FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.10.16

अनुप्राणन्ति यं प्राणा: प्राणन्तं सर्वजन्तुषु । अपानन्तमपानन्ति नरदेवमिवानुगा: ॥ १६ ॥
anuprāṇanti yaṁ prāṇāḥ
[anupraananti yam praanaah]
prāṇantaṁ sarva-jantuṣu
[praanantam sarva-jantushu]
apānantam apānanti
[apaanantam apaananti]
nara-devam ivānugāḥ
[nara-devam ivaanugaah]
anuprāṇanti — follow the living symptoms yam — whom prāṇāḥ — senses prāṇantam — endeavoring sarva-jantuṣu — in all living entities apānantam — stop endeavoring apānanti — all others stop nara-devam — a king iva — like anugāḥ — the followers.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
anuprāṇanti yaṁ prāṇāḥ
anuprāṇanti
follow the living symptoms
yam
whom
prāṇāḥ
senses
prāṇantaṁ sarva-jantuṣu
prāṇantam
endeavoring
sarva-jantuṣu
in all living entities
apānantam apānanti
apānantam
stop endeavoring
apānanti
all others stop
nara-devam ivānugāḥ
nara-devam
a king
iva
like
anugāḥ
the followers.
As the followers of a king follow their lord, similarly when the total energy is in motion, all other living entities move, and when the total energy stops endeavoring, all other living entities stop sensual activities.

The individual living entities are completely dependent on the total energy of the supreme puruṣa. No one has independent existence, just as no electric lamp has independent effulgence. Each and every electrical instrument depends fully on the total powerhouse, the total powerhouse depends on the reservoir of water for generating electricity, water depends on the clouds, the clouds depend on the sun, the sun depends on creation, and the creation depends on the movement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all causes.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The senses become active following after the action of sūtra, and become inactive when the sūtra becomes inactive, just as servants follow after a king.
Commentary

This shows the greatness of the sūtra by its power to manifest life. The senses (prāṇāḥ) perform actions following after the sūtra which performs action, and they cease action when the sūtra stops action. They are like servants of a king.

Individual beings move only when the total energy moves and stop when it stops — like courtiers following the king. No electric lamp shines independently; nothing in my life acts independently of His turning.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I trying to shine when the powerhouse isn't currently delivering?
  • How does it free me to rest when the total energy itself isn't endeavoring?
📝 My note

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