Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 13
Transmission of Bhāgavata Wisdom and Brahmā’s Vision of the Supreme Lord on Ananta
तस्यार्थसूक्ष्माभिनिविष्टदृष्टे- रन्तर्गतोऽर्थो रजसा तनीयान् । गुणेन कालानुगतेन विद्ध: सूष्यंस्तदाभिद्यत नाभिदेशात् ॥ १३ ॥
tasyārtha-sūkṣmābhiniviṣṭa-dṛṣṭer antar-gato ’rtho rajasā tanīyān guṇena kālānugatena viddhaḥ sūṣyaṁs tadābhidyata nābhi-deśāt
As the Lord’s gaze rested upon the subtle principle of creation, that inner, most delicate seed was stirred by the mode of passion. Struck by the quality that follows the course of time, it seemed to dry and then pierced forth from the region of His navel, manifesting creation’s subtle form.
FAQs
This verse states that the lotus of Brahmā’s birth is affected by time acting under the guṇas—time ‘pierces’ and transforms matter—showing that cosmic manifestation proceeds through kāla working with material modes.
In this chapter, Śukadeva explains that Brahmā appears on a lotus stemming from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu’s navel, emphasizing that the secondary creator (Brahmā) arises from and depends upon the Supreme Lord.
It reminds us that material conditions change under time and the modes; by recognizing these influences, one can cultivate steadiness through devotion rather than being driven by rajas (restless passion).