Shloka 11
Nārada’s Questions and Brahmā’s Reply: Vāsudeva as the Source; Sarga–Visarga; Virāṭ-rūpa Mapping
येन स्वरोचिषा विश्वं रोचितं रोचयाम्यहम् । यथार्कोऽग्निर्यथा सोमो यथर्क्षग्रहतारका: ॥ ११ ॥
yena sva-rociṣā viśvaṁ rocitaṁ rocayāmy aham yathārko ’gnir yathā somo yatharkṣa-graha-tārakāḥ
ด้วยรัศมีส่วนพระองค์ โลกทั้งปวงจึงสว่างไสว และด้วยรัศมีนั้นเองเราจึงทำให้การสร้างสรรพสิ่งส่องประกาย; ดุจดังเมื่อดวงอาทิตย์ปรากฏ แสงแห่งไฟ ดวงจันทร์ ท้องฟ้า ดาวเคราะห์ และดวงดาวทั้งหลายก็เผยความสุกสว่างของตน
Lord Brahmājī said to Nārada that his impression that Brahmā was not the supreme authority in the creation was correct. Sometimes less intelligent men have the foolish impression that Brahmā is the cause of all causes. But Nārada wanted to clear the matter by the statements of Brahmājī, the supreme authority in the universe. As the decision of the supreme court of a state is final, similarly the judgment of Brahmājī, the supreme authority in the universe, is final in the Vedic process of acquiring knowledge. As we have already affirmed in the previous verse, Nāradajī was a liberated soul; therefore, he was not one of the less intelligent men who accept a false god or gods in their own ways. He represented himself as less intelligent and yet intelligently presented a doubt to be cleared by the supreme authority so that the uninformed might take note of it and be rightly informed about the intricacies of the creation and the creator.
FAQs
This verse states that the universe is illumined by the Lord’s own radiance, and even luminous beings like the sun, fire, moon, stars, and planets shine only by His splendor.
Brahmā acknowledges that his power to understand and describe creation is not independent; it is enabled by the Supreme Lord, the ultimate source of illumination and intelligence.
It encourages humility and devotion: recognize your abilities and clarity as gifts, and use them in service—seeking the source of true “light” through prayer, study, and remembrance of the Lord.