Text 33] Fundamental Principles of Material Nature 1099

one can transform them. If we want to build a very high skyscraper, this
does not mean that we have to create it. The materials for the skyscraper—
wood, metal, earth, etc.—are already there, but we make our intimate
relationship with those already created material elements by hearing how
to utilize them. Modern economic advancement for creation is also a
product of hearing, and similarly, one can create a favorable field of
spiritual activities by hearing from the right source. Arjuna was a gross
materialist in the bodily conception of life and was suffering from the
bodily concept very acutely. But simply by hearing, Arjuna became a
spiritualized Krsna conscious person. Hearing is very important, and that
hearing is produced from the sky. By hearing only can we make proper
use of that which already exists. The principle of hearing to properly
utilize preconceived materials is applicable to spiritual paraphernalia as
well. We must hear from the proper spiritual source.

TEXT 33

aubrred waa efor 4 |
THAT FARA Sao Hag fags WRI

arthdsrayatvam sabdasya
drastur lingatvam eva ca

tanmatratvam ca nabhaso
laksanam kavayo viduh

artha-asrayatvam—that which conveys the meaning of an object; sabdasya
—of sound; drastuh—of the speaker; lingatvam—that which indicates the
presence; eva—also; ca—and; tanmatratuam—the subtle element; ca—and;
nabhasah—of ether; laksanam—definition; kavayah—learned persons; viduh
—know.

TRANSLATION

Persons who are learned and who have true knowledge define sound as
that which conveys the idea of an object, indicates the presence of a
speaker screened from our view and constitutes the subtle form of ether.

PURPORT

It is very clear herein that as soon as we speak of hearing, there must be
a speaker; without a speaker there is no question of hearing. Therefore the
Vedic knowledge, which is known as sruti, or that which is received by
