SB 1.3.2 (1962)

SB (1962) Third Chapter - Description of Incarnations of Godhead

SB 1.3.1 (1962) - SB 1.3.3 (1962)

Compare Versions: SB 1962 with SB 1972-77

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT No. 2

Yasya ambhasi sayanasya yoganidram vitanwatah Navi hradambujad asit brahma viswa srijam patih

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Yasya—whose, Ambhasi—in the water, Sayanasya—lying down, Yoganidram—sleeping in meditation, Vitanwatah—ministering, Nave—navel, Hradad—out of the lake, Ambujad—from the lotus, Asit—became manifested, Brahma—the grand father of the living beings, Viswa—the universe, Srijam—the engineers, Patih—master.

TRANSLATION

Another plenary part of the Purusha is lying down within the water of the universe from the navel lake of His body which has sprouted the lotus stem (which is the body of the universe) and on the top, from the lotus flower Brahma the master of all engineers of the universe, is generated.

PURPORT

The First Purusha is the Karanodakashayee Vishnu. From the skinholes of Him innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and everyone of them the Purusha enters as the Garbhodakashayee Vishnu. He is lying in a half portion of the universe full with water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodakashayee Vishnu has sprung up the stem of the lotus flower the birth place of Brahma who is the father of all living beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the matter of perfect design and working of the universal order. Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary system and the earthly planets are situated in the middle. Upwards there are other better planetary systems and the topmost system is called Brahmaloka or the Satyaloka. Downwards the earthly planetary system there are seven downwards planetary systems domiciled by the Ashuras and similar other most materialistic living beings.

From this Garbhodakashayee Vishnu there is expansion of the Kshirodakashayee Vishnu who is the collective Paramatma of all living beings. He is called Hari and from Him all incarnations within the universe are expanded.

Therefore, the conclusion is that the Purusha Avatar is manifested in three features namely first the Karanodakashayee who creates aggregate material ingredients in the Mahat Tattawa, second the Garbhodakashayee Who enters in each and every Universe and third the Kshirodakashayee Vishnu Who is the Paramatma of every material object organic or inorganic. One who knows these Plenary features of the Personality of Godhead knows also Him (Godhead) properly and thus the knower becomes freed from the material conditions of birth, death, old age and diseases as it is confirmed in the Bhagwat Geeta. In this sloka the subject matter of Mahavishnu is summarized. The Mahavishnu lies down in some part of the spiritual sky by His own free will and thus He does lie on the ocean of Karana from where He glances over His material nature and the Mahat Tatwa is at once created. Thus electrified by the power of the Lord the material nature creates at once innumerable universes just like in due course a tree is decorated with innumerable grown up fruits all at a time. The seed of the tree is sown by the cultivator and the tree or creeper in due course becomes manifested with so many fruits. Nothing can take place without a cause. The Karana ocean is therefore called the Causal Ocean. Karana means Causal. We should not foolishly accept the theory of creation by the atheist without any cause. The description of such atheists is given in the Bhagwat Geeta. The atheist does not believe in the creator neither he can give any good explanation of the theory of creation. Material nature has no power to create without the power of the Purusha as much as a Prakriti or woman cannot produce any child without the connection of a Purusha. The Purusha impregnates and the Prakriti delivers. We should not expect milk from the fleshy bags on the neck of the goat although they look like breastly nipples. Similarly we should not expect any creative power from the material ingredients, we must believe in the power of the Purusha who impregnates the Prakriti or nature. And because the Lord wished for lying down in meditation the Material Energy created innumerable universes also at once and in each of them the Lord lay Himself down and thus all the planets and the different parapharnalia was created at once by the will of the Lord. The Lord has unlimited potencies and as such He can perform as He likes in perfect planning although Personally He has nothing to do and no body is greater or equal to Him. That is the verdict of Vedas.

(Compare SB 1.3.2 Current Edition)

SB 1.3.1 (1962) - SB 1.3.3 (1962)