Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 31
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
至上人格神以意念创造此宇宙，复以遍在的至魂（Paramātmā）进入其中；令自然三德（guṇa）运转，便似亲自为作者，如梦者在梦中行动。谨向彼三德之主、德性之本体、清净独一无二、至上灵性导师、绝对真理之本初人格形相的薄伽梵顶礼。
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 explains that the Lord creates and enters the universe, yet actions are carried out by the modes of nature; He only appears to be the doer, like a dreamer seeming to act in a dream.
He uses it to show how apparent agency can be illusory—just as dream actions seem real to the dream-seer, the Lord’s “doership” is only an appearance produced by the guṇas.
Act responsibly while remembering that outcomes are governed by higher laws (guṇas and providence); cultivate humility, reduce ego, and dedicate work to Bhagavān in devotion.