FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.5

స ఆదిదేవో జగతాం పరో గురు: స్వధిష్ణ్యమాస్థాయ సిసృక్షయైక్షత । తాం నాధ్యగచ్ఛద్ ద‍ృశమత్ర సమ్మతాం ప్రపఞ్చనిర్మాణవిధిర్యయా భవేత్ ॥ ౫ ॥
sa ādi-devo jagatāṁ paro guruḥ
[sa aadi-devo jagataam paro guruh]
svadhiṣṇyam āsthāya sisṛkṣayaikṣata
[svadhishnyam aasthaaya sisrikshayaikshata]
tāṁ nādhyagacchad dṛśam atra sammatāṁ
[taam naadhyagachchad drisham atra sammataam]
prapaṣca-nirmāṇa-vidhir yayā bhavet
[prapashcha-nirmaana-vidhir yayaa bhavet]
saḥ — he ādi-devaḥ — the first demigod jagatām — of the universe paraḥ — supreme guruḥ — spiritual master svadhiṣṇyam — his lotus seat āsthāya — to find the source of it sisṛkṣayā — for the matter of creating the universal affairs aikṣata — began to think tām — in that matter na — could not adhyagacchat — understand dṛśam — the direction atra — therein sammatām — just the proper way prapaṣca — material nirmāṇa — construction vidhiḥ — process yayā — as much as bhavet — should be.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa ādi-devo jagatāṁ paro guruḥ
saḥ
he
ādi-devaḥ
the first demigod
jagatām
of the universe
paraḥ
supreme
guruḥ
spiritual master
svadhiṣṇyam āsthāya sisṛkṣayaikṣata
svadhiṣṇyam
his lotus seat
āsthāya
to find the source of it
sisṛkṣayā
for the matter of creating the universal affairs
aikṣata
began to think
tāṁ nādhyagacchad dṛśam atra sammatāṁ
tām
in that matter
na
could not
adhyagacchat
understand
dṛśam
the direction
atra
therein
sammatām
just the proper way
prapaṣca-nirmāṇa-vidhir yayā bhavet
prapaṣca
material
nirmāṇa
construction
vidhiḥ
process
yayā
as much as
bhavet
should be.
Lord Brahmā, the first spiritual master, supreme in the universe, could not trace out the source of his lotus seat, and while thinking of creating the material world, he could not understand the proper direction for such creative work, nor could he find out the process for such creation.

This verse is the prelude for explaining the transcendental nature of the form and the abode of the Lord. In the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it has already been said that the Supreme Absolute Truth exists in His own abode without any touch of the deluding energy. Therefore the kingdom of God is not a myth but factually a different and transcendental sphere of planets known as the Vaikuṇṭhas. This will also be explained in this chapter.

Such knowledge of the spiritual sky far above this material sky and its paraphernalia can be known only by dint of devotional service, or bhakti-yoga. The power of creation by Lord Brahmā was also achieved by bhakti-yoga. Brahmājī was bewildered in the matter of creation, and he could not even trace out the source of his own existence. But all this knowledge was fully achieved by him through the medium of bhakti-yoga. By bhakti-yoga one can know the Lord, and by knowing the Lord as the Supreme, one is able to know everything else. One who knows the Supreme knows everything else. That is the version of all Vedas. Even the first spiritual master of the universe was enlightened by the grace of the Lord, so who else can attain perfect knowledge of everything without the mercy of the Lord? If anyone desires to seek perfect knowledge of everything, he must seek the mercy of the Lord, and there is no other means. To seek knowledge on the strength of one’s personal attempt is a sheer waste of time.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Brahmā, the original devatā, the instructor of bhakti for the world, situated on his lotus, considered how to carry out creation. He could not attain the knowledge by which the universe could be created.
Commentary

Not only the Lord’s form, but his planet and his devotees are also beyond time and māyā. To show this fact he begins to praise the Lord in four verses. Brahmā, the instructor about the secret teachings of bhakti (paro guruḥ), was situated on a lotus (svadhiṣnyam). Previously he was submerged in the water in order to find his residence. After, he became situated on the lotus. He considered (aikṣata) how to carry out the creation. He could not understand the knowledge (tām dṛṣam) in the matter of creation (atra), by which there would be a method of constructing the universe.

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