Devanagari
सर्गादौ प्रकृतिर्ह्यस्य कार्यकारणरूपिणी ।
सत्त्वादिभिर्गुणैर्धत्ते पुरुषोऽव्यक्त ईक्षते ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
sargādau prakṛtir hy asya
kārya-kāraṇa-rūpiṇī
sattvādibhir guṇair dhatte
puruṣo ’vyakta īkṣate
Synonyms
sarga
—
of creation
;
ādau
—
in the beginning
;
prakṛtiḥ
—
the material nature
;
hi
—
indeed
;
asya
—
of this universe
;
kārya
—
the manifest products
;
kāraṇa
—
and subtle causes
;
rūpiṇī
—
embodying
;
sattva
—
ādibhiḥ — by means of goodness, passion and ignorance
;
guṇaiḥ
—
the modes
;
dhatte
—
assumes its position
;
puruṣaḥ
—
the Supreme Lord
;
avyaktaḥ
—
not involved in material manifestation
;
īkṣate
—
witnesses .
Translation
In the beginning of creation nature assumes, by the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, its form as the embodiment of all subtle causes and gross manifestations within the universe. The Supreme Personality of Godhead does not enter the interaction of material manifestation but merely glances upon nature.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Taking the form of the causal and resulting (kāraṇa and kārya) elements, prakṛti accepts creation and destruction of the universe through the guṇas. The Lord does not undergo transformation but merely remains the witness.
Uddhava asked with what intention the sages have described the elements in various ways. Kṛṣṇa shows the conclusion of their opinions. Kārya refers to the sixteen transformations—the eleven senses and the five gross elements. Kāraṇa refers to mahat-tattva, ahaṅkāra and the five tan-mātras. Prakṛti, taking these forms, assumes the position of creation and destruction by the guṇas. Prakṛti is the material cause (upādāna). The Lord, who undergoes no transformation, the indirect cause (nimitta), simply witnesses this. The Lord is different from prakṛti which undergoes transformation.
Purport
The Personality of Godhead is not subject to transformation like the subtle and gross material elements. Thus the Lord is
avyakta,
or not materially manifest at any stage of cosmic evolution. Regardless of the specific method of cataloging the material elements, the Lord remains the ultimate creator, maintainer and annihilator of the total cosmic situation.