FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.14.29

ब्रह्मादयो यत्कृतसेतुपाला यत्कारणं विश्वमिदं च माया । आज्ञाकरी यस्य पिशाचचर्या अहो विभूम्नश्चरितं विडम्बनम् ॥ २९ ॥
brahmādayo yat-kṛta-setu-pālā
[brahmaadayo yat-krita-setu-paalaa]
yat-kāraṇaṁ viśvam idaṁ ca māyā
[yat-kaaranam vishvam idam cha maayaa]
ājñā-karī yasya piśāca-caryā
[aajnaa-karee yasya pishaacha-charyaa]
aho vibhūmnaś caritaṁ viḍambanam
[aho vibhoomnash charitam vidambanam]
Word-for-word
brahma-ādayaḥ — demigods like Brahmā yat — whose kṛta — activities setu — religious rites pālāḥ — observers yat — one who is kāraṇam — the origin of viśvam — the universe idam — this ca — also māyā — material energy ājñā-karī — order carrier yasya — whose piśāca — devilish caryā — activity aho — O my lord vibhūmnaḥ — of the great caritam — character viḍambanam — simply imitation.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
brahmādayo yat-kṛta-setu-pālā
brahma-ādayaḥ
demigods like Brahmā
yat
whose
kṛta
activities
setu
religious rites
pālāḥ
observers
yat-kāraṇaṁ viśvam idaṁ ca māyā
yat
one who is
kāraṇam
the origin of
viśvam
the universe
idam
this
ca
also
māyā
material energy
ājñā-karī yasya piśāca-caryā
ājñā-karī
order carrier
yasya
whose
piśāca
devilish
caryā
activity
aho vibhūmnaś caritaṁ viḍambanam
aho
O my lord
vibhūmnaḥ
of the great
caritam
character
viḍambanam
simply imitation.
Demigods like Brahmā also follow the religious rites observed by him. He is the controller of the material energy, which causes the creation of the material world. He is great, and therefore his devilish characteristics are simply imitation.
Purport

Lord Śiva is the husband of Durgā, the controller of the material energy. Durgā is personified material energy, and Lord Śiva, being her husband, is the controller of the material energy. He is also the incarnation of the mode of ignorance and one of the three deities representing the Supreme Lord. As His representative, Lord Śiva is identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is very great, and his renunciation of all material enjoyment is an ideal example of how one should be materially unattached. One should therefore follow in his footsteps and be unattached to matter, not imitate his uncommon acts like drinking poison.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Even Brahmā and others observe the rules created by him. He is the cause of this universe, and māyā is dependent on him, following his order. His conduct as a ghost is surprising. This great lord is only appearing to be like a ghost. We are nothing in comparison to Śiva. Brahmā and others observe the rules made by him, about associating with women during the twilight (yat-kṛta-setu-pālā), about eating, sleeping or passing nature at that time. He is the cause of the universe and māyā is dependent on him. His conduct as a ghost is surprising. It is an imitation performed by this great lord
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse insists on the Lord's specific identity — not an idea of God but a person with name, form, and intent. Vague spirituality cannot reach what only personal address can. The verse keeps returning to Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does your idea of God blur into a generic 'higher power' that asks nothing of you?
  • What would change if you treated one possession this week as belonging to the Lord and on loan to you?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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