FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.29.3

अथात आनन्ददुघं पदाम्बुजं हंसा: श्रयेरन्नरविन्दलोचन । सुखं नु विश्वेश्वर योगकर्मभि- स्त्वन्माययामी विहता न मानिन: ॥ ३ ॥
athāta ānanda-dughaṁ padāmbujaṁ
[athaata aananda-dugham padaambujam]
haṁsāḥ śrayerann aravinda-locana
[hamsaah shrayerann aravinda-lochana]
sukhaṁ nu viśveśvara yoga-karmabhis
[sukham nu vishveshvara yoga-karmabhis]
tvan-māyayāmī vihatā na māninaḥ
[tvan-maayayaamee vihataa na maaninah]
atha — now ataḥ — therefore ānanda-dugham — the source of all ecstasy pada-ambujam — Your lotus feet haṁsāḥ — the swanlike men śrayeran — take shelter of aravinda-locana — O lotus-eyed sukham — happily nu — indeed viśva-īśvara — Lord of the universe yoga-karmabhiḥ — because of their practice of mysticism and fruitive work tvat-māyayā — by Your material energy amī — these vihatāḥ — defeated na — do not (take shelter) māninaḥ — those who are falsely proud.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
athāta ānanda-dughaṁ padāmbujaṁ
atha
now
ataḥ
therefore
ānanda-dugham
the source of all ecstasy
pada-ambujam
Your lotus feet
haṁsāḥ śrayerann aravinda-locana
haṁsāḥ
the swanlike men
śrayeran
take shelter of
aravinda-locana
O lotus-eyed
sukhaṁ nu viśveśvara yoga-karmabhis
sukham
happily
nu
indeed
viśva-īśvara
Lord of the universe
yoga-karmabhiḥ
because of their practice of mysticism and fruitive work
tvan-māyayāmī vihatā na māninaḥ
tvat-māyayā
by Your material energy
amī
these
vihatāḥ
defeated
na
do not (take shelter)
māninaḥ
those who are falsely proud.
Therefore, O lotus-eyed Lord of the universe, swanlike men happily take shelter of Your lotus feet, the source of all transcendental ecstasy. But those who take pride in their accomplishments in yoga and karma fail to take shelter of You and are defeated by Your illusory energy.

Śrī Uddhava emphasizes here that one can achieve spiritual perfection simply by taking shelter of the Personality of Godhead. Those who do so are called haṁsāḥ, the most discriminating human beings, since they are able to locate the actual source of spiritual happiness, the Lord’s lotus feet. The word yoga-karmabhiḥ indicates that those who are attracted to or proud of achievements in the field of mystic yoga or ordinary material endeavor cannot appreciate the great advantage of obediently surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Generally the yogīs and fruitive workers are proud of their so-called achievements and are more attracted to their own endeavor than to the Lord Himself. By humbly taking shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can advance easily and quickly on the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and go back home, back to Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O lotus-eyed Lord of the universe! Therefore, discerning men joyfully take shelter of your lotus feet, the source of bliss. But those who take pride in their accomplishments in yoga and karma fail to take shelter of you and are defeated by your illusory energy. Those who consider weak and strong points joyfully take shelter of your lotus feet. Those who consider themselves karmīs, yogīs or jñānīs are defeated by your māyā. They do not take shelter of your feet and thus become frustrated.
Swan-like men take shelter of His lotus feet, source of all ecstasy; those proud of yoga or karma fail to take shelter and are defeated by His illusory energy. Pride disqualifies; surrender opens.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does pride in my accomplishments stand between me and shelter?
  • What honesty restores the door?
📝 My note

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