FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.9.26

मैत्रेय उवाच स्वसम्भवं निशाम्यैवं तपोविद्यासमाधिभि: । यावन्मनोवच: स्तुत्वा विरराम स खिन्नवत् ॥ २६ ॥
maitreya uvāca
[maitreya uvaacha]
sva-sambhavaṁ niśāmyaivaṁ
[sva-sambhavam nishaamyaivam]
tapo-vidyā-samādhibhiḥ
[tapo-vidyaa-samaadhibhih]
yāvan mano-vacaḥ stutvā
[yaavan mano-vachah stutvaa]
virarāma sa khinnavat
[viraraama sa khinnavat]
Word-for-word
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said sva-sambhavam — the source of his appearance niśāmya — by seeing evam — thus tapaḥ — penance vidyā — knowledge samādhibhiḥ — as also by concentration of the mind yāvat — as far as possible manaḥ — mind vacaḥ — words stutvā — having prayed virarāma — became silent saḥ — he (Brahmā) khinna-vat — as if tired.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
maitreya uvāca
maitreyaḥ uvāca
the great sage Maitreya said
sva-sambhavaṁ niśāmyaivaṁ
sva-sambhavam
the source of his appearance
niśāmya
by seeing
evam
thus
tapo-vidyā-samādhibhiḥ
tapaḥ
penance
vidyā
knowledge
samādhibhiḥ
as also by concentration of the mind
yāvan mano-vacaḥ stutvā
yāvat
as far as possible
manaḥ
mind
vacaḥ
words
stutvā
having prayed
virarāma sa khinnavat
virarāma
became silent
saḥ
he (Brahmā)
khinna-vat
as if tired.
The sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, after observing the source of his appearance, namely the Personality of Godhead, Brahmā prayed for His mercy as far as his mind and words would permit him. Thus having prayed, he became silent, as if tired from his activities of penance, knowledge and mental concentration.
Purport

Brahmā’s enlightenment in knowledge was due to the Lord sitting within his heart. After being created, Brahmā could not ascertain the source of his appearance, but after penance and mental concentration he could see the source of his birth, and thus he became enlightened through his heart. The spiritual master outside and the spiritual master within are both representations of the Lord. Unless one has contact with such bona fide representations, one cannot claim to be a spiritual master. Lord Brahmā had no opportunity to take the help of a spiritual master from outside because at that time Brahmā himself was the only creature in the universe. Therefore, on becoming satisfied by the prayers of Brahmā, the Lord enlightened him about everything from within.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Maitreya said: Seeing the Lord directly before him, through worship and through meditation, and glorifying him to the best of his ability by his mind and words, Brahmā then stopped, as if tired. Thus seeing the manifestation of the Lord (sva-sambhavam) directly before him (tapo), in worship (vidyā) and in meditation with concentration of the mind (samādhibhiḥ), hearing as much as possible, he stopped as if tired, because of attaining the Lord’s glance of mercy. Vidyā here means worship using the Lord’s mantra which brings about the sudden appearance of the Lord, for it is said ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti: the Lord reveals prema by the external guru and paramātmā within. (SB 11.29.6)
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse describes a universe that is not a random stage but an arrangement with a purpose. Our work is not to engineer that purpose but to find our seat within it. The verse anchors this in spiritual master.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you been demanding outcomes from a system you did not design?
  • How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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