FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.22.29

श्रीभगवानुवाच प्रकृति: पुरुषश्चेति विकल्प: पुरुषर्षभ । एष वैकारिक: सर्गो गुणव्यतिकरात्मक: ॥ २९ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
prakṛtiḥ puruṣaś ceti
[prakritih purushash cheti]
vikalpaḥ puruṣarṣabha
[vikalpah purusharshabha]
eṣa vaikārikaḥ sargo
[esha vaikaarikah sargo]
guṇa-vyatikarātmakaḥ
[guna-vyatikaraatmakah]
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said prakṛtiḥ — nature puruṣaḥ — the enjoyer, living entity ca — and iti — thus vikalpaḥ — complete distinction puruṣa-ṛṣabha — O best among men eṣaḥ — this vaikārikaḥ — subject to transformation sargaḥ — creation guṇa — of the modes of nature vyatikara — the agitation ātmakaḥ — based upon.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Personality of Godhead said
prakṛtiḥ puruṣaś ceti
prakṛtiḥ
nature
puruṣaḥ
the enjoyer, living entity
ca
and
iti
thus
vikalpaḥ puruṣarṣabha
vikalpaḥ
complete distinction
puruṣa-ṛṣabha
O best among men
eṣa vaikārikaḥ sargo
eṣaḥ
this
vaikārikaḥ
subject to transformation
sargaḥ
creation
guṇa-vyatikarātmakaḥ
guṇa
of the modes of nature
vyatikara
the agitation
ātmakaḥ
based upon.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best among men, material nature and its enjoyer are clearly distinct. This manifest creation undergoes constant transformation, being founded upon the agitation of the modes of nature.

The word puruṣa indicates the living entity and also the Supreme Lord, who is the supreme living entity. Material nature, subject to transformation, is full of duality, whereas the Lord is one and absolute. Material nature is dependent on its creator, maintainer and annihilator; the Lord, however, is completely self-reliant and independent. In the same way, material nature is unconscious and dull, lacking self-awareness, whereas the Supreme Lord is self-sufficient omniscience. The individual living entity shares the eternality, bliss and knowledge of the Personality of Godhead and is also completely distinct from material nature.

The word sarga here refers to the material amalgamation of the body, which covers the living entity. The material body undergoes constant transformation and is thus clearly different from the living entity, who is eternally the same. In the transcendental kingdom of God there is no conflict or agitation caused by creation, maintenance and destruction as exhibited in the material world. There all variety is resolved in the transcendental loving experience of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the natural constitutional position of the soul.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: O best among men! Prakṛti and the Lord are clearly distinct. The body, an effect of prakṛti, arising from agitation of the gunās, undergoes many changes. There is extreme difference between them. Prakrṭi undergoes change, takes various forms, is dependent, and is revealed by another. The Lord does not change, is one form, independent, and self-revealing. This is explained in four verses. The Lord is different from prakṛti. That is seen. The combination in the body (sargaḥ) undergoes many changes, and its nature arises from agitation of the guṇas. The agitation of the guṇas means it is a transformation of prakṛti. The Lord however is only the witness, without change.
Material nature and its enjoyer are clearly distinct; manifest creation undergoes constant transformation founded on the agitation of the modes. Distinction is real even amid mutual residence.
Reflection Questions
  • What changes when I hold both distinction and mutual residence at once?
  • What part of me is the unchanging witness?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 22