Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense
श्रीब्रह्मोवाच स्थानं मदीयं सहविश्वमेतत् क्रीडावसाने द्विपरार्धसंज्ञे । भ्रूभङ्गमात्रेण हि सन्दिधक्षो: कालात्मनो यस्य तिरोभविष्यति ॥ ५३ ॥ अहं भवो दक्षभृगुप्रधाना: प्रजेशभूतेशसुरेशमुख्या: । सर्वे वयं यन्नियमं प्रपन्ना मूर्ध्न्यार्पितं लोकहितं वहाम: ॥ ५४ ॥
śrī-brahmovāca sthānaṁ madīyaṁ saha-viśvam etat krīḍāvasāne dvi-parārdha-saṁjñe bhrū-bhaṅga-mātreṇa hi sandidhakṣoḥ kālātmano yasya tirobhaviṣyati
梵天说道:在“二半劫”终了、主的戏游告一段落之时,作为时间之本体的毗湿奴,仅以眉梢一动,便令整个宇宙连同我等居处一并隐没。像我、婆婆(湿婆)、达克沙、婆利古等为首的诸大圣者,以及众生之主、人类之主与天众之主——我们全都俯首归命于至上人格神毗湿奴的法令,为一切众生之福祉而承行其命。
In Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) it is said, mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham: when the Supreme Personality of Godhead approaches as death, or the supreme controller of time, He takes everything away. In other words, all opulence, prestige and everything we possess is given by the Supreme Lord for some purpose. It is the duty of the surrendered soul to execute the orders of the Supreme. No one can disregard Him. Under the circumstances, Lord Brahmā refused to give shelter to Durvāsā Muni from the powerful Sudarśana cakra sent by the Lord.
This verse identifies the Supreme Lord as kālātmā—Time itself—whose mere will (symbolized by a brow movement) can dissolve Brahmā’s realm and the entire universe.
Brahmā is humbling Durvāsā (and instructing all) by stressing that even his own exalted post and the universe are temporary before the Lord’s supreme power and Time.
Remembering impermanence reduces pride and anxiety and encourages devotion and ethical living, valuing surrender to God over temporary status.