Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23
Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari
Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana
यस्य ब्रह्मादयो देवा वेदा लोकाश्चराचरा: । नामरूपविभेदेन फल्ग्व्या च कलया कृता: ॥ २२ ॥ यथार्चिषोऽग्ने: सवितुर्गभस्तयो निर्यान्ति संयान्त्यसकृत् स्वरोचिष: । तथा यतोऽयं गुणसम्प्रवाहो बुद्धिर्मन: खानि शरीरसर्गा: ॥ २३ ॥ स वै न देवासुरमर्त्यतिर्यङ् न स्त्री न षण्ढो न पुमान् न जन्तु: । नायं गुण: कर्म न सन्न चासन् निषेधशेषो जयतादशेष: ॥ २४ ॥
yasya brahmādayo devā vedā lokāś carācarāḥ nāma-rūpa-vibhedena phalgvyā ca kalayā kṛtāḥ
Die Höchste Persönlichkeit Gottes erschafft Ihre Teile und Parzellen, beginnend mit Herrn Brahma, den Halbgöttern und dem vedischen Wissen. Wie die Funken eines Feuers aus ihrer Quelle hervorgehen und immer wieder in sie verschmelzen, so gehen der Geist, die Intelligenz und die Sinne vom Herrn aus. Er ist weder Halbgott noch Dämon, weder Mensch noch Tier. Er ist weder Frau, Mann noch Neutrum. Er ist das Unbegrenzte. Alle Ehre sei der Höchsten Persönlichkeit Gottes!
This is a summary description of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s unlimited potency. That supreme one is acting in different phases by manifesting His parts and parcels, which are all simultaneously differently situated by His different potencies ( parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate ). Each and every potency is acting quite naturally ( svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca ). Therefore the Lord is unlimited. Na tat-samaś cābhyadhikaś ca dṛśyate: nothing is equal to Him, nor is anything greater than Him. Although He manifests Himself in so many ways, personally He has nothing to do ( na tasya kāryaṁ karaṇaṁ ca vidyate ), for everything is done by expansions of His unlimited energies.
FAQs
This verse states that Brahmā, the demigods, the Vedas, and all worlds arise from the Supreme Lord, manifested by a portion of His potency through name-and-form distinctions.
Gajendra is establishing the Lord’s supreme position as the ultimate source of everything, strengthening his surrender and appeal for protection.
See changing identities and labels as temporary, and anchor the mind in the unchanging Divine source through prayer, remembrance, and humility.