Shloka 1
Cosmic Time, Cycles of Creation and Dissolution, and the Varāha Uplift of Earth
भीष्म उवाच । निर्गुणस्याप्रमेयस्य शुद्धस्याथ महात्मनः । कथं सर्गादिकर्त्तृत्वं ब्रह्मणो ह्युपपद्यते
bhīṣma uvāca | nirguṇasyāprameyasya śuddhasyātha mahātmanaḥ | kathaṃ sargādikarttṛtvaṃ brahmaṇo hyupapadyate
ភីษ្មៈបាននិយាយថា៖ ព្រះព្រហ្មន៍ដែលគ្មានគុណលក្ខណៈ (និរគុណ) មិនអាចវាស់ប្រមាណបាន បរិសុទ្ធ និងជាមហាត្មា—តើអាចចាត់ទុកថាជាអ្នកធ្វើការបង្កើត និងអ្វីៗបន្តទៀត ដោយសមហេតុផលដូចម្តេច?
Bhīṣma
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निर्गुणस्याप्रमेयस्य = निर्गुणस्य + अप्रमेयस्य; शुद्धस्याथ = शुद्धस्य + अथ; ह्युपपद्यते = हि + उपपद्यते; सर्गादिकर्त्तृत्वम् = सर्गादि + कर्तृत्वम्.
FAQs
It raises the classic tension between nirguṇa (attributeless) Brahman and the idea of agency—how an unconditioned, pure Absolute can be spoken of as the creator and governor of cosmic processes.
Implicitly, yes: the question anticipates explanations where the attributeless Absolute (Brahman) is distinguished from Brahman associated with māyā/śakti (often termed Īśvara), to account for creation without compromising transcendence.
It encourages discernment (viveka): not accepting theological language superficially, but seeking how scripture reconciles transcendence with worldly experience—supporting a more mature, reflective faith and practice.