SB 12.3.5

SB 12.3.5

Devanagari

समुद्रावरणां जित्वा मां विशन्त्यब्धिमोजसा । कियदात्मजयस्यैतन्मुक्तिरात्मजये फलम् ॥ ५ ॥

Verse text

samudrāvaraṇāṁ jitvā māṁ viśanty abdhim ojasā kiyad ātma-jayasyaitan muktir ātma-jaye phalam

Synonyms

samudra-āvaraṇām bounded by the ocean ; jitvā having conquered ; mām me ; viśanti they enter ; abdhim the ocean ; ojasā by their strength ; kiyat how much ; ātma-jayasya of victory over the self ; etat this ; muktiḥ liberation ; ātma-jaye of victory over the self ; phalam the fruit.

Translation

“After conquering all the land on my surface, these proud kings forcibly enter the ocean to conquer the sea itself. What is the use of their self-control, which is aimed at political exploitation? The actual goal of self-control is spiritual liberation.”

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

After conquering all the land on my surface, they forcibly enter the ocean. What is the use of a kingdom for a person with control of the mind? Liberation is the goal for a person with control of the mind. After conquering the earth, they enter the ocean to steal the jewels. Those who want to attain a kingdom by sense control are fools.