Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 2 Chapter 6:33-45

Book 2: Chapter 6

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 2: Chapter 6: Verses 33-45 Glories of the Cosmic Being My words, dear Narada, are never observed to be false; my mind too never conceives a false idea and my senses are never led astray either. This is because I have ever contemplated on Sri Hari with a longing heart. I am Veda personified, my life is full of austere penance and I am the lord of Prajapatis (the progenitors of races) and adored by them all; nay, I practised Yoga in all thoroughness with a concentrated mind. Yet I failed to realize Him to whom I owe my existence. I bow to His most blessed feet, which are the home of all auspiciousness and end the cycle of birth and death in the case of those who take refuge in Him. Even as the sky knows not its limits He too is unable to realize the extent of His own Maya (deluding potency); how, then, can others know it ? Neither myself nor you (my sons) nor even Vamadeva (Lord' Siva; knows His true nature; how, then, could the other gods know it ? Our mind is so confounded that we fail to comprehend the reality even of this universe, which is a creation of His Maya, but merely speculate about it according to our own understanding. Hail to that Lord whose descent in the world of matter and exploits (in the course of such descent) myself and others constantly sing, but whom none of us knows in reality. That unborn Primal Person Himself creates, protects and dissolves Himself (in the form of this universe) within Himself and by Himself, cycle after cycle. He is pure (subjective) absolute consciousness uniformly abiding as the inner Self of all. He is ever true and perfect, has no beginning or end, and is attributeless, eternal and one without a second. Narada, those who are given to contemplation realize Him only when they have perfectly subdued their body, senses and mind. He, however, disappears from our view when He is assailed by the sophistical reasoning of the wicked. The first manifestation of the Supreme is the Purusa (the Cosmic Being). Besides Him, Time, Swabhava (innate disposition), Prakrti in the form of cause and effect, and mind, the five gross elements, the Ego, the modes of Prakrti (viz., Sattva etc.), the senses, the Cosmic Body, the Cosmic Being and the bodies of all animate and inanimate beings are all manifestations of the all-pervading Lord. Nay, myself, Bhava (Lord Siva), Lord Visnu, these lords of created beings, Daksa and others, nay, yourself and other devotees like you, the protectors of heaven (Indra and others), the guardians of the feathered kingdom (Garuda and so on), the rulers of the mortal world and the protectors of the subterranean regions (Sesa and others); the lords of the Gandharvas (the celestial musicians), Vidyadharas and Caranas (the celestial bards); the leaders of the Yaksas, the Raksasas, the serpents and the Nagas; the foremost among the Rsis (seers) and the manes; the lords of the Daityas, the Siddhas and the Danavas; other than these, such as the rulers of the Pretas, Pisacas, Bhutas, Kusmandas, aquatic creatures, beasts and birds; nay, whatever in this world is endowed with supernatural powers, glory, vigour, resolution, physical strength and forbearance, or whatever is possessed of splendour, decorum, good fortune and intellectual acumen, that which has a wonderful colour and whatever is with or without form is the same as the ultimate Truth. Again, O Narada, the scriptures have described the chief among the sportful descents of the Lord, and I shall presently narrate those most delightful stories, which dry up the impurities of the ears. Please drink this nectar to your heart's content. Thus ends the sixth discourse in Book Two of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita