> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 3
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 3 Part 2

> > **************

> > Chapter Twenty-seven: Understanding Material Nature

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca

> > prakrti-stho 'pi puruso

> > najyate prakrtair gunaih

> > avikarad akartrtvan

> > nirgunatvaj jalarkavat

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca: the Personality of Godhead said; prakrti-sthah: residing in the material body; api: although; purusah: the living entity; na: not; ajyate: is affected; prakrtaih: of material nature; gunaih: by the modes; avikarat: from being without change; akartrtvat: by freedom from proprietorship; nirgunatvat: from being unaffected by the qualities of material nature; jala: on water; arkavat: like the sun.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead Kapila continued: When the living entity is thus unaffected by the modes of material nature, because he is unchanging and does not claim proprietorship, he remains apart from the reactions of the modes, although abiding in a material body, just as the sun remains aloof from its reflection on water.

> > *******

> > TEXT 2

> > sa esa yarhi prakrter

> > gunesv abhivisajjate

> > ahankriya-vimudhatma

> > kartasmity abhimanyate

> > sah: that very living entity; esah: this; yarhi: when; prakrteh: of material nature; gunesu: in the modes; abhivisajjate: is absorbed; ahankriya: by false ego; vimudha: bewildered; atma: the individual soul; karta: the doer; asmi: I am; iti: thus; abhimanyate: he thinks.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the soul is under the spell of material nature and false ego, identifying his body as the self, he becomes absorbed in material activities, and by the influence of false ego he thinks that he is the proprietor of everything.

> > *******

> > TEXT 3

> > tena samsara-padavim

> > avaso 'bhyety anirvrtah

> > prasangikaih karma-dosaih

> > sad-asan-misra-yonisu

> > tena: by this; samsara: of repeated birth and death; padavim: the path; avasah: helplessly; abhyeti: he undergoes; anirvrtah: discontented; prasangikaih: resulting from association with material nature; karma-dosaih: by faulty actions; sat: good; asat: bad; misra: mixed; yonisu: in different species of life.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The conditioned soul therefore transmigrates into different species of life, higher and lower, because of his association with the modes of material nature. Unless he is relieved of material activities, he has to accept this position because of his faulty work.

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > arthe hy avidyamane 'pi

> > samsrtir na nivartate

> > dhyayato visayan asya

> > svapne 'narthagamo yatha

> > arthe: real cause; hi: certainly; avidyamane: not existing; api: although; samsrtih: the material existential condition; na: not; nivartate: does cease; dhyayatah: contemplating; visayan: objects of the senses; asya: of the living entity; svapne: in a dream; anartha: of disadvantages; agamah: arrival; yatha: like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Actually a living entity is transcendental to material existence, but because of his mentality of lording it over material nature, his material existential condition does not cease, and just as in a dream, he is affected by all sorts of disadvantages.

> > *******

> > TEXT 5

> > ata eva sanais cittam

> > prasaktam asatam pathi

> > bhakti-yogena tivrena

> > viraktya ca nayed vasam

> > atah eva: therefore; sanaih: gradually; cittam: mind, consciousness; prasaktam: attached; asatam: of material enjoyments; pathi: on the path; bhakti-yogena: by devotional service; tivrena: very serious; viraktya: without attachment; ca: and; nayet: he must bring; vasam: under control.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It is the duty of every conditioned soul to engage his polluted consciousness, which is now attached to material enjoyment, in very serious devotional service with detachment. Thus his mind and consciousness will be under full control.

> > *******

> > TEXT 6

> > yamadibhir yoga-pathair

> > abhyasan sraddhayanvitah

> > mayi bhavena satyena

> > mat-katha-sravanena ca

> > yama-adibhih: beginning with yama; yoga-pathaih: by the yoga system; abhyasan: practicing; sraddhaya anvitah: with great faith; mayi: unto Me; bhavena: with devotion; satyena: unalloyed; mat-katha: stories about Me; sravanena: by hearing; ca: and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One has to become faithful by practicing the controlling process of the yoga system and must elevate himself to the platform of unalloyed devotional service by chanting and hearing about Me.

