Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.11.16
Sarga· CreationBeyond Material Modes Lies Eternal Life
“Manu continued: My dear King Dhruva, it is simply by the illusory material energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by the interaction of the three modes of material nature that creation, maintenance and annihilation take place.”
What the purport teaches
- Creation, maintenance and annihilation occur through the interaction of material nature’s modes. All are conducted under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Creation is the action of rajo-guṇa, passion; maintenance is the action of sattva-guṇa, goodness; and annihilation is the action of tamo-guṇa, ignorance.
- Material goodness can elevate one to higher planets with longer lives. Those who transcend the material modes and reach pure goodness attain eternal life in the spiritual world.
Try this today
Write down the three material modes and their functions, then note that pure goodness lies beyond them.
Ask yourself
Do I distinguish a longer material life from eternal life beyond the material modes?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.