220508 Brahma-stuti, Verse 9: The Art of Devotional Lamentation

Lecture given at Amal Syama´s and Atula-sakhi’s House, North Carolina on May 8, 2022

Brahma-stuti, Verse 9: The Art of Devotional Lamentation

ŚB 10.14.9

पश्येश मेऽनार्यमनन्त आद्ये

परात्मनि त्वय्यपि मायिमायिनि ।

मायां वितत्येक्षितुमात्मवैभवं

ह्यहं कियानैच्छमिवार्चिरग्नौ ॥ ९ ॥

paśyeśa me ’nāryam ananta ādye

parātmani tvayy api māyi-māyini

māyāṁ vitatyekṣitum ātma-vaibhavaṁ

hy ahaṁ kiyān aiccham ivārcir agnau

Translation

My Lord, just see my uncivilized impudence! To test Your power I tried to extend my illusory potency to cover You, the unlimited and primeval Supersoul, who bewilder even the masters of illusion. What am I compared to You? I am just like a small spark in the presence of a great fire.