Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 15
Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus
Beginnings
त्यागोऽयं दुष्करो भूमन् कामानां विषयात्मभि: । सुतरां त्वयि सर्वात्मन्नभक्तैरिति मे मति: ॥ १५ ॥
tyāgo ’yaṁ duṣkaro bhūman kāmānāṁ viṣayātmabhiḥ sutarāṁ tvayi sarvātmann abhaktair iti me matiḥ
Ô Bhūman, pour ceux dont l’esprit est attaché aux plaisirs des sens, et plus encore, ô Sarvātman, pour ceux qui sont sans bhakti envers Toi, ce renoncement est extrêmement difficile ; telle est mon opinion.
Those who are truly devoted to the Supreme Lord do not accept anything for their personal gratification but rather accept those things suitable to be offered in the Lord’s loving service. The word viṣayātmabhiḥ indicates those who desire material objects for their personal gratification instead of for the devotional service of the Lord. The minds of such materialistic persons are suitably disturbed, and it is virtually impossible for such persons to renounce material enjoyment. This is the opinion of Śrī Uddhava.
FAQs
This verse states that giving up material desires is extremely difficult for those attached to sense objects, and it becomes even harder for those who are not devoted to the Lord.
Uddhava acknowledges to Śrī Kṛṣṇa that mere self-effort or detachment is not sufficient; without devotion to Kṛṣṇa (the Supersoul of all), conquering desires is far more difficult.
Instead of relying only on willpower to quit harmful habits, anchor daily life in bhakti—regular prayer, mantra-japa, satsanga, and service—so desires naturally weaken as higher taste develops.