Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.32.38
जीवस्य संसृतीर्बह्वीरविद्याकर्मनिर्मिता: ।
यास्वङ्ग प्रविशन्नात्मा न वेद गतिमात्मन: ॥ ३८ ॥
jīvasya saṁsṛtīr bahvīr
[jeevasya samsriteer bahveer]
avidyā-karma-nirmitāḥ
[avidyaa-karma-nirmitaah]
yāsv aṅga praviśann ātmā
[yaasv anga pravishann aatmaa]
na veda gatim ātmanaḥ
[na veda gatim aatmanah]
Word-for-word
jīvasya
—
of the living entity
saṁsṛtīḥ
—
courses of material existence
bahvīḥ
—
many
avidyā
—
in ignorance
karma
—
by work
nirmitāḥ
—
produced
yāsu
—
into which
aṅga
—
My dear mother
praviśan
—
entering
ātmā
—
the living entity
na
—
not
veda
—
understands
gatim
—
the movement
ātmanaḥ
—
of himself.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jīvasya saṁsṛtīr bahvīr
jīvasya
of the living entity
saṁsṛtīḥ
courses of material existence
bahvīḥ
many
avidyā-karma-nirmitāḥ
avidyā
in ignorance
karma
by work
nirmitāḥ
produced
yāsv aṅga praviśann ātmā
yāsu
into which
aṅga
My dear mother
praviśan
entering
ātmā
the living entity
na veda gatim ātmanaḥ
na
not
veda
understands
gatim
the movement
ātmanaḥ
of himself.
There are varieties of material existence for the living entity according to the work he performs in ignorance or forgetfulness of his real identity. My dear mother, if anyone enters into that forgetfulness, he is unable to understand where his movements will end.
Purport
Once one enters into the continuation of material existence, it is very difficult to get out. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes Himself or sends His bona fide representative, and He leaves behind scriptures like Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, so that the living entities hovering in the darkness of nescience may take advantage of the instructions, the saintly persons and the spiritual masters and thus be freed. Unless the living entity receives the mercy of the saintly persons, the spiritual master or Kṛṣṇa, it is not possible for him to get out of the darkness of material existence; by his own endeavor it is not possible.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O mother! There are numerous transmigrations of the jīva caused by action in ignorance, entering into which the jīva does not understand his own destination.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse models the central spiritual relationship: an inquirer approaching a realized teacher. Spiritual life rarely advances without this living human pivot. The verse anchors this in Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
- What question would you bring to a realized teacher if one sat across from you this evening?
- What would honour of your teacher look like in a single behaviour this week?
My note
Source: vedabase.io