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SB 5.20.3-4: Difference between revisions

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{{info
{{info
|speaker=Sukadeva Goswami
|speaker=Śukadeva Gosvāmī
|listener=King Pariksit
|listener=King Parīkṣit
}}
}}
[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 05 Chapter 20|s03-04 ]]
[[Category:Bhagavatam Verses Spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami - Vanisource|052003]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Srimad-Bhagavatam]] - [[SB 5|Fifth Canto]] - [[SB 5.20: Studying the Structure of the Universe|Chapter 20: Studying the Structure of the Universe]]'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=SB 5.20.2]] '''[[SB 5.20.2]] - [[SB 5.20.5]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=SB 5.20.5]]</div>
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==== TEXTS 3-4 ====
==== TEXTS 3-4 ====


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<div class="verse">
śivaṁ yavasaṁ subhadraṁ śāntaṁ kṣemam amṛtam abhayam iti varṣāṇi teṣu girayo nadyaś ca saptaivābhijñātāḥ; maṇikūṭo vajrakūṭa indraseno jyotiṣmān suparṇo hiraṇyaṣṭhīvo meghamāla iti setu-śailāḥ aruṇā nṛmṇāṅgirasī sāvitrī suptabhātā ṛtambharā satyambharā iti mahā-nadyaḥ; yāsāṁ jalopasparśana-vidhūta-rajas-tamaso haṁsa-pataṅgordhvāyana-satyāṅga-saṁjñāś catvāro varṇāḥ sahasrāyuṣo vibudhopama-sandarśana-prajananāḥ svarga-dvāraṁ trayyā vidyayā bhagavantaṁ trayīmayaṁ sūryam ātmānaṁ yajante.<br>
:śivaṁ yavasaṁ subhadraṁ śāntaṁ kṣemam amṛtam  
:abhayam iti varṣāṇi teṣu girayo nadyaś ca saptaivābhijñātāḥ
:maṇikūṭo vajrakūṭa indraseno jyotiṣmān suparṇo  
:hiraṇyaṣṭhīvo meghamāla iti setu-śailāḥ aruṇā  
:nṛmṇāṅgirasī sāvitrī suptabhātā ṛtambharā satyambharā iti mahā-nadyaḥ
:yāsāṁ jalopasparśana-vidhūta-rajas-tamaso haṁsa-pataṅgordhvāyana-satyāṅga-saṁjñāś catvāro
:varṇāḥ sahasrāyuṣo vibudhopama-sandarśana-prajananāḥ svarga-dvāraṁ trayyā  
:vidyayā bhagavantaṁ trayīmayaṁ sūryam ātmānaṁ yajante
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==== SYNONYMS ====
==== SYNONYMS ====


