Commentaries from the Gurus

Chapter 9 • Verse 11

अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् | परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम् ||९-११||

avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā mānuṣīṃ tanumāśritam . paraṃ bhāvamajānanto mama bhūtamaheśvaram ||9-11||

Expert Commentaries

🎙️ Swami Tejomayananda

Hindi Translation

।।9.11।। समस्त भूतों के महान् ईश्वर रूप मेरे परम भाव को नहीं जानते हुए मूढ़ लोग मनुष्य शरीरधारी मुझ परमात्मा का अनादर करते हैं।।

🎙️ Swami Sivananda

English Translation

9.11 Fools disregard Me, clad in human form, not knowing My higher Being as the great Lord of (all) beings.

English Commentary

9.11 अवजानन्ति disregard? माम् Me? मूढाः fools? मानुषीम् human? तनुम् form? आश्रितम् assumed? परम् higher? भावम् state or nature? अजानन्तः not knowing? मम My? भूतमहेश्वरम् the Great Lord of beings.Commentary Fools only find fault with My pure nature? just as a man with jaundiced eyes finds all objects to be yellow. The man who is suffering from fever finds even milk as bitter as the essence of neem. Those who wish to behold Me by means of the physical eyes cannot know Me. If anyone takes the mirage for the Ganga? can he find any water thereFools who do not have discrimination and right understanding despise Me? dwelling in the human form. I have taken this body to bless My devotees. These fools have no knowledge of My higher Being. They do not know that I am the great Lord? the Supreme SElf? the luminous? omniscient? pure? ever free? immortal? wise? the Self of all. These fools take Me for an ordinary mortal and despise Me always. The wise know both My transcendental nature and the glory of My manifestation.I pervade? permeate and interpenetrate the universe. I am the support of this world? body? mind? lifeforce and the senses and yet there are some miserable fools? who say that I do not exist. There is thus not a place anywhere where I am not? and yet these people are not able to see Me. Look at the misfortune of these people. Pitiable is their lot (Cf.IV.6VII.24)

🎙️ Shri Purohit Swami

English Translation

9.11 Fools disregard Me, seeing Me clad in human form. They know not that in My higher nature I am the Lord-God of all.

🎙️ Swami Chinmayananda

Hindi Commentary

।।9.11।। सातवें अध्याय में ब्रह्म की परा और अपरा प्रकृति का वर्णन करते हुए भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण ने यह घोषित किया था कि मूढ़ लोग? मेरे अव्यय और परम भाव को नहीं जानते हैं और परमार्थत अव्यक्तस्वरूप मुझको व्यक्त मानते हैं।इस अध्याय में स्वयं को सबकी आत्मा बताते हुए श्रीकृष्ण पुन उसी कठोर शब्द मूढ़ का प्रयोग उन लोगों की निन्दा के लिए करते हैं? जो तत्त्व को छोड़कर केवल रूप को ही पकड़े रहते हैं। मेरे परम स्वरूप को नहीं जानते हुए मूढ़ लोग मुझे किसी देह विशेष में ही स्थित मानते हैं प्रतिमा को ही भगवान् मानना या गुरु के शरीर को ही अनन्त परमात्मा समझना उसी प्रकार की त्रुटि या विपरीत ज्ञान है? जैसे घट को ही उसमें निहित वस्तु मान लेना है। मूर्ति तो उस इन्द्रिय अगोचर सूक्ष्म सत्य का मात्र प्रतीक है। भूखे या प्यासे होने पर केवल दूध की बोतल से खेलने से ही ताजगी अनुभव नहीं होती वास्तव में भूखे होने पर थाली पर चम्मच बजाने से कोई सन्तोष नहीं मिलता। प्रतीक को ही ध्येय समझने का अर्थ है साधन को ही साध्य मानने की गलती करना। ऐसी विपरीत धारणायें धार्मिक कट्टरता एवं असहिष्णुता को जन्म देती हैं जो लोगों में शत्रुता और ईर्ष्या के बीज बोती हैं। इन बीजों से? समय आने पर? केवल विपत्ति और नाश की फसल ही प्राप्त होती है यह सब कुछ विभिन्न धर्मावलम्बियों के अपनेअपने पाषाण के देवता? काष्ठ के बने प्रतीक और पीपल के बने भगवान् के नाम पर होता है खादी का तिरंगा कपड़ा राष्ट्रध्वज हो सकता है? परन्तु वह स्वयं मेरी मातृभूमि नहीं है परन्तु जब ध्वजारोहण के समय मैं अपना शीश झुकाता हूँ तो राष्ट्र के प्रति अपना सम्मान व्यक्त करता हूँ वह ध्वज मेरे राष्ट्र की संस्कृति एवं महत्वाकांक्षाओं का पवित्र प्रतीक है।इस सिद्धांत को ध्यान में रखकर इस श्लोक का अध्ययन करने पर वह अत्यन्त स्पष्ट हो जाता है। भगवान् कहते हैं कि साधारण भक्तजन मुझे भूतमात्र के महेश्वर के रूप में नहीं जानते हैं और मनुष्य शरीर धारण करने पर मेरा अनादर करते हैं।क्यों ये मूढ़ लोग आत्मा का सम्यक् परिचय प्राप्त करने में असमर्थ होते हैं उत्तर में कहते हैं --

