Shloka 12
Brahmā’s Enumeration of Primacies (Ādi) and the Supremacy of Knowledge
Jñāna
अहं प्रजापतीनां च सर्वेषां नात्र संशय: । मम विष्णुरचिन्त्यात्मा स्वयम्भूरिति स स्मृत:
ahaṃ prajāpatīnāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | mama viṣṇur acintyātmā svayambhūr iti sa smṛtaḥ ||
Vāyu nói: “Ta là nguồn gốc nguyên sơ của mọi Prajāpati—điều ấy không còn nghi ngờ. Nhưng chính cội nguồn của ta là Viṣṇu, bản thể không thể nghĩ bàn; Ngài được nhớ đến như Svayambhū, Đấng Tự Hữu.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even exalted cosmic powers like Vāyu acknowledge a higher, ultimate source. The verse teaches theological hierarchy and humility: all secondary creators (Prajāpatis and even Vāyu) trace their origin to Viṣṇu, whose nature is beyond ordinary thought (acintya) and who is called Svayambhū, the self-existent.
Vāyudeva is speaking and clarifying his own cosmic status: he identifies himself as the primordial origin among the Prajāpatis, but then immediately situates himself under Viṣṇu, stating that Viṣṇu is his source and is traditionally known as Svayambhū.