Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 32

Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect

यथा घनोऽर्कप्रभवोऽर्कदर्शितो ह्यर्कांशभूतस्य च चक्षुषस्तम: । एवं त्वहं ब्रह्मगुणस्तदीक्षितो ब्रह्मांशकस्यात्मन आत्मबन्धन: ॥ ३२ ॥

yathā ghano ’rka-prabhavo ’rka-darśito hy arkāṁśa-bhūtasya ca cakṣuṣas tamaḥ evaṁ tv ahaṁ brahma-guṇas tad-īkṣito brahmāṁśakasyātmana ātma-bandhanaḥ

แม้เมฆจะเกิดจากดวงอาทิตย์และปรากฏให้เห็นได้ด้วยดวงอาทิตย์ แต่ก็ยังทำให้ดวงตา—ซึ่งเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของพลังดวงอาทิตย์—มืดบอด ฉันใด อหังการทางวัตถุซึ่งเกิดจากพรหมันและถูกทำให้ปรากฏโดยพรหมัน ก็ฉันนั้น ย่อมกีดขวางชีวาตมัน ผู้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของพรหมัน จากการรู้แจ้งพรหมันสูงสุด

yathājust as
yathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमानार्थक (indeclinable; ‘as’)
ghanaḥa cloud
ghanaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootghana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular)
arka-prabhavaḥborn from the sun
arka-prabhavaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootarka (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular); पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (determinative: ‘arising from the sun’)
arka-darśitaḥmade visible by the sun
arka-darśitaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootarka (प्रातिपदिक) + darśita (कृदन्त, √dṛś)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘shown/manifested’; तत्पुरुषः (‘shown by the sun’)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)
arkāṁśa-bhūtasyaof that which has become a ray of the sun
arkāṁśa-bhūtasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootarka-aṁśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त, √bhū)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (genitive singular); भूतकृदन्त ‘become’; तत्पुरुषः (‘become a ray of the sun’)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)
cakṣuṣaḥof the eye
cakṣuṣaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootcakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; genitive singular)
tamaḥdarkness
tamaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottamas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; nominative/accusative singular)
evamthus
evam:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootevam (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (particle ‘but/indeed’)
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (pronoun; nominative singular)
brahma-guṇaḥhaving Brahman as (its) quality
brahma-guṇaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular); तत्पुरुषः (‘having the quality of Brahman / constituted of Brahman’s guṇas’)
tat-īkṣitaḥseen/illumined by That (Brahman)
tat-īkṣitaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣita (कृदन्त, √īkṣ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular); भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘seen/observed’; तत्पुरुषः (‘seen by that/He’)
brahmāṁśakasyaof (one who is) a portion of Brahman
brahmāṁśakasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + aṁśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; genitive singular); तत्पुरुषः (‘of one who is a portion of Brahman’)
ātmanaḥof the self
ātmanaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; genitive singular)
ātma-bandhanaḥself-bondage
ātma-bandhanaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular); तत्पुरुषः (‘bondage of the self’ / ‘self-bondage’)
Ś
Śukadeva Gosvāmī
M
Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

This verse compares māyā to a cloud: it arises from the Supreme and is known only by His light, yet it obscures the jīva’s vision and becomes the cause of bondage.

To clarify how ignorance can cover a tiny soul’s awareness even though everything exists by the Supreme’s power—helping Parīkṣit focus on liberation through right understanding and devotion.

Recognize that confusion and ego are temporary coverings; strengthen “sunlight” through sādhana—hearing Bhāgavatam, chanting, and serving—so the mind’s cloud no longer blocks clear spiritual vision.