Shloka 2
Avatāra-kathā — The Puruṣa, the Many Incarnations, and Kṛṣṇa as Svayam Bhagavān
यस्याम्भसि शयानस्य योगनिद्रां वितन्वत: । नाभिह्रदाम्बुजादासीद्ब्रह्मा विश्वसृजां पति: ॥ २ ॥
yasyāmbhasi śayānasya yoga-nidrāṁ vitanvataḥ nābhi-hradāmbujād āsīd brahmā viśva-sṛjāṁ patiḥ
యావన నీటిలో శయనించి యోగనిద్రను విస్తరించుచున్నాడో, ఆయన నాభి‑హ్రద కమలమునుండి కమలనాళము ఉద్భవించెను; ఆ కమలముపై విశ్వసృష్టికర్తల అధిపతి బ్రహ్మ ప్రత్యక్షమయ్యెను।
The first puruṣa is the Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. From His skin holes innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe, the puruṣa enters as the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. He is lying within the half of the universe which is full with the water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu has sprung the stem of the lotus flower, the birthplace of Brahmā, who is the father of all living beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the perfect design and working of the universal order. Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems, and the earthly planets are situated in the middle. Upwards there are other, better planetary systems, and the topmost system is called Brahmaloka or Satyaloka. Downwards from the earthly planetary system there are seven lower planetary systems inhabited by the asuras and similar other materialistic living beings.
FAQs
This verse states that Brahmā appeared from the lotus arising from the Lord’s navel while the Lord reclined on the cosmic waters in yoganidrā, showing Brahmā’s dependent origin.
It depicts the Lord’s transcendental rest during cosmic dissolution and His effortless control over creation—creation begins by His will, not by material necessity.
It encourages humility and reliance on the Supreme: even the highest cosmic administrator (Brahmā) arises from God, so one should act responsibly while remembering the ultimate source.