Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 5
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi and the Lord’s Unlimited Incarnations
आदावभूच्छतधृती रजसास्य सर्गे विष्णु: स्थितौ क्रतुपतिर्द्विजधर्मसेतु: । रुद्रोऽप्ययाय तमसा पुरुष: स आद्य इत्युद्भवस्थितिलया: सततं प्रजासु ॥ ५ ॥
ādāv abhūc chata-dhṛtī rajasāsya sarge viṣṇuḥ sthitau kratu-patir dvija-dharma-setuḥ rudro ’pyayāya tamasā puruṣaḥ sa ādya ity udbhava-sthiti-layāḥ satataṁ prajāsu
Au commencement, pour créer l’univers, la Personne Suprême originelle manifesta la forme de Brahmā (Śatadhṛti) par le mode de la passion. Pour le maintien, Il manifesta la forme de Viṣṇu, maître du sacrifice et protecteur du pont du dharma des dvijas. Et lorsque vient la dissolution, le même Seigneur, par le mode de l’ignorance, manifeste la forme de Rudra. Ainsi les êtres créés demeurent sans cesse soumis aux forces de création, de préservation et de destruction.
In the previous verse the Supreme Personality of Godhead was described as ādi-kartā, the original person responsible for the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the material world. According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, ādi-kartā, or “the original doer,” implies subsequent creators, maintainers and annihilators. Otherwise there would be no meaning to the word ādi, or “original.” Therefore this verse describes that the Absolute Truth expands Himself into the guṇāvatāras, or incarnations who carry out the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the universe through the modes of passion, goodness and ignorance respectively.
FAQs
This verse explains that the one original Supreme Person manifests functional roles: Brahmā for creation through rajas, Viṣṇu for maintenance, and Rudra for dissolution through tamas—showing unity of divine governance behind cosmic functions.
He highlights Viṣṇu as the Lord of sacrifice (yajña), because dharma and cosmic order are sustained through sacred duty; as 'dvija-dharma-setu' He is the protecting bridge that preserves Vedic conduct and spiritual culture.
It encourages seeing life’s changes—beginnings, stability, and endings—as governed by divine order, helping one cultivate steadiness, perform one’s duties as worship, and remain devoted through inevitable transformations.