Shloka 20

Devanagari script

यथा हि भूतेषु चराचरेषु मह्यादयो योनिषु भान्ति नाना । एवं भवान् केवल आत्मयोनि- ष्वात्मात्मतन्त्रो बहुधा विभाति ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

yathā hi bhūteṣu carācareṣu mahy-ādayo yoniṣu bhānti nānā evaṁ bhavān kevala ātma-yoniṣv ātmātma-tantro bahudhā vibhāti

Translation

ചരാചരമായ എല്ലാ യോനികളിലും ഭൂമി മുതലായ മഹാഭൂതങ്ങൾ നാനാരൂപത്തിൽ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നതുപോലെ, നിങ്ങൾ—സ്വതന്ത്രനായ ഏക പരമാത്മാവ്—സ്വസൃഷ്ടിയിലെ വൈവിധ്യമാർന്ന വസ്തുക്കളിൽ ബഹുരൂപമായി പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നു।

Synonyms

यथाjust as

हिindeed

भूतेषुin beings

चराचरेषुin the moving and non-moving

मही-आदयःearth and the rest (elements)

योनिषुin (their) sources/wombs

भान्तिshine/appear

नानाvariously

एवम्thus

भवान्you (honored one)

केवलःalone/sole

आत्म-योनिषुin self-born sources/forms

आत्म-आत्म-तन्त्रःself-governed, dependent only on self

बहुधाin many ways

विभातिshines forth

Characters & Entities

Akrura

Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna manifesting in many forms?

This verse explains that just as the same material elements appear in countless bodies, the Supreme Lord alone manifests in many ways—yet remains self-born and fully independent—within His own divine expansions and appearances.

Why did Akrura speak this verse to Krishna in Canto 10?

When Akrura came to Vṛndāvana and met Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he offered prayers recognizing Kṛṣṇa’s supreme identity—praising Him as the one Lord who appears diversely while remaining the single, self-governed source.

Practical application of the teaching that God is ‘self-governed’ (ātma-tantra) in modern life?

It encourages surrender and steadiness: rather than trying to control everything, a devotee trusts the Lord’s independent will, practices devotion sincerely, and sees divine purpose even amid changing circumstances.