Srimad Bhāgavata Skanda 2 — The Symphony of His Forms and Fame (5 of 5)
"The Bhagvan Sriman Narayana is the very essence of divine virtues, self-sustained, radiant with light, overflowing with boundless knowledge and bliss. He is the ‘Creator of The Universe,’ which encompasses countless forms of Himself, both the living beings and the non-living things. He sustains, transforms, and governs it all — bestowing both ignorance and wisdom, binding beings to the cycle of birth and death, and offering liberation to those who seek moksha. Thus, He is the Param, the Supreme.
In the dawn of creation, He manifested the first being, the four-faced Brahma, and gifted him the knowledge required to bring the cosmos into being. Through His blessings, wisdom unfolds. Though He seeks no gain for Himself, He creates and upholds the cosmos for the welfare of all living beings, endowed with all the wisdom necessary for such a grand design. For He is neither a juggler, nor a deceiver, crafting illusions in this world. Untainted by any flaw, He is the Satyam — the absolute truth.
With reverence, let us meditate upon Bhagvan Sriman Narayana, the embodiment of Satyam and Param."
"The Srimad Bhagavata encompasses the entirety of Dharma, safeguarding the soul from falling by purifying it, and guiding the individual soul towards the divine path leading to the Bhagvan. This sacred path calls for unwavering devotion — a life dedicated to honoring, worshipping, admiring, and praising the Bhagvan, free from jealousy, expectation, or deceit. As one treads upon this path, all obstacles dissolve, prosperity is bestowed, and the heart becomes imbued with virtue, turning one into a Sajjana, a virtuous soul. Above all, it fortifies bhakti, deepening one’s devotion.
Thus, the Srimad Bhagavata, composed by the Bhagvan in the form of sage Veda Vyasa shines as a beacon of truth, revealing Himself as Supreme Soul eternally resides in the heart of every living being."
"Salutations to Bhagvan Sriman Narayana, the eternal support of all, including the divine Goddess Lakshmi, and the very essence of the Srimad Bhagavata. Salutations to Bhagvan Veda Vyasa, the revered composer of this sacred scripture. Salutations to Devi, the Goddess of Fortune, who perpetually serves the Bhagvan and bestows the blessings of abundance upon all Bhagavatas, enriching them with the divine knowledge of Srimad Bhagavata — a wealth that encompasses Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya.
Salutations to the Gods Brahma and Vayu, the noblest of beings. Salutations to Sarasvati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Devotion, who inspires both wisdom and bhakti. Salutations to the divine Garuda, Sesha and Shiva, the greatest among the Vaishnavas.
Salutations to the Srimad Bhagavata, the sacred text that brings forth eternal victory and spiritual triumph."
The brightness of the Sun, Fire, Moon, Planets, Stars, Gems, Precious stones and Lightening put together is just like a firefly near the astonishing brilliance emanating from your lotus of Heart wherein the five forms of Bhagvan Sri Rama, Sri Narasimha, Sri Veda Vyasa, Sri Krishna and Sriman Narayana are present in a significant way bestowing you the Brahmavarchas or the Sacred Knowledge.
Gentle & Holy Sage, Sri Raghavendra, I worship you by surrendering myself.
Thus, through Vyāsa’s speech shone the light of divine knowledge, preserving dharma against the shadows of Kali. For Bhagvan’s compassion is unceasing — manifesting anew in every age to guide creation upon its path.
Now, as Brahmā’s divine dialogue with Nārada unfolds to its end, the veil lifts on the Bhagvan’s final incarnations: the gentle Buddha, who shielded the Vedas through silence, and the mighty Kalki, who shall ride forth to renew the age of truth.
Here, the Bhāgavata reaches its crescendo — a vision of the Supreme who is both within and beyond all, whose glory no speech can measure.
