Devanagari
जिजीविषूणां जीवानामात्मा प्रेष्ठ इहेप्सित: ।
क उत्सहेत तं दातुं भिक्षमाणाय विष्णवे ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
jijīviṣūṇāṁ jīvānām
ātmā preṣṭha ihepsitaḥ
ka utsaheta taṁ dātuṁ
bhikṣamāṇāya viṣṇave
Synonyms
jijīviṣūṇām
—
aspiring to remain alive
;
jīvānām
—
of all living entities
;
ātmā
—
the body
;
preṣṭhaḥ
—
very dear
;
iha
—
here
;
īpsitaḥ
—
desired
;
kaḥ
—
who
;
utsaheta
—
can bear
;
tam
—
that body
;
dātum
—
to deliver
;
bhikṣamāṇāya
—
begging
;
viṣṇave
—
even to Lord Viṣṇu .
Translation
In this material world, every living entity is very much addicted to his material body. Struggling to keep his body forever, everyone tries to protect it by all means, even at the sacrifice of all his possessions. Therefore, who would be prepared to deliver his body to anyone, even if it were demanded by Lord Viṣṇu?
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The body is dear to all jīvas. It is to be protected by those desiring to live in this world. Who could tolerate giving this body even to Viṣṇu, if he asked?
“We know, but Viṣṇu himself has asked us to request you.” Ātmā means the body. Who can tolerate giving the body even to Viṣṇu?
Purport
It is said,
ātmānaṁ sarvato rakṣet tato dharmaṁ tato dhanam:
one must protect his body by all means; then he may protect his religious principles and thereafter his possessions. This is the natural desire of all living entities. No one wants to give up his body unless it is forcibly given away. Even though the demigods said that they were demanding Dadhīci’s body for their benefit in accordance with the order of Lord Viṣṇu, Dadhīci superficially refused to give them his body.