Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 30
Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava
अविवेककृत: पुंसो ह्यर्थभेद इवात्मनि । गुणदोषविकल्पश्च भिदेव स्रजिवत्कृत: ॥ ३० ॥
aviveka-kṛtaḥ puṁso hy artha-bheda ivātmani guṇa-doṣa-vikalpaś ca bhid eva srajivat kṛtaḥ
As one mistakenly considers a flower garland to be a snake or experiences happiness and distress in a dream, so, in the material world, by a lack of careful consideration, we differentiate between happiness and distress, considering one good and the other bad.
The happiness and distress of the material world of duality are both mistaken ideas. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Antya 4.176) it is said:
FAQs
This verse says that due to lack of discrimination, a person falsely imagines divisions within the self and constructs dualities like “good” and “bad,” even though such separations are ultimately illusory.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking, explaining the philosophical root of perceived duality as a product of aviveka (non-discrimination).
Practice discernment by observing how the mind labels experiences; reduce reactive judgment, and ground decisions in dharma and devotion rather than impulsive mental dualities.