Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.20
यस्याङ्घ्रि पद्मं परिचर्य विश्व
विभावनायात्तगुणाभिपत्ते: ।
अजोऽध्यतिष्ठत्खलु पारमेष्ठ्यं
पदं जितात्मश्वसनाभिवन्द्यम् ॥ २० ॥
yasyāṅghri-padmaṁ paricarya viśva-
[yasyaanghri-padmam paricharya vishva-]
vibhāvanāyātta-guṇābhipatteḥ
[vibhaavanaayaatta-gunaabhipatteh]
ajo ’dhyatiṣṭhat khalu pārameṣṭhyaṁ
[ajo ’dhyatishthat khalu paarameshthyam]
padaṁ jitātma-śvasanābhivandyam
[padam jitaatma-shvasanaabhivandyam]
Word-for-word
yasya
—
whose
aṅghri
—
leg
padmam
—
lotus feet
paricarya
—
worshiping
viśva
—
universe
vibhāvanāya
—
for creating
ātta
—
received
guṇa-abhipatteḥ
—
for acquiring the required qualifications
ajaḥ
—
the unborn (Lord Brahmā)
adhyatiṣṭhat
—
became situated
khalu
—
undoubtedly
pārameṣṭhyam
—
the supreme position within the universe
padam
—
position
jita-ātma
—
one who has conquered his mind
śvasana
—
by controlling the life air
abhivandyam
—
worshipable.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yasyāṅghri-padmaṁ paricarya viśva-
yasya
whose
aṅghri
leg
padmam
lotus feet
paricarya
worshiping
viśva
universe
vibhāvanāyātta-guṇābhipatteḥ
vibhāvanāya
for creating
ātta
received
guṇa-abhipatteḥ
for acquiring the required qualifications
ajo ’dhyatiṣṭhat khalu pārameṣṭhyaṁ
ajaḥ
the unborn (Lord Brahmā)
padaṁ jitātma-śvasanābhivandyam
adhyatiṣṭhat
became situated
khalu
undoubtedly
pārameṣṭhyam
the supreme position within the universe
padam
position
jita-ātma
one who has conquered his mind
śvasana
by controlling the life air
abhivandyam
worshipable.
Sunīti continued: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so great that simply by worshiping His lotus feet, your great-grandfather, Lord Brahmā, acquired the necessary qualifications to create this universe. Although he is unborn and is the chief of all living creatures, he is situated in that exalted post because of the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom even great yogīs worship by controlling the mind and regulating the life air [prāṇa].
Purport
Sunīti cited the example of Lord Brahmā, who was Dhruva Mahārāja’s great-grandfather. Although Lord Brahmā is also a living being, by his penance and austerity he acquired the exalted position of creator of this universe by the mercy of the Supreme Lord. To become successful in any attempt, one not only has to undergo severe penances and austerities, but also must be dependent on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This indication had been given to Dhruva Mahārāja by his stepmother and was now confirmed by his own mother, Sunīti.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
By worshipping the lotus feet of the Lord who is worshipped by those who control the mind and breath, and who assumes sattva-guṇa for maintaining the universe, Brahmā attained his supreme position.
“Will I enter the womb of that sinful woman by worshipping the Lord?” She is such vile creature. Your father, her servant, is also vile and foolish. You can attain a position greater than that of Brahmā. Therefore quickly go from here and worship the Lord. Do not lament! This is explained in four verses. Brahmā worshipped the feet of the Lord who has accepted the position of controller of sattva-guṇa for maintaining the universe, feet which are adored by the yogīs who have controlled their minds and prāṇas.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Sunīti reminds Dhruva that even Brahmā became creator only by worshiping the Lord's lotus feet. If the universal creator needed devotion, no one is too high or too low to need it.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I trying to skip the step of devotion that every great being has had to take?
- What attempt of mine could finally succeed if I rooted it in worship rather than will?
My note
Source: vedabase.io