Shloka 9
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa (Brahmā-stuti) and the Restoration of Vraja’s Lunch Pastime
पश्येश मेऽनार्यमनन्त आद्ये परात्मनि त्वय्यपि मायिमायिनि । मायां वितत्येक्षितुमात्मवैभवं ह्यहं कियानैच्छमिवार्चिरग्नौ ॥ ९ ॥
paśyeśa me ’nāryam ananta ādye parātmani tvayy api māyi-māyini māyāṁ vitatyekṣitum ātma-vaibhavaṁ hy ahaṁ kiyān aiccham ivārcir agnau
Mon Seigneur, vois mon insolence grossière! Pour éprouver Ta puissance, j’ai voulu étendre mon pouvoir illusoire afin de Te couvrir, Toi, le Paramātmā illimité et primordial, qui déconcertes même les maîtres de l’illusion. Que suis-je auprès de Toi? Je ne suis qu’une petite étincelle devant un grand feu.
A great fire produces many sparks, which are insignificant in comparison to it. Indeed, if one of the small sparks were to try to burn the original fire, the attempt would be simply ludicrous. Similarly, even the creator of the entire universe, Lord Brahmā, is an insignificant spark of the potency of God, and therefore Brahmā’s attempt to bewilder the Supreme Lord was certainly ludicrous.
FAQs
It declares that Kṛṣṇa is māyimāyī—the controller of māyā—so even great beings like Brahmā cannot measure His glory by their own power.
After attempting to test Kṛṣṇa by stealing the calves and cowherd boys, Brahmā realized Kṛṣṇa’s unlimited opulence and offered prayers admitting his mistake and insignificance.
It encourages humility: instead of trying to control or “test” the Divine with ego or intellect, one should approach with reverence, surrender, and sincere devotion.