Shloka 32
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
यदा तु सर्वभूतेषु दारुष्वग्निमिव स्थितम् । प्रतिचक्षीत मां लोको जह्यात्तर्ह्येव कश्मलम् ॥ ३२ ॥
yadā tu sarva-bhūteṣu dāruṣv agnim iva sthitam praticakṣīta māṁ loko jahyāt tarhy eva kaśmalam
Kapag nakita mo Ako sa lahat ng nilalang at sa buong sansinukob na gaya ng apoy na nasa loob ng kahoy, sa gayong makalangit na pagtanaw ay agad mawawala ang dumi ng pagkalito; sa kalagayang iyon lamang malalaya sa ilusyon.
Brahmā prayed that he might not forget his eternal relationship with the Lord during the course of his material activities. In answer to that prayer, the Lord said that he should not think of existing without a relationship with His omnipotency. The example is given of the fire in wood. The fire kindled in wood is always the same, although the wood may be of different types. Similarly, the bodies within the material creation may be specifically different according to shape and quality, but the spirit souls within them are not different from one another. The quality of fire, warmth, is the same everywhere, and the spiritual spark, or part and parcel of the Supreme Spirit, is the same in every living being; thus the potency of the Lord is distributed all over His creation. This transcendental knowledge alone can save one from the contamination of material illusion. Since the Lord’s potency is distributed everywhere, a pure soul, or devotee of the Lord, can see everything in relationship with the Lord, and therefore he has no affection for the outer coverings. That pure spiritual conception makes him immune to all contamination of material association. The pure devotee never forgets the touch of the Lord in all circumstances.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when one perceives the Supreme Lord as indwelling all beings (like fire hidden in wood), one immediately becomes purified of delusion and impurity.
Brahmā explains that the Lord is subtly present within all beings as the inner witness (Paramātmā), just as fire exists unmanifest within wood until it is revealed.
Practice viewing every person as carrying the Lord within—this reduces hatred and ego, strengthens compassion, and supports inner purification through remembrance and devotion.