Chapter Seven
Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison
TEXT 12
upary agendraṁ giri-rāḍ ivānya
ākramya hastena sahasra-bāhuḥ
tasthau divi brahma-bhavendra-mukhyair
abhiṣṭuvadbhiḥ sumano-’bhivṛṣṭaḥ
SYNONYMS
upari—on the top of; agendram—the big mountain; giri-rāṭ—the king of mountains; iva—like; anyaḥ—another; ākramya—catching; hastena—by one hand; sahasra-bāhuḥ—exhibiting thousands of hands; tasthau—situated; divi—in the sky; brahma—Lord Brahmā; bhava—Lord Śiva; indra—the King of heaven; mukhyaiḥ—headed by; abhiṣṭuvadbhiḥ—offered prayers to the Lord; sumanaḥ—by flowers; abhivṛṣṭaḥ—being showered.
TRANSLATION
Manifesting Himself with thousands of hands, the Lord then appeared on the summit of Mandara Mountain, like another great mountain, and held Mandara Mountain with one hand. In the upper planetary systems, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, along with Indra, King of heaven, and other demigods, offered prayers to the Lord and showered flowers upon Him.
PURPORT
To balance Mandara Mountain while it was being pulled from both sides, the Lord Himself appeared on its summit like another great mountain. Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and King Indra then expanded themselves and showered flowers on the Lord.
TEXT 13
upary adhaś cātmani gotra-netrayoḥ
pareṇa te prāviśatā samedhitāḥ
mamanthur abdhiṁ tarasā madotkaṭā
mahādriṇā kṣobhita-nakra-cakram
SYNONYMS
upari—upward; adhaḥ ca—and downward; ātmani—unto the demons and demigods; gotra-netrayoḥ—unto the mountain and Vāsuki, who was used as a rope; pareṇa—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; te—they; prāviśatā—entering them; samedhitāḥ—sufficiently agitated; mamanthuḥ—churned; abdhim—the ocean of milk; tarasā—with great strength; mada-utkaṭāḥ—being mad; mahā-adriṇā—with the great Mandara Mountain; kṣobhita—agitated; nakra-cakram—all the alligators in the water.
TRANSLATION
The demigods and demons worked almost madly for the nectar, encouraged by the Lord, who was above and below the mountain and who had entered the demigods, the demons, Vāsuki and the mountain itself. Because of the strength of the demigods and demons, the ocean of milk was so powerfully agitated that all the alligators in the water were very much perturbed. Nonetheless the churning of the ocean continued in this way.
TEXT 14
ahīndra-sāhasra-kaṭhora-dṛṅ-mukha-
śvāsāgni-dhūmāhata-varcaso ’surāḥ
pauloma-kāleya-balīlvalādayo
davāgni-dagdhāḥ saralā ivābhavan
SYNONYMS
ahīndra—of the King of serpents; sāhasra—by thousands; kaṭhora—very, very hard; dṛk—all directions; mukha—by the mouth; śvāsa—breathing; agni—fire coming out; dhūma—smoke; āhata—being affected; varcasaḥ—by the rays; asurāḥ—the demons; pauloma—Pauloma; kāleya—Kāleya; bali—Bali; ilvala—Ilvala; ādayaḥ—headed by; dava-agni—by a forest fire; dagdhāḥ—burned; saralāḥ—sarala trees; iva—like; abhavan—all of them became.
TRANSLATION
Vāsuki had thousands of eyes and mouths. From his mouths he breathed smoke and blazing fire, which affected the demons, headed by Pauloma, Kāleya, Bali and Ilvala. Thus the demons, who appeared like sarala trees burned by a forest fire, gradually became powerless.
TEXT 15
devāṁś ca tac-chvāsa-śikhā-hata-prabhān
dhūmrāmbara-srag-vara-kañcukānanān
samabhyavarṣan bhagavad-vaśā ghanā
vavuḥ samudrormy-upagūḍha-vāyavaḥ
SYNONYMS
devān—all the demigods; ca—also; tat—of Vāsuki; śvāsa—from the breathing; śikhā—by the flames; hata—being affected; prabhān—their bodily luster; dhūmra—smoky; ambara—dress; srak-vara—excellent garlands; kañcuka—armaments; ānanān—and faces; samabhyavarṣan—sufficiently rained; bhagavat-vaśāḥ—under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ghanāḥ—clouds; vavuḥ—blew; samudra—of the ocean of milk; ūrmi—from the waves; upagūḍha—bearing fragments of water; vāyavaḥ—breezes.
TRANSLATION
Because the demigods were also affected by the blazing breath of Vāsuki, their bodily lusters diminished, and their garments, garlands, weapons and faces were blackened by smoke. However, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, clouds appeared on the sea, pouring torrents of rain, and breezes blew, carrying particles of water from the sea waves, to give the demigods relief.
TEXT 16
mathyamānāt tathā sindhor
devāsura-varūtha-paiḥ
yadā sudhā na jāyeta
nirmamanthājitaḥ svayam
SYNONYMS
mathyamānāt—sufficiently being churned; tathā—in this way; sindhoḥ—from the ocean of milk; deva—of the demigods; asura—and the demons; varūtha-paiḥ—by the best; yadā—when; sudhā—nectar; na jāyeta—did not come out; nirmamantha—churned; ajitaḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita; svayam—personally.
TRANSLATION
When nectar did not come from the ocean of milk, despite so much endeavor by the best of the demigods and demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita, personally began to churn the ocean.
TEXT 17
megha-śyāmaḥ kanaka-paridhiḥ karṇa-vidyota-vidyun
mūrdhni bhrājad-vilulita-kacaḥ srag-dharo rakta-netraḥ
jaitrair dorbhir jagad-abhaya-dair dandaśūkaṁ gṛhītvā
mathnan mathnā pratigirir ivāśobhatātho dhṛtādriḥ
SYNONYMS
megha-śyāmaḥ—blackish like a cloud; kanaka-paridhiḥ—wearing yellow garments; karṇa—on the ears; vidyota-vidyut—whose earrings shone like lightning; mūrdhni—on the head; bhrājat—gleaming; vilulita—disheveled; kacaḥ—whose hair; srak-dharaḥ—wearing a flower garland; rakta-netraḥ—with red eyes; jaitraiḥ—with victorious; dorbhiḥ—with arms; jagat—to the universe; abhaya-daiḥ—which give fearlessness; dandaśūkam—the snake (Vāsuki); gṛhītvā—after taking; mathnan—churning; mathnā—by the churning rod (Mandara Mountain); pratigiriḥ—another mountain; iva—like; aśobhata—He appeared; atho—then; dhṛta-adriḥ—having taken the mountain.
TRANSLATION
The Lord appeared like a blackish cloud. He was dressed with yellow garments, His earrings shone on His ears like lightning, and His hair spread over His shoulders. He wore a garland of flowers, and His eyes were pinkish. With His strong, glorious arms, which award fearlessness throughout the universe, He took hold of Vāsuki and began churning the ocean, using Mandara Mountain as a churning rod. When engaged in this way, the Lord appeared like a beautifully situated mountain named Indranīla.
TEXT 18
nirmathyamānād udadher abhūd viṣaṁ
maholbaṇaṁ hālahalāhvam agrataḥ
sambhrānta-mīnonmakarāhi-kacchapāt
timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgilākulāt
SYNONYMS
nirmathyamānāt—while the activities of churning were going on; udadheḥ—from the ocean; abhūt—there was; viṣam—poison; mahā-ulbaṇam—very fierce; hālahala-āhvam—by the name hālahala; agrataḥ—at first; sambhrānta—agitated and going here and there; mīna—various kinds of fish; unmakara—sharks; ahi—different kinds of snakes; kacchapāt—and many kinds of tortoises; timi—whales; dvipa—water elephants; grāha—crocodiles; timiṅgila—whales that can swallow whales; ākulāt—being very much agitated.
TRANSLATION
The fish, sharks, tortoises and snakes were most agitated and perturbed. The entire ocean became turbulent, and even the large aquatic animals like whales, water elephants, crocodiles and timiṅgila fish [large whales that can swallow small whales] came to the surface. While the ocean was being churned in this way, it first produced a fiercely dangerous poison called hālahala.
TEXT 19
tad ugra-vegaṁ diśi diśy upary adho
visarpad utsarpad asahyam aprati
bhītāḥ prajā dudruvur aṅga seśvarā
arakṣyamāṇāḥ śaraṇaṁ sadāśivam
SYNONYMS
tat—that; ugra-vegam—very fierce and potent poison; diśi diśi—in all directions; upari—upward; adhaḥ—downward; visarpat—curling; utsarpat—going upward; asahyam—unbearable; aprati—uncontrollable; bhītāḥ—being very much afraid; prajāḥ—the residents of all the worlds; dudruvuḥ—moved here and there; aṅga—O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; sa-īśvarāḥ—with the Supreme Lord; arakṣyamāṇāḥ—not being protected; śaraṇam—shelter; sadāśivam—unto the lotus feet of Lord Śiva.
TRANSLATION
O King, when that uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the demigods, along with the Lord Himself, approached Lord Śiva [Sadāśiva]. Feeling unsheltered and very much afraid, they sought shelter of him.
PURPORT
One may question that since the Supreme Personality of Godhead was personally present, why did He accompany all the demigods and people in general to take shelter of Lord Sadāśiva, instead of intervening Himself. In this connection Śrīla Madhvācārya warns:
rudrasya yaśaso ’rthāya
svayaṁ viṣṇur viṣaṁ vibhuḥ
na sañjahre samartho ’pi
vāyuṁ coce praśāntaye
Lord Viṣṇu was competent to rectify the situation, but in order to give credit to Lord Śiva, who later drank all the poison and kept it in his neck, Lord Viṣṇu did not take action.