🎙️ Dr.S.Sankaranarayan

English Translation

9.11. Being unaware of the immutable highest Absolute Supreme nature of Mine, the deluded ones disregard Me dwelling in the human body.

🎙️ Swami Adidevananda

English Translation

9.11 Fools disregard Me, dwelling in a human form, not knowing My higher nature, as the Supreme Lord of all beings.

🎙️ Swami Gambirananda

English Translation

9.11 Not knowing My supreme nature as the Lord of all beings, foolish people disregard Me who have taken a human body.

🎙️ Sri Madhavacharya

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।तर्हि केचित्कथं त्वामवजानन्ति का च तेषां गतिः इत्यत आह -- अवजानन्तीत्यादिना। मानुषीं तनुं? मूढानां मानुषवत्प्रतीतां तनुं? न तु मनुष्यरूपाम्। उक्तं च मोक्षधर्मेयत्किञ्चिदिह लोकेऽस्मिन्देहबद्धं विशाम्पते। सर्वं पञ्चभिराविष्टं भूतैरीश्वरबुद्धिजैः। ईश्वरो हि जगत्स्रष्टा प्रभुर्नारायणो विराट्। भूतान्तरात्मा वग्दः सगुणो निर्गुणोऽपि च। भूतप्रलयमव्यक्तं शुश्रूषु(शुणुष्व) -- र्नृपसत्तम [म.भा.12।347।1113] इति। अवतारप्रसङ्गे चैतदुक्तम्। अतो नावताराः पृथक् शङ्क्याः।रूपाण्यनेकान्यसृजत्प्रादुर्भावभवाय सः। वाराहं नारसिंहं च वामनं मानुषं तथा [म.भा.12।349।37] इति। तत्रैव प्रथमसर्गकाल एवावताररूपविभक्त्युक्तेः। अतो न तेषां मानुषत्वादिर्विना भ्रान्तिम्। भूतं महदीश्वरं चेति भूतमहेश्वरम्। तथा हि (सामवेदे) बाभ्रव्यशाखायाम् -- अनाद्यनन्तं परिपूर्णरूपमीशं वराणामपि देववीर्यम् इति। अस्य महतो भूतस्य निश्श्वसितम् [बृ.उ.2।4।10] इति च।ब्रह्मपुरोहित ब्रह्मकायिक राजिक महाराजिकं -- इति च मोक्षधर्मे [म.भा.12।338नाम4043]।

🎙️ Sri Anandgiri

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।सर्वाध्यक्षः सर्वभूताधिवासो नित्यमुक्तश्चेत्त्वं तर्हि किमिति त्वामेवात्मत्वेन भेदेन वा सर्वे न भजन्ते तत्राह -- एवमिति। विपर्यस्तबुद्धित्वं भगवदवज्ञायां कारणमित्याह -- मूढा इति। भगवतो मनुष्यदेहसंबन्धात्तस्मिन्विपर्यासः संभवतीत्याह -- मानुषीमिति। अस्मदादिवद्देहतादात्म्याभिमानं भगवतो व्यावर्तयति -- मनुष्येति। भगवन्तमवजानतामविवेकमूलाज्ञानं हेतुमाह -- परमिति। ईश्वरावज्ञानात्किं भवतीत्यपेक्षायां तदवज्ञानप्रतिबद्धबुद्धयः शोच्या भवन्तीत्याह -- ततश्चेति। भगवदवज्ञानादेव हेतोरवजानन्तस्ते जन्तवो वराकाः शोच्याः सर्वपुरुषार्थबाह्याः स्युरिति संबन्धः। तत्र हेतुं सूचयति -- तस्येति। प्रकृतस्य भगवतोऽवज्ञानमनादरणं निन्दनं वा तस्य भावनं पौनःपुन्यं तेनाहतास्तज्जनितदुरितप्रभावात् प्रतिबद्धबुद्धय इत्यर्थः।

🎙️ Swami Ramsukhdas

Hindi Translation

।।9.11।। मूर्खलोग मेरे सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंके महान् ईश्वररूप परमभावको न जानते हुए मुझे मनुष्यशरीरके आश्रित मानकर अर्थात् साधारण मनुष्य मानकर मेरी अवज्ञा करते हैं।

