Devanagari
ब्रह्मादयो यत्कृतसेतुपाला
यत्कारणं विश्वमिदं च माया ।
आज्ञाकरी यस्य पिशाचचर्या
अहो विभूम्नश्चरितं विडम्बनम् ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
brahmādayo yat-kṛta-setu-pālā
yat-kāraṇaṁ viśvam idaṁ ca māyā
ājṣā-karī yasya piśāca-caryā
aho vibhūmnaś caritaṁ viḍambanam
Synonyms
brahma
—
ādayaḥ — demigods like Brahmā
;
yat
—
whose
;
kṛta
—
activities
;
setu
—
religious rites
;
pālāḥ
—
observers
;
yat
—
one who is
;
kāraṇam
—
the origin of
;
viśvam
—
the universe
;
idam
—
this
;
ca
—
also
;
māyā
—
material energy
;
ājṣā
—
karī — order carrier
;
yasya
—
whose
;
piśāca
—
devilish
;
caryā
—
activity
;
aho
—
O my lord
;
vibhūmnaḥ
—
of the great
;
caritam
—
character
;
viḍambanam
—
simply imitation .
Translation
Demigods like Brahmā also follow the religious rites observed by him. He is the controller of the material energy, which causes the creation of the material world. He is great, and therefore his devilish characteristics are simply imitation.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Even Brahmā and others observe the rules created by him. He is the cause of this universe, and māyā is dependent on him, following his order. His conduct as a ghost is surprising. This great lord is only appearing to be like a ghost.
We are nothing in comparison to Śiva. Brahmā and others observe the rules made by him, about associating with women during the twilight (yat-kṛta-setu-pālā), about eating, sleeping or passing nature at that time. He is the cause of the universe and māyā is dependent on him. His conduct as a ghost is surprising. It is an imitation performed by this great lord
Purport
Lord Śiva is the husband of Durgā, the controller of the material energy. Durgā is personified material energy, and Lord Śiva, being her husband, is the controller of the material energy. He is also the incarnation of the mode of ignorance and one of the three deities representing the Supreme Lord. As His representative, Lord Śiva is identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is very great, and his renunciation of all material enjoyment is an ideal example of how one should be materially unattached. One should therefore follow in his footsteps and be unattached to matter, not imitate his uncommon acts like drinking poison.