FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.15

मन्यमान इदं विश्वं मायारचितमात्मनि । अविद्यारचितस्वप्नगन्धर्वनगरोपमम् ॥ १५ ॥
manyamāna idaṁ viśvaṁ
[manyamaana idam vishvam]
māyā-racitam ātmani
[maayaa-rachitam aatmani]
avidyā-racita-svapna-
[avidyaa-rachita-svapna-]
gandharva-nagaropamam
[gandharva-nagaropamam]
manyamānaḥ — realizing idam — this viśvam — universe māyā — by the external energy racitam — manufactured ātmani — unto the living entity avidyā — by illusion racita — manufactured svapna — a dream gandharva-nagara — phantasmagoria upamam — like.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
manyamāna idaṁ viśvaṁ
manyamānaḥ
realizing
idam
this
viśvam
universe
māyā-racitam ātmani
māyā
by the external energy
racitam
manufactured
ātmani
unto the living entity
avidyā-racita-svapna-
avidyā
by illusion
racita
manufactured
svapna
a dream
gandharva-nagaropamam
gandharva-nagara
phantasmagoria
upamam
like.
Śrīla Dhruva Mahārāja realized that this cosmic manifestation bewilders living entities like a dream or phantasmagoria because it is a creation of the illusory, external energy of the Supreme Lord.

In the deep forest it sometimes appears that there are big palaces and nice cities. That is technically called gandharva-nagara. Similarly, in dreams also we create many false things out of imagination. A self-realized person, or a devotee, knows well that this material cosmic manifestation is a temporary, illusory representation appearing to be truth. It is like a phantasmagoria. But behind this shadow creation there is reality — the spiritual world. A devotee is interested in the spiritual world, not its shadow. Since he has realization of the supreme truth, a devotee is not interested in this temporary shadow of truth. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā ( paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate ).

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Passing many years suitable for enjoyment of artha, dharma and kāma, with undisturbed senses, the great devotee Dhruva, realizing that this universe made by māyā is like a Gandharva city manufactured in a dream caused by ignorance in oneself, handed over the throne to his son. He passed many years suitable of enjoyment of artha, dharma and kāma. Since it is made of māyā, the universe is real. However, by ignorance within the self, it appears unreal and is thus compared to a Gandharva city in a dream made by ignorance.
Dhruva realized the cosmic manifestation bewilders souls like a dream or phantasmagoria — a creation of the Lord's external energy. After long life in it, even success in the world is recognized as dream-imagery.
Reflection Questions
  • Which of my apparent successes might already be ready to be seen as dream-quality?
  • Where could naming a vivid experience as 'phantasmagoria' loosen its hold?
📝 My note

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