SB 10.40.3
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please note: The synonyms, translation and purport of this verse were composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 3
- naite svarūpaṁ vidur ātmanas te
- hy ajādayo 'nātmatayā gṛhītaḥ
- ajo 'nubaddhaḥ sa guṇair ajāyā
- guṇāt paraṁ veda na te svarūpam
SYNONYMS
na — do not; ete — these (elements of creation); svarūpam — the true identity; viduḥ — know; ātmanaḥ — of the Supreme Soul; te — You; hi — indeed; ajā-ādayaḥ — headed by the total material nature; anātmatayā — by the status of being nonliving matter; gṛhītāḥ — seized; ajaḥ — Lord Brahmā; anubaddhaḥ — bound up; saḥ — he; guṇaiḥ — by the modes; ajāyāḥ — of material nature; guṇāt — to these modes; param — transcendental; veda na — he does not know; te — Your; svarūpam — true form.
Translation and purport composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TRANSLATION
The total material nature and these other elements of creation certainly cannot know You as You are, for they are manifested in the realm of dull matter. Since You are beyond the modes of nature, even Lord Brahma, who is bound up in these modes, does not know Your true identity.
PURPORT
God is transcendental to material nature. Unless we also transcend the limited consciousness of material existence, we cannot know Him. Even the greatest living entity in the universe, Brahmā, cannot understand the Supreme unless he comes to the platform of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.