Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 17
Nārada Instructs the Pracetās: Bhakti as the Goal of All Paths
यथा नभस्यभ्रतम:प्रकाशा भवन्ति भूपा न भवन्त्यनुक्रमात् । एवं परे ब्रह्मणि शक्तयस्त्वमू रजस्तम:सत्त्वमिति प्रवाह: ॥ १७ ॥
yathā nabhasy abhra-tamaḥ-prakāśā bhavanti bhūpā na bhavanty anukramāt evaṁ pare brahmaṇi śaktayas tv amū rajas tamaḥ sattvam iti pravāhaḥ
王たちよ、天空に雲が現れ、闇が訪れ、また光が差す――それらが順に起こるように、至上の絶対においても、ラジャス・タマス・サットヴァという力が流れとして、あるとき現れ、あるとき隠れる。
Darkness, illumination and clouds sometimes appear and sometimes disappear, but even when they have disappeared, the potency is still there, always existing. In the sky sometimes we see clouds, sometimes rainfall and sometimes snow. Sometimes we see night, sometimes day, sometimes illumination and sometimes darkness. All these exist due to the sun, but the sun is unaffected by all these changes. Similarly, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original cause of the total cosmic manifestation, He is unaffected by the material existence. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.4) :
FAQs
This verse explains that the three modes are energies that appear as a flowing sequence, but they ultimately rest in the Supreme Brahman and are not independent ultimate realities.
Narada instructs the Pracetas to see beyond surface changes of material nature and understand the Supreme foundation, helping them progress from worldly engagement to spiritual realization.
Recognize moods and circumstances as shifting modes, not your true self; anchor daily life in spiritual practice (bhakti, remembrance, disciplined living) to remain steady beyond passion and ignorance.