Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.10.4
जिजीविषूणां जीवानामात्मा प्रेष्ठ इहेप्सित: ।
क उत्सहेत तं दातुं भिक्षमाणाय विष्णवे ॥ ४ ॥
jijīviṣūṇāṁ jīvānām
[jijeevishoonaam jeevaanaam]
ātmā preṣṭha ihepsitaḥ
[aatmaa preshtha ihepsitah]
ka utsaheta taṁ dātuṁ
[ka utsaheta tam daatum]
bhikṣamāṇāya viṣṇave
[bhikshamaanaaya vishnave]
Word-for-word
jijīviṣūṇām
—
aspiring to remain alive
jīvānām
—
of all living entities
ātmā
—
the body
preṣṭhaḥ
—
very dear
iha
—
here
īpsitaḥ
—
desired
kaḥ
—
who
utsaheta
—
can bear
tam
—
that body
dātum
—
to deliver
bhikṣamāṇāya
—
begging
viṣṇave
—
even to Lord Viṣṇu.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jijīviṣūṇāṁ jīvānām
jijīviṣūṇām
aspiring to remain alive
jīvānām
of all living entities
ātmā preṣṭha ihepsitaḥ
ātmā
the body
preṣṭhaḥ
very dear
iha
here
īpsitaḥ
desired
ka utsaheta taṁ dātuṁ
kaḥ
who
utsaheta
can bear
tam
that body
dātum
to deliver
bhikṣamāṇāya viṣṇave
bhikṣamāṇāya
begging
viṣṇave
even to Lord Viṣṇu.
In this material world, every living entity is very much addicted to his material body. Struggling to keep his body forever, everyone tries to protect it by all means, even at the sacrifice of all his possessions. Therefore, who would be prepared to deliver his body to anyone, even if it were demanded by Lord Viṣṇu?
Purport
It is said, ātmānaṁ sarvato rakṣet tato dharmaṁ tato dhanam: one must protect his body by all means; then he may protect his religious principles and thereafter his possessions. This is the natural desire of all living entities. No one wants to give up his body unless it is forcibly given away. Even though the demigods said that they were demanding Dadhīci’s body for their benefit in accordance with the order of Lord Viṣṇu, Dadhīci superficially refused to give them his body.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The body is dear to all jīvas. It is to be protected by those desiring to live in this world. Who could tolerate giving this body even to Viṣṇu, if he asked?
“We know, but Viṣṇu himself has asked us to request you.” Ātmā means the body. Who can tolerate giving the body even to Viṣṇu?
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Every embodied being is addicted to the body and protects it even at the cost of possessions — who would give it for someone else? Dadhīci names the universal stake.
Reflection Questions
- What would I give up before I would give up my body?
- Where am I sacrificing things I claim to love in order to protect bodily comfort?
My note
Source: vedabase.io