Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 26

Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation

मैत्रेय उवाच स्वसम्भवं निशाम्यैवं तपोविद्यासमाधिभि: । यावन्मनोवच: स्तुत्वा विरराम स खिन्नवत् ॥ २६ ॥

maitreya uvāca sva-sambhavaṁ niśāmyaivaṁ tapo-vidyā-samādhibhiḥ yāvan mano-vacaḥ stutvā virarāma sa khinnavat

Maitreya dit : Ayant contemplé la source même de sa naissance, la Personnalité suprême, Brahmā Le loua par l’austérité, la connaissance et le samādhi, autant que son esprit et sa parole le pouvaient ; puis il se tut, comme épuisé.

मैत्रेयःMaitreya
मैत्रेयः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
स्व-सम्भवम्his own origin/birth
स्व-सम्भवम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'स्वस्य सम्भवः'
निशाम्यhaving observed
निशाम्य:
Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootनि-शम् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), 'having observed/considered'
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)
तपः-विद्या-समाधिभिःby austerity, knowledge, and samādhi
तपः-विद्या-समाधिभिः:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootतपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'तपश्च विद्या च समाधयश्च'
यावत्as long as; to the extent that
यावत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयावत् (अव्यय/संबन्धशब्द)
Formअव्यय, परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (limit/extent marker)
मनः-वचःmind(s) and speech/words
मनः-वचः:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootमनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'मनांसि च वचांसि च'
स्तुत्वाhaving praised
स्तुत्वा:
Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootस्तु (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having praised'
विररामceased; stopped
विरराम:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-रम् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
खिन्नवत्as if weary/dejected
खिन्नवत्:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootखिन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
Formअव्यय, उपमावाचक (simile marker)

Brahmā’s enlightenment in knowledge was due to the Lord sitting within his heart. After being created, Brahmā could not ascertain the source of his appearance, but after penance and mental concentration he could see the source of his birth, and thus he became enlightened through his heart. The spiritual master outside and the spiritual master within are both representations of the Lord. Unless one has contact with such bona fide representations, one cannot claim to be a spiritual master. Lord Brahmā had no opportunity to take the help of a spiritual master from outside because at that time Brahmā himself was the only creature in the universe. Therefore, on becoming satisfied by the prayers of Brahmā, the Lord enlightened him about everything from within.

M
Maitreya
B
Brahmā
B
Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

This verse states that Brahmā praised the Lord only as far as mind and words could reach, implying the Supreme is ultimately beyond full verbal and mental description.

After praising the Lord through austerity, knowledge, and samādhi, Brahmā stopped as if fatigued—showing the intensity of devotion and the natural limit of expression before the Infinite.

Combine disciplined living (tapas), scriptural learning (vidyā), and focused meditation (samādhi) to deepen prayer and humility, recognizing that spiritual realization matures beyond mere words.