Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 56
Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense
श्रीशङ्कर उवाच वयं न तात प्रभवाम भूम्नि यस्मिन् परेऽन्येऽप्यजजीवकोशा: । भवन्ति काले न भवन्ति हीदृशा: सहस्रशो यत्र वयं भ्रमाम: ॥ ५६ ॥
śrī-śaṅkara uvāca vayaṁ na tāta prabhavāma bhūmni yasmin pare ’nye ’py aja-jīva-kośāḥ bhavanti kāle na bhavanti hīdṛśāḥ sahasraśo yatra vayaṁ bhramāmaḥ
Lord Śiva sprach: Mein Sohn, weder ich noch Brahmā noch die anderen Devas, die in diesem Universum im Irrtum über unsere Größe umherkreisen, können der Höchsten Persönlichkeit Gottes etwas entgegensetzen. Auf einen einzigen Wink des Herrn entstehen und vergehen unzählige Universen samt ihren Bewohnern zur rechten Zeit.
There are innumerable universes in the material world, and there are innumerable Lord Brahmās, Lord Śivas and other demigods. All of them rotate within this material world under the supreme direction of the Personality of Godhead. Therefore no one is able to compete with the strength of the Lord. Lord Śiva also refused to protect Durvāsā, for Lord Śiva also was under the rays of the Sudarśana cakra sent by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Vastness is so great that even exalted beings like Brahmā and Śiva cannot fully comprehend it, and within it countless lives arise and cease in time.
Śiva is humbly instructing his son that the Supreme Reality is immeasurable and that even the greatest devas are not independent knowers of it—highlighting humility and the limits of cosmic power.
It encourages detachment and spiritual focus: worldly situations and identities arise and pass, so one should seek lasting shelter in the Supreme rather than temporary achievements.