# Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto 2 **55 images** --- <h3>Sita-Rama Enthroned in Ayodhya</h3> ![[0024_SB-9_2_6.jpg]] *Having been coronated after His long exile and His battle with the demon Rāvaṇa, Lord Rāmacandra ruled Ayodhyā in the company of His brother Lakṣmaṇa; His consort, Sītā; and His faithful servant Hanumān.* <h3>Lord Brahma Hears the Gayatri Mantra</h3> ![[0030_TLC-23.jpg]] *After being born out of the lotus growing from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā turned his attention toward the task of creation. But he could see only darkness in every direction. Then Brahmā heard the sound tapa (penance) vibrated in the ether, and he sat in meditation. After one thousand celestial years, the sound of Kṛṣṇa's flute entered into the ear of Brahmā as the Vedic mantra oṁ. When the sound vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute was expressed through the mouth of Brahmā, it became the Gāyatrī mantra. Thus by the influence of Kṛṣṇa's flute, Brahmā, the supreme creature and first living entity of this material universe, attained all Vedic knowledge and became the original spiritual master of all living entities.* <h3>The Supersoul</h3> ![[0032_SB-2_1_3.jpg]] *A plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as the Supersoul resides within the body in the region of the heart. He measures about eight inches and has four hands, carrying a lotus, a wheel of a chariot, a conchshell, and a club respectively. His mouth expresses His happiness, His eyes are spread like lotus petals and His garments, bedecked with valuable jewels, are yellowish like the saffron of a kadamba flower. His ornaments are all made of gold, set with jewels, and He wears a glowing headdress and earrings. On His chest He wears the Kaustubha jewel engraved with a beautiful calf, on His shoulders He wears other jewels, and around His neck He wears a garland of fresh flowers. About His waist He wears an ornamental wreath; on His fingers, rings studded with valuable jewels. His leglets, His bangles, His oiled hair curling with bluish tint and His beautiful smiling face are all very pleasing. The Lord's magnanimous pastimes and the glowing glancing of His smiling face all indicate His extensive benedictions.* <h3>The Virat-rupa</h3> ![[0033_SB-2_1_9.jpg]] <h3>Krsna and Balarama in Vrndavana</h3> ![[0034_SB-2_2_8.jpg]] *ln order to diminish the burden of the world, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared with His immediate expansion Lord Balarāma.* <h3>Gajendra Appeals to Lord Visnu</h3> ![[0046_SB-8-1-1.jpg]] *The elephant Gajendra prayerfully lifted a lotus aloft as an offering to Lord Viṣṇu, who came to deliver him from the crocodile, and also from material life.* <h3>Krsna Kills Putana</h3> ![[0047_SB-10-2-1.jpg]] *Kṛṣṇa tötete die riesige Hexe Pūtanā, die von König Kaṁsa geschickt worden war, um alle Neugeborenen in Vṛndāvana umzubringen.* <h3>Krsna Kills the Cart Demon</h3> ![[0047_SB-10-2-3.jpg]] *EN KB 2018 one-vol: The demon Śakaṭāsura took the form of a cart, but baby Kṛṣṇa, lying beneath it on a bed, kicked His legs in anger and destroyed the cart demon.* <h3>Lord Nrsimha Slays the Demon Hiranyakasipu</h3> ![[0050_SB-7-2-4.jpg]] *Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva took the powerful demon Hiraṇyakaśipu upon His lap, tore out his heart, and then disemboweled him.* <h3>Sankhacuda Slain</h3> ![[0053_SB-10-6-14.jpg]] *Lord Kṛṣṇa chased after Śaṅkhacūḍa, swiftly approached him, and with a blow of His fist removed the demon's head.* <h3>Kalki at the End of Times</h3> ![[0058_SB-12-1-2.jpg]] *EN SB 12 1988: At the end of the present age, Kali-yuga, the Supreme Lord will advent Himself in the form of Kalki in order to annihilate the degraded rulers of the earth.