Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 6

Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

भूतैर्भूतानि भूतेश: सृजत्यवति हन्ति च । आत्मसृष्टैरस्वतन्त्रैरनपेक्षोऽपि बालवत् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

bhūtair bhūtāni bhūteśaḥ sṛjaty avati hanti ca ātma-sṛṣṭair asvatantrair anapekṣo ’pi bālavat

Translation

భూతేశుడు—పరమ పురుషుడు—భూతాల ద్వారానే భూతాల సృష్టి, స్థితి, లయలను జరిపిస్తాడు. ఆయనకు ఈ తాత్కాలిక జగత్‌పై ఆసక్తి లేకపోయినా, సముద్రతీరంలో బాలుడు ఆటగా నిర్మించుకునేలా, అన్నిటిని తన నియంత్రణలో ఉంచి లీలగా నిర్వహిస్తాడు. సృష్టికి తండ్రిని, పోషణకు రాజ్య/ప్రభుత్వాన్ని, సంహారానికి సర్పాదులను సాధనాలుగా నియోగిస్తాడు; కానీ వాటికి స్వతంత్ర శక్తి లేదు—మాయామోహంతో జీవుడు తానే కర్తనని భావిస్తాడు।

Synonyms

• bhūtaiḥ: by/through the elements/beings
• bhūtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhūtāni: beings/elements
• bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhūteśaḥ: the Lord of beings
• bhūteśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: bhūtānām īśaḥ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sṛjati: creates
• sṛjati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• avati: protects
• avati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: av (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hanti: destroys
• hanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (conjunction)

• ātma-sṛṣṭaiḥ: self-created
• ātma-sṛṣṭaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + sṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √sṛj/सृज्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ātmanā sṛṣṭa/ātmanaḥ sṛṣṭa—contextually ‘self-created’); Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter/Masculine (context: with bhūtaiḥ), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• asvatantraiḥ: dependent/not autonomous
• asvatantraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-svatantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with bhūtaiḥ

• anapekṣaḥ: independent (not needing anything)
• anapekṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-apekṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies bhūteśaḥ

• api: even though
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive particle (अपि)

• bālavat: like a child
• bālavat: Prakāra (प्रकार/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā-avyaya (वत्-pratyaya: ‘like/as’)

Purport

No one can independently create, maintain or annihilate. Bhagavad-gītā (3.27) therefore says:

Characters & Entities

• Narada Muni
• King Citraketu
• Bhutesha (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about God acting through secondary agents?

This verse explains that the Supreme Lord creates, protects, and withdraws beings through other beings (and forces) that He has produced—agents who are not independent—while He Himself remains fully independent.

Why did Narada Muni say this to King Citraketu in Canto 6 Chapter 15?

Narada instructs Citraketu to see the Lord’s governance behind material events: outcomes occur through various instruments, but the ultimate controller is the Supreme, who remains unattached and self-sufficient.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Recognize instruments and circumstances without losing sight of the higher controller; act responsibly, but reduce anxiety and resentment by understanding that many outcomes unfold through networks of causes under divine supervision.