Lord Brahmā, in his ignorance, contemplated: Who am I that am situated on the top of this lotus? Wherefrom has it sprouted? There must be something downwards, and that from which this lotus has grown must be within the water.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
क एष योऽसावहमब्जपृष्ठ एतत्कुतो वाब्जमनन्यदप्सु । अस्ति ह्यधस्तादिह किञ्चनैत- दधिष्ठितं यत्र सता नु भाव्यम्
ka eṣa yo'sāvahamabjapṛṣṭha etatkuto vābjamananyadapsu | asti hyadhastādiha kiñcanaita- dadhiṣṭhitaṃ yatra satā nu bhāvyam
SB 3.8.18