Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.3.16
Āśraya· The supreme shelterAsk How to Become Free of Māyā
“I have now described māyā, the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This illusory potency, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is empowered by the Lord for the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the material universe. Now, what more do you wish to hear?”
What the purport teaches
- Māyā is the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Consisting of three modes, she is empowered by the Lord to create, maintain and annihilate the material universe.
- During annihilation, each gross element loses its distinguishing quality and merges into its preceding element. Eventually, false ego merges into mahat-tattva, which takes shelter of unmanifest pradhāna.
- Having explained māyā, Śrī Antarīkṣa encourages King Nimi to inquire about freedom from her influence. Understanding illusion should lead to asking how to become free of it.
Try this today
Write down one sincere question about how to become free of māyā, ready to bring to your next study session.
Ask yourself
Does learning about māyā awaken in me a sincere desire to become free of her influence?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.