Hindi Commentary

।।9.11।। व्याख्या--परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम्--जिसकी सत्ता-स्फूर्ति पाकर प्रकृति अनन्त ब्रह्माण्डोंकी रचना करती है, चरअचर, स्थावर-जङ्गम प्राणियोंको पैदा करती है; जो प्रकृति और उसके कार्यमात्रका संचालक, प्रवर्तक, शासक और संरक्षक है जिसकी इच्छाके बिना वृक्षका पत्ता भी नहीं हिलता प्राणी अपने कर्मोंके अनुसार जिनजिन लोकोंमें जाते हैं, उन-उन लोकोंमें प्राणियोंपर शासन करने-वाले जितने देवता हैं, उनका भी जो ईश्वर (मालिक) है और जो सबको जाननेवाला है-- ऐसा वह मेरा भूतमहेश्वररूप सर्वोत्कृष्ट भाव (स्वरूप) है।

'परं भावम्' कहनेका तात्पर्य है कि मेरे सर्वोत्कृष्ट प्रभावको अर्थात् करनेमें, न करनेमें और उलट-फेर करनेमें जो सर्वथा स्वतन्त्र है; जो कर्म, क्लेश, विपाक आदि किसी भी विकारसे कभी आबद्ध नहीं है; जो क्षरसे अतीत और अक्षरसे भी उत्तम है तथा वेदों और शास्त्रोंमें पुरुषोत्तम नामसे प्रसिद्ध है (गीता 15। 18) -- ऐसे मेरे परमभावको मूढ़लोग नहीं जानते, इसीसे वे मेरेको मनुष्य-जैसा मानकर मेरी अविज्ञा करते हैं।'मानुषी तनुमाश्रितम्'-- भगवान्को मनुष्य मानना क्या है? जैसे साधारण मनुष्य अपनेको शरीर, कुटुम्ब-परिवार, धन-सम्पत्ति, पद-अधिकार आदिके आश्रित मानते हैं अर्थात् शरीर, कुटुम्ब आदिकी इज्जत-प्रतिष्ठाको अपनी इज्जतप्रतिष्ठा मानते हैं; उन पदार्थोंके मिलनेसे अपनेको बड़ा मानते हैं; और उनके न मिलनेसे अपनेको छोटा मानते हैं और जैसे साधारण प्राणी पहले प्रकट नहीं थे, बीचमें प्रकट हो जाते हैं तथा अन्तमें पुनः अप्रकट हो जाते हैं (गीता 2। 28), ऐसे ही वे मेरेको साधारण मनुष्य मानते हैं। वे मेरेको मनुष्यशरीरके परवश मानते हैं अर्थात् जैसे साधारण मनुष्य होते हैं? ऐसे ही साधारण मनुष्य कृष्ण हैं --ऐसा मानते हैं। भगवान् शरीरके आश्रित नहीं होते। शरीरके आश्रित तो वे ही होते हैं, जिनको कर्मफलभोगके लिये पूर्वकृत कर्मोंके अनुसार शरीर मिलता है। परन्तु भगवान्का मानवीय शरीर कर्मजन्य नहीं होता। वे अपनी इच्छासे ही प्रकट होते हैं-- 'इच्छयाऽऽत्तवपुषः' (श्रीमद्भा0 10। 33। 35) और स्वतन्त्रतापूर्वक मत्स्य, कच्छप, वराह आदि अवतार लेते हैं। इसलिये उनको न तो कर्मबन्धन होता है और न वे शरीरके आश्रित होते हैं, प्रत्युत शरीर उनके आश्रित होता है --'प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवामि' (गीता 4। 6) अर्थात् वे प्रकृतिको अधिकृत करके प्रकट होते हैं। तात्पर्य यह हुआ कि सामान्य प्राणी तो प्रकृतिके परवश होकर जन्म लेते हैं तथा प्रकृतिके आश्रित होकर ही कर्म करते हैं? पर भगवान् स्वेच्छासे? स्वतन्त्रतासे अवतार लेते हैं और प्रकृति भी उनकी अध्यक्षतामें काम करती है।

मूढ़लोग मेरे अवतारके तत्त्वको न जानकर मेरेको मनुष्यशरीरके आश्रित (शरण) मानते हैं अर्थात् उनको होना तो चाहिये मेरे शरण, पर मानते हैं मेरेको मनुष्यशरीरके शरण ! तो वे मेरे शरण कैसे होंगे? हो ही नहीं सकते। यही बात भगवान्ने सातवें अध्यायमें कही है कि बुद्धिहीन लोग मेरे अज-अविनाशी परमभावको न जानते हुए मेरेको साधारण मनुष्य मानते हैं (7। 24 -- 25)। इसलिये वे मेरे शरण न होकर देवताओंके शरण होते हैं (7। 20)।

