Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 9: Liberation | Chapter 8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 9.8.23
tam tvam aham jnana-ghanam svabhava-
pradhvasta-maya-guna-bheda-mohaih
sanandanadyair munibhir vibhavyam
SYNONYMS
tam -- that personality; tvam -- unto You; aham -- I; jnana-ghanam -- Your Lordship, who are concentrated knowledge; svabhava -- by spiritual nature; pradhvasta -- free from contamination; maya-guna -- caused by the three modes of material nature; bheda-mohaih -- by exhibition of the bewilderment of differentiation; sanandana-adyaih -- by such personalities as the four Kumaras (Sanat-kumara, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanatana); munibhih -- by such great sages; vibhavyam -- worshipable; katham -- how; vimudhah -- being fooled by the material nature; paribhavayami -- can I think of You.
TRANSLATION
O my Lord, sages freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature -- sages such as the four Kumaras [Sanat, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanatana] -- are able to think of You, who are concentrated knowledge. But how can an ignorant person like me think of You?
PURPORT
The word svabhava refers to one's own spiritual nature or original constitutional position. When situated in this original position, the living entity is unaffected by the modes of material nature. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate (Bg. 14.26). As soon as one is freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature, he is situated on the Brahman platform. Vivid examples of personalities thus situated are the four Kumaras and Narada. Such authorities can by nature understand the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but a conditioned soul not freed from the influence of material nature is unable to realize the Supreme. In Bhagavad-gita (2.45), therefore, Krsna advises Arjuna, traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna: one must rise above the influence of the three modes of material nature. One who stays within the influence of the three material modes is unable to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness