Devanagari
यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् ।
यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतस: ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
yatanto yoginaś cainaṁ
paśyanty ātmany avasthitam
yatanto ’py akṛtātmāno
nainaṁ paśyanty acetasaḥ
Synonyms
yatantaḥ
—
endeavoring
;
yoginaḥ
—
transcendentalists
;
ca
—
also
;
enam
—
this
;
paśyanti
—
can see
;
ātmani
—
in the self
;
avasthitam
—
situated
;
yatantaḥ
—
endeavoring
;
api
—
although
;
akṛta-ātmānaḥ
—
those without self-realization
;
na
—
do not
;
enam
—
this
;
paśyanti
—
see
;
acetasaḥ
—
having undeveloped minds.
Translation
The endeavoring transcendentalists who are situated in self-realization can see all this clearly. But those whose minds are not developed and who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
11. Endeavoring yogīs see this soul situated in the body. Those with impure heart, though they may endeavor, do not see it.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
11. Endeavoring yogīs see this soul situated in the body. Those with impure heart, though they may endeavor, do not see it.
Purport
There are many transcendentalists on the path of spiritual self-realization, but one who is not situated in self-realization cannot see how things are changing in the body of the living entity. The word yoginaḥ is significant in this connection. In the present day there are many so-called yogīs, and there are many so-called associations of yogīs, but they are actually blind in the matter of self-realization. They are simply addicted to some sort of gymnastic exercise and are satisfied if the body is well built and healthy. They have no other information. They are called yatanto ’py akṛtātmānaḥ. Even though they are endeavoring in a so-called yoga system, they are not self-realized. Such people cannot understand the process of the transmigration of the soul. Only those who are actually in the yoga system and have realized the self, the world and the Supreme Lord – in other words, the bhakti-yogīs, those engaged in pure devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness – can understand how things are taking place.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Those persons of discrimination are the endeavoring yogīs. They see the soul in the body. Those of impure consciousness (akṛtātmānaḥ), even endeavoring, do not see the soul there.
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
The Lord elaborates on the point that those with eyes of knowledge see, saying that it is difficult to see the ātmā. Yogīs, endeavoring by undertaking the processes like hearing, see the ātmā (enam) situated in the body (ātmani). Others, though they endeavor, having impure heart (akṛtāmtanaḥ), not having developed discriminating knowledge (acetasaḥ), do not see the ātmā (enam). The implication is that the ātmā is hard to understand.
Surrender Unto Me
The phrase that makes all this section clear is: 'not only can't they see transmigration, these vimudhas, these people who have no knowledge, they cannot also see: