Shloka 25

Vidura’s Questions on Devotion and Sarga; Maitreya Begins the Account of Creation

Devanagari script

सा वा एतस्य संद्रष्टु: शक्ति: सदसदात्मिका । माया नाम महाभाग ययेदं निर्ममे विभु: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

sā vā etasya saṁdraṣṭuḥ śaktiḥ sad-asad-ātmikā māyā nāma mahā-bhāga yayedaṁ nirmame vibhuḥ

Translation

ଭଗବାନ ହେଉଛନ୍ତି ଦ୍ରଷ୍ଟା, ଏବଂ ଯାହା ଦୃଶ୍ୟ ସେ ତାଙ୍କର ବାହ୍ୟ ଶକ୍ତି—ଯାହା କାରଣ ଓ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଦୁଇ ରୂପରେ କାମ କରେ। ହେ ମହାଭାଗ ବିଦୁର, ଏହି ବାହ୍ୟ ଶକ୍ତିକୁ ‘ମାୟା’ କୁହାଯାଏ; ତାହାର ଦ୍ୱାରା ହିଁ ଏହି ସମଗ୍ର ଭୌତିକ ପ୍ରକଟିକରଣ ସମ୍ଭବ ହୋଇଛି।

Synonyms

• सा: she/that (power)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाः: indeed
• वाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पदपूरण/निश्चयार्थक (particle)

• एतस्य: of this (Lord)
• एतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• संद्रष्टुः: of the (all-)observer
• संद्रष्टुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त) with सम्-
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन (of the observer)

• शक्तिः: power
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्-असत्-आत्मिका: having the nature of both real and unreal
• सत्-असत्-आत्मिका: Visheshana (विशेषण of शक्तिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (सत् च असत् च) + आत्मिका (having the nature of)

• माया: Māyā
• माया: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to शक्तिः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः (particle: 'by name/indeed')

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्य)

• यया: by which
• यया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• इदम्: this (universe)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निर्ममे: created/formed
• निर्ममे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मा (धातु; माने/मिमीते) with निर्-
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• विभुः: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of निर्ममे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

Purport

The material nature, known as māyā, is both the material and efficient cause of the cosmos, but in the background the Lord is the consciousness for all activities. As in the individual body the consciousness is the source of all energies of the body, so the supreme consciousness of the Lord is the source of all energies in material nature. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10) as follows:

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Vidura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Māyā in Canto 3?

In 3.5.25, Māyā is described as the Lord’s own śakti (potency) through which the Supreme Seer manifests the cosmos, appearing as both the manifest and the unmanifest.

Why did Maitreya speak about Māyā to Vidura?

Vidura approached Maitreya to understand creation and the Absolute Truth; Maitreya explains that the universe is produced by the Lord’s potency—Māyā—rather than independent material causes.

Practical application of understanding Māyā in modern life?

Seeing the world as dependent on the Supreme helps reduce false ownership and anxiety, encouraging humility, discernment, and devotion (bhakti) instead of being overwhelmed by temporary appearances.