Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 42
Nondual Vision Beyond Praise and Blame
Dvandva-nivṛtti and Ātma-viveka
न हि तत् कुशलादृत्यं तदायासो ह्यपार्थक: । अन्तवत्त्वाच्छरीरस्य फलस्येव वनस्पते: ॥ ४२ ॥
na hi tat kuśalādṛtyaṁ tad-āyāso hy apārthakaḥ antavattvāc charīrasya phalasyeva vanaspateḥ
This mystic perfection of the body is not highly valued by those expert in transcendental knowledge; they deem striving for it useless, for the body is perishable like a tree’s fruit, whereas the soul endures like the tree itself.
The example given here is of a tree that seasonally bears fruit. The fruit exists for a very short time, whereas the tree may exist for thousands of years. Similarly, the spirit soul is eternal, whereas the material body, even when preserved as long as possible, is destroyed relatively quickly. The body should never be equated with the eternally existing spirit soul. Those who are actually intelligent, who actually have spiritual knowledge, are not interested in material mystic perfections.
FAQs
This verse says that valuing and struggling for the body is ultimately futile, because the body is temporary and perishes, like a fruit that falls from a tree.
In the Uddhava Gītā teachings, Kṛṣṇa guides Uddhava toward renunciation and self-realization, stressing that spiritual effort should not be centered on the perishable body but on the imperishable self and devotion.
Care for the body as a tool for dharma and bhakti, but don’t build your identity and life’s purpose on bodily pleasure or fear—invest your main energy in lasting spiritual practices like remembrance of the Lord, sādhana, and service.