Text 46]
The Dynasty of Amśumān
41
devāḥ —like the demigods;  te —such persons;  sva-hṛdi —in the core of the heart;  sthitam —situated;  na —not;  vindanti —know;  priyam —the dearmost Personality of Godhead;  śaśvat —constantly, eternally;  ātmānam —the Supreme Personality of Godhead;  kim uta —what to speak of;  apare —others (like human beings).
TRANSLATION
Even though the demigods have the advantages of being situated in the higher planetary system, their minds, senses and intelligence are agitated by material conditions. Therefore, even such elevated persons fail to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is eternally situated in the core of the heart. What then is to be said of others, such as human beings, who have fewer advantages?
PURPORT
It is a fact that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always situated in everyone's heart ( iśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati ). But because of our material anxieties, which are inevitable in this material world, we cannot understand the Supreme Lord, although He is situated so near to us. For those always agitated by material conditions, the yogic process is recommended so that one may concentrate his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the heart.  Dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ . Because in material conditions the mind and senses are always agitated, by the yogic procedures like  dhāraṇā ,  āsana  and  dhyāna  one must quiet the mind and concentrate it upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, the yogic process is a material attempt to realize the Lord, whereas  bhakti , devotional service, is the spiritual process by which to realize Him. Mahārāja Khaṭvānga accepted the spiritual path, and therefore he was no longer interested in anything material. Kṛṣṇa says in  Bhagavad-gītā  (18.55),  bhaktyā mām abhijānāti : "Only by devotional service can I be understood." One can understand Kṛṣṇa, the Parabrahman, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only through devotional service. The Lord never says that one can understand Him by performing mystic  yoga  or by philosophically speculating.  Bhakti  is above all such material attempts.  Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-