FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.8.16

तस्यां स चाम्भोरुहकर्णिकाया- मवस्थितो लोकमपश्यमान: । परिक्रमन् व्योम्नि विवृत्तनेत्र- श्चत्वारि लेभेऽनुदिशं मुखानि ॥ १६ ॥
tasyāṁ sa cāmbho-ruha-karṇikāyām
[tasyaam sa chaambho-ruha-karnikaayaam]
avasthito lokam apaśyamānaḥ
[avasthito lokam apashyamaanah]
parikraman vyomni vivṛtta-netraś
[parikraman vyomni vivritta-netrash]
catvāri lebhe ’nudiśaṁ mukhāni
[chatvaari lebhe ’nudisham mukhaani]
Word-for-word
tasyām — in that saḥ — Brahmā ca — and ambhaḥ — water ruha-karṇikāyām — whorl of the lotus avasthitaḥ — being situated lokam — the world apaśyamānaḥ — without being able to see parikraman — circumambulating vyomni — in space vivṛtta-netraḥ — while moving the eyes catvāri — four lebhe — achieved anudiśam — in terms of direction mukhāni — heads.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasyāṁ sa cāmbho-ruha-karṇikāyām
tasyām
in that
saḥ
Brahmā
ca
and
ambhaḥ
water
ruha-karṇikāyām
whorl of the lotus
avasthito lokam apaśyamānaḥ
avasthitaḥ
being situated
lokam
the world
apaśyamānaḥ
without being able to see
parikraman vyomni vivṛtta-netraś
parikraman
circumambulating
vyomni
in space
vivṛtta-netraḥ
while moving the eyes
catvāri lebhe ’nudiśaṁ mukhāni
catvāri
four
lebhe
achieved
anudiśam
in terms of direction
mukhāni
heads.
Brahmā, born out of the lotus flower, could not see the world, although he was situated in the whorl. He therefore circumambulated all of space, and while moving his eyes in all directions he achieved four heads in terms of the four directions.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Brahmā, situated in the center of the lotus, could not see the universe’s planets. Turning his head around and glancing into space, he attained four heads to see in the four directions. Situated there he turned his head around to look for the planets and at the same time glanced in all directions at the space because there was no one there. He obtained four heads to see the four directions (anudiśam).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Brahmā, born inside the whorl, could not see the world and so circumambulated, gaining four heads in the four directions. Seeking is itself the process by which capacity expands. We don't begin with full vision; we earn it by looking.
Reflection Questions
  • What direction am I avoiding looking, where new sight would emerge?
  • How is my searching itself shaping who I am becoming?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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