# Bs. 5.23 > स जातो भगवच्छक्त्या तत्कालं किल चोदितः । > सिसृक्षायां मतिं चक्रे पूर्वसंस्कारसंस्कृतः । > ददर्श केवलं ध्वान्तं नान्यत्किमपि सर्वतः ॥ २३ ॥ ## Text > sañjāto bhagavac-chaktyā > tat-kālaṁ kila coditaḥ > sisṛkṣāyāṁ matiṁ cakre > pūrva-saṁskāra-saṁskṛtaḥ > dadarśa kevalaṁ dhvāntaṁ > nānyat kim api sarvataḥ ## Synonyms *sañjātaḥ*—on being born; *bhagavat-śaktyā*—by the divine potency; *tat-kālam*—at that time; *kila*—indeed; *coditaḥ*—being guided; *sisṛkṣāyām*—to the act of creation; *matim*—his mind; *cakre*—turned; *pūrva-saṁskāra-saṁskṛtaḥ*—under the impulse of previous impressions; *dadarśa*—he saw; *kevalam*—only; *dhvāntam*—darkness; *na*—not; *anyat*—else; *kim api*—anything; *sarvataḥ*—in every direction. ## Translation **On coming out of the lotus, Brahmā, being guided by the divine potency turned his mind to the act of creation under the impulse of previous impressions. But he could see nothing but darkness in every direction.** ## Purport Brahmā's impulse for creation arises solely from his previous impressions. All *jīvas* get their nature conformably to their impressions of previous births and accordingly their activity can have a beginning. It is called "the unseen" or the result of one's previous deeds. His natural impulse is formed according to the nature of the deeds done by him in the previous *kalpa.* Some of the eligible *jīvas* also attain to the office of Brahmā in this way. --- *Translation and purport by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura*