Text 30] HiranyakaSipu’s Plan to Become Immortal 159
tvam sapta-tantiin vitanosi tanva
trayya catur-hotraka-vidyaya ca
tvam eka Gtmatmavatam andédir
ananta-parah kavir antaratma
tvam—you; sapta-tantin—the seven kinds of Vedic ritualistic
ceremonies, beginning from the agnistoma-yajna; vitanosi—spread;
tanva—by your body; trayya—the three Vedas; catuh-hotraka—of the
four kinds of Vedic priests, known as hotd, adhvaryu, brahma and
udgata; vidyaya—by the necessary knowledge; ca—also; tvam—you;
ekah—one; dtmaé—the Supersoul; dtma-vatam—of all living entities;
anddih—without beginning; ananta-parah—without end; kavih—the
supreme inspirer; antah-adtma—the Supersoul within the core of the
heart.
TRANSLATION
My dear lord, by your form as the Vedas personified and
through knowledge relating to the activities of all the yajiiic
brahmanas, you spread the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies of the
seven kinds of sacrifices, headed by agnistoma. Indeed, you inspire
the yajiic brahmanas to perform the rituals mentioned in the
three Vedas. Being the Supreme Soul, the Supersoul of all living
entities, you are beginningless, endless and omniscient, beyond
the limits of time and space.
PURPORT
The Vedic ritualistic ceremonies, the knowledge thereof, and the per-
son who agrees to perform them are inspired by the Supreme Soul. As
confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, mattah smrtir jidnam apohanam ca: from
the Lord come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. The Super-
soul is situated in everyone’s heart (sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah,
isvarah sarva-bhittanam hrd-dese ’rjuna tisthati), and when one is ad-
vanced in Vedic knowledge, the Supersoul gives him directions. Acting
as Supersoul, the Lord gives inspiration to a suitable person to perform
the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. In this connection, four classes of
priests, known as rtvik, are required. They are mentioned as hota,
adhvaryu, brahma and udgata.
