Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.23.56
न केनचित् क्वापि कथञ्चनास्य
द्वन्द्वोपराग: परत: परस्य ।
यथाहम: संसृतिरूपिण: स्या-
देवं प्रबुद्धो न बिभेति भूतै: ॥ ५६ ॥
na kenacit kvāpi kathañcanāsya
[na kenachit kvaapi kathanchanaasya]
dvandvoparāgaḥ parataḥ parasya
[dvandvoparaagah paratah parasya]
yathāhamaḥ saṁsṛti-rūpiṇaḥ syād
[yathaahamah samsriti-roopinah syaad]
evaṁ prabuddho na bibheti bhūtaiḥ
[evam prabuddho na bibheti bhootaih]
Word-for-word
na
—
there is not
kenacit
—
by the agency of anyone
kva api
—
anywhere
kathañcana
—
by any means
asya
—
for him, the soul
dvandva
—
of the duality (of happiness and distress)
uparāgaḥ
—
the influence
parataḥ parasya
—
who is transcendental to material nature
yathā
—
in the same way as
ahamaḥ
—
for the false ego
saṁsṛti
—
to material existence
rūpiṇaḥ
—
which give shape
syāt
—
arises
evam
—
thus
prabuddhaḥ
—
one whose intelligence is awakened
na bibheti
—
does not fear
bhūtaiḥ
—
on the basis of material creation.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na kenacit kvāpi kathañcanāsya
na
there is not
kenacit
by the agency of anyone
kva api
anywhere
kathañcana
by any means
asya
for him, the soul
dvandvoparāgaḥ parataḥ parasya
dvandva
of the duality (of happiness and distress)
yathāhamaḥ saṁsṛti-rūpiṇaḥ syād
uparāgaḥ
the influence
parataḥ parasya
who is transcendental to material nature
yathā
in the same way as
ahamaḥ
for the false ego
saṁsṛti
to material existence
rūpiṇaḥ
which give shape
syāt
arises
evaṁ prabuddho na bibheti bhūtaiḥ
evam
thus
prabuddhaḥ
one whose intelligence is awakened
na bibheti
does not fear
bhūtaiḥ
on the basis of material creation.
The false ego gives shape to illusory material existence and thus experiences material happiness and distress. The spirit soul, however, is transcendental to material nature; he can never actually be affected by material happiness and distress in any place, under any circumstance or by the agency of any person. A person who understands this has nothing whatsoever to fear from the material creation.
Purport
The brāhmaṇa has refuted six specific explanations of the happiness and distress of the living entity, and now he refutes any other explanation that might be given. On the basis of false ego, the bodily covering factually overwhelms the spirit soul, and thus one falsely enjoys and suffers that which has no real relationship with oneself. One who can understand this sublime teaching of the brāhmaṇa, spoken by the Lord to Uddhava, will never again suffer the terrible anxiety of fear within the material world.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The influence of happiness and suffering for the jīva, who is superior to all else, cannot arise from any means proposed by anyone. It arises only from the mind, which gives shape to saṁsāra. One who becomes enlightened does not fear, though covered with matter.
If someone raises any other cause of happiness and suffering, it is not possible by the power of objects. Duality cannot influence the jīva, which is beyond māyā, since it is different from it. “What is the cause of the experience of suffering that we see?” It is the imposition of the mind which was previously explained. It arises from only (yathā) the ahaṅkāra, in the subtle body, which is predominated by the mind. The quality of ahaṅkāra is to define bondage in saṁsāra. He who becomes enlightened does not fear, though covered with matter.
The jīva is by nature pure. Time and karma are not causes for its suffering. The identification with the body because of ahaṅkāra by ignorance is the cause. The body is dominated by the mind. Mind then is the cause. Mind is the cause of suffering. This is the meaning of this section. With the imposition of the body, the jīva’s pure nature disappears. By that imposition, the six causes of suffering arise according to circumstance. This is the distilled conclusion.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
False ego shapes illusory material life and experiences material happiness and distress; the soul, transcendental, can never actually be affected. The diagnosis is precise.
Reflection Questions
- Where is false ego in me currently absorbing happiness/distress on the soul's behalf?
- What practice exposes this?
My note
Source: vedabase.io