Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 8 Chapter 5:19-29

Book 8: Chapter 5

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 8: Chapter 5: Verses 19-29 The gods resort to Brahma and the latter glorifies the Lord Seeing Indra, Vayu (the wind-god) and others destitute of (all) strength and shorn of splendour, the worlds devoid of auspiciousness as it were, and the demons full of strength and splendour unlike the gods, the all-powerful Brahma began contemplating on the supreme Person with a fully concentrated mind. With a cheerful countenance that supreme lord (Brahma) spoke to the gods (as follows): "Lord Siva (the Source of the universe), myself, you (gods) as well as the demons and other (species of ethereal) beings, human beings and animals, the vegetable kingdom and the sweat-born creatures (bugs and so on) have (all) been evolved (either) by His (very first) manifestation (the Purusa or the cosmic Being) or by a fraction of the latter (viz., myself) or (lastly) by my own rays (Marici and the other lords of creation). Let us all (therefore) seek refuge in that immortal Being. There is none deserving of death or protection at His hands and no side worthy of neglect or respect in His eyes; yet, for the purposes of creation, continuance and dissolution of the universe, He severally assumes at the proper time the qualities of Rajas, Sattva and Tamas. And the present is the time for maintaining the equilibrium (proper functioning) of the universe on the part of the Lord, who is embracing (at present) the quality of Sattva for the welfare of embodied souls. We, therefore, seek shelter in the (said) preceptor of the universe. The beloved of the gods, He will ensure the well-being of us, His own people. Sri Suka went on : Having thus addressed the gods, O chastiser of foes, the creator along with the gods went to the realm of Lord Ajita Himself, that lies beyond the darkness of Maya (ignorance). There, indeed, with a collected mind, 0 lord, he uttered (the following) hymn, of course, in divine (Vedic) language, intended to propitiate the Lord, whose essential nature had not been perceived but about whom he had already heard (much). Brahma prayed : We, O Lord, bow to You, the foremost (of all), true (at all times), changeless, infinite, most ancient, dwelling in the heart (of all), unconditioned, incomprehensible through reasoning, quicker than the mind, indescribable through speech and worthy of being sought for (as one's protector). We resort (for protection) to that all-perfect One, the knower of the vital airs, the mind, the intellect and the ego, and appearing as the senses of perception and their objects, who is devoid of sleep (ignorance), bodiless and all-pervading (as ether), in whom (both) nescience (which is compared to shade or darkness) and saving knowledge (which is compared to sunshine)-the attributes of a Jiva characterized by attachment etc.- are absent and who manifests Himself (only) in the (first) three Yugas (the Kali age being unfavourable to His manifestation). The Vedas declare that the fast rotating wheel (in the shape of the body etc., which are constantly changing) owned by the diva (who is as a matter of fact devoid of birth and death both), which is being set in motion by Maya (the beginningless energy or will-power of the Lord), consists (chiefly) of the mind and is provided with fifteen spokes (in the shape of the ten Indriyas and the five vital airs), three naves (in the shape of the three modes of Prakrti), eight tellies (in the shape of the five gross elements, the mind, intellect and the ego), is fleeting as lightning, and has God (Himself) for its axle. To Him, the (only) Truth, 1 fly (for protection). Being the same as that imperceptible and undifferentiated Reality which is of the nature of absolute Consciousness, beyond (the realm of) Prakrti (ignorance) and unlimited in time and space, it is He who (as the inner Controller and constant companion and friend) dwells (in every heart) by the side of the Jiva and (again) it is Him that the wise seek through the discipline of Yoga (concentration of mind).