FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.3.26

सोऽहं विश्वसृजं विश्वमविश्वं विश्ववेदसम् । विश्वात्मानमजं ब्रह्म प्रणतोऽस्मि परं पदम् ॥ २६ ॥
so ’haṁ viśva-sṛjaṁ viśvam
[so ’ham vishva-srijam vishvam]
aviśvaṁ viśva-vedasam
[avishvam vishva-vedasam]
viśvātmānam ajaṁ brahma
[vishvaatmaanam ajam brahma]
praṇato ’smi paraṁ padam
[pranato ’smi param padam]
Word-for-word
saḥ — that aham — I (the person desiring release from material life) viśva-sṛjam — unto Him who has created this cosmic manifestation viśvam — who is Himself the whole cosmic presentation aviśvam — although He is transcendental to the cosmic manifestation viśva-vedasam — who is the knower or ingredient of this universal manifestation viśva-ātmānam — the soul of the universe ajam — who is never born, eternally existing brahma — the Supreme praṇataḥ asmi — I offer my respectful obeisances param — who is transcendental padam — the shelter.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
so ’haṁ viśva-sṛjaṁ viśvam
aviśvaṁ viśva-vedasam
saḥ
that
viśvātmānam ajaṁ brahma
aham
I (the person desiring release from material life)
viśva-sṛjam
unto Him who has created this cosmic manifestation
viśvam
who is Himself the whole cosmic presentation
aviśvam
although He is transcendental to the cosmic manifestation
viśva-vedasam
who is the knower or ingredient of this universal manifestation
viśva-ātmānam
the soul of the universe
ajam
who is never born, eternally existing
brahma
the Supreme
praṇato ’smi paraṁ padam
praṇataḥ asmi
I offer my respectful obeisances
param
who is transcendental
padam
the shelter.
Now, fully desiring release from material life, I offer my respectful obeisances unto that Supreme Person who is the creator of the universe, who is Himself the form of the universe and who is nonetheless transcendental to this cosmic manifestation. He is the supreme knower of everything in this world, the Supersoul of the universe. He is the unborn, supremely situated Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.
Purport

Sometimes when bhakti-yoga, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is preached to the common man, people argue, “Where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is God? Can you show Him to us?” In this verse the answer is given that if we are sufficiently intelligent, we must know that there is someone who has created the entire cosmic manifestation, who has supplied and has become the ingredients for this cosmic manifestation, who is eternally existing, but who is not within the cosmic manifestation. Simply on the basis of this suggestion, one can offer respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord. This is the beginning of devotional life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
I, that elephant, offer respects to the creator of the universe, the Lord who is the universe (as viśva-rūpa) and who is not the universe, who is the knower of the universe, the soul of the universe, the unborn Brahman, and the supreme shelter. If you tell me to perform bhakti, I do not know how to perform bhakti because I am an animal and in great danger at the moment. Therefore I just offer respects with my mind to whatever I know of this universe that I see with my eyes. I am that well known animal (saḥ). You are the universal form, and are also different from the universe because of your svarūpa-śakti. You are the knower of the universe (viśva-vedasam) and the soul of the universe.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Gajendra offers obeisance to the one who has both become the universe and remains transcendental to it. Even an atheist must concede that someone created and supplies the cosmos. Argue less; bow more — that is the elephant's example.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I still arguing about God when I could simply bow?
  • What evidence of His handiwork have I been too busy to acknowledge?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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