FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.13.28

यर्हि संसृतिबन्धोऽयमात्मनो गुणवृत्तिद: । मयि तुर्ये स्थितो जह्यात् त्यागस्तद् गुणचेतसाम् ॥ २८ ॥
yarhi saṁsṛti-bandho ’yam
[yarhi samsriti-bandho ’yam]
ātmano guṇa-vṛtti-daḥ
[aatmano guna-vritti-dah]
mayi turye sthito jahyāt
[mayi turye sthito jahyaat]
tyāgas tad guṇa-cetasām
[tyaagas tad guna-chetasaam]
yarhi — whereas saṁsṛti — of material intelligence or material existence bandhaḥ — bondage ayam — this is ātmanaḥ — of the soul guṇa — in the modes of nature vṛtti-daḥ — that which gives occupations mayi — in Me turye — in the fourth element (beyond wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep) sthitaḥ — being situated jahyāt — one should give up tyāgaḥ — renunciation tat — at that time guṇa — of the material sense objects cetasām — and of the material mind.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yarhi saṁsṛti-bandho ’yam
yarhi
whereas
saṁsṛti
of material intelligence or material existence
bandhaḥ
bondage
ātmano guṇa-vṛtti-daḥ
mayi turye sthito jahyāt
ayam
this is
ātmanaḥ
of the soul
tyāgas tad guṇa-cetasām
guṇa
in the modes of nature
vṛtti-daḥ
that which gives occupations
mayi
in Me
turye
in the fourth element (beyond wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep)
sthitaḥ
being situated
jahyāt
one should give up
tyāgaḥ
renunciation
tat
at that time
guṇa
of the material sense objects
cetasām
and of the material mind.
The spirit soul is trapped in the bondage of material intelligence, which awards him constant engagement in the illusory modes of nature. But I am the fourth stage of consciousness, beyond wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep. Becoming situated in Me, the soul should give up the bondage of material consciousness. At that time, the living entity will automatically renounce the material sense objects and the material mind.

Lord Kṛṣṇa now specifically answers the questions that the sages originally placed before Lord Brahmā. Ultimately, the spirit soul has nothing to do with the material sense objects and modes of nature. But because of one’s false identification with the material body, the modes of nature are empowered to engage one in illusory occupations. By destroying this false identification with matter, the soul gives up the illusory occupations awarded by the modes of nature. It is clearly stated in this verse that the living entity is not empowered to independently free himself from illusion, but must situate himself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in full awareness of the Supreme Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When bondage in saṁsāra or identity with the body occurs, it produces the influence of the sense objects. When one gives up saṁsāra by concentration on me, one gives up sense objects and material consciousness completely. Even if the sense objects have no relation to the jīva, the jīva accepts the functions of the sense objects through identification with the body. When the jīva dissolves the identification with the body, he gives up the sense objects. When the bondage of saṁsāra occurred for the jīva in the form of identity with the body, that false identity produced the functioning of the sense objects. When one becomes situated in me, the fourth state, and gives up the bondage of saṁsāra, detachment from the sense objects and material consciousness occurs naturally.
The soul is trapped by material intelligence; the Lord is the fourth state beyond waking, dream, and deep sleep. Settling in the Lord, the soul abandons false identification.
Reflection Questions
  • Which of the three states do I most identify with as 'me'?
  • What practice points beyond them to the Lord?
📝 My note

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