318 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 8

sha meee fasadia-
afahd aa am Fy AeA UN2<il

ka esa yo’sav aham abja-prstha
etat kuto vabjam ananyad apsu
asti hy adhastad iha kificanaitad
adhisthitam yatra sata nu bhavyam

kah—who; esah—this; yah asau aham—that | am; abja-prsthe—on top of
the lotus; etat—this; kutah—wherefrom; va—either; abjam—lotus flower;
ananyat—otherwise; apsu—in the water; asti—there is; hi—certainly;
adhastat—from below; iha—in this; kificana—anything; na—not; etat—this;
adhisthitam—situated; yatra—wherein; satd—automatically; nu—or not;
bhavyam—must be.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, in his ignorance, contemplated: Who am | that am
situated on the top of this lotus? Wherefrom has it sprouted? There must
be something downwards, and that from which this lotus has grown must
be within the water.

PURPORT

The subject matter of the speculations of Brahma in the beginning
regarding the creation of the cosmic manifestation is still a subject matter
for mental speculators. The most intelligent man is he who tries to find
the cause of his personal existence and that of the whole cosmic creation
and thus tries to find the ultimate cause. If his attempt is properly executed
with penances and perseverance, it is sure to be crowned with success.

TEXT 19

a Tay = aqarale-
aretfaerasioanta eat

AAA AAT AAS -
aft = fafa: 112811

sa ittham udviksya-tad-abja-ndla-
nadibhir antar-jalam avivesa

narvag-gatas tat-khara-nala-nala-nabhim
vicinvams tad avindatajah
