Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 13
Kapila’s Conclusion: Limits of Karma and Yoga; Supremacy of Bhakti and Qualification to Receive the Teaching
आद्य: स्थिरचराणां यो वेदगर्भ: सहर्षिभि: । योगेश्वरै: कुमाराद्यै: सिद्धैर्योगप्रवर्तकै: ॥ १२ ॥ भेददृष्टयाभिमानेन नि:सङ्गेनापि कर्मणा । कर्तृत्वात्सगुणं ब्रह्म पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभम् ॥ १३ ॥ स संसृत्य पुन: काले कालेनेश्वरमूर्तिना । जाते गुणव्यतिकरे यथापूर्वं प्रजायते ॥ १४ ॥ ऐश्वर्यं पारमेष्ठ्यं च तेऽपि धर्मविनिर्मितम् । निषेव्य पुनरायान्ति गुणव्यतिकरे सति ॥ १५ ॥
ādyaḥ sthira-carāṇāṁ yo veda-garbhaḥ saharṣibhiḥ yogeśvaraiḥ kumārādyaiḥ siddhair yoga-pravartakaiḥ
母よ、動くものと動かぬものの始原であるヴェーダガルバのブラフマーも、サナト・クマーラらのヨーゲーシュヴァラ、シッダ、そしてヨーガの道を開いた聖仙たちも、差別の見方と「自分が行為者だ」という我慢ゆえに、サグナのブラフマンとしてのバガヴァーン、プルシャ・リシャバを礼拝する。彼らは無欲の行為によって執着を離れていても、主の姿である時（カーラ）が三グナの交錯を動かすと、再び輪廻に戻り、同じ形と位に生まれ出る。パラメーシュティヤの栄華さえダルマの産物であり、それを味わったのち、グナが交錯すればまた戻って来る。
That Brahmā becomes liberated is known to everyone, but he cannot liberate his devotees. Demigods like Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot give liberation to any living entity. As it is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, only one who surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can be liberated from the clutches of māyā. Brahmā is called here ādyaḥ sthira-carāṇām. He is the original, first-created living entity, and after his own birth he creates the entire cosmic manifestation. He was fully instructed in the matter of creation by the Supreme Lord. Here he is called veda-garbha, which means that he knows the complete purpose of the Vedas. He is always accompanied by such great personalities as Marīci, Kaśyapa and the seven sages, as well as by great mystic yogīs, the Kumāras and many other spiritually advanced living entities, but he has his own interest, separate from the Lord’s. Bheda-dṛṣṭyā means that Brahmā sometimes thinks that he is independent of the Supreme Lord, or he thinks of himself as one of the three equally independent incarnations. Brahmā is entrusted with creation, Viṣṇu maintains and Rudra, Lord Śiva, destroys. The three of them are understood to be incarnations of the Supreme Lord in charge of the three different material modes of nature, but none of them is independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here the word bheda-dṛṣṭyā occurs because Brahmā has a slight inclination to think that he is as independent as Rudra. Sometimes Brahmā thinks that he is independent of the Supreme Lord, and the worshiper also thinks that Brahmā is independent. For this reason, after the destruction of this material world, when there is again creation by the interaction of the material modes of nature, Brahmā comes back. Although Brahmā reaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the first puruṣa incarnation, Mahā-Viṣṇu, who is full with transcendental qualities, he cannot stay in the spiritual world.
FAQs
This verse describes the Supreme as veda-garbha—the source and womb of the Vedas—indicating that revealed knowledge ultimately rests in Him.
Kapila points to universally respected authorities—Kumāras, siddhas, and great sages—to show that the Supreme Lord is recognized even by the greatest yogīs and realized beings.
Treat learning as sacred: study with humility, align knowledge with character, and use wisdom to reduce ego and deepen devotion.