FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.17

नृदेहमाद्यं सुलभं सुदुर्लभं प्लवं सुकल्पं गुरुकर्णधारम् । मयानुकूलेन नभस्वतेरितं पुमान् भवाब्धिं न तरेत् स आत्महा ॥ १७ ॥
nṛ-deham ādyaṁ su-labhaṁ su-durlabhaṁ
[nri-deham aadyam su-labham su-durlabham]
plavaṁ su-kalpaṁ guru-karṇadhāram
[plavam su-kalpam guru-karnadhaaram]
mayānukūlena nabhasvateritaṁ
[mayaanukoolena nabhasvateritam]
pumān bhavābdhiṁ na taret sa ātma-hā
[pumaan bhavaabdhim na taret sa aatma-haa]
Word-for-word
nṛ — human deham — body ādyam — the source of all favorable results su-labham — effortlessly obtained su-durlabham — although impossible to obtain even with great endeavor plavam — a boat su-kalpam — extremely well suited for its purpose guru — having the spiritual master karṇa-dhāram — as the captain of the boat mayā — by Me anukūlena — with favorable nabhasvatā — winds īritam — impelled pumān — a person bhava — of material existence abdhim — the ocean na — does not taret — cross over saḥ — he ātma-hā — the killer of his own soul.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nṛ-deham ādyaṁ su-labhaṁ su-durlabhaṁ
nṛ
human
deham
body
ādyam
the source of all favorable results
su-labham
effortlessly obtained
su-durlabham
although impossible to obtain even with great endeavor
plavaṁ su-kalpaṁ guru-karṇadhāram
plavam
a boat
su-kalpam
extremely well suited for its purpose
guru
having the spiritual master
karṇa-dhāram
as the captain of the boat
mayānukūlena nabhasvateritaṁ
mayā
by Me
anukūlena
with favorable
nabhasvatā
winds
īritam
impelled
pumān bhavābdhiṁ na taret sa ātma-hā
pumān
a person
bhava
of material existence
abdhim
the ocean
na
does not
taret
cross over
saḥ
he
ātma-hā
the killer of his own soul.
The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.
Purport

The human body, which is obtained after passing through many inferior forms, is created in such a way that it can award the highest perfection of life. A human being is supposed to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the bona fide spiritual master is the appropriate guide for such service. The causeless mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa is compared to favorable winds that help the boat of the body to ply smoothly on the course back home, back to Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa gives His personal instructions in Vedic literature, speaks through the bona fide spiritual master, and encourages, warns and protects His sincere devotee from within the devotee’s heart. Such merciful guidance of the Lord moves a sincere soul quickly on the path back to Godhead. But one who cannot understand that the human body is a suitable boat for crossing the ocean of material existence will see no need to accept a captain in the form of the spiritual master and will not at all appreciate the favorable winds of the Lord’s mercy. He has no chance of achieving the goal of human life. Acting against his own self-interest, he gradually becomes the killer of his own soul.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Having attained the human body, which is rarely attained, but attained easily sometimes by good fortune, and which is like a well-constructed boat, with the guru as the captain, pushed by the favorable wind of serving me, a person who does not cross the ocean of material existence is a killer of himself. The destitute man, finding a touchstone, throws it in the mud. The human body is the source of all desirable fruits. It is difficult to attain, since it is impossible to attain by millions of attempts. But it is easily attained, since it is attained by good fortune. Having attained the boat (verb is omitted), which is by great luck skillfully made, which has a captain when one surrenders to guru, pushed by the favorable wind, by me, when I am served, one can cross the ocean of material existence. Some say this is the result for jñānīs, since the topic is jñāna. It is not suitable for the pure devotees since their goal is not deliverance from material suffering. But others say that though the pure devotees do not strive for this, they also achieve it. Since it comes unsought, there is no fault for the devotees in attaining it.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The human body is automatically given but rare; it is like a well-built boat with the guru as captain and the Lord's instructions as favorable wind. Three gifts converge to enable crossing.
Reflection Questions
  • Am I treating my body as a boat or as a residence?
  • How is the guru-captain steering, and am I cooperating?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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