Shloka 20
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
नूनं तपो यस्य न मन्युनिर्जयो ज्ञानं क्वचित् तच्च न सङ्गवर्जितम् । कश्चिन्महांस्तस्य न कामनिर्जय: स ईश्वर: किं परतोव्यपाश्रय: ॥ २० ॥
nūnaṁ tapo yasya na manyu-nirjayo jñānaṁ kvacit tac ca na saṅga-varjitam kaścin mahāṁs tasya na kāma-nirjayaḥ sa īśvaraḥ kiṁ parato vyapāśrayaḥ
Surveying the assembly, Goddess Lakṣmī reflected: One may have performed great austerities, yet not conquered anger; another may possess knowledge, yet not be free from attachment; another may be exalted, yet unable to subdue lust. If even the great depend on something else, how can they be the Supreme Controller?
Here is an attempt to find the supreme controller, or īśvara. Everyone may be accepted as an īśvara, or controller, but still such controllers are controlled by others. For example, one may have undergone severe austerities but still be under the control of anger. By a scrutinizing analysis, we find that everyone is controlled by something else. No one, therefore, can be the true controller but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. This is supported by the śāstras. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ: the supreme controller is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is never controlled by anyone, for He is the controller of everyone ( sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam ).
FAQs
This verse teaches that austerity and learning are incomplete without conquering anger (krodha) and desire (kāma), and that true greatness is measured by freedom from these inner enemies.
Real knowledge is shown by detachment—knowledge that remains mixed with attachment (saṅga) is not considered fully purifying or spiritually mature.
Use spiritual practices not as a badge of pride but as tools for inner transformation—track whether your sadhana reduces anger, attachment, and impulsive desire, and increase devotion and humility accordingly.