SB 4.6.7 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.6.7

नाहं न यज्ञो न च यूयमन्ये ये देहभाजो मुनयश्च तत्त्वम् । विदु: प्रमाणं बलवीर्ययोर्वा यस्यात्मतन्त्रस्य क उपायं विधित्सेत् ॥ ७ ॥

nāhaṁ na yajño na ca yūyam anye

[naaham na yajno na cha yooyam anye]

ye deha-bhājo munayaś ca tattvam

[ye deha-bhaajo munayash cha tattvam]

viduḥ pramāṇaṁ bala-vīryayor vā

[viduh pramaanam bala-veeryayor vaa]

yasyātma-tantrasya ka upāyaṁ vidhitset

[yasyaatma-tantrasya ka upaayam vidhitset]

Word-for-word

na — not aham — I na — nor yajñaḥ — Indra na — nor ca — and yūyam — all of you anye — others ye — who deha-bhājaḥ — of those who bear material bodies munayaḥ — the sages ca — and tattvam — the truth viduḥ — know pramāṇam — the extent bala-vīryayoḥ — of the strength and power vā — or yasya — of Lord Śiva ātma-tantrasya — of Lord Śiva, who is self-dependent kaḥ — what upāyam — means vidhitset — should wish to devise.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

nāhaṁ na yajño na ca yūyam anye

not

aham

nor

yajñaḥ

Indra

nor

and

yūyam

all of you

anye

others

ye deha-bhājo munayaś ca tattvam

who

deha-bhājaḥ

of those who bear material bodies

munayaḥ

the sages

and

tattvam

the truth

viduḥ pramāṇaṁ bala-vīryayor vā

viduḥ

know

pramāṇam

the extent

bala-vīryayoḥ

of the strength and power

vā

yasyātma-tantrasya ka upāyaṁ vidhitset

yasya

of Lord Śiva

ātma-tantrasya

of Lord Śiva, who is self-dependent

kaḥ

what

upāyam

means

vidhitset

should wish to devise.

Lord Brahmā said that no one — not even himself, Indra, all the members assembled in the sacrificial arena or all the sages — could know how powerful Lord Śiva is. Under the circumstances, who would dare to commit an offense at his lotus feet?

Purport

After Lord Brahmā advised the demigods to go to Lord Śiva and beg his pardon, it was suggested how he should be satisfied and how the matter should be placed before him. Brahmā also asserted that none of the conditioned souls, including himself and all the demigods, could know how to satisfy Lord Śiva. But he said, “It is known that he is very easily satisfied, so let us try to satisfy him by falling at his lotus feet.”

Actually the position of the subordinate is always to surrender to the Supreme. That is the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā. The Lord asks everyone to give up all kinds of concocted occupations and simply surrender unto Him. That will protect the conditioned souls from all sinful reactions. Similarly, in this case Brahmā also suggested that they go and surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Śiva, for since he is very kind and easily satisfied, this action would prove effective.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

I, Indra, you, anyone with a body, and the sages do not know the strength, influence and the true nature of Śiva, who is completely independent. Who should provide a means to do this? “We are surrendered to you. Give us some way to do this.” Brahmā answers. Not I, Brahmā, or the present Indra (yajñaḥ) nor you sacrificers, knowers of the Vedas, know the truth about Śiva or the extent of his strength and influence.

Personal Guidance

Even Brahmā confesses that no one fully knows Śiva's power. True humility says: I cannot calculate the weight of the person I offended; I will not gamble on their tolerance.

Reflection Questions

Am I treating someone as 'just so-and-so' while underestimating their depth and dignity?
Where has overconfidence in my own status made me reckless with another's heart?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io