Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 17
The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
दृतय इव श्वसन्त्यसुभृतो यदि तेऽनुविधा महदहमादयोऽण्डमसृजन् यदनुग्रहत: । पुरुषविधोऽन्वयोऽत्र चरमोऽन्नमयादिषु य: सदसत: परं त्वमथ यदेष्ववशेषमृतम् ॥ १७ ॥
dṛtaya iva śvasanty asu-bhṛto yadi te ’nuvidhā mahad-aham-ādayo ’ṇḍam asṛjan yad-anugrahataḥ puruṣa-vidho ’nvayo ’tra caramo ’nna-mayādiṣu yaḥ sad-asataḥ paraṁ tvam atha yad eṣv avaśeṣam ṛtam
Only if they become Your faithful followers are those who breathe actually alive, otherwise their breathing is like that of a bellows. It is by Your mercy alone that the elements, beginning with the mahat-tattva and false ego, created the egg of this universe. Among the manifestations known as anna-maya and so forth, You are the ultimate one, entering within the material coverings along with the living entity and assuming the same forms as those he takes. Distinct from the gross and subtle material manifestations, You are the reality underlying them all.
Life is without purpose for one who remains ignorant of his most well-wishing benefactor and thus fails to worship Him. Such a person’s breathing is no better than the breathing of a blacksmith’s bellows. The gift of human life is a fortunate opportunity for the conditioned soul, but by turning away from his Lord, the living being commits spiritual suicide.
FAQs
It says the cosmic principles like mahat-tattva and ahaṅkāra can generate the universe only by following the Supreme Lord’s direction and by His grace; He is the ultimate cause beyond material cause-and-effect.
The personified Vedas (Śruti) are speaking, and they offer these prayers to Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Reality beyond all material coverings.
It teaches detachment from bodily identity and material layers, and encourages focusing devotion and awareness on the unchanging Truth—God—who remains present beyond all changing conditions.