FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.5.48

तत्ते वयं लोकसिसृक्षयाद्य त्वयानुसृष्टास्त्रिभिरात्मभि: स्म । सर्वे वियुक्ता: स्वविहारतन्त्रं न शक्नुमस्तत्प्रतिहर्तवे ते ॥ ४८ ॥
tat te vayaṁ loka-sisṛkṣayādya
[tat te vayam loka-sisrikshayaadya]
tvayānusṛṣṭās tribhir ātmabhiḥ sma
[tvayaanusrishtaas tribhir aatmabhih sma]
sarve viyuktāḥ sva-vihāra-tantraṁ
[sarve viyuktaah sva-vihaara-tantram]
na śaknumas tat pratihartave te
[na shaknumas tat pratihartave te]
Word-for-word
tat — therefore te — Your vayam — all of us loka — world sisṛkṣayā — for the sake of creation ādya — O Original person tvayā — by You anusṛṣṭāḥ — being created one after another tribhiḥ — by the three modes of nature ātmabhiḥ — by one’s own sma — in the past sarve — all viyuktāḥ — separated sva-vihāra-tantram — the network of activities for one’s own pleasure na — not śaknumaḥ — could do it tat — that pratihartave — to award te — unto Your.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tat te vayaṁ loka-sisṛkṣayādya
tat
therefore
te
Your
vayam
all of us
loka
world
sisṛkṣayā
for the sake of creation
ādya
O Original person
tvayānusṛṣṭās tribhir ātmabhiḥ sma
tvayā
by You
anusṛṣṭāḥ
being created one after another
tribhiḥ
by the three modes of nature
ātmabhiḥ
by one’s own
sma
in the past
sarve viyuktāḥ sva-vihāra-tantraṁ
sarve
all
viyuktāḥ
separated
sva-vihāra-tantram
the network of activities for one’s own pleasure
na śaknumas tat pratihartave te
na
not
śaknumaḥ
could do it
tat
that
pratihartave
to award
te
unto Your.
O Original Person, we are therefore but Yours only. Although we are Your creatures, we are born one after another under the influence of the three modes of nature, and for this reason we are separated in action. Therefore, after the creation we could not act concertedly for Your transcendental pleasure.
Purport

The cosmic creation is working under the influence of the three modes of the external potency of the Lord. Different creatures are also under the same influence, and therefore they cannot act concertedly in satisfying the Lord. Because of this diverse activity, there cannot be any harmony in the material world. The best policy, therefore, is to act for the sake of the Lord. That will bring about the desired harmony.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O original person! You, desiring to carry out creation of the universe, have created us with three natures. Because we are disunited we cannot offer to you the universe, your plaything. Therefore (tat) we, your (te) servants, not attaining service, are suffering. They describe this situation of no service. We have been systematically created by you who desire to create the worlds, and have natures of sattva, rajas and tamas. Because of having contrasting natures, we are disunited (viyuktāḥ). Because of that, we cannot offer you the created universe which is your plaything.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The scale of the creation in this verse is not given to overwhelm us but to right-size us. Most of our anxiety shrinks when our self-importance shrinks. The verse anchors this in modes of nature.
Reflection Questions
  • How does it change your day to remember the universe was not built around your preferences?
  • Which 'cosmic' problem are you trying to solve when your actual task is just to play your small part well?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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