इदमाह पुरास्माकं भगवान्विश्वसृक्पतिः ।
भृग्वादीनामात्मजानां सिसृक्षुः संसिसृक्षताम् ॥७२॥

idam Äha purÄsmÄkaá¹
bhagavÄn viÅ›vasá¹›k-patiḥ
bhá¹›gv-ÄdÄ«nÄm ÄtmajÄnÄá¹
sisá¹›ká¹£uḥ saá¹sisá¹›ká¹£atÄm

 idam - this; Äha - said; purÄ - formerly; asmÄkam - unto us; bhagavÄn - the lord; viÅ›va-sá¹›k - the creators of the universe; patiḥ - master; bhá¹›gu-ÄdÄ«nÄm - of the great sages headed by Bhá¹›gu; ÄtmajÄnÄm - of his sons; sisá¹›ká¹£uḥ - desirous of creating; saá¹sisá¹›ká¹£atÄm - who are in charge of creation.


Text

This prayer was first spoken to us by Lord BrahmÄ, the master of all creators. The creators, headed by Bhá¹›gu, were instructed in these prayers because they wanted to create.

Purport

Lord BrahmÄ was created by Lord Viṣṇu; then Lord BrahmÄ created Lord Åšiva and other great sages, headed by Bhá¹›gu Muni. These great sages included Bhá¹›gu, MarÄ«ci, Ä€treya, Vasiṣṭha and others. All these great sages were in charge of creating population. Since there were not very many living entities in the beginning, Viṣṇu entrusted BrahmÄ with the business of creation, and BrahmÄ in his turn created many hundreds and thousands of demigods and great sages to continue with the creation. At the same time, Lord BrahmÄ cautioned all his sons and disciples by reciting the prayers now recited by Lord Åšiva. The material creation means material engagement, but material engagements can be counteracted if we always remember our relationship with the Lord as that relationship is described in these prayers recited by Lord Åšiva. In this way we can remain constantly in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus despite our engagement in the creation, we cannot be deviated from the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is especially meant for this purpose. In this material world everyone is engaged in some particular occupational duty which is prescribed in the varṇÄÅ›rama-dharma. BrÄhmaṇas, ká¹£atriyas, vaiÅ›yas, śūdras and everyone are engaged in their occupational duty, but if one remembers his first duty — keeping in constant contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead — everything will be successful. If one simply executes the rules and regulations of the varṇÄÅ›rama-dharma in the role of a brÄhmaṇa, ká¹£atriya, vaiÅ›ya or śūdra and keeps busy and does not remember one’s eternal relationship with the Lord, one’s business and activities as well as occupational duties will simply be a waste of time. This is confirmed in the First Canto of ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam (1.2.8):

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puá¹sÄá¹
 viá¹£vaksena-kathÄsu yaḥ
notpÄdayed yadi ratiá¹
 Å›rama eva hi kevalam

The conclusion is that even if one is busy executing his occupational duty, his business in Kṛṣṇa consciousness need not be hampered. He has simply to execute the devotional service of Å›ravaṇaá¹ kÄ«rtanam — hearing, chanting and remembering. One need not abandon his occupational duty. As stated in Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ (18.46):

yataḥ pravá¹›ttir bhÅ«tÄnÄá¹
 yena sarvam idaá¹ tatam
sva-karmaá¹‡Ä tam abhyarcya
 siddhiá¹ vindati mÄnavaḥ

“By worship of the Lord — who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading — man can, in the performance of his own duty, attain perfection.â€

Thus one can continue with his occupational duty, but if he worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as Lord Åšiva herein prescribes, he attains his perfection of life. Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saá¹siddhir hari-toá¹£aṇam (BhÄg. 1.2.13): we should continue executing our occupational duties, but if we try to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead by our duties, then our lives will be perfected.