SB 1.19.37

Synonyms

ataḥ — therefore [since your audience, although rarely obtained, is now present before me (yato durlabham api tvad-darśanam abhūt)²⁷⁶]; pṛcchāmi — I ask; [you (tvām)]; paramam — the foremost [śreṣṭham²⁷⁷]; gurum — wisdom teacher [or enabler of the transcendental visioning capacity (upadraṣṭāram);²⁷⁸ the bestower of wisdom (jñāna-dātā), and as such, the awarder of liberation (tad-dvārā mokṣa-pradaḥ)²⁷⁹]; yoginām — of the yogīs; [what is (kā)²⁸⁰]; saṁsiddhim — the means by which the highest perfection may be obtained [(samyak siddhir yasmāt tam);²⁸¹ here, by indirect or metaphorical transference of meaning, the word saṁsiddhi, lit., “the highest perfection,” or in other words, “liberation,” signifies “the means to liberation” (saṁsiddhi-śabdo mukti-sādhanopacāritaḥ mukti-sādhanaṁ pṛcchāmi); or the means by which the highest perfection in the form of the direct attainment of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is made possible (samyak śrī kṛṣṇa-prāpti-rūpā siddhir yasmāt tam);²⁸² alternatively, the question may be, “What is the highest perfection itself?” (samyak siddiḥ kā tāṁ pṛcchāmi)²⁸³]; [this very question is now elaborated in the following one and a half verses (praśnam eva vivṛnoti puruṣasyeti sārdhena)²⁸⁴]; [please inform us of that engagement (tat kathaya)²⁸⁵]; yat — which; kāryam — [is] to be undertaken [which is worthy to be undertaken (kartuṁ yogyam);²⁸⁶ or which is the very means to be resorted to (kartavyaṁ sādhanam);²⁸⁷ and executable by way of the sense faculties (kṛti-sādhyam)²⁸⁸]; puruṣasya — of [i.e., by] a human being [endowed with transcendental insight (jñānavataḥ);²⁸⁹ or seeking liberation (mumukṣoḥ)]; sarvathā — under all circumstances [or at all times (sarvadā)]; iha — in the midst of life in the world [(loke); or while situated in family life (gṛhasthāśrame sthitasya)²⁹⁰]; [and especially (tatrāpi); (viśeṣataś ca)²⁹¹]; mriyamāṇasya — for a person on the verge of death [āsanna-maraṇasya puruṣasya²⁹²].

Translation