FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.13

स एष आत्मा स्वपरेत्यबुद्धिभि- र्दुरत्ययानुक्रमणो निरूप्यते । मुह्यन्ति यद्वर्त्मनि वेदवादिनो ब्रह्मादयो ह्येष भिनत्ति मे मतिम् ॥ १३ ॥
sa eṣa ātmā sva-parety abuddhibhir
[sa esha aatmaa sva-parety abuddhibhir]
duratyayānukramaṇo nirūpyate
[duratyayaanukramano niroopyate]
muhyanti yad-vartmani veda-vādino
[muhyanti yad-vartmani veda-vaadino]
brahmādayo hy eṣa bhinatti me matim
[brahmaadayo hy esha bhinatti me matim]
Word-for-word
saḥ — He eṣaḥ — this ātmā — Supersoul situated in everyone’s heart sva-para — this is my own business, and that is someone else’s iti — thus abuddhibhiḥ — by those who have such bad intelligence duratyaya — very difficult to follow anukramaṇaḥ — whose devotional service nirūpyate — is ascertained (by scriptures or the instructions of the spiritual master) muhyanti — are bewildered yat — of whom vartmani — on the path veda-vādinaḥ — the followers of Vedic instructions brahma-ādayaḥ — the demigods, beginning from Lord Brahmā hi — indeed eṣaḥ — this one bhinatti — changes me — my matim — intelligence.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa eṣa ātmā sva-parety abuddhibhir
saḥ
He
eṣaḥ
this
ātmā
Supersoul situated in everyone’s heart
sva-para
this is my own business, and that is someone else’s
iti
thus
abuddhibhiḥ
by those who have such bad intelligence
duratyayānukramaṇo nirūpyate
duratyaya
very difficult to follow
anukramaṇaḥ
whose devotional service
nirūpyate
is ascertained (by scriptures or the instructions of the spiritual master)
muhyanti yad-vartmani veda-vādino
muhyanti
are bewildered
yat
of whom
vartmani
on the path
veda-vādinaḥ
the followers of Vedic instructions
brahmādayo hy eṣa bhinatti me matim
brahma-ādayaḥ
the demigods, beginning from Lord Brahmā
hi
indeed
eṣaḥ
this one
bhinatti
changes
me
my
matim
intelligence.
Persons who always think in terms of “enemy” and “friend” are unable to ascertain the Supersoul within themselves. Not to speak of them, even such exalted persons as Lord Brahmā, who are fully conversant with the Vedic literature, are sometimes bewildered in following the principles of devotional service. The same Supreme Personality of Godhead who has created this situation has certainly given me the intelligence to take the side of your so-called enemy.
Purport

Prahlāda Mahārāja admitted frankly, “My dear teachers, you wrongly think that Lord Viṣṇu is your enemy, but because He is favorable toward me, I understand that He is the friend of everyone. You may think that I have taken the side of your enemy, but factually He has bestowed a great favor upon me.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
People with faulty intelligence, thinking in terms of self and others, cannot know Paramātmā. And even the followers of the Vedas such as Brahmā are bewildered about the path to attain him. That Lord has made my intelligence different from yours. The Lord is difficult to understand for people with animal intelligence. Paramātmā is defined as he who cannot be approached by persons with faulty intelligence who think in terms of self and others. But one cannot say that he is easily approached by those who know scriptures. The knowers of the Vedas are also bewildered about the path to attain him, bhakti-yoga. What to speak of you silly fellows! This Lord has diverted my intelligence. He has made my intelligence different from yours.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Those locked in 'friend vs enemy' thinking cannot find the Supersoul; even Brahmā is sometimes bewildered. Prahlāda has been given by the same Lord the intelligence to take 'the enemy's side.' Sometimes choosing the unpopular side is the only honest response to grace.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is grace currently asking you to take the 'enemy's side' — to honor what your circle dishonors?
  • What is the cost of refusing that intelligence when it has been given?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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