Shloka 53
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa (Brahmā-stuti) and the Restoration of Vraja’s Lunch Pastime
देहोऽपि ममताभाक् चेत्तर्ह्यसौ नात्मवत् प्रिय: । यज्जीर्यत्यपि देहेऽस्मिन् जीविताशा बलीयसी ॥ ५३ ॥
deho ’pi mamatā-bhāk cet tarhy asau nātma-vat priyaḥ yaj jīryaty api dehe ’smin jīvitāśā balīyasī
ഒരു വ്യക്തി ദേഹത്തെ ‘ഞാൻ’ എന്നല്ല ‘എന്റെത്’ എന്ന് കരുതുന്ന നിലയിലേക്കെത്തിയാൽ, ദേഹം ആത്മാവിനെപ്പോലെ പ്രിയമാകില്ല. കാരണം ദേഹം ജീർണ്ണിച്ചാലും ജീവിക്കണമെന്ന ആഗ്രഹം ശക്തമായിരിക്കും.
The word mamatā-bhāk is very significant here. An ordinary, foolish person thinks, “I am this body.” A more discriminating, intelligent person thinks, “This is my body.” In the literature and folklore of ordinary people we find the common theme of an old, decrepit person dreaming of obtaining a new, young body. Thus, even ordinary persons pick up the notion of self-realization, instinctively understanding that it is possible for the soul to exist in many different bodies.
FAQs
This verse explains that the body is treated as ‘mine’ and therefore is not the true self; yet even while the body decays, the living being’s desire to continue living remains very strong—showing deep-rooted misidentification with the body.
After being humbled by Kṛṣṇa’s supreme power in the Brahmā-vimohana-līlā, Brahmā offers prayers recognizing the conditioned soul’s illusion—clinging to bodily identity despite inevitable decay—and glorifies Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate truth beyond that illusion.
Regularly remember that the body is temporary and changing, and invest your strongest ‘hope to live’ in spiritual life—bhakti practices like hearing, chanting, and serving—so identity shifts from body-centered anxiety to soul-centered devotion.