Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 54
महामायाप्रभावेण संसारस्थितिकारिणा। तन्नात्र विस्मयः कार्यो योगनिद्रा जगत्पतेः ॥ ५४ ॥
mahāmāyāprabhāvēṇa saṁsārasthitikāriṇā | tannātra vismayaḥ kāryō yōganidrā jagatpatēḥ || 54 ||
Translation
'Therefore, you should not be surprised at this. It is by the power of Mahāmāyā, who causes the continuance of the world, who is the Yoganidrā (Yogic Sleep) of the Lord of the Universe.'
Word by word
- mahāmāyā
- the Great Illusion
- prabhāveṇa
- by the power
- saṁsāra
- the world of birth and death
- sthitikāriṇā
- that which causes the continuance
- tat
- therefore
- na
- not
- atra
- here, in this matter
- vismayaḥ
- surprise, wonder
- kāryaḥ
- should be done
- yōganidrā
- yogic sleep (a form of the Goddess)
- jagatpatēḥ
- of the Lord of the Universe (Vishnu)
Meaning
The sage reveals the ultimate cause. The bewildering power that binds all beings is not a minor force but Mahāmāyā herself—the divine, cosmic power of illusion. She is the one who maintains the cycle of saṁsāra and is also identified as Yoganidrā, the energy that sends even Lord Vishnu into a state of divine sleep. Her power is so supreme that it is no wonder (nātra vismayaḥ) it deludes ordinary humans and animals alike.