Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Purūravā’s Song of Renunciation and the Glory of Sādhu-saṅga
किमेतया नोऽपकृतं रज्ज्वा वा सर्पचेतस: । द्रष्टु: स्वरूपाविदुषो योऽहं यदजितेन्द्रिय: ॥ १७ ॥
kim etayā no ’pakṛtaṁ rajjvā vā sarpa-cetasaḥ draṣṭuḥ svarūpāviduṣo yo ’haṁ yad ajitendriyaḥ
Wie könnte ich ihr die Schuld geben? Ich selbst kenne mein wahres geistiges Wesen nicht und habe die Sinne nicht bezwungen; ich gleiche dem, der in Schlangenwahn ein harmloses Seil für eine Schlange hält.
When a person mistakes a rope for a snake, he becomes fearful and anxious. Such fear and anxiety are, of course, illusion, since the rope can never bite. Similarly, one who mistakenly thinks that the material, illusory energy of the Lord exists for his personal sense gratification will certainly bring down on his head an avalanche of material, illusory fear and anxiety. King Purūravā frankly admits here that the young lady Urvaśī is not to blame. After all, it was Purūravā who mistakenly considered her to be an object of his personal enjoyment, and therefore he suffered the reaction by the laws of nature. Purūravā himself was the offender for trying to exploit the external form of Urvaśī.
FAQs
This verse says perceived harm often comes from ignorance of reality—like mistaking a rope for a snake—so the solution is right knowledge of the self rather than blaming external objects.
Because the Bhagavatam frames bondage as arising from one’s own uncontrolled senses and misperception; reforming one’s vision and discipline is the true remedy.
Pause before reacting, examine your own expectations and attachments, and practice sense-control and self-awareness—seeing that much suffering is amplified by misinterpretation and inner unrest.