देवद्विषां निगमवर्त्मनि निष्ठितानां
पूर्भिर्मयेन विहिताभिरदृश्यतूर्भिः ।
लोकान् घ्नतां मतिविमोहमतिप्रलोभं
वेषं विधाय बहु भाष्यत औपधर्म्यम् ॥ ३७॥
Continuing the narration of the forms and fame of Bhagvan, God Brahma said, "At the dawn of Kali Yuga, in the kingdom of Magadha, the Supreme Bhagvan appeared as Buddha, the son of Ajana and Śuddhodana. In this incarnation, He took upon Himself the role of misleading those who were evil and unworthy of true Vedic knowledge, thus protecting the sanctity of the Vedas by keeping them out of the reach of those who sought to corrupt them."
After the disappearance of Bhagvan Sri Krishna from the earth, the age of Kali took hold. Kali and his companions—forces of adharma—spread their influence across all spheres of life, even into Vedic practices. Disguised as seekers and scholars, they began studying the Śāstras and the teachings of great souls like Veda Vyasa, Bhīmasena, and Dharma Rāja—not to uphold them, but to distort and pollute them, keeping even the virtuous away from Tattva Jnana, the axiomatic truth.
To curb this hidden assault on dharma, Bhagavān appeared as Buddha, teaching the doctrine of Śūnya-vāda. Though He spoke of emptiness, this was not the ultimate truth, but a compassionate veil — a way to draw the unworthy away from misusing the Vedas. For Bhagavān is not void, but the supreme reality, satya-tattva, the eternal source distinct from all creation. In this way, He established detachment and non-violence, while safeguarding the integrity of the Vedic path during the darkness of Kali.
In this way, the Bhagvan temporarily established Buddhism, teaching detachment and non-violence, while simultaneously protecting the integrity of the Vedic path by preventing its misuse during the darkest period of the age.
यर्ह्यालयेष्वपि सतां न हरेः कथाः
स्युः पाखण्डिनो द्विजजना वृषला नृदेवाः ।
स्वाहा स्वधा वषडिति स्म गिरो
न यत्र शास्ता भविष्यति कलेर्भगवान्
युगान्ते कलेर्भगवान्युगान्ते ॥ ३८॥
"At the end of Kali Yuga, a time will come when even the virtuous will no longer have the strength to perform basic spiritual practices—not even the singing of the Bhagvan's glories or the hearing of His divine stories. Kings will become tyrants, turning against their own people, plundering the innocent, and leading society into utter darkness.
It is at this critical juncture—on the cusp of the dissolution of Kali Yuga and the reawakening of Kṛta Yuga—that the Supreme Bhagvan will descend in His final incarnation as Kalki. He will take birth in the home of Viṣṇu Yeśas, appearing with a blazing sword, riding a white horse, and radiating divine majesty.
In this form, Bhagvan Kalki will purge the earth of evil, destroy the unrighteous rulers, and re-establish the eternal principles of dharma, thus ushering in the age of truth—Kṛta Yuga—once again."
सर्गे तपोऽहमृषयो नव ये प्रजेशाः
स्थाने च धर्ममखमन्वमरावनीशाः ।
अन्ते त्वधर्महरमन्युवशासुराद्या
मायाविभूतय इमाः पुरुशक्तिभाजः ॥ ३९॥
God Brahma continued his discourse: "From the very beginning of creation, the omnipotent Bhagvan, accompanied by Māyādevī, has manifested Himself through various forms, each expressing His mysterious and sovereign power.
During the time of creation, He reveals Himself in tapas (penance), in myself, and in the great ṛṣis—Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Prachethasa, and Dakṣa. He appears in the Prajāpatis, who are entrusted with procreation and the maintenance of life.
In the era of sustenance, He abides in Dharma as the upholder of righteousness, in Viṣṇu as the sustainer of the universe, in Manu as the lawgiver, and in the gods and kings who govern the realms and regions of creation.
And in the time of dissolution, He manifests through Adharma, in Rudra as the force of destruction, in the serpents consumed by wrath, and even in the demons who serve His cosmic purpose.
In all these, the Bhagvan alone operates—mysterious in form, limitless in power, and ever accompanied by His eternal energy, Māyā. His sovereignty is incomparable, and His manifestations, though diverse, are all expressions of the one Supreme Reality."
