Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 3
Nārada’s Questions and Brahmā’s Reply: Vāsudeva as the Source; Sarga–Visarga; Virāṭ-rūpa Mapping
सर्वं ह्येतद् भवान् वेद भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभु: । करामलकवद् विश्वं विज्ञानावसितं तव ॥ ३ ॥
sarvaṁ hy etad bhavān veda bhūta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuḥ karāmalaka-vad viśvaṁ vijñānāvasitaṁ tava
हे पिताश्री प्रभो, भूत-भविष्य-वर्तमान सर्व आपण जाणता; आपले विज्ञान असे की समग्र विश्व करामलकासारखे स्पष्ट व आपल्या वशात आहे।
Brahmā is the direct creator of the manifested universe and everything within the universe. He therefore knows what happened in the past, what will happen in the future, and what is happening at present. Three principal items, namely the living being, the phenomenal world and the controller, are all in continuous action — past, present and future — and the direct manager is supposed to know everything of such actions and reactions, as one knows about a walnut within the grip of one’s palm. The direct manufacturer of a particular thing is supposed to know how he learned the art of manufacturing, where he got the ingredients, how he set it up and how the products in the manufacturing process are being turned out. Because Brahmā is the firstborn living being, naturally he is supposed to know everything about creative functions.
FAQs
This verse praises the realized teacher (Śukadeva) as one who knows past, present, and future, and who sees the universe clearly through vijñāna—direct spiritual realization, not mere theory.
Parīkṣit is affirming Śukadeva’s authority and omniscient insight before hearing deeper explanations about the universe and its ultimate cause in Canto 2, Chapter 5.
By pursuing realized knowledge through sincere hearing, devotion, and guidance from a genuine guru, one gains clarity—seeing life’s events in relation to the Supreme rather than being overwhelmed by complexity.