174 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 5

tam—unto Him; rtam—the fact; prapadye—let us offer our respectful
obeisances.

TRANSLATION

In the cycle of material activities, the material body resembles
the wheel of a mental chariot. The ten senses [five for working and
five for gathering knowledge] and the five life airs within the body
form the fifteen spokes of the chariot’s wheel. The three modes of
nature [goodness, passion and ignorance] are its center of ac-
tivities, and the eight ingredients of nature [earth, water, fire, air,
sky, mind, intelligence and false ego] comprise the rim of the
wheel. The external, material energy moves this wheel like electri-
cal energy. Thus the wheel revolves very quickly around its hub or
central support, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the
Supersoul and the ultimate truth. We offer our respectful obei-
sances unto Him.

PURPORT

The cycle of repeated birth and death is figuratively described herein.
As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.5):

apareyam itas tv anyam
prakrtim viddhi me param

Jiva-bhiitam mahé-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat

The entire world is going on because the living entity, who is part and
parcel of the Supreme Lord, is utilizing the material energy. Under the
clutches of the material energy, the jivdtma is revolving on the wheel of
birth and death under the direction of the Supreme Personality of God-
head. The central point is the Supersoul. As explained in Bhagavad-gita

(18.61):
isvarah sarva-bhitanam
hrd-dese ’rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhitani
yantraridhani mayaya
