bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ
bahūnām — many;
janmanām — births;
ante — after;
jñāna-vān — one who is endowed with knowledge;
mām — unto me;
prapadyate — surrenders;
vāsudevaḥ — Shree Krishna, the son of Vasudev;
sarvam — all;
iti — that;
saḥ — that;
mahā-ātmā — great soul;
su-durlabhaḥ — very rare
This verse speaks about the journey of a person's spiritual growth throughout many lifetimes. Imagine someone who has lived many lives, each time learning and experiencing different things. Eventually, after all these experiences, they come to an important realization—that there is a higher power, which is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, referred to here as Lord Krishna.
In the beginning, when people start their spiritual journey, they often find it hard to let go of their focus on the physical world. They may get caught up in temporary things—money, success, and material possessions—and might even think that God is just another aspect of the universe, rather than a personal being who cares for them.
As they keep on exploring spirituality, they begin to understand that real spiritual life is not just about thinking or meditation. It involves actions of devotion, which means doing things that honor and serve God. This could be through prayer, helping others, or following certain practices that connect them with the divine.
Once they realize this, they form a special connection with God, recognizing that He, Lord Krishna, is at the center of everything in life and the universe. They learn that everything they see and experience is part of a bigger picture, all connected back to Him. They begin to see life differently, understanding that what feels like reality is really just a reflection of something much greater.
These individuals come to see Lord Krishna as the source of everything. When they acknowledge that all things flow from Him and that He supports everything in existence, they naturally want to fully surrender themselves to Him. This surrender is not just a task; it’s an act of love and trust, acknowledging that He holds the ultimate purpose of life.
Finding someone who reaches this point of understanding and true surrender is very rare. Many may practice spirituality, but not everyone gets to this deep level of realization. Therefore, in the grand scheme of things, a person who understands and recognizes all this, then dedicates their life to the service and love of Lord Krishna, is considered a "great soul." Such people are rare jewels in the world.