FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.25.34

इहाद्य सन्तमात्मानं विदाम न तत: परम् । येनेयं निर्मिता वीर पुरी शरणमात्मन: ॥ ३४ ॥
ihādya santam ātmānaṁ
[ihaadya santam aatmaanam]
vidāma na tataḥ param
[vidaama na tatah param]
yeneyaṁ nirmitā vīra
[yeneyam nirmitaa veera]
purī śaraṇam ātmanaḥ
[puree sharanam aatmanah]
Word-for-word
iha — here adya — today santam — existing ātmānam — living entities vidāma — that much we know na — not tataḥ param — beyond that yena — by whom iyam — this nirmitā — created vīra — O great hero purī — city śaraṇam — resting place ātmanaḥ — of all living entities.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ihādya santam ātmānaṁ
iha
here
adya
today
santam
existing
ātmānam
living entities
vidāma na tataḥ param
vidāma
that much we know
na
not
tataḥ param
beyond that
yeneyaṁ nirmitā vīra
yena
by whom
iyam
this
nirmitā
created
vīra
O great hero
purī śaraṇam ātmanaḥ
purī
city
śaraṇam
resting place
ātmanaḥ
of all living entities.
O great hero, we only know that we are existing in this place. We do not know what will come after. Indeed, we are so foolish that we do not care to understand who has created this beautiful place for our residence.
Purport

This lack of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called ignorance. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.5) it is called parābhavas tāvad abodha-jātaḥ. Everyone is born ignorant. The Bhāgavatam therefore says that we are all born ignorant within this material world. In our ignorance we may create nationalism, philanthropy, internationalism, science, philosophy and so many other things. The basic principle behind all these is ignorance. What then is the value of all this advancement of knowledge if the basic principle is ignorance? Unless a person comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all of his activities are defeated. This human form of life is especially meant to dissipate ignorance, but without understanding how to dissipate ignorance people are planning and building many things. After death, however, all of this is finished.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! I know that I am existing here today and nothing else. I do not know by whom my shelter, this city, was built. What do you know? I do not know by whom my shelter, this city, was built. The King understood that the city was built by some sage like Kardama by his power of yoga for material enjoyment.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
We only know we are here; we don't care to understand who created this place. The unexamined intelligence is content with location, indifferent to origin.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I content with location and uninterested in origin?
  • What would caring to know the Maker do to today's experience?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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