Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.25.32
एता: संसृतय: पुंसो गुणकर्मनिबन्धना: ।
येनेमे निर्जिता: सौम्य गुणा जीवेन चित्तजा: ।
भक्तियोगेन मन्निष्ठो मद्भावाय प्रपद्यते ॥ ३२ ॥
etāḥ saṁsṛtayaḥ puṁso
[etaah samsritayah pumso]
guṇa-karma-nibandhanāḥ
[guna-karma-nibandhanaah]
yeneme nirjitāḥ saumya
[yeneme nirjitaah saumya]
guṇā jīvena citta-jāḥ
[gunaa jeevena chitta-jaah]
bhakti-yogena man-niṣṭho
[bhakti-yogena man-nishtho]
mad-bhāvāya prapadyate
[mad-bhaavaaya prapadyate]
Word-for-word
etāḥ
—
these
saṁsṛtayaḥ
—
created aspects of existence
puṁsaḥ
—
of a living being
guṇa
—
with the material qualities
karma
—
and work
nibandhanāḥ
—
connected
yena
—
by whom
ime
—
these
nirjitāḥ
—
are conquered
saumya
—
O gentle Uddhava
guṇāḥ
—
the modes of nature
jīvena
—
by a living entity
citta-jāḥ
—
which are manifested from the mind
bhakti-yogena
—
through the process of devotional service
mat-niṣṭhaḥ
—
dedicated to Me
mat-bhāvāya
—
of love for Me
prapadyate
—
receives the qualification.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etāḥ saṁsṛtayaḥ puṁso
etāḥ
these
saṁsṛtayaḥ
created aspects of existence
puṁsaḥ
of a living being
guṇa-karma-nibandhanāḥ
guṇa
with the material qualities
karma
and work
nibandhanāḥ
connected
yeneme nirjitāḥ saumya
yena
by whom
ime
these
nirjitāḥ
are conquered
saumya
O gentle Uddhava
guṇā jīvena citta-jāḥ
guṇāḥ
the modes of nature
jīvena
by a living entity
citta-jāḥ
which are manifested from the mind
bhakti-yogena man-niṣṭho
bhakti-yogena
through the process of devotional service
mat-niṣṭhaḥ
dedicated to Me
mad-bhāvāya prapadyate
mat-bhāvāya
of love for Me
prapadyate
receives the qualification.
O gentle Uddhava, all these different phases of conditioned life arise from work born of the modes of material nature. The living entity who conquers these modes, manifested from the mind, can dedicate himself to Me by the process of devotional service and thus attain pure love for Me.
Purport
The words mad-bhāvāya prapadyate indicate the attainment of love for God or of the same state of existence as that of the Supreme Lord. Actual liberation is residence within the eternal kingdom of God, where life is full of bliss and knowledge. The conditioned soul falsely imagines himself to be the enjoyer of the modes of nature, and thus a particular type of material work is generated, the reaction of which binds the conditioned soul to repeated birth and death. This fruitless process can be counteracted by loving service to the Lord, as described here.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O gentle Uddhava, all these items related to the guṇas and karma are causes of saṁsāra. The living entity conquers these guṇas, manifested from the mind, by bhakti-yoga. Dedicated only to me, he surrenders and attains a loving relation to me.
These are causes of saṁsāra (saṁsṛtayaḥ) for the jīva. Knowledge and other items are causes of saṁsāra. Śrīdhara Svāmī however says that saṁṣrtayaḥ means that the items are caused by saṁsāra. These guṇas are conquered by means of bhakti-yoga performed by the jīva. That person, dedicated to me (mat-niṣṭhaḥ), who is beyond the guṇas, surrenders to me for attaining sārūpya or for attaining dāsya, sakhya and other bhāvas for me (mad-bhāvāya). It has already been said that the devotee is beyond the guṇas and attains the Lord. Yānti mām eva nirguṇāḥ: the devotees, beyond the guṇas, attain me. (SB 11.25.22) Nirguṇo mad-apāśrayaḥ: a performer of action who has taken shelter of me alone is beyond the guṇas. (SB 11.25.26)
lakṣaṇaṁ bhakti-yogasya nirguṇasya hy udāhṛtam
ahaituky avyavahitā yā bhaktiḥ puruṣottame
It is said that quality of bhakti beyond the guṇas is that it is devoid of other results other than bhakti and is unobstructed by other processes. SB 3.29.12
By this statement and the present verse which states that by bhakti one conquers the guṇas, it is understood that bhakti is beyond the guṇas. The ingredients used in deity worship in bhakti, such as incense, flowers, fragrance, lamp, umbrella and cāmara, are all beyond the guṇas. It has also been stated that the faith of the devotees is beyond the guṇas. It is understood from the Lord that anything related to bhakti is beyond the guṇas.
Personal Guidance
All conditioned phases arise from mode-born work; one who conquers the modes manifesting from the mind can dedicate himself to the Lord by devotional service and attain Him. Conquest plus dedication is the key.
Reflection Questions
- Which mode am I currently engaged in conquering?
- How is the dedication progressing alongside?
My note
Source: vedabase.io