Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.13.16
SB 3.13.16
Open the full passageSanskrit
maitreya uvāca parameṣṭhī tv apāṁ madhye tathā sannām avekṣya gām katham enāṁ samunneṣya iti dadhyau dhiyā ciram
Translation
Śrī Maitreya said: Thus, seeing the earth merged in the water, Brahmā gave his attention for a long time to how it could be lifted.