Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.68.45
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
sthiti - utpatti - apyayānām
—
of maintenance, creation, and destruction
The three cosmic acts. The Kurus, who imagined themselves grantors of kingdoms, now name Balarāma the cause of cosmoses. The reversal is complete.
-
ekaḥ hetuḥ
—
the sole cause
Eka — alone. He is the only cause, not one cause among many. Acintya-bhedābheda doctrine holds that all causes ultimately resolve in Bhagavān.
-
krīḍanakān
—
as playthings
Krīḍanaka = a toy. The worlds are toys for the Lord's līlā. The same word used in Vaiṣṇava praṇāmas for the planets being moved by the Lord's pastimes. The Kurus' crowns are likewise toys, just smaller.
This verse shows how, as the Supreme Lord, he is non-different from the puruṣa known as Saṅkarṣaṇa who manifests the universe. Maintenance (sthiti) is mentioned first since they wanted Balarāma to protect them. Everything depends only on you (nijāśrayaḥ). And you have no dependence on us. The worlds are your playthings. Lokavat tu līlā-kaivalyam: the Lord has pastimes similar to the activities of this world. (Brahma-sūtra 2.1.33) In Nārāyaṇādhyātma it is said: sṛṣtyādikaṁ harer naiva prayojanam apekṣya tu kurute kevalānandāt yathā mattasya nartanam The creation of the Lord does not depend on a goal. He does this simply out of bliss, like the dancing of a madman. Because everything is caused by your will, you must have all knowledge. Since we are engaged as playthings by you, do as you wish. Thus, you should forgive us for our fault since we are foolish. Another version has nirāśrayaḥ. Since you depend only on your devotees, acts like creation are only incidental for you. Thus you engage others in creation etc.
This verse shows him as the Supreme Lord. Maintenance (sthiti) is mentioned first since they wanted Balarāma to protect them. Everything depends only on you (nijāśrayaḥ). And you have no dependence on us. There is no purpose in all of this. Those who know the truth say that the worlds are playthings of you who constantly play (krīḍataḥ). This is for certain (hi). What is the purpose of the play? O Lord! The purpose of the Lord cannot be understood. How is it possible to understand? Since we are engaged as playthings by you, do as you wish. Thus, you should forgive us for our fault since we are foolish.
A child stands before its father holding a toy chariot and learns that the same hands which roll the toy also turn the worlds. The Kurus discover that the elder cousin in their court is the one in whose play creation, sustenance, dissolution all turn.
My note
Source: vedabase.io