TEXT 20
vilokya taṁ deva-varaṁ tri-lokyā
bhavāya devyābhimataṁ munīnām
āsīnam adrāv apavarga-hetos
tapo juṣāṇaṁ stutibhiḥ praṇemuḥ
SYNONYMS
vilokya—observing; tam—him; deva-varam—the best of the demigods; tri-lokyāḥ—of the three worlds; bhavāya—for the flourishing; devyā—with his wife, Bhavānī; abhimatam—accepted by; munīnām—great saintly persons; āsīnam—sitting together; adrau—from the top of Kailāsa Hill; apavarga-hetoḥ—desiring liberation; tapaḥ—in austerity; juṣāṇam—being served by them; stutibhiḥ—by prayers; praṇemuḥ—offered their respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
The demigods observed Lord Śiva sitting on the summit of Kailāsa Hill with his wife, Bhavānī, for the auspicious development of the three worlds. He was being worshiped by great saintly persons desiring liberation. The demigods offered him their obeisances and prayers with great respect.
TEXT 21
śrī-prajāpataya ūcuḥ
deva-deva mahā-deva
bhūtātman bhūta-bhāvana
trāhi naḥ śaraṇāpannāṁs
trailokya-dahanād viṣāt
SYNONYMS
śrī-prajāpatayaḥ ūcuḥ—the prajāpatis said; deva-deva—O Lord Mahādeva, best of the demigods; mahā-deva—O great demigod; bhūta-ātman—O life and soul of everyone in this world; bhūta-bhāvana—O the cause of the happiness and flourishing of all of them; trāhi—deliver; naḥ—us; śaraṇa-āpannān—who have taken shelter at your lotus feet; trailokya—of the three worlds; dahanāt—which is causing the burning; viṣāt—from this poison.
TRANSLATION
The prajāpatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahādeva, Supersoul of all living entities and cause of their happiness and prosperity, we have come to the shelter of your lotus feet. Now please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over the three worlds.
PURPORT
Since Lord Śiva is in charge of annihilation, why should he be approached for protection, which is given by Lord Viṣṇu? Lord Brahmā creates, and Lord Śiva annihilates, but both Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are incarnations of Lord Viṣṇu and are known as śaktyāveśa-avatāras. They are endowed with a special power like that of Lord Viṣṇu, who is actually all-pervading in their activities. Therefore whenever prayers for protection are offered to Lord Śiva, actually Lord Viṣṇu is indicated, for otherwise Lord Śiva is meant for destruction. Lord Śiva is one of the īśvaras, or the controllers known as śaktyāveśa-avatāras. Therefore he can be addressed as having the qualities of Lord Viṣṇu.
TEXT 22
tvam ekaḥ sarva-jagata
īśvaro bandha-mokṣayoḥ
taṁ tvām arcanti kuśalāḥ
prapannārti-haraṁ gurum
SYNONYMS
tvam ekaḥ—Your Lordship is indeed; sarva-jagataḥ—of the three worlds; īśvaraḥ—the controller; bandha-mokṣayoḥ—of both bondage and liberation; tam—that controller; tvām arcanti—worship you; kuśalāḥ—persons who want good fortune; prapanna-ārti-haram—who can mitigate all the distresses of a sheltered devotee; gurum—you who act as a good advisor to all fallen souls.
TRANSLATION
O lord, you are the cause of bondage and liberation of the entire universe because you are its ruler. Those who are advanced in spiritual consciousness surrender unto you, and therefore you are the cause of mitigating their distresses, and you are also the cause of their liberation. We therefore worship Your Lordship.
PURPORT
Actually Lord Viṣṇu maintains and accomplishes all good fortune. If one has to take shelter of Lord Viṣṇu, why should the demigods take shelter of Lord Śiva? They did so because Lord Viṣṇu acts through Lord Śiva in the creation of the material world. Lord Śiva acts on behalf of Lord Viṣṇu. When the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (14.4) that He is the father of all living entities (ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā), this refers to actions performed by Lord Viṣṇu through Lord Śiva. Lord Viṣṇu is always unattached to material activities, and when material activities are to be performed, Lord Viṣṇu performs them through Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva is therefore worshiped on the level of Lord Viṣṇu. When Lord Viṣṇu is untouched by the external energy He is Lord Viṣṇu, but when He is in touch with the external energy, He appears in His feature as Lord Śiva.
TEXT 23
guṇa-mayyā sva-śaktyāsya
sarga-sthity-apyayān vibho
dhatse yadā sva-dṛg bhūman
brahma-viṣṇu-śivābhidhām
SYNONYMS
guṇa-mayyā—acting in three modes of activity; sva-śaktyā—by the external energy of Your Lordship; asya—of this material world; sarga-sthiti-apyayān—creation, maintenance and annihilation; vibho—O lord; dhatse—you execute; yadā—when; sva-dṛk—you manifest yourself; bhūman—O great one; brahma-viṣṇu-śiva-abhidhām—as Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu or Lord Śiva.
TRANSLATION
O lord, you are self-effulgent and supreme. You create this material world by your personal energy, and you assume the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara when you act in creation, maintenance and annihilation.
