—json {

  "name":"SB 3.8.16",
  "h1":"SB 3.8.16",
  "label":"Text 16",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.8.16",
  "description":"Brahmā, born out of the lotus flower, could not see the world, although he was situated in the whorl. He therefore circumambulated all of space, and while moving his eyes in all directions he achieved four heads in terms of the four directions."

} —

SB 3.8.16

तस्यां स चाम्भोरुहकर्णिकायामवस्थितो लोकमपश्यमानः ।
परिक्रमन्व्योम्नि विवृत्तनेत्रश्चत्वारि लेभेऽनुदिशं मुखानि ॥१६॥

Text

tasyāṁ sa cāmbho-ruha-karṇikāyām
avasthito lokam apaśyamānaḥ
parikraman vyomni vivṛtta-netraś
catvāri lebhe 'nudiśaṁ mukhāni

Synonyms

tasyām—in that; saḥ—Brahmā; ca—and; ambhaḥ—water; ruha-karṇikāyām—whorl of the lotus; avasthitaḥ—being situated; lokam—the world; apaśyamānaḥ—without being able to see; parikraman—circumambulating; vyomni—in space; vivṛtta-netraḥ—while moving the eyes; catvāri—four; lebhe—achieved; anudiśam—in terms of direction; mukhāni—heads.

Translation

Brahmā, born out of the lotus flower, could not see the world, although he was situated in the whorl. He therefore circumambulated all of space, and while moving his eyes in all directions he achieved four heads in terms of the four directions.