Devanagari
तत्ते वयं लोकसिसृक्षयाद्य
त्वयानुसृष्टास्त्रिभिरात्मभि: स्म ।
सर्वे वियुक्ता: स्वविहारतन्त्रं
न शक्नुमस्तत्प्रतिहर्तवे ते ॥ ४८ ॥
Verse text
tat te vayaṁ loka-sisṛkṣayādya
tvayānusṛṣṭās tribhir ātmabhiḥ sma
sarve viyuktāḥ sva-vihāra-tantraṁ
na śaknumas tat pratihartave te
Synonyms
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 .
Translation
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.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
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.
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.