Devanagari
विकार: ख्यायमानोऽपि प्रत्यगात्मानमन्तरा ।
न निरूप्योऽस्त्यणुरपि स्याच्चेच्चित्सम आत्मवत् ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
vikāraḥ khyāyamāno ’pi
pratyag-ātmānam antarā
na nirūpyo ’sty aṇur api
syāc cec cit-sama ātma-vat
Synonyms
vikāraḥ
—
the transformation of created existence
;
khyāyamānaḥ
—
appearing
;
api
—
although
;
pratyak
—
ātmānam — the Supreme Soul
;
antarā
—
without
;
na
—
not
;
nirūpyaḥ
—
conceivable
;
asti
—
is
;
aṇuḥ
—
a single atom
;
api
—
even
;
syāt
—
it is so
;
cet
—
if
;
cit
—
samaḥ — equally spirit
;
ātma
—
vat — remaining as it is, without change .
Translation
Although perceived, the transformation of even a single atom of material nature has no ultimate definition without reference to the Supreme Soul. To be accepted as factually existing, something must possess the same quality as pure spirit — eternal, unchanging existence.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
This universe and even a single atom within it have no definition without reference to the Supreme Soul. If that is so, then objects related to the Lord are also spiritual and non-different from the Lord.
This universe, famous as being subject to change, and even an atom in it, cannot be defined without Paramātmā. Everything is Paramātmā. The universe is imposed on Paramātmā. The illusion of water in a mirage will not take place at all without light. It is all light. The illusion of water is imposed on light. However, some famous objects are perceived as real and spiritual, such as bhakti and things produced by bhakti or within bhakti, and the abodes of the Lord.
lakṣaṇaṁ bhakti-yogasya nirguṇasya hy udāhṛtam
ahaituky avyavahitā yā bhaktiḥ puruṣottame
It is said that the quality of bhakti beyond the guṇas is that bhakti which is devoid of other results other than bhakti and which is unobstructed by other processes. SB 3.29.12
The Lord says mat-sevāyāṁ tu nirguṇā: faith in my devotional service is purely transcendental. (SB 11.25.27) He has also said man nitekaṁ tu nirguṇam, nirguṇo mad apaśṛayaḥ, and man niṣṭaṁ nirguṇam smrṭam: my abode is beyond the guṇas, the devotee is beyond the guṇas, knowledge of the Lord is beyond the guṇas. (SB 11.25.26, 24, 25) All objects related to bhakti are beyond the guṇas. Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad says tāsaṁ madhye sākṣād brahma-gopāla-purī hi: among them, the abode of Gopāla is Brahman. Saccidānandaika-rase bhakti-yoge tiṣṭhati: the Lord resides in bhakti, filled with eternity, knowledge and bliss. The planet of the Lord and bhakti-yoga are beyond the guṇas and thus the highest truth. That is explained in this verse. If it is defined as being beyond the guṇas, it is cit-samaḥ, the same cit. Paramātmā is beyond the guṇas. Since all these objects are the expansions of Paramātmā, they are the one Paramātmā (ātmavat).
Purport
A mirage of water appearing in the desert is actually a manifestation of light; the false appearance of water is a specific transformation of light. That which falsely appears as independent material nature is similarly a transformation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Material nature is the external potency of the Lord.