Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 6
Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa
भूतैर्भूतानि भूतेश: सृजत्यवति हन्ति च । आत्मसृष्टैरस्वतन्त्रैरनपेक्षोऽपि बालवत् ॥ ६ ॥
bhūtair bhūtāni bhūteśaḥ sṛjaty avati hanti ca ātma-sṛṣṭair asvatantrair anapekṣo ’pi bālavat
Bhūteśa, Tuhan Yang Mahatinggi, mencipta, memelihara, dan melebur makhluk melalui makhluk-makhluk itu sendiri. Walau Ia tak terikat pada perwujudan sementara ini, bagaikan anak kecil yang bermain di pantai, Ia tetap mengatur semuanya dalam kendali-Nya sebagai līlā. Untuk penciptaan Ia memakai ayah, untuk pemeliharaan raja/pemerintahan, dan untuk pemusnahan perantara seperti ular; para perantara itu tak punya daya mandiri—karena pesona māyā, jiwa mengira dirinya pelaku.
No one can independently create, maintain or annihilate. Bhagavad-gītā (3.27) therefore says:
FAQs
This verse explains that the Supreme Lord creates, protects, and withdraws beings through other beings (and forces) that He has produced—agents who are not independent—while He Himself remains fully independent.
Narada instructs Citraketu to see the Lord’s governance behind material events: outcomes occur through various instruments, but the ultimate controller is the Supreme, who remains unattached and self-sufficient.
Recognize instruments and circumstances without losing sight of the higher controller; act responsibly, but reduce anxiety and resentment by understanding that many outcomes unfold through networks of causes under divine supervision.