Verse 3.16

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

ब्रह्म साक्षान्न निर्दिष्टं लक्षणोक्तेरतो भृगुः ।
नूनमाकाङ्क्षते योग्यं साधनं ब्रह्मवित्तये ॥ १६ ॥

brahma sākṣānna nirdiṣṭaṃ lakṣaṇokterato bhṛguḥ |
nūnamākāṅkṣate yogyaṃ sādhanaṃ brahmavittaye || 16 ||

English translation of verse 3.16:

Brahman has not been directly stated, since the definition (of Brahman) has been given. Bhṛgu, therefore, has to seek after undoubtedly some appropriate means for the knowledge of Brahman.

Notes:

Varuṇa should have told his son what Brahman is in a direct way. He should have helped Bhṛgu to understand Brahman by saying that Brahman is such-and-such. But he did not describe Brahman in that way. If it was his intention to convey the nature of Brahman directly when he spoke about food, vital force, etc., he should not have given the definition of Brahman. In so far as he gave the definition of Brahman after speaking about annam, prāṇam, etc., Bhṛgu came to the conclusion that his father must have had in view some other appropriate means for attaining the knowledge of Brahman.