* <h3>Battle Between Varaha and Hiranyaksa</h3> ![[0073_SB-3-3-1.jpg]] *EN SB 2 1987: As Lord Varāha, the boar incarnation, lifted the earth up from the depths of the Garbhodaka Ocean, the ferocious demon Hiraṇyākṣa attacked Him. A great battle ensued.* <h3>Dasavatara</h3> ![[0075_BG-Avatar.jpg]] *The Lord descends whenever there is a decline in religious principles. Although there are many transcendental forms of the Lord, they are all one and the same Supreme Personality of Godhead.* <h3>Lord Brahma Sees Vaikuntha</h3> ![[0082_SB-2-f.c.jpg]] <h3>Maha-Visnu at the Time of Creation</h3> ![[0158_QK-2.jpg]] *As Mahā-viṣṇu, a plenary expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa, inhales and exhales, all the innumerable universes enter into Him and again come forth.* <h3>Narada Inquires from His Father, Lord Brahma</h3> ![[0177_UP--128.jpg]] *When Nārada Muni approached his father, Lord Brahmā, and asked who the original creator of the universe is, Brahmā replied that it is Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.* <h3>Art 0030/0030/SB 2-1 (f.c.)</h3> ![[0030_SB-2-1-(f.c.).jpg]] <h3>Art 0032/0032/SB 2/1 6</h3> ![[0032_SB-2_1-6.jpg]] <h3>Art 0033/0033/SB 2-2 (f.c.)</h3> ![[0033_SB-2-2-(f.c.).jpg]] <h3>Art 0034/0034/SB 2/2/7</h3> ![[0034_SB-2_2_7.jpg]] <h3>Art 0041/0041/SB 2-2-8</h3> ![[0041_SB-2-2-8.jpg]] <h3>Art 0072/0072/SB 2-2 fc</h3> ![[0072_SB-2-2-fc.jpg]] <h3>Art 0081/0081/SB 2-1-2</h3> ![[0081_SB-2-1-2.jpg]] <h3>Art 0081/0081/SB 2-1-3</h3> ![[0081_SB-2-1-3.jpg]] <h3>Art 0082/0082/SB 2-1-4</h3> ![[0082_SB-2-1-4.jpg]] <h3>Art 0082/0082/SB 2-1-6</h3> ![[0082_SB-2-1-6.jpg]] <h3>Art 0082/0082/SB 2-1-7</h3> ![[0082_SB-2-1-7.jpg]] <h3>Art 0082/0082/SB 2-1-8</h3> ![[0082_SB-2-1-8.jpg]] <h3>Art 0084/0084/SB 2-2-6</h3> ![[0084_SB-2-2-6.jpg]] ## Volume 1 <h3>The Spiritual Worlds</h3> ![[0023_SB-1-1-front.jpg]] *The original spiritual planet, which resembles the whorl of a huge lotus flower, is called Goloka Vṛndāvana. It is the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead. This original planet of Goloka throws off a spiritual effulgence called the brahmajyoti, within which are unlimited numbers of spiritual planets, or Vaikuṇṭhalokas. The conception of spiritual bliss (brahmānanda) is fully present in those planets. Each of them is eternal, indestructible, and free from all kinds of inebrieties experienced in the material world. Each of them is self-illuminating and more powerfully dazzling than (if we can imagine) the total sunshine of millions of mundane suns. The inhabitants of those planets have full knowledge of everything; they are all godly and free from all sorts of material hankerings. They have nothing to do there except to render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, who is the predominating Deity in every Vaikuṇṭha planet. The Lord and His eternal servitors in the transcendental kingdom all have eternal forms, which are auspicious, infallible, spiritual, and eternally youthful. In other words, they do not experience birth, death, old age, or disease. Thus that eternal land is full of transcendental enjoyment, beauty, and bliss.* <h3>The Panca-tattva</h3> ![[0023_TLC-1.jpg]] *EN CC Adi 1 1974, 1996: Lord Caitanya and His associates chanted and danced again and again and thus made it easier to drink nectarean love of Godhead.* <h3>Narada Walks the Mystic Pathways</h3> ![[0029_SB-1_1_22.jpg]] *Nārada Muni, a liberated spaceman, travels throughout the material and spiritual worlds singing the glories of the Lord and delivering the fallen souls.