FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.5.4

यद्विज्ञानो यदाधारो यत्परस्त्वं यदात्मक: । एक: सृजसि भूतानि भूतैरेवात्ममायया ॥ ४ ॥
yad-vijñāno yad-ādhāro
[yad-vijnaano yad-aadhaaro]
yat-paras tvaṁ yad-ātmakaḥ
[yat-paras tvam yad-aatmakah]
ekaḥ sṛjasi bhūtāni
[ekah srijasi bhootaani]
bhūtair evātma-māyayā
[bhootair evaatma-maayayaa]
Word-for-word
yat-vijñānaḥ — the source of knowledge yat-ādhāraḥ — under whose protection yat-paraḥ — under whose subordination tvam — you yat-ātmakaḥ — in what capacity ekaḥ — alone sṛjasi — you are creating bhūtāni — the living entities bhūtaiḥ — with the help of the material elements eva — certainly ātma — self māyayā — by potency.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yad-vijñāno yad-ādhāro
yat-vijñānaḥ
the source of knowledge
yat-ādhāraḥ
under whose protection
yat-paras tvaṁ yad-ātmakaḥ
yat-paraḥ
under whose subordination
tvam
you
yat-ātmakaḥ
in what capacity
ekaḥ sṛjasi bhūtāni
ekaḥ
alone
sṛjasi
you are creating
bhūtāni
the living entities
bhūtair evātma-māyayā
bhūtaiḥ
with the help of the material elements
eva
certainly
ātma
self
māyayā
by potency.
My dear father, what is the source of your knowledge? Under whose protection are you standing? And under whom are you working? What is your real position? Do you alone create all entities with material elements by your personal energy?
Purport

It was known to Śrī Nārada Muni that Lord Brahmā attained creative energy by undergoing severe austerities. As such, he could understand that there was someone else superior to Brahmājī who invested Brahmā with the power of creation. Therefore he asked all the above questions. Discoveries of progressive scientific achievements are therefore not independent. The scientist has to attain the knowledge of a thing already existing by means of the wonderful brain made by someone else. A scientist can work with the help of such an awarded brain, but it is not possible for the scientist to create his own or a similar brain. Therefore no one is independent in the matter of any creation, nor is such creation automatic.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
You, the source of your own knowledge, your own shelter, dependent on yourself, with your self as your soul, without help create the living beings with the elements coming from your own energy.
Commentary

Let the universe be! Please explain something about yourself. You are your source of knowledge (yad-vijñānaḥ), your own shelter (yad-ādhāraḥ), dependent on yourself alone (yat-paraḥ) and you are your own ātmā. I think that you are the independent Supreme Lord. Ekaḥ means “without help from anyone.”

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Even great achievements rest on capacities given to us. Scientists use brains they didn't make; we discover what was already arranged. Recognizing that nothing in us is fully self-made is the beginning of humility before God.
Reflection Questions
  • What gifts have I been mistaking for self-made achievements?
  • Who or what is the ultimate source behind the abilities I am most proud of?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 5