Shloka 23
Divinity and Divine Service
Bhagavān and Bhakti as the Supreme Dharma
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति प्रकृतेर्गुणास्तै- र्युक्त: पर: पुरुष एक इहास्य धत्ते । स्थित्यादये हरिविरिञ्चिहरेति संज्ञा: श्रेयांसि तत्र खलु सत्त्वतनोर्नृणां स्यु: ॥ २३ ॥
sattvaṁ rajas tama iti prakṛter guṇās tair yuktaḥ paraḥ puruṣa eka ihāsya dhatte sthity-ādaye hari-viriñci-hareti saṁjñāḥ śreyāṁsi tatra khalu sattva-tanor nṛṇāṁ syuḥ
Sattva, rajas, and tamas are the modes of material nature. Though the Supreme Person is one, for the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the world He assumes the three qualitative forms known as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva. Among these, the sattvic form of Viṣṇu bestows the highest good upon humankind.
That Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, by His plenary parts, should be rendered devotional service, as explained above, is confirmed by this statement. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and all His plenary parts are viṣṇu-tattva, or the Lordship of Godhead. From Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the next manifestation is Baladeva. From Baladeva is Saṅkarṣaṇa, from Saṅkarṣaṇa is Nārāyaṇa, from Nārāyaṇa there is the second Saṅkarṣaṇa, and from this Saṅkarṣaṇa the Viṣṇu puruṣa-avatāras. The Viṣṇu or the Deity of the quality of goodness in the material world is the puruṣa-avatāra known as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu or Paramātmā. Brahmā is the deity of rajas (passion), and Śiva of ignorance. They are the three departmental heads of the three qualities of this material world. Creation is made possible by Brahmā’s quality of passion and his endeavor, it is maintained by the goodness of Viṣṇu, and when it requires to be destroyed, Lord Śiva does it by the tāṇḍavanṛtya. The materialists and the foolish human beings worship Brahmā and Śiva respectively. But the pure transcendentalists worship the form of goodness, Viṣṇu, in His various forms. Viṣṇu is manifested by His millions and billions of integrated forms and separated forms. The integrated forms are called Godhead, and the separated forms are called the living entities or the jīvas. Both the jīvas and Godhead have their original spiritual forms. Jīvas are sometimes subjected to the control of material energy, but the Viṣṇu forms are always controllers of this energy. When Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead, appears in the material world, He comes to deliver the conditioned living beings who are under the material energy. Such living beings appear in the material world with intentions of being lords, and thus they become entrapped by the three modes of nature. As such, the living entities have to change their material coverings for undergoing different terms of imprisonment. The prison house of the material world is created by Brahmā under instruction of the Personality of Godhead, and at the conclusion of a kalpa the whole thing is destroyed by Śiva. But as far as maintenance of the prison house is concerned, it is done by Viṣṇu, as much as the state prison house is maintained by the state. Anyone, therefore, who wishes to get out of this prison house of material existence, which is full of miseries like repetition of birth, death, disease and old age, must please Lord Viṣṇu for such liberation. Lord Viṣṇu is worshiped by devotional service only, and if anyone has to continue prison life in the material world, he may ask for relative facilities for temporary relief from the different demigods like Śiva, Brahmā, Indra and Varuṇa. No demigod, however, can release the imprisoned living being from the conditioned life of material existence. This can be done only by Viṣṇu. Therefore, the ultimate benefit may be derived from Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse explains that the one Supreme Person is known as Hari (for maintenance), Viriñci/Brahmā (for creation), and Hara/Śiva (for dissolution) in relation to the universe’s functions under the three modes.
Because auspiciousness for humans is especially linked with the Lord’s sattvic manifestation (Viṣṇu/Hari), as sattva supports clarity, purity, and devotion, unlike passion and ignorance which bind and confuse.
Cultivate sattva—clean habits, truthful living, calm mind, and devotional practices—so consciousness becomes receptive to bhakti, rather than being driven by restless passion or dull ignorance.