Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 48
Soma Pacifies the Pracetās; Dakṣa’s Haṁsa-guhya Prayers; Hari Grants Creative Power
मय्यनन्तगुणेऽनन्ते गुणतो गुणविग्रह: । यदासीत्तत एवाद्य: स्वयम्भू: समभूदज: ॥ ४८ ॥
mayy ananta-guṇe ’nante guṇato guṇa-vigrahaḥ yadāsīt tata evādyaḥ svayambhūḥ samabhūd ajaḥ
我乃无量德能之藏，故名无尽、遍一切处。由我的物质能量（摩耶），此宇宙显现于我之中；而在这宇宙显现里，出现了首要之存在——自生、不生的梵天，他是你们的本源，并非由物质之母所生。
This is a description of the history of the universal creation. The first cause is the Lord Himself, the Supreme Person. From Him, Brahmā is created, and Brahmā takes charge of the affairs of the universe. The universal affairs of the material creation depend upon the material energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is therefore the cause of the material creation. The entire cosmic manifestation is described herein as guṇa-vigrahaḥ, the form of the Lord’s qualities. From the cosmic universal form, the first creation is Lord Brahmā, who is the cause of all living entities. In this regard, Śrīla Madhvācārya describes the unlimited attributes of the Lord:
FAQs
This verse states that the first created being, Brahmā, manifests from the Supreme Reality; he is called svayambhū because he appears without material parents, yet his source is the Infinite Lord.
‘Aja’ here emphasizes that Brahmā is not born from ordinary biological generation; he manifests directly from the Lord’s pre-existing eternal reality.
It encourages devotion and humility: all abilities and qualities ultimately come from the Supreme, so one should use one’s talents in service rather than ego.