Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 11

Puṁsavana / Viṣṇu-vrata: Worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa for Auspicious Progeny and Fortune

Devanagari script

युवां तु विश्वस्य विभू जगत: कारणं परम् । इयं हि प्रकृति: सूक्ष्मा मायाशक्तिर्दुरत्यया ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

yuvāṁ tu viśvasya vibhū jagataḥ kāraṇaṁ param iyaṁ hi prakṛtiḥ sūkṣmā māyā-śaktir duratyayā

Translation

My Lord Viṣṇu and mother Lakṣmī, goddess of fortune, you are the proprietors of the entire creation. Indeed, you are the cause of the creation. Mother Lakṣmī is extremely difficult to understand because she is so powerful that the jurisdiction of her power is difficult to overcome. Mother Lakṣmī is represented in the material world as the external energy, but actually she is always the internal energy of the Lord.

Synonyms

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (nom. dual)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• विश्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg.)

• विभू: the two all-pervading lords
• विभू: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (nom. dual)

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg.)

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Predicate/Complement (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.; predicate nominative)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.); विशेषण

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतौ निपातः (indeed/for)

• प्रकृतिः: material nature
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• सूक्ष्मा: subtle
• सूक्ष्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.); विशेषण

• माया-शक्तिः: the power of māyā
• माया-शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• दुरत्यया: hard to cross/overcome
• दुरत्यया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरत्यय (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + अत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.); विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Prakriti (Maya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about māyā being difficult to overcome?

This verse states that prakṛti (material nature) is the Lord’s māyā-śakti and is duratyayā—very difficult to cross—implying liberation requires the Lord’s grace and devotional surrender.

Why does Diti call the Lord the supreme cause of the universe here?

In Canto 6, Chapter 19, Diti acknowledges the divine supremacy behind cosmic events, recognizing that both creation and the workings of material nature proceed under the Supreme Lord’s ultimate causality.

Practical application of the concept of māyā-śakti in modern life?

See material pressures and illusions as māyā’s influence; cultivate bhakti—prayer, remembrance, and disciplined living—to stay aligned with the Supreme beyond changing circumstances.