'अवजानन्ति मां (टिप्पणी प0 498) मूढाः' -- जिसकी अध्यक्षतामें प्रकृति अनन्त ब्रह्माण्डोंको उत्पन्न और लीन करती है, जिसकी सत्ता-स्फूर्तिसे संसारमें सब कुछ हो रहा है और जिसने कृपा करके अपनी प्राप्तिके लिये मनुष्यशरीर दिया है-- ऐसे मुझ सत्यतत्त्वकी मूढ़लोग अवहेलना करते हैं। वे मेरेको न मानकर उत्पत्ति-विनाशशील पदार्थोंको ही सत्य मानकर उनका संग्रह करने और भोग भोगनेमें ही लगे रहते हैं -- यही मेरी अवज्ञा, अवहेलना करना है।

सम्बन्ध --अब भगवान् आगेके श्लोकमें अपनी अवज्ञाका फल बताते हैं।

🎙️ Sri Ramanuja

English Translation

9.11 Because of their evil actions (Karmas), fools disregard Me - the great Lord of all beings, the Omniscient, whose resolves are true, who is the sole cause of the entire universe, and who has taken the human body out of great compassion so that I might become the refuge of all. They consider Me to be a man like themselves. The meaning is that they disregard Me, not knowing My higher nature which is an abode of compassion, generosity, condescension and parental solicitude. This nature of mine is the cause of My resorting to the human shape. But without understanding this, the ignorant consider Me as of the same nature as others, because I have assumed the human form.

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।एवं मां भूतमहेश्वरं सर्वज्ञं सत्यसंकल्पं निखिलजगदेककारणं परमकारुणिकतया सर्वसमाश्रयणीयत्वाय मानुषीं तनुम् आश्रितं स्वकृतैः पापकर्मभिः मूढा अवजानन्ति -- प्राकृतमनुष्यसमं मन्यन्ते।भूतमहेश्वरस्य मम अपारकारुण्यौदार्यसौशील्यवात्सल्यादिनिबन्धनं मनुष्यत्वसमाश्रयणलक्षणम् इमं परं भावम् अजानन्तो मनुष्यत्वसमाश्रयणमात्रेण माम् इतरसजातीयं मत्वा तिरस्कुर्वन्ति इत्यर्थः।

🎙️ Sri Abhinav Gupta

English Translation

9.11 Avajananti etc. I am reclining within all that is born Being the Self of all, I become the object of disrespect. For, [they raise the estion] : 'Apart from the fourteen types of creation, like man etc., no Lord is found; hence how can He exist ?'

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।अवजानन्तीति। सोऽहं सर्वजनान्तःशायी (S omits सर्व -- ?N omit -- जन -- ) ? सर्वस्यात्मरूपतया (S?K -- त्मपररू -- ) अवज्ञास्पदम् यत् मानुषादिचतुर्दशविध ( omits -- विध -- ) सर्गव्यतिरिक्त ईश्वरो नोपलभ्यते? स कथमस्ति इति।

🎙️ Sri Shankaracharya

English Translation

9.11 Ajanatah, not knowing; mama, My; param, supreme; bhavam, nature-My supreme Reality, which is like space, nay, which is subtler and more pervasive than space; as bhuta-maheswaram, the Lord of all beings, the great Lord of all beings who is their Self; mudhah, foolish people, the non-discriminating ones; avajananti, disregard, belittle; mam, Me, although I am by nature thus eternal, pure, intelligent, free and the Self of all beings; and asritam, who have taken; manusim tanum, a human body common to men, i.e৷৷. when I act with the help of a human body. As a result of that, as a result of continously disrespecting Me, those wretches get ruined.
How?

Hindi Translation

।।9.11।।इस प्रकार मैं यद्यपि नित्यशुद्धबुद्धमुक्तस्वभाव तथा सभी प्राणियोंका आत्मा हूँ तो भी --, मूढ़ -- अविवेकी लोग मेरे सर्व लोकोंके महान् ईश्वररूप परमभावको अर्थात् सबका अपना आत्मारूप मैं परमात्मा सब प्राणियोंका महान् ईश्वर हूँ एवं आकाशकी भाँति बल्कि आकाशकी अपेक्षा भी सूक्ष्मतर भावसे व्यापक हूँ -- इस परम परमात्मतत्त्वको न जाननेके कारण मुझ मनुष्यदेहधारी परमात्माको तुच्छ समझते हैं अर्थात् मनुष्यरूपसे लीला करते हुए मुझ परमात्माकी अवज्ञा -- अनादर करते हैं। इसलिये मुझ परमात्माके निरादरकी भावनासे वे पामर जीव ( व्यर्थ ) मारे हुए पड़े हैं।

