Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 35
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship
श्रीपिप्पलायन उवाच स्थित्युद्भवप्रलयहेतुरहेतुरस्य यत् स्वप्नजागरसुषुप्तिषु सद् बहिश्च । देहेन्द्रियासुहृदयानि चरन्ति येन सञ्जीवितानि तदवेहि परं नरेन्द्र ॥ ३५ ॥
śrī-pippalāyana uvāca sthity-udbhava-pralaya-hetur ahetur asya yat svapna-jāgara-suṣuptiṣu sad bahiś ca dehendriyāsu-hṛdayāni caranti yena sañjīvitāni tad avehi paraṁ narendra
Śrī Pippalāyana dit : La Personne Suprême est la cause de la création, du maintien et de la dissolution de l’univers, et pourtant Elle n’a pas de cause antérieure. Elle imprègne l’état de veille, le rêve et le sommeil profond, tout en demeurant au-delà. Entrant comme Paramātmā dans le corps de chaque être, Elle vivifie le corps, les sens, les souffles vitaux et l’esprit ; ô roi, sache que ce Seigneur est le Suprême.
In the previous verse King Nimi inquired about various aspects of the Absolute Truth, namely Nārāyaṇa, Brahman and Paramātmā. Now the sage Śrī Pippalāyana explains these three features of the Absolute Truth in the same order in which the King mentioned them. Sthity-udbhava-pralaya-hetuḥ refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who expands Himself as the triple puruṣa incarnations — Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. As described in the Bhāgavatam (1.3.1) :
FAQs
This verse says the Supreme exists within and without in all three states—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—while enlivening the body, senses, and mind.
In the dialogue of the Nine Yogendras with King Nimi, Pippalāyana points the king toward the Supreme Truth (Paramātmā/Bhagavān) as the inner life of all experience and the ultimate cause beyond all causes.
Practice remembering the Divine as the constant awareness behind changing moods and states; this steadies the mind and supports devotion, humility, and detachment from temporary identity.