Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16
The Lord’s Supervision of Embodiment: Fetal Development, Womb-Suffering, and the Jīva’s Prayer (Garbha-stuti) — and the Trap of Māyā
ज्ञानं यदेतददधात्कतम: स देवस् त्रैकालिकं स्थिरचरेष्वनुवर्तितांश: । तं जीवकर्मपदवीमनुवर्तमानास् तापत्रयोपशमनाय वयं भजेम ॥ १६ ॥
jñānaṁ yad etad adadhāt katamaḥ sa devas trai-kālikaṁ sthira-careṣv anuvartitāṁśaḥ taṁ jīva-karma-padavīm anuvartamānās tāpa-trayopaśamanāya vayaṁ bhajema
動くもの動かぬものの中に分身として宿るパラマートマー、すなわち至上主以外に、過去・現在・未来の三時にわたり万物を導く者はいない。その御導きにより条件づけられた魂は業の道を歩む。ゆえに、この束縛の生の三重の苦を鎮めるため、私たちはただ主にのみ帰依し、ただ主を礼拝すべきである。
When a conditioned soul is seriously anxious to get out of the influence of the material clutches, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated within him as Paramātmā, gives him this knowledge: “Surrender unto Me.” As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā, “Give up all other engagements. Just surrender unto Me.” It is to be accepted that the source of knowledge is the Supreme Person. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā. Mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca. The Lord says, “Through Me one gets real knowledge and memory, and one also forgets through Me.” To one who wants to be materially satisfied or who wants to lord it over material nature, the Lord gives the opportunity to forget His service and engage in the so-called happiness of material activities. Similarly, when one is frustrated in lording it over material nature and is very serious about getting out of this material entanglement, the Lord, from within, gives him the knowledge that he has to surrender unto Him; then there is liberation.
FAQs
This verse teaches that worship of the Supreme Lord—who pervades all beings and grants timeless spiritual knowledge—brings pacification of the threefold miseries arising from oneself, other beings, and nature.
Devahuti recognizes Kapila as the divine source of transcendental knowledge and prays to Him so that, while the jīva moves along the path of karma, devotion to the Lord will calm suffering and lead toward liberation.
Study timeless spiritual wisdom and apply it through steady devotional practice (bhajana)—remembering the Lord’s presence in all life—so that inevitable stresses and disturbances are met with inner steadiness and reduced suffering.