Shloka 76
भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः
श्रूयतां को ऽहम् इत्य् एतद् वक्तुं भूप न शक्यते उपभोगनिमित्तं च सर्वत्रागमनक्रिया
śrūyatāṃ ko 'ham ity etad vaktuṃ bhūpa na śakyate upabhoganimittaṃ ca sarvatrāgamanakriyā
Listen, O king: it cannot truly be spoken—“who am I?” For the very movement of going everywhere arises only from the cause of experiencing and enjoying the fruits of karma.
Unspecified (a speaker addressing a king within the genealogical narrative; likely relayed by Sage Parāśara in the frame dialogue to Maitreya)
Concept: Personal identity in saṃsāra is not an ultimate fixed essence; ‘going’ through places and states is driven by karmic upabhoga (experiencing results).
Vedantic Theme: Atman
Application: Reduce ego-fixation (‘who am I’ as social identity) and observe how desires and past actions propel choices; cultivate viveka and ethical action to reshape karma.
Vishishtadvaita: The jīva’s agency and travel are real yet dependent—moved by karma under the Antaryāmin’s governance; ultimate identity is as a mode (prakāra) of Brahman, not autonomous.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: shanta
Antaryamin: Yes
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
The verse suggests that the deepest identity of the self is not easily captured by speech, pointing beyond ordinary labels toward a subtler metaphysical truth.
It states that ‘going everywhere’ (worldly movement) is driven by upabhoga—having to experience the results of actions—indicating karmic causality behind life’s trajectories.
By emphasizing the limits of speech about the self and the karmic basis of worldly motion, the verse aligns with Vishnu Purana’s broader teaching that ultimate reality and true selfhood are grounded in the Supreme (Vishnu) beyond transient experience.