Canto 11, Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Verse 21 (SB 11.9.21)
SB 11.9.21 • मूल श्लोक

यथोर्णनाभिर्हृदयादूर्णां सन्तत्य वक्त्रत: । तया विहृत्य भूयस्तां ग्रसत्येवं महेश्वर: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

yathorṇanābhir hṛdayād ūrṇāṁ santatya vaktrataḥ tayā vihṛtya bhūyas tāṁ grasaty evaṁ maheśvaraḥ

Synonyms (Word-for-Word)

yathā — just as; ūrna-nābhiḥ — the spider; hṛdayāt — from within himself; ūrṇām — thread; santatya — expanding; vaktrataḥ — from his mouth; tayā — with that thread; vihṛtya — enjoying; bhūyaḥ — again; tām — that thread; grasati — he swallows; evam — in the same way; mahā-īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Lord.

Translation

“Just as from within himself the spider expands thread through his mouth, plays with it for some time and eventually swallows it, similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead expands His personal potency from within Himself. Thus, the Lord displays the network of cosmic manifestation, utilizes it according to His purpose and eventually withdraws it completely within Himself.”

Bhaktivedanta Purport

By Śrīla Prabhupāda
One who is intelligent obtains spiritual knowledge even from an insignificant creature like the spider. Thus, transcendental knowledge is visible everywhere for one whose eyes are opened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.