Māyā

yāvat pṛthaktvam idam ātmana indriyārtha

yāvat pṛthaktvam idam ātmana indriyārtha-
māyā-balaṁ bhagavato jana īśa paśyet |
tāvan na saṁsṛtir asau pratisaṅkrameta
vyarthāpi duḥkha-nivahaṁ vahatī kriyārthā ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.9.9; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 236)

[Rendered as per Śrī Jīva Gosvāmīpāda’s ṭikā:] “O Īśa, as long as a person shall see this [supposed] separateness [i.e., independence] of the self (ātmā) from Bhagavān, [which is in effect] the power of the illusion (māyā) manifested by the objects of the senses, saṁsṛti [i.e., recurrent transmigration throughout material existence], [which is] possessed of the results of actions and productive of a myriad of sufferings, shall not cease even though it is vain [i.e., devoid of any real substance, meaning, or value].”

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ye’bhyarthitām api ca no nṛ-gatiṁ prapannā

ye’bhyarthitām api ca no nṛ-gatiṁ prapannā
jñānaṁ ca tattva-viṣayaṁ saha-dharma yatra |
nārādhanaṁ bhagavato vitaranty amuṣya
sammohitā vitatayā bata māyayā te ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.15.24; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 108)

[Brahmā to Maitreya:] “Bata! (Alas!) Even those who have attained a human state [i.e., life] wherein jñāna (awareness) relating to Tattva along with dharma are present, which is sought by us [i.e., by Brahmā and the other devas], but do not offer worship to Bhagavān [i.e., he who is source of all dharma and all jñāna] are thoroughly bewildered by his all-pervading māyā.”

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yasmin yato yarhi yena ca yasya yasmād

yasmin yato yarhi yena ca yasya yasmād
yasmai yathā yad uta yas tv aparaḥ paro vā |
bhāvaḥ karoti vikaroti pṛthak svabhāvaḥ
sañcoditas tad akhilaṁ bhavataḥ svarūpam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.9.20; cited in the Amṛta-ṭīkā to Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa: Kāraka-prakaraṇa, Maṅgalācaraṇa)

“That in which, because of which, at which [time], by which, of which, from which, for which, with which [manner], and even which a latter or former entity of distinct nature [from you] who is impelled [by you] creates or transforms is all your nature.”

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yayā sammohito jīva ātmānaṁ tri-guṇātmakam

yayā sammohito jīva ātmānaṁ tri-guṇātmakam |
paro’pi manute’narthaṁ tat-kṛtaṁ cābhipadyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.7.5)

“Bewildered by māyā, the jīva, although superior [to the guṇas], thinks himself to be constituted of the three guṇas and [thus] undergoes the misfortune (anartha) [i.e., the plight of saṁsāra] which results from this [i.e., from misidentification of self].”

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bhakti-yogena manasi samyak praṇihite’male

bhakti-yogena manasi samyak praṇihite’male |
apaśyat puruṣaṁ pūrṇaṁ māyāñ ca tad-apāśrayam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.7.4)

“In his pure heart, which was perfectly fixed by virtue of the yoga of bhakti, Vyāsadeva saw the complete Puruṣa, as well as māyā sheltered behind him.”

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janmādy asya yato’nvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāṭ

janmādy asya yato’nvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāṭ
tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ |
tejo-vāri-mṛdāṁ yathā vinimayo yatra tri-sargo’mṛṣā
dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.1.1)

“Let us meditate on the eternal Supreme Being, because of whom the manifestation, maintenance, and dissolution of this [perceptible universe] occur; who is fully aware of all matters and autonomous; who revealed the Veda, about which even the sages are bewildered, to the first seer [i.e., Lord Brahmā] through the heart; in whom exists the real threefold creation like a combination of fire, water, and earth; and by whose own power deception [i.e., māyā] is forever dispelled.”

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etāṁ sa āsthāya parātma-niṣṭhām

etāṁ sa āsthāya parātma-niṣṭhām
adhyāsitāṁ pūrvatamair mahadbhiḥ |
ahaṁ tariṣyāmi duranta-pāraṁ
tamo mukundāṅghri-niṣevayaiva ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.23.57; cited in Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.3.6)

“Taking shelter in fixity in the higher self [alt., Self], as it was practiced by the great souls of the past, I shall cross over the insurmountable darkness [i.e., saṁsāra] by serving the feet of Mukunda.”

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tvayopabhukta-srag-gandha-vāso’laṅkāra-carcitāḥ

tvayopabhukta-srag-gandha-vāso’laṅkāra-carcitāḥ |
ucchiṣṭa-bhojino dāsās tava māyāṁ jayema hi ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.6.46; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 9.355 and Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.125)

[Uddhava to Kṛṣṇa:] “Adorned with garlands, fragrances, garments, and ornaments enjoyed by you, and partaking of your remnants, your servants can certainly conquer your māyā.”

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māyā manaḥ sṛjati karmamayaṁ balīyaḥ

māyā manaḥ sṛjati karmamayaṁ balīyaḥ
kālena codita-guṇānumatena puṁsaḥ |
chandomayaṁ yad ajayārpita-ṣoḍaśāraṁ
saṁsāra-cakram aja ko’titaret tvad-anyaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.9.21)

“Māyā, with the permission of the Puruṣa, and with its guṇas impelled by time, emanates the mind (manas), which is constituted of karma, most powerful [i.e., very difficult to conquer], filled with fancy (chanda) [i.e., vāsanās], and infused with sixteen transformations by the unborn [i.e., by ignorance (avidyā)]. O Unborn One [i.e., O Bhagavān], who apart from you [i.e., who that has not received your grace and does not engage in your service] can surmount this wheel of saṁsāra [i.e., the mind]?”

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