upalabhya puraivaitad

bhagavan abja-sambhavah

narayanas ca visvatma

na kasyadhvaram iyatuh

 

Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

Both Lord Brahma and Visnu had already known that such events would occur in the sacrificial arena of Daksa, and knowing beforehand, they did not go to the sacrifice.

 

Purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.26), vedaham samatitani vartamanani carjuna. The Lord says, “I know everything that has happened in the past and is going to happen in the future.” Lord Visnu is omniscient, and He therefore knew what would happen at Daksa’s sacrificial arena. For this reason neither Narayana nor Lord Brahma attended the great sacrifice performed by Daksa.