FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.6.39

अतो भगवतो माया मायिनामपि मोहिनी । यत्स्वयं चात्मवर्त्मात्मा न वेद किमुतापरे ॥ ३९ ॥
ato bhagavato māyā
[ato bhagavato maayaa]
māyinām api mohinī
[maayinaam api mohinee]
yat svayaṁ cātma-vartmātmā
[yat svayam chaatma-vartmaatmaa]
na veda kim utāpare
[na veda kim utaapare]
ataḥ — therefore bhagavataḥ — godly māyā — potencies māyinām — of the jugglers api — even mohinī — enchanting yat — that which svayam — personally ca — also ātma-vartma — self-sufficient ātmā — self na — does not veda — know kim — what uta — to speak of apare — others.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ato bhagavato māyā
ataḥ
therefore
bhagavataḥ
godly
māyā
potencies
māyinām api mohinī
māyinām
of the jugglers
api
even
mohinī
enchanting
yat svayaṁ cātma-vartmātmā
yat
that which
svayam
personally
ca
also
ātma-vartma
self-sufficient
ātmā
self
na veda kim utāpare
na
does not
veda
know
kim
what
uta
to speak of
apare
others.
The wonderful potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is bewildering even to the jugglers. That potency is unknown even to the self-sufficient Lord, so it is certainly unknown to others.

The froggish philosophers and mundane wranglers in science and mathematical calculation may not believe in the inconceivable potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they are sometimes puzzled by the wonderful jugglery of man and nature. Such jugglers and magicians of the mundane world are actually puzzled by the jugglery of the Lord in His transcendental activities, but they try to adjust their bewilderment by saying that it is all mythology. There is, however, nothing impossible or mythological in the Supreme Omnipotent Person. The most wonderful puzzle for the mundane wranglers is that while they remain calculating the length and breadth of the unlimited potency of the Supreme Person, His faithful devotees are set free from the bondage of material encagement simply by appreciating the wonderful jugglery of the Supreme in the practical field. The devotees of the Lord see the wonderful dexterity in everything with which they come in contact in all circumstances of eating, sleeping, working, etc. A small banyan fruit contains thousands of small seeds, and each seed holds the potency of another tree, which again holds the potency of many millions of such fruits as causes and effects. So the trees and seeds engage the devotees in meditation about the activities of the Lord, while the mundane wranglers waste time in dry speculation and mental concoction, which are fruitless in both this life and the next. In spite of their pride in speculation, they can never appreciate the simple activities of the banyan tree’s potency. Such speculators are poor souls destined to remain in matter perpetually.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Thus, the Lord’s māyā bewilders all lower creatures, who are experts at enjoying māyā. Because the Lord himself does not know his own glories, what can be said of others? “But one can see many persons who have seen the Lord, who can reveal it others.” For this reason (ataḥ), the Lord’s māyā bewilders those who have offered themselves completely to māyā (māyinām), becoming her students, and supposedly being able to give knowledge about her. Māyā certainly throws them constantly into the material realm. Because the Supreme Lord (svayam ātmā) does not know his own form (ātma-vartma), how can others then know him?
The verse insists on the Lord's specific identity — not an idea of God but a person with name, form, and intent. Vague spirituality cannot reach what only personal address can. The pivot here is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • What in your life are you treating as 'mine' that the verse would call 'His'?
  • What would change if you treated one possession this week as belonging to the Lord and on loan to you?
📝 My note

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