<div id="synonyms">
<div class="synonyms">
śivam—Śiva; yavasam—Yavasa; subhadram—Subhadra; śāntam—Śānta; kṣemam—Kṣema; amṛtam—Amṛta; abhayam—Abhaya; iti—thus; varṣāṇi—the tracts of land according to the names of the seven sons; teṣu—in them; girayaḥ—mountains; nadyaḥ ca—and rivers; sapta—seven; eva—indeed; abhijñātāḥ—are known; maṇi-kūṭaḥ—Maṇikūṭa; vajra-kūṭaḥ—Vajrakūṭa; indra-senaḥ—Indrasena; jyotiṣmān—Jyotiṣmān; suparṇaḥ—Suparṇa; hiraṇya-ṣṭhīvaḥ—Hiraṇyaṣṭhīva; megha-mālaḥ—Meghamāla; iti—thus; setu-śailāḥ—the ranges of mountains marking the borders of the varṣas; aruṇā—Aruṇā; nṛmṇā—Nṛmṇā; āṅgirasī—Āṅgirasī; sāvitrī—Sāvitrī; supta-bhātā—Suptabhātā; ṛtambharā—Ṛtambharā; satyambharā—Satyambharā; iti—thus; mahā-nadyaḥ—very large rivers; yāsām—of which; jala-upasparśana—simply by touching the water; vidhūta—washed off; rajaḥ-tamasaḥ—whose modes of passion and ignorance; haṁsa—Haṁsa; pataṅga—Pataṅga; ūrdhvāyana—Ūrdhvāyana; satyāṅga—Satyāṅga; saṁjñāḥ—named; catvāraḥ—four; varṇāḥ—castes or divisions of men; sahasra-āyuṣaḥ—living for one thousand years; vibudha-upama—similar to the demigods; sandarśana—in having very beautiful forms; prajananāḥ—and in producing children; svarga-dvāram—the gateway to the heavenly planets; trayyā vidyayā—by performing ritualistic ceremonies according to Vedic principles; bhagavantam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; trayī-mayam—established in the Vedas; sūryam ātmānam—the Supersoul, represented by the sun-god; yajante—they worship.
''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=śivam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 śivam]'' — Śiva; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=yavasam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 yavasam]'' — Yavasa; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=subhadram&tab=syno_o&ds=1 subhadram]'' — Subhadra; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=śāntam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 śāntam]'' — Śānta; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=kṣemam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 kṣemam]'' — Kṣema; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=amṛtam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 amṛtam]'' — Amṛta; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=abhayam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 abhayam]'' — Abhaya; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=iti&tab=syno_o&ds=1 iti]'' — thus; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=varṣāṇi&tab=syno_o&ds=1 varṣāṇi]'' — the tracts of land according to the names of the seven sons; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=teṣu&tab=syno_o&ds=1 teṣu]'' — in them; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=girayaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 girayaḥ]'' — mountains; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=nadyaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 nadyaḥ] [//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=ca&tab=syno_o&ds=1 ca]'' — and rivers; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=sapta&tab=syno_o&ds=1 sapta]'' — seven; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=eva&tab=syno_o&ds=1 eva]'' — indeed; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=abhijñātāḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 abhijñātāḥ]'' — are known; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=maṇi&tab=syno_o&ds=1 maṇi]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=kūṭaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 kūṭaḥ]'' — Maṇikūṭa; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=vajra&tab=syno_o&ds=1 vajra]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=kūṭaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 kūṭaḥ]'' — Vajrakūṭa; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=indra&tab=syno_o&ds=1 indra]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=senaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 senaḥ]'' — Indrasena; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=jyotiṣmān&tab=syno_o&ds=1 jyotiṣmān]'' — Jyotiṣmān; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=suparṇaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 suparṇaḥ]'' — Suparṇa; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=hiraṇya&tab=syno_o&ds=1 hiraṇya]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=ṣṭhīvaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 ṣṭhīvaḥ]'' — Hiraṇyaṣṭhīva; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=megha&tab=syno_o&ds=1 megha]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=mālaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 mālaḥ]'' — Meghamāla; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=iti&tab=syno_o&ds=1 iti]'' — thus; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=setu&tab=syno_o&ds=1 setu]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=śailāḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 śailāḥ]'' — the ranges of mountains marking the borders of the varṣas; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=aruṇā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 aruṇā]'' — Aruṇā; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=nṛmṇā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 nṛmṇā]'' — Nṛmṇā; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=āṅgirasī&tab=syno_o&ds=1 āṅgirasī]'' — Āṅgirasī; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=sāvitrī&tab=syno_o&ds=1 sāvitrī]'' — Sāvitrī; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=supta&tab=syno_o&ds=1 supta]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=bhātā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 bhātā]'' — Suptabhātā; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=ṛtambharā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 ṛtambharā]'' — Ṛtambharā; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=satyambharā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 satyambharā]'' — Satyambharā; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=iti&tab=syno_o&ds=1 iti]'' — thus; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=mahā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 mahā]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=nadyaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 nadyaḥ]'' — very large rivers; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=yāsām&tab=syno_o&ds=1 yāsām]'' — of which; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=jala&tab=syno_o&ds=1 jala]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=upasparśana&tab=syno_o&ds=1 upasparśana]'' — simply by touching the water; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=vidhūta&tab=syno_o&ds=1 vidhūta]'' — washed off; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=rajaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 rajaḥ]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=tamasaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 tamasaḥ]'' — whose modes of passion and ignorance; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=haṁsa&tab=syno_o&ds=1 haṁsa]'' — Haṁsa; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=pataṅga&tab=syno_o&ds=1 pataṅga]'' — Pataṅga; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=ūrdhvāyana&tab=syno_o&ds=1 ūrdhvāyana]'' — Ūrdhvāyana; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=satyāṅga&tab=syno_o&ds=1 satyāṅga]'' — Satyāṅga; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=saṁjñāḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 saṁjñāḥ]'' — named; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=catvāraḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 catvāraḥ]'' — four; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=varṇāḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 varṇāḥ]'' — castes or divisions of men; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=sahasra&tab=syno_o&ds=1 sahasra]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=āyuṣaḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 āyuṣaḥ]'' — living for one thousand years; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=vibudha&tab=syno_o&ds=1 vibudha]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=upama&tab=syno_o&ds=1 upama]'' — similar to the demigods; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=sandarśana&tab=syno_o&ds=1 sandarśana]'' — in having very beautiful forms; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=prajananāḥ&tab=syno_o&ds=1 prajananāḥ]'' — and in producing children; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=svarga&tab=syno_o&ds=1 svarga]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=dvāram&tab=syno_o&ds=1 dvāram]'' — the gateway to the heavenly planets; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=trayyā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 trayyā] [//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=vidyayā&tab=syno_o&ds=1 vidyayā]'' — by performing ritualistic ceremonies according to Vedic principles; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=bhagavantam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 bhagavantam]'' — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=trayī&tab=syno_o&ds=1 trayī]-[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=mayam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 mayam]'' — established in the Vedas; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=sūryam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 sūryam] [//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=ātmānam&tab=syno_o&ds=1 ātmānam]'' — the Supersoul, represented by the sun-god; ''[//vanipedia.org/wiki/Special:VaniSearch?s=yajante&tab=syno_o&ds=1 yajante]'' — they worship.
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==== TRANSLATION ====
==== TRANSLATION ====


