SB 6.3.16 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

यं वै न गोभिर्मनसासुभिर्वा हृदा गिरा वासुभृतो विचक्षते । आत्मानमन्तर्हृदि सन्तमात्मनां चक्षुर्यथैवाकृतयस्तत: परम् ॥ १६ ॥

Verse text

yaṁ vai na gobhir manasāsubhir vā hṛdā girā vāsu-bhṛto vicakṣate ātmānam antar-hṛdi santam ātmanāṁ cakṣur yathaivākṛtayas tataḥ param

Synonyms

yam — whom ; vai — indeed ; na — not ; gobhiḥ — by the senses ; manasā — by the mind ; asubhiḥ — by the life breath ; vā — or ; hṛdā — by thoughts ; girā — by words ; vā — or ; asu — bhṛtaḥ — the living entities ; vicakṣate — see or know ; ātmānam — the Supersoul ; antaḥ — hṛdi — within the core of the heart ; santam — existing ; ātmanām — of the living entities ; cakṣuḥ — the eyes ; yathā — just like ; eva — indeed ; ākṛtayaḥ — the different parts or limbs of the body ; tataḥ — than them ; param — higher .

Translation

As the different limbs of the body cannot see the eyes, the living entities cannot see the Supreme Lord, who is situated as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart. Not by the senses, by the mind, by the life air, by thoughts within the heart, or by the vibration of words can the living entities ascertain the real situation of the Supreme Lord.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

As forms cannot know the eye, the living entities cannot know the Supreme Lord, who is situated as the Supersoul in everyone's heart, by the knowledge senses, by the mind, by the action senses, by consciousness without thought, or by words. We cannot know him because he is beyond sense perception. Gobhiḥ means the knowledge senses, manasā means by thoughts, asubhiḥ means by the action senses. Hṛdā means by consciousness without thought (nirvikalpa). One does not know him by these means. He is the one soul situated in all souls. Similarly forms (ākṛtayaḥ) cannot know the eye. The revealer is superior to the forms (ākrṭayaḥ) it reveals.

Purport

Although the different parts of the body do not have the power to see the eyes, the eyes direct the movements of the body’s different parts. The legs move forward because the eyes see what is in front of them, and the hand touches because the eyes see touchable entities. Similarly, every living being acts according to the direction of the Supersoul, who is situated within the heart. As the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) , sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jṣānam apohanaṁ ca: “I am sitting in everyone’s heart and giving directions for remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati: “The Supreme Lord, as the Supersoul, is situated within the heart.” The living entity cannot do anything without the sanction of the Supersoul. The Supersoul is acting at every moment, but the living entity cannot understand the form and activities of the Supersoul by manipulating his senses. The example of the eyes and the bodily limbs is very appropriate. If the limbs could see, they could walk forward without the help of the eyes, but that is impossible. Although one cannot see the Supersoul in one’s heart through sensual activities, His direction is necessary.