In the previous part, we studied the detailed description of the universal time Maitreya gives in chapter 3.11. Now, after describing the effects of kāla, Maitreya continues his description, narrating the creation of Brahma in more detail.
“Śrī Maitreya said: O learned Vidura, so far I have explained to you the glories of the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His feature of kāla. Now you can hear from me about the creation of Brahmā, the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge.” (SB 3.12.1)
It’s mentioned that Brahma started the creation by creating illusory engagements, such as self-deception, the sense of death, anger after being frustrated, the sense of false ownership, and the illusory bodily conception (that makes one forget his real identity as a soul). It’s easy to understand why such influences were created first since they constitute the basis of conditioned life in this material world. If one does not identify with the body and believes he possesses things in this material world, what is the possibility of remaining conditioned here? These are influences that affect all conditioned living beings.
Srimad Bhagavatam #23: The creation of Brahma