Shloka 31
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā
सृष्ट्वेदं मनसा विश्वमात्मनानुप्रविश्य य: । गुणै: कुर्वद्भिराभाति कर्तेव स्वप्नदृग् यथा ॥ ३१ ॥ तस्मै नमो भगवते त्रिगुणाय गुणात्मने । केवलायाद्वितीयाय गुरवे ब्रह्ममूर्तये ॥ ३२ ॥
sṛṣṭvedaṁ manasā viśvam ātmanānupraviśya yaḥ guṇaiḥ kurvadbhir ābhāti karteva svapna-dṛg yathā
యెవడు మనసా ఈ విశ్వాన్ని సృష్టించి, తరువాత పరమాత్మగా అందులో ప్రవేశించి, ప్రకృతి గుణాలను కార్యనిర్వహింపజేసి కర్తలా కనిపిస్తాడో—స్వప్నద్రష్ట స్వప్నంలో ఉన్నట్లుగా—ఆ త్రిగుణాధిపతి, గుణాత్మ, నిర్మల, అద్వితీయ, పరమగురు, బ్రహ్మమూర్తి భగవానునికి నమస్కారం।
The Supreme Lord releases His material potencies, and by their interaction creation takes place. The Lord remains aloof, as the supreme transcendental entity. Still, because the entire creation unfolds according to His design and will, His controlling hand is perceived within all things. People thus imagine that God is the direct builder of this world, although He remains aloof, creating through the manipulation of His multifarious potencies.
FAQs
This verse explains that the Lord creates and enters the universe, yet actions are carried out by the modes of nature; He only appears to be the doer, like a dreamer seeming to act in a dream.
He uses it to show how apparent agency can be illusory—just as dream actions seem real to the dream-seer, the Lord’s “doership” is only an appearance produced by the guṇas.
Act responsibly while remembering that outcomes are governed by higher laws (guṇas and providence); cultivate humility, reduce ego, and dedicate work to Bhagavān in devotion.