The Glory of Lord Ananta

Verse 1 (bhagavata.5.25.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच तस्य मूलदेशे त्रिंशद्योजनसहस्रान्तर आस्ते या वै कला भगवतस्तामसी समाख्यातानन्त इति सात्वतीया द्रष्टृदृश्ययोः सङ्कर्षणमहमित्यभिमानलक्षणं यं सङ्कर्षणमित्याचक्षते ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca tasya mūla-deśe triṁśad-yojana-sahasrāntara āste yā vai kalā bhagavatas tāmasī samākhyātānanta iti sātvatīyā draṣṭṛ-dṛśyayoḥ saṅkarṣaṇam aham ity abhimāna-lakṣaṇaṁ yaṁ saṅkarṣaṇam ity ācakṣate.

Shukadeva Gosvami said: At its base, at a distance of thirty thousand yojanas, resides that portion of Bhagavan known as Ananta, called also Tamasi, of the Sattvata lineage, whom they call Sankarshana, marked by the sense of 'I,' the very ego that binds together the seer and the seen.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.5.25.2)

यस्येदं क्षितिमण्डलं भगवतोऽनन्तमूर्तेः सहस्रशिरस एकस्मिन्नेव शीर्षणि ध्रियमाणं सिद्धार्थ इव लक्ष्यते ॥ २ ॥

yasyedaṁ kṣiti-maṇḍalaṁ bhagavato ’nanta-mūrteḥ sahasra-śirasa ekasminn eva śīrṣaṇi dhriyamāṇaṁ siddhārtha iva lakṣyate.

This entire earthly circle, borne upon just a single hood of Bhagavan Anantamurti, whose heads number in the thousands, appears no larger than a mustard seed.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.5.25.3)

यस्य ह वा इदं कालेनोपसञ्जिहीर्षतोऽमर्षविरचितरुचिरभ्रमद्भ्रुवोरन्तरेण साङ्कर्षणो नाम रुद्र एकादशव्यूहस्त्र्यक्षस्त्रिशिखं शूलमुत्तम्भयन्नुदतिष्ठत् ॥ ३ ॥

yasya ha vā idaṁ kālenopasañjihīrṣato ’marṣa-viracita-rucira-bhramad-bhruvor antareṇa sāṅkarṣaṇo nāma rudra ekādaśa-vyūhas try-akṣas tri-śikhaṁ śūlam uttambhayann udatiṣṭhat.

When, wishing to withdraw this creation through time, His brows curved and trembling, shaped by His mounting displeasure, there arose from between them the Rudra called Sankarshana, of eleven forms, three-eyed, brandishing aloft a three-pronged trident.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.5.25.4)

यस्याङ्घ्रिकमलयुगलारुणविशदनखमणिषण्डमण्डलेष्वहिपतयः सह सात्वतर्षभैरेकान्तभक्तियोगेनावनमन्तः स्ववदनानि परिस्फुरत्कुण्डलप्रभामण्डितगण्डस्थलान्यतिमनोहराणि प्रमुदितमनसः खलु विलोकयन्ति ॥ ४ ॥

yasyāṅghri-kamala-yugalāruṇa-viśada-nakha-maṇi-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍaleṣv ahi-patayaḥ saha sātvatarṣabhair ekānta-bhakti-yogenāvanamantaḥ sva-vadanāni parisphurat-kuṇḍala-prabhā-maṇḍita-gaṇḍa-sthalāny ati-manoharāṇi pramudita-manasaḥ khalu vilokayanti.

Upon whose lotus feet, on the circles of gem-like, reddish, spotless toenails, the serpent-lords, together with the foremost of the Sattvatas, bow down in exclusive devotion, and, their minds delighted, gaze upon their own most enchanting faces, reflected there, their cheeks adorned with the glow of flashing earrings.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.5.25.5)

यस्यैव हि नागराजकुमार्य आशिष आशासानाश्चार्वङ्गवलयविलसितविशद विपुलधवलसुभगरुचिरभुजरजतस्तम्भेष्वगुरुचन्दनकुङ्कुमपङ्कानुलेपेनावलिम्पमानास्तदभिमर्शनोन्मथितहृदयमकरध्वजावेशरुचिरललितस्मितास्तदनुरागमदमुदितमद् विघूर्णितारुणकरुणावलोकनयनवदनारविन्दं सव्रीडं किल विलोकयन्ति ॥ ५ ॥

yasyaiva hi nāga-rāja-kumārya āśiṣa āśāsānāś cārv-aṅga-valaya-vilasita-viśada-vipula-dhavala-subhaga-rucira-bhuja-rajata-stambheṣv aguru-candana-kuṅkuma-paṅkānulepenāvalimpamānās tad-abhimarśanonmathita-hṛdaya-makara-dhvajāveśa-rucira-lalita-smitās tad-anurāgamada-mudita-mada-vighūrṇitāruṇa-karuṇāvaloka-nayana-vadanāravindaṁ savrīḍaṁ kila vilokayanti.