* <h3>Lord Brahma Hears the Gayatri Mantra</h3> ![[0030_TLC-23.jpg]] *After being born out of the lotus growing from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā turned his attention toward the task of creation. But he could see only darkness in every direction. Then Brahmā heard the sound tapa (penance) vibrated in the ether, and he sat in meditation. After one thousand celestial years, the sound of Kṛṣṇa's flute entered into the ear of Brahmā as the Vedic mantra oṁ. When the sound vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute was expressed through the mouth of Brahmā, it became the Gāyatrī mantra. Thus by the influence of Kṛṣṇa's flute, Brahmā, the supreme creature and first living entity of this material universe, attained all Vedic knowledge and became the original spiritual master of all living entities.* <h3>The Divine Couple</h3> ![[0032_KB-1-cover.jpg]] *The Divine Couple* <h3>Sukadeva Speaks the Bhagavatam to Pariksit</h3> ![[0032_SB-2_1_1.jpg]] *Five thousand years ago the great rajarṣi (saintly king) Mahārāja Parīkṣit reigned as emperor of the world. Having received a warning that he would die within a week, he renounced his entire kingdom and retired to the bank of the Ganges at Hastināpura (now Delhi) to fast until death and receive spiritual enlightenment. There, in an assembly of learned saints, he heard the entire Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the great sage Śukadeva Gosvāmī. The Bhāgavatam begins with Emperor Parīkṣit's sober inquiry to Śukadeva Gosvāmī: "You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die. Please let me know what a man should hear, chant, remember, and worship, and also what he should not do. Please explain all this to me." Śukadeva Gosvāmī's answer to this question and numerous other questions posed by Mahārāja Parīkṣit, concerning everything from the nature of the self to the origin of the universe, held the assembled sages in rapt attention continuously for the seven days leading to the King's death.* <h3>A Snake Gives its Cave to Haridāsa Ṭhākura</h3> ![[0032_SB-2_1_2.jpg]] *Haridāsa Ṭhākura, a great devotee of Lord Śrī Caitanya, used to live in a cave, and by chance a great venomous snake also was a copartner of the cave. Some admirers of Haridāsa, who had to visit the Ṭhākura every day, feared the snake and gave a suggestion to the Ṭhākura to leave that place. Because his devotees were afraid of the snake, Haridāsa Ṭhākura agreed to the proposal on their account. But as soon as this was settled, the snake actually crawled out of its hole in the cave and left the cave for good. By the dictation of the Lord, who lives also within the heart of a snake, the snake gave preference to Haridāsa and decided to leave the place and not disturb him.* <h3>The Supersoul</h3> ![[0032_SB-2_1_3.jpg]] *A plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as the Supersoul resides within the body in the region of the heart. He measures about eight inches and has four hands, carrying a lotus, a wheel of a chariot, a conchshell, and a club respectively. His mouth expresses His happiness, His eyes are spread like lotus petals and His garments, bedecked with valuable jewels, are yellowish like the saffron of a kadamba flower. His ornaments are all made of gold, set with jewels, and He wears a glowing headdress and earrings. On His chest He wears the Kaustubha jewel engraved with a beautiful calf, on His shoulders He wears other jewels, and around His neck He wears a garland of fresh flowers. About His waist He wears an ornamental wreath; on His fingers, rings studded with valuable jewels. His leglets, His bangles, His oiled hair curling with bluish tint and His beautiful smiling face are all very pleasing. The Lord's magnanimous pastimes and the glowing glancing of His smiling face all indicate His extensive benedictions.