maitreya uvÄca
niÅ›amyÄtma-bhuvÄ gÄ«taá¹
kÄraṇaá¹ Å›aá¹…kayojjhitÄḥ
tataḥ sarve nyavartanta
tridivÄya divaukasaḥ
maitreyaḥ - the sage Maitreya; uvÄca - said; niÅ›amya - upon hearing; Ätma-bhuvÄ - by BrahmÄ; gÄ«tam - explanation; kÄraṇam - the cause; Å›aá¹…kayÄ - from fear; ujjhitÄḥ - freed; tataḥ - then; sarve - all; nyavartanta - returned; tri-divÄya - to the heavenly planets; diva-okasaḥ - the demigods (who inhabit the higher planets).
The demigods, who are denizens of higher planets, are also very much afraid of incidents such as the universe’s becoming dark, and so they consulted BrahmÄ. This indicates that the quality of fear exists for every living entity in the material world. The four principal activities of material existence are eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. The fear element exists also in the demigods. On every planet, even in the higher planetary systems, including the moon and the sun, as well as on this earth, the same principles of animal life exist. Otherwise, why are the demigods also afraid of the darkness? The difference between the demigods and ordinary human beings is that the demigods approach authority, whereas the inhabitants of this earth defy authority. If people would only approach the authority, then every adverse condition in this universe could be rectified. Arjuna was also disturbed on the Battlefield of Kuruká¹£etra, but he approached the authority, Kṛṣṇa, and his problem was solved. The conclusive instruction of this incident is that we may be disturbed by some material condition, but if we approach the authority who can actually explain the matter, then our problem is solved. The demigods approached BrahmÄ for the meaning of the disturbance, and after hearing from him they were satisfied and returned home peacefully.