PURPORT
This prayer is actually offered to Lord Viṣṇu, the puruṣa, who in His incarnations as the guṇa-avatāras assumes the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara.
TEXT 24
tvaṁ brahma paramaṁ guhyaṁ
sad-asad-bhāva-bhāvanam
nānā-śaktibhir ābhātas
tvam ātmā jagad-īśvaraḥ
SYNONYMS
tvam—Your Lordship; brahma—impersonal Brahman; paramam—supreme; guhyam—confidential; sat-asat-bhāva-bhāvanam—the cause of varieties of creation, its cause and effect; nānā-śaktibhiḥ—with varieties of potencies; ābhātaḥ—manifest; tvam—you are; ātmā—the Supersoul; jagat-īśvaraḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
You are the cause of all causes, the self-effulgent, inconceivable, impersonal Brahman, which is originally Parabrahman. You manifest various potencies in this cosmic manifestation.
PURPORT
This prayer is offered to the impersonal Brahman, which consists of the effulgent rays of Parabrahman. Parabrahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān [Bg. 10.12]). When Lord Śiva is worshiped as Parabrahman, the worship is meant for Lord Viṣṇu.
TEXT 25
tvaṁ śabda-yonir jagad-ādir ātmā
prāṇendriya-dravya-guṇaḥ svabhāvaḥ
kālaḥ kratuḥ satyam ṛtaṁ ca dharmas
tvayy akṣaraṁ yat tri-vṛd-āmananti
SYNONYMS
tvam—Your Lordship; śabda-yoniḥ—the origin and source of Vedic literature; jagat-ādiḥ—the original cause of material creation; ātmā—the soul; prāṇa—the living force; indriya—the senses; dravya—the material elements; guṇaḥ—the three qualities; sva-bhāvaḥ—material nature; kālaḥ—eternal time; kratuḥ—sacrifice; satyam—truth; ṛtam—truthfulness; ca—and; dharmaḥ—two different types of religion; tvayi—unto you; akṣaram—the original syllable, oṁkāra; yat—that which; tri-vṛt—consisting of the letters a, u and m; āmananti—they say.
TRANSLATION
O lord, you are the original source of Vedic literature. You are the original cause of material creation, the life force, the senses, the five elements, the three modes and the mahat-tattva. You are eternal time, determination and the two religious systems called truth [satya] and truthfulness [ṛta]. You are the shelter of the syllable oṁ, which consists of three letters a-u-m.
TEXT 26
agnir mukhaṁ te ’khila-devatātmā
kṣitiṁ vidur loka-bhavāṅghri-paṅkajam
kālaṁ gatiṁ te ’khila-devatātmano
diśaś ca karṇau rasanaṁ jaleśam
SYNONYMS
agniḥ—fire; mukham—mouth; te—of Your Lordship; akhila-devatā-ātmā—the origin of all demigods; kṣitim—the surface of the globe; viduḥ—they know; loka-bhava—O origin of all planets; aṅghri-paṅkajam—your lotus feet; kālam—eternal time; gatim—progress; te—of Your Lordship; akhila-devatā-ātmanaḥ—the total aggregate of all the demigods; diśaḥ—all directions; ca—and; karṇau—your ears; rasanam—taste; jala-īśam—the demigod controller of the water.
TRANSLATION
O father of all planets, learned scholars know that fire is your mouth, the surface of the globe is your lotus feet, eternal time is your movement, all the directions are your ears, and Varuṇa, master of the waters, is your tongue.
PURPORT
In the śruti-mantras it is said, agniḥ sarva-devatāḥ: “Fire is the aggregate of all demigods.” Agni is the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is through Agni, or fire, that the Lord accepts all sacrificial oblations.
TEXT 27
nābhir nabhas te śvasanaṁ nabhasvān
sūryaś ca cakṣūṁṣi jalaṁ sma retaḥ
parāvarātmāśrayaṇaṁ tavātmā
somo mano dyaur bhagavan śiras te
SYNONYMS
nābhiḥ—navel; nabhaḥ—the sky; te—of Your Lordship; śvasanam—breathing; nabhasvān—the air; sūryaḥ ca—and the sun globe; cakṣūṁṣi—your eyes; jalam—the water; sma—indeed; retaḥ—semen; para-avara-ātma-āśrayaṇam—the shelter of all living entities, low and high; tava—your; ātmā—self; somaḥ—the moon; manaḥ—mind; dyauḥ—the higher planetary systems; bhagavan—O Your Lordship; śiraḥ—head; te—of you.
TRANSLATION
O lord, the sky is your navel, the air is your breathing, the sun is your eyes, and the water is your semen. You are the shelter of all kinds of living entities, high and low. The god of the moon is your mind, and the upper planetary system is your head.
