Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13
Karma-vāda Critiqued, Varṇāśrama Reframed, and the Soul’s Distinction from the Body
वैशारदी सातिविशुद्धबुद्धि- र्धुनोति मायां गुणसम्प्रसूताम् । गुणांश्च सन्दह्य यदात्ममेतत् स्वयं च शाम्यत्यसमिद् यथाग्नि: ॥ १३ ॥
vaiśāradī sāti-viśuddha-buddhir dhunoti māyāṁ guṇa-samprasūtām gunāṁś ca sandahya yad-ātmam etat svayaṁ ca śāṁyaty asamid yathāgniḥ
Durch demütiges Hören bei einem kundigen spirituellen Meister erlangt der befähigte Schüler äußerst reines Wissen, das den Ansturm der aus den drei Guṇas geborenen Māyā abwehrt. Schließlich verbrennt dieses reine Wissen die Guṇas und erlischt dann von selbst, wie Feuer erlischt, wenn der Brennstoff aufgebraucht ist.
The Sanskrit word vaiśāradī means “that which is derived from the expert [ viśārada ].” Perfect transcendental knowledge comes from the expert spiritual master, and when such knowledge is heard by the expert disciple, it curbs the waves of material illusion. Since the Lord’s illusory energy acts eternally within the material world, there is no possibility of destroying illusion. One may, however, destroy the presence of illusion within one’s own heart. To accomplish this the disciple must become expert in pleasing the expert spiritual master. As one advances to the perfectional stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, experiencing the presence of the Lord everywhere, one’s attention shifts to the transcendental platform. At that time, pure knowledge itself, one’s constant technical awareness of illusion, diminishes, just as fire diminishes and is extinguished after consuming its stock of fuel.
FAQs
This verse explains that purified, discriminating intelligence shakes off māyā (born of the guṇas) and even burns the guṇas themselves; then self-knowledge naturally becomes quiet, like a fire that goes out when there is no fuel.
Kṛṣṇa is teaching Uddhava the path of liberation: how true self-knowledge uproots illusion and transcends material nature, culminating in steady peace beyond the modes.
Cultivate sattvic clarity and discrimination through sādhana (hearing, chanting, prayer, and disciplined living) until attachments weaken; as desires lose “fuel,” agitation naturally subsides and inner steadiness grows.