[KALKI]

(1) Sûta said: "In the beginning the Supreme Lord assumed, for the creation of the worlds, the form of the Original Person[: the integrity of the material realm] composed of the sixteen elements [of the ten knowing and working senses, the mind and the five elements] and the cosmic intelligence and such.

(2) Resting in His meditative slumber in that water, out of the lotus that spread from the lake of His navel, Brahmâ was manifested, the master of the progenitors in the universe.

(3) One believes the different worlds [as expansions] to be part of the form of the Fortunate One that constitutes the excellence of the purest existence.

(4) His form thus seen perfectly has numerous legs, thighs, arms and faces, with wonderful heads, ears, eyes and noses, all glowing with garlands and dresses. (5) This source of the multifarious incarnations is the imperishable seed from which the plenary portions and portions thereof, the gods, the human beings and the animals, originate."

(6) "The sons of Brahmâ [the Kumâras] were first disciplined in austerity for the sake of realizing continuity. (7) He next incarnated for the sake of the welfare of the earth like a boar lifting her up from the lower regions. (8) Thirdly He accepted [in the form of Nârada Muni] His presence among the learned for the sake of evolving Vedic knowledge concerning the service in devotion without further material motives. (9) Fourth born as the twin sons of king Dharma in the form of Nara-Nârâyana He underwent severe penances to attain control over the senses.

(10) Fifth with the name of Kapila He gave an exposition to the brahmin Âsuri on the nature of metaphysics and the elements of creation because in the course of time the knowledge was lost. (11) Sixth, born as the son of Atri from Anasûyâ who prayed for Him, He lectured to Alarka, Prahlâda and others about transcendence.

(12) Seventh born from Âkûti as Yajña, the son of Prajâpati Ruci He, assisted the godly, with His son Yama ruled during the period of Svâyambhuva Manu. (13) Eighth, from the wife of King Nâbhi, Merudevî, He took birth as King Rishabha and showed the path of perfection respected by people of all stages of life. (14) Accepting His ninth incarnation in response to the prayers of the sages, He ruled [as Prithu] the earth for the sake of its cultivation and produces, which made her beautifully attractive.

(15) Like a fish [Mâtsya] in the water He kept Vaivasvata Manu after the period of Câkshusha Manu protected in a boat afloat the waters when the world was deeply inundated. (16) Eleventh as a tortoise [Kurma] He sustained the Mandarâcala Hill of the theists and atheists that served as a pivot in the ocean.

(17) Twelfth there was Dhanvantari [Lord of medicine] and thirteenth He appeared as an alluring beautiful woman to the atheists when He gave nectar to the godly. (18) In His fourteenth incarnation He appeared as Nrisimha, who with His nails half as a Lion on His lap tore apart the king of the atheists like a carpenter splitting cane. (19) Fifteenth He assumed the form of Vâmana [the dwarf-brâhmana] who went to the arena of sacrifice of Mahârâja Bali and begged for three steps of land only, while He in fact wanted to seize the three worlds.
(20) In His sixteenth incarnation [as Bhrigupati or Paras'urâma] He acted twenty-one times against the ruling class that negated the intelligentsia. (21) Seeing the common people as being less intelligent He seventeenth incarnated as Vyâsadeva taking birth from Satyavatî with Parâs'ara Muni as His father, in order to divide the desire tree of the Veda into several branches. (22) Next He performed in a superhuman way in controlling the Indian Ocean having assumed the form of a divine human being [Râma] in order to act for the sake of the godly.

(23) Nineteenth as well as twentieth He appeared as Balarâma and Krishna from the Vrishni family and thus Bhagavân removed the burden from the world. (24) Thereafter in the Age of Kali His birth as Lord Buddha from Añjanâ in Gayâ will take place in order to delude the ones envious of the theists. (25) Next, at the conjunction of two yugas when there is hardly a ruler to be found who is not a plunderer, the Lord carrying the name of Kalki will take birth as the son of Vishnu Yas'â."