* <h3>Creation</h3> ![[0032_SB-2_1_7.jpg]] *In a corner of the spiritual sky (brahmajyoti) a spiritual cloud sometimes appears, and the covered portion is called the mahat-tattva. Then, by His plenary portion known as Mahā-viṣṇu, the Lord lies down within the water of the mahat-tattva. This water is called the Causal Ocean. While Mahā-viṣṇu sleeps within the Causal Ocean, innumerable universes are generated along with His breathing. These floating universes scatter all over the Causal Ocean, remaining manifest only during the breathing period of Mahā-viṣṇu. In each and every universal globe the same Mahā-viṣṇu enters as Garbhodakaśāiyī Viṣṇu and lies down on the serpentlike Śeṣa incarnation, and from His navel a lotus sprouts. Upon the lotus is born Brahmā, the lord of the universe, who creates the sun, the moon, the demigods and all forms of living beings of different shapes in terms of their different desires.* <h3>Lord Brahma Instructs Narada</h3> ![[0033_SB-2_1_8.jpg]] *Desirous to learn the cause of all causes, Śrī Nārada Muni approached his father, four-headed Lord Brahmā, and spoke as follows: "My dear father, whatever was created in the past, whatever will be created in the future, and whatever is being created at present, as well as everything within the universe, is within your grip, just like a walnut. As the spider very easily creates the network of its cobweb without being defeated by others, so also you yourself, by employing your self-sufficient energy, appear to create without any others' help. Yet we are moved to wonder about the existence of someone more powerful than you when we think of your great austerities and perfect discipline, although your good self is so powerful in the matter of creation. My dear father, what is the source of your knowledge, and under whom are you working?" Lord Brahmā replied, "My dear Nārada, what you have spoken about me is understandable, because unless and until one is aware of the Personality of Godhead, who is the ultimate truth beyond me, one is sure to be illusioned by observing my powerful activities. The truth is that I create only after the Lord's creation by His personal effulgence, the brahmajyoti, just as when the sun manifests its fire, then the moon, the firmament, the planets and the twinkling stars are also manifest. Therefore I offer my obeisances and meditate upon Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, whose invincible potency influences the less intelligent class of men to call me the supreme controller."* <h3>Krsna Plays His Flute for the Gopis</h3> ![[0045_SB-1-2-8.jpg]] *Kṛṣṇa's deep loving attitude attracted the damsels of Vrajadhāma.* <h3>Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa in Los Angeles</h3> ![[0061_SB-2-1-8.jpg]] *Our material senses cannot perceive the transcendental, all-spiritual body of the Supreme Lord. Nevertheless, out of His causeless mercy, the Lord, by expanding His spiritual potencies, can manifest Himself as the Deity, or arcā-vigraha, thus allowing us to see Him. Although seemingly made of material elements like stone, wood, or earth, the Deity, the arcā incarnation, is directly Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. The omnipotent Supreme Personality of Godhead can appear anywhere without being contaminated by matter.* <h3>Krsna's Ten Principal Avataras</h3> ![[0066_BG-Avataras.jpg]] *4.7: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.” In the center Kṛṣṇa is shown holding a flute. Surrounding Him are ten of His incarnations, pictured in the order in which they appeared in this world, beginning clockwise from the lower left-hand corner: (1) Matsya, the fish incarnation, who saved the /Vedas;/ (2) Kūrma, the tortoise incarnation, holding Mandara Mountain on His back; (3) Varāha, the boar incarnation, fighting with the demon Hiraṇyākṣa; (4) Nṛsiṁha, the half-man, half-lion incarnation, killing the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu; (5) Vāmana, the dwarf incarnation, begging land from King Bali before reclaiming from him the entire universe and thereby restoring universal order; (6) Paraśurāma, killing the demonic kingly order; (7) Rāmacandra, who is going into exile with His wife, Sītā, and brother Lakṣmaṇa; (8) Kṛṣṇa, who is lifting Govardhana Hill. Beside Him stands His brother, Balarāma; (9) Buddha, sitting and teaching; (10) Kalki, who is riding a white horse and killing the demons at the end of this age, thereby liberating them.