Shloka 44
Kapila’s Advent: Brahmā’s Confirmation, the Marriage of the Nine Daughters, and Kardama’s Renunciation
निरहंकृतिर्निर्ममश्च निर्द्वन्द्व: समदृक् स्वदृक् । प्रत्यक्प्रशान्तधीर्धीर: प्रशान्तोर्मिरिवोदधि: ॥ ४४ ॥
nirahaṅkṛtir nirmamaś ca nirdvandvaḥ sama-dṛk sva-dṛk pratyak-praśānta-dhīr dhīraḥ praśāntormir ivodadhiḥ
Thus he gradually became free from false ego and possessiveness. Undisturbed by duality, equal to all, he could truly see his own self. His intelligence turned inward and became perfectly calm, like an ocean without waves.
When one’s mind is in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and one fully engages in rendering devotional service to the Lord, he becomes just like an ocean unagitated by waves. This very example is also cited in Bhagavad-gītā: one should become like the ocean. The ocean is filled by many thousands of rivers, and millions of tons of its water evaporates into clouds, yet the ocean is the same unagitated ocean. The laws of nature may work, but if one is fixed in devotional service at the lotus feet of the Lord, he is not agitated, for he is introspective. He does not look outside to material nature, but he looks in to the spiritual nature of his existence; with a sober mind, he simply engages in the service of the Lord. Thus he realizes his own self without false identification with matter and without affection for material possessions. Such a great devotee is never in trouble with others because he sees everyone from the platform of spiritual understanding; he sees himself and others in the right perspective.
FAQs
This verse describes such a person as free from ego and possessiveness, beyond dualities, equal in vision, self-realized, inwardly peaceful, and steady like a calm ocean.
In his Sāṅkhya instruction, Kapila explains the marks of inner realization: when consciousness is purified, the mind’s disturbances subside, just as ocean waves become calm.
Practice responding to praise and criticism, gain and loss, comfort and discomfort with steadiness—reducing ego-based reactions and cultivating an inwardly anchored, equal vision.