<div id="translation">
<div class="translation">
The seven islands [varṣas] are named according to the names of those seven sons—Śiva, Yavasa, Subhadra, Śānta, Kṣema, Amṛta and Abhaya. In those seven tracts of land, there are seven mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are named Maṇikūṭa, Vajrakūṭa, Indrasena, Jyotiṣmān, Suparṇa, Hiraṇyaṣṭhīva and Meghamāla, and the rivers are named Aruṇā, Nṛmṇā, Āṅgirasī, Sāvitrī, Suptabhātā, Ṛtambharā and Satyambharā. One can immediately be free from material contamination by touching or bathing in those rivers, and the four castes of people who live in Plakṣadvīpa—the Haṁsas, Pataṅgas, Ūrdhvāyanas and Satyāṅgas—purify themselves in that way. The inhabitants of Plakṣadvīpa live for one thousand years. They are beautiful like the demigods, and they also beget children like the demigods. By completely performing the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas and by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead as represented by the sun-god, they attain the sun, which is a heavenly planet.
The seven islands [varṣas] are named according to the names of those seven sons—Śiva, Yavasa, Subhadra, Śānta, Kṣema, Amṛta and Abhaya. In those seven tracts of land, there are seven mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are named Maṇikūṭa, Vajrakūṭa, Indrasena, Jyotiṣmān, Suparṇa, Hiraṇyaṣṭhīva and Meghamāla, and the rivers are named Aruṇā, Nṛmṇā, Āṅgirasī, Sāvitrī, Suptabhātā, Ṛtambharā and Satyambharā. One can immediately be free from material contamination by touching or bathing in those rivers, and the four castes of people who live in Plakṣadvīpa—the Haṁsas, Pataṅgas, Ūrdhvāyanas and Satyāṅgas—purify themselves in that way. The inhabitants of Plakṣadvīpa live for one thousand years. They are beautiful like the demigods, and they also beget children like the demigods. By completely performing the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas and by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead as represented by the sun-god, they attain the sun, which is a heavenly planet.
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==== PURPORT ====
==== PURPORT ====


<div id="purport">
<div class="purport">
According to general understanding, there are originally three deities—Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva—and people with a poor fund of knowledge consider Lord Viṣṇu no better than Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva. This conclusion, however, is invalid. As stated in the Vedas, iṣṭāpūrtaṁ bahudhā jāyamānaṁ viśvaṁ bibharti bhuvanasya nābhiḥ tad evāgnis tad vāyus tat sūryas tad u candramāḥ agniḥ sarvadaivataḥ. This means that the Supreme Lord, who accepts and enjoys the results of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies (technically called iṣṭāpūrta), who maintains the entire creation, who supplies the necessities of all living entities (eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān) and who is the central point of all creation, is Lord Viṣṇu. Lord Viṣṇu expands as the demigods known as Agni, Vāyu, Sūrya and Candra, who are simply parts and parcels of His body. Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā ([[BG 9.23]]):
According to general understanding, there are originally three deities—Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva—and people with a poor fund of knowledge consider Lord Viṣṇu no better than Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva. This conclusion, however, is invalid. As stated in the Vedas, ''iṣṭāpūrtaṁ bahudhā jāyamānaṁ viśvaṁ bibharti bhuvanasya nābhiḥ tad evāgnis tad vāyus tat sūryas tad u candramāḥ agniḥ sarvadaivataḥ.'' This means that the Supreme Lord, who accepts and enjoys the results of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies (technically called ''iṣṭāpūrta''), who maintains the entire creation, who supplies the necessities of all living entities (''eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān)'' and who is the central point of all creation, is Lord Viṣṇu. Lord Viṣṇu expands as the demigods known as Agni, Vāyu, Sūrya and Candra, who are simply parts and parcels of His body. Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Śrīmad ''Bhagavad-gītā'' ([[BG 9.23 (1972)|BG 9.23]]):


:ye 'py anya-devatā-bhaktā
:''ye 'py anya-devatā-bhaktā''
:yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ
:''yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ''
:te 'pi mām eva kaunteya
:''te 'pi mām eva kaunteya''
:yajanty avidhi-pūrvakam
:''yajanty avidhi-pūrvakam''


"Devotees who worship the demigods with firm faith worship Me also, but not according to regulative principles." In other words, if one worships the demigods but does not understand the relationship between the demigods and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his worship is irregular. Kṛṣṇa also says in Bhagavad-gītā ([[BG 9.24]]), ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca: "I am the only enjoyer of ritualistic ceremonies."
"Devotees who worship the demigods with firm faith worship Me also, but not according to regulative principles." In other words, if one worships the demigods but does not understand the relationship between the demigods and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his worship is irregular. Kṛṣṇa also says in ''Bhagavad-gītā ([[BG 9.24 (1972)|BG 9.24]]), ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca:'' "I am the only enjoyer of ritualistic ceremonies."


It may be argued that the demigods are as important as Lord Viṣṇu because the names of the demigods are different names of Viṣṇu. This, however, is not a sound conclusion, for it is contradicted in the Vedic literatures. The Vedas declare:
It may be argued that the demigods are as important as Lord Viṣṇu because the names of the demigods are different names of Viṣṇu. This, however, is not a sound conclusion, for it is contradicted in the Vedic literatures. The Vedas declare:


candramā manaso jātaś cakṣoḥ sūryo ajāyata; śrotrādayaś ca prāṇaś ca mukhād agnir ajāyata; nārāyaṇād brahmā, nārāyaṇād rudro jāyate, nārāyaṇāt prajāpatiḥ jāyate, nārāyaṇād indro jāyate, nārāyaṇād aṣṭau vasavo jāyante, nārāyaṇād ekādaśa rudrā jāyante.
''candramā manaso jātaś cakṣoḥ sūryo ajāyata; śrotrādayaś ca prāṇaś ca mukhād agnir ajāyata; nārāyaṇād brahmā, nārāyaṇād rudro jāyate, nārāyaṇāt prajāpatiḥ jāyate, nārāyaṇād indro jāyate, nārāyaṇād aṣṭau vasavo jāyante, nārāyaṇād ekādaśa rudrā jāyante.''