TEXT 28
kukṣiḥ samudrā girayo ’sthi-saṅghā
romāṇi sarvauṣadhi-vīrudhas te
chandāṁsi sākṣāt tava sapta dhātavas
trayī-mayātman hṛdayaṁ sarva-dharmaḥ
SYNONYMS
kukṣiḥ—abdomen; samudrāḥ—the oceans; girayaḥ—the mountains; asthi—bones; saṅghāḥ—combination; romāṇi—the hairs of the body; sarva—all; auṣadhi—drugs; vīrudhaḥ—plants and creepers; te—your; chandāṁsi—Vedic mantras; sākṣāt—directly; tava—your; sapta—seven; dhātavaḥ—layers of the body; trayī-maya-ātman—O three Vedas personified; hṛdayam—core of the heart; sarva-dharmaḥ—all kinds of religion.
TRANSLATION
O lord, you are the three Vedas personified. The seven seas are your abdomen, and the mountains are your bones. All drugs, creepers and vegetables are the hairs on your body, the Vedic mantras like Gāyatrī are the seven layers of your body, and the Vedic religious system is the core of your heart.
TEXT 29
mukhāni pañcopaniṣadas taveśa
yais triṁśad-aṣṭottara-mantra-vargaḥ
yat tac chivākhyaṁ paramātma-tattvaṁ
deva svayaṁ-jyotir avasthitis te
SYNONYMS
mukhāni—faces; pañca—five; upaniṣadaḥ—Vedic literatures; tava—your; īśa—O lord; yaiḥ—by which; triṁśat-aṣṭa-uttara-mantra-vargaḥ—in the category of thirty-eight important Vedic mantras; yat—that; tat—as it is; śiva-ākhyam—celebrated by the name Śiva; paramātma-tattvam—which ascertain the truth about Paramātmā; deva—O lord; svayam-jyotiḥ—self-illuminated; avasthitiḥ—situation; te—of Your Lordship.
TRANSLATION
O lord, the five important Vedic mantras are represented by your five faces, from which the thirty-eight most celebrated Vedic mantras have been generated. Your Lordship, being celebrated as Lord Śiva, is self-illuminated. You are directly situated as the supreme truth, known as Paramātmā.
PURPORT
The five mantras mentioned in this connection are as follows: (1) Puruṣa, (2) Aghora, (3) Sadyojāta, (4) Vāmadeva, and (5) Īśāna. These five mantras are within the category of thirty-eight special Vedic mantras chanted by Lord Śiva, who is therefore celebrated as Śiva or Mahādeva. Another reason why Lord Śiva is called Śiva, which means “all-auspicious,” is that he is self-illuminated, exactly like Lord Viṣṇu, who is the Paramātmā. Because Lord Śiva is directly an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, he is situated as Lord Viṣṇu’s direct representative. This fact is corroborated by a Vedic mantra: patiṁ viśvasyātmeśvaraṁ śāśvatam. śivam acyutam. The Supersoul is called by many names, of which Maheśvara, Śiva and Acyuta are especially mentioned.
TEXT 30
chāyā tv adharmormiṣu yair visargo
netra-trayaṁ sattva-rajas-tamāṁsi
sāṅkhyātmanaḥ śāstra-kṛtas tavekṣā
chandomayo deva ṛṣiḥ purāṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
chāyā—shadow; tu—but; adharma-ūrmiṣu—in the waves of irreligion, like kāma, krodha, lobha and moha; yaiḥ—by which; visargaḥ—so many varieties of creation; netra-trayam—three eyes; sattva—goodness; rajaḥ—passion; tamāṁsi—and darkness; sāṅkhya-ātmanaḥ—the origin of all Vedic literatures; śāstra—scriptures; kṛtaḥ—made; tava—by you; īkṣā—simply by glancing; chandaḥ-mayaḥ—full of Vedic verses; deva—O lord; ṛṣiḥ—all Vedic literatures; purāṇaḥ—and the purāṇas, the supplementary Vedas.
TRANSLATION
O lord, your shadow is seen in irreligion, which brings about varieties of irreligious creations. The three modes of nature—goodness, passion and ignorance—are your three eyes. All the Vedic literatures, which are full of verses, are emanations from you because their compilers wrote the various scriptures after receiving your glance.
TEXT 31
na te giri-trākhila-loka-pāla-
viriñca-vaikuṇṭha-surendra-gamyam
jyotiḥ paraṁ yatra rajas tamaś ca
sattvaṁ na yad brahma nirasta-bhedam
SYNONYMS
na—not; te—of Your Lordship; giri-tra—O King of the mountains; akhila-loka-pāla—all the directors of departments of material activities; viriñca—Lord Brahmā; vaikuṇṭha—Lord Viṣṇu; sura-indra—the King of heaven; gamyam—they can understand; jyotiḥ—effulgence; param—transcendental; yatra—wherein; rajaḥ—the mode of passion; tamaḥ ca—and the mode of ignorance; sattvam—the mode of goodness; na—not; yat brahma—which is impersonal Brahman; nirasta-bhedam—without distinction between demigods and human beings.
TRANSLATION
O Lord Girīśa, since the impersonal Brahman effulgence is transcendental to the material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, the various directors of this material world certainly cannot appreciate it or even know where it is. It is not understandable even to Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu or the King of heaven, Mahendra.
