śhrī bhagavān uvācha
akṣharaṁ brahma paramaṁ svabhāvo ’dhyātmam uchyate
bhūta-bhāvodbhava-karo visargaḥ karma-sanjñitaḥ
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Blessed Lord said;
akṣharam — indestructible;
brahma — Brahman;
paramam — the Supreme;
svabhāvaḥ — nature;
adhyātmam — one’s own self;
uchyate — is called;
bhūta-bhāva-udbhava-karaḥ — Actions pertaining to the material personality of living beings, and its development;
visargaḥ — creation;
karma — fruitive activities;
sanjñitaḥ — are called
In this verse, the Supreme Lord is explaining some important concepts that can help us understand life better. First, let’s break down what Brahman means. Think of Brahman as the part of us that is eternal and cannot be destroyed. It’s like a part of us that stays the same no matter what happens on the outside. This part is our true self, often referred to as the 'self.' It’s different from our physical body and the roles we play in life.
Now, there's another term mentioned here, 'Parabrahman.' While Brahman relates to the living beings' essence, Parabrahman refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond just our living essence.
Now, let’s talk about how we act in life and what that means. The verse explains that while we are meant to connect with this eternal self (Brahman), we often get caught up in our physical bodies and the material world—this is our material consciousness. When we are focused on the material world, we often think we are the rulers of our lives, wanting to control situations or own things. This is like playing a game where we forget our true identity.
When we look at life from a spiritual perspective—like Krishna consciousness, which means being aware of and serving the Supreme—we start to see things differently. Instead of trying to be the master, we understand that our real role is to be of service. In this state, we help ourselves and others rather than just focusing on personal gain.
The verse also touches on 'karma,' which refers to our actions related to the material world. Every time we act, we create karma, which is like a ripple effect that leads to new experiences. If we're focused on our material desires, we end up needing to take on different bodies or situations over time as a result of that karma. It’s like driving to different locations based on the route you choose. Each choice leads to different experiences and learning, but sometimes we forget the bigger picture of where we truly want to go—our eternal self.
In summary, this verse teaches us to recognize our true self, understand our role in this world, and aim for spiritual growth through serving the higher powers instead of getting caught up in the material world.