Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 63

Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva

Devanagari script

एतावानेव मनुजैर्योगनैपुण्यबुद्धिभि: । स्वार्थ: सर्वात्मना ज्ञेयो यत्परात्मैकदर्शनम् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

etāvān eva manujair yoga-naipuṇya-buddhibhiḥ svārthaḥ sarvātmanā jñeyo yat parātmaika-darśanam

Translation

Persons who try to reach the ultimate goal of life must expertly observe the Supreme Absolute Person and the living entity, who are one in quality in their relationship as part and whole. This is the ultimate understanding of life. There is no better truth than this.

Synonyms

• एतावान्: this much; so much
• एतावान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of स्वार्थः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (quantitative)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (particle of emphasis/only)

• मनुजैः: by human beings
• मनुजैः: Karta (कर्ता) / Agent-instrumental (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• योगनैपुण्यबुद्धिभिः: with intellects skilled in yoga
• योगनैपुण्यबुद्धिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + नैपुण्य + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘योगे नैपुण्यं यस्याः सा बुद्धिः’ → ‘with intellects skilled in yoga’

• स्वार्थः: one’s true purpose
• स्वार्थः: Karta (कर्ता) / Topic (उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य अर्थः’ (one’s true aim)

• सर्वात्मना: entirely; with all one’s self
• सर्वात्मना: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial instrumental): ‘with one’s whole being/entirely’

• ज्ञेयः: should be known
• ज्ञेयः: Vidheyā (विधेय) / Predicate
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be known/should be known’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• परात्मैकदर्शनम्: the vision of the one Supreme Self
• परात्मैकदर्शनम्: Samānādhikaraṇa/Predicate-noun (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परात्मन् + एक + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘परात्मनः एकं दर्शनम्’ (the vision of the one Supreme Self)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the real purpose of human life?

It teaches that true self-interest is to realize and see the one Supreme Soul (Paramātmā) everywhere, not merely to pursue temporary worldly goals.

What does 'Paramātmā-eka-darśanam' mean in Bhagavatam?

It means the spiritual vision of perceiving the one Supreme Self present within all beings—an equal, God-centered outlook grounded in realization.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Practice seeing every person as a soul under the Supreme Lord’s presence—cultivating humility, nonviolence, steadiness in devotion, and decisions guided by spiritual benefit rather than ego.