Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 63

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

कार्यकारणवस्त्वैक्यदर्शनं पटतन्तुवत् । अवस्तुत्वाद्विकल्पस्य भावाद्वैतं तदुच्यते ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

kārya-kāraṇa-vastv-aikya- darśanaṁ paṭa-tantuvat avastutvād vikalpasya bhāvādvaitaṁ tad ucyate

Translation

When one sees that effect and cause are one—like cloth and its threads—and that duality is ultimately unreal because vikalpa is without true substance, that oneness is called bhāvādvaita.

Synonyms

• कार्य-कारण-वस्तु-ऐक्य-दर्शनम्: perception of the unity of effect, cause, and substance
• कार्य-कारण-वस्तु-ऐक्य-दर्शनम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कार्यकारणवस्तूनाम् ऐक्यस्य दर्शनम्’ (perception of unity of effect-cause-thing)

• पट-तन्तु-वत्: like (cloth and thread)
• पट-तन्तु-वत्: उपमान (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; उपमानवाचक ‘वत्’प्रत्ययान्त-प्रयोगः (like cloth-and-thread)

• अवस्तुत्वात्: because of (its) unreality
• अवस्तुत्वात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्तुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (because of unreality)

• विकल्पस्य: of conceptualization/imagination
• विकल्पस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• भाव-अद्वैतम्: non-duality in being
• भाव-अद्वैतम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about advaita (nondual realization)?

This verse explains advaita as the vision that cause and effect are one reality—like threads and cloth—while perceived duality is merely conceptual and not independently real.

Why did Prahlada Maharaja teach this nondual vision in Canto 7?

In his instructions on ideal human conduct and spiritual understanding (7.15), Prahlāda teaches how to see beyond mental dualities and perceive the underlying unity of reality, strengthening detachment and spiritual clarity.

How can I apply the teaching of cause-and-effect oneness in modern life?

When conflicts arise from labels and opposites, remember they are often conceptual; look for the underlying common reality, reduce reactive judgment, and act from steadiness and spiritual discernment.