Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 21
Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee
एवं जिज्ञासयापोह्य नानात्वभ्रममात्मनि । उपारमेत विरजं मनो मय्यर्प्य सर्वगे ॥ २१ ॥
evaṁ jijñāsayāpohya nānātva-bhramam ātmani upārameta virajaṁ mano mayy arpya sarva-ge
So sollst du durch forschendes Erkennen den der Seele aufgedrängten Irrtum materieller Vielheit beseitigen und das weltliche Dasein zur Ruhe bringen; mache den Geist rajasfrei und rein und richte ihn auf Mich, denn Ich bin allgegenwärtig.
Although in previous verses Lord Kṛṣṇa has described the lifestyle and approach of the impersonal philosophers who meditate on the distinction between matter and spirit, the Lord here rejects the path of jñāna, or speculation, and comes to the final conclusion, bhakti-yoga. The path of jñāna is interesting only to one who does not know that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) :
FAQs
This verse says that through sincere spiritual inquiry one should dispel the inner भ्रम of separateness and see reality properly, no longer misled by perceived multiplicity.
Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava on liberation: first remove mistaken notions through inquiry, then steady a purified mind by fixing it on the all-pervading Lord—bringing the mind to peace.
Practice regular inquiry (study, reflection, and guidance from sādhus), identify thoughts rooted in separateness and fear, and repeatedly place attention on God’s presence everywhere—this gradually purifies the mind and reduces agitation.