SB 4.1.28 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

एको मयेह भगवान्विविधप्रधानै- श्चित्तीकृत: प्रजननाय कथं नु यूयम् । अत्रागतास्तनुभृतां मनसोऽपि दूराद् ब्रूत प्रसीदत महानिह विस्मयो मे ॥ २८ ॥

Verse text

eko mayeha bhagavān vividha-pradhānaiś cittī-kṛtaḥ prajananāya kathaṁ nu yūyam atrāgatās tanu-bhṛtāṁ manaso ’pi dūrād brūta prasīdata mahān iha vismayo me

Synonyms

ekaḥ — one ; mayā — by me ; iha — here ; bhagavān — great personality ; vividha — various ; pradhānaiḥ — by paraphernalia ; cittī — kṛtaḥ — fixed in mind ; prajananāya — for begetting a child ; katham — why ; nu — however ; yūyam — all of you ; atra — here ; āgatāḥ — appeared ; tanu — bhṛtām — of the embodied ; manasaḥ — the minds ; api — although ; dūrāt — from far beyond ; brūta — kindly explain ; prasīdata — being merciful to me ; mahān — very great ; iha — this ; vismayaḥ — doubt ; me — of mine .

Translation

I called for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, desiring a son like Him, and I thought of Him only. But although He is far beyond the mental speculation of man, all three of you have come here. Kindly let me know how you have come, for I am greatly bewildered about this.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

I fixed my mind upon one Lord with articles of worship, for creating progeny. Why have three of you come here, from far beyond the minds of men? Please be merciful and tell me. I am filled with bewilderment. They remained silent. Thus he clarifies his statement. I have fixed one person in my mind, with various articles of worship (pradhānaiḥ), for creating progeny. Another version has vibhudha-pradhāna (chief among the devatās). Why have three of you come?

Purport

Atri Muni was confidently aware that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord of the universe, so he prayed for the one Supreme Lord. He was surprised, therefore, that three of them appeared.