> > *******

> > TEXT 7

> > sarva-bhuta-samatvena

> > nirvairenaprasangatah

> > brahmacaryena maunena

> > sva-dharmena baliyasa

> > sarva: all; bhuta: living entities; samatvena: by seeing equally; nirvairena: without enmity; aprasangatah: without intimate connections; brahma-caryena: by celibacy; maunena: by silence; sva-dharmena: by one's occupation; baliyasa: by offering the result.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In executing devotional service, one has to see every living entity equally, without enmity towards anyone yet without intimate connections with anyone. One has to observe celibacy, be grave and execute his eternal activities, offering the results to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8

> > yadrcchayopalabdhena

> > santusto mita-bhun munih

> > vivikta-saranah santo

> > maitrah karuna atmavan

> > yadrcchaya: without difficulty; upalabdhena: with what is obtained; santustah: satisfied; mita: little; bhuk: eating; munih: thoughtful; vivikta-saranah: living in a secluded place; santah: peaceful; maitrah: friendly; karunah: compassionate; atma-van: self-possessed, self-realized.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For his income a devotee should be satisfied with what he earns without great difficulty. He should not eat more than what is necessary. He should live in a secluded place and always be thoughtful, peaceful, friendly, compassionate and self-realized.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9

> > sanubandhe ca dehe 'sminn

> > akurvann asad-agraham

> > jnanena drsta-tattvena

> > prakrteh purusasya ca

> > sa-anubandhe: with bodily relationships; ca: and; dehe: towards the body; asmin: this; akurvan: not doing; asat-agraham: bodily concept of life; jnanena: through knowledge; drsta: having seen; tattvena: the reality; prakrte h: of matter; purusasya: of spirit; ca: and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One's seeing power should be increased through knowledge of spirit and matter, and one should not unnecessarily identify himself with the body and thus become attracted by bodily relationships.

> > *******

> > TEXT 10

> > nivrtta-buddhy-avasthano

> > duri-bhutanya-darsanah

> > upalabhyatmanatmanam

> > caksusevarkam atma-drk

> > nivrtta: transcended; buddhi-avasthanah: the stages of material consciousness; duri-bhuta: far off; anya: other; darsanah: conceptions of life; upalabhya: having realized; atmana: by his purified intellect; atmanam: his own self; caksusa: with his eyes; iva: as; arkam: the sun; atma-drk: the self-realized.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One should be situated in the transcendental position, beyond the stages of material consciousness, and should be aloof from all other conceptions of life. Thus realizing freedom from false ego, one should see his own self just as he sees the sun in the sky.

> > *******

> > TEXT 11

> > mukta-lingam sad-abhasam

> > asati pratipadyate

> > sato bandhum asac-caksuh

> > sarvanusyutam advayam

> > mukta-lingam: transcendental; sat-abhasam: manifest as a reflection; asati: in the false ego; pratipadyate: he realizes; satah bandhum: the support of the material cause; asat-caksuh: the eye (revealer) of the illusory energy; sarva-anusyutam: entered into everything; advayam: without a second.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A liberated soul realizes the Absolute Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental and who is manifest as a reflection even in the false ego. He is the support of the material cause and He enters into everything. He is absolute, one without a second, and He is the eyes of the illusory energy.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > yatha jala-stha abhasah

> > sthala-sthenavadrsyate

> > svabhasena tatha suryo

> > jala-sthena divi sthitah

> > yatha: as; jala-sthah: situated on water; abhasah: a reflection; sthala-sthena: situated on the wall; avadrsyate: is perceived; svaabhasena: by its reflection; tatha: in that way; suryah: the sun; jala-sthena: situated on the water; divi: in the sky; sthitah: situated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The presence of the Supreme Lord can be realized just as the sun is realized first as a reflection on water, and again as a second reflection on the wall of a room, although the sun itself is situated in the sky.

> > *******

> > TEXT 13

> > evam trivrd-ahankaro

> > bhutendriya-manomayaih

> > svabhasair laksito 'nena

> > sad-abhasena satya-drk

> > evam: thus; tri-vrt: the threefold; ahankarah: false ego; bhuta-indriya-manah-mayaih: consisting of body, senses and mind; sva-abhasaih: by its own reflections; laksitah: is revealed; anena: by this; sat-abhasena: by a reflection of Brahman; satya-drk: the self-realized soul.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The self-realized soul is thus reflected first in the threefold ego and then in the body, senses and mind.

> > *******

> > TEXT 14

> > bhuta-suksmendriya-mano-

> > buddhy-adisv iha nidraya

> > linesv asati yas tatra

> > vinidro nirahankriyah

> > bhuta: the material elements; suksma: the objects of enjoyment; indriya: the material senses; manah: mind; buddhi: intelligence; a-disu: and so on; iha: here; nidraya: by sleep; linesu: merged; asati: in the unmanifest; yah: who; tatra: there; vinidrah: awake; nirahankriyah: freed from false ego.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although a devotee appears to be merged in the five material elements, the objects of material enjoyment, the material senses and material mind and intelligence, he is understood to be awake and to be freed from the false ego.

> > *******

> > TEXT 15

> > manyamanas tadatmanam

> > anasto nastavan mrsa

> > naste 'hankarane drasta

> > nasta-vitta ivaturah

> > manyamanah: thinking; tada: then; atmanam: himself; anastah: although not lost; nasta-vat: as lost; mrsa: falsely; naste ahankarane: because of the disappearance of the ego; drasta: the seer; nasta-vittah: one who has lost his fortune; iva: like; aturah: distressed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The living entity can vividly feel his existence as the seer, but because of the disappearance of the ego during the state of deep sleep, he falsely takes himself to be lost, like a man who has lost his fortune and feels distressed, thinking himself to be lost.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > evam pratyavamrsyasav

> > atmanam pratipadyate

> > sahankarasya dravyasya

> > yo 'vasthanam anugrahah

> > evam: thus; pratyavamrsya: after understanding; asau: that person; atmanam: his self; pratipadyate: realizes; sa-ahankarasya: accepted under false ego; dravyasya: of the situation; yah: who; avasthanam: resting place; anugrahah: the manifester.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When, by mature understanding, one can realize his individuality, then the situation he accepts under false ego becomes manifest to him.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > devahutir uvaca

> > purusam prakrtir brahman

> > na vimuncati karhicit

> > anyonyapasrayatvac ca

> > nityatvad anayoh prabho

> > devahutih uvaca: Devahuti said; purusam: the spirit soul; prakrtih: material nature; brahman: O brahmana; na: not; vimuncati: does release; karhicit: at any time; anyonya: to one another; apasrayatvat: from attraction; ca: and; nityatvat: from eternality; anayoh: of them both; prabho: O my Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Devahuti inquired: My dear brahmana, does material nature ever give release to the spirit soul? Since one is attracted to the other eternally, how is their separation possible?

> > *******

> > TEXT 18

> > yatha gandhasya bhumes ca

> > na bhavo vyatirekatah

> > apam rasasya ca yatha

> > tatha buddheh parasya ca

> > yatha: as; gandhasya: of aroma; bhumeh: of earth; ca: and; na: no; bhavah: existence; vyatirekatah: separate; apam: of water; rasasya: of taste; ca: and; yatha: as; tatha: so; buddheh: of intelligence; parasya: of consciousness, spirit; ca: and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As there is no separate existence of the earth and its aroma or of water and its taste, there cannot be any separate existence of intelligence and consciousness.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > akartuh karma-bandho 'yam

> > purusasya yad-asrayah

> > gunesu satsu prakrteh

> > kaivalyam tesv atah katham

> > akartuh: of the passive performer, the nondoer; karma-bandhah: bondage to fruitive activities; ayam: this; purusasya: of the soul; yat-asrayah: caused by attachment to the modes; gunesu: while the modes; satsu: are existing; prakrteh: of material nature; kaivalyam: freedom; tesu: those; atah: hence; katham: how.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Hence even though he is the passive performer of all activities, how can there be freedom for the soul as long as material nature acts on him and binds him?

> > *******

> > TEXT 20

> > kvacit tattvavamarsena

> > nivrttam bhayam ulbanam

> > anivrtta-nimittatvat

> > punah pratyavatisthate

> > kvacit: in a certain case; tattva: the fundamental principles; avamarsena: by reflecting upon; nivrttam: avoided; bhayam: fear; ulbanam: great; anivrtta: not ceased; nimittatvat: since the cause; punah: again; pratyavatisthate: it appears.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Even if the great fear of bondage is avoided by mental speculation and inquiry into the fundamental principles, it may still appear again, since its cause has not ceased.

> > *******

> > TEXT 21

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca

> > animitta-nimittena

> > sva-dhamaenamalatmana

> > tivraya mayi bhaktya ca

> > sruta-sambhrtaya ciram

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca: the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; animitta-nimittena: without desiring the fruits of activities; sva-dharmena: by executing one's prescribed duties; amala-atmana: with a pure mind; tivraya: serious; mayi: unto Me; bhaktya: by devotional service; ca: and; sruta: hearing; sambhrtaya: endowed with; ciram: for a long time.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One can get liberation by seriously discharging devotional service unto Me and thereby hearing for a long time about Me or from Me. By thus executing one's prescribed duties, there will be no reaction, and one will be freed from the contamination of matter.

> > *******

> > TEXT 22

> > jnanena drsta-tattvena

> > vairagyena baliyasa

> > tapo-yuktena yogena

> > tivrenatma-samadhina

> > jnanena: in knowledge; drsta-tattvena: with vision of the Absolute Truth; vairagyena: with renunciation; baliyasa: very strong; tapah-yuktena: by engagement in austerity; yogena: by mystic yoga; tivrena: firmly fixed; atma-samadhina: by self-absorption.

> > TRANSLATION

> > This devotional service has to be performed strongly in perfect knowledge and with transcendental vision. One must be strongly renounced and must engage in austerity and perform mystic yoga in order to be firmly fixed in self-absorption.

> > *******

> > TEXT 23

> > prakrtih purusasyeha

> > dahyamana tv ahar-nisam

> > tiro-bhavitri sanakair

> > agner yonir ivaranih

> > prakrtih: the influence of material nature; purusasya: of the living entity; iha: here; dahyamana: being consumed; tu: but; ahah-nisam: day and night; tirah-bhavitri: disappearing; sanakaih: gradually; agneh: of fire; yonih: the cause of appearance; iva: as; aranih: wooden sticks.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The influence of material nature has covered the living entity, and thus it is as if the living entity were always in a blazing fire. But by the process of seriously discharging devotional service, this influence can be removed, just as wooden sticks which cause a fire are themselves consumed by it.

> > *******

> > TEXT 24

> > bhukta-bhoga parityakta

> > drsta-dosa ca nityasah

> > nesvarasyasubham dhatte

> > sve mahimni sthitasya ca

> > bhukta: enjoyed; bhoga: enjoyment; parityakta: given up; drsta: discovered; dosa: faultiness; ca: and; nityasah: always; na: not; isvarasya: of the independent; asubham: harm; dhatte: she inflicts; sve mahimni: in his own glory; sthitasya: situated; ca: and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By discovering the faultiness of his desiring to lord it over material nature and by therefore giving it up, the living entity becomes independent and stands in his own glory.

