Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 3 - Chapter 1 - Verse 6

Sanskrit:

तपसा ह्येधमानेन विद्यया चात्मसंस्थया ।विवृद्धविज्ञानबलो न्यपाद् वायुं सहाम्भसा ॥ ६ ॥

ITRANS:

tapasā hy edhamānenavidyayā cātma-saṁsthayāvivṛddha-vijñāna-balonyapād vāyuṁ sahāmbhasā

Translation:

Long penance and transcendental knowledge of self-realization had matured Brahmā in practical knowledge, and thus he drank the wind completely, along with the water.

Purport:

Lord Brahmā’s struggle for existence is a personal example of the continued fight between the living entities in the material world and the illusory energy called māyā. Beginning from Brahmā down to this age, the living entities are struggling with the forces of material nature. By advanced knowledge in science and transcendental realization, one can try to control the material energy, which works against our endeavors, and in the modern age advanced material scientific knowledge and penance have played very wonderful roles in controlling the powers of the material energy. Such control of the material energy, however, can be most successfully carried out if one is a soul surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead and carries out His order in the spirit of loving transcendental service.