Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 32
Nondual Vision Beyond Praise and Blame
Dvandva-nivṛtti and Ātma-viveka
यदि स्म पश्यत्यसदिन्द्रियार्थं नानानुमानेन विरुद्धमन्यत् । न मन्यते वस्तुतया मनीषी स्वाप्नं यथोत्थाय तिरोदधानम् ॥ ३२ ॥
yadi sma paśyaty asad-indriyārthaṁ nānānumānena viruddham anyat na manyate vastutayā manīṣī svāpnaṁ yathotthāya tirodadhānam
Although a self-realized soul may sometimes see an impure object or activity, he does not accept it as real. By logically understanding impure sense objects to be based on illusory material duality, the intelligent person sees them to be contrary to and distinct from reality, in the same way that a man awakening from sleep views his fading dream.
A sane person can clearly distinguish between a dream experience and his real life. Similarly a manīṣī, or intelligent person, can clearly perceive polluted material sense objects to be creations of the Lord’s illusory energy and not factual reality. This is the practical test of realized intelligence.
FAQs
This verse says the wise do not treat sense-objects as ultimate reality; like a dream that vanishes on waking, worldly appearances lose their force when one awakens to spiritual truth.
In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava discrimination (viveka) and detachment, explaining how contradictory sense-perceptions and mental constructions are symptoms of māyā and should not be taken as final reality.
When the mind is pulled by conflicting opinions, desires, and sensory input, practice stepping back—remembering the temporary nature of impressions—then anchor yourself in sādhana (bhakti, meditation, study) to respond from clarity rather than impulse.