Shloka 53
Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense
श्रीब्रह्मोवाच स्थानं मदीयं सहविश्वमेतत् क्रीडावसाने द्विपरार्धसंज्ञे । भ्रूभङ्गमात्रेण हि सन्दिधक्षो: कालात्मनो यस्य तिरोभविष्यति ॥ ५३ ॥ अहं भवो दक्षभृगुप्रधाना: प्रजेशभूतेशसुरेशमुख्या: । सर्वे वयं यन्नियमं प्रपन्ना मूर्ध्न्यार्पितं लोकहितं वहाम: ॥ ५४ ॥
śrī-brahmovāca sthānaṁ madīyaṁ saha-viśvam etat krīḍāvasāne dvi-parārdha-saṁjñe bhrū-bhaṅga-mātreṇa hi sandidhakṣoḥ kālātmano yasya tirobhaviṣyati
Lord Brahmā said: At the end of the dvi-parārdha, when the Lord’s pastimes conclude, Viṣṇu, the very Self of Time, with a mere flick of His eyebrows causes the entire universe—along with our abodes—to vanish. I, Bhava (Śiva), Dakṣa, Bhṛgu and the foremost sages, and also the rulers of beings, of human society, and of the devas—all of us submit to the ordinance of that Supreme Person, Lord Viṣṇu; bowing our heads, we bear out His commands for the welfare of all living entities.
In Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) it is said, mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham: when the Supreme Personality of Godhead approaches as death, or the supreme controller of time, He takes everything away. In other words, all opulence, prestige and everything we possess is given by the Supreme Lord for some purpose. It is the duty of the surrendered soul to execute the orders of the Supreme. No one can disregard Him. Under the circumstances, Lord Brahmā refused to give shelter to Durvāsā Muni from the powerful Sudarśana cakra sent by the Lord.
FAQs
This verse identifies the Supreme Lord as kālātmā—Time itself—whose mere will (symbolized by a brow movement) can dissolve Brahmā’s realm and the entire universe.
Brahmā is humbling Durvāsā (and instructing all) by stressing that even his own exalted post and the universe are temporary before the Lord’s supreme power and Time.
Remembering impermanence reduces pride and anxiety and encourages devotion and ethical living, valuing surrender to God over temporary status.