Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 6
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
तावद्भयं द्रविणदेहसुहृन्निमित्तं शोक: स्पृहा परिभवो विपुलश्च लोभ: । तावन्ममेत्यसदवग्रह आर्तिमूलं यावन्न तेऽङ्घ्रिमभयं प्रवृणीत लोक: ॥ ६ ॥
tāvad bhayaṁ draviṇa-deha-suhṛn-nimittaṁ śokaḥ spṛhā paribhavo vipulaś ca lobhaḥ tāvan mamety asad-avagraha ārti-mūlaṁ yāvan na te ’ṅghrim abhayaṁ pravṛṇīta lokaḥ
主よ、財や身体や友のために、人々は恐れ、嘆き、欲望、屈辱、そして大いなる貪りに満たされます。滅びゆく「我がもの」という執着を離れ、無畏を授けるあなたの蓮華の御足に帰依しないかぎり、彼らはその不安から逃れられません。
One may question how one can always think of the Lord in regard to His name, fame, quality, etc., if one is embarrassed by thoughts of family affairs. Everyone in the material world is full of thoughts about how to maintain his family, how to protect his wealth, how to keep pace with friends and relatives, etc. Thus he is always in fear and lamentation, trying to keep up with the status quo. In answer to this question, this verse spoken by Brahmā is very appropriate.
FAQs
This verse says fear and distress arise from attachment to wealth, the body, and worldly relationships, fueled by the false sense of “mine” (mamatā).
Brahmā is offering prayers to the Supreme Lord, acknowledging that only taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet frees the living beings from fear, greed, and humiliation.
Reduce possessiveness and identity based on money/body/status, and cultivate steady devotion—regular remembrance, prayer, and service to the Lord’s lotus feet—as the foundation for inner fearlessness.