Shloka 50
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
श्रीभगवानुवाच अहं ब्रह्मा च शर्वश्च जगत: कारणं परम् । आत्मेश्वर उपद्रष्टा स्वयंदृगविशेषण: ॥ ५० ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca ahaṁ brahmā ca śarvaś ca jagataḥ kāraṇaṁ param ātmeśvara upadraṣṭā svayan-dṛg aviśeṣaṇaḥ
The Supreme Lord said: Brahmā, Śarva (Śiva), and I are the supreme cause of the universe’s manifestation. I am the indwelling Paramātmā, the self-sufficient witness; yet in the impersonal view there is no difference between Brahmā, Śiva, and Me.
Lord Brahmā was born out of the transcendental body of Lord Viṣṇu, and Lord Śiva was born out of the body of Brahmā. Lord Viṣṇu is therefore the supreme cause. In the Vedas also it is stated that in the beginning there was only Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa; there was no Brahmā or Śiva. Similarly, Śaṅkarācārya confirmed this: nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ. Nārāyaṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, is the origin, and Brahmā and Śiva are manifested after creation. Lord Viṣṇu is also ātmeśvara, the Supersoul in everyone. Under His direction, everything is prompted from within. For example, in the beginning of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is stated, tene brahma hṛdā: He first educated Lord Brahmā from within.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord, along with Brahmā and Śiva in their cosmic functions, is described as the supreme cause, with the Lord as the self-luminous witnessing overseer (Paramātmā).
In the context of Dakṣa’s sacrifice and Śiva’s role, the Lord clarifies the divine governance of creation, maintenance, and dissolution, emphasizing unity of supreme control and the Lord’s position as the ultimate witness and ruler within.
By practicing awareness that the self and actions are observed by the inner Lord (Paramātmā), one cultivates self-control, humility, and devotion, making choices aligned with dharma rather than impulse.