Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.3.16

yaḿ vai na gobhir manasāsubhir vā

hṛdā girā vāsu-bhṛto vicakṣate

ātmānam antar-hṛdi santam ātmanāḿ

cakṣur yathaivākṛtayas tataḥ param

SYNONYMS

yam — whom; vai — indeed; na — not; gobhiḥ — by the senses; manasā — by the mind; asubhiḥ — by the life breath; vā — or; hṛdā — by thoughts; girā — by words; vā — or; asu-bhṛtaḥ — the living entities; vicakṣate — see or know; ātmānam — the Supersoul; antaḥ-hṛdi — within the core of the heart; santam — existing; ātmanām — of the living entities; cakṣuḥ — the eyes; yathā — just like; eva — indeed; ākṛtayaḥ — the different parts or limbs of the body; tataḥ — than them; param — higher.

TRANSLATION

As the different limbs of the body cannot see the eyes, the living entities cannot see the Supreme Lord, who is situated as the Supersoul in everyone's heart. Not by the senses, by the mind, by the life air, by thoughts within the heart, or by the vibration of words can the living entities ascertain the real situation of the Supreme Lord.

PURPORT

Although the different parts of the body do not have the power to see the eyes, the eyes direct the movements of the body's different parts. The legs move forward because the eyes see what is in front of them, and the hand touches because the eyes see touchable entities. Similarly, every living being acts according to the direction of the Supersoul, who is situated within the heart. As the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaḿ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaḿ ca: "I am sitting in everyone's heart and giving directions for remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness." Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāḿ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati: [Bg. 18.61] "The Supreme Lord, as the Supersoul, is situated within the heart." The living entity cannot do anything without the sanction of the Supersoul. The Supersoul is acting at every moment, but the living entity cannot understand the form and activities of the Supersoul by manipulating his senses. The example of the eyes and the bodily limbs is very appropriate. If the limbs could see, they could walk forward without the help of the eyes, but that is impossible. Although one cannot see the Supersoul in one's heart through sensual activities, His direction is necessary.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness