250 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 24

the water of devastation; vikarsan—contacting; vicarisyami—I shall
travel; ydvat—as long as; brahmi—pertaining to Lord Brahma; nisa—

night; prabho—O King.

TRANSLATION

Pulling the boat, with you and all the rsis in it, O King, I shall
travel in the water of devastation until the night of Lord Brahma’s
slumber is over.

PURPORT

This particular devastation actually took place not during the night of
Lord Brahma but during his day, for it was during the time of Caksusa
Manu. Brahma’s night takes place when Brahma goes to sleep, but in the
daytime there are fourteen Manus, one of whom is Caksusa Manu.
Therefore, Srila Vigvanatha Cakravarti Thakura comments that although
it was daytime for Lord Brahma, Brahmi felt sleepy for a short time by
the supreme will of the Lord. This short period is regarded as Lord
Brahma’s night. This has been elaborately discussed by Srila Ripa
Gosvami in his Laghu-bhagavatamrta. The following is a summary of
his analysis. Because Agastya Muni cursed Svayambhuva Manu, during
the time of Svayambhuva Manu a devastation took place. This devasta-
tion is mentioned in the Matsya Purdna. During the time of Caksusa
Manu, by the supreme will of the Lord, there was suddenly another
pralaya, or devastation. This is mentioned by Markandeya Rsi in the
Visnu-dharmottara. At the end of Manu’s time there is not necessarily a
devastation, but at the end of the Caksusa-manvantara, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, by His illusory energy, wanted to show
Satyavrata the effects of devastation. Srila Sridhara Svami also agrees
with this opinion. The Laghu-bhagavatamrta says:

madhye manvantarasyaiva
muneh sapdn manum prati

pralayo ’sau babhiveti
purane kvacid iryate

ayam dkasmiko jatas
cdksusasyantare manoh
