SB 12.5.7 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.5.7

स्‍नेहाधिष्ठानवर्त्यग्निसंयोगो यावदीयते । तावद्दीपस्य दीपत्वमेवं देहकृतो भव: । रज:सत्त्वतमोवृत्त्या जायतेऽथ विनश्यति ॥ ७ ॥

snehādhiṣṭhāna-varty-agni-

[snehaadhishthaana-varty-agni-]

saṁyogo yāvad īyate

[samyogo yaavad eeyate]

tāvad dīpasya dīpatvam

[taavad deepasya deepatvam]

evaṁ deha-kṛto bhavaḥ

[evam deha-krito bhavah]

rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-vṛttyā

[rajah-sattva-tamo-vrittyaa]

jāyate ’tha vinaśyati

[jaayate ’tha vinashyati]

Word-for-word

sneha — of the oil adhiṣṭhāna — the vessel varti — the wick agni — and the fire saṁyogaḥ — the combination yāvat — to which extent īyate — is seen tāvat — to that extent dīpasya — of the lamp dīpatvam — the status of functioning as a lamp evam — similarly deha-kṛtaḥ — due to the material body bhavaḥ — material existence rajaḥ-sattva-tamaḥ — of the modes of passion, goodness and ignorance vṛttyā — by the action jāyate — arises atha — and vinaśyati — is destroyed.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

snehādhiṣṭhāna-varty-agni-

sneha

of the oil

adhiṣṭhāna

the vessel

varti

the wick

agni

and the fire

saṁyogo yāvad īyate

saṁyogaḥ

the combination

yāvat

to which extent

īyate

is seen

tāvad dīpasya dīpatvam

tāvat

to that extent

dīpasya

of the lamp

dīpatvam

the status of functioning as a lamp

evaṁ deha-kṛto bhavaḥ

evam

similarly

deha-kṛtaḥ

due to the material body

bhavaḥ

material existence

rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-vṛttyā

rajaḥ-sattva-tamaḥ

of the modes of passion, goodness and ignorance

vṛttyā

by the action

jāyate ’tha vinaśyati

jāyate

arises

atha

and

vinaśyati

is destroyed.

A lamp functions as such only by the combination of its fuel, vessel, wick and fire. Similarly, material life, based on the soul’s identification with the body, is developed and destroyed by the workings of material goodness, passion and ignorance, which are the constituent elements of the body.

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

A flame functions as such only by the combination of its fuel, the vessel, the wick and the fire. Similarly, saṁsāra is composed of karma, the mind, the body and consciousness. Saṁsāra related to accepting the body appears and disappears by the actions of rajas, sattva and tamas. An example is given. The transformation of light into a flame takes place by oil, a vessel, a wick and application of fire. Oil represents karma. The vessel represents the mind. The wick represents the body. Fire represents the imposition of consciousness. The lamp represents saṁsāra. Saṁsāra (bhavaḥ) related to accepting a body (deha-kṛtaḥ) arises and disappears by the actions of the guṇas.

Personal Guidance

A lamp burns only by the joining of oil, vessel, wick, and fire. Likewise material existence — body, mind, consciousness, karma — arises and dies by the workings of the three modes. When the modes lose their grip, the 'lamp' of false identity quietly goes out.

Reflection Questions

Which 'ingredient' currently fuels my false identity most — anxiety, ambition, lethargy?
How does noticing this reduce its hold on me today?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io