"The demigod of the moon, Candra, came from the mind of Nārāyaṇa, and the sun-god came from His eyes. The controlling deities of hearing and the life air came from Nārāyaṇa, and the controlling deity of fire was generated from His mouth. Prajāpati, Lord Brahmā, came from Nārāyaṇa, Indra came from Nārāyaṇa, and the eight Vasus, the eleven expansions of Lord Śiva and the twelve Adityas also came from Nārāyaṇa." In the smṛti Vedic literature it is also said:
"The demigod of the moon, Candra, came from the mind of Nārāyaṇa, and the sun-god came from His eyes. The controlling deities of hearing and the life air came from Nārāyaṇa, and the controlling deity of fire was generated from His mouth. Prajāpati, Lord Brahmā, came from Nārāyaṇa, Indra came from Nārāyaṇa, and the eight Vasus, the eleven expansions of Lord Śiva and the twelve Adityas also came from Nārāyaṇa." In the smṛti Vedic literature it is also said:


:brahmā śambhus tathaivārkaś
:''brahmā śambhus tathaivārkaś''
:candramāś ca śatakratuḥ
:''candramāś ca śatakratuḥ''
:evam ādyās tathaivānye
:''evam ādyās tathaivānye''
:yuktā vaiṣṇava-tejasā
:''yuktā vaiṣṇava-tejasā''
:jagat-kāryāvasāne tu
:''jagat-kāryāvasāne tu''
:viyujyante ca tejasā
:''viyujyante ca tejasā''
:vitejaś ca te sarve
:''vitejaś ca te sarve''
:pañcatvam upayānti te
:''pañcatvam upayānti te''


"Brahmā, Śambhu, Sūrya and Indra are all merely products of the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is also true of the many other demigods whose names are not mentioned here. When the cosmic manifestation is annihilated, these different expansions of Nārāyaṇa's potencies will merge into Nārāyaṇa. In other words, all these demigods will die. Their living force will be withdrawn, and they will merge into Nārāyaṇa."
"Brahmā, Śambhu, Sūrya and Indra are all merely products of the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is also true of the many other demigods whose names are not mentioned here. When the cosmic manifestation is annihilated, these different expansions of Nārāyaṇa's potencies will merge into Nārāyaṇa. In other words, all these demigods will die. Their living force will be withdrawn, and they will merge into Nārāyaṇa."


Therefore it should be concluded that Lord Viṣṇu, not Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As a government officer is sometimes accepted as the entire government although he is actually but a departmental manager, so the demigods, having achieved power of attorney from Viṣṇu, act on His behalf, although they are not as powerful as He. All the demigods must work under the orders of Viṣṇu. Therefore it is said, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya ([[CC Adi 5.142]]). The only master is Lord Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, and all others are His obedient servants, who act exactly according to His orders. The distinction between Lord Viṣṇu and the demigods is also expressed in Bhagavad-gītā ([[BG 9.25]]).  
Therefore it should be concluded that Lord Viṣṇu, not Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As a government officer is sometimes accepted as the entire government although he is actually but a departmental manager, so the demigods, having achieved power of attorney from Viṣṇu, act on His behalf, although they are not as powerful as He. All the demigods must work under the orders of Viṣṇu. Therefore it is said, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya ([[CC Adi 5.142]]). The only master is Lord Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, and all others are His obedient servants, who act exactly according to His orders. The distinction between Lord Viṣṇu and the demigods is also expressed in ''Bhagavad-gītā'' ([[BG 9.25]]).  
yānti deva-vratā devān
 
pitṟn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ
"''yānti deva-vratā devān''
bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā
"''pitṟn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ''
yānti mad-yājino 'pi mām
"''bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā''''
those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, whereas the worshipers of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Viṣṇu go to the planets in Vaikuṇṭha. These are the statements of the smṛti. Therefore the idea that Lord Viṣṇu is on the same level as the demigods is in contradiction to the śāstras. The demigods are not supreme. The supremacy of the demigods is dependent on the mercy of Lord Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa).
''"yānti mad-yājino 'pi mām''
 
"Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, whereas the worshipers of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Viṣṇu go to the planets in Vaikuṇṭha." These are the statements of the smṛti. Therefore the idea that Lord Viṣṇu is on the same level as the demigods is in contradiction to the śāstras. The demigods are not supreme. The supremacy of the demigods is dependent on the mercy of Lord Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa).
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Latest revision as of 22:12, 18 February 2024

