In the Laghu-bhagavatamrta, Srila Rupa Gosvami, commenting upon the Lord's transcendental position beyond the material qualities, says that Visnu, as the controller and superintendent of material nature, has a connection with the material qualities. That connection is called yoga. However, the person who directs a prison is not also a prisoner. Similarly, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu directs or supervises the qualitative nature, He has no connection with the material modes of nature. The expansions of Lord Visnu always retain their supremacy; they are never connected with the material qualities. One may argue that Maha-Visnu cannot have any connection with the material qualities, because if He were so connected, Srimad-Bhagavatam would not state that material nature, ashamed of her thankless task of acting to induce the living entities to become averse to the Supreme Lord, remains behind the Lord in shyness. In answer to this argument, it may be said that the word guna means "regulation." Lord Visnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are situated within this universe as the directors of the three modes, and their connection with the modes is known as yoga. This does not indicate, however, that these personalities are bound by the qualities of nature. Lord Visnu specifically is always the controller of the three qualities. There is no question of His coming under their control.