386 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 11

guna-anuraktam—being attached to the material modes of nature:
vyasandya—for the conditioning in material existence: jantoh—of the
living entity: ksemaya—for the ultimate welfare; nairgunyam—being
unaffected by the material modes of nature; atho—thus: manah—the
mind: syat—becomes: yatha—as much as: pradipah—a lamp: ghrta-
vartim—a wick within clarified butter; asnan—burning: sikhah—the
flame; sddhiimah—with smoke; bhajati—enjoys; hi—certainly; an-
yadé —otherwise; svam—its own original; padam—position; tatha —so;
guna-karma-anubaddham—bound by the modes of nature and the reac-
tions of material activities; vrttih—various engagements; manah—the
mind; srayate—takes shelter of; anyatra—otherwise; tattvam—its orig-
inal condition.

TRANSLATION

When the living entity’s 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 im-
properly, 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 gratifica-
tion, 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 exis-
tence 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 Lord's ser-
vice. This is called spiritual engagement. As confirmed in Bhagavad-
gita:

mam ca yo ’vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityauan
brahma-bhiyaya kalpate
