Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 7
Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka
Pole Star
एकस्त्वमेव भगवन्निदमात्मशक्त्या मायाख्ययोरुगुणया महदाद्यशेषम् । सृष्ट्वानुविश्य पुरुषस्तदसद्गुणेषु नानेव दारुषु विभावसुवद्विभासि ॥ ७ ॥
ekas tvam eva bhagavann idam ātma-śaktyā māyākhyayoru-guṇayā mahad-ādy-aśeṣam sṛṣṭvānuviśya puruṣas tad-asad-guṇeṣu nāneva dāruṣu vibhāvasuvad vibhāsi
噢，薄伽梵，唯有你是至上一者；以你自身的神圣能量——名为摩耶、具广大诸德性的外在势力——你创造大本原等一切宇宙。创造之后，你以普鲁沙之身进入其中，作为遍在的至我（Paramātmā）居于万物之内，并随物质自然的暂时诸性而显现种种差别，正如火入不同形状的木中而各各炽然发光。
Dhruva Mahārāja realized that the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, acts through His different energies, not that He becomes void or impersonal and thus becomes all-pervading. The Māyāvādī philosopher thinks that the Absolute Truth, being spread throughout the cosmic manifestation, has no personal form. But here Dhruva Mahārāja, upon realization of the Vedic conclusion, says, “You are spread all over the cosmic manifestation by Your energy.” This energy is basically spiritual, but because it acts in the material world temporarily, it is called māyā, or illusory energy. In other words, for everyone but the devotees the Lord’s energy acts as external energy. Dhruva Mahārāja could understand this fact very nicely, and he could understand also that the energy and the energetic are one and the same. The energy cannot be separated from the energetic.
FAQs
This verse explains that Bhagavān is one, yet after creating and entering the universe as the Puruṣa, He appears as many within material forms—like one fire seeming to burn differently in many pieces of wood.
After receiving the Lord’s direct darśana, Dhruva offers prayers recognizing Vishnu’s complete supremacy: He not only manifests the cosmos through His māyā-śakti but also remains present within it as Paramātmā.
See one divine presence behind diverse people and situations; practice humility and steady devotion by remembering that the same Lord pervades all circumstances while remaining transcendental.