Shloka 42
Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord
स्रवन्ति सरितो भीता नोत्सर्पत्युदधिर्यत: । अग्निरिन्धे सगिरिभिर्भूर्न मज्जति यद्भयात् ॥ ४२ ॥
sravanti sarito bhītā notsarpaty udadhir yataḥ agnir indhe sa-giribhir bhūr na majjati yad-bhayāt
Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the rivers flow and the ocean never oversteps its bounds. Out of fear of Him alone fire burns, and the earth with its mountains does not sink into the waters of the universe.
We can understand from the Vedic literature that this universe is half filled with water, on which Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is lying. From His abdomen a lotus flower has grown, and within the stem of that lotus flower all the different planets exist. The material scientist explains that all these different planets are floating because of the law of gravity or some other law; but the actual lawmaker is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When we speak of law, we must understand that there must be a lawmaker. The material scientists can discover laws of nature, but they are unable to recognize the lawmaker. From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā we can know who the lawmaker is: the lawmaker is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that natural forces act within limits because of the Supreme Lord’s governing power—rivers flow, the ocean stays within its boundary, fire burns, and the earth remains stable out of fear (awe) of Him.
Kapila is teaching Devahuti the Lord’s supremacy: the cosmos is not random—its order and restraint are maintained by the Supreme Person, supporting a devotee’s faith and surrender.
Remembering that a higher divine order governs the world helps cultivate humility, steadiness in chaos, and deeper trust—supporting sincere bhakti and disciplined living.