Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 32
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
परं पदं वैष्णवमामनन्ति तद् यन्नेति नेतीत्यतदुत्सिसृक्षव: । विसृज्य दौरात्म्यमनन्यसौहृदा हृदोपगुह्यावसितं समाहितै: ॥ ३२ ॥
paraṁ padaṁ vaiṣṇavam āmananti tad yan neti netīty atad-utsisṛkṣavaḥ visṛjya daurātmyam ananya-sauhṛdā hṛdopaguhyāvasitaṁ samāhitaiḥ
Ceux qui désirent abandonner tout ce qui n’est pas essentiellement réel progressent, pas à pas, par la discrimination négative « neti, neti » (ni ceci ni cela), jusqu’à la suprême demeure vaiṣṇava, le parama-pada de Viṣṇu. Renonçant au matérialisme mesquin, ils offrent un amour exclusif à la Vérité absolue dans leur cœur et l’étreignent dans une méditation stable.
The words yan neti netīty atad-utsisṛkṣavaḥ indicate the process of negative discrimination, by which one engaged in the search for essential and absolute truth systematically rejects all that is superfluous, superficial and relative. Throughout the world people have gradually rejected the ultimate validity of political, social and even religious truths, but because they lack Kṛṣṇa consciousness they remain bewildered and cynical. However, as clearly stated here, paraṁ padaṁ vaiṣṇavam āmananti tat. Those who actually desire perfect knowledge must not only reject the nonessential but must also ultimately understand the essential spiritual reality called paraṁ padaṁ vaiṣṇavam: the supreme destination, the abode of Lord Viṣṇu. Padam indicates both the status and the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which can be understood only by those who give up petty materialism and adopt the position of ananya-sauhṛdam, exclusive love for the Lord. Such exclusive love is not narrow-minded or sectarian, because all living entities, being within the Lord, are automatically served when one directly serves the supreme entity. This process of rendering the highest service to the Lord and to all living entities constitutes the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is taught throughout Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
FAQs
This verse says the supreme destination is the Vaiṣṇava state/abode—realized by rejecting what is not the Absolute (“neti neti”), giving up malice, and embracing the Lord within the heart with concentrated devotion.
He links discernment (rejecting the non-eternal) with the positive culmination of realization—exclusive affection for the Lord—showing that true renunciation matures into absorbed bhakti and inner communion with Viṣṇu.
Practice honesty and non-harm, drop manipulative or resentful habits, and cultivate one-pointed goodwill toward the Lord—then steady the mind through regular remembrance and prayer so the heart becomes a place of constant divine presence.