FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.5.6

यथा पुन: स्वे ख इदं निवेश्य शेते गुहायां स निवृत्तवृत्ति: । योगेश्वराधीश्वर एक एत- दनुप्रविष्टो बहुधा यथासीत् ॥ ६ ॥
yathā punaḥ sve kha idaṁ niveśya
[yathaa punah sve kha idam niveshya]
śete guhāyāṁ sa nivṛtta-vṛttiḥ
[shete guhaayaam sa nivritta-vrittih]
yogeśvarādhīśvara eka etad
[yogeshvaraadheeshvara eka etad]
anupraviṣṭo bahudhā yathāsīt
[anupravishto bahudhaa yathaaseet]
Word-for-word
yathā — as much as punaḥ — again sve — in His khe — form of space (virāṭ-rūpa) idam — this niveśya — entering into śete — lies down guhāyām — within the universe saḥ — He (the Personality of Godhead) nivṛtta — without endeavor vṛttiḥ — means of livelihood yoga-īśvara — the master of all mystic powers adhīśvaraḥ — proprietor of everything ekaḥ — one without a second etat — this anupraviṣṭaḥ — entering afterwards bahudhā — by innumerable yathā — as much as āsīt — exists.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yathā punaḥ sve kha idaṁ niveśya
yathā
as much as
punaḥ
again
sve
in His
khe
form of space (virāṭ-rūpa)
idam
this
niveśya
entering into
śete guhāyāṁ sa nivṛtta-vṛttiḥ
śete
lies down
guhāyām
within the universe
saḥ
He (the Personality of Godhead)
nivṛtta
without endeavor
vṛttiḥ
means of livelihood
yogeśvarādhīśvara eka etad
yoga-īśvara
the master of all mystic powers
adhīśvaraḥ
proprietor of everything
ekaḥ
one without a second
etat
this
anupraviṣṭo bahudhā yathāsīt
anupraviṣṭaḥ
entering afterwards
bahudhā
by innumerable
yathā
as much as
āsīt
exists.
He lies down on His own heart spread in the form of the sky, and thus placing the whole creation in that space, He expands Himself into many living entities, which are manifested as different species of life. He does not have to endeavor for His maintenance, because He is the master of all mystic powers and the proprietor of everything. Thus He is distinct from the living entities.
Purport

The questions regarding creation, maintenance and destruction, which are mentioned in many parts of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, are in relation to different millenniums ( kalpas ), and therefore they are differently described by different authorities when questioned by different students. There is no difference regarding the creative principles and the Lord’s control over them, yet there are some differences in the minute details because of different kalpas. The gigantic sky is the material body of the Lord, called the virāṭ-rūpa, and all material creations are resting on the sky, or the heart of the Lord. Therefore, beginning from the sky, the first material manifestation to the gross vision, down to the earth, everything is called Brahman. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma: “There is nothing but the Lord, and He is one without a second.” The living entities are the superior energies, whereas matter is the inferior energy, and the combination of these energies brings about the manifestation of this material world, which is in the heart of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Please describe how the Lord, fixing himself in the space, free of the effects of māyā, sleeps in the Virajā River, and how, though alone, the lord of all lords enters into the universe and becomes many forms. Establishing himself in the space of his heart, he sleeps in the Virajā River (guhāyām) which is called secret, since no one can understand this place. He is unaffected by māyā (nivṛtta-vṛttiḥ). At the same time, he enters into the world he created and exists in many forms such as men and devatās. The question about creation is asked repetitively to find out if the creation takes place the same way in each mahā-kalpa or not.
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.
Reflection Questions
  • What would change in your prayer if you remembered how small your sphere actually is?
  • How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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