Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 22
Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā: Descent, Cosmic Pathways, and Śiva’s Praise of Saṅkarṣaṇa
यस्याद्य आसीद् गुणविग्रहो महान्विज्ञानधिष्ण्यो भगवानज: किल । यत्सम्भवोऽहं त्रिवृता स्वतेजसावैकारिकं तामसमैन्द्रियं सृजे ॥ २२ ॥ एते वयं यस्य वशे महात्मन:स्थिता: शकुन्ता इव सूत्रयन्त्रिता: । महानहं वैकृततामसेन्द्रिया:सृजाम सर्वे यदनुग्रहादिदम् ॥ २३ ॥
yasyādya āsīd guṇa-vigraho mahān vijñāna-dhiṣṇyo bhagavān ajaḥ kila yat-sambhavo ’haṁ tri-vṛtā sva-tejasā vaikārikaṁ tāmasam aindriyaṁ sṛje
De la Suprema Personalidad de Dios se manifiesta el Señor Brahmā, cuyo cuerpo está hecho de la energía material total y que es el receptáculo de la inteligencia dominada por el modo de la pasión. De Brahmā nazco yo mismo como Rudra, representación del falso ego llamado vaikārika; y con mi propio poder creo a los demás semidioses, los cinco grandes elementos y los sentidos. Por eso adoro a la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, más grande que cualquiera de nosotros, bajo cuyo control se hallan los semidioses, los elementos y los sentidos, e incluso Brahmā y yo, como aves atadas por una cuerda. Sólo por la gracia del Señor podemos crear, mantener y disolver el mundo material; por ello ofrezco mis reverentes salutaciones al Ser Supremo.
A summary of creation is given in this verse. From Saṅkarṣaṇa, Mahā-Viṣṇu expands, and from Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu expands. Lord Brahmā, who was born of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, fathers Lord Śiva, from whom all the other demigods gradually evolve. Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu are incarnations of the different material qualities. Lord Viṣṇu is actually above all material qualities, but He accepts control of sattva-guṇa (the mode of goodness) to maintain the universe. Lord Brahmā is born from the mahat-tattva. Brahmā creates the entire universe, Lord Viṣṇu maintains it, and Lord Śiva annihilates it. The Supreme Personality of Godhead controls all the most important demigods — especially Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva — exactly as the owner of a bird controls it by binding it with a rope. Sometimes vultures are controlled in this way.
FAQs
This verse states that the unborn Supreme Lord is the original source, and from Him Brahmā is born and then manifests the threefold creation involving the modes and the sense-powers.
Brahmā emphasizes that the Supreme Lord is not a product of material causes; He exists prior to creation and is the ultimate origin even of Brahmā himself.
It encourages humility and devotion: recognizing a higher source behind nature and the mind helps one detach from ego and align actions with dharma and bhakti.