Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 9
The Glories of Lord Ananta (Śeṣa/Saṅkarṣaṇa) and the Cosmic Foundation Beneath Pātāla
उत्पत्तिस्थितिलयहेतवोऽस्य कल्पा: सत्त्वाद्या: प्रकृतिगुणा यदीक्षयाऽऽसन्॒ । यद्रूपं ध्रुवमकृतं यदेकमात्मन् नानाधात्कथमु ह वेद तस्य वर्त्म ॥ ९ ॥
utpatti-sthiti-laya-hetavo ’sya kalpāḥ sattvādyāḥ prakṛti-guṇā yad-īkṣayāsan yad-rūpaṁ dhruvam akṛtaṁ yad ekam ātman nānādhāt katham u ha veda tasya vartma
至上人格神はその御眼差しによって、物質自然の様態（サットヴァ等）を宇宙の創造・維持・破壊の原因として働かせる。至上霊は無限にして無始、しかも一でありながら多くの姿を顕す。人間社会はいかにして至上の道行きを理解し得ようか。
From Vedic literature we learn that when the Supreme Lord glances ( sa aikṣata ) over the material energy, the three modes of material nature become manifest and create material variety. Before He glances over the material energy, there is no possibility of the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the material world. The Lord existed before the creation, and consequently He is eternal and unchanging. Therefore how can any human being, however great a scientist or philosopher he may be, understand the ways of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
FAQs
This verse states that creation, maintenance, and dissolution occur through the modes of material nature, which become active by the Supreme Lord’s glance, while He Himself remains eternally unborn and unchanged.
The verse affirms the Lord’s oneness and uncreated, eternal nature, yet acknowledges His power to manifest diverse forms and arrangements—making His ways ultimately difficult to measure by ordinary perception.
Recognize that external change operates through nature’s modes, but the Divine is steady and beyond them; this supports steadiness in devotion and humility about fully “figuring out” God through intellect alone.