SB 7.2.49

Devanāgarī

अथ नित्यमनित्यं वा नेह शोचन्ति तद्विद: । नान्यथा शक्यते कर्तुं स्वभाव: शोचतामिति ॥ ४९ ॥

Text

atha nityam anityaṁ vā neha śocanti tad-vidaḥ nānyathā śakyate kartuṁ sva-bhāvaḥ śocatām iti

Synonyms

atha—therefore;nityam—the eternal spirit soul;anityam—the temporary material body;vā—or;na—not;iha—in this world;śocanti—they lament for;tat-vidaḥ—those who are advanced in knowledge of the body and soul;na—not;anyathā—otherwise;śakyate—is able;kartum—to do;sva-bhāvaḥ—the nature;śocatām—of those prone to lamentation;iti—thus.

Translation

Those who have full knowledge of self-realization, who know very well that the spirit soul is eternal whereas the body is perishable, are not overwhelmed by lamentation. But persons who lack knowledge of self-realization certainly lament. Therefore it is difficult to educate a person in illusion.

Purport

According to the mīmāṁsā philosophers, everything is eternal, nitya, and according to the Sāṅkhya philosophers everything is mithyā, or anitya — impermanent. Nonetheless, without real knowledge of ātmā, the soul, such philosophers must be bewildered and must continue to lament as śūdras. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī therefore said to Parīkṣit Mahārāja:

śrotavyādīni rājendra nṛṇāṁ santi sahasraśaḥ apaśyatām ātma-tattvaṁ gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām

“Those who are materially engrossed, being blind to knowledge of the ultimate truth, have many subjects for hearing in human society, O Emperor.” ( Bhāg. 2.1.2 ) For ordinary persons engaged in material activities there are many, many subject matters to understand because such persons do not understand self-realization. One must therefore be educated in self-realization so that under any circumstances in life he will remain steady in his vows.

← SB 7.2.48 Chapter 2 SB 7.2.50 →