Parikshit next asked "How did Bhagavan create this Universe, how does He
preserve it, how will He draw it in? What are the Saktis by which He
manifests Himself directly and indirectly? What are His actions?"
Suka replied, these were the very questions asked by Narada of his
father Brahma.
Brahma replied: -- "Wishing to become manifold, the Lord of Maya,
influenced Kala, Karma and Svabhava, by his own Maya". (Kala is the flow
of Time and is, according to the Bhagavata Purana, the Sakti of Purusha.
Karma is the _adrishta_ of Jiva or the Jiva record of the previous
Kalpa. Svabhava is the essence of Prakriti). Under the influence of
Purusha, the first disturbance in the equilibrium of the Gunas follows
from Kala, transformation follows from Svabhava and the development of
Mahat Tatva follows from Karma. When Rajas and Tamas manifest themselves
in Mahat Tatva, it is transformed into Ahankara Tatva, with predominant
Tamas. Ahankara Tatva by transformation becomes threefold. -- Satvika,
Rajasika and Tamasika, i.e., Jnana Sakti (potency to produce the Devas),
Kriya Sakti (potency to produce the Indriyas), and Dravya Sakti (potency
to produce the Bhutas), respectively.
Tamasa Ahankara was first transformed into Akasa, Akasa into Vayu, Vayu
into Agni, Agni into Apas, and Apas into Prithivi, Satvika Ahankara was
transformed into Manas and the ten Vaikarika Devas.
[The Vaikarika Devas are the Adhidevas or the Energy-giving gods of the
ten Indriyas. Sensing is _in_ Man or Adhi-Atma, it is of the object or
Adhi-bhuta and is _caused by_ Vaikarika Deva or Adhi-Deva. Thus the
object seen is Adhi-bhuta, the sight is Adhyatma and the manifesting
Energy of sight is Adhideva.]