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Plate 48

The Lord Appears Before Prajāpati Dakṣa

A the kegiming of erario, Paipai Doaki roel repen opula e mie.. - Because he experienced difficulties in this regard, he offered prayers to the Lord: "Kṛṣṇa is

the ultimate resting place and source of everything. Everything is done by Him, everything belongs to Him, and everything is offered to Him. He is the ultimate objective, and whether acting or causing others to act, He is the ultimate doer. There are many causes, high and low, but since He is the cause of all causes, He is well known as the Supreme Brahman, who existed before all activities. He is one without a second and has no other cause. I therefore offer my respects unto Him."

The Lord was extremely pleased with these prayers and thus appeared before Dakṣa at a holy place known as Aghamarsana. The Lord's lotus feet rested on the shoulders of His carrier, Garuḍa, and He had eight long, mighty, very beautiful arms. In His hands He held a disc, conchshell, sword, shield, arrow, bow, rope, and club. He was accompanied by intimate devotees like Nārada and Nanda, as well as by all the principal demigods and the residents of the upper planetary systems. Situated on both sides of the Lord, they continuously offered Him prayers.

The Lord said, "O most fortunate Dakṣa, because of your great faith in Me you have attained the supreme devotional ecstasy. Indeed, because of your austerities, combined with exalted devotion, your life is now successful. You have achieved complete perfection. You have performed austerities for the welfare and growth of the world. My desire also is that everyone within this world be happy. I am therefore very pleased with you because you are endeavoring to fulfill My desire for the welfare of the entire world."

Then the Lord blessed Dakṣa with the ability to procreate and fill the worlds and at the same time make devotional presentations to the Lord.

Painting by MURALĪDHARA DĀSA (1975)

The Lord Appears Before Prajāpati Dakṣa