Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28
The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
त्वमकरण: स्वराडखिलकारकशक्तिधर- स्तव बलिमुद्वहन्ति समदन्त्यजयानिमिषा: । वर्षभुजोऽखिलक्षितिपतेरिव विश्वसृजो विदधति यत्र ये त्वधिकृता भवतश्चकिता: ॥ २८ ॥
tvam akaraṇaḥ sva-rāḍ akhila-kāraka-śakti-dharas tava balim udvahanti samadanty ajayānimiṣāḥ varṣa-bhujo ’khila-kṣiti-pater iva viśva-sṛjo vidadhati yatra ye tv adhikṛtā bhavataś cakitāḥ
Though You have no material senses, You are the self-effulgent sustainer of everyone’s sensory powers. The demigods and material nature herself offer You tribute, while also enjoying the tribute offered them by their worshipers, just as subordinate rulers of various districts in a kingdom offer tribute to their lord, the ultimate proprietor of the land, while also enjoying the tribute paid them by their own subjects. In this way the universal creators faithfully execute their assigned services out of fear of You.
All intelligent living beings should acknowledge the sovereignty of the Lord and willingly engage in devotional service to Him. Such is the consensus of the personified Vedas. But Lord Nārāyaṇa, while hearing these prayers, may have reasonably asked, “Since I also have a bodily form with sense organs and limbs, am I not just another doer and enjoyer? Especially since as the Supersoul in every being’s heart I supervise countless organs and limbs, how am I not implicated in the sum total of everyone’s sense gratification?” “No,” the assembled śrutis here rejoin, “You have no material senses, yet You are the absolute controller of all.” As expressed in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (3.19):
FAQs
This verse states that even the “unblinking” gods carry offerings to the Supreme Lord and administer the universe only within the authority He grants, showing their dependence on Him.
They affirm that the Lord does not need material instruments to act (akaraṇaḥ), yet all causal powers and agencies function because His śakti sustains and empowers them.
See your abilities as entrusted power: act responsibly within your role, remain humble, and offer the results back to the Supreme—like administrators serving a higher sovereign.