Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 32
Pṛthu Pursues the Earth and the Earth Takes the Form of a Cow
Bhūmi as Gauḥ
नूनं बतेशस्य समीहितं जनै- स्तन्मायया दुर्जययाकृतात्मभि: । न लक्ष्यते यस्त्वकरोदकारयद् योऽनेक एक: परतश्च ईश्वर: ॥ ३२ ॥
nūnaṁ bateśasya samīhitaṁ janais tan-māyayā durjayayākṛtātmabhiḥ na lakṣyate yas tv akarod akārayad yo ’neka ekaḥ parataś ca īśvaraḥ
Wahai Tuhanku, walaupun Engkau Esa, dengan śakti-Mu yang tidak terjangkau Engkau menzahirkan diri dalam banyak rupa. Melalui Brahmā Engkau mengadakan alam semesta ini; maka Engkaulah Pribadi Tuhan Yang Maha Tinggi. Namun mereka yang diselubungi māyā-Mu yang sukar ditewaskan tidak mampu memahami perbuatan transenden-Mu.
God is one, but He expands Himself in a variety of energies — the material energy, the spiritual energy, the marginal energy and so forth. Unless one is favored and especially endowed with grace, he cannot understand how the one Supreme Personality of Godhead acts through His different energies. The living entities are also the marginal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Brahmā is also one of these living entities, but he is especially empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although Brahmā is supposed to be the creator of this universe, actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is its ultimate creator. In this verse the word māyayā is significant. Māyā means “energy.” Lord Brahmā is not the energetic but is one of the manifestations of the Lord’s marginal energy. In other words, Lord Brahmā is only an instrument. Although sometimes plans appear contradictory, there is a definite plan behind all action. One who is experienced and is favored by the Lord can understand that everything is being done according to the Lord’s supreme plan.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord’s intention is fulfilled through beings influenced by His unconquerable māyā, while He remains difficult to perceive directly.
Īśvara—the Supreme Lord—is described as both the doer and the ultimate cause who empowers others to act.
It encourages seeing a higher divine governance behind circumstances, cultivating humility and devotion rather than obsession with blaming individuals as the ultimate cause.