Text 3] Manifestation of Brahma from Garbhodakagayi Visnu 305

succession, for the solution of all the problems of human society. Only
one who is fortunate can have the opportunity to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam
in the association of pure devotees of the Lord. Under the spell of material
energy, the living entities are entrapped in the bondage of many difficul-
ties simply for the sake of a little bit of material happiness. They engage in
fruilive activities, not knowing the implications. Under the false impression
that the body is the self, the living entities foolishly relate Lo so many
false attachments. They think that they can engage with materialistic
paraphernalia forever. This gross misconception of life is so strong thata
person suffers continually, life after life, under the external energy of the
Lord. If one comes in contact with the book Bhagavata as well as with the
devotee Bhagavata who knows what the Bhagavatam is, then such a
fortunate man gets out of the material entanglement. Therefore Sri
Maitreya Muni, out of compassion for the suffering men in the world,
proposes to speak on the Srimad-Bhdgavatam first and last.

TEXT 3

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FAAS «= FATMNSATS 11 3 tI

asinam urvyam bhagavantam adyam
sankarsanam devam akuntha-sattvam

vivitsavas tattvam atah parasya
kumara-mukhya munayo’nvaprechan

dsinam—seated; urvyam—down the universe; bhagavantam—unto the
Lord; adyam—the original; satkarsanam—Sankargana; devam—Personality
of Godhead; akuntha-sattvam—undeterred knowledge; vivitsavah—being
inquisilive to know; tattvam atah—truth like this; parasya—regarding the
Supreme Personality of Godhead; kumara—the boy saint; mukhyah—the
chief; munayah—great sages; anvaprechan—inquired like this.

TRANSLATION

Some time ago, being inquisitive to know, Sanatkumara, the chief of
the boy saints, accompanied by other great sages, inquired exactly like
you about the truths regarding Vasudeva, the Supreme, from Lord
Sankarsana, who is seated at the bottom of the universe.
