Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 32
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā
सृष्ट्वेदं मनसा विश्वमात्मनानुप्रविश्य य: । गुणै: कुर्वद्भिराभाति कर्तेव स्वप्नदृग् यथा ॥ ३१ ॥ तस्मै नमो भगवते त्रिगुणाय गुणात्मने । केवलायाद्वितीयाय गुरवे ब्रह्ममूर्तये ॥ ३२ ॥
sṛṣṭvedaṁ manasā viśvam ātmanānupraviśya yaḥ guṇaiḥ kurvadbhir ābhāti karteva svapna-dṛg yathā
Đấng Tối Thượng chỉ bằng ý muốn đã tạo dựng vũ trụ này rồi lại nhập vào đó như Paramātmā; khiến ba guṇa của tự nhiên vận hành, Ngài dường như là kẻ tạo tác trực tiếp, như người mộng thấy mình hành động trong mộng. Con xin đảnh lễ Bhagavān, chủ tể tam guṇa mà vẫn thanh tịnh, độc nhất vô nhị, bậc Thầy tối thượng, hình vị nhân cách nguyên thủy của Chân Lý Tuyệt Đối.
The Supreme Lord releases His material potencies, and by their interaction creation takes place. The Lord remains aloof, as the supreme transcendental entity. Still, because the entire creation unfolds according to His design and will, His controlling hand is perceived within all things. People thus imagine that God is the direct builder of this world, although He remains aloof, creating through the manipulation of His multifarious potencies.
FAQs
This verse says the modes of nature perform actions, yet the Lord may appear to be the doer—like a dreamer seemingly acting—while remaining transcendental.
To establish the Lord’s transcendence: He creates and enters the universe as the inner Self, but activity belongs to the gunas, helping Parikshit fix his mind in devotion beyond fear of death.
Do your duties responsibly, but reduce ego by remembering that results and movements of nature are governed by the gunas; offer actions to the Lord and stay steady in success and failure.