SB 8.12.39 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

को नु मेऽतितरेन्मायां विषक्तस्त्वद‍ृते पुमान् तांस्तान्विसृजतीं भावान्दुस्तरामकृतात्मभि: ॥ ३९ ॥

Verse text

ko nu me ’titaren māyāṁ viṣaktas tvad-ṛte pumān tāṁs tān visṛjatīṁ bhāvān dustarām akṛtātmabhiḥ

Synonyms

kaḥ — what ; nu — indeed ; me — My ; atitaret — can surpass ; māyām — illusory energy ; viṣaktaḥ — attached to material sense enjoyment ; tvat — ṛte — except for you ; pumān — person ; tān — such conditions ; tān — unto the materially attached persons ; visṛjatīm — in surpassing ; bhāvān — reactions of material activities ; dustarām — very difficult to surmount ; akṛta — ātmabhiḥ — by persons unable to control their senses .

Translation

My dear Lord Śambhu, who within this material world but you can surpass My illusory energy? People are generally attached to sense enjoyment and conquered by its influence. Indeed, the influence of material nature is very difficult for them to surmount.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Except you, what person with material attachment can surpass my illusory energy, difficult to surpass by those with uncontrolled mind, and which creates various conditions of rajas and tamas? You cannot be bewildered by my external energy which bewilders the world. What person, attached to material enjoyment (viṣaktaḥ), can surpass māyā except you? This means that though Śiva became attracted to māyā, he overcame māyā. That māyā creates various states of rajas and tamas (bhāvān) in the form of desire.

Purport

Of the three chief demigods — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara — all but Viṣṇu are under the influence of māyā. In Caitanya-caritāmṛta, they are described as māyī, which means “under māyā’s influence.” But even though Lord Śiva associates with māyā, he is not influenced. The living entities are affected by māyā, but although Lord Śiva apparently associates with māyā, he is not affected. In other words, all living entities within this material world except for Lord Śiva are swayed by māyā. Lord Śiva is therefore neither viṣṇu-tattva nor jīva-tattva. He is between the two.