[Advaita-l] Fwd: To whom is the jiva subservient? The Srimad Bhagavatam replies

[V Subrahmanian]

In this chapter of the Bhagavatam it is clearly stated that the Atman
(jiva) experiences samsara only because it wrongly involves itself in
Prakriti and attributes its qualities to itself, and thus it is this bond
(with Prakriti) that makes jiva subservient, paratantra:
श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणम्/स्कन्धः ३/अध्यायः २६
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Lord Kapila's sermon to Mother Devahuti, who was an aspirant after
liberation, mumukshu:
एवं पराभिध्यानेन कर्तृत्वं प्रकृतेः पुमान् ।
कर्मसु क्रियमाणेषु गुणैरात्मनि मन्यते ॥ ६ ॥
तदस्य संसृतिर्बन्धः पारतन्त्र्यं च तत्कृतम् ।
भवति अकर्तुरीशस्य साक्षिणो निर्वृतात्मनः ॥ ७ ॥
कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे कारणं प्रकृतिं विदुः ।
भोक्तृत्वे सुखदुःखानां पुरुषं प्रकृतेः परम् ॥ ८ ॥
What is meant here by 'paraabhidhyana' is to consider the qualities of
Prakriti as one's own.
So the Atman is subservient, paratantra, owing to its relationship with
Prakriti. If this connection with Prakriti is severed owing to
self-knowledge, the Atman is freed of both bondage and embodiment.
And it is from this Prakriti-relation alone that Brahman too attains
Ishwara-hood. Says the Shruti:
Shvetashvatara Upanishad: 4.10:
मायां तु प्रकृतिं विद्यान्मायिनं च महेश्वरम्‌।
तस्यावयवभूतैस्तु व्याप्तं सर्वमिदं जगत्‌॥
Maya itself should be understood as Prakriti. Maheshwara is the one who has
this Maya as his power. The pervasion of this Maya/Ishwara can be seen in
this whole world.
Thus, Brahman becomes Ishwara only due to the Maya-connection.
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