224 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 2, Ch. 5

items, namely the living being, the phenomenal world and the controller,
are all in continuous action—past, present, and future—and the direct
manager is supposed to know everything of such actions and reactions, as
one knows about a walnut within the grip of one’s palm. The direct
manufacturer of a particular thing is supposed to know how he learned the
art of manufacturing, where he got the ingredients, how he set it up and
how the products in the manufacturing process are being turned out.
Because Brahmi is the first-born living being, naturally he is supposed to
know everything about creative functions.

TEXT 4

Ufa TTI Ae TATA: |
am: ate aay qataAArTAT I 8 I

yad vijfidno yad-adharo
yat-paras tvart yad-dtmakah
ekah srjasi bhittani
bhitair evdtma-mayaya

yad vijfidnah—the source of knowledge; yad-ddhdrah—under whose
protection; yad-parah—under whose subordination; tvam—you; yad-
atmakah—in what capacity; ekah—alone; srjasi—you are creating; bhiitani—
the living entities; bhitaih—with the help of material elements; eva—
certainly; @ma—self; m@yayad—by potency.

TRANSLATION

My dear father, what is the source of your knowledge? Under whose
protection are you standing? And under whom are you working? What is
your real position? Do you alone create all entities with material elements
by your personal energy?

PURPORT

It was known to Sri Narada Muni that Lord Brahma attained creative
energy by undergoing severe austerities. As such, he could understand that
there was someone else superior to Brahmaji who invested Brahma with
