Shloka 43
Vidura’s Questions on Devotion and Sarga; Maitreya Begins the Account of Creation
विश्वस्य जन्मस्थितिसंयमार्थे कृतावतारस्य पदाम्बुजं ते । व्रजेम सर्वे शरणं यदीश स्मृतं प्रयच्छत्यभयं स्वपुंसाम् ॥ ४३ ॥
viśvasya janma-sthiti-saṁyamārthe kṛtāvatārasya padāmbujaṁ te vrajema sarve śaraṇaṁ yad īśa smṛtaṁ prayacchaty abhayaṁ sva-puṁsām
O Lord, for the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe You descend in incarnations; therefore we all take shelter of Your lotus feet, for remembrance of You grants Your devotees sacred memory, courage, and fearlessness.
For the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic manifestations there are three incarnations: Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara (Lord Śiva). They are the controllers or masters of the three modes of material nature, which cause the phenomenal manifestation. Viṣṇu is the master of the mode of goodness, Brahmā is the master of the mode of passion, and Maheśvara is the master of the mode of ignorance. There are different kinds of devotees according to the modes of nature. Persons in the mode of goodness worship Lord Viṣṇu, those in the mode of passion worship Lord Brahmā, and those in the mode of ignorance worship Lord Śiva. All three of these deities are incarnations of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa because He is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demigods directly refer to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord and not to the different incarnations. The incarnation of Viṣṇu in the material world is, however, directly worshiped by the demigods. It is learned from various scriptures that the demigods approach Lord Viṣṇu in the Ocean of Milk and submit their grievances whenever there is some difficulty in the administration of universal affairs. Although they are incarnations of the Lord, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva worship Lord Viṣṇu, and thus they are also counted amongst the demigods and not as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Persons who worship Lord Viṣṇu are called demigods, and persons who do not do so are called asuras, or demons. Viṣṇu always takes the part of the demigods, but Brahmā and Śiva sometimes take the side of the demons; it is not that they become one in interest with them, but sometimes they do something in order to gain control over the demons.
FAQs
This verse states that simply remembering the Supreme Lord grants abhaya (fearlessness) to His own devotees, so taking shelter of His lotus feet through smaraṇa is a direct remedy for fear.
Approaching Maitreya for spiritual guidance, Vidura expresses the core conclusion—since the Lord descends to manage creation, maintenance, and dissolution, the safest course is surrender to Him, especially through remembrance.
Regularly remember the Lord through japa, prayer, and hearing sacred texts; this re-centers the mind beyond anxiety and cultivates inner fearlessness rooted in divine protection.