FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.1.30

देवा ऊचु: यथा कृतस्ते सङ्कल्पो भाव्यं तेनैव नान्यथा । सत्सङ्कल्पस्य ते ब्रह्मन् यद्वै ध्यायति ते वयम् ॥ ३० ॥
devā ūcuḥ
[devaa oochuh]
yathā kṛtas te saṅkalpo
[yathaa kritas te sankalpo]
bhāvyaṁ tenaiva nānyathā
[bhaavyam tenaiva naanyathaa]
sat-saṅkalpasya te brahman
[sat-sankalpasya te brahman]
yad vai dhyāyati te vayam
[yad vai dhyaayati te vayam]
Word-for-word
devāḥ ūcuḥ — the demigods replied yathā — as kṛtaḥ — done te — by you saṅkalpaḥ — determination bhāvyam — to be done tena eva — by that na anyathā — not otherwise sat-saṅkalpasya — one whose determination is never lost te — of you brahman — O dear brāhmaṇa yat — that which vai — certainly dhyāyati — meditating te — all of them vayam — we are.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
devā ūcuḥ
devāḥ ūcuḥ
the demigods replied
yathā kṛtas te saṅkalpo
yathā
as
kṛtaḥ
done
te
by you
saṅkalpaḥ
determination
bhāvyaṁ tenaiva nānyathā
bhāvyam
to be done
tena eva
by that
na anyathā
not otherwise
sat-saṅkalpasya te brahman
sat-saṅkalpasya
one whose determination is never lost
te
of you
brahman
O dear brāhmaṇa
yad vai dhyāyati te vayam
yat
that which
vai
certainly
dhyāyati
meditating
te
all of them
vayam
we are.
The three deities told Atri Muni: Dear brāhmaṇa, you are perfect in your determination, and therefore as you have decided, so it will happen; it will not happen otherwise. We are all the same person upon whom you were meditating, and therefore we have all come to you.
Purport

Atri Muni unspecifically thought of the Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe, although he had no clear idea of the Lord of the universe nor of His specific form. Mahā-Viṣṇu, from whose breathing millions of universes emanate and into whom they are again withdrawn, may be accepted as the Lord of the universe. Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, from whose abdomen sprouted the lotus flower which is the birthplace of Brahmā, may also be considered the Lord of the universe. Similarly, Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, who is the Supersoul of all living entities, may also be considered the Lord of the universe. Then, under the order of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the Viṣṇu form within this universe, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva may also be accepted as the Lords of the universe.

Viṣṇu is the Lord of the universe because He is its maintainer. Similarly, Brahmā creates the different planetary systems and the population, so he also may be considered the Lord of the universe. Or Lord Śiva, who is ultimately the destroyer of the universe, also may be considered its Lord. Therefore, since Atri Muni did not specifically mention whom he wanted, all three — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva — came before him. They said, “Since you were thinking of having a son exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe, your determination will be fulfilled.” In other words, one’s determination is fulfilled according to the strength of one’s devotion. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25) : yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ. If one is attached to a particular demigod, one is promoted to the abode of that demigod; if one is attached to the Pitās, or forefathers, one is promoted to their planet; and similarly if one is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, one is promoted to the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Atri Muni had no clear conception of the Lord of the universe; therefore the three presiding deities who are actually the lords of the universe in the three departments of the modes of nature all came before him. Now, according to the strength of his determination for a son, his desire would be fulfilled by the grace of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The devatās said: O brāhmaṇa! Since your wish cannot be unfulfilled, as you have wished, it will come to pass, and not otherwise. We are that person upon whom you meditated. We are that Lord of the universe upon whom you meditated. We are the gives of boons to you whose desires are always fulfilled (sat-saṅkalpasya). The meaning is this. You desired that you should have one son equal to the Lord of the universe. Having a doubt as to who was the Lord of the universe, you meditated on all three of us, and then decided on one form, thinking “Among the three, let the real Lord come.” The three of us, having three powers in the universe, have come here. Though we are in three forms, we are one. You should not have used the words “the Supreme Lord.” It is similar to the utterance “O enemy of Indra! Increase in power.” This statement can also mean the opposite “O Indra! O enemy! Increase in power.” (SB 6.9.11) From such a desire, and to show the strength of your sādhana, you will get a result according to your sādhana and according to your desire.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The three deities reveal they are one Person on whom Atri meditated — Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva manifest as needed, but the meditator's focus determines the form. Your specific devotion is honored exactly.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom or what am I actually meditating on day to day?
  • Is my devotion focused enough that the divine could meet it specifically?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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