Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 28

Vidura’s Questions: How the Unchangeable Lord Relates to Māyā; Bhakti as the Remedy; Blueprint for the Coming Cosmology

Devanagari script

गुणावतारैर्विश्वस्य सर्गस्थित्यप्ययाश्रयम् । सृजत: श्रीनिवासस्य व्याचक्ष्वोदारविक्रमम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

guṇāvatārair viśvasya sarga-sthity-apyayāśrayam sṛjataḥ śrīnivāsasya vyācakṣvodāra-vikramam

Translation

也请阐明三种德性之化身——梵天、毗湿奴与大自在天——作为宇宙生、住、灭之所依；并请讲述至尊主斯里尼瓦萨的降临，以及祂广大慈宏的事业。

Synonyms

• guṇa-avatāraiḥ: by the incarnations of the guṇas
• guṇa-avatāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (guṇānām avatārāḥ / guṇa-avatārāḥ), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• viśvasya: of the universe
• viśvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• sarga-sthiti-apyaya-āśrayam: the support of creation, maintenance, and dissolution
• sarga-sthiti-apyaya-āśrayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarga (प्रातिपदिक) + sthiti (प्रातिपदिक) + apyaya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (sarga-sthiti-apyayānām āśrayaḥ), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sṛjataḥ: of (him) creating
• sṛjataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (सृज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (of ‘one who creates’)

• śrī-nivāsasya: of Śrīnivāsa (Viṣṇu)
• śrī-nivāsasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + nivāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (śriyāḥ nivāsaḥ = abode of Śrī), पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• vyācakṣva: explain/describe
• vyācakṣva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cakṣ (चक्ष् धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: वि-आ (vyā-)

• udāra-vikramam: him of noble/majestic prowess
• udāra-vikramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (udāraḥ vikramaḥ yasya / udāra-vikramaḥ), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Purport

Although Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, the three incarnations of the material modes of nature, are the principal deities for the creation, maintenance and destruction of the cosmic manifestation, they are not the final authority. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate goal, the cause of all causes. He is the āśraya, or the final rest of everything.

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Maitreya
• Śrīnivāsa (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the guṇa-avatāras (incarnations of the modes of nature)?

This verse states that the Lord, through His guṇa-avatāras, becomes the shelter behind the universe’s creation, maintenance, and dissolution—showing that cosmic functions ultimately rest on Him.

Why did Vidura ask Maitreya to describe Śrīnivāsa’s prowess?

In Canto 3, Chapter 7, Vidura seeks clear understanding of the Lord’s divine governance of the cosmos, so he requests Maitreya to explain how the Lord’s incarnations relate to creation, preservation, and annihilation.

How can the teaching of “the Lord as the shelter of creation, maintenance, and dissolution” be applied in modern life?

It encourages steadiness: seeing change, stability, and endings as parts of a higher order helps cultivate faith, humility, and resilience while practicing devotion amid life’s cycles.