Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 10
Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent
Prelude to Prahlāda’s History
यदा सिसृक्षु: पुर आत्मन: परो रज: सृजत्येष पृथक् स्वमायया । सत्त्वं विचित्रासु रिरंसुरीश्वर: शयिष्यमाणस्तम ईरयत्यसौ ॥ १० ॥
yadā sisṛkṣuḥ pura ātmanaḥ paro rajaḥ sṛjaty eṣa pṛthak sva-māyayā sattvaṁ vicitrāsu riraṁsur īśvaraḥ śayiṣyamāṇas tama īrayaty asau
至上主が多様な身体を創造しようとされるとき、御自身のマーヤーによってラジョ・グナを起こし、各ジーヴァに相応の身を授けられる。ついでパラマートマーとして各身に入り、サットヴァで維持、ラジャスで創造、タマスで滅尽を司られる。
Although material nature is conducted by the three qualities — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa — nature is not independent. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10) :
FAQs
This verse explains that the Supreme Lord, by His own māyā, initiates creation by projecting rajas, sustains and diversifies experience through sattva, and brings dissolution by impelling tamas.
In Canto 7, Chapter 1, Śukadeva answers questions about the Lord’s impartiality and governance by showing how the Lord orchestrates cosmic functions through the guṇas without being bound by them.
Recognize how passion drives activity, goodness supports clarity and harmony, and ignorance leads to inertia; then cultivate sattva through disciplined living and devotion, remembering the Lord as the ultimate controller beyond all guṇas.