Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 3
Devahūti’s Prayers, Kapila’s Departure, and Devahūti’s Liberation
Siddhapada
स एव विश्वस्य भवान्विधत्ते गुणप्रवाहेण विभक्तवीर्य: । सर्गाद्यनीहोऽवितथाभिसन्धिर् आत्मेश्वरोऽतर्क्यसहस्रशक्ति: ॥ ३ ॥
sa eva viśvasya bhavān vidhatte guṇa-pravāheṇa vibhakta-vīryaḥ sargādy anīho ’vitathābhisandhir ātmeśvaro ’tarkya-sahasra-śaktiḥ
主啊，正是你以诸性（guṇa）的流转分布你的能量，使宇宙的创造、维持与毁灭得以发生；而你自身却如同无为不动。你的意志从不落空；你是众生的至上内在主。你虽为一，却具不可思议的千般力量，能多方运作——此实非我等所能测度。
The statement made in this verse by Devahūti that the Absolute Truth has many diverse energies although He personally has nothing to do is confirmed in the Upaniṣads. There is no one greater than Him or on an equal level with Him, and everything is completely done by His energy, as if by nature. It is understood herein, therefore, that although the modes of material nature are entrusted to different manifestations like Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, each of whom is particularly invested with different kinds of power, the Supreme Lord is completely aloof from such activities. Devahūti is saying, “Although You personally are not doing anything, Your determination is absolute. There is no question of Your fulfilling Your will with the help of anyone else besides Yourself. You are, in the end, the Supreme Soul and the supreme controller. Therefore Your will cannot be checked by anyone else.” The Supreme Lord can check others’ plans. As it is said, “Man proposes and God disposes.” But when the Supreme Personality of Godhead proposes, that desire is under no one else’s control. He is absolute. We are ultimately dependent on Him to fulfill our desires, but we cannot say that God’s desires are also dependent. That is His inconceivable power. That which may be inconceivable for ordinary living entities is easily done by Him. And in spite of His being unlimited, He has subjected Himself to being known from the authoritative scriptures like the Vedic literatures. As it is said, śabda-mūlatvāt: He can be known through the śabda-brahma, or Vedic literature.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord alone orders the universe by distributing His energies through the flowing modes of nature (guṇa-pravāha), so material creation works under His direction.
Because although creation appears to proceed through nature, Devahuti recognizes that Kapila—the Supreme Lord—acts through countless, logic-transcending potencies, making His will unfailing.
It encourages steady faith and disciplined practice: do your duty sincerely while trusting that the Lord’s higher plan is purposeful, even when outcomes are uncertain.