Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 20
Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat
दृष्टं श्रुतमसद्बुद्ध्वा नानुध्यायेन्न सन्दिशेत् । संसृतिं चात्मनाशं च तत्र विद्वान् स आत्मदृक् ॥ २० ॥
dṛṣṭaṁ śrutam asad buddhvā nānudhyāyen na sandiśet saṁsṛtiṁ cātma-nāśaṁ ca tatra vidvān sa ātma-dṛk
One who knows that material happiness, whether good or bad, in this life or in the next, on this planet or on the heavenly planets, is temporary and useless, and that an intelligent person should not try to enjoy or even think of such things, is the knower of the self. Such a self-realized person knows quite well that material happiness is the very cause of continued material existence and forgetfulness of one’s own constitutional position.
The living entity is a spiritual soul, and the material body is his encagement. This is the beginning of spiritual understanding.
FAQs
This verse says that seen and heard sense-objects are temporary; repeatedly thinking or talking about them deepens bondage (saṁsāra), while the wise, self-realized person withdraws from such absorption.
In Purūravā’s narrative, intense attachment leads to suffering and awakening; Śukadeva highlights that fixation on sense experiences fuels saṁsāra, whereas true wisdom is to turn inward toward the Self and the Lord.
Reduce obsessive consumption and discussion of sense-driven media, practice mindful restraint, and redirect attention toward sādhana—hearing and chanting about Bhagavān—so the mind becomes purified rather than entangled.