Shloka 16
The Appearance of Lord Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa) and the Divine Exchange with Yoga-māyā
यथेमेऽविकृता भावास्तथा ते विकृतै: सह । नानावीर्या: पृथग्भूता विराजं जनयन्ति हि ॥ १५ ॥ सन्निपत्य समुत्पाद्य दृश्यन्तेऽनुगता इव । प्रागेव विद्यमानत्वान्न तेषामिह सम्भव: ॥ १६ ॥ एवं भवान् बुद्ध्यनुमेयलक्षणै- र्ग्राह्यैर्गुणै: सन्नपि तद्गुणाग्रह: । अनावृतत्वाद् बहिरन्तरं न ते सर्वस्य सर्वात्मन आत्मवस्तुन: ॥ १७ ॥
yatheme ’vikṛtā bhāvās tathā te vikṛtaiḥ saha nānā-vīryāḥ pṛthag-bhūtā virājaṁ janayanti hi
Just as the undivided mahat-tattva, by transformations of the three guṇas, appears to separate into elements and manifest the cosmic form—seeming to arise when combined, though existing even before creation—so You, though perceived through signs inferred by intelligence and through qualities grasped by the senses, remain untouched by the guṇas. Being the uncovered Ātman of all, for You there is no distinction of outside and inside.
This same understanding is explained by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4) :
FAQs
This verse indicates that when the principles/elements with varied potencies become distinctly arranged, they manifest the Virāṭ—an intelligible cosmic form of the universe.
In this chapter the narrative reveals the Supreme Lord’s appearance; Śukadeva also points to how the cosmos depends on higher reality, preparing the listener to understand Krishna as the source beyond material manifestations.
It trains one to see the world as an ordered manifestation of higher governance, reducing ego and fostering reverence and responsibility in action.