Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 42
Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो गोप्ता निर्विद्येत यदाखिलात् । अप्रमत्त इदं पश्येद् ग्रस्तं कालाहिना जगत् ॥ ४२ ॥
ātmaiva hy ātmano goptā nirvidyeta yadākhilāt apramatta idaṁ paśyed grastaṁ kālāhinā jagat
When the living entity sees that the entire universe has been seized by the serpent of time, he becomes sober and sane and at that time detaches himself from all material sense gratification. In that condition the living entity is qualified to be his own protector.
In this verse, Piṅgalā states that by the Lord’s mercy a self-realized soul can see that the entire universe is existing within the jaws of the great serpent of time. Certainly this is not a promising situation, and one who sees it loses his desire for sense gratification. Thus, by the Lord’s causeless mercy, the spiritually sane living entity can protect himself from illusion.
FAQs
This verse states that the world is being swallowed by the serpent of time, so a seeker should stay alert and cultivate detachment, recognizing the inevitable passage of time and mortality.
In instructing Yadu, the Avadhuta emphasizes personal responsibility in spiritual life: liberation depends on one’s own awakened awareness and detachment, not on external supports that are themselves subject to time.
Live with conscious urgency: remember life’s impermanence, avoid complacency in habits that deepen attachment, and prioritize steady sādhana and clarity about what truly endures.