Daevii hyeśá guńamayii mama Máyá duratyayá;
Mámeva ye prapadyante Máyámetáḿ taranti te.⁽¹⁾

[This Máyá of Mine is of the nature of three principles, and is almost insurmountable. Only those who take refuge in Me can overcome this Máyá.]

“This Daevii Máyá [Lord’s Máyá], Parámáyá [Operative Principle], paráshakti [creative force], is triple-attributive. It is difficult to surmount it.” It is a fact, but [whose] is this Máyá? “This Máyá is Mine,” that is, it is the Máyá of Parama Puruśa. This Máyá is completely under Him; She cannot do anything without His wish. It is also said in Ánanda Sútram:⁽²⁾ Shaktih Sá Shivasya Shaktih [“Shakti (the Operative Principle) is the shakti (force) of Shiva (Consciousness)”]. Shakti [the Operative Principle] is not an independent entity. It is dependent on Him.

Máyá operated by Parama Puruśa is alone bhavaságara [the Cosmic ocean or Cosmic Cycle]. Since it is the Máyá of Parama Puruśa, therefore “they alone who merge themselves in Him, take shelter in Him, can cross this Máyá.”

Human beings fear this Máyá, but why should a sádhaka [spiritual aspirant]? Sádhakas never fear Máyá, because they love Parama Puruśa. If Parama Puruśa is the controller of this Máyá, and if sádhakas have love for Him, why should they fear it? Hence, a jiṋánii⁽³⁾ may fear Máyá, but not a devotee.

A jiṋánii and a devotee both reach a mango grove. The jiṋánii will count the number of trees, but the devotee will pluck a ripe mango and eat it. The former will hold lengthy discussions on [whey], but the latter will eat up the cream. The jiṋániis will repent, but the devotees will get real bliss. Devotees always act wisely. The jiṋániis tax their brains with different problems of logic of the scriptures, whereas the devotees eat butter churned from the scriptures.

Devotees will come under the shelter of Parama Puruśa. Parama Puruśa is a ship, nay, a very big ship. Getting on it, devotees will sit and cross the Cosmic Cycle comfortably.

Footnotes

(1) Bhagavad Giitá. –Trans.

(2) Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, Ánanda Sútram, 1962. –Trans.

(3) A sádhaka who follows the path of knowledge or discrimination. –Trans.