Shloka 34
Divinity and Divine Service
Bhagavān and Bhakti as the Supreme Dharma
भावयत्येष सत्त्वेन लोकान् वै लोकभावन: । लीलावतारानुरतो देवतिर्यङ्नरादिषु ॥ ३४ ॥
bhāvayaty eṣa sattvena lokān vai loka-bhāvanaḥ līlāvatārānurato deva-tiryaṅ-narādiṣu
The Lord who nourishes the worlds sustains all realms by sattva; delighting in His līlā-avatāras among devas, humans, and lower beings, He reclaims those established in pure goodness.
There are innumerable material universes, and in each and every universe there are innumerable planets inhabited by different grades of living entities in different modes of nature. The Lord (Viṣṇu) incarnates Himself in each and every one of them and in each and every type of living society. He manifests His transcendental pastimes amongst them just to create the desire to go back to Godhead. The Lord does not change His original transcendental position, but He appears to be differently manifested according to the particular time, circumstances and society.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord willingly takes “playful” incarnations and appears in many forms—among devas, humans, animals, and others—while sustaining the worlds through His pure goodness.
In Canto 1 Chapter 2, Suta explains Bhagavan’s supreme role: He is not only the creator but the continual maintainer who uplifts all beings, and His avatāras are expressions of that compassion.
Seeing the Lord as the universal sustainer builds trust and steadiness; reflecting on His avatāras inspires devotion, humility, and compassionate action toward all living beings across species.