Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्यभिष्टूय भूमानं त्रि: परिक्रम्य पादयो: ।
नत्वाभीष्टं जगद्धाता स्वधाम प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ ४१ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity abhiṣṭūya bhūmānaṁ
triḥ parikramya pādayoḥ
natvābhīṣṭaṁ jagad-dhātā
sva-dhāma pratyapadyata
Synonyms
śrī
—
śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
;
iti
—
thus
;
abhiṣṭūya
—
offering praise
;
bhūmānam
—
to the unlimited Supreme Lord
;
triḥ
—
three times
;
parikramya
—
circumambulating
;
pādayoḥ
—
at His feet
;
natvā
—
bowing down
;
abhīṣṭam
—
desired
;
jagat
—
of the universe
;
dhātā
—
the creator
;
sva
—
dhāma — to his personal abode
;
pratyapadyata
—
returned .
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus offered his prayers, Brahmā circumambulated his worshipable Lord, the unlimited Personality of Godhead, three times and then bowed down at His lotus feet. The appointed creator of the universe then returned to his own residence.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus offered his prayers, Brahmā circumambulated his worshipable Lord, the unlimited Personality of Godhead, three times and then bowed down at His lotus feet. The appointed creator of the universe then returned to his own residence.
KB 10.14.41
In this way, Brahmā, the master of this universe, after offering humble and respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead and circumambulating Him three times, was ready to return to his abode, known as Brahmaloka. By His gesture, the Supreme Personality of Godhead gave him permission to return.
Purport
Although Lord Brahmā had prayed to take birth as a blade of grass in Vṛndāvana or even in the area surrounding Vṛndāvana, Lord Kṛṣṇa, by His silent response to Brahmā’s prayers, indicated that Brahmā should return to his own abode. First Brahmā had to complete his personal devotional service of universal creation; then he could come to Vṛndāvana and get the mercy of the inhabitants there. In other words, a devotee should always be attentive to executing his personal devotional service properly. This is more important than trying to live in the Lord’s abode.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
What was desired by Brahma (abhista)? Actually he desired to attain Krsna in Vrndavana. However, he desired to be sent by the Lord to Brahma loka, his own abode, because in his responsibility as the creator of the universe, if he gave up his post, the universe would not work properly. According to the reasoning of brahma sutra "The devatas remain in this world until the end of their tenure" 3.3.14.33 Thus, after fulfilling his responsibilities in the post of Brahma, Brahma would attain his desired goal of residence in Vrndavana.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
He praised in many ways the Lord who cannot be circumscribed (bhūmānam). Or he praised with devotion the Lord who pervades everywhere. Circumambulating Kṛṣṇa three times, he departed for his abode, which was the desire of Kṛṣṇa who was silent when Brahmā requested to be near Kṛṣṇa. Since Brahmā was the creator of the universe (jagad-dhātā), creation could not continue in the universe without him. It should be understood that at the end his desire was fulfilled according to the principle of yāvad adhikāram avasthitir ādhikārikāṇām: the rulers of the universe remain in the universe till the end of their designated period. (Brahma-sūtra 3.3.3)
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
He praised in many ways the Lord who cannot be encompassed (bhūmānam). Or he praised with devotion the Lord who pervades everywhere. Circumambulating Kṛṣṇa three times, he departed for his abode, his house on Brahmaloka, which he desired. First he decided in his mind that he would stay somewhere invisibly, giving up his position as Brahmā out of greed for living in Vraja or out of shame. So he stood there. Receiving at that time the mercy of the Lord he went to his dear home because he was the maintainer of the universe. If he gave up his post, the creation of the universe could not take place properly. Thus the Lord sent him home.