Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 30
Nondual Vision Beyond Praise and Blame
Dvandva-nivṛtti and Ātma-viveka
करोति कर्म क्रियते च जन्तु: केनाप्यसौ चोदित आनिपातात् । न तत्र विद्वान् प्रकृतौ स्थितोऽपि निवृत्ततृष्ण: स्वसुखानुभूत्या ॥ ३० ॥
karoti karma kriyate ca jantuḥ kenāpy asau codita ā-nipātāt na tatra vidvān prakṛtau sthito ’pi nivṛtta-tṛṣṇaḥ sva-sukhānubhūtyā
Das gewöhnliche Lebewesen verrichtet materielle Arbeit und wird durch deren Reaktionen verwandelt; von vielerlei Begierden getrieben, arbeitet es auf Früchte aus bis zum Augenblick des Todes. Der Weise jedoch, der die Wonne seines eigenen Wesens erfahren hat, gibt alle materiellen Wünsche auf und lässt fruchtbringendes Tun sein.
By sexual association with women, a man is driven to enjoy the female form again and again, and indeed he remains lusty up to the moment of death. Similarly, through association with family and friends the knot of material attachment becomes very tight. Thus the reactions of fruitive work bind one more and more in the cycle of material defeat. But a learned person, one who is in touch with the Supreme Lord within his heart, realizes the ultimate frustration of material work and the danger of entering the womb of a pig or dog in a future life as the result of sinful activities. One on the platform of self-realization does not regard himself as an enjoyer of the world. Rather, he regards the entire cosmos as simply an insignificant expansion of the Lord’s potency — and himself as the Lord’s humble servant.
FAQs
This verse explains that the jīva both acts and is made to act, being impelled by forces operating from beginningless time; yet one who becomes truly wise does not get bound by such action.
In the Uddhava-gītā teachings, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on liberation: even while living within prakṛti, a realized person remains unattached because inner realization ends the thirst for enjoyment.
Cultivate inner contentment through steady spiritual practice and self-inquiry; as deeper satisfaction arises within, compulsive chasing of external pleasures weakens, reducing anxiety and karmic entanglement.