विष्णोर्नु वीर्यगणनां कतमोऽर्हतीह
यः पार्थिवान्यपि कविर्विममे रजांसि ।
चस्कम्भ यः स्वरहसास्खलता त्रिपृष्ठं
यस्मात्त्रिसाम्यसदनादुरुकम्पयानम् ॥ ४०॥
"The power of the omnipotent Bhagvan is beyond measure—immeasurable and infinite. A man of exceptional intelligence may attempt to count every pebble on earth, yet who can fathom the prowess of Bhagvan Mahā Viṣṇu? Who has such capacity?
Once, in His divine form as Trivikrama, the Bhagvan lifted His foot and, with effortless grace, spanned the entire universe. His step reached all the way to the outer shell of creation, encompassing the totality of space and existence.
At that moment, all beings—including those dwelling in the highest realm of Satyaloka—were shaken with awe. The heavens trembled, and fear gripped the hearts of even the most exalted.
But the Bhagvan, the controller of all, with His boundless strength and serenity, calmed the universe. He stabilized the trembling creation and harmonized the three guṇas of Prakṛti—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—restoring balance to all existence," said God Brahma.
नान्तं विदाम्यहममी मुनयोऽग्रजास्ते
मायाबलस्य पुरुषस्य कुतोऽपरे ये ।
गायन् गुणान् दशशतानन आदिदेवः
शेषोऽधुनापि समवस्यति नास्य पारम् ॥४१॥
“The omnipotent Bhagvan, who effortlessly creates and dissolves the universe, does so through His unfathomable Māyā Śakti. His Śrīpāda—the divine lotus feet—are eternally served by Goddess Māyā, the very embodiment of His power.
Yet, O Nārada, I must humbly admit—even I do not know the full extent of His limitless potential. He is the very source of all strength and wisdom, beyond comprehension. Your elder brothers—the four Kumāras—though eternally wise and pure, also cannot fully grasp His boundless majesty.
Ādi Śeṣa, with his thousand mouths, has been singing a thousand unique attributes of Bhagavān—each mouth uttering a distinct glory at every moment—since time immemorial. And still, he has not reached the end of Bhagavān’s infinite qualities.
Such is the vastness of His virtues—immeasurable, inexhaustible, and eternally unfolding,” said God Brahmā to Nārada.
येषां स एव भगवान् दययेदनन्तः \
सर्वात्मनाऽऽश्रितपदो यदि निर्व्यलीकम् ।
ते दुस्तरामतितरन्ति च देवमायां
नैषां ममाहमिति धीः श्वशृगालभक्ष्ये ॥ ४२॥
"However, the compassionate Bhagvan, in His boundless mercy, blesses all who surrender to His lotus feet with pure and unalloyed devotion—free from deceit, pride, or hidden motives. To such sincere souls, He grants the strength to overcome the ignorance born of Māyā and to cross over into immortality, where they eternally experience divine bliss.
These meritorious and blessed individuals are no longer bound by ahaṅkāra—the false ego—or by the illusion of possessiveness toward the body, which is but a formation of inert prakṛti, destined to decay and become food for dogs and jackals. Nor are they entangled in the delusion of I and mine with regard to children or family.
Having surrendered fully, they live in the light of truth, untouched by illusion, upheld by grace," said God Brahma.
वेदाहमङ्ग परमस्य हि योगमायां
यूयं भवश्च भगवानथ दैत्यवर्यः ।
पत्नी मनोः स च मनुश्च तदात्मजाश्च
प्राचीनबर्हिरृभुरङ्ग उत ध्रुवश्च ॥ ४३॥
इक्ष्वाकुरैलमुचुकुन्दविदेहगाधि
-रघ्वम्बरीषसगरा गयनाहुषाद्याः ।
मान्धात्रलर्कशतधन्वनुरन्तिदेवा
देवव्रतो बलिरमूर्त्तरयो दिलीपः ॥ ४४॥
सौभर्युतङ्कशिबिदेवलपिप्पलाद
-सारस्वतोद्धवपराशरभूरिषेणाः ।
येऽन्ये विभीषणहनूमदुपेन्द्रदत्त
-पार्थार्ष्टिषेणविदुरश्रुतदेववर्याः ॥ ४५॥
God Brahmā continued: “O Nārada! Because I have fully surrendered at the lotus feet of the Supreme Bhagvan, whose capacities are infinite and immeasurable, I have been granted the understanding of His Yogamāyā—His divine, mysterious power.
