Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 73
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
ते वयं नोदिता: सर्वे प्रजासर्गे प्रजेश्वरा: । अनेन ध्वस्ततमस: सिसृक्ष्मो विविधा: प्रजा: ॥ ७३ ॥
te vayaṁ noditāḥ sarve prajā-sarge prajeśvarāḥ anena dhvasta-tamasaḥ sisṛkṣmo vividhāḥ prajāḥ
ពេលព្រះព្រហ្មបានបញ្ជាឲ្យពួកយើង ព្រះប្រជាបតិទាំងអស់ បង្កើតសត្វលោក យើងបានសូត្រសរសើរព្រះភគវាន ព្រះបុរសអធិឧត្តម; ភាពងងឹតនៃអវិជ្ជាត្រូវបានបំផ្លាញ ហើយយើងអាចបង្កើតជីវៈនានាប្រភេទបាន។
In this verse we can understand that the various types of living entities were created simultaneously at the very beginning of the creation. The nonsensical Darwinian theory of evolution is not applicable here. It is not that intelligent human beings did not exist millions of years ago. On the contrary, it is understood that the most intelligent creature, Lord Brahmā, was first created. Then Lord Brahmā created other saintly sages like Marīci, Bhṛgu, Ātreya, Vasiṣṭha and Lord Śiva. They in their turn created different types of bodies according to karma. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Lord Kapiladeva told His mother that the living entity gets a particular type of body in accordance with his work and that this body is decided upon by higher authorities. The higher authorities, as appointed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are Lord Brahmā and all other Prajāpatis and Manus. Thus from the beginning of creation it can be seen that the first creature is the most intelligent. It is not that so-called modern intelligence has developed by the gradual process of evolution. As stated in Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, there is a gradual evolutionary process, but it is not the body that is evolving. All the bodily forms are already there. It is the spiritual entity, or spiritual spark within the body, that is being promoted by the laws of nature under the supervision of superior authority. We can understand from this verse that from the very beginning of creation different varieties of living entities were existing. It is not that some of them have become extinct. Everything is there; it is due to our lack of knowledge that we cannot see things in their proper perspective.
FAQs
This verse explains that the Prajapatis can create diverse progeny only because they are inspired and empowered by the Lord, which dispels their inner darkness (tamas).
In the context of receiving guidance and empowerment for progeny-creation, they acknowledge Shiva’s (Rudra’s) divine impetus that enables them to proceed with prajā-sarga without ignorance.
It highlights that clarity and success in one’s duties come from higher guidance and purified intention—seek divine direction, remove ignorance, and then act responsibly in your role.