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada



TEXTS 3-4

śivaṁ yavasaṁ subhadraṁ śāntaṁ kṣemam amṛtam
abhayam iti varṣāṇi teṣu girayo nadyaś ca saptaivābhijñātāḥ
maṇikūṭo vajrakūṭa indraseno jyotiṣmān suparṇo
hiraṇyaṣṭhīvo meghamāla iti setu-śailāḥ aruṇā
nṛmṇāṅgirasī sāvitrī suptabhātā ṛtambharā satyambharā iti mahā-nadyaḥ
yāsāṁ jalopasparśana-vidhūta-rajas-tamaso haṁsa-pataṅgordhvāyana-satyāṅga-saṁjñāś catvāro
varṇāḥ sahasrāyuṣo vibudhopama-sandarśana-prajananāḥ svarga-dvāraṁ trayyā
vidyayā bhagavantaṁ trayīmayaṁ sūryam ātmānaṁ yajante


SYNONYMS

śivam — Śiva; yavasam — Yavasa; subhadram — Subhadra; śāntam — Śānta; kṣemam — Kṣema; amṛtam — Amṛta; abhayam — Abhaya; iti — thus; varṣāṇi — the tracts of land according to the names of the seven sons; teṣu — in them; girayaḥ — mountains; nadyaḥ ca — and rivers; sapta — seven; eva — indeed; abhijñātāḥ — are known; maṇi-kūṭaḥ — Maṇikūṭa; vajra-kūṭaḥ — Vajrakūṭa; indra-senaḥ — Indrasena; jyotiṣmān — Jyotiṣmān; suparṇaḥ — Suparṇa; hiraṇya-ṣṭhīvaḥ — Hiraṇyaṣṭhīva; megha-mālaḥ — Meghamāla; iti — thus; setu-śailāḥ — the ranges of mountains marking the borders of the varṣas; aruṇā — Aruṇā; nṛmṇā — Nṛmṇā; āṅgirasī — Āṅgirasī; sāvitrī — Sāvitrī; supta-bhātā — Suptabhātā; ṛtambharā — Ṛtambharā; satyambharā — Satyambharā; iti — thus; mahā-nadyaḥ — very large rivers; yāsām — of which; jala-upasparśana — simply by touching the water; vidhūta — washed off; rajaḥ-tamasaḥ — whose modes of passion and ignorance; haṁsa — Haṁsa; pataṅga — Pataṅga; ūrdhvāyana — Ūrdhvāyana; satyāṅga — Satyāṅga; saṁjñāḥ — named; catvāraḥ — four; varṇāḥ — castes or divisions of men; sahasra-āyuṣaḥ — living for one thousand years; vibudha-upama — similar to the demigods; sandarśana — in having very beautiful forms; prajananāḥ — and in producing children; svarga-dvāram — the gateway to the heavenly planets; trayyā vidyayā — by performing ritualistic ceremonies according to Vedic principles; bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; trayī-mayam — established in the Vedas; sūryam ātmānam — the Supersoul, represented by the sun-god; yajante — they worship.


TRANSLATION

The seven islands [varṣas] are named according to the names of those seven sons—Śiva, Yavasa, Subhadra, Śānta, Kṣema, Amṛta and Abhaya. In those seven tracts of land, there are seven mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are named Maṇikūṭa, Vajrakūṭa, Indrasena, Jyotiṣmān, Suparṇa, Hiraṇyaṣṭhīva and Meghamāla, and the rivers are named Aruṇā, Nṛmṇā, Āṅgirasī, Sāvitrī, Suptabhātā, Ṛtambharā and Satyambharā. One can immediately be free from material contamination by touching or bathing in those rivers, and the four castes of people who live in Plakṣadvīpa—the Haṁsas, Pataṅgas, Ūrdhvāyanas and Satyāṅgas—purify themselves in that way. The inhabitants of Plakṣadvīpa live for one thousand years. They are beautiful like the demigods, and they also beget children like the demigods. By completely performing the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas and by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead as represented by the sun-god, they attain the sun, which is a heavenly planet.


