214 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 6
TEXT 12
Tata FT TY
_ waa FT aT!
aig arated fe cat
Wty TaN BIN IPT 12
yathagnim edhasy amrtam ca gosu
bhuvy annam ambiidyamane ca vrttim
yogair manusya adhiyanti hi tvam
gunesu buddhya kavayo vadanti
yatha—as; agnim—fire; edhasi—in wood; amrtam—milk, which is
like nectar; ca—and; gosu—from cows; bhuvi—on the ground; annam-
—food grains; ambu—water; udyamane—in enterprise; ca—also; vurt-
tim—livelihood; yogaih—by practice of bhakti-yoga; manusyah—
human beings; adhiyanti—achieve; hi—indeed; tvam—You; gunesu—
in the material modes of nature; buddhya—by intelligence; kavayah—
great personalities; vadanti—say.
TRANSLATION
As one can derive fire from wood, milk from the milk bag of the
cow, food grains and water from the land, and prosperity in one’s
livelihood from industrial enterprises, so, by the practice of
bhakti-yoga, even within this material world, one can achieve Your
favor or intelligently approach You. Those who are pious all affirm
this.
PURPORT
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is nirguna, not to be
found within this material world, the entire material world is pervaded
by Him, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (maya tatam idarh sarvam). The ma-
terial world is nothing but an expansion of the Lord’s material energy,
and the entire cosmic manifestation rests upon Him (mat-sthani sarva-
bhatani). Nonetheless, the Supreme Lord cannot be found here (na
céham tesv avasthitah). A devotee, however, can see the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead through the practice of bhakti-yoga. One ordinarily
does not begin to practice bhakti-yoga unless he has practiced it in pre-
