Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 17
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
कस्तं स्वयं तदभिज्ञो विपश्चिद् अविद्यायामन्तरे वर्तमानम् । दृष्ट्वा पुनस्तं सघृण: कुबुद्धिं प्रयोजयेदुत्पथगं यथान्धम् ॥ १७ ॥
kas taṁ svayaṁ tad-abhijño vipaścid avidyāyām antare vartamānam dṛṣṭvā punas taṁ saghṛṇaḥ kubuddhiṁ prayojayed utpathagaṁ yathāndham
Si alguien, inmerso en la ignorancia, está apegado al camino del saṁsāra, ¿cómo un sabio compasivo y avanzado en conocimiento espiritual podría ocuparlo en obras fruitivas y enredarlo más? Como a un ciego que camina por el sendero equivocado, ¿cómo permitiría un hombre noble que siga hacia el peligro?
FAQs
This verse teaches that a truly wise person will not knowingly push someone deeper into ignorance; instead, out of compassion, one should avoid directing a misguided person onto a harmful path.
Ṛṣabhadeva was instructing His sons on dharma and spiritual discernment—emphasizing that leadership and influence must be compassionate and should elevate others rather than exploit their confusion.
Do not use your influence to encourage harmful habits or false ideas; instead, guide others gently toward clarity, ethics, and spiritually beneficial choices—especially when they are vulnerable or uninformed.