Shloka 46
Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation
ये विक्षिप्तेन्द्रियधियो देवास्ते स्वहृदि स्थितम् । न विन्दन्ति प्रियं शश्वदात्मानं किमुतापरे ॥ ४६ ॥
ye vikṣiptendriya-dhiyo devās te sva-hṛdi sthitam na vindanti priyaṁ śaśvad ātmānaṁ kim utāpare
ઇન્દ્રિયો, મન અને બુદ્ધિ વિક્ષિપ્ત હોવાથી દેવતાઓ પણ પોતાના હૃદયમાં શાશ્વત રીતે સ્થિત પ્રિય પરમાત્માને જાણી શકતા નથી; તો અન્યની શું વાત?
It is a fact that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always situated in everyone’s heart ( īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati ). But because of our material anxieties, which are inevitable in this material world, we cannot understand the Supreme Lord, although He is situated so near to us. For those always agitated by material conditions, the yogic process is recommended so that one may concentrate his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the heart. Dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ . Because in material conditions the mind and senses are always agitated, by the yogic procedures like dhāraṇā, āsana and dhyāna one must quiet the mind and concentrate it upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, the yogic process is a material attempt to realize the Lord, whereas bhakti, devotional service, is the spiritual process by which to realize Him. Mahārāja Khaṭvāṅga accepted the spiritual path, and therefore he was no longer interested in anything material. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) , bhaktyā mām abhijānāti: “Only by devotional service can I be understood.” One can understand Kṛṣṇa, the Parabrahman, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only through devotional service. The Lord never says that one can understand Him by performing mystic yoga or by philosophically speculating. Bhakti is above all such material attempts. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam. Bhakti is uncontaminated, being unalloyed even by jñāna or pious activities.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when the mind is pulled outward by the senses, even exalted beings like the devas fail to realize the ever-present Self within the heart; therefore sense-control and inwardness are essential for realization.
He uses the devas as a powerful comparison: if even heavenly beings can be diverted by sense-driven consciousness and miss the indwelling Self, ordinary people must be even more vigilant and take up disciplined spiritual practice.
Reduce sense-overload, practice daily japa/meditation and scriptural hearing, and cultivate mindful restraint; these help turn attention inward to the heart where the Self (and the Lord as Paramātmā) is realized.