Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.28.12
श्रीभगवानुवाच
यावद् देहेन्द्रियप्राणैरात्मन: सन्निकर्षणम् ।
संसार: फलवांस्तावदपार्थोऽप्यविवेकिन: ॥ १२ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
yāvad dehendriya-prāṇair
[yaavad dehendriya-praanair]
ātmanaḥ sannikarṣaṇam
[aatmanah sannikarshanam]
saṁsāraḥ phalavāṁs tāvad
[samsaarah phalavaams taavad]
apārtho ’py avivekinaḥ
[apaartho ’py avivekinah]
Word-for-word
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
—
the Supreme Personality of Godhead said
yāvat
—
as long as
deha
—
by the body
indriya
—
senses
prāṇaiḥ
—
and vital force
ātmanaḥ
—
of the soul
sannikarṣaṇam
—
attraction
saṁsāraḥ
—
material existence
phala-vān
—
fruitful
tāvat
—
for that duration
apārthaḥ
—
meaningless
api
—
although
avivekinaḥ
—
for the undiscriminating.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Personality of Godhead said
yāvad dehendriya-prāṇair
yāvat
as long as
deha
by the body
ātmanaḥ sannikarṣaṇam
saṁsāraḥ phalavāṁs tāvad
apārtho ’py avivekinaḥ
indriya
senses
prāṇaiḥ
and vital force
ātmanaḥ
of the soul
sannikarṣaṇam
attraction
saṁsāraḥ
material existence
phala-vān
fruitful
tāvat
for that duration
apārthaḥ
meaningless
api
although
avivekinaḥ
for the undiscriminating.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: As long as the foolish spirit soul remains attracted to the material body, senses and vital force, his material existence continues to flourish, although it is ultimately meaningless.
Purport
Here the word sannikarṣaṇam indicates that the pure spirit soul voluntarily connects himself with the material body, considering this a most fruitful arrangement. Actually, the situation is apārtha, useless, unless one uses one’s embodied situation to engage in the loving service of the Lord. At that time one’s connection is actually with Lord Kṛṣṇa, not with the body, which becomes a mere instrument for executing one’s higher purpose.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: As long as the foolish jīva is related to the material body, senses and prāṇa, his material existence continues to flourish, although it is based on illusion.
But it is true that the lack of discrimination of the jīva supports saṁsāra. This is explained in five verses. Sannikarṣaṇam means relationship. As long as the jīva is related to his body and senses, saṁsāra, though illusory, gives results. “But how does the jīva, beyond matter, have a relationship with the body and senses?” It is because of his ignorance (avivekinaḥ).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
As long as the foolish soul is attracted to body, senses, life force, material existence flourishes — though ultimately meaningless. Attraction sustains the meaningless.
Reflection Questions
- Where does my attraction to my body sustain meaningless effort?
- What might subtracting one attraction reveal?
My note
Source: vedabase.io