Sri Garga-samhita

Canto One, Volume One

Chapter One

Çré-Kåñëa-mähätmya-varëana

Description of Çré-Kåñëa's Glories

Text 1

oà näräyaëaà namaskåtya

naraà caiva narottamam

devéà sarasvatéà vyäsaà

tato jayam udérayet

om—Om; näräyaëam—the Personality of Godhead;

namaskåtya—after offering respectful obeisances; naram ca

eva—and Näräyaëa Åñi; narottamam—the supermost human being;

devém—the goddess; sarasvatém—the mistress of learning;

vyäsam—Vyäsadeva; tataù—thereafter; jayam—all that is meant for

conquering; udérayet—be announced.

Before reciting this Garga-saàhitä, which is the very means

of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the

Personality of Godhead, Näräyaëa, unto Nara-Näräyaëa Åñi, the

supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvaté, the goddess of

learning, and unto Çréla Vyäsadeva.*

Text 2

çarad-vikaca-paìkaja-çriyam atéva-vidveñakaà

milinda-muni-sevitaà kuliça-kaïja-cihnävåtam

sphurat-kanaka-nüpuraà dalita-bhakta-täpa-trayaà

calad-dyuti-pada-dvayaà hådi dadhämi rädhä-pateù

çarat—autumn; vikaca—blooming; paìkaja—lotus;

sriyam—beauty; atéva-vidveñakam—reviling; milinda—bees;

muni—by sages; sevitam—served; kuliça—of lightning;

kaïja—lotus; cihna—with marks; ävåtam—covered;

sphurat—glistening; kanaka—golden; nüpuram—anklets;

dalita—broken; bhakta—of the devotees; täpa—sufferings;

trayam—three; calat—moving; dyuti—splendor; pada—of feet;

dvayam—pair; hådi—in my heart; dadhämi—I place; rädhä-

pateù—of Rädhä's Lord.

In my heart I place the splendid feet of Rädhä's Lord, feet

that eclipse the glory of autumn lotuses, are served by hosts of

bumblebee sages, are marked with lightning and lotus and

decorated with glistening golden anklets, and break the

three sufferings of the devotees.

Text 3

vadana-kamala-niryadyasya péyüñam ädyaà

pibati jana-varo 'yaà pätu so 'yaà giraà me

badara-vana-vihäraù satyavatyäù kumäraù

praëata-durita-häraù särìga-dhanv-avatäraù

vadana—face; kamala—lotus; niryadyasya—splendid;

péyüñam—nectar; ädyam—transcendental; pibati—drink; jana-

varaù—the best of men; ayam—he; pätu—may protect; saù ayam—he;

giram—the words; me—of me; badara-vana—in the forest

Badarikäçrama; vihäraù—enjoys pastimes; satyavatyäù—of

Satyavaté; kumäraù—the son; praëata—of surrendered souls;

durita—troubles; häraù—removing; särìga-dhanu—of Lord

Kåñëa, who carries the Çärìga bow; avatäraù—an incarnation.

May Satyavaté's son Vyäsa, who enjoys pastimes at

Badarikäsrama, who is the best of men, who drinks the

transcendental nectar of the glory of Lord Kåñëa's lotus face,

and who is an incarnation of the Lord who carries the Çärìga bow,

protect my words.

Text 4

kadäcin naimiñäraëye

çré-gargo jïäninäà varaù

äyayau çaunakaà drañöuà

tejasvé yoga-bhäskaraù

kadäcit—one time; naimiñäraëye—in Naimiñäraëya; çré-

gargaù—Çré Garga Muni; jïäninäm—of the wise; varaù—the best;

äyayau—went; çaunakam—Çaunaka; drañöum—to see;

tejasvé—powerful; yoga—yoga; bhäskaraù—a splendid sun.

Once Çré Garga Muni, who was the best of the wise, very

powerful, and a brilliant sun of yoga, went to see Çaunaka Muni.

Text 5

taà dåñövä sahasotthäya

çaunako munibhiù saha

püjayäm äsa padyädyair

upacärair vidhänataù

tam—him; dåñövä—seeing; sahasä—at once;

utthäya—rising; çaunakaù—Çaunaka; munibhiù saha—with the sages;

püjayäm äsa—worshiped; padya-ädyaiù—beginning with water for

washing the feet; upacäraiù—with many offerings;

vidhänataù—according to religious tradition.

Seeing him, Çaunaka and the sages at once stood up and

worshiped him by washing his feet and presenting many offerings

according to ancient tradition.

