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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.8.18
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 18
- ka eṣa yo 'sāv aham abja-pṛṣṭha
- etat kuto vābjam ananyad apsu
- asti hy adhastād iha kiñcanaitad
- adhiṣṭhitaṁ yatra satā nu bhāvyam
kaḥwho — who; eṣaḥthis — this; yaḥthat I am asauthat I am ahamthat I am — that I am; abjaon top of the lotus-pṛṣṭheon top of the lotus — on top of the lotus; etatthis — this; kutaḥwherefrom — wherefrom; vāeither — either; abjamlotus flower — lotus flower; ananyatotherwise — otherwise; apsuin the water — in the water; astithere is — there is; hicertainly — certainly; adhastātfrom below — from below; ihain this — in this; kiñcanaanything — anything; etatthis — this; adhiṣṭhitamsituated — situated; yatrawherein — wherein; satāautomatically — automatically; nuor not — or not; bhāvyammust be — must be.
Lord Brahmā, in his ignorance, contemplated: Who am I 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.
The subject matter of the speculations of Brahmā 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.