The princesses of the serpent-kings, hoping for His blessing, anoint His arms, beautiful as pillars of silver, broad, white, radiant, and adorned with bangles on their graceful limbs, with a paste of aguru, sandalwood and kumkum. Their hearts, stirred by the touch of Cupid awakened at His very touch, they smile beautifully, and, bashful, gaze upon His lotus face, its eyes reddened and rolling with the intoxication of love, brimming with a merciful glance.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.5.25.6)

स एव भगवाननन्तोऽनन्तगुणार्णव आदिदेव उपसंहृतामर्षरोषवेगो लोकानां स्वस्तय आस्ते ॥ ६ ॥

sa eva bhagavān ananto ’nanta-guṇārṇava ādi-deva upasaṁhṛtāmarṣa-roṣa-vego lokānāṁ svastaya āste.

This same Bhagavan Ananta, the ocean of unlimited qualities, the primeval deity, having withdrawn the force of His wrath and displeasure, abides there for the welfare of all the worlds.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.5.25.7)

ध्यायमानः सुरासुरोरगसिद्धगन्धर्वविद्याधरमुनिगणैरनवरतमदमुदितविकृतविह्वललोचनः सुललितमुखरिकामृतेनाप्यायमानः स्वपार्षदविबुधयूथपतीनपरिम्लानरागनवतुलसिकामोदमध्वासवेन माद्यन्मधुकरव्रातमधुरगीतश्रियं वैजयन्तीं स्वां वनमालां नीलवासा एककुण्डलो हलककुदि कृतसुभगसुन्दरभुजो भगवान्महेन्द्रो वारणेन्द्र इव काञ्चनीं कक्षामुदारलीलो बिभर्ति ॥ ७ ॥

dhyāyamānaḥ surāsuroraga-siddha-gandharva-vidyādhara-muni-gaṇair anavarata-mada-mudita-vikṛta-vihvala-locanaḥ sulalita-mukharikāmṛtenāpyāyamānaḥ sva-pārṣada-vibudha-yūtha-patīn aparimlāna-rāga-nava-tulasikāmoda-madhv-āsavena mādyan madhukara-vrāta-madhura-gīta-śriyaṁ vaijayantīṁ svāṁ vanamālāṁ nīla-vāsā eka-kuṇḍalo hala-kakudi kṛta-subhaga-sundara-bhujo bhagavān mahendro vāraṇendra iva kāñcanīṁ kakṣām udāra-līlo bibharti.

Meditated upon by hosts of gods, demons, serpents, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas and sages, His restless eyes dilated with unceasing bliss, and nourished by the nectar of their sweet, gentle words, He wears, in magnanimous sport, His own garland of forest flowers, its beauty enhanced by the sweet humming of bees drunk on the honeyed fragrance of ever-fresh tulasi, delighting His personal attendants, the chiefs among the wise. Clad in blue garments, wearing a single earring, His beautiful, well-formed arms bearing a plow upon His shoulder, Bhagavan, white as Mahendra himself, wears, like the king of elephants, a golden girdle about His waist.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.5.25.8)

य एष एवमनुश्रुतो ध्यायमानो मुमुक्षूणामनादिकालकर्मवासनाग्रथितमविद्यामयं हृदयग्रन्थिं सत्त्वरजस्तमोमयमन्तर्हृदयं गत आशु निर्भिनत्ति तस्यानुभावान् भगवान् स्वायम्भुवो नारदः सह तुम्बुरुणा सभायां ब्रह्मणः संश्लोकयामास ॥ ८ ॥

ya eṣa evam anuśruto dhyāyamāno mumukṣūṇām anādi-kāla-karma-vāsanā-grathitam avidyāmayaṁ hṛdaya-granthiṁ sattva-rajas-tamomayam antar-hṛdayaṁ gata āśu nirbhinatti tasyānubhāvān bhagavān svāyambhuvo nāradaḥ saha tumburuṇā sabhāyāṁ brahmaṇaḥ saṁślokayām āsa.

This Lord, thus heard of and meditated upon, swiftly enters the heart and cuts asunder the knot of ignorance within the hearts of those who desire liberation, a knot tied since beginningless time by the impressions of karma, composed of sattva, rajas and tamas. Bhagavan Narada, son of Svayambhu Brahma, has sung of His glories in verse, together with Tumburu, in the assembly of Brahma.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.5.25.9)

उत्पत्तिस्थितिलयहेतवोऽस्य कल्पाः सत्त्वाद्याः प्रकृतिगुणा यदीक्षयाऽऽसन्॒ । यद्रूपं ध्रुवमकृतं यदेकमात्मन् नानाधात्कथमु ह वेद तस्य वर्त्म ॥ ९ ॥

utpatti-sthiti-laya-hetavo ’sya kalpāḥ sattvādyāḥ prakṛti-guṇā yad-īkṣayāsan yad-rūpaṁ dhruvam akṛtaṁ yad ekam ātman nānādhāt katham u ha veda tasya vartma

The very ages, together with the qualities of nature beginning with sattva, become the causes of this universe's creation, maintenance and dissolution only through His glance. That form of His is eternal, uncreated and one alone. How, then, could one who has become manifold ever truly know His path?

