Shloka 23
Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā: Descent, Cosmic Pathways, and Śiva’s Praise of Saṅkarṣaṇa
यस्याद्य आसीद् गुणविग्रहो महान्विज्ञानधिष्ण्यो भगवानज: किल । यत्सम्भवोऽहं त्रिवृता स्वतेजसावैकारिकं तामसमैन्द्रियं सृजे ॥ २२ ॥ एते वयं यस्य वशे महात्मन:स्थिता: शकुन्ता इव सूत्रयन्त्रिता: । महानहं वैकृततामसेन्द्रिया:सृजाम सर्वे यदनुग्रहादिदम् ॥ २३ ॥
yasyādya āsīd guṇa-vigraho mahān vijñāna-dhiṣṇyo bhagavān ajaḥ kila yat-sambhavo ’haṁ tri-vṛtā sva-tejasā vaikārikaṁ tāmasam aindriyaṁ sṛje
พวกเราทั้งหมดอยู่ใต้บังคับของมหาตมะผู้นั้น ดุจนกที่ถูกผูกด้วยเชือก มหันต์อหังการ คุณไวกรต-ตมส และอินทรีย์ทั้งหลาย—เราสร้างได้ก็ด้วยพระอนุเคราะห์ของพระองค์เท่านั้น ดังนั้นขอนอบน้อมแด่พระผู้เป็นเจ้าอันสูงสุดครั้งแล้วครั้งเล่า
A summary of creation is given in this verse. From Saṅkarṣaṇa, Mahā-Viṣṇu expands, and from Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu expands. Lord Brahmā, who was born of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, fathers Lord Śiva, from whom all the other demigods gradually evolve. Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu are incarnations of the different material qualities. Lord Viṣṇu is actually above all material qualities, but He accepts control of sattva-guṇa (the mode of goodness) to maintain the universe. Lord Brahmā is born from the mahat-tattva. Brahmā creates the entire universe, Lord Viṣṇu maintains it, and Lord Śiva annihilates it. The Supreme Personality of Godhead controls all the most important demigods — especially Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva — exactly as the owner of a bird controls it by binding it with a rope. Sometimes vultures are controlled in this way.
FAQs
This verse states that even Brahmā and the cosmic principles (mahat-tattva, false ego, and the senses) act only under the Supreme Lord’s control and by His mercy.
To emphasize dependence: all beings and even cosmic creators function as instruments, moved by the Supreme Lord’s will rather than independent power.
It cultivates humility and surrender—do your duty sincerely, but recognize outcomes and abilities ultimately depend on divine sanction, reducing pride and anxiety.