Shloka 45
Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
तम्यां तमोवन्नैहारं खद्योतार्चिरिवाहनि । महतीतरमायैश्यं निहन्त्यात्मनि युञ्जत: ॥ ४५ ॥
tamyāṁ tamovan naihāraṁ khadyotārcir ivāhani mahatītara-māyaiśyaṁ nihanty ātmani yuñjataḥ
ഇരുണ്ട രാത്രിയിൽ ഹിമത്തിന്റെ ഇരുട്ടും പകലിന്റെ വെളിച്ചത്തിൽ മിന്നാമിനുങ്ങിന്റെ പ്രകാശവും വിലയില്ലാത്തതുപോലെ, മഹാശക്തനോടു വിരോധമായി ക്ഷുദ്രൻ പ്രയോഗിക്കുന്ന മായാശക്തി ഒന്നും സാധിപ്പിക്കാതെ തന്നെ ക്ഷയിക്കുന്നു।
When one wants to supersede a superior power, one’s own inferior power becomes ludicrous. Just as a glowworm in the daytime and snow at night have no value, Brahmā’s mystic power became worthless in the presence of Kṛṣṇa, for greater mystic power condemns inferior mystic power. On a dark night, the darkness produced by snow has no meaning. The glowworm appears very important at night, but in the daytime its glow has no value; whatever little value it has is lost. Similarly, Brahmā became insignificant in the presence of Kṛṣṇa’s mystic power. Kṛṣṇa’s māyā was not diminished in value, but Brahmā’s māyā was condemned. Therefore, one should not try to exhibit one’s insignificant opulence before a greater power.
FAQs
This verse says māyā is destroyed when one yokes the mind within—through steady inner absorption and devotion—just as darkness vanishes before the sun.
Because Brahmā’s bewilderment illustrates how powerful māyā can be, and the verse highlights that only deeper God-centered absorption defeats even great delusion.
Regularly anchor the mind in the Self and Bhagavān—through japa, śravaṇa (hearing), and focused remembrance—so that distracting illusions lose their force like firefly-light at sunrise.