Shloka 28
The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
त्वमकरण: स्वराडखिलकारकशक्तिधर- स्तव बलिमुद्वहन्ति समदन्त्यजयानिमिषा: । वर्षभुजोऽखिलक्षितिपतेरिव विश्वसृजो विदधति यत्र ये त्वधिकृता भवतश्चकिता: ॥ २८ ॥
tvam akaraṇaḥ sva-rāḍ akhila-kāraka-śakti-dharas tava balim udvahanti samadanty ajayānimiṣāḥ varṣa-bhujo ’khila-kṣiti-pater iva viśva-sṛjo vidadhati yatra ye tv adhikṛtā bhavataś cakitāḥ
物質の感官を持たれずとも、あなたは自ら輝く主であり、あらゆる感官の力を支える方。諸天とプラクリティ（物質自然）はあなたに貢ぎを捧げ、同時に自らの礼拝者からの供物を享受する。これは王国の地方領主が大地の究極の所有者たる王に貢納しつつ、自領の貢租を受けるのに似る。かくして宇宙の造作に携わる者たちは、あなたを畏れて任じられた奉仕を忠実に果たす。
All intelligent living beings should acknowledge the sovereignty of the Lord and willingly engage in devotional service to Him. Such is the consensus of the personified Vedas. But Lord Nārāyaṇa, while hearing these prayers, may have reasonably asked, “Since I also have a bodily form with sense organs and limbs, am I not just another doer and enjoyer? Especially since as the Supersoul in every being’s heart I supervise countless organs and limbs, how am I not implicated in the sum total of everyone’s sense gratification?” “No,” the assembled śrutis here rejoin, “You have no material senses, yet You are the absolute controller of all.” As expressed in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (3.19):
FAQs
This verse states that even the “unblinking” gods carry offerings to the Supreme Lord and administer the universe only within the authority He grants, showing their dependence on Him.
They affirm that the Lord does not need material instruments to act (akaraṇaḥ), yet all causal powers and agencies function because His śakti sustains and empowers them.
See your abilities as entrusted power: act responsibly within your role, remain humble, and offer the results back to the Supreme—like administrators serving a higher sovereign.