FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.6.1

ऋषिरुवाच इति तासां स्वशक्तीनां सतीनामसमेत्य स: । प्रसुप्तलोकतन्त्राणां निशाम्य गतिमीश्वर: ॥ १ ॥
ṛṣir uvāca
[rishir uvaacha]
iti tāsāṁ sva-śaktīnāṁ
[iti taasaam sva-shakteenaam]
satīnām asametya saḥ
[sateenaam asametya sah]
prasupta-loka-tantrāṇāṁ
[prasupta-loka-tantraanaam]
niśāmya gatim īśvaraḥ
[nishaamya gatim eeshvarah]
ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the Ṛṣi Maitreya said iti — thus tāsām — their sva-śaktīnām — own potency satīnām — so situated asametya — without combination saḥ — He (the Lord) prasupta — suspended loka-tantrāṇām — in the universal creations niśāmya — hearing gatim — progress īśvaraḥ — the Lord.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ṛṣir uvāca
ṛṣiḥ uvāca
the Ṛṣi Maitreya said
iti tāsāṁ sva-śaktīnāṁ
iti
thus
tāsām
their
sva-śaktīnām
own potency
satīnām
so situated
satīnām asametya saḥ
asametya
without combination
saḥ
He (the Lord)
prasupta-loka-tantrāṇāṁ
prasupta
suspended
loka-tantrāṇām
in the universal creations
niśāmya gatim īśvaraḥ
niśāmya
hearing
gatim
progress
īśvaraḥ
the Lord.
The Ṛṣi Maitreya said: The Lord thus heard about the suspension of the progressive creative functions of the universe due to the noncombination of His potencies, such as the mahat-tattva.

There is nothing wanting in the creation of the Lord; all the potencies are there in a dormant state. But unless they are combined by the will of the Lord, nothing can progress. The suspended progressive work of creation can only be revived by the direction of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Maitreya said: Seeing the sleeping state in creating the universe because the elements were unmixed, the Lord, first by his energy of cohesion, appearing through time, and then as antaryāmī, entered the twenty-three elements simultaneously. The Sixth Chapter describes how, when the Paramātmā enters, the universal form appears along with the elements. The adhibhūta, adhyātma and adhidaiva aspects in his body are described. The elements such as mahat-tattva are called the Lord’s śakti (sva-śaktīnām) because they are the effect of his māyā-śakti. Seeing (niśāmya) the condition of activities for creation in a sleeping state, with a state of unmixed elements, the Lord, supporting this energy, prakṛti, whose identity becomes know by time (kāla-saṁjñām)—along with this prakṛti-- entered into it. “Entering while holding prakṛti” means that first he entered the elements by his energy causing cohesion, and then, after a thousand years, he entered the elements as Paramātmā. The twenty-three elements are mahat-tattva, ahaṅkāra, five tan-mātras, five gross elements, and eleven senses. mūla-prakṛtir avikṛtir mahadādyāḥ prakṛti-vikṛtayaḥ sapta ṣoḍaśakas tu vikāro na prakṛtir na vikṛtiḥ pūruṣaḥ Mūla-prakṛti is unchanged. Transformations of prakrṭi are seven (mahat-tattva, ahaṅkāra and five tan-mātras), which further transform into sixteen (five gross elements and eleven senses). Prakrṭi remains separate and puruṣa do not transform. Sāṅkhya-kārikā by Īśvara-kṛṣṇa Tat sṛṣṭvā tad evānuprāviśat Having created the universe, the Lord entered it. Taittiīrya Upaniṣad 2.6
The verse describes layered cosmic machinery — modes, elements, governing demigods — to remind us that even our 'private' lives are arranged by larger hands.
Reflection Questions
  • How does it change your day to remember the universe was not built around your preferences?
  • What would humility actually look like for you in your work this week?
📝 My note

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