FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.16

యం వై న గోభిర్మనసాసుభిర్వా హృదా గిరా వాసుభృతో విచక్షతే । ఆత్మానమన్తర్హృది సన్తమాత్మనాం చక్షుర్యథైవాకృతయస్తత: పరమ్ ॥ ౧౬ ॥
yaṁ vai na gobhir manasāsubhir vā
[yam vai na gobhir manasaasubhir vaa]
hṛdā girā vāsu-bhṛto vicakṣate
[hridaa giraa vaasu-bhrito vichakshate]
ātmānam antar-hṛdi santam ātmanāṁ
[aatmaanam antar-hridi santam aatmanaam]
cakṣur yathaivākṛtayas tataḥ param
[chakshur yathaivaakritayas tatah param]
yam — whom vai — indeed na — not gobhiḥ — by the senses manasā — by the mind asubhiḥ — by the life breath vā — or hṛdā — by thoughts girā — by words vā — or asu-bhṛtaḥ — the living entities vicakṣate — see or know ātmānam — the Supersoul antaḥ-hṛdi — within the core of the heart santam — existing ātmanām — of the living entities cakṣuḥ — the eyes yathā — just like eva — indeed ākṛtayaḥ — the different parts or limbs of the body tataḥ — than them param — higher.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yaṁ vai na gobhir manasāsubhir vā
yam
whom
vai
indeed
na
not
gobhiḥ
by the senses
manasā
by the mind
asubhiḥ
by the life breath
vā
or
hṛdā girā vāsu-bhṛto vicakṣate
hṛdā
by thoughts
girā
by words
vā
or
asu-bhṛtaḥ
the living entities
vicakṣate
see or know
ātmānam antar-hṛdi santam ātmanāṁ
ātmānam
the Supersoul
antaḥ-hṛdi
within the core of the heart
santam
existing
ātmanām
of the living entities
cakṣur yathaivākṛtayas tataḥ param
cakṣuḥ
the eyes
yathā
just like
eva
indeed
ākṛtayaḥ
the different parts or limbs of the body
tataḥ
than them
param
higher.
As the different limbs of the body cannot see the eyes, the living entities cannot see the Supreme Lord, who is situated as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart. Not by the senses, by the mind, by the life air, by thoughts within the heart, or by the vibration of words can the living entities ascertain the real situation of the Supreme Lord.

Although the different parts of the body do not have the power to see the eyes, the eyes direct the movements of the body’s different parts. The legs move forward because the eyes see what is in front of them, and the hand touches because the eyes see touchable entities. Similarly, every living being acts according to the direction of the Supersoul, who is situated within the heart. As the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) , sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jṣānam apohanaṁ ca: “I am sitting in everyone’s heart and giving directions for remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati: “The Supreme Lord, as the Supersoul, is situated within the heart.” The living entity cannot do anything without the sanction of the Supersoul. The Supersoul is acting at every moment, but the living entity cannot understand the form and activities of the Supersoul by manipulating his senses. The example of the eyes and the bodily limbs is very appropriate. If the limbs could see, they could walk forward without the help of the eyes, but that is impossible. Although one cannot see the Supersoul in one’s heart through sensual activities, His direction is necessary.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
As forms cannot know the eye, the living entities cannot know the Supreme Lord, who is situated as the Supersoul in everyone's heart, by the knowledge senses, by the mind, by the action senses, by consciousness without thought, or by words. We cannot know him because he is beyond sense perception. Gobhiḥ means the knowledge senses, manasā means by thoughts, asubhiḥ means by the action senses. Hṛdā means by consciousness without thought (nirvikalpa). One does not know him by these means. He is the one soul situated in all souls. Similarly forms (ākṛtayaḥ) cannot know the eye. The revealer is superior to the forms (ākrṭayaḥ) it reveals.
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