Text 6

çré-çaunaka uväca

satäà paryaöanaà dhanyaà

gåhinäà çäntaye småtam

nåëäm antas tamo-häré

sädhur eva na bhäskaraù

çré-çaunakaù uväca—Çré Çaunaka said; satäm—of the

saintly devotees; paryaöanam—wandering; dhanyam—good fortune;

gåhinäm—of the householders; çäntaye—for peace;

småtam—remembered; nåëäm—of men; antaù—of the heart;

tamaù—darkness; häré—removing; sädhuù—a saintly devotee;

eva—certainly; na—not; bhäskaraù—the sun.

Çré Çaunaka said: The auspicious travels of saintly devotees

bring peace to they who stay at home. It is a saintly devotee,

and not the sun, the removes the darkness in people's hearts.

Text 7

tasmän me hådi sambhütaà

sandehaà näçaya prabho

katidhä çré-harer viñëor

avatäro bhavaty alam

tasmät—therefore; me—my; hådi—in the heart;

sambhütam—born; sandeham—doubt; näçaya—please destroy;

prabhaù—O lord; katidhä—how many?; çré-hareù—who removes all

that is inauspicious; of Çré Hari; viñëoù—of Viñëu;

avatäraù—incarnations; bhavati—are; alam—many.

Therefore, O lord, please destroy the doubt in my heart. How

often does Lord Viñëu, who removes all that is inauspicious,

descend to this world?

Text 8

çré-garga uväca

sädhu påñöaà tvayä brahman

bhagavad-guëa-varëanam

çåëvatäà gadatäà yad vai

påcchatäà vitanoti çam

çré-gargaù uväca—Çré Garga Muni said; sädhu—well;

påñöam—asked; tvayä—by you; brahman—O brähmaëa; bhagavat—of

the Lord; guëa—the qualities; varëanam—the description;

çåëvatäm—of they who hear; gadatäm—of they who speak;

yat—which; vai—indeed; påcchatäm—of they who ask;

vitanoti—gives; çam—auspiciousness.

Çré Garga Muni said: O brähmaëa, you have asked a worthy

question. The description of the Lord's transcendental qualities

brings auspiciousness to they who hear, speak, and ask.

Text 9

atraivodäharantémam

itihäsaà purätanam

yasya çravaëa-mätreëa

mahä-doñaù praçamyati

atra—here; eva—indeed; udäharanti—they speak; imam—this;

itihäsam—history; purätanam—ancient; yasya—of whom;

çravaëa—hearing; mätreëa—by merely; mahä—great;

doñaù—fault; praçamyati—is pacified.

Of this they tell the story of an event in ancient history,

simply by hearing of which great sin is removed.

Text 10

mithilä-nägare pürvaà

bahuläçvaù pratäpavän

çré-kåñëa-bhaktaù çäntätmä

babhüva nirahaìkåtiù

mithilä-nägare—in Mithilä City; pürvam—in ancient times;

bahuläçvaù—Bahuläçva; pratäpavän—powerful; çré-

kåñëa—of Lord Kåñëa; bhaktaù—a devotee; çänta—peaceful;

ätmä—at heart; babhüva—was; nirahaìkåtiù—free from false

ego.

In the city of Mithilä in ancient times lived a powerful king

named Bahuläçva, who was peaceful at heart, free of false ego,

and a great devotee of Lord Kåñëa.

Text 11

ambaräd ägatam dåñövä

näradaà muni-sattamam

sampüjya cäsane sthäpya

kåtäïjalir abhäñata

ambarät—from the sky; ägatam—come; dåñövä—seeing;

näradam—Närada; muni-sattamam—the best of sages;

sampüjya—worshiping; ca—and; äsane—a seat; sthäpya—giving;

kåtäïjaliù—with folded hands; abhäñata—spoke.

Seeing the best of sages Närada decend from the sky, (the

king) worshiped him, offered him a seat, and with folded hands

addressed him.

Text 12

çré-bahuläçva uväca

yo 'nädir ätmä puruño

bhagavän prakåteù paraù

kasmät tanuà samädhatta

tan me brühi mahä-mate

çré-bahuläçvaù uväca—Çré Bahuläçva said; yaù—who;

anädiù—beginningless; ätmä—self; puruñaù—person;

bhagavän—the Lord; prakåteù—matter; paraù—above; kasmät—why?;

tanum—a form; samädhatta—accepted; tat—that; me—to me;

brühi—please tell; mahä-mate—O wise one.

Çré Bahuläçva said: O wise one, please tell me why the

beginningless Supreme Person, who is beyond the material energy,

places His transcendental form in this world?

