हृदा गिरा वासुभृतो विचक्षते ।
आत्मानमन्तर्हृदि सन्तमात्मनां
चक्षुर्यथैवाकृतयस्ततः परम् ॥१६॥
yaá¹ vai na gobhir manasÄsubhir vÄ
há¹›dÄ girÄ vÄsu-bhá¹›to vicaká¹£ate
ÄtmÄnam antar-há¹›di santam ÄtmanÄá¹
caká¹£ur yathaivÄká¹›tayas tataḥ param
1 times this text was mentioned in purports to other texts: LSB(1)
yam - whom; vai - indeed; na - not; gobhiḥ - by the senses; manasÄ - by the mind; asubhiḥ - by the life breath; vÄ - or; há¹›dÄ - by thoughts; girÄ - by words; vÄ - or; asu-bhá¹›taḥ - the living entities; vicaká¹£ate - see or know; ÄtmÄnam - the Supersoul; antaḥ-há¹›di - within the core of the heart; santam - existing; ÄtmanÄm - of the living entities; caká¹£uḥ - the eyes; yathÄ - just like; eva - indeed; Äká¹›tayaḥ - the different parts or limbs of the body; tataḥ - than them; param - higher.
As the different limbs of the body cannot see the eyes, the living entities cannot see the Supreme Lord, who is situated as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart. Not by the senses, by the mind, by the life air, by thoughts within the heart, or by the vibration of words can the living entities ascertain the real situation of the Supreme Lord.
Although the different parts of the body do not have the power to see the eyes, the eyes direct the movements of the body’s different parts. The legs move forward because the eyes see what is in front of them, and the hand touches because the eyes see touchable entities. Similarly, every living being acts according to the direction of the Supersoul, who is situated within the heart. As the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ (15.15), sarvasya cÄhaá¹ há¹›di sanniviá¹£á¹o mattaḥ smá¹›tir jñÄnam apohanaá¹ ca: “I am sitting in everyone’s heart and giving directions for remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.†Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ it is stated, Ä«Å›varaḥ sarva-bhÅ«tÄnÄá¹ há¹›d-deÅ›e ’rjuna tiá¹£á¹hati: “The Supreme Lord, as the Supersoul, is situated within the heart.†The living entity cannot do anything without the sanction of the Supersoul. The Supersoul is acting at every moment, but the living entity cannot understand the form and activities of the Supersoul by manipulating his senses. The example of the eyes and the bodily limbs is very appropriate. If the limbs could see, they could walk forward without the help of the eyes, but that is impossible. Although one cannot see the Supersoul in one’s heart through sensual activities, His direction is necessary.
