Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 4
Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha
वदन्ति विश्वं कवय: स्म नश्वरंपश्यन्ति चाध्यात्मविदो विपश्चित: । तथापि मुह्यन्ति तवाज माययासुविस्मितं कृत्यमजं नतोऽस्मि तम् ॥ ४ ॥
vadanti viśvaṁ kavayaḥ sma naśvaraṁ paśyanti cādhyātmavido vipaścitaḥ tathāpi muhyanti tavāja māyayā suvismitaṁ kṛtyam ajaṁ nato ’smi tam
Ô Toi, l’Inengendré (Aja), les poètes et les sages versés en spiritualité disent et voient que ce monde est périssable. En samādhi, ils en réalisent la position réelle et prêchent la vérité. Pourtant, même eux sont parfois troublés par Ta māyā; c’est là Ta lila merveilleuse. Ainsi, je T’offre mes respectueuses prosternations.
Not only does the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead act on the conditioned soul within this material world, but sometimes it also acts on the most advanced learned scholars, who factually know the constitutional position of this material world through realization. As soon as someone thinks, “I am this material body ( ahaṁ mameti ) and everything in relationship with this material body is mine,” he is in illusion ( moha ). This illusion caused by the material energy acts especially on the conditioned souls, but it sometimes also acts on liberated souls as well. A liberated soul is a person who has sufficient knowledge of this material world and is therefore unattached to the bodily conception of life. But because of association with the modes of material nature for a very long time, even liberated souls sometimes become captivated by the illusory energy due to inattentiveness in the transcendental position. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) , mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te: “Only those who surrender unto Me can overcome the influence of the material energy.” Therefore no one should think of himself as a liberated person immune to the influence of māyā. Everyone should very cautiously execute devotional service by rigidly following regulative principles. Thus he will remain fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord. Otherwise, a little inattention will create havoc. We have already seen an example of this in the case of Mahārāja Bharata. Mahārāja Bharata was undoubtedly a great devotee, but because he turned his attention slightly toward a small deer, he had to suffer two more births, one as a deer and another as the brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharata. Afterward he was liberated and went back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that both poets and self-realized thinkers recognize the universe as perishable (naśvara), emphasizing its temporary, changing nature.
Because the Lord’s māyā is extraordinarily powerful; even those who intellectually perceive the world’s impermanence may still become deluded without full surrender to Bhagavān.
Recognize that insight alone may not remove illusion; cultivate devotion, humility, and steady spiritual practice, offering respect to the Lord’s supreme power rather than trusting only the mind’s conclusions.