Text 13

çré-närada uväca

go-sädhu-devatä-vipra-

vedänäà rakñaëäya vai

tanuà dhatte hariù säkñäd

bhagavän ätma-lélayä

çré-näradaù uväca—Çré Närada said; gaù—of the cows;

sädhu—devotees; devatä—demigods; vipra—brähmaëas;

vedänäm—and Vedas; rakñaëäya—for protection; vai—indeed;

tanum—form; dhatte—placed; hariù—Lord Kåñëa;

säkñät—directly; bhagavän—the Supreme Personality of

Godhead; ätma—own; lélayä—by pastimes.

To protect the cows, devotees, demigods, and Vedas, Lord

Hari, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, placed His own

transcendental form and pastimes in this world.

Text 14

yathä naöaù sva-léläyäà

mohito na paras tathä

anye dåñövä ca tan-mäyäà

mumuhus te muhur muhuù

yathä—as; naöaù—an actor; sva-léläyäm—by His won

pastimes; mohitaù—bewildered; na—not; paraù—another; tathä—so;

anye—others; dåñövä—seeing; ca—also; tat—His;

mäyäm—illusory potency; mumuhuù—become bewildered; te—they;

muhuùmuhuù—again and again.

As a magician is not bewildered by His own magic tricks,

although others may be bewildered, so the Supreme Personality of

Godhead is not bewildered by the magic tricks He does with His illusory

potency, although others who see them are bewildered again and

again.

Text 15

çri-bahuläçva uväca

katidhä çré-harer viñëor

avatäro bhavaty alam

sädhünäà rakñaëärthaà hi

kåpayä vadä mäà prabho

çri-bahuläçvaù uväca—Çré Bahuläçva said; katidhä—how

many times; çré-hareù—of Lord Hari; viñëoù—of Lord Viñëu;

avatäraù—incarnation; bhavati—is; alam—greatly; sädhünäm—of

the devotees; rakñaëa—protection; artham—for the purpose;

hi—indeed; kåpayä—by the mercy; vada—please tell; mäm—me;

prabhaù—O lord.

Çré Bahuläçva said: How often does Lord Viñëu, who removes

all that is inauspicious, descend to this world to protect the

devotees? O lord, please kindly tell me.

Text 16

çré-närada uväca

aàçäàço 'àças tathäveçaù

kalä pürëaù prakathyate

vyäsädyaiç ca småöaù ñañöhaù

paripürëatamaù svayam

çré-närada uväca—Çré Närada said; aàça—of a part;

aàçaù—of a part; aàçaù—a part; tathä—then;

äveçaù—entrance; kalä—a part; pürëaù—full; prakathyate—is

said; vyäsa-ädyaiç—by they who have Vyäsa as their leader;

ca—also; småöaù—remembered; ñañöhaù—six;

paripürëatamaù—most full; svayam—personally.

Çré Närada said: In the Småti-çästra the great sages who

have Vyäsa as their leader explain that the Lord descends in six

kinds of forms: 1. aàçäàça (a part of a part), 2. aàça (a

part), 3. äveça (entrance into a jéva), 4. kalä (a full part),

5. pürëa (full), and 6. paripürëatama (most full).

Text 17

aàçäàças tu marécy-ädir

aàçä brahmädayas tathä

kaläù kapila-kürmädyä

äveçä bhärgavädayaù

aàçäàçaù—aàçäàça; tu—indeed; maréci—with Maréci;

ädiù—beginning; aàçä—aàçä; brahma—with Brahmä;

ädayaù—beginning; tathä—so; kaläù—kalä; kapila—with Kapila;

kürma—and Kürma; ädyäù—beginning; äveçäù—aveça;

bhärgava—with Paraçuräma; ädayaù—beginning.

The aàçäàça incarnations begin with Maréci, the aàçä

incarnations begin with Brahmä, the kalä incarnations begin with

Kapila and Kürmä, and the äveça incarnations begin with

Paraçuräma.

Text 18

pürëo nåsiàho rämaç ca

çvetadvépädhipo hariù

vaikuëöho 'pi tathä yajïo

nara-näräyaëaù småtaù

pürëaù—full; nåsiàhaù—Nåsiàha; rämaù—Räma; ca—and;

çvetadvépädhipaù—the ruler of Çvetadvépa; hariù—Hari;

vaikuëöhaù—Vaikuëöha; api—also; tathä—then; yajïaù—Yajïa;

nara-näräyaëaù—Nara-Näräyaëa; småtaù—decsribed in the

Småti.

The Småti-çästra explains that the pürëa incarnations are

1. Nåsiàha, 2. Räma, 3. Lord Hari, the ruler of Çvetadvépa,

4. Vaikuëöha, 5. Yajïa, and 6. Nara-Näräyaëa.

Text 19

paripürëatamaù säkñäc

chré-kåñëo bhagavän svayam

asaìkhya-brahmäëòa-patir

goloke dhämni räjate

paripürëatamaù—paripürëatama; säkñät—directly;

çré-kåñëaù—Çré Kåñëa; bhagavän—the Lord; svayam—personally;

asaìkhya—numberless; brahmäëòa—of universes; patiù—the ruler;

goloke dhämni—in the abode of Goloka; räjate—is splendidly

manifested.

