nāḍībhir antar-jalam āviveśa
nāḍībhir antar-jalam āviveśa
nārvāg-gatas tat-khara-nāla-nāla-
nābhiṁ vicinvaṁs tad avindatājaḥ
Reflecting in this way, Brahmā entered into the water by the tubes in the stem of the lotus. Searching out the navel of Viṣṇu from which rose the stem of the lotus, , he could not reach it though he approached close.
This verse shows that with the will of the Lord, all attempts by materialists will end in failure. He entered the water by means of the tubes in the lotus stem. He searched out the lotus navel of Nārāyaṇa from which arose the stem (nāla) of the lotus (khara-nāla). Though he approached very close, he could not reach it, since it is impossible to reach without bhakti.
|| 3.8.20 ||
tamasy apāre vidurātma-sargaṁ
vicinvato ’bhūt sumahāṁs tri-ṇemiḥ
yo deha-bhājāṁ bhayam īrayāṇaḥ
parikṣiṇoty āyur ajasya hetiḥ
O Vidura! A hundred years passed for Brahmā who was searching out his source in the unfathomable darkness. Time, the cakra of Viṣṇu, which proclaims the approach of death for the embodied souls, destroys the lifespan.
Ātma-sargam means source of his creation. Trinemiḥ means time. Time, proclaiming (īryānaḥ) the approach of death (bhayam) for men (deha-bhājam), destroys life span of a hundred years. Ajasya hetiḥ means the cakra of Viṣṇu. Time is an aṁśa of this cakra.
|| 3.8.21 ||
tato nivṛtto ’pratilabdha-kāmaḥ
sva-dhiṣṇyam āsādya punaḥ sa devaḥ
śanair jita-śvāsa-nivṛtta-citto
nyaṣīdad ārūḍha-samādhi-yogaḥ
Giving up his search, Brahmā, unfulfilled in his desire, then returned to the lotus. Gradually controlling his breath and mind, he remained seated in complete concentration by meditation on the Lord.
One who gives up pride attains the Lord through meditation, by the Lord’s will. Giving up the search, he returned to the lotus (sva-dhiṣṇyam), and controlling his mind (nivṛtta-cittaḥ) sat down (nyasīdat). He achieved complete concentrate from meditation on the Lord (samādhi).
|| 3.8.22 ||
kālena so ’jaḥ puruṣāyuṣābhi-
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