# SB 10.13.45 ## Text > tamyāṁ tamovan naihāraṁ > khadyotārcir ivāhani > mahatītara-māyaiśyaṁ > nihanty ātmani yuñjataḥ ## Synonyms *tamyām*—on a dark night; *tamaḥ*-*vat*—just as darkness; *naihāram*—produced by snow; *khadyota*-*arciḥ*—the light of a glowworm; *iva*—just as; *ahani*—in the daytime, in the sunlight; *mahati*—in a great personality; *itara*-*māyā*—inferior mystic potency; *aiśyam*—the ability; *nihanti*—destroys; *ātmani*—in his own self; *yuñjataḥ*—of the person who attempts to use. ## Translation **As the darkness of snow on a dark night and the light of a glowworm in the light of day have no value, the mystic power of an inferior person who tries to use it against a person of great power is unable to accomplish anything; instead, the power of that inferior person is diminished.** ## Purport When one wants to supersede a superior power, one's own inferior power becomes ludicrous. Just as a glowworm in the daytime and snow at night have no value, Brahmā's mystic power became worthless in the presence of Kṛṣṇa, for greater mystic power condemns inferior mystic power. On a dark night, the darkness produced by snow has no meaning. The glowworm appears very important at night, but in the daytime its glow has no value; whatever little value it has is lost. Similarly, Brahmā became insignificant in the presence of Kṛṣṇa's mystic power. Kṛṣṇa's *māyā* was not diminished in value, but Brahmā's *māyā* was condemned. Therefore, one should not try to exhibit one's insignificant opulence before a greater power.