Shloka 21
Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra
सम्प्लव: सर्वभूतानां विक्रम: प्रतिसंक्रम: । इष्टापूर्तस्य काम्यानां त्रिवर्गस्य च यो विधि: ॥ २१ ॥
samplavaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ vikramaḥ pratisaṅkramaḥ iṣṭā-pūrtasya kāmyānāṁ tri-vargasya ca yo vidhiḥ
ഹേ ഭഗവൻ, സർവ്വജീവികളുടെ സൃഷ്ടി എങ്ങനെ സംഭവിക്കുന്നു, അവ എങ്ങനെ പരിപാലിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു, എങ്ങനെ ലയിക്കുന്നു—ദയവായി വിശദീകരിക്കണമേ. കൂടാതെ പ്രഭുവിനോടുള്ള ഭക്തിസേവയുടെ ലാഭ-നഷ്ടങ്ങൾ, ഇഷ്ട-പൂർത്തവും കാമ്യകർമ്മങ്ങളും സംബന്ധിച്ച വൈദിക വിധി-നിഷേധങ്ങൾ, ധർമ്മ-അർത്ഥ-കാമങ്ങളുടെ നടപടിക്രമവും പറയുക.
Samplavaḥ, in the sense of “perfect means,” is employed to denote the discharging of devotional service, and pratisamplavaḥ means just the opposite, or that which destroys the progress of devotional service. One who is firmly situated in the devotional service of the Lord can very easily execute the function of conditional life. Living the conditional life is just like plying a boat in the middle of the ocean. One is completely at the mercy of the ocean, and at every moment there is every chance of being drowned in the ocean by slight agitation. If the atmosphere is all right, the boat can ply very easily, undoubtedly, but if there is some storm, fog, wind or cloud, there is every possibility of being drowned in the ocean. No one can control the whims of the ocean, however one may be materially well equipped. One who has crossed the oceans by ship may have sufficient experience of such dependence upon the mercy of the ocean. But one can ply over the ocean of material existence by the grace of the Lord very easily, without any fear of storm or fog. It all depends on the will of the Lord; no one can help if there is some unfortunate danger in the state of conditional life. The devotees of the Lord, however, cross the ocean of material existence without anxiety because a pure devotee is always protected by the Lord ( Bg. 9.13 ). The Lord gives special attention to His devotees in their activities within material, conditional life ( Bg. 9.29 ). Therefore everyone should take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and be a pure devotee of the Lord by all means.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord Himself is the विधि (ordinance) governing the tri-varga—dharma, artha, and kāma—showing that even worldly goals function properly only under His cosmic order.
In this section Śukadeva is revealing the Lord’s all-pervading supremacy: He governs both cosmic processes (like dissolution and withdrawal) and human religious systems (sacrifice, charity, and desire-driven rites).
Pursue duties and goals responsibly, but remember they are not independent; align choices with dharma and devotion, seeing God as the ultimate regulator and purpose behind all legitimate aims.