Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 5
Nārada’s Questions and Brahmā’s Reply: Vāsudeva as the Source; Sarga–Visarga; Virāṭ-rūpa Mapping
आत्मन् भावयसे तानी न पराभावयन् स्वयम् । आत्मशक्तिमवष्टभ्य ऊर्णनाभिरिवाक्लम: ॥ ५ ॥
ātman bhāvayase tāni na parābhāvayan svayam ātma-śaktim avaṣṭabhya ūrṇanābhir ivāklamaḥ
O Selbstgenügsamer, du lässt all dies aus dir selbst hervortreten und wirst von niemandem besiegt; wie die Spinne mühelos ihr Netz aus eigener Kraft webt, so erschaffst du, gestützt auf deine eigene ātma-śakti, ohne fremde Hilfe.
The best example of self-sufficiency is the sun. The sun does not require to be illuminated by any other body. Rather, it is the sun which helps all other illuminating agents, for in the presence of the sun no other illuminating agent becomes prominent. Nārada compared the position of Brahmā to the self-sufficiency of the spider, who creates its own field of activities without any other’s help by employment of its own energetic creation of saliva.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord manifests the cosmos by His own potency without any loss or exhaustion, like a spider producing a web from itself.
To show that creation comes from the Lord’s own energy and is effortless for Him—He remains complete even while manifesting the worlds.
It builds faith that the Supreme is self-sufficient and fully capable; a seeker can rely on devotion and surrender rather than anxiety about material support.