Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 23
Soma Pacifies the Pracetās; Dakṣa’s Haṁsa-guhya Prayers; Hari Grants Creative Power
श्रीप्रजापतिरुवाच नम: परायावितथानुभूतये गुणत्रयाभासनिमित्तबन्धवे । अदृष्टधाम्ने गुणतत्त्वबुद्धिभि- र्निवृत्तमानाय दधे स्वयम्भुवे ॥ २३ ॥
śrī-prajāpatir uvāca namaḥ parāyāvitathānubhūtaye guṇa-trayābhāsa-nimitta-bandhave adṛṣṭa-dhāmne guṇa-tattva-buddhibhir nivṛtta-mānāya dadhe svayambhuve
Prajāpati sprach: Meine ehrerbietigen Verneigungen der Höchsten Persönlichkeit, deren Erkenntnis niemals trügt; die durch das Erscheinen der māyā der drei guṇas die Fesselung der Seelen lenkt; deren Wohnstatt den Beweisen experimentellen Wissens entzogen ist; die selbst das Verständnis der Wahrheit der guṇas übersteigt, unberührt bleibt, aus sich selbst hervortritt und keiner höheren Ursache bedarf. Ihm bringe ich meinen ehrfürchtigen Gruß dar.
The transcendental position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explained herewith. He is not perceivable by the conditioned souls, who are accustomed to material vision and cannot understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead exists in His abode, which is beyond that vision. Even if a materialistic person could count all the atoms in the universe, he would still be unable to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā (5.34) :
FAQs
This verse praises the Supreme as the underlying cause of the guṇas’ manifestation, yet possessing an unseen (transcendent) abode—indicating He is not bound by the modes even while they operate under His supervision.
Prajāpati offers a formal prayer of surrender, glorifying the Lord as infallibly real and free from pride, acknowledging that true authority over creation and the guṇas rests in the Supreme, not in the ego of a creator-like being.
By recognizing that achievements and abilities function within the guṇas, one can reduce false prestige, act responsibly without arrogance, and cultivate humility and devotion—qualities that support inner peace and spiritual progress.