FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.11.6

दु:खं सुखं व्यतिरिक्तं च तीव्रंकालोपपन्नं फलमाव्यनक्ति आलिङ्‌ग्य मायारचितान्तरात्मास्वदेहिनं संसृतिचक्रकूट: ॥ ६ ॥
duḥkhaṁ sukhaṁ vyatiriktaṁ ca tīvraṁ
[duhkham sukham vyatiriktam cha teevram]
kālopapannaṁ phalam āvyanakti
[kaalopapannam phalam aavyanakti]
āliṅgya māyā-racitāntarātmā
[aalingya maayaa-rachitaantaraatmaa]
sva-dehinaṁ saṁsṛti-cakra-kūṭaḥ
[sva-dehinam samsriti-chakra-kootah]
duḥkham — unhappiness due to impious activities sukham — happiness due to pious activities vyatiriktam — illusion ca — also tīvram — very severe kāla-upapannam — obtained in the course of time phalam — the resultant action āvyanakti — creates āliṅgya — embracing māyā-racita — created by material nature antaḥ-ātmā — the mind sva-dehinam — the living being himself saṁsṛti — of the actions and reactions of material existence cakra-kūṭaḥ — which deceives the living entity into the wheel.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
duḥkhaṁ sukhaṁ vyatiriktaṁ ca tīvraṁ
duḥkham
unhappiness due to impious activities
sukham
happiness due to pious activities
vyatiriktam
illusion
ca
also
tīvram
very severe
kālopapannaṁ phalam āvyanakti
kāla-upapannam
obtained in the course of time
phalam
the resultant action
āvyanakti
creates
āliṅgya māyā-racitāntarātmā
āliṅgya
embracing
māyā-racita
created by material nature
antaḥ-ātmā
the mind
sva-dehinaṁ saṁsṛti-cakra-kūṭaḥ
sva-dehinam
the living being himself
saṁsṛti
of the actions and reactions of material existence
cakra-kūṭaḥ
which deceives the living entity into the wheel.
The materialistic mind covering the living entity’s soul carries it to different species of life. This is called continued material existence. Due to the mind, the living entity suffers or enjoys material distress and happiness. Being thus illusioned, the mind further creates pious and impious activities and their karma, and thus the soul becomes conditioned.

Mental activities under the influence of material nature cause happiness and distress within the material world. Being covered by illusion, the living entity eternally continues conditioned life under different designations. Such living entities are known as nitya-baddha, eternally conditioned. On the whole, the mind is the cause of conditioned life; therefore the entire yogic process is meant to control the mind and the senses. If the mind is controlled, the senses are automatically controlled, and therefore the soul is saved from the reactions of pious and impious activity. If the mind is engaged at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa ( sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ ), the senses are automatically engaged in the Lord’s service. When the mind and senses are engaged in devotional service, the living entity naturally becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious. As soon as one always thinks of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes a perfect yogī, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā ( yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntarātmanā ). This antarātmā, the mind, is conditioned by material nature. As stated here, māyā-racitāntarātmā sva-dehinaṁ saṁsṛti-cakra-kūṭaḥ: the mind, being most powerful, covers the living entity and puts him in the waves of material existence.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The mind, the cause of deception in the repetition of birth and death, the covering on the jīva made by māyā, by embracing the jīva creates unavoidable distress, happiness, and illusion in the course of time. The mind creates suitable results. The mind creates distress, happiness, illusion, which are unavoidable (tīvram). How can something material create anything? Embracing the jīva (sva-dehinam), which is the cause, the mind (antarātmā), a covering on the jīva, creates. The mind causes deception in the wheel of rebirth (saṁsṛti-cakra-kūṭaḥ). Similarly grāma-kūṭaka means the village cheater.
The mind, covering the soul, transports it through species, manufactures happiness and distress, and spins fresh karma to keep the wheel turning. The mind is the engine of saṁsāra. Tame the engine and the journey changes course.
Reflection Questions
  • What does your mind keep manufacturing — stories, schemes, grievances — that perpetuates your current bondage?
  • What practice quiets the engine even briefly so a different course can begin?
📝 My note

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