Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.7.20

atmano gurur atmaiva

purushasya viseshatah

yat pratyakshanumanabhyam

sreyo 'sav anuvindate

SYNONYMS

atmanah -- of himself; guruh -- the instructing spiritual master; atma -- himself; eva -- indeed; purushasya -- of a person; viseshatah -- in a particular sense; yat -- because; pratyaksha -- by his direct perception; anumanabhyam -- and application of logic; sreyah -- real benefit; asau -- he; anuvindate -- can eventually gain.

TRANSLATION

An intelligent person, expert in perceiving the world around him and in applying sound logic, can achieve real benefit through his own intelligence. Thus sometimes one acts as one's own instructing spiritual master.

PURPORT

As illustrated in this chapter by the conversation between King Yadu and the avadhuta, a sensitive, reasonable person can acquire real knowledge and happiness simply by carefully observing the world around him. By observing the happiness and distress of other living entities, one can understand what is beneficial and what is destructive.

Srila Jiva Gosvami states in this connection, gurv-anusarane pravartaka ity arthah: the knowledge acquired by one's own perception and intelligence leads one to appreciate the value of the representative of Lord Krishna. The word sreyas in this verse indicates that one can advance in life through one's own intelligence. By good association one should gradually come to understand one's eternal position as servant of Krishna, and then one becomes very eager to live in the company of other enlightened persons. Birds of a feather flock together. The symptom of an enlightened servant of Krishna is that he is eager for the company of other such great souls. Thus by one's sensitive and rational observation of this material world, one should come to appreciate the value of spiritual life in the association of the devotees.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari