Devanagari
अथ ह भगवानादिदेव एतस्य गुणविसर्गस्य परिबृंहणानुध्यानव्यवसित सकलजगदभिप्राय
आत्मयोनिरखिलनिगमनिजगणपरिवेष्टित: स्वभवनादवततार ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
atha ha bhagavān ādi-deva etasya guṇa-visargasya paribṛṁhaṇānudhyāna-vyavasita-sakala-jagad-abhiprāya ātma-yonir akhila-nigama-nija-gaṇa-pariveṣṭitaḥ sva-bhavanād avatatāra.
Synonyms
atha
—
thus
;
ha
—
indeed
;
bhagavān
—
the most powerful
;
ādi
—
devaḥ — the first demigod
;
etasya
—
of this universe
;
guṇa
—
visargasya — the creation of the three modes of material nature
;
paribṛṁhaṇa
—
the welfare
;
anudhyāna
—
always thinking of
;
vyavasita
—
known
;
sakala
—
whole
;
jagat
—
of the universe
;
abhiprāyaḥ
—
by whom the ultimate purpose
;
ātma
—
the Supreme Self
;
yoniḥ
—
whose source of birth
;
akhila
—
all
;
nigama
—
by the Vedas
;
nija
—
gaṇa — by personal associates
;
pariveṣṭitaḥ
—
being surrounded
;
sva
—
bhavanāt — from his own abode
;
avatatāra
—
descended .
Translation
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: The first created being and most powerful demigod in this universe is Lord Brahmā, who is always responsible for developing universal affairs. Born directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he dedicates his activities to the welfare of the entire universe, for he knows the purpose of the universal creation. This supremely powerful Lord Brahmā, accompanied by his associates and the personified Vedas, left his own abode in the highest planetary system and descended to the place of Prince Priyavrata’s meditation.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Then Brahmā, who understands the intentions of all beings, engaged in meditation on the creation of the universe, appeared on earth from Satyaloka, surrounded by his followers.
Then (atha ha), Brahmā (ādi-devaḥ), always engaged in contemplating the prosperity (paribṛṁhana) of the creation of the universe (guṇa-visargasya), while determining the intentions of all the living beings, just as the king determines the intentions of all his subjects though his servants, surrounded by Marīci and others, as well as the personified Vedas, appeared on earth from Satyaloka to show proof of the dharma to be taught to Priyavrata.
Knowing that Priyavrata, detached since childhood, would leave the house and go to the forest, Manu appointed his younger brother to rule the kingdom. His descendents up to the Pracetās ruled the kingdom. In this way, half of Svāyambhuva Manvantara passed. Dakṣa was born a second time as the son of the Pracetās during Svāyambhuva Manvantara, but with a desire to attain his previous powers, he went to perform austerities. Since there was no king, Manu, seeing no alternative, wanted to bring Priyavrata back from the forest. When he was not able to bring him back, Brahmā came and made Priyavrata rule the kingdom. Priyavrata’s descendents ruled until the fifth Manvantara. Since the third, fourth and fifth Manus, Uttama, Tāmasa and Raivata were the sons of Priyavrata, with only the second Manu Svārociṣa intervening (he was the son of Agni), the sons and grandsons of these Manus ruled as kings over the earth as descendents of Priyavrata’s line. Then at the beginning of the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, giving up his austerities, Dakṣa (in Uttanapāda’s line) became the King and engaged in producing population.
cākṣuṣe tv antare prāpte prāk-sarge kāla-vidrute
yaḥ sasarja prajā iṣṭāḥ sa dakṣo daiva-coditaḥ
His previous body had been destroyed, but he, the same Dakṣa, inspired by the supreme will, created all the desired living entities in the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara. SB 4.30.49
Since Cākṣuṣa was in the line from Uttānapāda, [Note: His lineage from Dhruva is described in SB 4.13.15.] it should be understood that Svāyambhuva’ descendents reigned until that time.
Purport
Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Self (
ātmā
), is the source of everything, as explained in the
Vedānta-sūtra:
janmādy asya yataḥ.
Because Brahmā was born directly from Lord Viṣṇu, he is called
ātma-yoni.
He is also called
bhagavān,
although generally
bhagavān
refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Viṣṇu or Lord Kṛṣṇa). Sometimes great personalities — such as demigods like Lord Brahmā, Nārada or Lord Śiva — are also addressed as
bhagavān
because they carry out the purpose of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Brahmā is called
bhagavān
because he is the secondary creator of this universe. He is always thinking of how to improve the situation of the conditioned souls who have come to the material world to enjoy material activities. For this reason, he disseminates the Vedic knowledge throughout the universe for everyone’s guidance.
Vedic knowledge is divided into two parts:
pravṛtti-mārga
and
nivṛtti-mārga.
Nivṛtti-mārga
is the path of negating sense enjoyment, and
pravṛtti-mārga
is the path by which the living entities are given a chance to enjoy and at the same time are directed in such a way that they can go back home, back to Godhead. Because ruling over this universe is a great responsibility, Brahmā must force many Manus in different ages to take charge of universal affairs. Under each Manu there are different kings who also execute the purpose of Lord Brahmā. It is understood from previous explanations that the father of Dhruva Mahārāja, King Uttānapāda, ruled over the universe because his elder brother, Priyavrata, practiced austerity from the very beginning of his life. Thus up to the point of the Pracetās, the kings of the universe were all descendants of Uttānapāda Mahārāja. Since there were no suitable kings after the Pracetās, Svāyambhuva Manu went to the Gandhamādana Hill to bring back his eldest son, Priyavrata, who was meditating there. Svāyambhuva Manu requested Priyavrata to rule over the universe. When he refused, Lord Brahmā descended from the supreme planetary system, known as Satyaloka, to request Priyavrata to accept the order. Lord Brahmā did not come alone. He came with other great sages like Marīci, Ātreya and Vasiṣṭha. To convince Priyavrata that it was necessary for him to follow the Vedic injunctions and accept the responsibility of ruling over the world, Lord Brahmā also brought with him the personified
Vedas,
his constant associates.
A significant word in this verse is
sva-bhavanāt,
indicating that Lord Brahmā descended from his own abode. Every demigod has his own abode. Indra, the King of the demigods, has his own abode, as do Candra, the lord of the moon planet, and Sūrya, the predominating deity of the sun planet. There are many millions of demigods, and the stars and planets are their respective homes. This is confirmed in
Bhagavad-gītā.
Yānti deva-vratā devān:
“Those who worship the demigods go to their different planetary systems.” Lord Brahmā’s abode. the highest planetary system, is called Satyaloka or sometimes Brahmaloka. Brahmaloka usually refers to the spiritual world. The abode of Lord Brahmā is Satyaloka, but because Lord Brahmā resides there, it is also sometimes called Brahmaloka.