Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.6.23
बुद्धिं चास्य विनिर्भिन्नां वागीशो धिष्ण्यमाविशत् ।
बोधेनांशेन बोद्धव्यम् प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ २३ ॥
buddhiṁ cāsya vinirbhinnāṁ
[buddhim chaasya vinirbhinnaam]
vāg-īśo dhiṣṇyam āviśat
[vaag-eesho dhishnyam aavishat]
bodhenāṁśena boddhavyam
[bodhenaamshena boddhavyam]
pratipattir yato bhavet
[pratipattir yato bhavet]
Word-for-word
buddhim
—
intelligence
ca
—
also
asya
—
of the gigantic form
vinirbhinnām
—
being separately manifested
vāk-īśaḥ
—
Brahmā, lord of the Vedas
dhiṣṇyam
—
the controlling power
āviśat
—
entered in
bodhena aṁśena
—
with his part of intelligence
boddhavyam
—
the matter of understanding
pratipattiḥ
—
understood
yataḥ
—
by which
bhavet
—
so becomes.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
buddhiṁ cāsya vinirbhinnāṁ
buddhim
intelligence
ca
also
asya
of the gigantic form
vinirbhinnām
being separately manifested
vāg-īśo dhiṣṇyam āviśat
vāk-īśaḥ
Brahmā, lord of the Vedas
dhiṣṇyam
the controlling power
āviśat
entered in
bodhenāṁśena boddhavyam
bodhena aṁśena
with his part of intelligence
boddhavyam
the matter of understanding
pratipattir yato bhavet
pratipattiḥ
understood
yataḥ
by which
bhavet
so becomes.
When the intelligence of the gigantic form separately became manifest, Brahmā, the lord of the Vedas, entered into it with the partial power of understanding, and thus an object of understanding is experienced by the living entities.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
When the section of heart for intelligence (adhibhūta) of the universal form became differentiated, the presiding deity Brahmā (adhidaiva) along with his portion the sense organ of intelligence (adhyātma) entered. By intelligence understanding (adhibhūta) appeared.
Buddhi in the verse means the place where intelligence resides, one part of the heart. Vāg-īśaḥ is Brahmā. Bodhena means “by intelligence.” This verse is not accepted by all.
Personal Guidance
Brahmā entered the universal intelligence so that understanding could become possible. Our power to grasp meaning is partially Brahmā's power working in us. Intellect is therefore something to use carefully, not boast about.
Reflection Questions
- If my intelligence is partly Brahmā's, what subjects deserve it most?
- How might I shed pride in my ideas by remembering their borrowed source?
My note
Source: vedabase.io