Shloka 16
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship
एषा माया भगवत: सर्गस्थित्यन्तकारिणी । त्रिवर्णा वर्णितास्माभि: किं भूय: श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥ १६ ॥
eṣā māyā bhagavataḥ sarga-sthity-anta-kāriṇī tri-varṇā varṇitāsmābhiḥ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi
ഇത് ഭഗവാന്റെ മായയാണ്; സൃഷ്ടി, സ്ഥിതി, പ്രളയം എന്നിവ നടത്തുന്നത്. ത്രിഗുണമയമായ ഈ മായയെ ഞങ്ങൾ വിവരിച്ചു; ഇനി നീ എന്തുകൂടി കേൾക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു?
King Nimi had expressed to the nava-yogendras his fear of the illusory potency of the Lord and had requested a detailed explanation of māyā so that he could avoid becoming a victim at her hands. Now, Śrī Antarīkṣa, having described the illusory potency, is suggesting that the King inquire about the means to become totally free of māyā’s influence. Not waiting for the King to ask such a question, Śrī Antarīkṣa himself is suggesting, “Now that you have heard about māyā’s influence, you should inquire about the process of becoming free of such influence.” According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, that is the significance of Śrī Antarīkṣa’s question kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi, “What more do you wish to hear?”
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord’s māyā operates as a threefold potency—aligned with the three modes of nature—and through her the universe undergoes creation, maintenance, and dissolution.
Śukadeva summarizes the nature of māyā (as threefold and responsible for cosmic cycles) and then invites Parīkṣit to ask further, guiding the discussion toward deeper spiritual inquiry beyond mere cosmology.
Recognizing that worldly conditions shift under the three modes helps one detach from temporary highs and lows and focus on steady devotion to Bhagavān, the controller of māyā.