Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19
Avadhūta’s Further Teachers: Detachment, Solitude, One-Pointed Meditation, and the Lord as Āśraya
केवलात्मानुभावेन स्वमायां त्रिगुणात्मिकाम् । सङ्क्षोभयन् सृजत्यादौ तया सूत्रमरिन्दम ॥ १९ ॥
kevalātmānubhāvena sva-māyāṁ tri-guṇātmikām saṅkṣobhayan sṛjaty ādau tayā sūtram arindama
โอ้ผู้ปราบศัตรู ในกาลเริ่มแห่งการสร้าง พระผู้เป็นเจ้าทรงแผ่ศักติของพระองค์เป็นกาลเวลา แล้วทรงกวนไหวมายาซึ่งประกอบด้วยสามคุณ และด้วยมายานั้นเองทรงสร้างมหัตตัตตวะ อันเป็นเส้นใยแห่งจักรวาล
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.
FAQs
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.
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.
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.