Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19

Avadhūta’s Further Teachers: Detachment, Solitude, One-Pointed Meditation, and the Lord as Āśraya

Devanagari script

केवलात्मानुभावेन स्वमायां त्रिगुणात्मिकाम् । सङ्क्षोभयन् सृजत्यादौ तया सूत्रमरिन्दम ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

kevalātmānubhāvena sva-māyāṁ tri-guṇātmikām saṅkṣobhayan sṛjaty ādau tayā sūtram arindama

Translation

హే అరిం దమ! సృష్టి ఆరంభంలో భగవంతుడు తన శక్తిని కాలరూపంగా విస్తరించి, త్రిగుణాత్మకమైన మాయను కదిలించి, ఆ మాయ ద్వారానే సూత్రరూపమైన మహత్తత్త్వాన్ని సృష్టిస్తాడు।

Synonyms

• kevala-ātma-anubhāvena: by mere self-potency alone
• kevala-ātma-anubhāvena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + anubhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण

• sva-māyām: his own māyā
• sva-māyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• tri-guṇa-ātmikām: consisting of the three guṇas
• tri-guṇa-ātmikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of māyām

• saṅkṣobhayan: agitating
• saṅkṣobhayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣubh (क्षुभ्) with उपसर्ग sam-; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with implied subject (īśvaraḥ)

• sṛjati: creates
• sṛjati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (सृज्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ādau: in the beginning
• ādau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in the beginning’ (time-locative)

• tayā: by her/that (māyā)
• tayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; refers to māyā; करण

• sūtram: the sūtra (cosmic thread/mahat-tattva)
• sūtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• arindama: O subduer of enemies
• arindama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arindama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

Purport

The word kevala means “pure” and indicates that the Lord’s kālaśakti, or time potency, is a transcendental energy nondifferent from His personal body. The brāhmaṇa addresses King Yadu here as arindama, subduer of the enemies. This indicates that although the topic of māyā, or illusory creation, is being discussed, the King need not worry, because as a staunch devotee of the Lord, he is able to subdue the real enemies of life, namely lust, anger and greed, which make one a prisoner in māyā’s kingdom. The word sūtram indicates the mahat-tattva, on which many material creations rest, just like jewels rest on a thread. In the state of pradhāna, or material equilibrium, the modes of nature do not interact. In the Third Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Lord Kapila explains in His Sāṅkhya teachings that the Supreme Personality of Godhead agitates the neutral state of nature and thus creation takes place. The created manifest form of nature in which fruitive activities are stimulated is called mahat-tattva, as indicated in this verse.

Characters & Entities

• The Supreme Lord (Bhagavān)
• Māyā (the Lord’s potency)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how creation begins?

This verse explains that creation starts when the Supreme Lord, by His own conscious power, agitates His tri-guṇa (three-mode) māyā, and from that agitation the primordial cosmic principle (sūtra) is manifested.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe māyā as 'the Lord’s own'?

Because māyā is not independent; it is a potency under Bhagavān’s control. The verse emphasizes the Lord’s supremacy—material nature moves only when He activates it.

Practical application of this teaching about māyā and the three guṇas in modern life?

Recognize that the guṇas influence the mind and behavior; by cultivating devotion and sāttvika habits, one can rise above being pushed by māyā and align life with the Lord’s purpose.