Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 38
Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control
मयेश्वरेण जीवेन गुणेन गुणिना विना । सर्वात्मनापि सर्वेण न भावो विद्यते क्वचित् ॥ ३८ ॥
mayeśvareṇa jīvena guṇena guṇinā vinā sarvātmanāpi sarveṇa na bhāvo vidyate kvacit
പരമേശ്വരനായ ഞാൻ ജീവനും പ്രകൃതിഗുണങ്ങളും മഹത്തത്ത്വവും എല്ലാറ്റിന്റെയും ആധാരമാണ്. അതിനാൽ ഞാൻ തന്നെയാണ് സർവ്വം; എന്നില്ലാതെ എവിടെയും ഒന്നും നിലനിൽക്കില്ല.
Without the manifestation of the mahat-tattva, or total material existence, and the jīva, or living entity, nothing can exist within the material world. Everything we experience is a combination of the living entity and matter, in its various subtle and gross categories. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the entire basis of the existence of both the living entity and matter. Nothing can possibly exist even for a moment without the mercy of the Supreme Lord. One should not foolishly conclude that the Lord is therefore material. As has been clearly explained in this canto of the Bhāgavatam, both the living entity and the Supreme Lord are completely transcendental to material nature. The living entity, however, has the propensity to dream that he is material, whereas the Lord constantly remembers the transcendental position of both Himself and the conditioned dreaming entity. As the Lord is transcendental, His abode is also far beyond the reach of the modes of nature. The actual purpose of life is to understand by mature conviction the transcendental Lord, His transcendental abode, our own transcendental position and the process by which we may go back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that nothing can exist anywhere without Krishna (the Supreme Lord), the jīva, material nature (the guṇas), the conditioned possessor of those guṇas, the Supersoul, and the total cosmic manifestation—indicating complete dependence on the Lord as the sustaining reality.
In the Uddhava Gītā, Krishna summarizes profound tattva (truth) before His departure from the world, teaching Uddhava that all categories of existence—self, matter, and cosmos—are ultimately grounded in the Lord’s presence and power.
Practice seeing every situation as supported by the Supreme: reduce ego-centered control, cultivate gratitude and responsibility, and anchor daily actions in bhakti—remembering Krishna as the underlying reality behind self, mind, nature, and circumstances.