Canto 2: The Cosmic ManifestationChapter 1: The First Step in God Realization

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.1.30

dyaur akshinī cakshur abhūt patańgah

pakshmāni vishnor ahanī ubhe ca

tad-bhrū-vijrimbhah parameshthi-dhishnyam

āpo 'sya tālū rasa eva jihvā

SYNONYMS

dyauh — the sphere of outer space; akshinī — the eyeballs; cakshuh — of eyes (senses); abhūtit so became; patańgah — the sun; pakshmāni — eyelids; vishnoh — of the personality of Godhead, Śrī Vishnu; ahanī — day and night; ubhe — both; ca — and; tat — His; bhrū — eyebrows; vijrimbhah — movements; parameshthi — the supreme entity (Brahmā); dhishnyam — post; āpahVaruna, the director of water; asya — His; tālū — palate; rasah — juice; eva — certainly; jihvā — the tongue.

TRANSLATION

The sphere of outer space constitutes His eyepits, and the eyeball is the sun as the power of seeing. His eyelids are both the day and night, and in the movements of His eyebrows, the Brahmā and similar supreme personalities reside. His palate is the director of water, Varuna, and the juice or essence of everything is His tongue.

PURPORT

To common sense the description in this verse appears to be somewhat contradictory because sometimes the sun has been described as the eyeball and sometimes as the outer space sphere. But there is no room for common sense in the injunctions of the śāstras. We must accept the description of the śāstras and concentrate more on the form of the virāt-rūpa than on common sense. Common sense is always imperfect, whereas the description in the śāstras is always perfect and complete. If there is any incongruity, it is due to our imperfection and not the śāstras'. That is the method of approaching Vedic wisdom.

<<< >>>

Buy Online Copyright ©r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness