Shloka 64
The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend
Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination
एवं स मानसो हंसो हंसेन प्रतिबोधित: । स्वस्थस्तद्वयभिचारेण नष्टामाप पुन: स्मृतिम् ॥ ६४ ॥
evaṁ sa mānaso haṁso haṁsena pratibodhitaḥ sva-sthas tad-vyabhicāreṇa naṣṭām āpa punaḥ smṛtim
Thus the two swans dwell together within the heart. When one swan instructs the other, he becomes situated in his original nature—regaining the lost, original Kṛṣṇa consciousness obscured by material attraction.
Here it is clearly stated, haṁso haṁsena pratibodhitaḥ: the individual soul and the Supersoul are both compared to swans ( haṁsa ) because they are white, or uncontaminated. One swan, however, is superior and is the instructor of the other. When the inferior swan is separated from the other swan, he is attracted to material enjoyment. This is the cause of his falldown. When he hears the instructions of the other swan, he understands his real position and is again revived to his original consciousness. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, comes down ( avatāra ) to deliver His devotees and kill the demons. He also gives His sublime instructions in the form of Bhagavad-gītā. The individual soul has to understand his position by the grace of the Lord and the spiritual master because the text of Bhagavad-gītā cannot be understood simply by academic qualifications. One has to learn Bhagavad-gītā from a realized soul:
FAQs
This verse teaches that when the individual soul is awakened by the guidance of the Supersoul and reflects with discernment, lost remembrance of one’s true spiritual identity returns.
In this allegory, the swan symbolizes the conscious self; the ‘other swan’ represents Paramātmā, who enlightens the bewildered jīva to restore clarity and self-knowledge.
Seek inner guidance through sādhana (hearing, chanting, and reflection), and practice discernment between the temporary mind-body identity and the enduring self to regain steadiness and purpose.