अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम् । भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च ॥
avibhaktaṃ ca bhūteṣu vibhaktamiva ca sthitam | bhūtabhartṛ ca tajjñeyaṃ grasiṣṇu prabhāviṣṇu ca ||
Translation
Undivided yet existing as if divided in beings — this knowable is the sustainer of beings, and the devourer, and the creator.
Interpretation
The most profound paradox: avibhaktam (undivided — Brahman is one, without division) yet vibhaktam iva ca sthitam (appearing as if divided in beings — each being seeming to have their own separate piece of consciousness, their own inner world). The unity appears as multiplicity; the one appears as many — without actually becoming divided. And Brahman's three cosmic roles: bhuta-bharta (sustainer of beings), grasishnu (devourer — Time, the destroyer), and prabhavishnu (creator — the power of manifestation). The Trimurthi — Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva — are aspects of the one Brahman.