FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.24.36

एतन्मे जन्म लोकेऽस्मिन्मुमुक्षूणां दुराशयात् । प्रसंख्यानाय तत्त्वानां सम्मतायात्मदर्शने ॥ ३६ ॥
etan me janma loke ’smin
[etan me janma loke ’smin]
mumukṣūṇāṁ durāśayāt
[mumukshoonaam duraashayaat]
prasaṅkhyānāya tattvānāṁ
[prasankhyaanaaya tattvaanaam]
sammatāyātma-darśane
[sammataayaatma-darshane]
etat — this me — My janma — birth loke — in the world asmin — in this mumukṣūṇām — by those great sages seeking liberation durāśayāt — from unnecessary material desires prasaṅkhyānāya — for explaining tattvānām — of the truths sammatāya — which is highly esteemed ātma-darśane — in self-realization.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etan me janma loke ’smin
etat
this
me
My
janma
birth
loke
in the world
mumukṣūṇāṁ durāśayāt
asmin
in this
mumukṣūṇām
by those great sages seeking liberation
durāśayāt
from unnecessary material desires
prasaṅkhyānāya tattvānāṁ
prasaṅkhyānāya
for explaining
tattvānām
of the truths
sammatāyātma-darśane
sammatāya
which is highly esteemed
ātma-darśane
in self-realization.
My appearance in this world is especially to explain the philosophy of Sāṅkhya, which is highly esteemed for self-realization by those desiring freedom from the entanglement of unnecessary material desires.

Here the word durāśayāt is very significant. Dur refers to trouble or duḥkha, miseries. Āśayāt means “from the shelter.” We conditioned souls have taken shelter of the material body, which is full of troubles and miseries. Foolish people cannot understand the situation, and this is called ignorance, illusion, or the spell of māyā. Human society should very seriously understand that the body itself is the source of all miserable life. Modern civilization is supposed to be making advancement in scientific knowledge, but what is this scientific knowledge? It is based on bodily comforts only, without knowledge that however comfortably one maintains his body, the body is destructible. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, antavanta ime dehāḥ: these bodies are destined to be destroyed. Nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ refers to the living soul, or the living spark, within the body. That soul is eternal, but the body is not eternal. For our activity we must have a body; without a body, without sense organs, there is no activity. But people are not inquiring whether it is possible to have an eternal body. Actually they aspire for an eternal body because even though they engage in sense enjoyment, that sense enjoyment is not eternal. They are therefore in want of something which they can enjoy eternally, but they do not understand how to attain that perfection. Sāṅkhya philosophy, therefore, as stated herein by Kapila-deva, is tattvānām. The Sāṅkhya philosophy system is designed to afford understanding of the real truth. What is that real truth? The real truth is knowledge of how to get out of the material body, which is the source of all trouble. Lord Kapila’s incarnation, or descent, is especially meant for this purpose. That is clearly stated here.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Please understand that I have appeared in this world to explain the principles suitable for realizing the self for those desiring liberation from the subtle body. The Lord explains the reason for his appearance. Please understand my appearance is to explain principles suitable for realizing the self to those desiring liberation from the sinful subtle body (durāśayāt). The verb is in the next verse.
The verse points at the threefold miseries not to depress the reader but to interrupt the fantasy that the next arrangement will finally be different. Its centre of gravity is self-realization.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'if only X happens, I'll finally be fine' story are you still telling yourself?
  • Where is māyā's hand most active in your week, and how could you cooperate with reality instead?
📝 My note

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