Devanagari
यदधातुमतो ब्रह्मन् देहारम्भोऽस्य धातुभि: ।
यदृच्छया हेतुना वा भवन्तो जानते यथा ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
yad adhātu-mato brahman
dehārambho ’sya dhātubhiḥ
yadṛcchayā hetunā vā
bhavanto jānate yathā
Synonyms
yat
—
as it is
;
adhātu
—
mataḥ — without being materially constituted
;
brahman
—
O learned brāhmaṇa
;
deha
—
the material body
;
ārambhaḥ
—
the beginning of
;
asya
—
of the living being
;
dhātubhiḥ
—
by matter
;
yadṛcchayā
—
without cause, accidental
;
hetunā
—
due to some cause
;
vā
—
either
;
bhavantaḥ
—
your good self
;
jānate
—
as you may know it
;
yathā
—
so you inform me .
Translation
O learned brāhmaṇa, the transcendental spirit soul is different from the material body. Does he acquire the body accidentally or by some cause? Will you kindly explain this, for it is known to you.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
O brāhmaṇa! Please explain whether the body of the jīva made of elements takes place by chance or by any specific cause as you understand it.
Purport
Mahārāja Parīkṣit, being a typical devotee, is not only satisfied by confirming the importance of hearing the
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
from the representative of Brahmājī by disciplic succession, but he is still more anxious to establish the philosophical basis of
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
is the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such, all questions that may arise in the mind of a serious student must be cleared by the statements of the authority. A person on the path of devotional service may inquire from his spiritual master all about the spiritual position of God and the living beings. From the
Bhagavad-gītā,
as well as from the
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,
it is known that qualitatively the Lord and the living beings are one. The living being in the conditioned state of material existence is subjected to many transmigrations by continuous changing of the material body. But what are the causes of the material embodiment of the part and parcel of the Lord? Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquires about this very important matter for the benefit of all classes of candidates on the path of self-realization and devotional service to the Lord.
Indirectly it is confirmed that the Supreme Being, the Lord, makes no such material changes of body. He is spiritually whole, with no difference between His body and His soul, unlike the conditioned soul. The liberated living beings, who associate with the Lord in person, are also exactly like the Lord. Only the conditioned souls awaiting liberation are subjected to change of bodies. How was the process first begun?
In the process of devotional service, the first step is to take shelter of the spiritual master and then inquire from the spiritual master all about the process. This inquiry is essential for immunity to all kinds of offenses on the path of devotional service. Even if one is fixed in devotional service like Mahārāja Parīkṣit, he must still inquire from the realized spiritual master all about this. In other words, the spiritual master must also be well versed and learned so that he may be able to answer all these inquiries from the devotees. Thus one who is not well versed in the authorized scriptures and not able to answer all such relevant inquiries should not pose as a spiritual master for the matter of material gain. It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple.
Commentary (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Having expressed his enthusiasm for hearing about Kṛṣṇa, the first aṅga of pure bhakti that he cherishes, Parīkṣit inquires about subjects to the extent that they may contribute to the accomplishment of the goals of pure or mixed bhakti. These questions continue till the end of the chapter. Wherever even a trace of bhakti appears, it should be established without aparādha, otherwise Bhakti-devī will not show mercy. It is shown here that one should desire to know about examples and more examples of bhakti performed by pure devotees who are fixed in, and cherish, hearing and chanting about the sweetness of the Lord for the purpose of producing prema.
The jīva who does not have a relationship with the material elements (adhātu-mataḥ) takes up a body made of material elements. Is this body produced by chance or for some reason? These topics should be explained by you as you have understood them. Persons other than you do not know this. Why should I ask them?