sūta uvāca atha taṁ sukham āsīna upāsīnaṁ bṛhac-chravāḥ devarṣiḥ prāha viprarṣiṁ vīṇā-pāṇiḥ smayann iva
Universal Translation
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus the sage amongst the gods [Nārada], comfortably seated and apparently smiling, addressed the ṛṣi amongst the brāhmaṇas [Vedavyāsa].
nārada uvāca pārāśarya mahā-bhāga bhavataḥ kaccid ātmanā parituṣyati śārīra ātmā mānasa eva vā
Universal Translation
Addressing Vyāsadeva, the son of Parāśara, Nārada inquired: Are you satisfied by identifying with the body or the mind as objects of self-realization?
jijñāsitaṁ susampannam api te mahad-adbhutam kṛtavān bhārataṁ yas tvaṁ sarvārtha-paribṛṁhitam
Universal Translation
Your inquiries were full and your studies were also well fulfilled, and there is no doubt that you have prepared a great and wonderful work, the Mahābhārata, which is full of all kinds of Vedic sequences elaborately explained.
jijñāsitam adhītaṁ ca brahma yat tat sanātanam tathāpi śocasy ātmānam akṛtārtha iva prabho
Universal Translation
You have fully delineated the subject of impersonal Brahman as well as the knowledge derived therefrom. Why should you be despondent in spite of all this, thinking that you are undone, my dear prabhu?
vyāsa uvāca asty eva me sarvam idaṁ tvayoktaṁ tathāpi nātmā parituṣyate me tan-mūlam avyaktam agādha-bodhaṁ pṛcchāmahe tvātma-bhavātma-bhūtam
Universal Translation
Śrī Vyāsadeva said: All you have said about me is perfectly correct. Despite all this, I am not pacified. I therefore question you about the root cause of my dissatisfaction, for you are a man of unlimited knowledge due to your being the offspring of one [Brahmā] who is self-born [without mundane father and mother].
sa vai bhavān veda samasta-guhyam upāsito yat puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ parāvareśo manasaiva viśvaṁ sṛjaty avaty atti guṇair asaṅgaḥ
Universal Translation
My lord! Everything that is mysterious is known to you because you worship the creator and destroyer of the material world and the maintainer of the spiritual world, the original Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental to the three modes of material nature.
tvaṁ paryaṭann arka iva tri-lokīm antaś-caro vāyur ivātma-sākṣī parāvare brahmaṇi dharmato vrataiḥ snātasya me nyūnam alaṁ vicakṣva
Universal Translation
Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency in me, despite my being absorbed in transcendence under disciplinary regulations and vows.
śrī-nārada uvāca bhavatānudita-prāyaṁ yaśo bhagavato ’malam yenaivāsau na tuṣyeta manye tad darśanaṁ khilam
Universal Translation
Śrī Nārada said: You have not actually broadcast the sublime and spotless glories of the Personality of Godhead. That philosophy which does not satisfy the transcendental senses of the Lord is considered worthless.
yathā dharmādayaś cārthā muni-varyānukīrtitāḥ na tathā vāsudevasya mahimā hy anuvarṇitaḥ
Universal Translation
Although, great sage, you have very broadly described the four principles beginning with religious performances, you have not described the glories of the Supreme Personality, Vāsudeva.
na yad vacaś citra-padaṁ harer yaśo jagat-pavitraṁ pragṛṇīta karhicit tad vāyasaṁ tīrtham uśanti mānasā na yatra haṁsā niramanty uśik-kṣayāḥ
Universal Translation
Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there.
tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api nāmāny anantasya yaśo ’ṅkitāni yat śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ
Universal Translation
On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.
naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ na śobhate jñānam alaṁ nirañjanam kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvad abhadram īśvare na cārpitaṁ karma yad apy akāraṇam
Universal Translation
Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?
atho mahā-bhāga bhavān amogha-dṛk śuci-śravāḥ satya-rato dhṛta-vrataḥ urukramasyākhila-bandha-muktaye samādhinānusmara tad-viceṣṭitam
Universal Translation
O Vyāsadeva, your vision is completely perfect. Your good fame is spotless. You are firm in vow and situated in truthfulness. And thus you can think of the pastimes of the Lord in trance for the liberation of the people in general from all material bondage.
tato ’nyathā kiñcana yad vivakṣataḥ pṛthag dṛśas tat-kṛta-rūpa-nāmabhiḥ na karhicit kvāpi ca duḥsthitā matir labheta vātāhata-naur ivāspadam
Universal Translation
Whatever you desire to describe that is separate in vision from the Lord simply reacts, with different forms, names and results, to agitate the mind, as the wind agitates a boat which has no resting place.
jugupsitaṁ dharma-kṛte ’nuśāsataḥ svabhāva-raktasya mahān vyatikramaḥ yad-vākyato dharma itītaraḥ sthito na manyate tasya nivāraṇaṁ janaḥ
Universal Translation
The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.
