Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 22
Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā: Descent, Cosmic Pathways, and Śiva’s Praise of Saṅkarṣaṇa
यस्याद्य आसीद् गुणविग्रहो महान्विज्ञानधिष्ण्यो भगवानज: किल । यत्सम्भवोऽहं त्रिवृता स्वतेजसावैकारिकं तामसमैन्द्रियं सृजे ॥ २२ ॥ एते वयं यस्य वशे महात्मन:स्थिता: शकुन्ता इव सूत्रयन्त्रिता: । महानहं वैकृततामसेन्द्रिया:सृजाम सर्वे यदनुग्रहादिदम् ॥ २३ ॥
yasyādya āsīd guṇa-vigraho mahān vijñāna-dhiṣṇyo bhagavān ajaḥ kila yat-sambhavo ’haṁ tri-vṛtā sva-tejasā vaikārikaṁ tāmasam aindriyaṁ sṛje
Da Suprema Personalidade de Deus manifesta-se o Senhor Brahmā, cujo corpo é feito da energia material total e que é o reservatório da inteligência dominada pelo modo da paixão. De Brahmā nasço eu mesmo como Rudra, representação do falso ego chamado vaikārika; e, por meu próprio poder, crio os demais semideuses, os cinco grandes elementos e os sentidos. Portanto, adoro a Suprema Personalidade de Deus, maior do que qualquer um de nós, sob cujo controle estão os semideuses, os elementos materiais e os sentidos, e até Brahmā e eu, como pássaros presos por uma corda. Somente pela graça do Senhor podemos criar, manter e dissolver o mundo material; por isso ofereço minhas reverentes homenagens ao Ser Supremo.
A summary of creation is given in this verse. From Saṅkarṣaṇa, Mahā-Viṣṇu expands, and from Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu expands. Lord Brahmā, who was born of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, fathers Lord Śiva, from whom all the other demigods gradually evolve. Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu are incarnations of the different material qualities. Lord Viṣṇu is actually above all material qualities, but He accepts control of sattva-guṇa (the mode of goodness) to maintain the universe. Lord Brahmā is born from the mahat-tattva. Brahmā creates the entire universe, Lord Viṣṇu maintains it, and Lord Śiva annihilates it. The Supreme Personality of Godhead controls all the most important demigods — especially Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva — exactly as the owner of a bird controls it by binding it with a rope. Sometimes vultures are controlled in this way.
FAQs
This verse states that the unborn Supreme Lord is the original source, and from Him Brahmā is born and then manifests the threefold creation involving the modes and the sense-powers.
Brahmā emphasizes that the Supreme Lord is not a product of material causes; He exists prior to creation and is the ultimate origin even of Brahmā himself.
It encourages humility and devotion: recognizing a higher source behind nature and the mind helps one detach from ego and align actions with dharma and bhakti.