PURPORT
The brahmajyoti is actually the effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in Brahma-saṁhitā (5.40):
yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-
koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti-bhinnam
tad brahma niṣkalam anantam aśeṣa-bhūtaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is endowed with great power. The glowing effulgence of His transcendental form is the impersonal Brahman, which is absolute, complete and unlimited and which displays the varieties of countless planets, with their different opulences, in millions and millions of universes.” Although the impersonal feature of the Absolute is an expansion of the rays of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He does not need to take care of the impersonalists who enter the brahmajyoti. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4), mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ jagad avyakta-mūrtinā: “In My impersonal feature I pervade this entire universe.” Thus the avyakta-mūrti, the impersonal feature, is certainly an expansion of Kṛṣṇa’s energy. Māyāvādīs, who prefer to merge into this Brahman effulgence, worship Lord Śiva. The mantras referred to in text 29 are called mukhāni pañcopaniṣadas taveśa. Māyāvādīs take all these mantras seriously in worshiping Lord Śiva. These mantras are as follows: (1) tat puruṣāya vidmahe śāntyai, (2) mahā-devāya dhīmahi vidyāyai, (3) tan no rudraḥ pratiṣṭhāyai, (4) pracodayāt dhṛtyai, (5) aghorebhyas tamā. .., (6) atha ghorebhyo mohā. .., (7) aghorebhyo rakṣā. .., (8) aghoratarebhyo nidrā. .., (9) sarvebhyaḥ sarva-vyādhyai, (10) sarva-sarvebhyo mṛtyave, (11) namas te ’stu kṣudhā. .., (12) rudra-rūpebhyas tṛṣṇā. .., (13) vāmadevāya rajā. .., (14) jyeṣṭhāya svāhā. .., (15) śreṣṭhāya ratyai, (16) rudrāya kalyāṇyai, (17) kālāya kāmā. .., (18) kala-vikaraṇāya sandhinyai, (19) bala-vikaraṇāya kriyā. .., (20) balāya vṛddhyai, (21) balacchāyā. .., (22) pramathanāya dhātryai, (23) sarva-bhūta-damanāya bhrāmaṇyai, (24) manaḥ-śoṣiṇyai, (25) unmanāya jvarā. .., (26) sadyojātaṁ prapadyāmi siddhyai, (27) sadyojātāya vai namaḥ ṛddhyai, (28) bhave dityai, (29) abhave lakṣmyai, (30) nātibhave medhā. .., (31) bhajasva māṁ kāntyai, (32) bhava svadhā. .., (33) udbhavāya prabhā. .., (34) īśānaḥ sarva-vidyānāṁ śaśinyai, (35) īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām abhaya-dā. .. [Bg. 18.61], (36) brahmādhipatir brahmaṇodhipatir brahman brahmeṣṭa-dā. .., (37) śivo me astu marīcyai, (38) sadāśivaḥ jvālinyai.
The impersonal Brahman is unknown even to the other directors of the material creation, including Lord Brahmā, Lord Indra and even Lord Viṣṇu. This does not mean, however, that Lord Viṣṇu is not omniscient. Lord Viṣṇu is omniscient, but He does not need to understand what is going on in His all-pervading expansion. Therefore in Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that although everything is an expansion of Him (mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam), He does not need to take care of everything (na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ), since there are various directors like Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Indra.
TEXT 32
kāmādhvara-tripura-kālagarādy-aneka-
bhūta-druhaḥ kṣapayataḥ stutaye na tat te
yas tv anta-kāla idam ātma-kṛtaṁ sva-netra-
vahni-sphuliṅga-śikhayā bhasitaṁ na veda
SYNONYMS
kāma-adhvara—sacrifices for sense gratification (like Dakṣa-yajña, the sacrifices performed by Dakṣa); tripura—the demon named Tripurāsura; kālagara—Kālagara; ādi—and others; aneka—many; bhūta-druhaḥ—who are meant for giving trouble to the living entities; kṣapayataḥ—being engaged in their destruction; stutaye—your prayer; na—not; tat—that; te—speaking to you; yaḥ tu—because; anta-kāle—at the time of annihilation; idam—in this material world; ātma-kṛtam—done by yourself; sva-netra—by your eyes; vahni-sphuliṅga-śikhayā—by the sparks of fire; bhasitam—burned to ashes; na veda—I do not know how it is happening.
TRANSLATION
When annihilation is performed by the flames and sparks emanating from your eyes, the entire creation is burned to ashes. Nonetheless, you do not know how this happens. What then is to be said of your destroying the Dakṣa-yajña, Tripurāsura and the kālakūṭa poison? Such activities cannot be subject matters for prayers offered to you.
PURPORT
Since Lord Śiva considers the great acts he performs to be very unimportant, what was to be said of counteracting the strong poison produced by the churning? The demigods indirectly prayed that Lord Śiva counteract the kālakūṭa poison, which was spreading throughout the universe.
