Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 34
Brahmā’s Tapasya, the Vision of Vaikuṇṭha, and the Lord’s Seed Instructions
Catuḥ-śloki
ऋतेऽर्थं यत् प्रतीयेत न प्रतीयेत चात्मनि । तद्विद्यादात्मनो मायां यथाभासो यथा तम: ॥ ३४ ॥
ṛte ’rthaṁ yat pratīyeta na pratīyeta cātmani tad vidyād ātmano māyāṁ yathābhāso yathā tamaḥ
হে ব্রহ্মা, যা কিছু আমাকে বাদ দিয়ে মূল্যবান বলে প্রতীয়মান হয়, তার বাস্তবতা নেই। তাকে আমার মায়া বলে জানো—অন্ধকারে দেখা প্রতিফলনের মতো।
In the previous verse it has already been concluded that in any stage of the cosmic manifestation — its appearance, its sustenance, its growth, its interactions of different energies, its deterioration and its disappearance — all has its basic relation with the existence of the Personality of Godhead. And as such, whenever there is forgetfulness of this prime relation with the Lord, and whenever things are accepted as real without being related to the Lord, that conception is called a product of the illusory energy of the Lord. Because nothing can exist without the Lord, it should be known that the illusory energy is also an energy of the Lord. The right conclusion of dovetailing everything in relationship with the Lord is called yoga-māyā, or the energy of union, and the wrong conception of detaching a thing from its relationship with the Lord is called the Lord’s daivī māyā, or mahā-māyā. Both the māyās also have connections with the Lord because nothing can exist without being related to Him. As such, the wrong conception of detaching relationships from the Lord is not false, but illusory.
FAQs
This verse defines māyā as anything that seems real independently of the Lord yet has no true existence in relation to Him—like a reflection or darkness.
Because māyā is an appearance that depends on the real (like a reflection depends on an object) and it obscures true knowledge (like darkness hides what is present).
Treat temporary identities and anxieties as appearances, and re-center decisions on the eternal Self and devotion to the Lord, which reveals what is truly real.