FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.22.10

अनाद्यविद्यायुक्तस्य पुरुषस्यात्मवेदनम् । स्वतो न सम्भवादन्यस्तत्त्वज्ञो ज्ञानदो भवेत् ॥ १० ॥
anādy-avidyā-yuktasya
[anaady-avidyaa-yuktasya]
puruṣasyātma-vedanam
[purushasyaatma-vedanam]
svato na sambhavād anyas
[svato na sambhavaad anyas]
tattva-jño jñāna-do bhavet
[tattva-jno jnaana-do bhavet]
anādi — without beginning avidyā — with ignorance yuktasya — who is joined puruṣasya — of a person ātma-vedanam — the process of self-realization svataḥ — by his own ability na sambhavāt — because it cannot occur anyaḥ — another person tattva-jñaḥ — the knower of transcendental reality jñāna-daḥ — the bestower of real knowledge bhavet — must be.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
anādy-avidyā-yuktasya
anādi
without beginning
avidyā
with ignorance
yuktasya
who is joined
puruṣasyātma-vedanam
puruṣasya
of a person
ātma-vedanam
the process of self-realization
svato na sambhavād anyas
svataḥ
by his own ability
na sambhavāt
because it cannot occur
anyaḥ
another person
tattva-jño jñāna-do bhavet
tattva-jñaḥ
the knower of transcendental reality
jñāna-daḥ
the bestower of real knowledge
bhavet
must be.
Because a person who has been covered by ignorance since time immemorial is not capable of effecting his own self-realization, there must be some other personality who is in factual knowledge of the Absolute Truth and can impart this knowledge to him.

Although the Lord tolerates different methods of calculating material causes within their effects and material effects within their causes, there cannot be any speculation regarding the two spiritual elements found in this universe, namely the individual soul and the Supersoul. Lord Kṛṣṇa clearly states in this verse that the living entity is incapable of effecting his own enlightenment. The Supreme Lord is tattva-jña, omniscient, and jñāna-da, the spiritual master of the entire universe. Śrī Uddhava mentioned that some philosophers describe twenty-five elements and others twenty-six. The difference is that the twenty-six elements include a separate category for the individual soul and the Supreme Soul, Lord Kṛṣṇa, whereas the proponents of twenty-five elements artificially merge the two transcendental categories of jīva-tattva and viṣṇu-tattva, hiding the eternal supremacy of the Personality of Godhead.

Knowledge based on the three modes of material nature cannot rise to the transcendental platform, where the Personality of Godhead exists as the supreme enjoyer of eternal spiritual varieties of form, color, flavor, musical sounds and loving affairs. Mundane philosophers simply bounce back and forth between material enjoyment and material renunciation. Being victims of Māyāvāda (impersonal) perception of the Absolute Truth, they cannot achieve the shelter of the Personality of Godhead and thus cannot understand Him. Because foolish, impersonal philosophers consider themselves supreme, they are unable to appreciate that loving service exists on the spiritual platform. Stubbornly rejecting subservience to the Personality of Godhead, the impersonalists are eventually overwhelmed by the illusory potency of the Lord and undergo the miseries of material existence. The Vaiṣṇavas, on the other hand, are not envious of the Personality of Godhead. They gladly accept His shelter and supremacy, and thus the Lord personally takes charge of His devotees and enlightens them, filling them with His own transcendental bliss. Spiritual service to the Supreme Lord is in this way free from the disappointment and repression of material service.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Because a person whether covered or not covered by beginningless ignorance cannot realize ātmā on his own, there must a separate Supreme Lord who knows and gives knowledge. “I accept that there is different counting because of the inclusion of elements within others. How can some claim that jīva and the Lord are different, maintaining that there are twenty-six elements (by substituting prakṛti for the three guṇas, which made twenty-eight elements)?” Because it is not possible for the jīva, whether covered by avidyā or not, to have knowledge of ātmā on his own, there must exist a separate Supreme Lord. This is the Vaisṇava philosophy.
A person covered by ignorance from time immemorial cannot self-realize alone — another personality with factual knowledge must impart it. Guidance is structurally necessary.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I trying to self-realize without genuine guidance?
  • Whom could I approach with the right humility?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 22