FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.29.34

मर्त्यो यदा त्यक्तसमस्तकर्मा निवेदितात्मा विचिकीर्षितो मे । तदामृतत्त्वं प्रतिपद्यमानो मयात्मभूयाय च कल्पते वै ॥ ३४ ॥
martyo yadā tyakta-samasta-karmā
[martyo yadaa tyakta-samasta-karmaa]
niveditātmā vicikīrṣito me
[niveditaatmaa vichikeershito me]
tadāmṛtatvaṁ pratipadyamāno
[tadaamritatvam pratipadyamaano]
mayātma-bhūyāya ca kalpate vai
[mayaatma-bhooyaaya cha kalpate vai]
martyaḥ — a mortal yadā — when tyakta — having given up samasta — all karmā — his fruitive activities nivedita-ātmā — having offered his very self vicikīrṣitaḥ — desirous of doing something special me — for Me tadā — at that time amṛtatvam — immortality pratipadyamānaḥ — in the process of attaining mayā — with Me ātma-bhūyāya — for equal opulence ca — also kalpate — he becomes qualified vai — indeed.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
martyo yadā tyakta-samasta-karmā
martyaḥ
a mortal
yadā
when
tyakta
having given up
samasta
all
karmā
his fruitive activities
niveditātmā vicikīrṣito me
nivedita-ātmā
having offered his very self
vicikīrṣitaḥ
desirous of doing something special
me
for Me
tadāmṛtatvaṁ pratipadyamāno
tadā
at that time
amṛtatvam
immortality
pratipadyamānaḥ
in the process of attaining
mayātma-bhūyāya ca kalpate vai
mayā
with Me
ātma-bhūyāya
for equal opulence
ca
also
kalpate
he becomes qualified
vai
indeed.
A person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers himself entirely unto Me, eagerly desiring to render service unto Me, achieves liberation from birth and death and is promoted to the status of sharing My own opulences.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When a person who gives up all karmas offers himself entirely to guru and eagerly desires to render service to me alone, he achieves freedom from death and, more important, is qualified to be an associate of mine in prema. “I have understood all philosophies and processes, but please say what is the philosophy for your devotees?” O dear Uddhava! In the Twenty-fourth Chapter, I explained sat-kārya-vāda (effects exist in the cause—effects are real). In the Twenty-eighth Chapter, I explained asat-kārya-vāda (the effect does not exist in the cause). [Note: Usually both vivartavāda and pariṇāmavāda which are discussed in Chapter Twenty-eight are considered satkāryavāda. Vivartavāda is labeled asatkāryavāda since in this philosophy the effect is asat or unreal.] My devotees do not quarrel but proclaim truth, and do not remain amidst these two philosophies. When a person by chance mercy of my devotee gives up all daily, periodic and motivated (kāmya) duties and offers all identity of I and mine by words and mind to the guru, who is my svarūpa, who gives my mantra--from that moment, that mortal person desires to do different work for me—bhakti-yoga, which is different from yoga and jñāna. Surrender is expressed in the following: yo’haṁ mamāsti yat kiṁcid iha loke paratra ca | tat sarvaṁ bhavato nātha caraṇeṣu samarpitam || O Lord! I offer everything related to I and mine in this life and the next to your lotus feet. Padma Purāṇa The effects of bhakti are not illusory, but real. It is not the effect of avidyā. Rather, the activities done for me are beyond the guṇas. Thus, the devotee is made deathless, and he becomes qualified for being my servant (ātma-bhūyāya) in my company. The word ca indicates that deathlessness is not a sought result but that being an associate in prema is the desired goal.
One who gives up fruitive activities and offers himself entirely to the Lord, eagerly desiring to serve, attains liberation and is promoted to sharing His opulences. Total offering yields total elevation.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I withhold total offering?
  • What does taking the leap look like in practice this season?
📝 My note

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