Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.89.2
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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jijñāsayā
—
with the desire to know
Desiderative of √jñā. The Vedānta-sūtra opens athāto brahma-jijñāsā — sincere inquiry into Brahman. The verse models that very disposition: not curiosity but jijñāsā, the appetite that consents to be tested.
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bhṛgum
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Bhṛgu
Mind-born son of Brahmā, head of the Bhṛgu lineage. Gauḍīyas note he is the same ṛṣi whose footprint Viṣṇu would later wear on His chest as Śrīvatsa — the verse foreshadows that mark.
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brahma-sutam
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son of Brahmā
Compound: brahma (Brahmā) + suta (son). His pedigree guarantees the test is no minor sage's slight — it is Brahmā's own offspring auditing the three adhīśas, including Brahmā himself.
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sabhām
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the assembly hall
Bhṛgu begins at his father's court. The narrative order — Brahmā first, Śiva next, Viṣṇu last — is the Bhāgavatam's tattva ladder: rajas, then tamas, then śuddha-sattva.
As Śrīla Prabhupāda explains in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “The plan decided upon by the sages was for Bhṛgu to test which one of the predominating deities possessed the quality of goodness in full.” One who is in the mode of goodness possesses such qualities as tolerance and equanimity, whereas those conducted by the modes of passion and ignorance are prone to easily lose their temper.
They sent Brgu to find out. He arrived at the assembly of Brahma in order to get that knowledge (taj jnanaya).
Among sages I am Bhṛgu. (BG 10.25) He was of great status and thus qualified for the job. Since he identified himself as Brahmā’s son, he would not be hesitant in front of his father. Brahmā was affectionate to him and Śiva took him as a brother and Viṣṇu was affection to brāhmaṇas. He went to Brahmā’s assembly to face him fearlessly (abhi—agāt) in order to understand Brahmā’s greatness.
What to speak of discussing they even (vai) sent Bhṛgu, since they desired to know who was the greatest (tasya). O king! This expresses amazement. He was suitable since he was Bramhā’s son. He went to his father’s court to know who was greatest (taj-jñaptyai). Or he went quickly (abhi) in order to give them knowledge. Or he went without fear (abhi).
- What spiritual question of mine could benefit from quiet investigation rather than more reading?
- Where am I refusing to test what I claim to believe?
When a court cannot decide, it sends an inspector. The ṛṣis dispatch Bhṛgu — Brahmā's own son — as the impartial auditor of the three lords. Even the highest tattva-question, in Gauḍīya practice, is settled by sending a qualified person to look, not by armchair speculation.
My note
Source: vedabase.io