Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 10
The Lord Appears to the Devas and Instructs the Truce; Mandara Is Brought for Churning
त्वय्यग्र आसीत् त्वयि मध्य आसीत् त्वय्यन्त आसीदिदमात्मतन्त्रे । त्वमादिरन्तो जगतोऽस्य मध्यं घटस्य मृत्स्नेव पर: परस्मात् ॥ १० ॥
tvayy agra āsīt tvayi madhya āsīt tvayy anta āsīd idam ātma-tantre tvam ādir anto jagato ’sya madhyaṁ ghaṭasya mṛtsneva paraḥ parasmāt
My dear Lord, who are always fully independent, this entire cosmic manifestation arises from You, rests upon You and ends in You. Your Lordship is the beginning, sustenance and end of everything, like the earth, which is the cause of an earthen pot, which supports the pot, and to which the pot, when broken, finally returns.
FAQs
This verse states that the universe exists in Vishnu at creation, during its maintenance, and at dissolution—He is its origin, sustainer, and final resting place, while remaining transcendent.
Facing a crisis and seeking divine guidance, the Devas glorify Vishnu as the supreme controller of cosmic processes, acknowledging that all solutions ultimately rest in Him.
Just as a pot depends on clay, our life and identity depend on the Supreme; remembering this reduces ego and anxiety and strengthens surrender (śaraṇāgati) and steady devotion.