Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 31
Nondual Vision Beyond Praise and Blame
Dvandva-nivṛtti and Ātma-viveka
तिष्ठन्तमासीनमुत व्रजन्तं शयानमुक्षन्तमदन्तमन्नम् । स्वभावमन्यत् किमपीहमान- मात्मानमात्मस्थमतिर्न वेद ॥ ३१ ॥
tiṣṭhantam āsīnam uta vrajantaṁ śayānam ukṣantam adantam annam svabhāvam anyat kim apīhamānam ātmānam ātma-stha-matir na veda
Der Weise, dessen Bewusstsein im Selbst verankert ist, bemerkt nicht einmal die Tätigkeiten seines eigenen Körpers. Ob er steht, sitzt, geht, liegt, uriniert, isst oder andere Funktionen ausführt—er erkennt, dass der Körper gemäß seiner eigenen Natur handelt.
FAQs
This verse explains that when intelligence is fixed in the Self, one no longer identifies the soul as the doer of bodily actions like standing, eating, or resting; actions belong to nature, while the Self remains distinct.
In the Uddhava-gītā, Kṛṣṇa prepares Uddhava for spiritual steadiness by teaching Self-realization—how to live amid actions without false identification, leading to freedom from bondage.
Perform duties responsibly, but practice remembering, “I am the witness-self; the body-mind acts by nature.” This reduces anxiety and ego, supporting steady devotion and inner peace.