Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 28
Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons
Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions
एको मयेह भगवान्विविधप्रधानै- श्चित्तीकृत: प्रजननाय कथं नु यूयम् । अत्रागतास्तनुभृतां मनसोऽपि दूराद् ब्रूत प्रसीदत महानिह विस्मयो मे ॥ २८ ॥
eko mayeha bhagavān vividha-pradhānaiś cittī-kṛtaḥ prajananāya kathaṁ nu yūyam atrāgatās tanu-bhṛtāṁ manaso ’pi dūrād brūta prasīdata mahān iha vismayo me
私はただ一柱の至上のバガヴァーンを念じ、御方のような子を望んで祈りました。御方は衆生の思惟をも超えて遠いのに、なぜ三柱ともここに来られたのですか。どうかお告げくださり、この大いなる惑いを解いてください。
Atri Muni was confidently aware that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord of the universe, so he prayed for the one Supreme Lord. He was surprised, therefore, that three of them appeared.
FAQs
This verse describes them as so transcendent that they are “far beyond even the mind” of embodied beings, yet they appear before Brahmā by higher, spiritual capacity.
Brahmā was stationed to generate progeny, so the sudden arrival of exalted beings who are not driven by material creation astonished him, prompting a respectful inquiry.
It teaches humility before the unknown and the habit of seeking truth respectfully—recognizing that higher wisdom can appear beyond ordinary mental limits.