Shloka 18
अध्याय ३५१ — उञ्छवृत्ति-व्रतसिद्धेः मानुषस्य परमगतिः
Sūrya–Nāga Dialogue on the Perfected Gleaner-Ascetic
ससूजे नाभित: पूर्व ब्रह्माणममितप्रभ: । ततः स प्रादुरभवदथैनं वाक्यमब्रवीत्,“जब सातवें कल्पके आरम्भमें सातवीं बार ब्रह्माजीके कमलसे जन्म-ग्रहण करनेका अवसर आया, तब शुभ और अशुभसे रहित अमिततेजस्वी महायोगी भगवान् नारायणने सबसे पहले अपने नाभिकमलसे ब्रह्माजीको उत्पन्न किया। जब ब्रह्माजी प्रकट हो गये, तब उनसे भगवानने यह बात कही--
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: sasūje nābhitaḥ pūrvaṁ brahmāṇam amitaprabhaḥ | tataḥ sa prādurabhavad athainaṁ vākyam abravīt |
ससृजे नाभितः पूर्वं ब्रह्माणममितप्रभः । ततः स प्रादुरभवदथैनं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames cosmic order as originating from the Supreme Lord: creation begins not as random emergence but as a purposeful manifestation (Brahmā arising from the Lord), implying that dharma and the world’s structure rest on a transcendent source.
Vaiśampāyana narrates the moment when Brahmā is first manifested from the Lord’s navel-lotus; once Brahmā appears, the Lord begins to instruct him—introducing the forthcoming discourse that guides the work of creation.