> > *******

> > TEXT 25

> > yatha hy apratibuddhasya

> > prasvapo bahv-anartha-bhrt

> > sa eva pratibuddhasya

> > na vai mohaya kalpate

> > yatha: as; hi: indeed; apratibuddhasya: of one who is sleeping; prasvapah: the dream; bahu-anartha-bhrt: bearing many inauspicious things; sah eva: that very dream; pratibuddhasya: of one who is awake; na: not; vai: certainly; mohaya: for bewildering; kaipate: is capable.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the dreaming state one's consciousness is almost covered, and one sees many inauspicious things, but when he is awakened and fully conscious, such inauspicious things cannot bewilder him.

> > *******

> > TEXT 26

> > evam vidita-tattvasya

> > prakrtir mayi manasam

> > yunjato napakuruta

> > atmaramasya karhicit

> > evam: thus; vidita-tattvasya: to one who knows the Absolute Truth; prakrtih: material nature; mayi: on Me; manasam: the mind; yunjatah: fixing; na: not; apakurute: can do harm; atma-aramasya: to one who rejoices in the self; karhicit: at any time.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The influence of material nature cannot harm an enlightened soul, even though he engages in material activities, because he knows the truth of the Absolute, and his mind is fixed on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 27

> > yadaivam adhyatma-ratah

> > kalena bahu janmana

> > sarvatra jata-vairagya

> > abrahma-bhuvanan munih

> > yada: when; evam: thus; adhyatma-ratah: engaged in self-realization; kalena: for many years; bahu janmana: for many births; sarvatra: everywhere; jata-vairagyah: detachment is born; a-brahma-bhuvanat: up to Brahmaloka; munih: a thoughtful person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When a person thus engages in devotional service and self-realization for many, many years and births, he becomes completely reluctant to enjoy any one of the material planets, even up to the highest planet, which is known as Brahmaloka; he becomes fully developed in consciousness.

> > *******

> > TEXT 28-29

> > mad-bhaktah pratibuddhartho

> > mat-prasadena bhuyasa

> > nihsreyasam sva-samsthanam

> > kaivalyakhyam mad-asrayam

> > prapnotihanjasa dhirah

> > sva-drsa cchina-samsayah

> > yad gatva na nivarteta

> > yogi lingad vinirgame

> > mat-bhaktah: My devotee; pratibuddha-arthah: self-realized; mat-prasadena: by My causeless mercy; bhuyasa: unlimited; nihsreyasam: the ultimate perfectional goal; sva-samsthanam: his abode; kaivalya-akhyam: called kaivalya; mat-asrayam: under My protection;

> > prapnoti: attains; iha: in this life; anjasa: truly; dhirah: steady; sva-drsa: by knowledge of the self; chinna-samsayah: freed from doubts; yat: to that abode; gatva: having gone; na: never; nivarteta: comes back; yogi: the mystic devotee; lingat: from the subtle and gross material bodies; vinirgame: after departing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My devotee actually becomes self-realized by My unlimited causeless mercy, and thus, when freed from all doubts, he steadily progresses towards his destined abode, which is directly under the protection of My spiritual energy of unadulterated bliss. That is the ultimate perfectional goal of the living entity. After giving up the present material body, the mystic devotee goes to that transcendental abode and never comes back.

> > *******

> > TEXT 30

> > yada na yogopacitasu ceto

> > mayasu siddhasya visajjate 'nga

> > ananya-hetusv atha me gatih syad

> > atyantiki yatra na mrtyu-hasah

> > yada: when; na: not; yoga-upacitasu: to powers developed by yoga; cetah: the attention; mayasu: manifestations of maya; siddhasya: of a perfect yogi; visajjate: is attracted; anga: My dear mother; ananya-hetusu: having no other cause; atha: then; me: to Me; gatih: his progress; syat: becomes; atyantiki: unlimited; yatra: where; na: not; mrtyu-hasah: power of death.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When a perfect yogi's attention is no longer attracted to the by-products of mystic powers, which are manifestations of the external energy, his progress towards Me becomes unlimited, and thus the power of death cannot overcome him.

> > Back to the running text