Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 21
Daśa-lakṣaṇam: The Ten Topics, Virāṭ-Puruṣa Sense-Manifestation, and the Supreme Shelter (Āśraya)
यदात्मनि निरालोकमात्मानं च दिदृक्षत: । निर्भिन्ने ह्यक्षिणी तस्य ज्योतिश्चक्षुर्गुणग्रह: ॥ २१ ॥
yadātmani nirālokam ātmānaṁ ca didṛkṣataḥ nirbhinne hy akṣiṇī tasya jyotiś cakṣur guṇa-grahaḥ
เมื่อสรรพสิ่งยังอยู่ในความมืด พระผู้เป็นเจ้าทรงปรารถนาจะทอดพระเนตรพระองค์เองและสรรพสิ่งที่ทรงสร้าง แล้วดวงตาจึงปรากฏขึ้น พร้อมสุริยะเทพผู้ให้แสง พลังการมองเห็น และอารมณ์ที่เห็นได้
The universe is by nature dense darkness, and therefore the total creation is called tamas, or darkness. The night is the real feature of the universe, for then one cannot see anything, including oneself. The Lord, out of His causeless mercy, first desired to see Himself and all the creation as well, and thus the sun became manifested, the power of vision for all living entities became possible, and the objects of vision were also manifested. This means that the whole phenomenal world became visible after the creation of the sun.
FAQs
This verse explains that sight depends on both the eye and light (jyoti); when the eyes are ‘opened,’ illuminated vision can grasp the qualities (guṇas) of visible objects.
In Canto 2 Chapter 10, Śukadeva is outlining the Bhagavatam’s core topics and analyzing creation and perception to show how the world and the senses function under the Lord’s arrangement.
Perception is conditional—like sight needing light—so a devotee cultivates the right ‘illumination’ (scripture, sādhus, and devotion) to see reality clearly rather than trusting raw senses alone.