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TEXT 8
gunanuraktam vyasanaya jantoh
ksemaya nairgunyam atho manah syat
yatha pradipo ghrta-vartim asnan
sikhah sadhuma bhajati hy anyada svam
padam tatha guna-karmanubaddham
vrttir manah srayate nyatra tattvam
SYNONYMS
guna-anuraktambeing attached to the material modes of nature; vyasanayafor the conditioning in material existence; jantohof the living entity; ksemayafor the ultimate welfare; nairgunyambeing unaffected by the material modes of nature; athothus; manahthe mind; syatbecomes; yathaas much as; pradipaha lamp; ghrta-vartima wick within clarified butter; asnanburning; sikhahthe flame; sadhumahwith smoke; bhajatienjoys; hicertainly; anyadaotherwise; svamits own original; padamposition; tathaso; guna-karma-anubaddhambound by the modes of nature and the reactions of material activities; vrttihvarious engagements; manahthe mind; srayatetakes shelter of; anyatraotherwise; tattvamits original condition.
TRANSLATION
When the living entitys mind becomes absorbed in the sense gratification of the material world, it brings about his conditioned life and suffering within the material situation. However, when the mind becomes unattached to material enjoyment, it becomes the cause of liberation. When the flame in a lamp burns the wick improperly, the lamp is blackened, but when the lamp is filled with ghee and is burning properly, there is bright illumination. Similarly, when the mind is absorbed in material sense gratification, it causes suffering, and when detached from material sense gratification, it brings about the original brightness of Krsna consciousness.
PURPORT
It is therefore concluded that the mind is the cause of material existence and liberation also. Everyone is suffering in this material world because of the mind; it is therefore proper to train the mind or to cleanse the mind from material attachment and engage it fully in the Lords service. This is called spiritual engagement. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita:
One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman. (Bg. 14.26)
We should engage the mind fully in Krsna conscious activities. Then it will be the cause of our liberation, for our returning home. back to Godhead. However, if we keep the mind engaged in material activities for sense gratification, it will cause continuous bondage and will make us remain in this material world in different bodies, suffering the consequences of our different actions.
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