Shloka 43
द्रव्यं वय: कर्म गुणान्विशेषं यद्योगमायाविहितान्वदन्ति । यद् दुर्विभाव्यं प्रबुधापबाधं प्रसीदतां न: स महाविभूति: ॥ ४३ ॥
dravyaṁ vayaḥ karma guṇān viśeṣaṁ yad-yoga-māyā-vihitān vadanti yad durvibhāvyaṁ prabudhāpabādhaṁ prasīdatāṁ naḥ sa mahā-vibhūtiḥ
The learned declare that the five elements, time, karma, the three guṇas of material nature, and the varieties born of those guṇas are all creations arranged by yoga-māyā. Therefore this material world is exceedingly difficult to fathom, and the most awakened sages have rejected it. May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, controller of all, be pleased with us.
The word durvibhāvyam is very important in this verse. No one can understand how everything is happening in this material world by the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His material energies. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10) , mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram: everything is actually happening under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This much we can learn, but how it is happening is extremely difficult to understand. We cannot even understand how the affairs within our body are systematically taking place. The body is a small universe, and since we cannot understand how things are happening in this small universe, how can we understand the affairs of the bigger universe? Actually this universe is very difficult to understand, yet learned sages have advised, as Kṛṣṇa has also advised, that this material world is duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam; in other words, it is a place of misery and temporality. One must give up this world and go back home, back to the Personality of Godhead. Materialists may argue, “If this material world and its affairs are impossible to understand, how can we reject it?” The answer is provided by the word prabudhāpabādham. We have to reject this material world because it is rejected by those who are learned in Vedic wisdom. Even though we cannot understand what this material world is, we should be ready to reject it in accordance with the advice of learned persons, especially the advice of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says:
FAQs
This verse states that the distinctions of matter, time, action, and qualities are arranged by the Lord’s Yogamāyā—His divine potency that orchestrates the manifest world.
Because the Supreme Lord’s true nature transcends material categories and even learned reasoning cannot fully grasp or disprove Him; therefore the devas turn to humble prayer for His mercy.
Recognize the limits of intellect in spiritual matters, and cultivate sincere devotion and humility—seeking the Lord’s grace rather than trying to control everything through material analysis alone.