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Shloka 28

Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons

Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions

एको मयेह भगवान्विविधप्रधानै- श्चित्तीकृत: प्रजननाय कथं नु यूयम् । अत्रागतास्तनुभृतां मनसोऽपि दूराद् ब्रूत प्रसीदत महानिह विस्मयो मे ॥ २८ ॥

eko mayeha bhagavān vividha-pradhānaiś cittī-kṛtaḥ prajananāya kathaṁ nu yūyam atrāgatās tanu-bhṛtāṁ manaso ’pi dūrād brūta prasīdata mahān iha vismayo me

I called upon the one Supreme Bhagavān, longing for a son like Him, and fixed my mind on Him alone. Yet He lies beyond all mental reach, and still all three of you have come here—kindly explain how, for my bewilderment is great.

ekaḥone
ekaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rooteka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; predicate/qualifier
mayāby me
mayā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम)
Formतृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन
ihahere
iha:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiha (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (adverb)
bhagavānthe Lord
bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन
vividha-pradhānaiḥby various principal (forms/means)
vividha-pradhānaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootvividha (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारयसमास (‘various’ + ‘principal (forms)’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन
cittī-kṛtaḥfixed in mind; contemplated
cittī-kṛtaḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootcittī-√kṛ (धातु) + ta (कृदन्त)
Formनामधातु/कृदन्त: ‘cittī-kṛ’ (to fix in mind) + क्त (PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; predicate of bhagavān
prajananāyafor begetting (offspring)
prajananāya:
Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootprajanana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; purpose
kathamhow
katham:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkatham (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्नवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)
nuindeed/then
nu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (particle), interrogation/emphasis
yūyamyou (all)
yūyam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (सर्वनाम)
Formप्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन
atrahere
atra:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatra (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (adverb)
āgatāḥhave come
āgatāḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√gam (धातु) + ta (कृदन्त)
Formक्त (PPP) used as finite-like predicate; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; agrees with yūyam
tanu-bhṛtāmof embodied beings
tanu-bhṛtām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottanu + bhṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुषसमास (‘body’ + ‘bearers’); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन
manasaḥof the mind
manasaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootmanas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन
apieven
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (particle), ‘even/also’
dūrātfrom far away
dūrāt:
Apādāna (अपादान)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootdūra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभूत (ablatival adverb)
brūtatell (me)
brūta:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√brū (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
prasīdatabe gracious; be pleased
prasīdata:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√sad (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
mahāngreat
mahān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahat (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; qualifies vismayaḥ
ihahere/now
iha:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiha (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (adverb)
vismayaḥwonder; astonishment
vismayaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvismaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन
mefor me / my
me:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम)
Formषष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; enclitic

Atri Muni was confidently aware that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord of the universe, so he prayed for the one Supreme Lord. He was surprised, therefore, that three of them appeared.

B
Brahmā
B
Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)
K
Kumāras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana, Sanat-kumāra)

FAQs

This verse describes them as so transcendent that they are “far beyond even the mind” of embodied beings, yet they appear before Brahmā by higher, spiritual capacity.

Brahmā was stationed to generate progeny, so the sudden arrival of exalted beings who are not driven by material creation astonished him, prompting a respectful inquiry.

It teaches humility before the unknown and the habit of seeking truth respectfully—recognizing that higher wisdom can appear beyond ordinary mental limits.