Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.28.17
अमूलमेतद् बहुरूपरूपितं
मनोवच:प्राणशरीरकर्म ।
ज्ञानासिनोपासनया शितेन-
च्छित्त्वा मुनिर्गां विचरत्यतृष्ण: ॥ १७ ॥
amūlam etad bahu-rūpa-rūpitaṁ
[amoolam etad bahu-roopa-roopitam]
mano-vacaḥ-prāṇa-śarīra-karma
[mano-vachah-praana-shareera-karma]
jñānāsinopāsanayā śitena
[jnaanaasinopaasanayaa shitena]
cchittvā munir gāṁ vicaraty atṛṣṇaḥ
[chchittvaa munir gaam vicharaty atrishnah]
Word-for-word
amūlam
—
without foundation
etat
—
this (false ego)
bahu-rūpa
—
in many forms
rūpitam
—
ascertained
manaḥ
—
of the mind
vacaḥ
—
speech
prāṇa
—
the life air
śarīra
—
and the gross body
karma
—
the functions
jñāna
—
of transcendental knowledge
asinā
—
by the sword
upāsanayā
—
through devotional worship (of the spiritual master)
śitena
—
which has been sharpened
chittvā
—
cutting off
muniḥ
—
a sober sage
gām
—
this earth
vicarati
—
wanders
atṛṣṇaḥ
—
free from material desires.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
amūlam etad bahu-rūpa-rūpitaṁ
amūlam
without foundation
etat
this (false ego)
bahu-rūpa
in many forms
rūpitam
ascertained
mano-vacaḥ-prāṇa-śarīra-karma
manaḥ
of the mind
vacaḥ
speech
prāṇa
the life air
śarīra
and the gross body
karma
the functions
jñānāsinopāsanayā śitena
jñāna
of transcendental knowledge
asinā
by the sword
upāsanayā
through devotional worship (of the spiritual master)
śitena
which has been sharpened
cchittvā munir gāṁ vicaraty atṛṣṇaḥ
chittvā
cutting off
muniḥ
a sober sage
gām
this earth
vicarati
wanders
atṛṣṇaḥ
free from material desires.
Although the false ego has no factual basis, it is perceived in many forms — as the functions of the mind, speech, life air and bodily faculties. But with the sword of transcendental knowledge, sharpened by worship of a bona fide spiritual master, a sober sage will cut off this false identification and live in this world free from all material attachment.
Purport
The word bahu-rūpa-rūpitam, “perceived in many forms,” also indicates that the false ego is manifest in the belief that one is a demigod, a great man, a beautiful lady, an oppressed worker, a tiger, a bird, an insect and so on. By the influence of false ego, the pure soul accepts some material covering to be his ultimate self, but such ignorance can be removed by the process described in this verse.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Although ahaṅkāra has no factual basis, it is perceived in many forms—as the functions of the mind, speech, life air and bodily faculties. But with the sword of knowledge, sharpened by bhakti, a sober sage will cut off ahaṅkāra and live in this world free from all material attachment.
How can we become free of the bondage of ahaṅkāra? The bondage of ahaṅkāra is actually rootless. However it is perceived in many forms such as mind, speech, life airs, body and action. The list is a dvandva compound. One should destroy ahaṅkāra by sword of jñāna sharpened by bhakti.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Though false ego has no factual basis, it is perceived as functions of mind, speech, life air, body; with the sword of transcendental knowledge sharpened by guru-worship, the sage cuts and gives up attachment. The sword is named.
Reflection Questions
- How sharp is the sword in me, and what sharpens it?
- What attachment is overdue to be cut?
My note
Source: vedabase.io