Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 8
Bali Liberated, Prahlāda Blessed, and Vāmana Accepted as Universal Protector
चित्रं तवेहितमहोऽमितयोगमाया- लीलाविसृष्टभुवनस्य विशारदस्य । सर्वात्मन: समदृशोऽविषम: स्वभावो भक्तप्रियो यदसि कल्पतरुस्वभाव: ॥ ८ ॥
citraṁ tavehitam aho ’mita-yoga-māyā- līlā-visṛṣṭa-bhuvanasya viśāradasya sarvātmanaḥ samadṛśo ’viṣamaḥ svabhāvo bhakta-priyo yad asi kalpataru-svabhāvaḥ
O my Lord, wondrous indeed are Your deeds: by Your limitless, inconceivable yogamāyā You manifest the universes, and by her reflected shadow the material energy appears. As the Supersoul of all, You are equal to everyone; yet You especially favor Your devotees. This is not partiality, for Your nature is like a wish-fulfilling tree, granting according to one’s desire.
The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29) :
FAQs
This verse says the Lord is the Self of all and sees everyone equally (sama-dṛśa), never acting with bias (aviṣama), yet He becomes especially dear to devotees because His nature is to reciprocate like a wish-fulfilling tree with those who take shelter.
In their prayers, the devas marvel that the Lord, through immeasurable yogamāyā, manifests the worlds as a divine play (līlā) and remains supremely expert—highlighting His sovereignty and the mystery of His actions.
The takeaway is to cultivate sincere devotion—regular prayer, remembrance, and ethical living—because the Bhagavatam teaches that the Lord especially reciprocates with loving surrender, even while remaining fair to all.