FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.36

वयांसि तद्व्याकरणं विचित्रं मनुर्मनीषा मनुजो निवास: । गन्धर्वविद्याधरचारणाप्सर: स्वरस्मृतीरसुरानीकवीर्य: ॥ ३६ ॥
vayāṁsi tad-vyākaraṇaṁ vicitraṁ
[vayaamsi tad-vyaakaranam vichitram]
manur manīṣā manujo nivāsaḥ
[manur maneeshaa manujo nivaasah]
gandharva-vidyādhara-cāraṇāpsaraḥ
[gandharva-vidyaadhara-chaaranaapsarah]
svara-smṛtīr asurānīka-vīryaḥ
[svara-smriteer asuraaneeka-veeryah]
vayāṁsi — varieties of birds tat-vyākaraṇam — vocables vicitram — artistic manuḥ — the father of mankind manīṣā — thoughts manujaḥ — mankind (the sons of Manu) nivāsaḥ — residence gandharva — the human beings named Gandharvas vidyādhara — the Vidyādharas cāraṇa — the Cāraṇas apsaraḥ — the angels svara — musical rhythm smṛtīḥ — remembrance asura-anīka — the demoniac soldiers vīryaḥ — prowess.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vayāṁsi tad-vyākaraṇaṁ vicitraṁ
vayāṁsi
varieties of birds
tat-vyākaraṇam
vocables
vicitram
artistic
manur manīṣā manujo nivāsaḥ
manuḥ
the father of mankind
manīṣā
thoughts
manujaḥ
mankind (the sons of Manu)
nivāsaḥ
residence
gandharva-vidyādhara-cāraṇāpsaraḥ
gandharva
the human beings named Gandharvas
vidyādhara
the Vidyādharas
cāraṇa
the Cāraṇas
apsaraḥ
the angels
svara-smṛtīr asurānīka-vīryaḥ
svara
musical rhythm
smṛtīḥ
remembrance
asura-anīka
the demoniac soldiers
vīryaḥ
prowess.
Varieties of birds are indications of His masterful artistic sense. Manu, the father of mankind, is the emblem of His standard intelligence, and humanity is His residence. The celestial species of human beings, like the Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Cāraṇas and angels, all represent His musical rhythm, and the demoniac soldiers are representations of His wonderful prowess.

The aesthetic sense of the Lord is manifested in the artistic, colorful creation of varieties of birds like the peacock, parrot and cuckoo. The celestial species of human beings, like the Gandharvas and Vidyādharas, can sing wonderfully and can entice even the minds of the heavenly demigods. Their musical rhythm represents the musical sense of the Lord. How then can He be impersonal? His musical taste, artistic sense and standard intelligence, which is never fallible, are different signs of His supreme personality. The Manu-saṁhitā is the standard lawbook for humanity, and every human being is advised to follow this great book of social knowledge. Human society is the residential quarters for the Lord. This means that the human being is meant for God realization and association with God. This life is a chance for the conditioned soul to regain his eternal God consciousness and thus fulfill the mission of life. Mahārāja Prahlāda is the right type of representative of the Lord in the family of asuras. None of the living beings is away from the Lord’s gigantic body. Each and every one has a particular duty in relation to the supreme body. Disruption in the matter of discharging the specific duty assigned to each and every living being is the cause of disharmony between one living being and another, but when the relation is reestablished in relation with the Supreme Lord, there is complete unity between all living beings, even up to the limit of the wild animals and human society. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed this living unity in the jungle of Madhya Pradesh, where even the tigers, elephants and many other ferocious animals perfectly cooperated in glorifying the Supreme Lord. That is the way to peace and amity all over the world.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The birds are his skill in crafts. Manu is his deliberating intelligence. Humans are his house. The Gandharvas, Vidyādharas and Apsarās are his musical ability. The armies of demons are his prowess.
Commentary

The birds (vayāṁsi) are his transformation. This refers to transformations in name and form according to the śruti. This means his skill in craftsmanship.

yena śuklīkṛtā haṁsāḥ śukāś ca haritīkṛtāḥ | mayūrāś citritā yena sa te vṛttiṁ vidhāsyati || iti |

The swans are white, the parrots are green, the peacocks are variegated in color. The Lord made their nature in this way.

Manu is his intelligence which deliberates (manīṣā). Man (manujaḥ) is his house, because the śruti says puruṣatve cāvistarām ātmā: the Lord resides in the humans in a manifest way. Gandharva-vidyādhara-cāraṇāpsaraḥ can be considered one dvandva compound. Svara refers to the seven notes of the scale. Memory is Prahlāda (if the version is asurānīka-varyaḥ). Otherwise asurānīka-vīryaḥ means “the armies of the demons are his prowess.”

Birds reveal His artistry, music reveals His rhythm, lawgivers His intelligence, demonic warriors His prowess. Every human pursuit — art, music, law, strength — has its source in some feature of the Lord.
Reflection Questions
  • Which human pursuit thrills me most — and whose feature in the Lord is it really reflecting?
  • How could I practice my chosen craft as service to the Person it borrows from?
📝 My note

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