FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.4.30

तथापि बत मे दैह्यो ह्यात्मा चैवात्मना विभु: । असम्पन्न इवाभाति ब्रह्मवर्चस्य सत्तम: ॥ ३० ॥
tathāpi bata me daihyo
[tathaapi bata me daihyo]
hy ātmā caivātmanā vibhuḥ
[hy aatmaa chaivaatmanaa vibhuh]
asampanna ivābhāti
[asampanna ivaabhaati]
brahma-varcasya sattamaḥ
[brahma-varchasya sattamah]
Word-for-word
tathāpi — although bata — defect me — mine daihyaḥ — situated in the body hi — certainly ātmā — living being ca — and eva — even ātmanā — myself vibhuḥ — sufficient asampannaḥ — wanting in iva ābhāti — it appears to be brahma-varcasya — of the Vedāntists sattamaḥ — the supreme.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tathāpi bata me daihyo
tathāpi
although
bata
defect
me
mine
daihyaḥ
situated in the body
hi
certainly
hy ātmā caivātmanā vibhuḥ
ātmā
living being
ca
and
eva
even
ātmanā
myself
vibhuḥ
sufficient
asampanna ivābhāti
asampannaḥ
wanting in
iva ābhāti
it appears to be
brahma-varcasya sattamaḥ
brahma-varcasya
of the Vedāntists
sattamaḥ
the supreme.
I am feeling incomplete, though I myself am fully equipped with everything required by the Vedas.
Purport

Undoubtedly Śrīla Vyāsadeva was complete in all the details of Vedic achievements. Purification of the living being submerged in matter is made possible by the prescribed activities in the Vedas, but the ultimate achievement is different. Unless it is attained, the living being, even though fully equipped, cannot be situated in the transcendentally normal stage. Śrīla Vyāsadeva appeared to have lost the clue and therefore felt dissatisfaction.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Through the Mahābhārata, in which dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa for the women, śūdras, what to speak of the higher castes, is seen, I have clearly shown the meaning of the Vedas. But still, my soul situated in the body, though powerful with austerity and knowledge by nature, appears incomplete and inferior, even though endowed with power arising from studying the Vedas.
Commentary

My soul situated in the body (daiyaḥ), though complete with austerity and knowledge (vibhuḥ) by nature (ātmanā), feels incomplete (asampanna); and not only incomplete, but also inferior (asattama) even though endowed with power arising from the excellent results derived by hearing and studying the Vedas. Another version of the text has uśattama (most pleased with). In either case, as part of a compound, the suffix vī can be added with the meaning “possessing.”

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
'I am fully equipped, yet feel incomplete.' Equipment isn't completion. The pain of incompleteness, in a well-equipped life, is one of the most spiritually useful pains there is.
Reflection Questions
  • What do I have plenty of but still feel incomplete around?
  • What would 'completion' even look like for me, if I let myself name it honestly?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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