Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.5.27
ततोऽभवन् महत्तत्त्वमव्यक्तात्कालचोदितात् ।
विज्ञानात्मात्मदेहस्थं विश्वं व्यञ्जंस्तमोनुद: ॥ २७ ॥
tato ’bhavan mahat-tattvam
[tato ’bhavan mahat-tattvam]
avyaktāt kāla-coditāt
[avyaktaat kaala-choditaat]
vijñānātmātma-deha-sthaṁ
[vijnaanaatmaatma-deha-stham]
viśvaṁ vyañjaṁs tamo-nudaḥ
[vishvam vyanjams tamo-nudah]
Word-for-word
tataḥ
—
thereafter
abhavat
—
came into existence
mahat
—
supreme
tattvam
—
sum total
avyaktāt
—
from the unmanifested
kāla-coditāt
—
by the interaction of time
vijñāna-ātmā
—
unalloyed goodness
ātma-deha-stham
—
situated on the bodily self
viśvam
—
complete universes
vyañjan
—
manifesting
tamaḥ-nudaḥ
—
the supreme light.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tato ’bhavan mahat-tattvam
tataḥ
thereafter
abhavat
came into existence
mahat
supreme
tattvam
sum total
avyaktāt kāla-coditāt
avyaktāt
from the unmanifested
kāla-coditāt
by the interaction of time
vijñānātmātma-deha-sthaṁ
vijñāna-ātmā
unalloyed goodness
ātma-deha-stham
situated on the bodily self
viśvaṁ vyañjaṁs tamo-nudaḥ
viśvam
complete universes
vyañjan
manifesting
tamaḥ-nudaḥ
the supreme light.
Thereafter, influenced by the interactions of eternal time, the supreme sum total of matter, called the mahat-tattva, became manifested, and in this mahat-tattva the unalloyed goodness, the Supreme Lord, sowed the seeds of universal manifestation out of His own body.
Purport
In due course of time, the impregnated material energy was manifested first as the total material ingredients. Everything takes its own time to fructify, and therefore the word kāla-coditāt, “influenced by time,” is used herein. The mahat-tattva is the total consciousness because a portion of it is represented in everyone as the intellect. The mahat-tattva is directly connected with the supreme consciousness of the Supreme Being, but still it appears as matter. The mahat-tattva, or shadow of pure consciousness, is the germinating place of all creation. It is pure goodness with the slight addition of the material mode of passion, and therefore activity is generated from this point.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Impelled by time, from the invisible prakṛti arose mahat-tattva, composed of knowledge, in sattva-guṇa. This manifests the universe situated within itself, and destroys ignorance.
Among the twenty-three divisions of māyā which will appear by the influence of cause and effect, caused by the addition of consciousness through the power of the Lord, mahat-tattva first appears. From māyā (avyaktāt), impelled by time, undergoing transformation necessary for creation by the influence of time, mahat-tattva arose. Mahān (without the word tattva) is then described: it is composed of knowledge (vijñānātmā), by predominance of sattva. It is the form of excellent knowledge. It is exists in partial form as citta in all bodies. It reveals (vyañjayan) the universe situated in its body, just as a seed sprouts and then manifests as a tree. It removes darkness of ignorance caused by pralaya. It should be understood (though not mentioned here) that it then becomes sūtra-tattva, differentiated from mahat-tattva by the kriya-śakti, with a predominance of rajas.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse describes a universe that is not a random stage but an arrangement with a purpose. Our work is not to engineer that purpose but to find our seat within it. The pivot here is eternal time.
Reflection Questions
- Where have you been demanding outcomes from a system you did not design?
- How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
My note
Source: vedabase.io