# Bs. 5.53 > धर्मोऽथ पापनिचयः श्रुतयस्तपांसि > ब्रह्मादिकीटपतगावधयश्च जीवाः । > यद्दतमात्रविभवप्रकटप्रभावा > गोविन्दमादिपुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥ ५३ ॥ ## Text > dharmo 'tha pāpa-nicayaḥ śrutayas tapāṁsi > brahmādi-kīṭa-patagāvadhayaś ca jīvāḥ > yad-datta-mātra-vibhava-prakaṭa-prabhāvā > govindam ādi-*puruṣa*ṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi ## Synonyms *dharmaḥ*—virtue; *atha*—also; *pāpa-nicayaḥ*—all vices; *śrutayaḥ*—the *Vedas*; *tapāṁsi*—penances; *brahma-ādi*—beginning from Lord Brahmā; *kīṭa-pataga*—insects; *avadhayaḥ*—down to; *ca*—and; *jīvāḥ*-*jīvas*; *yat*—by whom; *datta*—conferred; *mātra*—exclusively; *vibhava*—by the power; *prakaṭa*—manifested; *prabhāvāḥ*—potencies; *govindam*—Govinda; *ādi-puruṣam*—the original person; *tam*—Him; *aham*—I; *bhajāmi*—worship. ## Translation **I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, by whose conferred power are maintained the manifested potencies, that are found to exist, of all virtues, all vices, the *Vedas*, the penances and all *jīvas*, from Brahmā to the meanest insect.** ## Purport By *dharma* is meant the allotted functions of *varṇa* and *āśrama* manifested by the twenty *dharma-śāstras* on the authority of the *Vedas.* Of these two divisions *varṇa-dharma* is that function which is the outcome of the distinctive natures of the four *varṇas,* viz., *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya* and *śūdra* and *āśrama-dharma* is that function which is appropriate to the respective *āśramas* or stations of those who belong to the four stages, viz., *brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha* and *sannyāsa.* All customary activities of mankind have been targeted in these twofold divisions. Sins mean nescience, the root of all sins and sinful desire, also the greatest iniquities and sins flowing from them and the ordinary sins, i.e., all sorts of unprincipled conduct. The category of the *śrutis* means *Ṛg, Sāma, Yajur* and *Atharva* and the *Upaniṣads* which form the crest jewels of the *Veda.* The *tapas* mean all regular practices that are learnt with the view of the attainment of the proper function of the self. In many cases, e.g., in the form known as *pañca-tapas* these practices are of a difficult character (*yoga*) with its eight constituents limbs and devotedness to the knowledge of the undifferentiated Brahman are included therein. All these are so many distinctive features within the revolving round of the fruitive activities of conditioned souls. The conditioned souls are embarked on a sojourn of successive births from 84 lakhs of varieties of generating organs. They are differentiated into different orders of beings as *devas, dānavas, rākṣasas, mānavas, nāgas, kinnaras,* and *gandharvas.* These *jīvas,* from Brahmā down to the small insect, are infinite in type. They make up the aggregate of the conditioned souls from the degree of Brahmā to that of the little fly and are the distinctive features within the revolving wheel of *karma.* Every one of them is endowed with distinctive powers as individuals and is powerful in a particular sphere. But these powers are by their nature not fully developed in them. The degree of power and nature of property vary according to the measure of manifestation of the possessions of the individual conferred upon him by Śrī Govinda. --- *Translation and purport by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura*