Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 61
Sāṅkhya Enumeration of Tattvas, Distinction of Puruṣa–Prakṛti, and the Mechanics of Birth and Death
सुदु:सहमिमं मन्ये आत्मन्यसदतिक्रमम् । विदुषामपि विश्वात्मन् प्रकृतिर्हि बलीयसी । ऋते त्वद्धर्मनिरतान् शान्तांस्ते चरणालयान् ॥ ६१ ॥
su-duḥsaham imaṁ manya ātmany asad-atikramam viduṣām api viśvātman prakṛtir hi balīyasī ṛte tvad-dharma-niratān śāntāṁs te caraṇālayān
Ô Âme de l’univers, je tiens pour presque insupportables les offenses injustes que les ignorants commettent contre nous, tant la nature matérielle est puissante; même les sages les supportent difficilement. Seuls Tes dévots, fermes dans Ton dharma et Ton service d’amour, apaisés en demeurant à l’abri de Tes pieds de lotus, peuvent les endurer.
Unless one becomes advanced in the process of hearing and chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord, theoretical learning cannot make one actually saintly. One’s conditioned personality, the result of long material association, is very difficult to overcome. Therefore we should humbly take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, who has so wonderfully explained to Śrī Uddhava the real meaning of knowledge.
FAQs
This verse says māyā/prakṛti is stronger even than the efforts of the learned, and that real transcendence is achieved by taking shelter of the Lord’s feet through devotion to His dharma.
Uddhava acknowledges that intellectual strength alone is often overpowered by prakṛti’s modes; only surrendered, peaceful devotees anchored in the Lord’s service can truly cross beyond illusion.
Rely not only on willpower or information—cultivate steady devotional practice (hearing, chanting, service), seek saintly association, and consciously take refuge in Krishna’s guidance to rise above habits and mental turbulence.