yo devānāṃ prabhavaś codbhavaś ca viśvādhiko rudro maharṣiḥ | hiraṇyagarbhaṃ paśyata jāyamānaṃ sa no buddhyā śubhayā saṃyunaktu ||
"He who is the source and origin of the gods, the ruler over all, Rudra, the great seer who beheld Hiraṇyagarbha (the Golden Germ) being born, may He endow us with a clear and auspicious intellect."
What This Means:
This verse says the gods themselves come from one supreme being, here called Rudra, the great seer who was already present, watching, when even Hiraṇyagarbha (the "golden womb," the first-born of creation) came into existence. Because everything springs from Him, the verse ends with a humble prayer: may He bless us with a clear, pure mind. It is a reminder that even the powers we revere have a source beyond them.
Going Deeper:
By placing Rudra prior to and beholding the birth of Hiraṇyagarbha, traditionally the cosmic first-born, the verse points to the supreme reality as that which is superior to even the highest creative principle, the witness from which all gods and worlds arise. The closing prayer for clear understanding reflects the Vedantic conviction that liberating knowledge of this source is itself a grace to be sought, not merely an achievement.
How To Apply This:
Begin important work with a moment of humility, asking that your mind be made clear and steady, recognizing that even your best insight is a gift from a source greater than yourself.
Key Sanskrit Terms: