Shloka 27
चेतस्तत्प्रवणं युञ्जन्नस्तावीत्संहताञ्जलि: । श्लक्ष्णया सूक्तया वाचा सर्वलोकगरीयस: ॥ २६ ॥ अत्रिरुवाच विश्वोद्भवस्थितिलयेषु विभज्यमानै- र्मायागुणैरनुयुगं विगृहीतदेहा: । ते ब्रह्मविष्णुगिरिशा: प्रणतोऽस्म्यहं व-स्तेभ्य: क एव भवतां म इहोपहूत: ॥ २७ ॥
cetas tat-pravaṇaṁ yuñjann astāvīt saṁhatāñjaliḥ ślakṣṇayā sūktayā vācā sarva-loka-garīyasaḥ
Atri said: “O Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu, and Lord Girīśa! For the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe, you manifest three forms according to the guṇas of māyā in every age. I bow to you all; pray tell, which of you have I invoked by my prayer?”
Atri Ṛṣi called for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, jagad-īśvara, the Lord of the universe. The Lord must exist before the creation; otherwise how could He be its Lord? If someone constructs a big building, this indicates that he must have existed before the building was constructed. Therefore the Supreme Lord, the creator of the universe, must be transcendental to the material modes of nature. But it is known that Viṣṇu takes charge of the mode of goodness, Brahmā takes charge of the mode of passion, and Lord Śiva takes charge of the mode of ignorance. Therefore Atri Muni said, “That jagad-īśvara, the Lord of the universe, must be one of you, but since three of you have appeared, I cannot recognize whom I have called. You are all so kind. Please let me know who is actually jagad-īśvara, the Lord of the universe.” In fact, Atri Ṛṣi was doubtful about the constitutional position of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, but he was quite certain that the Lord of the universe cannot be one of the creatures created by māyā. His very inquiry about whom he had called indicates that he was in doubt about the constitutional position of the Lord. Therefore he prayed to all three, “Kindly let me know who is the transcendental Lord of the universe.” He was certain, of course, that not all of them could be the Lord but that the Lord of the universe was one of the three.
FAQs
This verse describes that through the guṇas of māyā, distinct divine forms preside over the universe’s creation, maintenance, and dissolution—addressed here as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Giriśa (Śiva).
After offering obeisance to the three presiding forms, Atri seeks clarity about which particular divine person has responded to his worship and austerity—i.e., which of them is actually appearing due to his invocation.
Approach God with humility and clear intention: offer reverence, recognize divine governance in the world, and then seek discernment—through scripture and sincere prayer—about the Lord’s specific guidance in your life.