Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 56
Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti
तस्माद्विसृज्याशिष ईश सर्वतो रजस्तम:सत्त्वगुणानुबन्धना: । निरञ्जनं निर्गुणमद्वयं परं त्वां ज्ञाप्तिमात्रं पुरुषं व्रजाम्यहम् ॥ ५६ ॥
tasmād visṛjyāśiṣa īśa sarvato rajas-tamaḥ-sattva-guṇānubandhanāḥ nirañjanaṁ nirguṇam advayaṁ paraṁ tvāṁ jñāpti-mātraṁ puruṣaṁ vrajāmy aham
Therefore, O Lord, having put aside all objects of material desire, which are bound to the modes of passion, ignorance and goodness, I am approaching You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for shelter. You are not covered by mundane designations; rather, You are the Supreme Absolute Truth, full in pure knowledge and transcendental to the material modes.
The word nirguṇam here indicates that the Lord’s existence is beyond the qualities of material nature. One might argue that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body is made of material nature, but here the word advayam refutes that argument. There is no duality in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s existence. His eternal, spiritual body is Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is God.
FAQs
This verse shows Mucukunda rejecting all blessings tied to the three guṇas and choosing exclusive shelter of the Supreme Lord, who is beyond material qualities and is pure consciousness.
After recognizing Krishna as the spotless Supreme Person, Mucukunda understands that even ‘good’ worldly gains remain bound to the modes; therefore he seeks the Lord Himself as the ultimate refuge and liberation.
Prioritize devotion and inner surrender over status and rewards—use work and duties without clinging to outcomes, and regularly seek Krishna through prayer, chanting, and remembrance as the highest goal.