PURPORT

According to general understanding, there are originally three deities—Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva—and people with a poor fund of knowledge consider Lord Viṣṇu no better than Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva. This conclusion, however, is invalid. As stated in the Vedas, iṣṭāpūrtaṁ bahudhā jāyamānaṁ viśvaṁ bibharti bhuvanasya nābhiḥ tad evāgnis tad vāyus tat sūryas tad u candramāḥ agniḥ sarvadaivataḥ. This means that the Supreme Lord, who accepts and enjoys the results of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies (technically called iṣṭāpūrta), who maintains the entire creation, who supplies the necessities of all living entities (eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān) and who is the central point of all creation, is Lord Viṣṇu. Lord Viṣṇu expands as the demigods known as Agni, Vāyu, Sūrya and Candra, who are simply parts and parcels of His body. Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā (BG 9.23):

ye 'py anya-devatā-bhaktā
yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ
te 'pi mām eva kaunteya
yajanty avidhi-pūrvakam

"Devotees who worship the demigods with firm faith worship Me also, but not according to regulative principles." In other words, if one worships the demigods but does not understand the relationship between the demigods and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his worship is irregular. Kṛṣṇa also says in Bhagavad-gītā (BG 9.24), ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca: "I am the only enjoyer of ritualistic ceremonies."

It may be argued that the demigods are as important as Lord Viṣṇu because the names of the demigods are different names of Viṣṇu. This, however, is not a sound conclusion, for it is contradicted in the Vedic literatures. The Vedas declare:

candramā manaso jātaś cakṣoḥ sūryo ajāyata; śrotrādayaś ca prāṇaś ca mukhād agnir ajāyata; nārāyaṇād brahmā, nārāyaṇād rudro jāyate, nārāyaṇāt prajāpatiḥ jāyate, nārāyaṇād indro jāyate, nārāyaṇād aṣṭau vasavo jāyante, nārāyaṇād ekādaśa rudrā jāyante.

"The demigod of the moon, Candra, came from the mind of Nārāyaṇa, and the sun-god came from His eyes. The controlling deities of hearing and the life air came from Nārāyaṇa, and the controlling deity of fire was generated from His mouth. Prajāpati, Lord Brahmā, came from Nārāyaṇa, Indra came from Nārāyaṇa, and the eight Vasus, the eleven expansions of Lord Śiva and the twelve Adityas also came from Nārāyaṇa." In the smṛti Vedic literature it is also said:

brahmā śambhus tathaivārkaś
candramāś ca śatakratuḥ
evam ādyās tathaivānye
yuktā vaiṣṇava-tejasā
jagat-kāryāvasāne tu
viyujyante ca tejasā
vitejaś ca te sarve
pañcatvam upayānti te

"Brahmā, Śambhu, Sūrya and Indra are all merely products of the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is also true of the many other demigods whose names are not mentioned here. When the cosmic manifestation is annihilated, these different expansions of Nārāyaṇa's potencies will merge into Nārāyaṇa. In other words, all these demigods will die. Their living force will be withdrawn, and they will merge into Nārāyaṇa."

Therefore it should be concluded that Lord Viṣṇu, not Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As a government officer is sometimes accepted as the entire government although he is actually but a departmental manager, so the demigods, having achieved power of attorney from Viṣṇu, act on His behalf, although they are not as powerful as He. All the demigods must work under the orders of Viṣṇu. Therefore it is said, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya (CC Adi 5.142). The only master is Lord Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, and all others are His obedient servants, who act exactly according to His orders. The distinction between Lord Viṣṇu and the demigods is also expressed in Bhagavad-gītā (BG 9.25).

"yānti deva-vratā devān "pitṟn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ "bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā'' "yānti mad-yājino 'pi mām

"Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, whereas the worshipers of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Viṣṇu go to the planets in Vaikuṇṭha." These are the statements of the smṛti. Therefore the idea that Lord Viṣṇu is on the same level as the demigods is in contradiction to the śāstras. The demigods are not supreme. The supremacy of the demigods is dependent on the mercy of Lord Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa).



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