vicakṣaṇo ’syārhati vedituṁ vibhor ananta-pārasya nivṛttitaḥ sukham pravartamānasya guṇair anātmanas tato bhavān darśaya ceṣṭitaṁ vibhoḥ
Universal Translation
The Supreme Lord is unlimited. Only a very expert personality, retired from the activities of material happiness, deserves to understand this knowledge of spiritual values. Therefore those who are not so well situated, due to material attachment, should be shown the ways of transcendental realization, by Your Goodness, through descriptions of the transcendental activities of the Supreme Lord.
tyaktvā sva-dharmaṁ caraṇāmbujaṁ harer bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi yatra kva vābhadram abhūd amuṣya kiṁ ko vārtha āpto ’bhajatāṁ sva-dharmataḥ
Universal Translation
One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being unsuccessful. On the other hand, a nondevotee, though fully engaged in occupational duties, does not gain anything.
tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukhaṁ kālena sarvatra gabhīra-raṁhasā
Universal Translation
Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Pātāla]. As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.
na vai jano jātu kathañcanāvrajen mukunda-sevy anyavad aṅga saṁsṛtim smaran mukundāṅghry-upagūhanaṁ punar vihātum icchen na rasa-graho janaḥ
Universal Translation
My dear Vyāsa, even though a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa sometimes falls down somehow or other, he certainly does not undergo material existence like others [fruitive workers, etc.] because a person who has once relished the taste of the lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but remember that ecstasy again and again.
idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaro yato jagat-sthāna-nirodha-sambhavāḥ tad dhi svayaṁ veda bhavāṁs tathāpi te prādeśa-mātraṁ bhavataḥ pradarśitam
Universal Translation
The Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is Himself this cosmos, and still He is aloof from it. From Him only has this cosmic manifestation emanated, in Him it rests, and unto Him it enters after annihilation. Your good self knows all about this. I have given only a synopsis.
tvam ātmanātmānam avehy amogha-dṛk parasya puṁsaḥ paramātmanaḥ kalām ajaṁ prajātaṁ jagataḥ śivāya tan mahānubhāvābhyudayo ’dhigaṇyatām
Universal Translation
Your Goodness has perfect vision. You yourself can know the Supersoul Personality of Godhead because you are present as the plenary portion of the Lord. Although you are birthless, you have appeared on this earth for the well-being of all people. Please, therefore, describe the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa more vividly.
idaṁ hi puṁsas tapasaḥ śrutasya vā sviṣṭasya sūktasya ca buddhi-dattayoḥ avicyuto ’rthaḥ kavibhir nirūpito yad-uttamaśloka-guṇānuvarṇanam
Universal Translation
Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the advancement of knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice, chanting of hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of the Lord, who is defined in choice poetry.
ahaṁ purātīta-bhave ’bhavaṁ mune dāsyās tu kasyāścana veda-vādinām nirūpito bālaka eva yogināṁ śuśrūṣaṇe prāvṛṣi nirvivikṣatām
Universal Translation
O Muni, in the last millennium I was born as the son of a certain maidservant engaged in the service of brāhmaṇas who were following the principles of Vedānta. When they were living together during the four months of the rainy season, I was engaged in their personal service.
te mayy apetākhila-cāpale ’rbhake dānte ’dhṛta-krīḍanake ’nuvartini cakruḥ kṛpāṁ yadyapi tulya-darśanāḥ śuśrūṣamāṇe munayo ’lpa-bhāṣiṇi
Universal Translation
Although they were impartial by nature, those followers of the Vedānta blessed me with their causeless mercy. As far as I was concerned, I was self-controlled and had no attachment for sports, even though I was a boy. In addition, I was not naughty, and I did not speak more than required.
ucchiṣṭa-lepān anumodito dvijaiḥ sakṛt sma bhuñje tad-apāsta-kilbiṣaḥ evaṁ pravṛttasya viśuddha-cetasas tad-dharma evātma-ruciḥ prajāyate
Universal Translation
Once only, by their permission, I took the remnants of their food, and by so doing all my sins were at once eradicated. Thus being engaged, I became purified in heart, and at that time the very nature of the transcendentalist became attractive to me.
tatrānvahaṁ kṛṣṇa-kathāḥ pragāyatām anugraheṇāśṛṇavaṁ manoharāḥ tāḥ śraddhayā me ’nupadaṁ viśṛṇvataḥ priyaśravasy aṅga mamābhavad ruciḥ
Universal Translation
O Vyāsadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedāntists, I could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa. And thus listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead increased at every step.
