Text 18]
Nārada Instructs the Pracetās
1581
cause of an earthen pot is the earth. We see on a potter's wheel a sufficient amount of earth to produce many pots, and although unintelligent men will say that the earth on the wheel is the cause of the pot, those who are actually advanced will find that the original cause is the potter, who supplies the earth and moves the wheel. Material nature may be a helping factor in the creation of this cosmic manifestation, but it is not the ultimate cause. In  Bhagavad-gītā  the Lord therefore says:
mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram
“This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and producing all moving and unmoving beings.” (Bg. 9.10)
The Supreme Lord casts His glance over material energy, and His glance agitates the three modes of nature. Creation then takes place. The conclusion is that nature is not the cause of the material manifestation. The Supreme Lord is the cause of all causes.
TEXT 18
तेनैकमात्मानमशेषदेहिनां
कालं प्रधानं पुरुषं परेशम् ।
स्वतेजसा ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाह-
मात्मैकभावेन भजध्वमद्धा ॥१८॥
tenaikam ātmānam aśeṣa-dehinām
kālam pradhānam puruṣam pareśam
sva-tejasā dhvasta-guṇa-pravāham
ātmaika-bhāvena bhajadhvam addhā
tena —therefore;  ekam —one;  ātmānam —unto the Supreme Soul;  aśeṣa —unlimited;  dehinām —of the individual souls;  kālam —time;  pradhānam —the material cause;  puruṣam —the Supreme Person;  pareśam —the transcendental controller;  sva-tejasā —by His spiritual energy;  dhvasta —aloof;  guṇa-pravāham —from material emanations;  ātma —self;  eka-bhāvena —accepting as qualitatively one;  bhajadhvam —engage in devotional service;  addhā —directly.