Shloka 37
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
तुभ्यं मद्विचिकित्सायामात्मा मे दर्शितोऽबहि: । नालेन सलिले मूलं पुष्करस्य विचिन्वत: ॥ ३७ ॥
tubhyaṁ mad-vicikitsāyām ātmā me darśito ’bahiḥ nālena salile mūlaṁ puṣkarasya vicinvataḥ
যখন তুমি আমার বিষয়ে সংশয়ে জন্মপদ্মের ডাঁটার উৎস খুঁজতে জলমধ্যে সেই ডাঁটার ভিতরেও প্রবেশ করেছিলে, তবু কিছুই পেলে না; তখনই আমি অন্তর থেকে আমার রূপ প্রকাশ করলাম।
The Personality of Godhead can be experienced only by His causeless mercy, not by mental speculation or with the help of the material senses. Material senses cannot approach the transcendental understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He can be appreciated only by submissive devotional service when He reveals Himself before the devotee. Only by love of Godhead can one know God, and not otherwise. The Personality of Godhead cannot be seen with the material eyes, but He can be seen from within by spiritual eyes opened by the ointment of love of Godhead. As long as one’s spiritual eyes are closed due to the dirty covering of matter, one cannot see the Lord. But when the dirt is removed by the process of devotional service, one can see the Lord, without a doubt. Brahmā’s personal endeavor to see the root of the lotus pipe failed, but when the Lord was satisfied by his penance and devotion, He revealed Himself from within with no external endeavor.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord is not grasped by external searching or sensory means; He reveals Himself to the sincere seeker (here, Brahmā) when one is genuinely perplexed and seeking the truth.
In the creation narrative, Brahmā appears on a lotus arising from the cosmic waters and tries to find its source by following the stalk; failing by his own effort, he later receives the Lord’s direct revelation.
Do your sincere inquiry and practice, but understand that ultimate spiritual realization depends on divine grace—cultivated through humility, prayer, and steady devotion rather than mere external investigation.