yathāgnim edhasy amṛtaṁ ca goṣu
yathāgnim edhasy amṛtaṁ ca goṣu
bhuvy annam ambūdyamane ca vṛttim
yogair manuṣyā adhiyanti hi tvāṁ
guṇeṣu buddhyā kavayo vadanti
As one can derive fire from wood, milk from the cow, food grains and water from the land, and livelihood from endeavor, so, by the practice of bhakti-yoga, humans can realize you in the guṇas and by intelligence proclaim this.
“How can people see me?” Brahmā explains with examples. Humans attain you, who are beyond the guṇas, in this world made of guṇas by varieties of bhakti-yoga (yogaiḥ) and speak with you with intelligence given by you. You have said bhaktyāham ekayā grāyaḥ: I am only attained by bhakti-yoga. (SB 11.14.21) Fire appears in wood by rubbing. Just as one learns who to kindle fire from wood by instructions of a teacher, so one learns the process of bhakti with hearing and chanting from a guru. By that process one kindles the mind continuously, and then one can see you.
yasya svarūpaṁ kavayo vipaścito
guṇeṣu dāruṣv iva jāta-vedasam
mathnanti mathnā manasā didṛkṣavo
gūḍhaṁ kriyārthair nama īritātmane
Just as a person churns fire from pieces of wood, learned persons and devotees, desiring to see you, make your form visible, which is invisible by performing karma and accepting its results. They do this by concentrating the mind on your name and form. I offer respects to the Lord whose nature has been described. SB 5.18.36
An example is given to show that if one has the help of devotees the process becomes easy. By milking the cow one obtains milk. If the calf first sucks the udder, the milk flows easily. An example illustrates the fact that one attains you by profusion of bhakti, which arises from a seed of bhakti from previous lives. This is like obtaining food by cultivating the earth with seeds. An example is given to show that if one has previous association with devotees, one attains strong bhakti, and by this obstacles disappear. Thus one can attain the Lord. By digging the earth, one removes the covering and obtains water. An example is given to show that those who have attained bhakti attain the Lord eternally simply by worship. By enthusiastically endeavoring in one’s craft like singing or dancing one obtains a means of living.
|| 8.6.13 ||
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