Shloka 38
Vidura’s Questions on Devotion and Sarga; Maitreya Begins the Account of Creation
एते देवा: कला विष्णो: कालमायांशलिङ्गिन: । नानात्वात्स्वक्रियानीशा: प्रोचु: प्राञ्जलयो विभुम् ॥ ३८ ॥
ete devāḥ kalā viṣṇoḥ kāla-māyāṁśa-liṅginaḥ nānātvāt sva-kriyānīśāḥ procuḥ prāñjalayo vibhum
The presiding deities of these elements are empowered expansions of Lord Viṣṇu; under the external energy they appear as eternal Time and are His own parts. Entrusted with diverse cosmic functions yet unable to fulfill them, they folded their hands and offered the Almighty Lord these prayers.
The conception of various controlling demigods who inhabit the higher planetary systems for the management of universal affairs is not imaginary, as proposed by persons with a poor fund of knowledge. The demigods are expanded parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, and they are embodied by time, external energy and partial consciousness of the Supreme. Human beings, animals, birds, etc., are also parts and parcels of the Lord and have different material bodies, but they are not the controlling deities of material affairs. They are, rather, controlled by such demigods. Such control is not superfluous; it is as necessary as the controlling departments in the affairs of a modern state. The demigods should not be despised by the controlled living beings. They are all great devotees of the Lord entrusted to execute certain functions of universal affairs. One may be angry with Yamarāja for his thankless task of punishing sinful souls, but Yamarāja is one of the authorized devotees of the Lord, and so are all the other demigods. A devotee of the Lord is never controlled by such deputed demigods, who function as assistants of the Lord, but he shows them all respects on account of the responsible positions to which they have been appointed by the Lord. At the same time, a devotee of the Lord does not foolishly mistake them to be the Supreme Lord. Only foolish persons accept the demigods as being on the same level as Viṣṇu; actually they are all appointed as servants of Viṣṇu.
FAQs
This verse states that the devas are kalāḥ—partial expansions/parts of Viṣṇu—each empowered to manage specific cosmic functions, and they ultimately depend on and worship the Supreme Lord.
Because although they are controllers of particular departments of the universe, they recognize Viṣṇu as Vibhu, the all-pervading Supreme, and approach Him in humility and reverence.
Respect delegated authorities and natural laws, but place ultimate trust and devotion in the Supreme Lord, recognizing that all power and order ultimately come from Him.