Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8 - Chapter 1 - Verse 23


Sanskrit:

गुणमय्या स्वशक्त्यास्य सर्गस्थित्यप्ययान्विभो ।धत्से यदा स्वद‍ृग् भूमन्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाभिधाम् ॥ २३ ॥

ITRANS:

guṇa-mayyā sva-śaktyāsyasarga-sthity-apyayān vibhodhatse yadā sva-dṛg bhūmanbrahma-viṣṇu-śivābhidhām

Translation:

O lord, you are self-effulgent and supreme. You create this material world by your personal energy, and you assume the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara when you act in creation, maintenance and annihilation.

Purport:

This prayer is actually offered to Lord Viṣṇu, the puruṣa, who in His incarnations as the guṇa-avatāras assumes the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara.