FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.23

अथवा देवमायाया नूनं गतिरगोचरा । चेतसो वचसश्चापि भूतानामिति निश्चय: ॥ २३ ॥
athavā deva-māyāyā
[athavaa deva-maayaayaa]
nūnaṁ gatir agocarā
[noonam gatir agocharaa]
cetaso vacasaś cāpi
[chetaso vachasash chaapi]
bhūtānām iti niścayaḥ
[bhootaanaam iti nishchayah]
athavā — alternatively deva — the Lord māyāyāḥ — energies nūnam — very little gatiḥ — movement agocarā — inconceivable cetasaḥ — either by the mind vacasaḥ — by words ca — or api — also bhūtānām — of all living beings iti — thus niścayaḥ — concluded.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
athavā deva-māyāyā
athavā
alternatively
deva
the Lord
māyāyāḥ
energies
nūnaṁ gatir agocarā
nūnam
very little
gatiḥ
movement
agocarā
inconceivable
cetaso vacasaś cāpi
cetasaḥ
either by the mind
vacasaḥ
by words
ca
or
api
also
bhūtānām iti niścayaḥ
bhūtānām
of all living beings
iti
thus
niścayaḥ
concluded.
Thus it is concluded that the Lord’s energies are inconceivable. No one can estimate them by mental speculation or by word jugglery.

A question may be raised as to why a devotee should refrain from identifying an actor, although he knows definitely that the Lord is the ultimate doer of everything. Knowing the ultimate doer, one should not pose himself as ignorant of the actual performer. To answer this doubt, the reply is that the Lord is also not directly responsible, for everything is done by His deputed māyā-śakti, or material energy. The material energy is always provoking doubts about the supreme authority of the Lord. The personality of religion knew perfectly well that nothing can take place without the sanction of the Supreme Lord, and still he was put into doubts by the deluding energy, and thus he refrained from mentioning the supreme cause. This doubtfulness was due to the contamination of both Kali and the material energy. The whole atmosphere of the Age of Kali is magnified by the deluding energy, and the proportion of measurement is inexplicable.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
It is certain that the course of the Lord’s māyā is beyond the thought and words of the living entities.
Commentary

You have said everything. What has been said is true. The cause is beyond reasoning (apratarkyād). The course of the Lord’s energy which causes maintenance and destruction of the whole universe (deva-māyāyāḥ) is beyond the mind (cetasaḥ). It is beyond words. Thus it is apratarkya and anirdeśya. Since māyā is only under his control, who can know and say how the Lord arranges happiness and distress in the form of maintenance and destruction for the living entities.

It is concluded that the Lord's energies are inconceivable. No one can estimate them by mental speculation or word-jugglery. Accepting incomprehensibility is itself wisdom. Don't argue what you cannot encompass.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I word-juggling about the Lord rather than worshipping?
  • What would humility before incomprehensibility free me to do?
📝 My note

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