Shloka 44

Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord

Devanagari script

गुणाभिमानिनो देवा: सर्गादिष्वस्य यद्भयात् । वर्तन्तेऽनुयुगं येषां वश एतच्चराचरम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

guṇābhimānino devāḥ sargādiṣv asya yad-bhayāt vartante ’nuyugaṁ yeṣāṁ vaśa etac carācaram

Translation

Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the presiding demigods over the modes of nature perform, age after age, the works of creation, maintenance, and destruction; all that moves and does not move in this material world lies under their governance.

Synonyms

• guṇa-abhimāninaḥ: identifying with the guṇas
• guṇa-abhimāninaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'having pride in guṇas'); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies devāḥ

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• sarga-ādiṣu: in creation etc.
• sarga-ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarga (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (समाहार/अव्ययीभाव-न; here determinative 'creation etc.'); Locative (7th), Plural; 'in creation and so on'

• asya: of him/of this (Lord)
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• yat: from which
• yat: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th), Singular; in compound yad-bhayāt

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th), Singular

• vartante: proceed/function
• vartante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt वृत् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Plural

• anu-yugam: age after age
• anu-yugam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: 'according to each age'; used adverbially

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Plural; relative pronoun

• vaśe: under the control
• vaśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; demonstrative used with carācaram

• carācaram: all moving and nonmoving beings
• carācaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cara (प्रातिपदिक) + acara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: moving and non-moving); Neuter, Nominative, Singular (collective)

Purport

The three modes of material nature, namely goodness, passion and ignorance, are under the control of three deities — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva. Lord Viṣṇu is in charge of the mode of goodness, Lord Brahmā is in charge of the mode of passion, and Lord Śiva is in charge of the mode of ignorance. Similarly, there are many other demigods in charge of the air department, the water department, the cloud department, etc. Just as the government has many different departments, so, within this material world, the government of the Supreme Lord has many departments, and all these departments function in proper order out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Demigods are undoubtedly controlling all matter, animate and inanimate, within the universe, but above them the supreme controller is the Personality of Godhead. Therefore in the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said, īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. Undoubtedly there are many controllers in the departmental management of this universe, but the supreme controller is Kṛṣṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Demigods (Devas)
• Supreme Lord (Īśvara)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demigods and the Supreme Lord’s control?

This verse states that even the demigods, who preside over cosmic functions like creation, act under the Supreme Lord’s authority, and all beings—moving and nonmoving—remain under His control in every age.

Why did Lord Kapila say that the demigods act out of fear of Him?

In teaching Devahūti about pure devotional service, Kapila emphasizes God’s absolute supremacy: the devas perform their duties because the Lord’s governing power compels universal order and prevents chaos.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Recognize a higher divine order beyond temporary power structures; perform your duties responsibly and cultivate devotion and humility, understanding that real control belongs to the Supreme.