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।। --,अवजानन्ति अवज्ञां परिभवं कुर्वन्ति मां मूढाः अविवेकिनः मानुषीं मनुष्यसंबन्धिनीं तनुं देहम् आश्रितम्? मनुष्यदेहेन व्यवहरन्तमित्येतत्? परं प्रकृष्टं भावं परमात्मतत्त्वम् आकाशकल्पम् आकाशादपि अन्तरतमम् अजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरं सर्वभूतानां महान्तम् ईश्वरं स्वात्मानम्। ततश्च तस्य मम अवज्ञानभावनेन आहताः ते वराकाः।।कथम् --,

🎙️ Sri Jayatritha

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।उत्तरवाक्यस्य सङ्गत्यप्रतीतेस्तामाह -- तर्हीति। यदि त्वमेव जगतः सृष्टिस्थितिसंहाराणां कर्ता? कैश्चिदवज्ञानात् तेषां चानर्थाभावादुक्तमसदिति शङ्काभिप्रायः।मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितं इत्येतदन्यथाप्रतीतिनिरासाय व्याचष्टे -- मानुषीमिति। भ्रान्त्यनुवाद एवायमिति भावः। कुतो न इत्यत आह -- उक्तं चेति। चो हेतौ। शरीराणि हि भौतिकानि भवन्ति। भूतानि चेश्वरस्य बुद्धिजानि? तत्कथं तानि बध्नीत्युरित्यर्थः। अत्रैवईश्वरो हि इत्यादिनाऽन्ये हेतवोऽभिधीयन्ते। विराट् नित्याभिव्यक्तरूपः। वरदो मोक्षप्रदः। सगुणः स्वातन्त्र्यादिगुणवान्। भूतानि प्रलीयन्ते यस्मिंस्तदव्यक्तम्? तदभिमानिनी देवता तस्य शुश्रूषुः। लिङ्गव्यत्ययश्छान्दसः। अस्त्वेतन्मूलरूपविषयम्? अवतारस्य तु कृष्णस्य मानुषत्वं भवत्वित्यत आह -- अवतारेति।यत्तद्ददृशिवान् ब्रह्मा रूपं हयशिरोधरम् [म.भा.12।] इति ह्वयग्रीवावतारप्रसङ्गे। अस्तु हयग्रीवस्यैवम्। कृष्णस्तु मानुषशरीर एव किं न स्यात् इति चेत्? न युक्तिसाम्यात् विशेषप्रमाणाच्चेत्याह -- रूपाणीति। असृजद्व्यभजत्। प्रादुर्भावभवायोत्तरत्र। स नारायणः। मानुषं कृष्णादिकम्। तत्रैव मोक्षधर्म एव? प्रथमसर्गकाल एव? मानुषादिजात्युत्पत्तेः प्रागेवेत्यर्थः। उपसंहरति -- अत इति। तेषामवताराणाम्। उत्तरपदविरोधश्चान्यथेति भावेन तद्व्याचष्टे -- भूतमिति। भूतं सर्वदा विद्यमानमिति कालानन्त्यमाचष्टे -- महदिति देशानन्त्यम्? ईश्वरमिति गुणानन्त्यम्। भावं याथार्थ्यमिति व्याख्यानपेक्षया नपुंसकम्। अत्र श्रुतिं पठति, -- तथा हीति। ईशं वराणामितीश्वरम्। षष्ठ्याः परनिपातः। देवाः वीर्यं पुत्रा यस्यासौ तथोक्तः।महतो भूतस्य इति देशकालानन्त्यमुच्यते। वराणां देवानामीशत्वे ब्रह्मेति मोक्षधर्मवाक्यं प्रमाणं पुरोहितादिदेवनिकायास्त्वदधीना इत्यर्थः। ब्रह्मेति द्विरुक्तिरादरार्था।

🎙️ Sri Vallabhacharya

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।नन्वेवंविधमहिमानं त्वां किमिति केचिन्नान्द्रियन्ते इत्यत्राह द्वाभ्यां -- अवजानन्तीति। मां सर्वभूतनियन्तारं सर्वज्ञं सत्यसङ्कल्पं अचिन्त्यमहिमानं योगेश्वरेश्वरं निखिलजगदेककारणं परमकारुणिकतया सर्वेषामाश्रयणीयत्वाय मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितं मनुष्यत्वसमाश्रयणेन इतरसमजातीयं मत्वा मूढा आसुरादयो जनास्तिरस्कुर्वन्ति इत्यर्थः। तत्र हेतुः परं भावं अचिन्त्यमाहात्म्यस्वरूपमानन्दमात्रलक्षणं तत्त्वमजानन्त इति। अत्र तु तनुं स्वरूपात्मिकामानन्दमात्रकरपादमुखोदरादिरूपां मानुषाकारामाश्रितमित्येव व्याख्येयम् अन्यथा भेदः स्यात्। वस्तुतस्तत्र देहदेहिविभाग एव नास्ति? एक एवआन्दमात्रकरपादमुखोदरादिः सर्वत्र च स्वगतभेदविवर्जितात्मा। निर्दोषपूर्णविग्रह आत्मतन्त्रो निश्चेतनात्मकशरीरगुणैर्विहीनः इति स्मर्यते। तथाविधाकार एव प्राकृताकाररहित इति श्रौतानुभवश्च आवृत्तचक्षुः [कठो.4।1] आत्मानमैक्षत आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो रूपं इत्यत्र सर्वं निरूपितं श्रीमद्बिद्वन्मण्डनभाष्यकृद्भिस्तत एव सर्वमवसेयम्।

🎙️ Sri Madhusudan Saraswati

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।एवं नित्यशुद्धबुद्धमुक्तस्वभावं सर्वजन्तूनामात्मानमानन्दघनमनन्तमपि सन्तं अवजानन्ति मां साक्षादीश्वरोऽयमिति नाद्रियन्ते निन्दन्ति वा मूढा अविवेकिनो जनास्तेषामवज्ञाहेतुं भ्रमं सूचयति। मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितं मनुष्यतया प्रतीयमानां मूर्तिमात्मेच्छया भक्तानुग्रहार्थं गृहीतवन्तम्। मनुष्यतया प्रतीयमानेन देहेन व्यवहरन्तमिति यावत्। ततश्च मनुष्योऽयमिति भ्रान्त्या आच्छादितान्तःकरणा मम परं भावं प्रकृष्टं पारमार्थिकं तत्त्वं सर्वभूतानां महान्तमीश्वरमजानन्तो यन्नाद्रियन्ते निन्दन्ति वा तदनुरूपमेव मूढत्वस्य।

🎙️ Sri Sridhara Swami

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।नन्वेवंभूतं परमेश्वरं त्वां किमिति केचिन्नाद्रियन्ते तत्राह -- अवजानन्तीति द्वाभ्याम्। सर्वभूतमहेश्वररूपं मदीयं परं भावं तत्त्वमजानन्तो मूढा मूर्खा मामवजानन्त्यवमन्यन्ते। अवज्ञाने हेतुः शुद्धसत्वमयीमपि तनुं भक्तेच्छावशान्मनुष्याकारामाश्रितवन्तम्।

🎙️ Sri Dhanpati

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।। नन्वेवंभूतं शुद्धबुद्धमुक्तस्वभावं सर्वजन्ततूनामात्मानं त्वां किमति सर्वे आत्मत्वेन भेदेन वा न प्रतिपद्यन्ते प्रत्युतावजनन्ततीतेचेत्तत्राह -- अवजानन्तीति। एवंभूतमपि मां अवजान्ति अवज्ञां परिभवं अपरोक्षं च तिरस्कारं निन्दां च कुर्वन्तीति यावत्। भगवदवज्ञायां कारणमाह -- मूढा इति। विपरीतज्ञानाः। विपरीतज्ञाने निमित्तमाह। मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितं मनुष्यसंबन्धिनं देहमाश्रितं मनुष्यदेहेन व्यवहरन्तमितियावत्। तथाच मनुष्यवद्देहाभिमाशून्ये साधकानुग्रहार्थं गृहीतमायामयलीलाविग्रहे मयि परब्रह्मणिदेहसंबन्धदर्शनं विपर्ययबुद्धौ निमित्तमिति भावः। देहादिसंबन्धशून्ये परमात्मनि देहादिसंसर्गावलोकने हेतुमाह -- परमिति। मम सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तानां महान्तमीश्वरं परं सर्वोत्कृष्टं भावं परमात्मतत्त्वभाकाशवत्सर्वसङ्गविवर्जितमाकाशस्यापि मूलकारणभूतं स्वात्मस्वरुपमजानन्त इत्यर्थः। तथाच मम,वास्तवस्वरुपाज्ञानमेव तत्र हेतुरित्याशयः।

