Srimad Bhagavatam. Canto 3: The Status Quo

Chapter 7: Further Inquires by Vidura. Text 28

गुणावतारैर्विश्वस्य सर्गस्थित्यप्ययाश्रयम् ।
सृजतः श्रीनिवासस्य व्याचक्ष्वोदारविक्रमम् ॥२८॥

guṇÄvatÄrair viÅ›vasya
sarga-sthity-apyayÄÅ›rayam
sá¹›jataḥ Å›rÄ«nivÄsasya
vyÄcaká¹£vodÄra-vikramam

 guṇa - modes of material nature; avatÄraiḥ - of the incarnations; viÅ›vasya - of the universe; sarga - creation; sthiti - maintenance; apyaya - destruction; ÄÅ›rayam - and ultimate rest; sá¹›jataḥ - of the one who creates; Å›rÄ«nivÄsasya - of the Personality of Godhead; vyÄcaká¹£va - kindly describe; udÄra - magnanimous; vikramam - specific activities.


Text

Please also describe the incarnations of the material modes of nature — BrahmÄ, Viṣṇu and MaheÅ›vara — and please describe the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His magnanimous activities.

Purport

Although BrahmÄ, Viṣṇu and MaheÅ›vara, the three incarnations of the material modes of nature, are the principal deities for the creation, maintenance and destruction of the cosmic manifestation, they are not the final authority. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate goal, the cause of all causes. He is the ÄÅ›raya, or the final rest of everything.