Shloka 26
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa (Brahmā-stuti) and the Restoration of Vraja’s Lunch Pastime
अज्ञानसंज्ञौ भवबन्धमोक्षौ द्वौ नाम नान्यौ स्त ऋतज्ञभावात् । अजस्रचित्यात्मनि केवले परे विचार्यमाणे तरणाविवाहनी ॥ २६ ॥
ajñāna-saṁjñau bhava-bandha-mokṣau dvau nāma nānyau sta ṛta-jña-bhāvāt ajasra-city ātmani kevale pare vicāryamāṇe taraṇāv ivāhanī
The notions of bondage in material existence and of liberation are both born of ignorance; they have no standing in true knowledge. When one rightly understands the pure soul as distinct from matter and ever conscious, bondage and liberation lose all significance, just as day and night are meaningless from the sun’s perspective.
Material bondage is illusion because the living entity actually has no real relationship with the material world. Because of false ego, the conditioned soul identifies himself with matter. Therefore so-called liberation is simply the giving up of an illusion rather than release from actual bondage. Yet even if we think that the suffering of material illusion is real and that liberation is thus a meaningful release from suffering, the mere absence of material existence is still insignificant compared to the achievement of factual spiritual life, which is the positive eternal reality opposed to the negative illusion of material life. Ultimately, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or pure love of Godhead, is the only significant, meaningful and permanent status for every living entity.
FAQs
In this verse, Brahmā says bondage and liberation are merely names arising from ignorance; when the Supreme pure Consciousness is truly understood, such dualities lose their meaning.
After being humbled by Kṛṣṇa’s divine power in the Vraja līlā, Brahmā offers prayers acknowledging Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Reality beyond all dualities, including bondage and liberation.
Instead of obsessing over fear-based “bondage” or ego-based “liberation,” focus on sincere contemplation and devotion to the Supreme (Kṛṣṇa), cultivating inner clarity where many anxieties dissolve as misunderstandings.