FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.9.35

ऋषिमाद्यं न बध्नाति पापीयांस्त्वां रजोगुण: । यन्मनो मयि निर्बद्धं प्रजा: संसृजतोऽपि ते ॥ ३५ ॥
ṛṣim ādyaṁ na badhnāti
[rishim aadyam na badhnaati]
pāpīyāṁs tvāṁ rajo-guṇaḥ
[paapeeyaams tvaam rajo-gunah]
yan mano mayi nirbaddhaṁ
[yan mano mayi nirbaddham]
prajāḥ saṁsṛjato ’pi te
[prajaah samsrijato ’pi te]
ṛṣim — unto the great sage ādyam — the first of the kind na — never badhnāti — encroaches pāpīyān — vicious tvām — you rajaḥ-guṇaḥ — the material mode of passion yat — because manaḥ — mind mayi — in Me nirbaddham — compact in prajāḥ — progeny saṁsṛjataḥ — generating api — in spite of te — your.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ṛṣim ādyaṁ na badhnāti
ṛṣim
unto the great sage
ādyam
the first of the kind
na
never
badhnāti
encroaches
pāpīyāṁs tvāṁ rajo-guṇaḥ
pāpīyān
vicious
tvām
you
rajaḥ-guṇaḥ
the material mode of passion
yan mano mayi nirbaddhaṁ
yat
because
manaḥ
mind
mayi
in Me
nirbaddham
compact in
prajāḥ saṁsṛjato ’pi te
prajāḥ
progeny
saṁsṛjataḥ
generating
api
in spite of
te
your.
You are the original ṛṣi, and because your mind is always fixed on Me, even though you will be engaged in generating various progeny the vicious mode of passion will never encroach upon you.

The same assurance is given to Brahmā in the Second Canto, Chapter Nine, verse 36. Being so favored by the Lord, Brahmā’s schemes and plans are all infallible. If sometimes Brahmā is seen to be bewildered, as, in the Tenth Canto, he is bewildered by seeing the action of the internal potency, that is also for his further advancement in transcendental service. Arjuna is found to be similarly bewildered. All such bewilderment of the pure devotees of the Lord is specifically meant for their further advancement in knowledge of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Since your mind will be absorbed in me, though you will create the offspring, you, a great sage, will not be bound by rajoguṇa. You should not fear contamination of rajoguṇa. In the Tenth Canto, Brahmā’s illusion is not caused by rajoguṇa, but by not seeing the most auspicious form of great sweetness. That will be explained at that time.
Devotional service is named here as the central fact of spiritual life, not a hobby alongside it. The verse asks us to make the Lord the actual recipient of our daily activity rather than a polite afterthought.
Reflection Questions
  • What ordinary activity could you re-aim today so it becomes an offering rather than a transaction?
  • What would steady, unglamorous service look like for you this month?
📝 My note

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