Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 17
Brahmā’s Secondary Creation, Kāla (Eternal Time), and the Taxonomy of Species
वैकारिको देवसर्ग: पञ्चमो यन्मयं मन: । पष्ठस्तु तमस: सर्गो यस्त्वबुद्धिकृत: प्रभो: ॥ १७ ॥
vaikāriko deva-sargaḥ pañcamo yan-mayaṁ manaḥ ṣaṣṭhas tu tamasaḥ sargo yas tv abuddhi-kṛtaḥ prabhoḥ
సత్త్వగుణ సంయోగంతో నియంత్రక దేవతల సృష్టి ఐదవది; దాని సమష్టి-రూపం మనస్సు. ఆరవ సృష్టి జీవుని తమోమయ అజ్ఞానాంధకారం; దాని వలన ప్రభువు అధీనంలో అతడు మూర్ఖునివలె ప్రవర్తిస్తాడు.
The demigods in the higher planets are called devas because they are all devotees of Lord Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu-bhaktaḥ smṛto daiva āsuras tad-viparyayaḥ: all the devotees of Lord Viṣṇu are devas, or demigods, whereas all others are asuras. That is the division of the devas and the asuras. Devas are situated in the mode of goodness of material nature, whereas the asuras are situated in the modes of passion or ignorance. The demigods, or controlling deities, are entrusted with departmental management of all the different functions of the material world. For example, one of our sense organs, the eye, is controlled by light, light is distributed by the sun rays, and their controlling deity is the sun. Similarly, mind is controlled by the moon. All other senses, both for working and for acquiring knowledge, are controlled by the different demigods. The demigods are assistants of the Lord in the management of material affairs.
FAQs
This verse states that the fifth creation is the vaikārika creation—associated with the mode of goodness—and it includes the manifestation of the devas (demigods), with the mind being of that nature.
Śukadeva explains that the sixth creation arises from tamas and is characterized by abuddhi—deluded or unintelligent condition—arranged by the Lord as part of the structured diversity within material creation.
It encourages cultivating sattva (clarity, discipline, purity) to strengthen the mind, while recognizing tamas (inertia, confusion) as a binding influence to be reduced through sādhana, good habits, and devotional focus.