Brahma, although he is very powerful, he is known as creator of this universe, but he is just like diamond. He inherits power from the Supreme Lord, so he becomes powerful

Expressions researched:
"Brahmā, although he is very powerful, he is known as creator of this universe, but he is just like diamond. He inherits power from the Supreme Lord, so he becomes powerful"

Lectures

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

The diamond is made by the interaction of sunshine. All these valuable stones, they are products of sunshine. So as the diamond has got power of shining power, it is derived from the sun, or diamond, the moon also, it derives power from the sun, similarly, Brahmā, although he is very powerful, he is known as creator of this universe, but he is just like diamond. He inherits power from the Supreme Lord, so he becomes powerful.

661220 - Lecture CC Madhya 20.298 - New York:

Now, what is the constitution of Brahmā? Brahmā . . . just there are so many innumerable living entities. If some of them, they are devotee, but they want to enjoy this material world . . . they want to enjoy. So they are devotee for taking some favor from God and want to enjoy this material world, he is called Brahmā. Brahmā's constitutional position is that.

bhakti-miśra-kṛta-puṇye kona jīvottama

rajo-guṇe vibhāvita kari' tāṅra mana

(CC Madhya 20.302)

garbhodakaśāyi-dvārā śakti sañcāri'

vyaṣṭi sṛṣṭi kare kṛṣṇa brahmā-rūpa dhari

(CC Madhya 20.303)

Sometimes such pious living entities are not available, so sometimes Kṛṣṇa Himself becomes Brahmā and for maintenance, for creation.

bhāsvān yathāśma-sakaleṣu nijeṣu tejaḥ

svīyaṁ kiyat prakaṭayaty api tadvad atra

brahmā ya eṣa jagad-aṇḍa-vidhāna-kartā

govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

(CC Madhya 20.304)

Now, Brahmā's description is given here, that bhāsvān yathāśma-sakaleṣu nijeṣu tejaḥ. Just like valuable stone . . . the example is very nice, valuable stone, just like diamond. Diamond has got power to illuminate. And what is this diamond? The diamond is made by the interaction of sunshine. All these valuable stones, they are products of sunshine.

So as the diamond has got power of shining power, it is derived from the sun, or diamond . . . the moon also, it derives power from the sun, similarly, Brahmā, although he is very powerful, he is known as creator of this universe, but he is just like diamond. He inherits power from the Supreme Lord, so he becomes powerful.

Bhāsvān yathāśma-sakaleṣu nijeṣu tejaḥ. That is simple a bit of power. Just like a diamond, diamond also illuminating, but it is not original luminous. Original luminous is sun, and the illumination expanded by diamond is not so valuable as the sunshine. Similarly, Brahmā, although we see him so powerful, he has little power derived from the Supreme Lord. That is the example given here:

kona kalpe yadi yogya jīva nāhi pāya

āpane īśvara tabe aṁśe 'brahmā' haya

(CC Madhya 20.305)

Kona kalpe. There are . . . kalpa means the duration of one creation. This material creation, bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19), it is created at a certain interval, and it stays for some time, again it is annihilated. So again, at the time of creation, if somebody is not available, then the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, He becomes Brahmā Himself.