🎙️ Vedantadeshikacharya Venkatanatha

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।महात्मनां विशेषं वक्तुं मूढानां स्वभाव उच्यतेअवजानन्ति इति श्लोकद्वयेन। प्रकृतसङ्गत्यर्थमेवंशब्दः।भूतमहेश्वरम् इत्यस्य भावविशेषणत्वायोगाव्यवहितेनापिमाम् इत्यनेनान्वयः। भूतमहेश्वरादिशब्देनाभिप्रेतप्रदर्शनंसर्वज्ञमित्यादि।मानुषीं मनुष्यसम्बन्धिनीम् मनुष्यसजातीयसन्निवेशवतीमित्यर्थः। यथा हिरण्मयमृण्मयघटयोर्द्रव्यवैजात्येऽपि संस्थानसाम्यं? तद्वदत्रापि। इदं च मत्स्यादितन्वाश्रयणस्याप्युपलक्षणम्। मौढ्यस्यापीश्वराधीनत्वेन तद्दोषव्युदासायस्वकृतैः पापकर्मभिरित्युक्तम्। अवज्ञाकारणं दर्शयतिप्राकृतेति।परं भावमजानन्तः इत्यनेन भ्रमहेतोर्भेदाग्रहस्य कथनम्मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् इति तु सादृश्यस्य ताभ्यां प्राकृतमनुष्यसजातीयताभ्रमः ततश्च यथाकथञ्चित्प्रतीयमानोत्कर्षापह्नवेन निकर्षापादानरूपावज्ञा तदेतदखिलं विशदयतिभूतमहेश्वरस्येति।मनुष्यत्वसमाश्रयणलक्षणमिति अजहत्स्वस्वभावस्य अनितरसाधारणमेवंविधमनुष्यत्वाश्रयणमपि वस्तुतः परत्वानुप्रविष्टमिति भावः।

🎙️ Sri Purushottamji

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।नन्विदं स्वरूपं सर्वाधिष्ठातृ सर्वे कथं न जानन्ति इत्यत आह -- अवजानन्तीति द्वयेन। मूढा असुराः केवलमिच्छयैव सृष्टाः? मम भूतमहेश्वरं सर्वाधिष्ठातृ सर्वाधिदैविकरूपं परं भावं पुरुषोत्तमात्मकं अजानन्तो मानुषीं तनुं मायिनं स्वाज्ञानेन मां ज्ञात्वा अवजानन्ति अवमन्यन्ते।अत्रायं भावः -- पुरुषोत्तमोऽयं येन स्वरूपेण वदति तदेव स्वरूपं ब्रह्मरूपमानन्दमयम्? तमेव मानुर्षी तनुमाश्रितं जानन्ति अज्ञत्वात्।

🎙️ Sri Neelkanth

Sanskrit Commentary

।।9.11।।एवंभूतं मां सन्तं मूढाः अवजानन्ति। यतो मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितं मनुष्यदेहेन व्यवहरन्तम्। मम परं प्रकृष्टं भावं तत्त्वमजानन्तः भूतानां महेश्वरं मामवजानन्तीति संबन्धः।

🎙️ A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

English Translation

Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.

