विप्राणां देवदेवानां भगवानात्मदैवतम् ॥१७॥
brahmaṇyasya paraá¹ daivaá¹
brÄhmaṇÄḥ kila te prabho
viprÄṇÄá¹ deva-devÄnÄá¹
bhagavÄn Ätma-daivatam
brahmaṇyasya - of the supreme director of the brahminical culture; param - the highest; daivam - position; brÄhmaṇÄḥ - the brÄhmaṇas; kila - for the teaching of others; te - Your; prabho - O Lord; viprÄṇÄm - of the brÄhmaṇas; deva-devÄnÄm - to be worshiped by the demigods; bhagavÄn - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; Ätma - the self; daivatam - worshipable Deity.
O Lord, You are the supreme director of the brahminical culture. Your considering the brÄhmaṇas to be in the highest position is Your example for teaching others. Actually You are the supreme worshipable Deity, not only for the gods but for the brÄhmaṇas also.
In the Brahma-saá¹hitÄ it is clearly stated that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all causes. There are undoubtedly many demigods, the chiefs of whom are BrahmÄ and Åšiva. Lord Viṣṇu is the Lord of BrahmÄ and Åšiva, not to speak of the brÄhmaṇas in this material world. As mentioned in Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ, the Supreme Lord is very favorable towards all activities performed according to brahminical culture, or the qualities of control of the senses and mind, cleanliness, forbearance, faith in scripture, and practical and theoretical knowledge. The Lord is the Supersoul of everyone. In Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ it is said that the Lord is the source of all emanations; thus He is also the source of BrahmÄ and Åšiva.
