Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 1
Brahmā’s Tapasya, the Vision of Vaikuṇṭha, and the Lord’s Seed Instructions
Catuḥ-śloki
श्रीशुक उवाच आत्ममायामृते राजन् परस्यानुभवात्मन: । न घटेतार्थसम्बन्ध: स्वप्नद्रष्टुरिवाञ्जसा ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ātma-māyām ṛte rājan parasyānubhavātmanaḥ na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā
Śrī Śukadeva berkata: Wahai Raja, tanpa pengaruh tenaga rohani-Nya (ātma-māyā) dari Pribadi Tertinggi, tiada makna hubungan antara jiwa murni dalam kesedaran murni dengan tubuh material; ia bagaikan si pemimpi melihat tubuhnya sendiri beraksi.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s question as to how a living entity began his material life, although he is apart from the material body and mind, is perfectly answered. The spirit soul is distinct from the material conception of his life, but he is absorbed in such a material conception because of being influenced by the external energy of the Lord, called ātma-māyā. This has already been explained in the First Canto in connection with Vyāsadeva’s realization of the Supreme Lord and His external energy. The external energy is controlled by the Lord, and the living entities are controlled by the external energy — by the will of the Lord. Therefore, although the living entity is purely conscious in his pure state, he is subordinate to the will of the Lord in being influenced by the external energy of the Lord. In the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) also the same thing is confirmed: the Lord is present within the heart of every living entity, and all the living entity’s consciousness and forgetfulness are influenced by the Lord.
FAQs
This verse says the Supreme Lord has no real material connection; only His own internal potency (ātma-māyā) explains His dealings, while He remains pure consciousness.
To clarify that creation and cosmic activity do not bind or affect the Supreme; any apparent involvement is through His divine potency, not material entanglement.
It encourages detachment: treat temporary experiences as dreamlike and focus on lasting reality—devotional remembrance of the Lord beyond illusion.