Verse 10 (bhagavata.5.25.10)

मूर्तिं नः पुरुकृपया बभार सत्त्वं संशुद्धं सदसदिदं विभाति तत्र । यल्लीलां मृगपतिराददेऽनवद्या- मादातुं स्वजनमनांस्युदारवीर्यः ॥ १० ॥

mūrtiṁ naḥ puru-kṛpayā babhāra sattvaṁ saṁśuddhaṁ sad-asad idaṁ vibhāti tatra yal-līlāṁ mṛga-patir ādade ’navadyām ādātuṁ svajana-manāṁsy udāra-vīryaḥ

Out of great compassion, He bore for us a form of purified, unmixed being, wherein this manifest and unmanifest universe shines forth; He of magnanimous power, whose flawless pastime the Lord as the king of beasts also assumed, only to capture the hearts of His own people.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.5.25.11)

यन्नाम श्रुतमनुकीर्तयेदकस्मा- दार्तो वा यदि पतितः प्रलम्भनाद्वा । हन्त्यंहः सपदि नृणामशेषमन्यं कं शेषाद्भगवत आश्रयेन्मुमुक्षुः ॥ ११ ॥

yan-nāma śrutam anukīrtayed akasmād ārto vā yadi patitaḥ pralambhanād vā hanty aṁhaḥ sapadi nṛṇām aśeṣam anyaṁ kaṁ śeṣād bhagavata āśrayen mumukṣuḥ

Whose name, once heard, if a person in distress, or one fallen through some deception, should chant even by chance, instantly destroys all sin, both his own and that of anyone else who hears it. Whom else, then, other than Shesha, should one seeking liberation take shelter of?

Verse 12 (bhagavata.5.25.12)

मूर्धन्यर्पितमणुवत्सहस्रमूर्ध्नो भूगोलं सगिरिसरित्समुद्रसत्त्वम् । आनन्त्यादनिमितविक्रमस्य भूम्नः को वीर्याण्यधिगणयेत्सहस्रजिह्वः ॥ १२ ॥

mūrdhany arpitam aṇuvat sahasra-mūrdhno bhū-golaṁ sagiri-sarit-samudra-sattvam ānantyād animita-vikramasya bhūmnaḥ ko vīryāṇy adhi gaṇayet sahasra-jihvaḥ

Upon whose thousand heads this globe of earth, with its mountains, rivers, oceans and living beings, rests upon a single head as though it were but an atom, who, even with a thousand tongues, could ever reckon the might of that unmeasured, unlimited and immeasurably powerful Lord?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.5.25.13)

एवम्प्रभावो भगवाननन्तो दुरन्तवीर्योरुगुणानुभावः । मूले रसायाः स्थित आत्मतन्त्रो यो लीलया क्ष्मां स्थितये बिभर्ति ॥ १३ ॥

evam-prabhāvo bhagavān ananto duranta-vīryoru-guṇānubhāvaḥ mūle rasāyāḥ sthita ātma-tantro yo līlayā kṣmāṁ sthitaye bibharti

Such is the glory of Bhagavan Ananta, of unlimited valor and great, glorious qualities, self-sufficient in Himself, who, dwelling at the very root of Rasatala, sustains the earth in its place, and does so merely in sport.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.5.25.14)

एता ह्येवेह नृभिरुपगन्तव्या गतयो यथाकर्मविनिर्मिता यथोपदेशमनुवर्णिताः कामान् कामयमानैः ॥ १४ ॥

etā hy eveha nṛbhir upagantavyā gatayo yathā-karma-vinirmitā yathopadeśam anuvarṇitāḥ kāmān kāmayamānaiḥ.

These, indeed, are the destinations that people here in this world, driven by their desire for various objects of enjoyment, must attain, destinations shaped according to their own karma, as I have described them, following the teaching handed down to me.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.5.25.15)

एतावतीर्हि राजन् पुंसः प्रवृत्तिलक्षणस्य धर्मस्य विपाकगतय उच्चावचा विसदृशा यथाप्रश्नं व्याचख्ये किमन्यत्कथयाम इति ॥ १५ ॥

etāvatīr hi rājan puṁsaḥ pravṛtti-lakṣaṇasya dharmasya vipāka-gataya uccāvacā visadṛśā yathā-praśnaṁ vyācakhye kim anyat kathayāma iti.

This much, O King, of the varied and dissimilar culminating results of dharma marked by worldly activity, high and low, for mankind, has been explained in answer to your question. What more shall I speak of now?