Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 5
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
पराभवस्तावदबोधजातो यावन्न जिज्ञासत आत्मतत्त्वम् । यावत्क्रियास्तावदिदं मनो वै कर्मात्मकं येन शरीरबन्ध: ॥ ५ ॥
parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam yāvat kriyās tāvad idaṁ mano vai karmātmakaṁ yena śarīra-bandhaḥ
যেতিয়ালৈকে আত্মতত্ত্বৰ জিজ্ঞাসা নকৰে, তেতিয়ালৈকে অজ্ঞতাজনিত পৰাভৱ আৰু দুখ থাকে। পুণ্য বা পাপ—কৰ্মৰ ফল আছে; কৰ্মত লিপ্ত থাকিলে মন কৰ্মাত্মক হয় আৰু তাতেই দেহবন্ধন হয়। মন অশুদ্ধ থাকিলে চেতনা স্পষ্ট নহয়; আৰু ফলাসক্তি থাকিলে পুনৰ পুনৰ দেহ গ্ৰহণ কৰিব লাগে॥
Generally people think that one should act very piously in order to be relieved from misery, but this is not a fact. Even though one engages in pious activity and speculation, he is nonetheless defeated. His only aim should be emancipation from the clutches of māyā and all material activities. Speculative knowledge and pious activity do not solve the problems of material life. One should be inquisitive to understand his spiritual position. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.37) :
FAQs
This verse says that without inquiry into ātma-tattva, a person’s life is essentially defeat, because ignorance keeps one trapped in repeated embodied existence.
Because remaining in ignorance leads one to identify with the body and continue karmic actions, which perpetuate bondage rather than liberation.
Perform duties while prioritizing spiritual inquiry—study, reflection, and devotion—so work does not become mere karma-binding activity but supports self-realization.