This sacred knowledge is also known to your elder brothers, the Kumāras; to the all-powerful God Śiva who is the god of gods; to King Prahlāda, the most exalted among the demon clan; and to great beings like Śatarūpā and Manu.
It is also known to his descendants—Priyavrata, Uttānapāda, Ākūti, Devahūti, and Prasūti; to noble kings such as Prācīnabarhi, Ṛbhu, Aṅga - the father of Vena, Mahārāja Dhruva, Ikṣvāku, Aila, Mucukunda, Janaka, Gādhi, Raghu, Ambarīṣa, Sagara, Gaya, Nāhuṣa, Māndhātā, Alarka, Śatadhanva, Anu, Rantideva; and to sages and devotees such as Bhīṣma, Bali, Amūrttaraya, Dilīpa, Saubhari, Utaṅka, Śibi, Devala, Pippalāda, Sārasvata, Uddhava, Parāśara, Bhūriṣeṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa, Hanumān, Shukaacharya, Arjuna, Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, Vidura, Śrutadeva—and many more noble souls.
All these great personalities, through surrender and devotion, have realized the presence and mystery of the Bhagvan’s Yogamāyā and live in awareness of His supreme truth.”
ते वै विदन्त्यतितरन्ति च देवमायां
स्त्रीशूद्रहूणशबरा अपि पापजीवाः ।
यद्यद्भुतक्रमपरायणशीलशिक्षा
स्तिर्यग्जना अपि किमु श्रुतधारणा ये ॥ ४६॥
"The courage, valor, and heroism of the Supreme Bhagvan are beyond imagination—supernatural and unmatched. Those who surrender at His lotus feet become His true devotees, and through His grace, their nature, conduct, and understanding are transformed. They become wise and divine, regardless of their past.
Even if one is burdened by sin, or born a woman, or belongs to the working class, or lives among the mountains, or is a bird, a beast, or of any other species—if such a being surrenders sincerely at the lotus feet of the Bhagvan, they are blessed to cross over His powerful divine Māyā, which binds beings in both ignorance and knowledge.
Such souls are lifted as surely and fully as the most meritorious ones—because the Bhagvan’s grace flows where surrender is true, not where status or birth prevails.
शश्वत्प्रशान्तमभयं प्रतिबोधमात्रं
शुद्धं समं सदसतः परमात्मतत्त्वम् ।
शब्दो न यत्र पुरुकारकवान् क्रियार्थो
माया परैत्यभिमुखे च विलज्जमाना ॥ ४७॥
“The Absolute Brahman—the Supreme Bhagvan—is the embodiment of infinite bliss, knowledge, and divinity. He is ever-tranquil, fearless, and untouched by the pollutants of Prakṛti. Free from grief, blemish, or disturbance, He stands beyond both truth and illusion, transcending all dualities.
No words—whether rooted in spiritual knowledge or worldly discourse—can truly describe or influence Him. The play of cause and effect has no sway over Him, for He is the origin of both, yet bound by neither.
What more can be said?” declared God Brahmā. “Even Mahālakṣmī—the sovereign goddess who rules over Prakṛti and its three modes—lowers her gaze in humility before Him, overcome with reverence and awe.”
तद्वै पदं भगवतः परमस्य पुंसो
ब्रह्मेति यद्विदुरजस्रसुखं विशोकम् ।
सध्र्यङ् नियम्य यतयो यमकर्तहेतिं
जह्युः स्वराडिव निपानखनित्रमिन्द्रः ॥ ४८॥
The great saints, having shed the miseries and illusions of worldly life, realize the supreme bliss of the Bhagvan and behold Him in the lotus of their hearts. This is the highest state of spiritual accomplishment. Absorbed in the Bhagvan, they gain mastery over the senses and attain emotional equilibrium amidst the ebb and flow of life.
