Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28
The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
त्वमकरण: स्वराडखिलकारकशक्तिधर- स्तव बलिमुद्वहन्ति समदन्त्यजयानिमिषा: । वर्षभुजोऽखिलक्षितिपतेरिव विश्वसृजो विदधति यत्र ये त्वधिकृता भवतश्चकिता: ॥ २८ ॥
tvam akaraṇaḥ sva-rāḍ akhila-kāraka-śakti-dharas tava balim udvahanti samadanty ajayānimiṣāḥ varṣa-bhujo ’khila-kṣiti-pater iva viśva-sṛjo vidadhati yatra ye tv adhikṛtā bhavataś cakitāḥ
Bagama’t wala Kang materyal na pandama, Ikaw ang sariling nagniningning na Panginoon at tagapagtaguyod ng lahat ng lakas ng pandama. Ang mga deva at maging ang prakrti ay naghahandog ng tributo sa Iyo, habang tinatamasa rin ang tributo ng kanilang mga sumasamba—gaya ng mga pinunong nasasakupan na nagbabayad ng buwis sa hari, ang tunay na may-ari ng lupain, ngunit nakikinabang pa rin sa buwis ng kanilang nasasakupan. Sa gayon, ang mga tagapaglikha ng sansinukob ay tapat na tumutupad sa tungkulin dahil sa pagkatakot sa Iyo.
All intelligent living beings should acknowledge the sovereignty of the Lord and willingly engage in devotional service to Him. Such is the consensus of the personified Vedas. But Lord Nārāyaṇa, while hearing these prayers, may have reasonably asked, “Since I also have a bodily form with sense organs and limbs, am I not just another doer and enjoyer? Especially since as the Supersoul in every being’s heart I supervise countless organs and limbs, how am I not implicated in the sum total of everyone’s sense gratification?” “No,” the assembled śrutis here rejoin, “You have no material senses, yet You are the absolute controller of all.” As expressed in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (3.19):
FAQs
This verse states that even the “unblinking” gods carry offerings to the Supreme Lord and administer the universe only within the authority He grants, showing their dependence on Him.
They affirm that the Lord does not need material instruments to act (akaraṇaḥ), yet all causal powers and agencies function because His śakti sustains and empowers them.
See your abilities as entrusted power: act responsibly within your role, remain humble, and offer the results back to the Supreme—like administrators serving a higher sovereign.