Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.11.8

gunānuraktam vyasanāya jantoh

kshemāya nairgunyam atho manah syāt

yathā pradīpo ghrita-vartim aśnan

śikhāh sadhūmā bhajati hy anyadā svam

padam tathā guna-karmānubaddham

vrittīr manah śrayate 'nyatra tattvam

SYNONYMS

guna-anuraktam — being attached to the material modes of nature; vyasanāya — for the conditioning in material existence; jantoh — of the living entity; kshemāya — for the ultimate welfare; nairgunyam — being unaffected by the material modes of nature; atho — thus; manah — the mind; syāt — becomes; yathā — as much as; pradīpah — a lamp; ghrita-vartim — a wick within clarified butter; aśnan — burning; śikhāh — the flame; sadhūmāh — with smoke; bhajati — enjoys; hi — certainly; anyadā — otherwise; svam — its own original; padam — position; tathā — so; guna-karma-anubaddham — bound by the modes of nature and the reactions of material activities; vrittīh — various engagements; manah — the mind; śrayate — takes shelter of; anyatra — otherwise; tattvam — its original condition.

TRANSLATION

When the living entity's mind becomes absorbed in the sense gratification of the material world, it brings about his conditioned life and suffering within the material situation. However, when the mind becomes unattached to material enjoyment, it becomes the cause of liberation. When the flame in a lamp burns the wick improperly, the lamp is blackened, but when the lamp is filled with ghee and is burning properly, there is bright illumination. Similarly, when the mind is absorbed in material sense gratification, it causes suffering, and when detached from material sense gratification, it brings about the original brightness of Krishna consciousness.

PURPORT

It is therefore concluded that the mind is the cause of material existence and liberation also. Everyone is suffering in this material world because of the mind; it is therefore proper to train the mind or to cleanse the mind from material attachment and engage it fully in the Lord's service. This is called spiritual engagement. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā:

mām ca yo 'vyabhicārena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunān samatītyaitān

brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman." (Bg. 14.26)

We should engage the mind fully in Krishna conscious activities. Then it will be the cause of our liberation, for our returning home. back to Godhead. However, if we keep the mind engaged in material activities for sense gratification, it will cause continuous bondage and will make us remain in this material world in different bodies, suffering the consequences of our different actions.

<<< >>>

Copyright ©r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness