tÄm Ähus tri-guṇa-vyaktiá¹
sṛjantīṠviśvato-mukham
yasmin protam idaá¹ viÅ›vaá¹
yena saá¹sarate pumÄn
tÄm - the mahat-tattva; Ähuḥ - they say; tri-guṇa - the three modes of material nature; vyaktim - manifesting as the cause; sá¹›jantÄ«m - creating; viÅ›vataḥ-mukham - many different categories of cosmic manifestation; yasmin - within the mahat-tattva; protam - strung and bound; idam - this; viÅ›vam - universe; yena - by which; saá¹sarate - undergoes material existence; pumÄn - the living being.
According to great sages, that which is the basis of the three modes of material nature and which manifests the variegated universe is called the sūtra or mahat-tattva. Indeed, this universe is resting within that mahat-tattva, and due to its potency the living entity undergoes material existence.
The cosmic manifestation is a reality because it emanates from the supreme reality, the Personality of Godhead. The material world, however, is temporary and full of problems. The conditioned soul foolishly tries to become the lord of this inferior creation and becomes separated from his real friend, the Supreme Lord. In this state, his only business is material sense gratification, and his real knowledge is lost.
