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Chapter 8: Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu

Verse 17 of 33
SB 3.8.17

तस्माद्युगान्तश्वसनावघूर्ण जलोर्मिचक्रात्सलिलाद्विरूढम् उपाश्रितः कंजमु लोकतत्त्वं नात्मानमद्धाविददादिदेवः

tasmād yugānta-śvasanāva-ghūrṇa- jalormi-cakrāt salilād virūḍham upāśritaḥ kañjam u loka-tattvaṁ nātmānam addhāvidad ādi-devaḥ

Synonyms

tasmātfrom there; yugāntaat the end of the millennium; śvasanāvathe air of devastation; ghūrṇabecause of movement; jalawater; urmi-cakrātout of the circle of waves; salilātfrom the water; virūḍhamsituated on them; upāśritaḥhaving the shelter of; kañjamlotus flower; uin astonishment; loka-tattvamthe mystery of creation; nanot; ātmānamhimself; addhaperfectly; avidatcould understand; ādi-devaḥthe first demigod..

Translation

Lord Brahmā, situated in that lotus, could not perfectly understand the creation, the lotus or himself. At the end of the millennium the air of devastation began to move the water and the lotus in great circular waves.

Purport

Lord Brahmā was perplexed about his creation, the lotus and the world, even though he tried to understand them for one millennium, which is beyond calculation in the solar years of human beings. No one, therefore, can know the mystery of the creation and cosmic manifestation simply by mental speculation. The human being is so limited in his capacity that without the help of the Supreme he can hardly understand the mystery of the will of the Lord in terms of creation, continuance and destruction.

Verse 17 of 33
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