Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23

Nondual Vision Beyond Praise and Blame

Dvandva-nivṛtti and Ātma-viveka

Devanagari script

एवं स्फुटं ब्रह्मविवेकहेतुभि: परापवादेन विशारदेन । छित्त्वात्मसन्देहमुपारमेत स्वानन्दतुष्टोऽखिलकामुकेभ्य: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ sphuṭaṁ brahma-viveka-hetubhiḥ parāpavādena viśāradena chittvātma-sandeham upārameta svānanda-tuṣṭo ’khila-kāmukebhyaḥ

Translation

Thus clearly understanding by discriminating logic the unique position of the Absolute Truth, one should expertly refute one’s misidentification with matter and cut to pieces all doubts about the identity of the self. Becoming satisfied in the soul’s natural ecstasy, one should desist from all lusty engagements of the material senses.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्ययम् (adverb: “thus/in this way”)

• sphuṭam: clearly
• sphuṭam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sphuṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचनम् (adverbial accusative: “clearly”)

• brahma-viveka-hetubhiḥ: by the causes/means of discerning Brahman
• brahma-viveka-hetubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + viveka (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्मणः विवेकस्य हेतवः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental pl)

• para-apavādena: by the method of negating the non-self/other
• para-apavādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + apavāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (परः अपवादः = negation of the other/“neti-neti” method), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• viśāradena: by the skillful (means)
• viśāradena: Karaṇa (करण/सह-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (with skill/clarity)

• chittvā: having cut off
• chittvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (छिद् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive: “having cut off”)

• ātma-sandeham: doubt about the Self
• ātma-sandeham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + sandeha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (आत्मनि सन्देहः / आत्मविषयः सन्देहः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative sg)

• upārameta: should cease, should rest
• upārameta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ram (रम् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (3rd sg Ā: “should cease/should desist/should come to rest”)

• svānanda-tuṣṭaḥ: content in one’s own bliss
• svānanda-tuṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/अधिकारि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + tuṣṭa (तुष् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वस्य आनन्देन तुष्टः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• akhila-kāmukebhyaḥ: from all lustful/desire-driven persons
• akhila-kāmukebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (अखिलाः कामुकाः), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (ablative pl: “from all desirers”)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam teach removing doubt about the Self (Atman)?

This verse says one should use clear discrimination of Brahman and the method of negating what is not the Self, thereby cutting all doubt about the ātmā and becoming peaceful.

Why does Krishna teach Uddhava to negate what is ‘other’ than the Self?

Because misidentification with the non-self creates confusion and desire; by skillfully refuting the non-self, Uddhava can realize the ātmā and rest satisfied in inner bliss.

What is a practical modern application of ‘being satisfied in one’s own bliss’?

Regularly practice discernment—notice what is temporary (roles, possessions, emotions) versus the witnessing self—so desires lose their grip and the mind becomes steady and content.