Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.27.11
मुक्तलिङ्गं सदाभासमसति प्रतिपद्यते ।
सतो बन्धुमसच्चक्षु: सर्वानुस्यूतमद्वयम् ॥ ११ ॥
mukta-liṅgaṁ sad-ābhāsam
[mukta-lingam sad-aabhaasam]
asati pratipadyate
[asati pratipadyate]
sato bandhum asac-cakṣuḥ
[sato bandhum asach-chakshuh]
sarvānusyūtam advayam
[sarvaanusyootam advayam]
Word-for-word
mukta-liṅgam
—
transcendental
sat-ābhāsam
—
manifest as a reflection
asati
—
in the false ego
pratipadyate
—
he realizes
sataḥ bandhum
—
the support of the material cause
asat-cakṣuḥ
—
the eye (revealer) of the illusory energy
sarva-anusyūtam
—
entered into everything
advayam
—
without a second.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mukta-liṅgaṁ sad-ābhāsam
mukta-liṅgam
transcendental
sat-ābhāsam
manifest as a reflection
asati
in the false ego
asati pratipadyate
pratipadyate
he realizes
sato bandhum asac-cakṣuḥ
sataḥ bandhum
the support of the material cause
asat-cakṣuḥ
the eye (revealer) of the illusory energy
sarvānusyūtam advayam
sarva-anusyūtam
entered into everything
advayam
without a second.
A liberated soul realizes the Absolute Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental and who is manifest as a reflection even in the false ego. He is the support of the material cause and He enters into everything. He is absolute, one without a second, and He is the eyes of the illusory energy.
Purport
A pure devotee can see the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in everything materially manifested. He is present there only as a reflection, but a pure devotee can realize that in the darkness of material illusion the only light is the Supreme Lord, who is its support. It is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā that the background of the material manifestation is Lord Kṛṣṇa. And, as confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā, Kṛṣṇa is the cause of all causes. In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is stated that the Supreme Lord, by His partial or plenary expansion, is present not only within this universe and each and every universe, but in every atom, although He is one without a second. The word advayam, “without a second,” which is used in this verse, indicates that although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is represented in everything, including the atoms, He is not divided. His presence in everything is explained in the next verse.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
He should not have thoughts of I and mine for his body or relatives. By realized knowledge of prakṛti and puruṣa, he should transcend all states of consciousness such as waking and sleeping. He should see all material objects from far away. The jñānī should realize the Paramātmā by the pure jīva alone, and attain that Lord, seeing him like an ocean of light by the healthy eye. The object of realization for the liberated souls, Paramātmā constantly remains in the temporary material world as the antaryāmī. He is the cause of prakṛti, is the revealer of prakṛti’s evolutes, the material elements, pervades both prakṛti and its evolutes, and is one alone.
Asad-āgraham means “conceptions of me and mine.” He should be free of attachments by knowledge consisting of seeing the truth about prakṛti and puruṣa.
He should be free of states (avasthānaḥ) of intelligence like waking and sleeping.
He sees all objects other than the Lord (anya) from far away. This jñānī (ātma-dṛk) realizes Paramātmā, an ocean full consciousness, by the pure jīvātmā (ātmanā), a particle of consciousness, by bhakti alone, and attains him (pratipadyate). He realizes Paramātmā, like an ocean of light (arkam), by the undiseased eye, a particle of light (cakṣuṣā). The owl does not see the sun by his eyes though it is without disease, but other beings like men can see the sun. Similarly, the jñānī without bhakti, though being a purified jīva, cannot realize Paramātmā, but the person with bhakti can. Bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ: I am perceived only by devotion. (SB 11.14.21)
bhaktyā māmabhijānāti yāvān yaścāsmi tattvataḥ
tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśate tadanantaram
Only by bhakti can a person know me as Brahman. Then, knowing me as Brahman by that bhakti, he merges with me. BG 18.55
What is this Lord? He is known by the liberated person (mukta-liṅgam). He is the object of knowledge and realized by the liberated person. He remains shining in the temporary world (asati) as the antaryāmī. He is the lord (bandhum) of causes (sataḥ). He is the revealer (cakṣuḥ) of the effects (asataḥ) such as mahat-tattva. He is completely full in all effects and causes (sarvānusyūtam). He is one (advayam). These five descriptive terms describe the Lord as the object of knowledge coming from scripture in the state previous to realization.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse describes layered cosmic machinery — modes, elements, governing demigods — to remind us that even our 'private' lives are arranged by larger hands. Its centre of gravity is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
- Where have you been demanding outcomes from a system you did not design?
- 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