170 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 3
PURPORT
In the Bhagavad-gita the Personality of Godhead has declared that
anyone who knows the principles of the transcendental birth and activities
of the Lord will go back to Godhead after being relieved from this material
tabernacle. So simply knowing factually the mysterious way of the Lord’s
incarnation in this material world can liberate one from material bondage.
Therefore the birth and activities of the Lord, as manifested by Him for
the welfare of the people in general, are not ordinary. They are mysterious,
and only by those who carefully try to go deep into the matter by spiritual
devotion is the mystery discovered. Thus one gets liberation from the
material bondage. It is advised therefore that one who simply recites this
chapter of Bhdgavatam, describing the appearance of the Lord in different
incarnations, in sincerity and devotion, can have insight into such birth
and activities of the Lord. The very word vimukti, or liberation, indicates
that the Lord’s birth and activities are all transcendental; otherwise simply
by reciting them one could not attain liberation. They are therefore
mysterious, and those who do not follow the prescribed regulations of
devotional service are not entitled to enter into the mysteries of His
births and activities.
TEXT 30
Gat WaT TET PegTarA |
IRIN U IC OM ALCAD CAG ic RECT
etad riiparh bhagavato
hy ariipasya cid-dtmanah
maya-gunair viracitam
mah adadibhir atmani

etat—all these; rupam—forms; bhagavatah—of the Lord; hi—certainly;
aruipasya—of one who has no material form; cit-dtmanah—of the transcen-
dence; maya—material energy; gunaih—by the qualities; viracitam—manu-
factured; mahat-adibhih—with the ingredients of matter; 4tmani—in the self.

TRANSLATION
The conception of the virata universal form of the Lord, as appearing
in the material world, is imaginary. It is to enable the less intelligent [and