(26) "Oh twice-born ones, the incarnations of the Lord that appeared from the ocean of goodness are as innumerable as the thousands of streams found from the lakes. (27) All the powerful sages, the godly, the Manus and their progeny, as well as the Prajâpatis [founding fathers] are aspects of the Lord. (28) All these are part of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord [Bhagavân] in person who offers protection during all ages and in all worlds against the enemies of the king of heaven [Indra]. (29) Those who in the morning and the evening carefully recite these mysterious births of the Lord, will find relief from all miseries of life. (30) All these forms of the Lord stem undoubtedly from the One who is without a form and transcendental; they came about in the self from the modes of material energy with their elements.

(31) To the less intelligent spectator they are there to be perceived the way one sees clouds in the sky and dust in the air. (32) This unmanifested self in the beyond that cannot be seen or heard, has no form that is affected by the modes of nature - thàt is the living being that takes birth repeatedly.

(33) As soon as one realizes that all these gross and subtle forms originate in the self because of ignorance, they lose their value and so one achieves association with the divine. (34) With the illusory energy subsided one is enriched with the full knowledge of enlightenment and can thus being established see the glories of the Self. (35) Thus the inactive unborn Lord of the Heart with His births and activities has been described by the learned as being undetectable even in the Vedas. (36) Residing within every living being He, the omnipotent master of the senses whose play is spotless, is independent and unaffected by creation, destruction and maintenance.

(37) Because of His manipulations He, acting like an actor in a drama, by the ones with a poor fund of knowledge cannot be known in His activities, names and forms by means of speculation and oration. (38) Only he who renders unconditional, uninterrupted, favorable service to His fragrant lotus feet may know the transcendental glories of the all-powerful Creator with the wheel of the chariot in His hand. (39) In this world one can be successful if one knows everything about the Personality of Godhead who embraces all of His universes and who inspires for the complete of the spirit of ecstasy in which one will never find the dreaded vicious circles of worldly interest."

(40) "This book containing the story of the Personality of Godhead and His devotees was compiled by the wise man of God and is, as a supplement to the Vedas, there for the ultimate good of bringing success, happiness and perfection to all people. (41) S'rîla Vyâsadeva delivered this story, which constitutes the cream he managed to extract from all the Vedic literatures and histories, to his son who is the most respectable one among the self-realized.

(42) He [S'uka] on his turn told it to emperor Parîkchit who surrounded by the wise sat down at the Ganges to fast until his death.

(43) Now that Krishna has left for His abode and with Him also proper conduct and spiritual insight have vanished, this Purâna bright as the sun has appeared at the horizon for the sake of everyone who in the Age of Quarrel [Kali-yuga] has lost his vision. (44) When I heard the story from that powerful, great sage, I, being perfectly attentive by his mercy, managed to understand it as well, so that I am now able to relate it to you from my own realization."



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Text 1

Sûta said: "In the beginning the Supreme Lord assumed, for the creation of the worlds, the form of the Original Person[: the integrity of the material realm] composed of the sixteen elements [of the ten knowing and working senses, the mind and the five elements] and the cosmic intelligence and such.

The Lord as the purusha accepted the universal form of the material world with its sixteen principles of material action to make a start with His creation. (Vedabase)



Text 2

Resting in His meditative slumber in that water, out of the lotus that spread from the lake of His navel, Brahmâ was manifested, the master of the progenitors in the universe.

Dormant in the water, from that navel sprouted out of the lotus of manifestation Brahmâ, the father of all beings as the creator. (Vedabase)



Text 3

One believes the different worlds [as expansions] to be part of the form of the Fortunate One that constitutes the excellence of the purest existence.

It is imagined that the purusha, from the excellence of His existence, expanded into all the worlds. (Vedabase)

Text 4

His form thus seen perfectly has numerous legs, thighs, arms and faces, with wonderful heads, ears, eyes and noses, all glowing with garlands and dresses.

His form seen perfectly thus has numerous legs, thighs, arms and faces, with wonderful heads, ears, eyes and noses, all glowing with garlands and dresses. (Vedabase)



Text 5

This source of the multifarious incarnations is the imperishable seed from which the plenary portions and portions thereof, the gods, the human beings and the animals, originate.

These multifarious incarnations are the indestructible source from which all the godly, human and animal beings originate. (Vedabase)



Text 6

The sons of Brahmâ [the Kumâras] were first disciplined in austerity for the sake of realizing continuity.

At first the sons of Brahmâ [the Kumâras] were disciplined in austerity for the realization of continuation. (Vedabase)



Text 7

He next incarnated for the sake of the welfare of the earth like a boar lifting her up from the lower regions.

Incarnated next for the sake of its welfare, He, like a boar, uplifted the world out of the lower regions. (Vedabase)



Text 8

Thirdly He accepted [in the form of Nârada Muni] His presence among the learned for the sake of evolving Vedic knowledge concerning the service in devotion without further material motives.

Thirdly He accepted His presence among the learned (rishis) [as Nârada Muni] for the sake of evolving vedic knowledge for service in devotion without further material motives. (Vedabase)



Text 9

Fourth born as the twin sons of king Dharma in the form of Nara-Nârâyana He underwent severe penances to attain control over the senses.

Fourth born as the twin sons of king Dharma in the form of Nara-Nârâyana He underwent severe penances to attain control over the senses. (Vedabase)



Text 10

Fifth with the name of Kapila He gave an exposition to the brahmin Âsuri on the nature of metaphysics and the elements of creation because in the course of time the knowledge was lost.

Fifth with the name of Kapila He gave an exposition to the brahmin Âsuri on the nature of metaphysics and the elements of creation as through time the knowledge was lost. (Vedabase)



Text 11

Sixth, born as the son of Atri from Anasûyâ who prayed for Him, He lectured to Alarka, Prahlâda and others about transcendence.

Sixth, born as the son [named Dattâtreya] of Atri from Anasûyâ who prayed for Him, He lectured to Alarka, Prahlâda and others about the transcendental. (Vedabase)



Text 12

Seventh born from Âkûti as Yajña, the son of Prajâpati Ruci He, assisted the godly, with His son Yama ruled during the period of Svâyambhuva Manu.

Seventh born fromâkûti as Yajña, the son of Prajâpati Ruci He, assisted by the godly, ruled over the change of the period of Svâyambhuva Manu together with His son Yama and others. (Vedabase)



Text 13

Eighth, from the wife of King Nâbhi, Merudevî, He took birth as King Rishabha and showed the path of perfection respected by people of all stages of life.

Eighth, from the wife of King Nâbhi, Merudevî He took birth as King Ṛshabha and showed the path of perfection respected by people of all stages of life. (Vedabase)



Text 14

Accepting His ninth incarnation in response to the prayers of the sages, He ruled [as Prithu] the earth for the sake of its cultivation and produces, which made her beautifully attractive.

Accepting His ninth incarnation from prayers by the sages, He ruled [as Prithu] the earth for the sake of its cultivation and produces, which made it beautifully attractive. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Like a fish [Mâtsya] in the water He kept Vaivasvata Manu after the period of Câkshusha Manu protected in a boat afloat the waters when the world was deeply inundated.

Like a fish [Mâtsya] in the water He kept Vaivasvata Manu after the period of Câkshusha Manu on a boat of protection afloat the waters when the world was deeply inundated. (Vedabase)



Text 16

Eleventh as a tortoise [Kurma] He sustained the Mandarâcala Hill of the theists and atheists that served as a pivot in the ocean.

Eleventh as a tortoise [Kurma] He sustained the Mandarâcala Hill of the theists and atheists which served as a pivot in the ocean. (Vedabase)



Text 17

Twelfth there was Dhanvantari [Lord of medicine] and thirteenth He appeared as an alluring beautiful woman to the atheists when He gave nectar to the godly.

Twelfth was Dhanvantari [Lord of medicine] and thirteenth He appeared as an alluring beautiful woman to the atheists while giving nectar to the godly. (Vedabase)



Text 18

In His fourteenth incarnation He appeared as Nrisimha, who with His nails half as a Lion on His lap tore apart the king of the atheists like a carpenter splitting cane.

His fourteenth incarnation He appeared as Nrisimha, who with His nails half as a Lion on His lap tore apart the king of the atheists like a carpenter does cane. (Vedabase)



Text 19

Fifteenth He assumed the form of Vâmana [the dwarf-brâhmana] who went to the arena of sacrifice of Mahârâja Bali and begged for three steps of land only while He in fact wanted to seize the three worlds.

