Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 4
Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee
एकस्यैव ममांशस्य जीवस्यैव महामते । बन्धोऽस्याविद्ययानादिर्विद्यया च तथेतर: ॥ ४ ॥
ekasyaiva mamāṁśasya jīvasyaiva mahā-mate bandho ’syāvidyayānādir vidyayā ca tathetaraḥ
O höchstverständiger Uddhava, die jīva ist wahrlich ein Teil von Mir. Doch durch Unwissenheit leidet sie seit anfangsloser Zeit in materieller Bindung. Durch Wissen jedoch kann sie befreit werden.
Just as the sun reveals itself through its own light or covers itself by creating clouds, the Personality of Godhead reveals and covers Himself by knowledge and ignorance, which are expansions of His potency. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.5) :
FAQs
This verse states that the jīva, though an aṁśa of Kṛṣṇa, experiences bondage that is beginningless because of avidyā (ignorance).
Kṛṣṇa is explaining the root cause of material entanglement and the remedy—vidyā (spiritual knowledge)—as foundational guidance for Uddhava’s spiritual understanding and practice.
Cultivate vidyā through hearing and studying sacred teachings, reflecting on the self as distinct from the body, and aligning daily choices with devotion and spiritual discipline.