FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.13.24

तृष्णया भववाहिन्या योग्यै: कामैरपूर्यया । कर्माणि कार्यमाणोऽहं नानायोनिषु योजित: ॥ २४ ॥
tṛṣṇayā bhava-vāhinyā
[trishnayaa bhava-vaahinyaa]
yogyaiḥ kāmair apūryayā
[yogyaih kaamair apooryayaa]
karmāṇi kāryamāṇo ’haṁ
[karmaani kaaryamaano ’ham]
nānā-yoniṣu yojitaḥ
[naanaa-yonishu yojitah]
tṛṣṇayā — because of material desires bhava-vāhinyā — under the sway of the material laws of nature yogyaiḥ — as it is befitting kāmaiḥ — by material desires apūryayā — without end, one after another karmāṇi — activities kāryamāṇaḥ — constantly being compelled to perform aham — I nānā-yoniṣu — in various forms of life yojitaḥ — engaged in the struggle for existence.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tṛṣṇayā bhava-vāhinyā
tṛṣṇayā
because of material desires
bhava-vāhinyā
under the sway of the material laws of nature
yogyaiḥ kāmair apūryayā
yogyaiḥ
as it is befitting
kāmaiḥ
by material desires
apūryayā
without end, one after another
karmāṇi kāryamāṇo ’haṁ
karmāṇi
activities
kāryamāṇaḥ
constantly being compelled to perform
nānā-yoniṣu yojitaḥ
aham
I
nānā-yoniṣu
in various forms of life
yojitaḥ
engaged in the struggle for existence.
Because of insatiable material desires, I was being carried away by the waves of material nature’s laws, and thus I was engaging in different activities, struggling for existence in various forms of life.

As long as a living entity wants to fulfill various types of material desire, he must continuously change from one body to accept another. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that as a small piece of grass falls in a river and is tossed about with different types of wood and tree branches, the living entity floats in the ocean of material existence and is dashed and tossed amidst material conditions. This is called the struggle for existence. One kind of fruitive activity causes the living being to take one form of body, and because of actions performed in that body, another body is created. One must therefore stop these material activities, and the chance to do so is given in the human form of life. Specifically, our energy to act should be engaged in the service of the Lord, for then materialistic activities will automatically stop. One must fulfill one’s desires by surrendering unto the Supreme Lord, for He knows how to fulfill them. Even though one may have material desires, one should therefore engage in the devotional service of the Lord. That will purify one’s struggle for existence.

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena yajeta puruṣaṁ param

“A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.” ( Bhāg. 2.3.10 )

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu- śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

“One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.” ( Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11)

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Being forced to perform actions by a thirst which cannot be satisfied by attaining material objects and which cause repeated birth, I have been born in many forms of life. Please hear why I am detached from material action. This is explained in three verses. I have been made to perform actions because of a thirst for desires which cannot be satisfied, which create the river of saṁsāra (bhava-vāhinyā). Just as one cannot cross a river, one cannot surpass the thirst for pleasure. Though rivers are filled with water by Indra’s showers, desired objects are never satisfying, though supplied (yogyaiḥ) profusely by Brahmā. Just as a river while flowing rises up and covers grass, wood, stones and thorns, I contact various bodies, birth after birth. Just as one has to escape from crocodiles and turtles in the river by various methods, I have to escape from my suffering by various actions.
Related verses
Because of insatiable material desires, the saint was carried by nature's waves, struggling through different forms of life. The autobiography of every soul: tossed by the river of saṁsāra until something breaks the cycle.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'wave' is currently carrying you, and do you recognize it as a wave?
  • What might break the cycle of being tossed rather than choosing?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 13