FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.7.42

येषां स एष भगवान् दययेदनन्त: सर्वात्मनाश्रितपदो यदि निर्व्यलीकम् । ते दुस्तरामतितरन्ति च देवमायां नैषां ममाहमिति धी: श्वश‍ृगालभक्ष्ये ॥ ४२ ॥
yeṣāṁ sa eṣa bhagavān dayayed anantaḥ
[yeshaam sa esha bhagavaan dayayed anantah]
sarvātmanāśrita-pado yadi nirvyalīkam
[sarvaatmanaashrita-pado yadi nirvyaleekam]
te dustarām atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
[te dustaraam atitaranti cha deva-maayaam]
naiṣāṁ mamāham iti dhīḥ śva-śṛgāla-bhakṣye
[naishaam mamaaham iti dheeh shva-shrigaala-bhakshye]
Word-for-word
yeṣām — unto those only saḥ — the Lord eṣaḥ — the bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead dayayet — does bestow His mercy anantaḥ — the unlimited potency sarva-ātmanā — by all means, without reservation āśrita-padaḥ — surrendered soul yadi — if such surrender nirvyalīkam — without pretension te — those only dustarām — insurmountable atitaranti — can overcome ca — and the paraphernalia deva-māyām — diverse energies of the Lord na — not eṣām — of them mama — mine aham — myself iti — thus dhīḥ — conscious śva — dogs śṛgāla — jackals bhakṣye — in the matter of eating.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yeṣāṁ sa eṣa bhagavān dayayed anantaḥ
yeṣām
unto those only
saḥ
the Lord
eṣaḥ
the
bhagavān
the Personality of Godhead
dayayet
does bestow His mercy
anantaḥ
the unlimited potency
sarvātmanāśrita-pado yadi nirvyalīkam
sarva-ātmanā
by all means, without reservation
āśrita-padaḥ
surrendered soul
yadi
if such surrender
nirvyalīkam
without pretension
te dustarām atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
te
those only
dustarām
insurmountable
atitaranti
can overcome
ca
and the paraphernalia
deva-māyām
diverse energies of the Lord
naiṣāṁ mamāham iti dhīḥ śva-śṛgāla-bhakṣye
na
not
eṣām
of them
mama
mine
aham
myself
iti
thus
dhīḥ
conscious
śva
dogs
śṛgāla
jackals
bhakṣye
in the matter of eating.
But anyone who is specifically favored by the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, due to unalloyed surrender unto the service of the Lord, can overcome the insurmountable ocean of illusion and can understand the Lord. But those who are attached to this body, which is meant to be eaten at the end by dogs and jackals, cannot do so.
Purport

The unalloyed devotees of the Lord know the glories of the Lord in the sense that they can understand how great the Lord is and how great is His expansion of diverse energy. Those who are attached to the perishable body can hardly enter into the realm of the science of Godhead. The whole materialistic world, based on the conception of the material body as the self, is ignorant of the science of God. The materialist is always busy working for the welfare of the material body, not only his own but also those of his children, kinsmen, communitymen, countrymen, etc. The materialists have many branches of philanthropic and altruistic activities from a political, national and international angle of vision, but none of the field work can go beyond the jurisdiction of the misconception of identifying the material body with the spirit soul. Unless, therefore, one is saved from the wrong conception of the body and the soul, there is no knowledge of Godhead, and unless there is knowledge of God, all advancement of material civilization, however dazzling, should be considered a failure.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Those to whom the infinite Lord shows mercy -- when they attain devotees who are surrendered completely to the lotus feet of the Lord and who have no material desires -- cross the insurmountable ocean of māyā and understand the Lord. They are devoid of the intelligence which thinks in terms of “my body” and the “bodies of my family members” which are worthy food for dogs and jackals.
Commentary

“If you cannot know the Lord then realization of him is without foundation.” That is answered in this verse. Only those person to whom the Lord shows mercy saying, “Let these persons know me,” cross the ocean of māyā and know the Lord. The śruti says:

nāyām ātmā pravacanena labhyo na medhayā na bahunā śrutena yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhās tasyaiṣa ātmā vivṛṇute tanuṁ svām

The Lord is not attained by speaking or intelligence or much hearing. The Lord is attained by that person alone whom the Lord chooses. He reveals his own form to that person. Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.2.3

What are the symptoms of his mercy? There should be persons without material desires (nirvyalīkam), who take shelter of the Lord’s feet with indifference to karma and jñāna (sarvātmanā). The principal function of his śakti of mercy is to manifest pure bhakti. That pure bhakti is manifested in people by his devotees. (Thus mercy is obtained by getting association of devotees.) If they attain that association then they cross māyā and attain knowledge of the Lord. Gaining knowledge of the Lord is indicated by the word ca. By what symptoms should māyā’s affliction and freedom from that affliction (knowledge) be known? One thinks of “me” and “mine,” -- of one’s own body and the bodies of children and others, which are worthy food for dogs and jackals. Those who attain mercy are free from this conception.

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Only the unalloyedly surrendered cross the ocean of illusion. Those identified with this dog-and-jackal-bound body simply can't enter the science of God. Bodily identification is the wall; surrender is the door.
Reflection Questions
  • How much of my self-image is tied to this temporary body?
  • What act of surrender today would soften that identification a little?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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