Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 4
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
तद्वा इदं भुवनमङ्गल मङ्गलाय ध्याने स्म नो दर्शितं त उपासकानाम् । तस्मै नमो भगवतेऽनुविधेम तुभ्यं योऽनादृतो नरकभाग्भिरसत्प्रसङ्गै: ॥ ४ ॥
tad vā idaṁ bhuvana-maṅgala maṅgalāya dhyāne sma no darśitaṁ ta upāsakānām tasmai namo bhagavate ’nuvidhema tubhyaṁ yo ’nādṛto naraka-bhāgbhir asat-prasaṅgaiḥ
噢，赐福诸界者，你此形相对一切宇宙同样吉祥；你已在奉行者的禅观中示现这永恒的人格之身。故我向薄伽梵顶礼，并愿随顺事奉你。那些因沉迷世俗议论而趋向地狱之路者，便轻慢你的个人形相。
Regarding the personal and impersonal features of the Supreme Absolute Truth, the personal forms exhibited by the Lord in His different plenary expansions are all for the benediction of all the universes. The personal form of the Lord is also worshiped in meditation as Supersoul, Paramātmā, but the impersonal brahmajyoti is not worshiped. Persons who are addicted to the impersonal feature of the Lord, whether in meditation or otherwise, are all pilgrims to hell because, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (12.5) , impersonalists simply waste their time in mundane mental speculation because they are addicted more to false arguments than to reality. Therefore, the association of the impersonalists is condemned herewith by Brahmā.
FAQs
This verse states that those who disregard Bhagavān due to asat-prasaṅga—attachment to ungodly company and talk—become destined for hellish suffering, implying that association shapes faith and destiny.
In Canto 3, Chapter 9, Brahmā receives the Lord’s revelation in meditation and is empowered for creation; in gratitude and surrender he offers namas and vows to act according to the Lord’s direction.
Cultivate devotional remembrance and choose uplifting association—teachings, communities, and conversations that increase reverence for God—while reducing influences that normalize distraction, cynicism, and spiritual neglect.