bhūta—of the physical elementsmātra—the subtle basis of perceptionindriya—the sensesprāṇa—the vital air of lifemanaḥ—the mindbuddhi—the intelligenceāśaya—and of material consciousnessātmane—to the ultimate soultri - guṇena—by the three modes of material natureabhimānena—by false identificationgūḍha—who causes to become covered oversva—one’s ownātma—of the selfanubhūtaye—perceptionnamaḥ—obeisancesanantāya—to the unlimited Lordsūkṣmāya—to the supremely subtlekūṭa - sthāya—who is fixed in the centervipaścite—to the omniscient onenānā—variousvāda—philosophiesanurodhāya—who sanctionsvācya—of expressed ideasvācaka—and expressing wordsśaktaye—who possesses the potencies .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhūta-mātrendriya-prāṇa-
bhūta
of the physical elements
mātra
the subtle basis of perception
indriya
the senses
prāṇa
the vital air of life
mano-buddhy-āśayātmane
manaḥ
the mind
buddhi
the intelligence
āśaya
and of material consciousness
ātmane
to the ultimate soul
tri-guṇenābhimānena
tri - guṇena
by the three modes of material nature
abhimānena
by false identification
gūḍha-svātmānubhūtaye
gūḍha
who causes to become covered over
sva
one’s own
ātma
of the self
anubhūtaye
perception
namo ’nantāya sūkṣmāya
namaḥ
obeisances
anantāya
to the unlimited Lord
sūkṣmāya
to the supremely subtle
kūṭa-sthāya vipaścite
kūṭa - sthāya
who is fixed in the center
vipaścite
to the omniscient one
nānā-vādānurodhāya
nānā
various
vāda
philosophies
anurodhāya
who sanctions
vācya-vācaka-śaktaye
vācya
of expressed ideas
vācaka
and expressing words
śaktaye
who possesses the potencies .
Important Words
ātmane—to the (ultimate) Self
Dative of ātman. Here ātman = Paramātman (NOT the jīva-ātman). Gauḍīya distinction: jīvātmā is atomic; the Paramātman of this verse is Bhagavān's all-pervading aspect.
tri - guṇena - abhimānena—by false identification with the three modes
Compound: tri (three) + guṇa (modes) + abhimāna (false ego). The Bhāgavata diagnosis of bondage. Gauḍīya: liberation is not the dissolution of the jīva but the dropping of guṇa-abhimāna so that pure dāsya re-emerges.
kūṭa - sthāya—to the unchanging One
Compound: kūṭa (anvil, summit) + stha (situated). The Lord is unchanged through all the changes of prakṛti. Gauḍīya: kūṭastha is Bhagavān, not the impersonal Brahman.
vācya - vācaka - śaktaye—(to Him) the power of meaning and word
Compound: vācya (the thing meant) + vācaka (the word that means) + śakti (power). Bhagavān is both the referent of all language and the language itself. Gauḍīya semantics: every word ultimately names Him.
Obeisances unto You, who are the ultimate soul of the physical elements, of the subtle basis of perception, of the senses, of the vital air of life, and of the mind, intelligence and consciousness. By Your arrangement the infinitesimal spirit souls falsely identify with the three modes of material nature, and their perception of their own true self thus becomes clouded. We offer our obeisances unto You, the unlimited Supreme Lord, the supremely subtle one, the omniscient Personality of Godhead, who are always fixed in unchanging transcendence, who sanction the opposing views of different philosophies, and who are the power upholding expressed ideas and the words that express them.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Obeisances unto You, who are the ultimate soul of the physical elements, of the subtle basis of perception, of the senses, of the vital air of life, and of the mind, intelligence and consciousness. By Your arrangement the infinitesimal spirit souls falsely identify with the three modes of material nature, and their perception of their own true self thus becomes clouded. We offer our obeisances unto You, the unlimited Supreme Lord, the supremely subtle one, the omniscient Personality of Godhead, who are always fixed in unchanging transcendence, who sanction the opposing views of different philosophies, and who are the power upholding expressed ideas and the words that express them.
Commentary
"But you are not just the cause. You are the very soul of the material elements, giving them life, but what is remarkable is that, giving them life, you make those who are full of life to appear like matter: you cover the knowledge (anubhuti) of the jivas (svatma) by the three gunas."
"What is the conclusion in all this? We cannot find the end to you (ananta), because you are difficult to understand (suksma)."
"But the intelligent men say that the jiva is different from me and that I cover the jivas. Therefore how can you say I am non different from them?"
"You are kutasha. The dictionary defines kutasha as: he who pervades of all three phases of time. Thus you remain in one form in all time, whereas the jives take various forms for short periods of time. These forms are not their svarupa. Therefore you cannot be the same as the jiva: you know everything (vipascit) and the jivas know only a little. We pay respects to he who permits for different purposes all types of philosophies such as jiva is non different from god; jiva is material; god is consciousness; God is one alone, the jivas are many. All of these conflicting theories take shelter of scripture. We pay respects to you, by whose desire arises the power of many meanings and many words (vacya vacaka sakti)."
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
I offer respects to the biggest and smallest, to the fixed one, to the teacher of all arts, to the inspiration for many philosophies, to the giver of power to words and meanings.
I offer respects to the giver of awareness to the elements, sense objects, senses, life airs, mind intelligence citta. I offer respects to the giver of knowledge of ātmā to the jīvas covered by conceptions of the three guṇas. You are the greatest in size, and smallest. You are unchanging (kūṭa-sthāya) and are the teacher of various arts (vipaśite). You instigate many philosophies. From you arises the power of meaning and words.
Related values & verses
Related values
Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Hrih (Modesty / Sense of Shame)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)
He is the ultimate soul of elements, senses, vital air, mind, intelligence, consciousness — and by His arrangement souls mistakenly identify with the modes. He sanctions the opposing views of philosophies and is the power upholding words themselves.
Reflection Questions
Which 'opposing view' I dismiss might still be sanctioned by the Lord for some soul's path?
Where am I confusing the words of my philosophy with the Power that upholds them?
Analogy
Obeisances to the ultimate soul of every layer — elements, perceptions, senses, vital airs, mind, intelligence. By Your arrangement, the tiny jīvas mistake the modes of nature for themselves. Bhagavān is the One whom every layer of cognition both veils and points to.