FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.10.8

पद्मकोशं तदाविश्य भगवत्कर्मचोदित: । एकं व्यभाङ्‌क्षीदुरुधा त्रिधा भाव्यं द्विसप्तधा ॥ ८ ॥
padma-kośaṁ tadāviśya
[padma-kosham tadaavishya]
bhagavat-karma-coditaḥ
[bhagavat-karma-choditah]
ekaṁ vyabhāṅkṣīd urudhā
[ekam vyabhaanksheed urudhaa]
tridhā bhāvyaṁ dvi-saptadhā
[tridhaa bhaavyam dvi-saptadhaa]
padma-kośam — the whorl of the lotus tadā — then āviśya — entering into bhagavat — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead karma — in activities coditaḥ — being encouraged by ekam — one vyabhāṅkṣīt — divided into urudhā — great division tridhā — three divisions bhāvyam — capable of further creation dvi-saptadhā — fourteen divisions.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
padma-kośaṁ tadāviśya
padma-kośam
the whorl of the lotus
tadā
then
āviśya
entering into
bhagavat-karma-coditaḥ
bhagavat
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
karma
in activities
coditaḥ
being encouraged by
ekaṁ vyabhāṅkṣīd urudhā
ekam
one
vyabhāṅkṣīt
divided into
urudhā
great division
tridhā bhāvyaṁ dvi-saptadhā
tridhā
three divisions
bhāvyam
capable of further creation
dvi-saptadhā
fourteen divisions.
Thus engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Brahmā entered into the whorl of the lotus, and as it spread all over the universe he divided it into three divisions of worlds and later into fourteen divisions.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Inspired to do the work by the Lord, Brahmā entered into the whorl of the lotus, and divided it into three divisions and later expanded it into fourteen divisions in order to produce varieties. He entered into the lotus. Fixed in the creation of the planets by the Lord, he divided the one lotus into three parts. In order to negate the idea that it is impossible to create three worlds out of one, it is explained that the expansion was even greater. Brahmā made it into fourteen divisions, since to make it suitable (bhāvyam) for many forms, three divisions was not sufficient. This is Śrīdhara Svāmī’s explanation. First he divided the lotus into three and then into fourteen, and then even more, with planets like the sun and moon. How is it described? It was suitable for meditation (bhāvyam) by the worshippers of Vairāja. This is the explanation of bhāvyam by others.
Brahmā enters the whorl of the lotus in service of the Lord and divides the universe into three, then fourteen worlds. Creative work proceeds through service-attitude, not domination. Structure emerges from devotion, not from will alone.
Reflection Questions
  • Am I structuring my world from a service stance or from a controlling one?
  • What 'three then fourteen' clarity could emerge if I entered my work as worship?
📝 My note

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