Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 32
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 says the modes of nature perform actions, yet the Lord may appear to be the doer—like a dreamer seemingly acting—while remaining transcendental.
To establish the Lord’s transcendence: He creates and enters the universe as the inner Self, but activity belongs to the gunas, helping Parikshit fix his mind in devotion beyond fear of death.
Do your duties responsibly, but reduce ego by remembering that results and movements of nature are governed by the gunas; offer actions to the Lord and stay steady in success and failure.