TEXT 33
ye tv ātma-rāma-gurubhir hṛdi cintitāṅghri-
dvandvaṁ carantam umayā tapasābhitaptam
katthanta ugra-paruṣaṁ nirataṁ śmaśāne
te nūnam ūtim avidaṁs tava hāta-lajjāḥ
SYNONYMS
ye—persons who; tu—indeed; ātma-rāma-gurubhiḥ—by those who are self-satisfied and who are considered to be spiritual masters of the world; hṛdi—within the heart; cintita-aṅghri-dvandvam—thinking of your two lotus feet; carantam—moving; umayā—with your consort, Umā; tapasā abhitaptam—highly advanced through practice of austerity and penance; katthante—criticize your acts; ugra-paruṣam—not a gentle person; niratam—always; śmaśāne—in the crematorium; te—such persons; nūnam—indeed; ūtim—such activities; avidan—not knowing; tava—your activities; hāta-lajjāḥ—shameless.
TRANSLATION
Exalted, self-satisfied persons who preach to the entire world think of your lotus feet constantly within their hearts. However, when persons who do not know your austerity see you moving with Umā, they misunderstand you to be lusty, or when they see you wandering in the crematorium they mistakenly think that you are ferocious and envious. Certainly they are shameless. They cannot understand your activities.
PURPORT
Lord Śiva is the topmost Vaiṣṇava (vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ). It is therefore said, vaiṣṇavera kriyā-mudrā vijñe nā bujhaya. Even the most intelligent person cannot understand what a Vaiṣṇava like Lord Śiva is doing or how he is acting. Those who are conquered by lusty desires and anger cannot estimate the glories of Lord Śiva, whose position is always transcendental. In all the activities associated with lusty desires, Lord Śiva is an implement of ātma-rāma. Ordinary persons, therefore, should not try to understand Lord Śiva and his activities. One who tries to criticize the activities of Lord Śiva is shameless.
TEXT 34
tat tasya te sad-asatoḥ parataḥ parasya
nāñjaḥ svarūpa-gamane prabhavanti bhūmnaḥ
brahmādayaḥ kim uta saṁstavane vayaṁ tu
tat-sarga-sarga-viṣayā api śakti-mātram
SYNONYMS
tat—therefore; tasya—of that; te—of Your Lordship; sat-asatoḥ—of the living entities, moving and not moving; parataḥ—transcendentally situated; parasya—very difficult to understand; na—nor; añjaḥ—as it is; svarūpa-gamane—to approach your reality; prabhavanti—it is possible; bhūmnaḥ—O great one; brahma-ādayaḥ—even such persons as Lord Brahmā; kim uta—what to speak of others; saṁstavane—in offering prayers; vayam tu—as far as we are concerned; tat—of you; sarga-sarga-viṣayāḥ—creations of the creation; api—although; śakti-mātram—to our ability.
TRANSLATION
Even personalities like Lord Brahmā and other demigods cannot understand your position, for you are beyond the moving and nonmoving creation. Since no one can understand you in truth, how can one offer you prayers? It is impossible. As far as we are concerned, we are creatures of Lord Brahmā’s creation. Under the circumstances, therefore, we cannot offer you adequate prayers, but as far as our ability allows, we have expressed our feelings.
TEXT 35
etat paraṁ prapaśyāmo
na paraṁ te maheśvara
mṛḍanāya hi lokasya
vyaktis te ’vyakta-karmaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
etat—all these things; param—transcendental; prapaśyāmaḥ—we can see; na—not; param—the actual transcendental position; te—of Your Lordship; mahā-īśvara—O great ruler; mṛḍanāya—for the happiness; hi—indeed; lokasya—of all the world; vyaktiḥ—manifested; te—of Your Lordship; avyakta-karmaṇaḥ—whose activities are unknown to everyone.
TRANSLATION
O greatest of all rulers, your actual identity is impossible for us to understand. As far as we can see, your presence brings flourishing happiness to everyone. Beyond this, no one can appreciate your activities. We can see this much, and nothing more.
PURPORT
When the demigods offered these prayers to Lord Śiva, their inner purpose was to please him so that he would rectify the disturbing situation created by the hālahala poison. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.20), kāmais tais tair hṛta jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ: when one worships demigods, this is certainly because of deep-rooted desires he wants fulfilled by the mercy of those demigods. People are generally attached to the worship of demigods for some motive.
TEXT 36
śrī-śuka uvāca
tad-vīkṣya vyasanaṁ tāsāṁ
kṛpayā bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ
sarva-bhūta-suhṛd deva
idam āha satīṁ priyām
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tat—this situation; vīkṣya—seeing; vyasanam—dangerous; tāsām—of all the demigods; kṛpayā—out of compassion; bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ—greatly aggrieved; sarva-bhūta-suhṛt—the friend of all living entities; devaḥ—Mahādeva; idam—this; āha—said; satīm—unto Satīdevī; priyām—his very dear wife.
TRANSLATION
Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Lord Śiva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Satī, as follows.
