Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 9
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa (Brahmā-stuti) and the Restoration of Vraja’s Lunch Pastime
पश्येश मेऽनार्यमनन्त आद्ये परात्मनि त्वय्यपि मायिमायिनि । मायां वितत्येक्षितुमात्मवैभवं ह्यहं कियानैच्छमिवार्चिरग्नौ ॥ ९ ॥
paśyeśa me ’nāryam ananta ādye parātmani tvayy api māyi-māyini māyāṁ vitatyekṣitum ātma-vaibhavaṁ hy ahaṁ kiyān aiccham ivārcir agnau
主啊，请看我这不知礼的狂妄！为试探你的威能，我竟妄图施展自己的幻力去遮蔽你——你是无量、太初的至上我（Paramātmā），连幻术之主也为你所迷。与您相比我算什么？不过是大火前的一点微火星。
A great fire produces many sparks, which are insignificant in comparison to it. Indeed, if one of the small sparks were to try to burn the original fire, the attempt would be simply ludicrous. Similarly, even the creator of the entire universe, Lord Brahmā, is an insignificant spark of the potency of God, and therefore Brahmā’s attempt to bewilder the Supreme Lord was certainly ludicrous.
FAQs
It declares that Kṛṣṇa is māyimāyī—the controller of māyā—so even great beings like Brahmā cannot measure His glory by their own power.
After attempting to test Kṛṣṇa by stealing the calves and cowherd boys, Brahmā realized Kṛṣṇa’s unlimited opulence and offered prayers admitting his mistake and insignificance.
It encourages humility: instead of trying to control or “test” the Divine with ego or intellect, one should approach with reverence, surrender, and sincere devotion.