Shloka 57
संशयोऽत्र तु मे विप्र सञ्छिन्नस्तत्कृतो महान् । ऋषयोऽपि हि मुह्यन्ति यत्र नेन्द्रियवृत्तय: ॥ ५७ ॥
saṁśayo ’tra tu me vipra sañchinnas tat-kṛto mahān ṛṣayo ’pi hi muhyanti yatra nendriya-vṛttayaḥ
O vipra, by your instruction my great doubt has been cut away. I now understand the distinction between bhakti, knowledge, and renunciation. I also see how even great sages can be bewildered about life’s true purpose, where the senses have no scope—there is certainly no question of sense gratification.
King Barhiṣmān was engaged in different types of sacrifice for elevation to the heavenly planets. People generally are attracted by these activities, and very rarely is a person attracted to devotional service, as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms. Unless one is very, very fortunate, he does not take to devotional service. Even the so-called learned Vedic scholars are bewildered by devotional service. They are generally attracted to the rituals for sense gratification. In devotional service there is no sense gratification, but only transcendental loving service to the Lord. Consequently, the so-called priests engaged in sense gratification do not very much like devotional service. The brāhmaṇas, the priests, have been against this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement since it began with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When Caitanya Mahāprabhu started this movement, the priestly class lodged complaints to the Kazi, the magistrate of the Muhammadan government. Caitanya Mahāprabhu had to lead a civil disobedience movement against the propaganda of the so-called followers of Vedic principles. These people are described as karma-jaḍa-smārtas, which indicates that they are priests engaged in ritualistic ceremonies. It is here stated that such people become bewildered ( ṛṣayo ’pi hi muhyanti ). To save oneself from the hands of these karma-jaḍa-smārtas, one should strictly follow the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead:
FAQs
This verse shows that sincere instruction from a realized guide can cut doubt completely, because truths beyond the senses are difficult to grasp by ordinary perception—even sages may feel bewildered there.
After hearing Nārada’s deep teaching (through the allegory of Purañjana), the King acknowledges that his confusion has been dispelled and credits Nārada for guiding him toward realities beyond sensory understanding.
Don’t rely only on sense-based evidence for spiritual conclusions; seek śāstra-based learning and guidance from saintly teachers, and practice devotion so realization can arise beyond mere sensory experience.