Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 1
Ātmā’s Unborn Nature and Fearlessness at Death
Parīkṣit’s Final Instruction
श्रीशुक उवाच अत्रानुवर्ण्यतेऽभीक्ष्णं विश्वात्मा भगवान् हरि: । यस्य प्रसादजो ब्रह्मा रुद्र: क्रोधसमुद्भव: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca atrānuvarṇyate ’bhīkṣṇaṁ viśvātmā bhagavān hariḥ yasya prasāda-jo brahmā rudraḥ krodha-samudbhavaḥ
舒迦提婆说：在这部《圣典博伽梵往世书》中，借由种种叙述，屡次详述了万有之魂——至上人格神哈利；由祂的欢悦而生梵天，由祂的忿怒而出鲁陀罗。
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has given a very elaborate summary of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in his commentary on this verse. The essence of the great ācārya’s statement is that unconditional loving surrender to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, as described by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, is the highest perfection of life. The exclusive purpose of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is to convince the conditioned soul to execute such surrender to the Lord and go back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that Brahmā arises by the Lord’s grace (prasāda), while Rudra arises from the Lord’s anger—showing their origin in relation to the Supreme Lord Hari.
He highlights that the Supreme Lord is the inner Self and sustaining reality of all beings and worlds, and therefore the Bhagavatam repeatedly centers its narration on Him.
By remembering that all powers and authorities ultimately depend on the Supreme Lord, one cultivates humility, steadiness in worship, and reliance on divine grace rather than ego or fear.