Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 14
Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra
यस्मिन् कर्मसमावायो यथा येनोपगृह्यते । गुणानां गुणिनां चैव परिणाममभीप्सताम् ॥ १४ ॥
yasmin karma-samāvāyo yathā yenopagṛhyate guṇānāṁ guṇināṁ caiva pariṇāmam abhīpsatām
पुनश्च, यथा गुणानां कर्मफलसमावायः इच्छतां जीवात्मनामुपगृह्यते, तथा गुणिनां च परिणामं—देवाद्यन्ते तिर्यगादिषु च—उन्नतिं पतनं च जनयन्, कृपया वर्णय।
The actions and reactions of all works in the material modes of nature, either in the minute form or in the gigantic form, are accumulated, and thus the result of such accumulated actions and reactions of karma, or work, become manifested in the same proportion. How such actions and reactions take place, what the different procedures are, and in what proportion they act are all subject matters of Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s inquiries from the great brāhmaṇa Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
FAQs
This verse teaches that the entire system of karma and the outcomes produced by the three modes operate within the Supreme Lord’s arrangement, and seekers can understand how results arise by recognizing His sustaining governance behind material transformations.
In Canto 2, Śukadeva is guiding Parīkṣit toward God-realization by explaining how the universe functions under the Lord—so Parīkṣit can detach from temporary cause-and-effect and fix his consciousness on the Supreme controller.
Notice how moods and choices shift with sattva, rajas, and tamas, and take responsibility for actions while remembering a higher divine order—then cultivate sattva through purity and devotion to reduce reactive karma.