Shloka 18
अध्याय ३५१ — उञ्छवृत्ति-व्रतसिद्धेः मानुषस्य परमगतिः
Sūrya–Nāga Dialogue on the Perfected Gleaner-Ascetic
ससूजे नाभित: पूर्व ब्रह्माणममितप्रभ: । ततः स प्रादुरभवदथैनं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: sasūje nābhitaḥ pūrvaṁ brahmāṇam amitaprabhaḥ | tataḥ sa prādurabhavad athainaṁ vākyam abravīt |
毗湿摩波耶那说道：光辉无量的主，先从自己脐中莲华化生梵天。梵天既已显现，主便以如下言辞告谕他——由此在劫轮初启之时，令造化之业依序运转。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames cosmic order as originating from the Supreme Lord: creation begins not as random emergence but as a purposeful manifestation (Brahmā arising from the Lord), implying that dharma and the world’s structure rest on a transcendent source.
Vaiśampāyana narrates the moment when Brahmā is first manifested from the Lord’s navel-lotus; once Brahmā appears, the Lord begins to instruct him—introducing the forthcoming discourse that guides the work of creation.