Devanagari
क्वचित्सकृदवगतविषयवैतथ्य: स्वयं पराभिध्यानेन विभ्रंशितस्मृतिस्तयैव मरीचितोयप्रायांस्तानेवाभिधावति ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
kvacit sakṛd avagata-viṣaya-vaitathyaḥ svayaṁ parābhidhyānena vibhraṁśita-smṛtis tayaiva marīci-toya-prāyāṁs tān evābhidhāvati.
Synonyms
kvacit
—
sometimes
;
sakṛt
—
once
;
avagata
—
viṣaya — vaitathyaḥ — becoming conscious of the uselessness of enjoying material sense gratification
;
svayam
—
himself
;
para
—
abhidhyānena — by the bodily concept of the self
;
vibhraṁśita
—
destroyed
;
smṛtiḥ
—
whose remembrance
;
tayā
—
by that
;
eva
—
certainly
;
marīci
—
toya — water in a mirage
;
prāyān
—
similar to
;
tān
—
those sense objects
;
eva
—
certainly
;
abhidhāvati
—
runs after .
Translation
The conditioned soul sometimes personally appreciates the futility of sense enjoyment in the material world, and he sometimes considers material enjoyment to be full of miseries. However, due to his strong bodily conception, his memory is destroyed, and again and again he runs after material enjoyment, just as an animal runs after a mirage in the desert.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Though at one time realizing the futility of sense objects, because his memory has been destroyed by absorption in his body, he continually runs after sense objects, which are like a mirage of water.
Sometimes the events are described in order, and sometimes not in sequence. Sometimes there is repetition. But one should not ignore the explanation. It is not possible to make all the roads in the forest straight. Therefore giving up one’s own sense of pride, things should be explained as they are in the text. This verse explains the pursuit of a mirage of water. (SB 5.13.5) One time, the person realizes the futility of sense enjoyment (avagata-viṣaya-vaithathyaḥ) but he repeatedly (prāyan) runs after these objects like a mirage of water, because his memory is destroyed by absorption in the body (parābhidhyānena).
Purport
The main disease in material life is the bodily conception. Being baffled again and again in material activity, the conditioned soul temporarily thinks of the futility of material enjoyment, but he again tries the same thing. By the association of devotees, a person may become convinced of the material futility, but he cannot give up his engagement, although he is very eager to return home, back to Godhead. Under these circumstances, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart, compassionately takes away all the material possessions of such a devotee. As stated in
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
(10.88.8)
:
yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ.
Lord Kṛṣṇa says that He takes everything away from the devotee whom He especially favors when that devotee is overly attached to material possessions. When everything is taken away, the devotee feels helpless and frustrated in society, friendship and love. He feels that his family does not care for him any longer, and he therefore completely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. This is a special favor granted by the Lord to a devotee who cannot fully surrender to the Lord due to a strong bodily conception. As explained in
Caitanya-caritāmṛta
(
Madhya
22.39)
:
āmi — vijṣa, ei mūrkhe ‘viṣaya’ kene diba.
The Lord understands the devotee who hesitates to engage in the Lord’s service, not knowing whether he should again try to revive his material life. After repeated attempts and failures, he fully surrenders to the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord then gives him directions, and, attaining happiness, he forgets all material engagement.