The paripürëatama form of the Lord is Çré Kåñëa, who is the

original Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is the master

of countless universes. He is splendidly manifest in the realm of

Goloka.

Text 20

käryädhikäraà kurvantaù

sad-aàçäç te prakirtitäù

tat-kärya-bhäraà kurvantas

te 'àçäàçä viditäù prabhoù

kärya—of work; adhikäram—overseeing; kurvantaù—dooing;

sat—of the Lord; aàçäù—aàça incarnations; te—they;

prakirtitäù—described; tat—of that; kärya—work; bhäram—the

burden; kurvantaù—doing; te—they; aàçäàçä—the aàçäàça

incarnations; viditäù—known; prabhoù—of the Lord.

The aàça incarnations are said to oversee the execution of

the Lord's mission (in the world). The aàçäàça incarnations

are understood to perform the work of executing those missions.

Text 21

yeñäm antar-gato viñëuù

käryaà kåtvä vinirgataù

nänäveñävatäräàç ca

viddhi räjan mahä-mate

yeñäm—of whom; antaù—within; gataù—gone; viñëuù—Lord

Viñëu; käryam—mission; kåtvä—having done; vinirgataù—departs;

nänä—various; äveña-avatärän—äveça incarnations; ca—also;

viddhi—please know; räjan—O king; mahä-mate—great heart.

O great soul, O king, please know that in the various

äveça incarnations Lord Viñëu enters (a jéva), executes His

mission, and then departs.

Text 22

dharmaà vijïäya kåtvä yaù

punar antaradhéyata

yuge yuge vartamänaù

so 'vatäraù kalä hareù

dharmam—religious principles; vijïäya—teaching;

kåtvä—having done; yaù—who; punaù—again;

antaradhéyata—disappears; yuge yuge—millenium after millenium;

vartamänaù—being so; saù—He; avatäraù—incarnation; kalä—kalä;

hareù—of Lord Hari.

Millennium after millennium Lord Hari's kalä incarnations

teach and establish the principles of religion, and then

disappear.

Text 23

catur-vyüho bhaved yatra

dåçyante ca rasä nava

ataù paraà ca véryäëi

sa tu pürëaù prakathyate

catur-vyühaù—the catur-vyüha incarnations; bhavet—are;

yatra—where; dåçyante—are seen; ca—also; rasäù—mellows;

nava—nine; ataù—then; param—after; ca—also; véryäëi—prowess;

saù—He; tu—indeed; pürëaù—pürëa; prakathyate—is said.

The pürëa incarnations are said to include the catur-vyüha

incarnations. They are said to be the places where heroic powers

and the nine rasas are seen.

Text 24

yasmin sarväëi tejäàsi

viléyante sva-tejasi

taà vadanti pare säkñät

paripürëatamaà svayam

yasmin—in which; sarväëi—all; tejäàsi—glories;

viléyante—enter; sva-tejasi—in His own glory; tam—Him;

vadanti—say; pare—others; säkñät—directly;

paripürëatamam—Paripürëatama; svayam—personally.

Others say that the form of the Lord where all powers and

glories enter is His paripürëatama form, the original form of the

Lord Himself.

Text 25

pürëasya lakñaëaà yatra

taà paçyanti påthak påthak

bhävenäpi janäù so 'yaà

paripürëatamaù svayam

pürëasya—of the pütëa incarnation;

lakñaëam—characteristic; yatra—where; tam—that;

paçyanti—see; påthak påthak—specifically; bhävena—by nature;

api—also; janäù—people; saù ayam—He;

paripürëatamaù—Paripürëatama; svayam—personally.

The transcendental qualities people see distributed among

the Lord's pürëa incarnations are all present in the Lord's

original, paripürëatama form.

Text 26

paripürëatamaù säkñäc

chré-kåñëo nänya eva hi

eka-käryärtham ägatya

koöi-käryaà cakära ha

paripürëatamaù—paripürëatama; säkñät—directly;

çré-kåñëaù—Çré Kåñëa; na—not; anyaù—another; eva—certainly;

hi—indeed; eka—one; kärya—mission; artham—for the purpose;

ägatya—coming; koöi—millions; käryam—mission; cakära—did;

ha—indeed.

The Lord's original, paripürëatama form is Çré Kåñëa and no

one else. Coming (to this world) to execute one mission, He

executes millions of missions.

Text 27