466
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 3, Ch. 12]
example, the sun, the most powerful fiery planet in the universe, can evaporate water from anywhere and still remain as powerful. The sun evaporates water from filthy places and yet is not infected with the quality of the filth. Similarly, Brahmā remains unimpeachable in all conditions. But still, since he is the spiritual master of all living entities, his behavior and character should be so ideal that people will follow such sublime behavior and derive the highest spiritual benefit. Therefore, he should not have acted as he did.
TEXT 32
तस्मै नमो भगवते य इदं स्वेन रोचिषा । आत्मस्थं न्यञ्जयामास स धर्मं पातुमर्हति ॥३२॥
tasmai namo bhagavate ya idam svena rociṣā ātmastham vyañjayāmāsa sa dharmam pātum arhati
tasmai—unto Him; namaḥ—obeisances; bhagavate—unto the Personality of Godhead; yaḥ—who; idam—this; svena—by His own; rociṣā—effulgence; ātma-stham—situated in Himself; vyañjayāmāsa—has manifested; saḥ—He; dharmam—religion; pātum—for protection; arhati—may kindly do so.
TRANSLATION
Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, who, by His own effulgence, while situated in Himself, has manifested this cosmos. May He also protect religion for all goodness.
PURPORT
Lust for sexual intercourse is so strong that it appears herein that Brahmā could not be dissuaded from his determination in spite of the appeal by his great sons like Marīci. Therefore, the great sons began to pray to the Supreme Lord for the good sense of Brahmā. It is only by the grace of the Supreme Lord that one can be protected from the allurement of lusty material desires. The Lord gives protection to devotees who are always engaged in His transcendental loving service, and by His causeless mercy He forgives the accidental fall of a devotee. Therefore, sages like Marīci prayed for the mercy of the Lord, and their prayer was fruitful.