tasmiṁs tadā labdha-rucer mahā-mate priyaśravasy askhalitā matir mama yayāham etat sad-asat sva-māyayā paśye mayi brahmaṇi kalpitaṁ pare
Universal Translation
O great sage, as soon as I got a taste of the Personality of Godhead, my attention to hear of the Lord was unflinching. And as my taste developed, I could realize that it was only in my ignorance that I had accepted gross and subtle coverings, for both the Lord and I are transcendental.
itthaṁ śarat-prāvṛṣikāv ṛtū harer viśṛṇvato me ’nusavaṁ yaśo ’malam saṅkīrtyamānaṁ munibhir mahātmabhir bhaktiḥ pravṛttātma-rajas-tamopahā
Universal Translation
Thus during two seasons — the rainy season and autumn — I had the opportunity to hear these great-souled sages constantly chant the unadulterated glories of the Lord Hari. As the flow of my devotional service began, the coverings of the modes of passion and ignorance vanished.
tasyaivaṁ me ’nuraktasya praśritasya hatainasaḥ śraddadhānasya bālasya dāntasyānucarasya ca
Universal Translation
I was very much attached to those sages. I was gentle in behavior, and all my sins were eradicated in their service. In my heart I had strong faith in them. I had subjugated the senses, and I was strictly following them with body and mind.
jñānaṁ guhyatamaṁ yat tat sākṣād bhagavatoditam anvavocan gamiṣyantaḥ kṛpayā dīna-vatsalāḥ
Universal Translation
As they were leaving, those bhakti-vedāntas, who are very kind to poor-hearted souls, instructed me in that most confidential subject which is instructed by the Personality of Godhead Himself.
yenaivāhaṁ bhagavato vāsudevasya vedhasaḥ māyānubhāvam avidaṁ yena gacchanti tat-padam
Universal Translation
By that confidential knowledge, I could understand clearly the influence of the energy of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the creator, maintainer and annihilator of everything. By knowing that, one can return to Him and personally meet Him.
etat saṁsūcitaṁ brahmaṁs tāpa-traya-cikitsitam yad īśvare bhagavati karma brahmaṇi bhāvitam
Universal Translation
O Brāhmaṇa Vyāsadeva, it is decided by the learned that the best remedial measure for removing all troubles and miseries is to dedicate one’s activities to the service of the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead [Śrī Kṛṣṇa].
āmayo yaś ca bhūtānāṁ jāyate yena suvrata tad eva hy āmayaṁ dravyaṁ na punāti cikitsitam
Universal Translation
O good soul, does not a thing, applied therapeutically, cure a disease which was caused by that very same thing?
evaṁ nṛṇāṁ kriyā-yogāḥ sarve saṁsṛti-hetavaḥ ta evātma-vināśāya kalpante kalpitāḥ pare
Universal Translation
Thus when all a man’s activities are dedicated to the service of the Lord, those very activities which caused his perpetual bondage become the destroyer of the tree of work.
yad atra kriyate karma bhagavat-paritoṣaṇam jñānaṁ yat tad adhīnaṁ hi bhakti-yoga-samanvitam
Universal Translation
Whatever work is done here in this life for the satisfaction of the mission of the Lord is called bhakti-yoga, or transcendental loving service to the Lord, and what is called knowledge becomes a concomitant factor.
kurvāṇā yatra karmāṇi bhagavac-chikṣayāsakṛt gṛṇanti guṇa-nāmāni kṛṣṇasyānusmaranti ca
Universal Translation
While performing duties according to the order of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one constantly remembers Him, His names and His qualities.
oṁ namo bhagavate tubhyaṁ vāsudevāya dhīmahi pradyumnāyāniruddhāya namaḥ saṅkarṣaṇāya ca
Universal Translation
Let us all chant the glories of Vāsudeva along with His plenary expansions Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Saṅkarṣaṇa.
iti mūrty-abhidhānena mantra-mūrtim amūrtikam yajate yajña-puruṣaṁ sa samyag-darśanaḥ pumān
Universal Translation
Thus he is the actual seer who worships, in the form of transcendental sound representation, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who has no material form.
imaṁ sva-nigamaṁ brahmann avetya mad-anuṣṭhitam adān me jñānam aiśvaryaṁ svasmin bhāvaṁ ca keśavaḥ
Universal Translation
O brāhmaṇa, thus by the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa I was endowed first with the transcendental knowledge of the Lord as inculcated in the confidential parts of the Vedas, then with the spiritual opulences, and then with His intimate loving service.
tvam apy adabhra-śruta viśrutaṁ vibhoḥ samāpyate yena vidāṁ bubhutsitam prākhyāhi duḥkhair muhur arditātmanāṁ saṅkleśa-nirvāṇam uśanti nānyathā
Universal Translation
Please, therefore, describe the almighty Lord’s activities which you have learned by your vast knowledge of the Vedas, for that will satisfy the hankerings of great learned men and at the same time mitigate the miseries of the masses of common people who are always suffering from material pangs. Indeed, there is no other way to get out of such miseries.