Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.14.2
सहस्रशिरस: पुंसो नाभिह्रदसरोरुहात् ।
जातस्यासीत् सुतो धातुरत्रि: पितृसमो गुणै: ॥ २ ॥
sahasra-śirasaḥ puṁso
[sahasra-shirasah pumso]
nābhi-hrada-saroruhāt
[naabhi-hrada-saroruhaat]
jātasyāsīt suto dhātur
[jaatasyaaseet suto dhaatur]
atriḥ pitṛ-samo guṇaiḥ
[atrih pitri-samo gunaih]
Word-for-word
sahasra-śirasaḥ
—
who has thousands of heads
puṁsaḥ
—
of Lord Viṣṇu (Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu)
nābhi-hrada-saroruhāt
—
from the lotus produced from the lake of the navel
jātasya
—
who appeared
āsīt
—
there was
sutaḥ
—
a son
dhātuḥ
—
of Lord Brahmā
atriḥ
—
by the name Atri
pitṛ-samaḥ
—
like his father
guṇaiḥ
—
qualified.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sahasra-śirasaḥ puṁso
sahasra-śirasaḥ
who has thousands of heads
puṁsaḥ
of Lord Viṣṇu (Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu)
nābhi-hrada-saroruhāt
nābhi-hrada-saroruhāt
from the lotus produced from the lake of the navel
jātasyāsīt suto dhātur
jātasya
who appeared
āsīt
there was
sutaḥ
a son
dhātuḥ
of Lord Brahmā
atriḥ pitṛ-samo guṇaiḥ
atriḥ
by the name Atri
pitṛ-samaḥ
like his father
guṇaiḥ
qualified.
Lord Viṣṇu [Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu] is also known as Sahasra-śīrṣā Puruṣa. From the lake of His navel sprang a lotus, on which Lord Brahmā was generated. Atri, the son of Lord Brahmā, was as qualified as his father.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
From the lake of navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu sprang a lotus, on which Brahmā was generated. Atri, the son of Lord Brahmā, was as qualified as his father.
Personal Guidance
From Viṣṇu's navel comes the lotus, from the lotus Brahmā, and from Brahmā, Atri — as qualified as his father. Real spiritual succession passes on actual qualification, not merely social position.
Reflection Questions
- Whom am I succeeding from in spirit — and am I living up to their qualification?
- What qualification am I passing on to those who will succeed me?
My note
Source: vedabase.io