TEXT 37
śrī-śiva uvāca
aho bata bhavāny etat
prajānāṁ paśya vaiśasam
kṣīroda-mathanodbhūtāt
kālakūṭād upasthitam
SYNONYMS
śrī-śivaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śiva said; aho bata—how pitiable; bhavāni—my dear wife, Bhavānī; etat—this situation; prajānām—of all living entities; paśya—just see; vaiśasam—very dangerous; kṣīra-uda—of the ocean of milk; mathana-udbhūtāt—produced by the churning; kālakūṭāt—because of the production of poison; upasthitam—the present situation.
TRANSLATION
Lord Śiva said: My dear Bhavānī, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the ocean of milk.
TEXT 38
āsāṁ prāṇa-parīpsūnāṁ
vidheyam abhayaṁ hi me
etāvān hi prabhor artho
yad dīna-paripālanam
SYNONYMS
āsām—all of these living entities; prāṇa-parīpsūnām—very strongly desiring to protect their lives; vidheyam—something must be done; abhayam—safety; hi—indeed; me—by me; etāvān—this much; hi—indeed; prabhoḥ—of the master; arthaḥ—duty; yat—that which; dīna-paripālanam—to give protection to suffering humanity.
TRANSLATION
It is my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents.
TEXT 39
prāṇaiḥ svaiḥ prāṇinaḥ pānti
sādhavaḥ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraiḥ
baddha-vaireṣu bhūteṣu
mohiteṣv ātma-māyayā
SYNONYMS
prāṇaiḥ—by lives; svaiḥ—their own; prāṇinaḥ—other living entities; pānti—protect; sādhavaḥ—devotees; kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraiḥ—temporary; baddha-vaireṣu—unnecessarily engaged in animosity; bhūteṣu—unto living entities; mohiteṣu—bewildered; ātma-māyayā—by the external energy of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them.
PURPORT
This is the characteristic of a Vaiṣṇava. Para-duḥkha-duḥkhī: a Vaiṣṇava is always unhappy to see the conditioned souls unhappy. Otherwise, he would have no business teaching them how to become happy. In materialistic life, people must certainly engage in activities of animosity. Materialistic life is therefore compared to saṁsāra-dāvānala, a blazing forest fire that automatically takes place. Lord Śiva and his followers in the paramparā system try to save people from this dangerous condition of materialistic life. This is the duty of devotees following the principles of Lord Śiva and belonging to the Rudra-sampradāya. There are four Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas, and the Rudra-sampradāya is one of them because Lord Śiva (Rudra) is the best of the Vaiṣṇavas (vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ). Indeed, as we shall see, Lord Śiva drank all the poison for the benefit of humanity.
TEXT 40
puṁsaḥ kṛpayato bhadre
sarvātmā prīyate hariḥ
prīte harau bhagavati
prīye ’haṁ sacarācaraḥ
tasmād idaṁ garaṁ bhuñje
prajānāṁ svastir astu me
SYNONYMS
puṁsaḥ—with a person; kṛpayataḥ—engaged in benevolent activities; bhadre—O most gentle Bhavānī; sarva-ātmā—the Supersoul; prīyate—becomes pleased; hariḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prīte—because of His pleasure; harau—the Supreme Lord, Hari; bhagavati—the Personality of Godhead; prīye—also become pleased; aham—I; sa-cara-acaraḥ—with all others, moving and nonmoving; tasmāt—therefore; idam—this; garam—poison; bhuñje—let me drink; prajānām—of the living entities; svastiḥ—welfare; astu—let there be; me—by me.
TRANSLATION
My dear gentle wife Bhavānī, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased, along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities may thus become happy because of me.
TEXT 41
śrī-śuka uvāca
evam āmantrya bhagavān
bhavānīṁ viśva-bhāvanaḥ
tad viṣaṁ jagdhum ārebhe
prabhāva-jñānvamodata
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam—in this way; āmantrya—addressing; bhagavān—Lord Śiva; bhavānīm—Bhavānī; viśva-bhāvanaḥ—the well-wisher of all the universe; tat viṣam—that poison; jagdhum—to drink; ārebhe—began; prabhāva-jñā—mother Bhavānī, who perfectly knew the capability of Lord Śiva; anvamodata—gave her permission.
TRANSLATION
Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After informing Bhavānī in this way, Lord Śiva began to drink the poison, and Bhavānī, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Śiva, gave him her permission to do so.
TEXT 42
tataḥ karatalī-kṛtya
vyāpi hālāhalaṁ viṣam
abhakṣayan mahā-devaḥ
kṛpayā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ
SYNONYMS
tataḥ—thereafter; karatalī-kṛtya—taking in his hand; vyāpi—widespread; hālāhalam—called hālahala; viṣam—poison; abhakṣayat—drank; mahā-devaḥ—Lord Śiva; kṛpayā—out of compassion; bhūta-bhāvanaḥ—for the welfare of all living entities.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Lord Śiva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it.
PURPORT
Although there was such a great quantity of poison that it spread all over the universe, Lord Śiva had such great power that he reduced the poison to a small quantity so that he could hold it in his palm. One should not try to imitate Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva can do whatever he likes, but those who try to imitate Lord Śiva by smoking ganja and other poisonous things will certainly be killed because of such activities.
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