṇam lokasya sadyo vidhunoti kalmaṣaṁ tasmai subhadra-śravase namo namaḥ

Repeated obeisance to Him of the most auspicious renown, whose glorification, remembrance, sight, salutation, hearing, and worship instantly wash away the sins of all the world.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.2.4.16)

विचक्षणा यच्चरणोपसादनात् सङ्गं व्युदस्योभयतोऽन्तरात्मनः । विन्दन्ति हि ब्रह्मगतिं गतक्लमा- स्तस्मै सुभद्रश्रवसे नमो नमः ॥ १६ ॥

vicakṣaṇā yac-caraṇopasādanāt saṅgaṁ vyudasyobhayato ’ntar-ātmanaḥ vindanti hi brahma-gatiṁ gata-klamās tasmai subhadra-śravase namo namaḥ

Repeated obeisance to Him of most auspicious renown, by simply taking refuge at whose feet the wise cast off attachment binding the inner self to both past and future, and attain, free of all weariness, the path to Brahman.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.2.4.17)

तपस्विनो दानपरा यशस्विनो मनस्विनो मन्त्रविदः सुमङ्गलाः । क्षेमं न विन्दन्ति विना यदर्पणं तस्मै सुभद्रश्रवसे नमो नमः ॥ १७ ॥

tapasvino dāna-parā yaśasvino manasvino mantra-vidaḥ sumaṅgalāḥ kṣemaṁ na vindanti vinā yad-arpaṇaṁ tasmai subhadra-śravase namo namaḥ

Repeated obeisance to Him of most auspicious renown, without offering themselves to whom, ascetics, the charitable, the famous, the wise, the knowers of sacred hymns and the ritually pure alike find no true welfare.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.2.4.18)

किरातहूणान्ध्रपुलिन्दपुल्कशा आभीरशुम्भा यवनाः खसादयः । येऽन्ये च पापा यदपाश्रयाश्रयाः शुध्यन्ति तस्मै प्रभविष्णवे नमः ॥ १८ ॥

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pulkashas, Abhiras, Shumbhas, Yavanas, Khasas, and other such peoples, even those steeped in sin, become purified by taking shelter of His shelter — obeisance to that all-powerful Lord.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.2.4.19)

स एष आत्मात्मवतामधीश्वर- स्त्रयीमयो धर्ममयस्तपोमयः । गतव्यलीकैरजशङ्करादिभि- र्वितर्क्यलिङ्गो भगवान् प्रसीदताम् ॥ १९ ॥

sa eṣa ātmātmavatām adhīśvaras trayīmayo dharmamayas tapomayaḥ gata-vyalīkair aja-śaṅkarādibhir vitarkya-liṅgo bhagavān prasīdatām

He is the Supreme Self and Lord of all self-realized souls, the very embodiment of the three Vedas, of dharma, and of austerity; sought out even by Brahma, Shankara and others free of all pretense — may that Bhagavan be pleased with me.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.2.4.20)

श्रियः पतिर्यज्ञपतिः प्रजापति- र्धियां पतिर्लोकपतिर्धरापतिः । पतिर्गतिश्चान्धकवृष्णिसात्वतां प्रसीदतां मे भगवान् सतां पतिः ॥ २० ॥

śriyaḥ patir yajña-patiḥ prajā-patir dhiyāṁ patir loka-patir dharā-patiḥ patir gatiś cāndhaka-vṛṣṇi-sātvatāṁ prasīdatāṁ me bhagavān satāṁ patiḥ

The Lord of Shri, the Lord of sacrifice, the Lord of all beings, the Lord of intelligence, the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of the earth, the Lord and refuge of the Andhakas, Vrishnis and Satvatas — may that Bhagavan, Lord of the pure-hearted, be pleased with me.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.2.4.21)

यदङ्घ्र्यध्यानसमाधिधौतया धियानुपश्यन्ति हि तत्त्वमात्मनः । वदन्ति चैतत् कवयो यथारुचं स मे मुकुन्दो भगवान् प्रसीदताम् ॥ २१ ॥

yad-aṅghry-abhidhyāna-samādhi-dhautayā dhiyānupaśyanti hi tattvam ātmanaḥ vadanti caitat kavayo yathā-rucaṁ sa me mukundo bhagavān prasīdatām

By meditating in deep absorption upon whose feet, the intelligence, thus purified, allows one to perceive the truth of the Self — though the learned describe it each according to their own inclination — may that Mukunda, Bhagavan, be pleased with me.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.2.4.22)

प्रचोदिता येन पुरा सरस्वती वितन्वताजस्य सतीं स्मृतिं हृदि । स्वलक्षणा प्रादुरभूत् किलास्यतः स मे ऋषीणामृषभः प्रसीदताम् ॥ २२ ॥

pracoditā yena purā sarasvatī vitanvatājasya satīṁ smṛtiṁ hṛdi sva-lakṣaṇā prādurabhūt kilāsyataḥ sa me ṛṣīṇām ṛṣabhaḥ prasīdatām

By whom, in ancient times, Sarasvati was inspired to expand the true memory within the heart of the unborn Brahma, and who, taking on His own form, is said to have appeared from Brahma's very mouth — may He, the foremost of sages, be pleased with me.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.2.4.23)

भूतैर्महद्भिर्य इमाः पुरो विभु- र्निर्माय शेते यदमूषु पूरुषः । भुङ्क्ते गुणान् षोडश षोडशात्मकः सोऽलङ्कृषीष्ट भगवान् वचांसि मे ॥ २३ ॥

bhūtair mahadbhir ya imāḥ puro vibhur nirmāya śete yad amūṣu pūruṣaḥ bhuṅkte guṇān ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśātmakaḥ so ’laṅkṛṣīṣṭa bhagavān vacāṁsi me

The all-pervading Lord, having fashioned these bodies out of the great elements, lies within them as the Person, and, Himself composed of the sixteen constituents, experiences the sixteen qualities through them — may that Bhagavan grace my words.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.2.4.24)

नमस्तस्मै भगवते वासुदेवाय वेधसे । पपुर्ज्ञानमयं सौम्या यन्मुखाम्बुरुहासवम् ॥ २४ ॥

namas tasmai bhagavate vāsudevāya vedhase papur jñānam ayaṁ saumyā yan-mukhāmburuhāsavam

Obeisance to that Bhagavan Vasudeva, the ordainer, from whose lotus-like mouth the gentle-hearted have drunk this nectar of knowledge.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.2.4.25)

एतदेवात्मभू राजन् नारदाय विपृच्छते । वेदगर्भोऽभ्यधात् साक्षाद् यदाह हरिरात्मनः ॥ २५ ॥

etad evātma-bhū rājan nāradāya vipṛcchate veda-garbho ’bhyadhāt sākṣād yad āha harir ātmanaḥ

O King, this very same teaching the self-born Brahma, who carries the Veda within him from birth, imparted directly to Narada when he inquired — exactly as Hari Himself had spoken it to His own son.