Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 61
Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva
एवं विपर्ययं बुद्ध्वा नृणां विज्ञाभिमानिनाम् । आत्मनश्च गतिं सूक्ष्मां स्थानत्रयविलक्षणाम् ॥ ६१ ॥ दृष्टश्रुताभिर्मात्राभिर्निर्मुक्त: स्वेन तेजसा । ज्ञानविज्ञानसन्तृप्तो मद्भक्त: पुरुषो भवेत् ॥ ६२ ॥
evaṁ viparyayaṁ buddhvā nṛṇāṁ vijñābhimāninām ātmanaś ca gatiṁ sūkṣmāṁ sthāna-traya-vilakṣaṇām
One should understand that the activities of persons who are proud of their material experience bring only results contradictory to those such persons conceive while awake, sleeping and deeply sleeping. One should further understand that the spirit soul, although very difficult for the materialist to perceive, is above all these conditions, and by the strength of one’s discrimination, one should give up the desire for fruitive results in the present life and in the next. Thus becoming experienced in transcendental knowledge, one should become My devotee.
FAQs
This verse warns that people proud of their knowledge can live in a reversed understanding of reality; true wisdom begins by recognizing that inversion and turning toward the soul’s transcendental course.
The verse points to the ātman’s subtle, transcendental destination as different from material conditions and transformations—indicating the soul is not confined to bodily or worldly states.
Cultivate humility, examine assumptions about identity and success, and align daily choices with spiritual goals—especially through hearing and practicing bhakti that reveals the soul’s real nature.