Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 16
Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons
Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions
विदुर उवाच अत्रेर्गृहे सुरश्रेष्ठा: स्थित्युत्पत्त्यन्तहेतव: । किञ्चिच्चिकीर्षवो जाता एतदाख्याहि मे गुरो ॥ १६ ॥
vidura uvāca atrer gṛhe sura-śreṣṭhāḥ sthity-utpatty-anta-hetavaḥ kiñcic cikīrṣavo jātā etad ākhyāhi me guro
维杜拉问道：尊师啊，掌管创造、维持与毁灭的三位至高神祇——梵天、毗湿奴与湿婆——为何会成为阿特里牟尼之妻所生的子嗣？请为我开示此事。
The inquisitiveness of Vidura was quite fitting, for he understood that when the Supersoul, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva all appeared through the person of Anasūyā, the wife of Atri Muni, there must have been some great purpose. Otherwise why should they have appeared in such a way?
FAQs
This verse introduces Vidura’s inquiry: the foremost divine controllers connected with creation, maintenance, and dissolution appeared at Atri’s hermitage for a specific divine purpose, which Vidura asks his teacher to explain.
Vidura approaches the sage-teacher (Maitreya in this narration) to understand the deeper reason behind the Lord’s and devas’ appearances—seeking the devotional and philosophical meaning behind the event, not merely the history.
Cultivate sincere inquiry (jijñāsā) from authentic teachers—asking not only “what happened,” but “why it happened,” so spiritual study becomes purposeful and devotionally grounded.