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Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 33

Pṛthu Pursues the Earth and the Earth Takes the Form of a Cow

Bhūmi as Gauḥ

सर्गादि योऽस्यानुरुणद्धि शक्तिभि- र्द्रव्यक्रियाकारकचेतनात्मभि: । तस्मै समुन्नद्धनिरुद्धशक्तये नम: परस्मै पुरुषाय वेधसे ॥ ३३ ॥

sargādi yo ’syānuruṇaddhi śaktibhir dravya-kriyā-kāraka-cetanātmabhiḥ tasmai samunnaddha-niruddha-śaktaye namaḥ parasmai puruṣāya vedhase

ఓ ప్రభూ! ద్రవ్యాలు, క్రియలు, కరణాలు (ఇంద్రియాలు), కర్తలు (దేవతలు), చిత్తం, బుద్ధి, అహంకారం మొదలైన వాటికి మూలకారణం మీ శక్తులే. మీ శక్తితోనే సృష్టి వ్యక్తమై నిలిచి లయమవుతుంది; కొన్నిసార్లు వ్యక్తం, కొన్నిసార్లు అవ్యక్తం. కారణాలకూ కారణమైన పరమపురుషునికి నమస్కారం.

sarga-ādicreation etc.
sarga-ādi:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsarga (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'creation and so on' (object of anuruṇaddhi)
yaḥwho
yaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular — relative pronoun
asyaof this
asya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular — 'of this (universe)'
anuruṇaddhicontrols/restrains
anuruṇaddhi:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootanu-√rudh (धातु)
FormPresent tense (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada — 'restrains/controls/blocks'
śaktibhiḥby powers
śaktibhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootśakti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural — 'by powers/energies'
dravya-kriyā-kāraka-cetanātmabhiḥwhose nature is substance, action, agency, and consciousness
dravya-kriyā-kāraka-cetanātmabhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdravya (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraka (प्रातिपदिक) + cetana (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; multi-member tatpuruṣa: 'having the nature of substance, action, kāraka (agency factors), and consciousness' (qualifies śaktibhiḥ)
tasmaito him
tasmai:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular — 'to him'
samunnaddha-niruddha-śaktayeto (him) of fully marshalled and restrained power
samunnaddha-niruddha-śaktaye:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootsam-ud-√nah (धातु) → samunnaddha (कृदन्त, क्त) + ni-√rudh (धातु) → niruddha (कृदन्त, क्त) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Dative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'to (him) whose power is fully raised and restrained (i.e., perfectly controlled)'
namaḥsalutation
namaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnamas (अव्यय/निपात)
FormIndeclinable interjection used with dative — 'salutation'
parasmaito the supreme
parasmai:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeAdjective
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular — 'to the supreme'
puruṣāyato the Person
puruṣāya:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular — 'to the Person'
vedhaseto the Creator
vedhase:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootvedhas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular — 'to the Creator/Arranger (Brahmā/Īśvara)'

All activities begin with the creation of the total energy, the mahat-tattva. Then, by the agitation of the three guṇas, the physical elements are created, as well as the mind, ego and the controllers of the senses. All of these are created one after another by the inconceivable energy of the Lord. In modern electronics, a mechanic may, by pushing only one button, set off an electronic chain reaction, by which so many actions are carried out one after another. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead pushes the button of creation, and different energies create the material elements and various controllers of the physical elements, and their subsequent interactions follow the inconceivable plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

P
Pṛthu Mahārāja

FAQs

This verse says the Supreme Person harmonizes creation and all cosmic processes through His potencies—working via matter, action, the instruments of action, and conscious beings—while remaining the ultimate controller of those energies.

In the context of Canto 4 Chapter 17, Pṛthu speaks as a devotee-king recognizing that the universe’s order is ultimately arranged by the Supreme Person, the true ordainer behind all administrative and creative functions.

See your resources (dravya), actions (kriyā), tools and circumstances (kāraka), and your own consciousness (cetana) as coordinated by a higher order; act responsibly, but cultivate humility and devotion by offering results to the Supreme Controller.