FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.15

चेत: खल्वस्य बन्धाय मुक्तये चात्मनो मतम् । गुणेषु सक्तं बन्धाय रतं वा पुंसि मुक्तये ॥ १५ ॥
cetaḥ khalv asya bandhāya
[chetah khalv asya bandhaaya]
muktaye cātmano matam
[muktaye chaatmano matam]
guṇeṣu saktaṁ bandhāya
[guneshu saktam bandhaaya]
rataṁ vā puṁsi muktaye
[ratam vaa pumsi muktaye]
Word-for-word
cetaḥ — consciousness khalu — indeed asya — of him bandhāya — for bondage muktaye — for liberation ca — and ātmanaḥ — of the living entity matam — is considered guṇeṣu — in the three modes of nature saktam — attracted bandhāya — for conditional life ratam — attached vā — or puṁsi — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead muktaye — for liberation.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
cetaḥ khalv asya bandhāya
cetaḥ
consciousness
khalu
indeed
asya
of him
bandhāya
for bondage
muktaye cātmano matam
muktaye
for liberation
ca
and
ātmanaḥ
of the living entity
matam
is considered
guṇeṣu saktaṁ bandhāya
guṇeṣu
in the three modes of nature
saktam
attracted
bandhāya
for conditional life
rataṁ vā puṁsi muktaye
ratam
attached
vā
or
puṁsi
in the Supreme Personality of Godhead
muktaye
for liberation.
The stage in which the consciousness of the living entity is attracted by the three modes of material nature is called conditional life. But when that same consciousness is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is situated in the consciousness of liberation.
Purport

There is a distinction here between Kṛṣṇa consciousness and māyā consciousness. Guṇeṣu, or māyā consciousness, involves attachment to the three material modes of nature, under which one works sometimes in goodness and knowledge, sometimes in passion and sometimes in ignorance. These different qualitative activities, with the central attachment for material enjoyment, are the cause of one’s conditional life. When the same cetaḥ, or consciousness, is transferred to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or when one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is on the path of liberation.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The mind is the cause of bondage and liberation for the jīva. Attachment to the guṇas causes bondage but attraction for the Lord causes liberation. The mind of the jīvas binds him up by bad association, and liberates him by good association. That is explained here. The method of bondage is mentioned. Attachment to the guṇas, which create bondage, produces bondage for the jīva. Attachment or rati (ratam) to the Lord (pumsi) who is without material guṇas, the destroyer of the bondage of guṇas, produces liberation. Vā means “but” in the sentence. The cause of rati for the Supreme Lord is bhakti alone, not jñāna or yoga. Pure bhakti alone is recommended for liberation.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse describes a universe that is not a random stage but an arrangement with a purpose. Our work is not to engineer that purpose but to find our seat within it. The verse anchors this in Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • How does it change your day to remember the universe was not built around your preferences?
  • Which 'cosmic' problem are you trying to solve when your actual task is just to play your small part well?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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