Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal
Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up
तत्तस्थूषश्च जगतश्च भवानधीशो यन्माययोत्थगुणविक्रिययोपनीतान् । अर्थाञ्जुषन्नपि हृषीकपते न लिप्तो येऽन्ये स्वत: परिहृतादपि बिभ्यति स्म ॥ १७ ॥
tat tasthūṣaś ca jagataś ca bhavān adhīśo yan māyayottha-guṇa-vikriyayopanītān arthāñ juṣann api hṛṣīka-pate na lipto ye ’nye svataḥ parihṛtād api bibhyati sma
Lạy Hṛṣīkeśa! Ngài là đấng tối thượng cai quản toàn thể hữu tình động và bất động. Dù giám sát vô vàn đối tượng do biến hóa của guṇa từ māyā của Ngài, Ngài vẫn không hề vướng nhiễm. Trái lại, các sinh linh khác—kể cả yogi và triết gia—chỉ cần nhớ đến những đối tượng họ tưởng đã từ bỏ cũng đã bối rối và sợ hãi.
The Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is within the heart of every conditioned soul and guides the living entity in the pursuit and experience of sense gratification. The disappointing results of such activities gradually convince the conditioned soul to reject material life and surrender again to the Lord within his heart. Lord Kṛṣṇa is never affected by the futile attempts of the living entities to enjoy His illusory energy. For the Personality of Godhead there is no possibility of fear or disturbance, because nothing is ultimately separate from Him.
FAQs
This verse states that although māyā presents the objects created by the modes of nature, Krishna—Hṛṣīkapati, the master of the senses—can accept and engage with them without becoming contaminated or bound.
Uddhava is glorifying Krishna’s transcendence and supremacy while discussing spiritual paths, emphasizing that the Lord remains beyond the guṇas even while interacting with the world—unlike conditioned souls.
The verse implies that mere external renunciation may still leave inner fear; steadiness comes by devotion and seeing sense objects as energies to be engaged under the Lord’s control rather than as threats or temptations.