* <h3>The Universal Form</h3> ![[0082_SB-2-1-9.jpg]] *The universal form of the Lord is the complete whole of everything that be. This form, adorned with various crowns, clubs, discs, spears, and other weapons, is difficult to look at because of its glaring, fiery effulgence, immeasurable like the sun. Many, many other forms expand without limit from this universal body of the Lord, which spreads throughout the sky and the planets and all space in between. His arms are the resting place for the great demigods and other leaders, such as Lord Brahmā, Śiva, Sūrya, and Candra. Indeed, all varieties of living entities, including the birds, beasts, trees, and everything that be, are all covered by the universal form of the Lord at all times, although He is transcendental to all of them, eternally existing as the Supersoul in a form not exceeding nine inches.* ## Volume 2 <h3>Churning of the Milk Ocean</h3> ![[0032_SB-2_2_3.jpg]] *To help the demigods, the primeval Lord assumed the incarnation of a gigantic tortoise, swimming in the ocean of milk.* <h3>Vamana's Third Step</h3> ![[0034_SB-2_2_6.jpg]] *Bali Mahārāja was very glad to receive the Lord's remaining step on his head.* <h3>Krsna and Balarama in Vrndavana</h3> ![[0034_SB-2_2_8.jpg]] *ln order to diminish the burden of the world, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared with His immediate expansion Lord Balarāma.* <h3>Krsna Plays on the Body of Putana</h3> ![[0081_SB-2-2-9.jpg]] *The Lord sucked the breast of the Pūtanā witch along with her life air, and the demon's gigantic body fell down.* <h3>Battle Between Varaha and Hiranyaksa</h3> ![[0083_SB-2-2-1.jpg]] *The Lord assumed the gigantic form of a boar and fought with the demon Hiraṇyākṣa.* <h3>Lord Visnu Blesses Dhruva</h3> ![[0083_SB-2-2-2.jpg]] *Dhruva Mahārāja is benedicted by the Personality of Godhead.* <h3>Nrsimhadeva Kills Hiranyakasipu</h3> ![[0083_SB-2-2-4.jpg]] *The Personality of Godhead Narasiṁhadeva killed the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu by piercing him with His nails.* <h3>Lord Visnu Accepts Gajendra's Lotus</h3> ![[0083_SB-2-2-5.jpg]] *After hearing the elephant's plea, the Lord cut the mouth of the crocodile to save the elephant.* <h3>Krsna Kicks the Cart</h3> ![[0084_SB-2-2-10.jpg]] *At the age of three months, Lord Kṛṣṇa killed the Śakaṭāsura demon, who had remained hidden behind a cart.* <h3>Sita-Rama-Laksmana-Hanuman</h3> ![[0084_SB-2-2-7.jpg]] *Lord Rāmacandra appeared along with His eternal consort Sītā, brother Lakṣmaṇa, and servant Hanumān.* <h3>Sankhacuda Kidnaps the Gopis</h3> ![[0085_SB-2-2-11.jpg]] *A demon of the name Śaṅkhacūḍa tried to kidnap Kṛṣṇa's cowherd damsels.* <h3>Kalki Avatara</h3> ![[0087-SB-2-2-12.jpg]] *At the end of Kali-yuga the Lord appears as the supreme chastiser.* --- ## Copyright Notice All artwork on this page is © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. All rights reserved. These images are reproduced here with permission for educational and devotional purposes. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. (BBTi) holds exclusive rights to all images created for books published by BBTi and its predecessor entities. **Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of these images is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from BBTi.** For licensing inquiries, please contact: - Website: https://www.BBT.info - Email: [email protected] All textual content and commentary © A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada