Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 31
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā
सृष्ट्वेदं मनसा विश्वमात्मनानुप्रविश्य य: । गुणै: कुर्वद्भिराभाति कर्तेव स्वप्नदृग् यथा ॥ ३१ ॥ तस्मै नमो भगवते त्रिगुणाय गुणात्मने । केवलायाद्वितीयाय गुरवे ब्रह्ममूर्तये ॥ ३२ ॥
sṛṣṭvedaṁ manasā viśvam ātmanānupraviśya yaḥ guṇaiḥ kurvadbhir ābhāti karteva svapna-dṛg yathā
ただ御意志によってこの宇宙を創造し、さらにパラマートマー（至魂）としてその内に入られ、自然の三グナを働かせることで、夢見る者が夢の中で行為するように、あたかも直接の創造者であるかのように現れる至上人格神に、私は礼拝する。三グナの主にしてグナの本体、清浄で唯一無二、万物の至上の師、絶対真理の根源的な人格相たるバガヴァーンに敬礼する。
The Supreme Lord releases His material potencies, and by their interaction creation takes place. The Lord remains aloof, as the supreme transcendental entity. Still, because the entire creation unfolds according to His design and will, His controlling hand is perceived within all things. People thus imagine that God is the direct builder of this world, although He remains aloof, creating through the manipulation of His multifarious potencies.
FAQs
This verse explains that the Lord creates and enters the universe, yet actions are carried out by the modes of nature; He only appears to be the doer, like a dreamer seeming to act in a dream.
He uses it to show how apparent agency can be illusory—just as dream actions seem real to the dream-seer, the Lord’s “doership” is only an appearance produced by the guṇas.
Act responsibly while remembering that outcomes are governed by higher laws (guṇas and providence); cultivate humility, reduce ego, and dedicate work to Bhagavān in devotion.