Shloka 1
Ātmā’s Unborn Nature and Fearlessness at Death
Parīkṣit’s Final Instruction
श्रीशुक उवाच अत्रानुवर्ण्यतेऽभीक्ष्णं विश्वात्मा भगवान् हरि: । यस्य प्रसादजो ब्रह्मा रुद्र: क्रोधसमुद्भव: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca atrānuvarṇyate ’bhīkṣṇaṁ viśvātmā bhagavān hariḥ yasya prasāda-jo brahmā rudraḥ krodha-samudbhavaḥ
Śukadeva dijo: En este Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, mediante diversas narraciones, se ha descrito una y otra vez a Hari, el Bhagavān, el Alma del universo; de Su complacencia nace Brahmā, y de Su ira surge Rudra.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has given a very elaborate summary of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in his commentary on this verse. The essence of the great ācārya’s statement is that unconditional loving surrender to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, as described by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, is the highest perfection of life. The exclusive purpose of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is to convince the conditioned soul to execute such surrender to the Lord and go back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that Brahmā arises by the Lord’s grace (prasāda), while Rudra arises from the Lord’s anger—showing their origin in relation to the Supreme Lord Hari.
He highlights that the Supreme Lord is the inner Self and sustaining reality of all beings and worlds, and therefore the Bhagavatam repeatedly centers its narration on Him.
By remembering that all powers and authorities ultimately depend on the Supreme Lord, one cultivates humility, steadiness in worship, and reliance on divine grace rather than ego or fear.