Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16
The Appearance of Lord Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa) and the Divine Exchange with Yoga-māyā
यथेमेऽविकृता भावास्तथा ते विकृतै: सह । नानावीर्या: पृथग्भूता विराजं जनयन्ति हि ॥ १५ ॥ सन्निपत्य समुत्पाद्य दृश्यन्तेऽनुगता इव । प्रागेव विद्यमानत्वान्न तेषामिह सम्भव: ॥ १६ ॥ एवं भवान् बुद्ध्यनुमेयलक्षणै- र्ग्राह्यैर्गुणै: सन्नपि तद्गुणाग्रह: । अनावृतत्वाद् बहिरन्तरं न ते सर्वस्य सर्वात्मन आत्मवस्तुन: ॥ १७ ॥
yatheme ’vikṛtā bhāvās tathā te vikṛtaiḥ saha nānā-vīryāḥ pṛthag-bhūtā virājaṁ janayanti hi
The mahat-tattva, the total material energy, is undivided, but because of the material modes of nature, it appears to separate into earth, water, fire, air and ether. Because of the living energy [jīva-bhūta], these separated energies combine to make the cosmic manifestation visible, but in fact, before the creation of the cosmos, the total energy is already present. Therefore, the total material energy never actually enters the creation. Similarly, although You are perceived by our senses because of Your presence, You cannot be perceived by the senses, nor experienced by the mind or words [avāṅ-mānasa-gocara]. With our senses we can perceive some things, but not everything; for example, we can use our eyes to see, but not to taste. Consequently, You are beyond perception by the senses. Although in touch with the modes of material nature, You are unaffected by them. You are the prime factor in everything, the all-pervading, undivided Supersoul. For You, therefore, there is no external or internal. You never entered the womb of Devakī; rather, You existed there already.
This same understanding is explained by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4) :
FAQs
This verse indicates that when the principles/elements with varied potencies become distinctly arranged, they manifest the Virāṭ—an intelligible cosmic form of the universe.
In this chapter the narrative reveals the Supreme Lord’s appearance; Śukadeva also points to how the cosmos depends on higher reality, preparing the listener to understand Krishna as the source beyond material manifestations.
It trains one to see the world as an ordered manifestation of higher governance, reducing ego and fostering reverence and responsibility in action.