Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 30
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
त्वं सप्ततन्तून् वितनोषि तन्वा त्रय्या चतुर्होत्रकविद्यया च । त्वमेक आत्मात्मवतामनादि- रनन्तपार: कविरन्तरात्मा ॥ ३० ॥
tvaṁ sapta-tantūn vitanoṣi tanvā trayyā catur-hotraka-vidyayā ca tvam eka ātmātmavatām anādir ananta-pāraḥ kavir antarātmā
Lạy Chúa Tối Thượng! Ngài là hiện thân của Veda; nhờ Tri-Veda và minh triết catur-hotra, Ngài trải rộng nghi lễ tế tự của bảy loại yajña như Agniṣṭoma. Chính Ngài khơi dậy các brāhmaṇa hành lễ thực hiện các nghi thức được dạy trong ba Veda. Ngài là Paramātmā duy nhất, Antaryāmī của muôn loài, vô thủy vô chung, toàn tri, vượt ngoài thời gian và không gian.
The Vedic ritualistic ceremonies, the knowledge thereof, and the person who agrees to perform them are inspired by the Supreme Soul. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: from the Lord come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. The Supersoul is situated in everyone’s heart ( sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ, īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati ), and when one is advanced in Vedic knowledge, the Supersoul gives him directions. Acting as Supersoul, the Lord gives inspiration to a suitable person to perform the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. In this connection, four classes of priests, known as ṛtvik, are required. They are mentioned as hotā, adhvaryu, brahma and udgātā.
FAQs
It says the Lord Himself expands the Vedic order—through the threefold Veda and the four priestly functions—yet He remains the one, beginningless Supreme Reality.
In his prayer, Prahlāda emphasizes that the same Lord who establishes external Vedic rites also dwells within all beings as the indwelling Supersoul, beyond all limits.
It encourages seeing God both in sacred tradition (scripture and discipline) and inwardly as conscience and inner guide—uniting outer practice with inner devotion.