FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.54

अग्नि: सूर्यो दिवा प्राह्ण: शुक्लो राकोत्तरं स्वराट् । विश्वोऽथ तैजस: प्राज्ञस्तुर्य आत्मा समन्वयात् ॥ ५४ ॥
agniḥ sūryo divā prāhṇaḥ
[agnih sooryo divaa praahnah]
śuklo rākottaraṁ sva-rāṭ
[shuklo raakottaram sva-raat]
viśvo ’tha taijasaḥ prājñas
[vishvo ’tha taijasah praajnas]
turya ātmā samanvayāt
[turya aatmaa samanvayaat]
Word-for-word
agniḥ — fire sūryaḥ — sun divā — day prāhṇaḥ — the end of the day śuklaḥ — the bright fortnight of the moon rāka — the full moon at the end of the śukla-pakṣa uttaram — the period when the sun passes to the north sva-rāṭ — the Supreme Brahman or Lord Brahmā viśvaḥ — gross designation atha — Brahmaloka, the ultimate in material enjoyment taijasaḥ — subtle designation prājñaḥ — the witness in the causal designation turyaḥ — transcendental ātmā — the soul samanvayāt — as a natural consequence.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
agniḥ sūryo divā prāhṇaḥ
agniḥ
fire
sūryaḥ
sun
divā
day
prāhṇaḥ
the end of the day
śuklo rākottaraṁ sva-rāṭ
śuklaḥ
the bright fortnight of the moon
rāka
the full moon at the end of the śukla-pakṣa
uttaram
the period when the sun passes to the north
sva-rāṭ
the Supreme Brahman or Lord Brahmā
viśvo ’tha taijasaḥ prājñas
viśvaḥ
gross designation
atha
Brahmaloka, the ultimate in material enjoyment
taijasaḥ
subtle designation
prājñaḥ
the witness in the causal designation
turya ātmā samanvayāt
turyaḥ
transcendental
ātmā
the soul
samanvayāt
as a natural consequence.
On his path of ascent, the progressive living entity enters the different worlds of fire, the sun, the day, the end of the day, the bright fortnight, the full moon, and the passing of the sun in the north, along with their presiding demigods. When he enters Brahmaloka, he enjoys life for many millions of years, and finally his material designation comes to an end. He then comes to a subtle designation, from which he attains the causal designation, witnessing all previous states. Upon the annihilation of this causal state, he attains his pure state, in which he identifies with the Supersoul. In this way the living entity becomes transcendental.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
On his path of ascent, he attains the deities of fire, the sun, the day, the end of the day, the bright fortnight, the full moon, the passing of the sun in the north, and then Brahmā. He then merges the gross coverings into the subtle coverings, and the subtle covering into kāraṇa [Note: Kāraṇa often refers to the subtle body.]. He merges the kāraṇa into the ātmā, the witness of all these. He attains the deities of fire, the day, the end of day, the waxing fortnight, and the full moon, the sun’s northern course and then Brahmā (svarāṭ). After he enjoys on Brahmaloka, his method of liberation is described. He merges the gross covering (viśvaḥ) into the subtle covering (taijasaḥ). He merges his subtle covering into the very subtle covering called kāraṇa (prājñāh). [Note: Viśva, taijasa and prajñā also refer to waking, dreaming and deep sleep states.] He merges the kāraṇa into the ātmā (turyaḥ), the witness (samanvayāt). With the destruction of all the transitory objects witnessed, only the pure ātmā remains. Thus he is liberated.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
On the ascending path, one passes through the worlds of fire, sun, day, bright fortnight, full moon, northern course of the sun, finally reaching Brahmaloka. Even this exalted ascent is part of the longer path back to the Supreme. Aim past the brightest stop.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'Brahmaloka' do you aspire to that might still be a stop, not the destination?
  • What would aiming past every stop, all the way to Goloka, mean for today's choices?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 15