Chapter 18
यस्य स्वरूपं कवयो विपश्चितो गुणेषु दारुष्विव जातवेदसम् । मथ्नन्ति मथ्ना मनसा दिदृक्षवो गूढं क्रियार्थैर्नम ईरितात्मने ॥ ३६ ॥
Transliteration
yasya svarūpaṁ kavayo vipaścito guṇeṣu dāruṣv iva jāta-vedasam mathnanti mathnā manasā didṛkṣavo gūḍhaṁ kriyārthair nama īritātmane
Synonyms (Word-for-Word)
yasya — whose; sva-rūpam — form; kavayaḥ — the greatly learned sages; vipaścitaḥ — expert in ascertaining the Absolute Truth; guṇeṣu — in the material manifestation, consisting of the three modes of nature; dāruṣu — in wood; iva — like; jāta — manifested; vedasam — fire; mathnanti — stir; mathnā — with a piece of wood used for producing fire; manasā — by the mind; didṛkṣavaḥ — who are inquisitive; gūḍham — hidden; kriyā-arthaiḥ — by fruitive activities and their results; namaḥ — respectful obeisances; īrita-ātmane — unto the Lord, who is manifested.
Translation
“By manipulating a fire-generating stick, great saints and sages can bring forth the fire lying dormant within wood. In the same way, O Lord, those expert in understanding the Absolute Truth try to see You in everything — even in their own bodies. Yet you remain concealed. You are not to be understood by indirect processes involving mental or physical activities. Because You are self-manifested, only when You see that a person is wholeheartedly engaged in searching for You do You reveal Yourself. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”