Fifteenth He assumed the form of Vâmana [the dwarf-brâhmana] who, from the arena of sacrifice of Mahârâja Bali, begged only for three steps of land, while at heart willing to return to the kingdom of the three worlds. (Vedabase)



Text 20

In His sixteenth incarnation [as Bhrigupati or Paras'urâma] He acted twenty-one times against the ruling class that negated the intelligentsia.

In His sixteenth incarnation [as Bhrigupati] He acted twenty-one times against the ruling class that negated the intelligentsia. (Vedabase)



Text 21

Seeing the common people as being less intelligent He seventeenth incarnated as Vyâsadeva taking birth from Satyavatî with Parâs'ara Muni as His father, in order to divide the desire tree of the Veda into several branches.

Seeing the common people as being less intelligent He seventeenth incarnated as Vyâsadeva from Satyavatî by Parâs'ara Muni, to divide the desire tree of the Veda into several branches. (Vedabase)



Text 22

Next He performed in a superhuman way in controlling the Indian Ocean having assumed the form of a divine human being [Râma] in order to act for the sake of the godly.

Next He performed superhuman in controlling the Indian Ocean having assumed the form of a divine human being [Râma] in order to act for the sake of the Godly. (Vedabase)



Text 23

Nineteenth as well as twentieth He appeared as Balarâma and Krishna from the Vrishni family and thus Bhagavân removed the burden from the world.

Nineteenth as well as twentiest He appeared as Balarâma and Krishna from the Vrishni-family and thus Bhagavân removed the burden from the world. (Vedabase)



Text 24

Thereafter in the Age of Kali His birth as Lord Buddha from Añjanâ in Gayâ will take place in order to delude the ones envious of the theists.

Thereafter in the Age of Kali His birth as Lord Buddha from Añjanâ in Gayâ will take place in order to delude the ones envious with the theists. (Vedabase)



Text 25

Next, at the conjunction of two yugas when there is hardly a ruler to be found who is not a plunderer, the Lord carrying the name of Kalki will take birth as the son of Vishnu Yas'â.

Following that at the conjunction of two Yugas when there is hardly a ruler found that is not a plunderer, the Lord of Creation will take birth with the name of Kalki as the son of Vishnu Yas'â. (Vedabase)



Text 26

Oh twice-born ones, the incarnations of the Lord that appeared from the ocean of goodness are as innumerable as the thousands of streams found from the lakes.

O Twice-born, from the ocean of goodness the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable like the countless streams from thousands of lakes. (Vedabase)



Text 27

All the powerful sages, the godly, the Manus and their progeny, as well as the Prajâpatis [founding fathers] are aspects of the Lord.

All the powerful sages, the godly, the Manus and their progeny, as well as the Prajâpatis [founding fathers] are aspects of the Lord. (Vedabase)



Text 28

All these are part of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord [Bhagavân] in person who offers protection during all ages and in all worlds against the enemies of the king of heaven [Indra].

All these are part of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord [Bhagavân] in person who gives protection in all ages and worlds against the enemies of the King of Heaven [Indra]. (Vedabase)



Text 29

Those who in the morning and the evening carefully recite these mysterious births of the Lord, will find relief from all miseries of life.

Those who in the morning and the evening carefully recite these mysterious births of the Lord, will find relief from all miseries of life. (Vedabase)



Text 30

All these forms of the Lord stem undoubtedly from the One who is without a form and transcendental; they came about in the self from the modes of material energy with their elements.

All these forms of the Lord are certainly of the one without a form that is transcendental; they came about in the self from the modes of the material energy with its elements. (Vedabase)



Text 31

To the less intelligent spectator they are there to be perceived the way one sees clouds in the sky and dust in the air.

To the less intelligent seer they are as clouds in the sky and dust in the air in order to perceive. (Vedabase)



Text 32

This unmanifested self in the beyond that cannot be seen or heard, has no form that is affected by the modes of nature - thàt is the living being that takes birth repeatedly.