In this state of divine absorption—where the Bhagvan’s eternal knowledge and bliss are directly experienced—they have no need to forcefully control the mind, or pursue theoretical understanding, or engage in arduous meditation, as practiced by jñānīs and yogīs. For them, realization has replaced seeking.
Just as Bhagvan Indra, who commands the rain, has no need to dig a well for water—being capable of producing rain for himself and others—so too, these exalted saints, immersed in the Supreme, can both attain the Bhagvan for themselves and guide others toward Him through their grace and presence," opined God Brahma.
स श्रेयसामपि विभुर्भगवान् यतोऽस्य
भावस्वभावविहितस्य सतः प्रसिद्धिः ।
देहे स्वधातुविगमेऽनुविशीर्यमाणे
व्योमेव तत्र पुरुषो न विशीर्यतेऽजः ॥ ४९॥
"The Supreme Bhagvan is the master and owner of all that exists, both in the material and spiritual realms. He governs all actions through His universal rules—immutable laws established by Him alone. According to these divine principles, He bestows the results of actions based on each being’s emotions, intentions, and conduct. Because He ordains the framework within which every act is judged, He holds complete sovereignty over all outcomes and is the ultimate cause of the glory or consequence attached to one’s deeds.
In reality, the jīva, the living soul, is eternal, never subject to true destruction. Though the body—made of the five inert elements of Prakṛti (Ākāśa, Vāyu, Agni, Āpah, and Pṛthvī)—breaks down at the time of death, the soul remains untouched.
During the great dissolution, these elements simply merge back into their original source; they are not annihilated. Likewise, the conscious self, eternally accompanied by the indwelling Paramātmā, remains unaffected and indestructible, carried through time by the Bhagvan’s ever-present protection."
सोऽयं तेऽभिहितस्तात भगवान् विश्वभावनः ।
समासेन हरेर्नान्यदन्यस्मात्सदसच्च यत् ॥५०॥
“O Nārada,” said Brahmā, “this Bhagavān, the sustainer of the universe, has been described to you in summary. Apart from Hari there is nothing—whatever exists, whether sat or asat, exists only by His dependence. He alone is the supreme sovereign, eternally independent, while all else is subordinate to His will.”
इदं भागवतं नाम यन्मे भगवतोदितम् ।
यथा हरौ भगवति नृणां भक्तिर्भविष्यति ।
सर्वात्मन्यखिलाधारे इति सङ्कल्प्य वर्णय ॥ ५२॥
मायां वर्णयतोऽमुष्य ईश्वरस्यानुमोदतः ।
शृण्वतः श्रद्धया नित्यं माययाऽऽत्मा न मुह्यति ॥ ५३॥
सङ्ग्रहोऽयं विभूतीनां त्वमेतद्विपुलीकुरु ॥ ५१॥
"O Nārada!" said God Brahmā, "This is the Srimad-Bhagavatam, initiated by the Supreme Bhagvan Himself. What I have shared with you is but a brief summary of His greatness, splendor, and sovereign power.
Now, it is for you to elaborate upon this—so that it may blossom as Bhakti, the sacred lotus of devotion, in the hearts of all who hear it. Let every soul turn inward to the Paramātmā, the indwelling Bhagvan of all beings—the eternal foundation of existence.
Those who describe the unimaginable and infinite Māyā-śakti of Bhagvan Śrī Hari, those who hear it with faith and devotion, and those who endorse and cherish it—will have their ignorance destroyed. They shall not fall into illusion, for they walk the path lit by truth, graced by the Bhagvan's own presence."
This is the phala-śruti: they attain the grace of His presence, the supreme fruit of "The Symphony of His Forms and Fame (1 to 5 of 5) — thus declared God Brahmā.
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां
द्वितीयस्कन्धे ब्रह्मनारदसंवादे सप्तमोऽध्यायः ॥ ७॥
"With this, we conclude the seventh Adhyaya of Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 2.
This has been possible only by the grace of Guru Sri Raghavendra and his esteemed philosophical associates, including Sri Saunaka and his fellow Rishis, Sri Sutacharya, Sri Shukacharya, God Vayu, and Sri Hari, whose divine wisdom (Jnana Prasada) has guided us.
॥ Hari Om ॥
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