Shloka 19
Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa
Prelude to Samudra-manthana
स विलोक्येन्द्रवाय्वादीन् नि:सत्त्वान्विगतप्रभान् । लोकानमङ्गलप्रायानसुरानयथा विभु: ॥ १९ ॥ समाहितेन मनसा संस्मरन्पुरुषं परम् । उवाचोत्फुल्लवदनो देवान्स भगवान्पर: ॥ २० ॥
sa vilokyendra-vāyv-ādīn niḥsattvān vigata-prabhān lokān amaṅgala-prāyān asurān ayathā vibhuḥ
Als Brahmā sah, dass Indra, Vāyu und die übrigen Devas kraft- und glanzlos geworden waren, dass die drei Welten fast ohne Heil waren und die Asuras gediehen, während die Devas in Bedrängnis standen, sammelte der mächtige Brahmā, der über allen Halbgöttern steht, seinen Geist und gedachte des höchsten Purusha, des Herrn Bhagavān. Dann, mit strahlendem Antlitz, sprach er zu den Devas.
After hearing from the demigods the real situation, Lord Brahmā was very much concerned because the demons were unnecessarily so powerful. When demons become powerful, the entire world is placed in an awkward position because demons are simply interested in their own sense gratification and not in the welfare of the world. Demigods or devotees, however, are concerned with the welfare of all living beings. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, for example, left his ministership and went to Vṛndāvana for the benefit of the entire world ( lokānāṁ hita-kāriṇau ). This is the nature of a saintly person or demigod. Even impersonalists think of the welfare of all people. Thus Brahmā was very much concerned at seeing the demons in power.
FAQs
This verse indicates that when asuras dominate and dharma declines, the worlds become “amaṅgala-prāya”—pervaded by inauspiciousness—and even the devas lose their strength and splendor.
They had been overwhelmed by the asuras and thus appeared niḥsattva (powerless) and vigata-prabha (devoid of luster), prompting the Lord’s attention to their plight.
Like the devas who turn toward the Supreme Lord for shelter, one should seek divine refuge through remembrance, prayer, and steady dharmic conduct instead of despair.