English Commentary

From the other explanations of the previous verses in this chapter, it is clear that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although appearing like a human being, is not a common man. The Personality of Godhead, who conducts the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the complete cosmic manifestation, cannot be a human being. Yet there are many foolish men who consider Kṛṣṇa to be merely a powerful man and nothing more. Actually, He is the original Supreme Personality, as is confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā ( īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ ); He is the Supreme Lord. There are many īśvaras, controllers, and one appears greater than another. In the ordinary management of affairs in the material world, we find some official or director, and above him there is a secretary, and above him a minister, and above him a president. Each of them is a controller, but one is controlled by another. In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller; there are many controllers undoubtedly, both in the material and spiritual world, but Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller ( īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ ), and His body is sac-cid-ānanda, nonmaterial. Material bodies cannot perform the wonderful acts described in previous verses. His body is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. Although He is not a common man, the foolish deride Him and consider Him to be a man. His body is called here mānuṣīm because He is acting just like a man, a friend of Arjuna’s, a politician involved in the Battle of Kurukṣetra. In so many ways He is acting just like an ordinary man, but actually His body is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha – eternal bliss and knowledge absolute. This is confirmed in the Vedic language also. Sac-cid-ānanda-rūpāya kṛṣṇāya: “I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, who is the eternal blissful form of knowledge.” ( Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad 1.1) There are other descriptions in the Vedic language also. Tam ekaṁ govindam: “You are Govinda, the pleasure of the senses and the cows.” Sac-cid-ānanda-vigraham: “And Your form is transcendental, full of knowledge, bliss and eternality.” ( Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad 1.38) Despite the transcendental qualities of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body, its full bliss and knowledge, there are many so-called scholars and commentators of Bhagavad-gītā who deride Kṛṣṇa as an ordinary man. The scholar may be born an extraordinary man due to his previous good work, but this conception of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is due to a poor fund of knowledge. Therefore he is called mūḍha, for only foolish persons consider Kṛṣṇa to be an ordinary human being. The foolish consider Kṛṣṇa an ordinary human being because they do not know the confidential activities of the Supreme Lord and His different energies. They do not know that Kṛṣṇa’s body is a symbol of complete knowledge and bliss, that He is the proprietor of everything that be and that He can award liberation to anyone. Because they do not know that Kṛṣṇa has so many transcendental qualifications, they deride Him. Nor do they know that the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in this material world is a manifestation of His internal energy. He is the master of the material energy. As has been explained in several places ( mama māyā duratyayā ), He claims that the material energy, although very powerful, is under His control, and whoever surrenders unto Him can get out of the control of this material energy. If a soul surrendered to Kṛṣṇa can get out of the influence of material energy, then how can the Supreme Lord, who conducts the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the whole cosmic nature, have a material body like us? So this conception of Kṛṣṇa is complete foolishness. Foolish persons, however, cannot conceive that the Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, appearing just like an ordinary man, can be the controller of all the atoms and of the gigantic manifestation of the universal form. The biggest and the minutest are beyond their conception, so they cannot imagine that a form like that of a human being can simultaneously control the infinite and the minute. Actually, although He is controlling the infinite and the finite, He is apart from all this manifestation. It is clearly stated concerning His yogam aiśvaram, His inconceivable transcendental energy, that He can control the infinite and the finite simultaneously and that He can remain aloof from them. Although the foolish cannot imagine how Kṛṣṇa, who appears just like a human being, can control the infinite and the finite, those who are pure devotees accept this, for they know that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore they completely surrender unto Him and engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service of the Lord. There are many controversies between the impersonalists and the personalists about the Lord’s appearance as a human being. But if we consult Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam , the authoritative texts for understanding the science of Kṛṣṇa, then we can understand that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is not an ordinary man, although He appeared on this earth as an ordinary human. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam , First Canto, First Chapter, when the sages headed by Śaunaka inquired about the activities of Kṛṣṇa, they said: kṛtavān kila karmāṇi saha rāmeṇa keśavaḥ ati-martyāni bhagavān gūḍhaḥ kapaṭa-māṇuṣaḥ “Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with Balarāma, played like a human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts.” ( Bhāg. 1.1.20) The Lord’s appearance as a man bewilders the foolish. No human being could perform the wonderful acts that Kṛṣṇa performed while He was present on this earth. When Kṛṣṇa appeared before His father and mother, Vasudeva and Devakī, He appeared with four hands, but after the prayers of the parents He transformed Himself into an ordinary child. As stated in the Bhāgavatam (10.3.46), babhūva prākṛtaḥ śiśuḥ: He became just like an ordinary child, an ordinary human being. Now, here again it is indicated that the Lord’s appearance as an ordinary human being is one of the features of His transcendental body. In the Eleventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā also it is stated that Arjuna prayed to see Kṛṣṇa’s form of four hands ( tenaiva rūpeṇa catur-bhujena ). After revealing this form, Kṛṣṇa, when petitioned by Arjuna, again assumed His original humanlike form ( mānuṣaṁ rūpam ). These different features of the Supreme Lord are certainly not those of an ordinary human being. Some of those who deride Kṛṣṇa and who are infected with the Māyāvādī philosophy quote the following verse from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.29.21) to prove that Kṛṣṇa is just an ordinary man. Ahaṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu bhūtātmāvasthitaḥ sadā: “The Supreme is present in every living entity.” We should better take note of this particular verse from the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas like Jīva Gosvāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura instead of following the interpretation of unauthorized persons who deride Kṛṣṇa. Jīva Gosvāmī, commenting on this verse, says that Kṛṣṇa, in His plenary expansion as Paramātmā, is situated in the moving and the nonmoving entities as the Supersoul, so any neophyte devotee who simply gives his attention to the arcā-mūrti, the form of the Supreme Lord in the temple, and does not respect other living entities is uselessly worshiping the form of the Lord in the temple. There are three kinds of devotees of the Lord, and the neophyte is in the lowest stage. The neophyte devotee gives more attention to the Deity in the temple than to other devotees, so Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura warns that this sort of mentality should be corrected. A devotee should see that because Kṛṣṇa is present in everyone’s heart as Paramātmā, every body is the embodiment or the temple of the Supreme Lord; so as one offers respect to the temple of the Lord, he should similarly properly respect each and every body in which the Paramātmā dwells. Everyone should therefore be given proper respect and should not be neglected. There are also many impersonalists who deride temple worship. They say that since God is everywhere, why should one restrict himself to temple worship? But if God is everywhere, is He not in the temple or in the Deity? Although the personalist and the impersonalist will fight with one another perpetually, a perfect devotee in Kṛṣṇa consciousness knows that although Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality, He is all-pervading, as confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā. Although His personal abode is Goloka Vṛndāvana and He is always staying there, by His different manifestations of energy and by His plenary expansion He is present everywhere in all parts of the material and spiritual creation.