This unmanifested beyond, which is without a form affected by the modes of nature and is alike that what is unseen and unheard - thàt is the living being that takes birth repeatedly. (Vedabase)



Text 33

As soon as one realizes that all these gross and subtle forms originate in the self because of ignorance, they lose their value and so one achieves association with the divine.

Whenever one realizes that all these gross and subtle forms originate from the ignorance in the self, at that time one is in association with the divine. (Vedabase)



Text 34

With the illusory energy subsided one is enriched with the full knowledge of enlightenment and can thus being established see the glories of the Self.

With the illusory energy subsided there is enrichment with the full knowledge of enlightenment and knowing in the glories of the self. (35) (Vedabase)



Text 35

Thus the inactive unborn Lord of the Heart with His births and activities has been described by the learned as being undetectable even in the Vedas.

Thus the inactive unborn Lord of the Heart with His births and activities has been described by the learned as being undetectable even in the Vedas. (Vedabase)



Text 36

Residing within every living being He, the omnipotent master of the senses whose play is spotless, is independent and unaffected by creation, destruction and maintenance.

Being within every living being He, the omnipotent master of the senses who's play is spotless, is independent and unaffected by creation, destruction and maintenance. (Vedabase)



Text 37

Because of His manipulations He, acting like an actor in a drama, by the ones with a poor fund of knowledge cannot be known in His activities, names and forms by means of speculation and oration.

Acting like an actor in a drama, by His manipulations the ones with little knowledge cannot know Him in His activities, names and forms by means of speculation and oration. (Vedabase)



Text 38

Only he who renders unconditional, uninterrupted, favorable service to His fragrant lotus feet may know the transcendental glories of the all-powerful Creator with the wheel of the chariot in His hand.

Only he can know of the transcendental glories of the Creator - who is all-powerful with the wheel of the chariot in His hand - who renders unconditional, uninterrupted, favorable service to His fragrant lotusfeet. (Vedabase)



Text 39

In this world one can be successful if one knows everything about the Personality of Godhead who embraces all of His universes and who inspires for the complete of the spirit of ecstasy in which one will never find the dreaded vicious circles of worldly interest."

In this world one can be successful if one knows in full about the Personality of Godhead who embraces all of His universes and inspires for the complete of the spirit of ecstasy in which one will never find the dreaded repetitions of the worldly interest. (Vedabase)



Text 40

This book containing the story of the Personality of Godhead and His devotees was compiled by the wise man of God and is, as a supplement to the Vedas, there for the ultimate good of bringing success, happiness and perfection to all people.

This book about the story of the Personality of Godhead and His devotees compiled by the wise man of God is, as a supplement to the Vedas, there for the ultimate good of all people, bringing success, happiness and perfection. (Vedabase)



Text 41

S'rîla Vyâsadeva delivered this story, which constitutes the cream he managed to extract from all the Vedic literatures and histories, to his son who is the most respectable one among the self-realized.

S'rîla Vyâsadeva delivered it to his son, the most respectful among the self-realized, having extracted the cream from all the Vedic literatures and histories. (Vedabase)



Text 42

He [S'uka] on his turn told it to emperor Parîkchit who surrounded by the wise sat down at the Ganges to fast until his death.

He on his turn spoke it to emperor Parîkchit who sat at the Ganges surrounded by the wise in penance until his death. (Vedabase)



Text 43

Now that Krishna has left for His abode and with Him also proper conduct and spiritual insight have vanished, this Purâna bright as the sun has appeared at the horizon for the sake of everyone who in the Age of Quarrel [Kali-yuga] has lost his vision.

Just after the return of Lord Krishna to His abode, with which also the sense of duty and the spiritual knowledge and such disappeared, was this brilliant story of God delivered to enlighten the people in the Age of Quarrel [Kali] who lost their vision. (Vedabase)



Text 44

When I heard the story from that powerful, great sage, I, being perfectly attentive by his mercy, managed to understand it as well, so that I am now able to relate it to you from my own realization."

When I heard the story from that powerful great sage, I as well managed to understand it, being perfectly attentive by his mercy, so that I can also tell it to you from my own realization." (Vedabase)