Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 38
Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha
करोति विश्वस्थितिसंयमोदयं यस्येप्सितं नेप्सितमीक्षितुर्गुणै: । माया यथायो भ्रमते तदाश्रयं ग्राव्णो नमस्ते गुणकर्मसाक्षिणे ॥ ३८ ॥
karoti viśva-sthiti-saṁyamodayaṁ yasyepsitaṁ nepsitam īkṣitur guṇaiḥ māyā yathāyo bhramate tad-āśrayaṁ grāvṇo namas te guṇa-karma-sākṣiṇe
O Lord, You do not personally desire the creation, maintenance, or dissolution of this material world; yet for the welfare of the conditioned souls You cause these acts through Your māyā-śakti. Just as iron moves under the power of a lodestone, inert matter moves when You cast Your glance upon the total material energy. O witness of all qualities and deeds, I offer You my obeisances.
Sometimes the question arises why the Supreme Lord has created this material world, which is so full of suffering for the living entities entrapped in it. The answer given herein is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not wish to create this material world just to inflict suffering on the living entities. The Supreme Lord creates this world only because the conditioned souls want to enjoy it.
FAQs
This verse says māyā acts only by taking shelter of the Lord; like iron moved by a magnet, the world’s movement under māyā depends on His supreme influence.
The Supreme Lord as Paramātmā—He observes and sanctions the workings of the modes of nature and the karmic activities of all beings.
Seeing that both the desired and undesired come under the Lord’s governance, a devotee cultivates surrender and steadiness—offering results to Him rather than being ruled by changing circumstances.