SB 1.13.45
कथमन्यांस्तु गोपायेत्सर्पग्रस्तो यथा परम् ॥ ४५ ॥
katham anyāṁs tu gopāyet sarpa-grasto yathā param
Synonyms
ayam — this; dehaḥ — material body; pāñca-bhautikaḥ — constituted of the five elements [which, being inert phenomena, are subject to destruction (jaḍas tad-vibhāge nāśavān)148]; adhīnaḥ — is under the control; kāla — [of] time [the precipitator of the guṇas (guṇa-kṣobhaka)]; karma — destiny [the cause of birth (janma-nimittam)]; guṇa — [and] the guṇas of nature [the constituent ingredients of primordial matter (upādhāna)]; katham tu — how then; gopāyet — can it protect [rakṣet149]; anyān — other living beings; yathā — any more than; sarpa-grastaḥ — a person seized by a python [ajagara-gilitaḥ]; [can protect (gopayati)150]; param — others [who are similarly caught (anyāṁs tad-grastān)].
Translation
This material body constituted of the five elements is under the control of time, karma, and the guṇas of primordial nature. How then can it protect other living beings, any more than a person seized by a python can protect others [who are similarly caught]?