Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 9
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
यावत्पृथक्त्वमिदमात्मन इन्द्रियार्थ- मायाबलं भगवतो जन ईश पश्येत् । तावन्न संसृतिरसौ प्रतिसंक्रमेत व्यर्थापि दु:खनिवहं वहती क्रियार्था ॥ ९ ॥
yāvat pṛthaktvam idam ātmana indriyārtha- māyā-balaṁ bhagavato jana īśa paśyet tāvan na saṁsṛtir asau pratisaṅkrameta vyarthāpi duḥkha-nivahaṁ vahatī kriyārthā
Wahai Tuhan, bagi sang jiwa penderitaan materi sesungguhnya tidak memiliki kenyataan. Namun selama makhluk terikat, oleh kekuatan maya lahiriah-Mu, memandang tubuh sebagai “aku” untuk kenikmatan indera dan melihat perbedaan, ia tak dapat keluar dari putaran samsara dan sia-sia memikul tumpukan duka.
The whole trouble of the living entity in material existence is that he has an independent conception of life. He is always dependent on the rules of the Supreme Lord, in both the conditioned and liberated states, but by the influence of the external energy the conditioned soul thinks himself independent of the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead. His constitutional position is to dovetail himself with the desire of the supreme will, but as long as he does not do so, he is sure to drag on in the shackles of material bondage. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.55) , prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān: he has to give up all sorts of plans manufactured by mental concoction. The living entity has to dovetail himself with the supreme will. That will help him to get out of the entanglement of material existence.
FAQs
This verse explains that as long as one identifies with separateness—self, senses, and sense-objects under māyā—one cannot cross beyond saṁsāra; worldly striving then only increases the burden of suffering.
Brahmā is offering prayers to the Lord, acknowledging that creation-bound consciousness rooted in duality and sense-identification cannot grant liberation; only the Lord’s truth dispels māyā.
Reduce identity-based separations (ego, possessions, sensory chasing) and align actions with devotion and inner clarity; otherwise, even “successful” goal-driven work can accumulate stress and dissatisfaction.