Shloka 12
Brahmā’s Enumeration of Primacies (Ādi) and the Supremacy of Knowledge
Jñāna
अहं प्रजापतीनां च सर्वेषां नात्र संशय: । मम विष्णुरचिन्त्यात्मा स्वयम्भूरिति स स्मृत:
ahaṃ prajāpatīnāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | mama viṣṇur acintyātmā svayambhūr iti sa smṛtaḥ ||
Vāyu berkata: “Akulah punca asal segala Prajāpati—tiada keraguan tentang hal itu. Namun asal-usulku sendiri ialah Viṣṇu, yang hakikat-Nya tidak terjangkau oleh fikiran; Dia dikenang sebagai Svayambhū, Yang Wujud dengan sendirinya.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even exalted cosmic powers like Vāyu acknowledge a higher, ultimate source. The verse teaches theological hierarchy and humility: all secondary creators (Prajāpatis and even Vāyu) trace their origin to Viṣṇu, whose nature is beyond ordinary thought (acintya) and who is called Svayambhū, the self-existent.
Vāyudeva is speaking and clarifying his own cosmic status: he identifies himself as the primordial origin among the Prajāpatis, but then immediately situates himself under Viṣṇu, stating that Viṣṇu is his source and is traditionally known as Svayambhū.