TEXT 16
gunarani-cchanna-cid-usmapaya
tat-ksobha-visphurjita-manasaya
naiskarmya-bhavena vivarjitagama-
svayam-prakasaya namas karomi
SYNONYMS
gunaby the three gunas, the modes of material nature (sattva, rajas and tamas); araniby arani wood; channacovered; citof knowledge; usmapayaunto He whose fire; tat-ksobhaof the agitation of the modes of material nature; visphurjitaoutside; manasayaunto He whose mind; naiskarmya-bhavenabecause of the stage of spiritual understanding; vivarjitain those who give up; agamaVedic principles; svayampersonally; prakasayaunto He who is manifest; namah karomiI offer my respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
My Lord, as the fire in arani wood is covered, You and Your unlimited knowledge are covered by the material modes of nature. Your mind, however, is not attentive to the activities of the modes of nature. Those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge are not subject to the regulative principles directed in the Vedic literatures. Because such advanced souls are transcendental, You personally appear in their pure minds. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.
PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gita (10.11) it is said:
tesam evanukampartham
aham ajnana-jam tamah
nasayamy atma-bhava stho
jnana-dipena bhasvata
For a devotee who has taken the lotus feet of the Lord within his heart, the Lord gives spiritual enlightenment, known as jnana-dipa, by special mercy from within. This jnana-dipa is compared to the fire hidden within arani wood. To perform fire sacrifices, great sages previously did not ignite a fire directly; the fire would be invoked from arani wood. Similarly, all living entities are covered by the modes of material nature, and the fire of knowledge can be ignited only by the Supreme Personality of Godhead when one takes Him within ones heart. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayoh. If one takes seriously the lotus feet of Krsna, who is seated within ones heart, the Lord eradicates all ignorance. By the torch of knowledge, one immediately understands everything properly by the special mercy of the Supreme Lord and becomes self-realized. In other words, although a devotee may externally not be very well educated, because of his devotional service the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives him enlightenment from within. If the Lord gives enlightenment from within, how can one be in ignorance? Therefore the allegation of the Mayavadis that the devotional path is for the unintelligent or uneducated is untrue.
yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana
sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah
If one becomes an unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Lord, he automatically manifests all good qualities. Such a devotee is above the instructions of the Vedas. He is a paramahamsa. Even without going through the Vedic literature, a devotee becomes pure and enlightened by the mercy of the Lord. Therefore, my Lord, the devotee says, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

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