Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 18
Dhruva Uses the Nārāyaṇāstra; Manu Checks His Wrath and Teaches Dharma
स खल्विदं भगवान् कालशक्त्या गुणप्रवाहेण विभक्तवीर्य: । करोत्यकर्तैव निहन्त्यहन्ता चेष्टा विभूम्न: खलु दुर्विभाव्या ॥ १८ ॥
sa khalv idaṁ bhagavān kāla-śaktyā guṇa-pravāheṇa vibhakta-vīryaḥ karoty akartaiva nihanty ahantā ceṣṭā vibhūmnaḥ khalu durvibhāvyā
ព្រះភគវាន ប្រើសក្តិកាល ឲ្យលំហូរគុណទាំងបីប្រតិកម្មគ្នា ដូច្នេះថាមពលជាច្រើនបានបង្ហាញ។ ទ្រង់ហាក់ដូចជាកំពុងធ្វើ តែទ្រង់មិនមែនជាអ្នកធ្វើ; ហាក់ដូចជាសម្លាប់ តែទ្រង់មិនមែនជាឃាតករ—ចលនារបស់ព្រះវិភូ អស្ចារ្យលើសការគិត។
The word durvibhāvyā means “inconceivable by our tiny brain,” and vibhakta-vīryaḥ means “divided in varieties of potencies.” This is the right explanation of the display of creative energies in the material world. We can better understand the mercy of God by an example: a government state is always supposed to be merciful, but sometimes, in order to keep law and order, the government employs its police force, and thus punishment is meted out to the rebellious citizens. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always merciful and full of transcendental qualities, but certain individual souls have forgotten their relationship with Kṛṣṇa and have endeavored to lord it over material nature. As a result of their endeavor, they are involved in varieties of material interaction. It is incorrect to argue, however, that because energy issues from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is the actor. In the previous verse, the word nimitta-mātram indicates that the Supreme Lord is completely aloof from the action and reaction of this material world. How is everything being done? The word “inconceivable” has been used. It is not within the power of one’s small brain to comprehend; unless one accepts the inconceivable power and energy of the Lord, one cannot make any progress. The forces which act are certainly set up by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He is always aloof from their action and reaction. The varieties of energies produced by the interaction of material nature produce the varieties of species of life and their resultant happiness and unhappiness.
FAQs
This verse explains that Bhagavan is ultimately akartā (beyond material action), yet He appears to act through His kāla-śakti and the flow of the guṇas, remaining untouched by karma and ego.
Because the Lord is simultaneously transcendent (beyond the modes and ego) and immanent (governing the world through Time and the guṇas), His ceṣṭā—His manner of operating—cannot be grasped by ordinary material logic.
Recognize that outcomes unfold under Time and the modes; do your duty with humility, reduce ego-driven control, and cultivate devotion—seeing a higher governance behind life’s changes.