Shloka 26

Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

तस्मात् स्वस्थेन मनसा विमृश्य गतिमात्मन: । द्वैते ध्रुवार्थविश्रम्भं त्यजोपशममाविश ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

tasmāt svasthena manasā vimṛśya gatim ātmanaḥ dvaite dhruvārtha-viśrambhaṁ tyajopaśamam āviśa

Translation

Ainsi, l’esprit apaisé, médite sur la destinée de l’ātman : es-tu le corps, le mental ou l’âme? D’où viens-tu, où iras-tu après avoir quitté ce corps, et pourquoi es-tu sous l’emprise du chagrin matériel? Comprends cela, renonce aux attachements inutiles et à la croyance que la dualité du monde est éternelle, et tu obtiendras la paix.

Synonyms

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति तद्धित-प्रयोगः/अव्ययीभाव-प्राय; ablative sense ‘therefore/from that’; treated as indeclinable connective

• svasthena: with a composed/steady
• svasthena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular (agreeing with manasā)

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular neuter

• vimṛśya: having reflected
• vimṛśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√mṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘having reflected/considered’; gerund

• gatim: the course/goal
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine

• ātmanaḥ: of the self
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive singular masculine

• dvaite: in duality
• dvaite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvaita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative singular neuter

• dhruva-artha-viśrambham: trust in ‘fixed reality’ (within duality)
• dhruva-artha-viśrambham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + viśrambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ध्रुवे अर्थे विश्रम्भः = confidence in the permanent/real); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• tyaja: abandon
• tyaja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperative 2nd person singular

• upaśamam: tranquility/cessation
• upaśamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaśama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• āviśa: enter/abide in
• āviśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-viś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperative 2nd person singular

Purport

The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is factually endeavoring to bring human society to a sober condition. Because of a misdirected civilization, people are jumping in materialistic life like cats and dogs, performing all sorts of abominable, sinful actions and becoming increasingly entangled. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement includes self-realization because one is first directed by Lord Kṛṣṇa to understand that one is not the body but the owner of the body. When one understands this simple fact, he can direct himself toward the goal of life. Because people are not educated in terms of the goal of life, they are working like madmen and becoming more and more attached to the material atmosphere. The misguided man accepts the material condition as everlasting. One must give up his faith in material things and give up attachment for them. Then one will be sober and peaceful.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• King Citraketu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about becoming peaceful amid suffering?

This verse advises reflecting with a steady mind on the soul’s real destination and abandoning faith in material dualities, thereby entering true pacification (upaśama).

Why did Nārada Muni instruct King Citraketu to give up trust in duality?

Citraketu was overwhelmed by lamentation; Nārada directs him to see beyond temporary dualistic identifications and turn toward inner peace rooted in understanding the self.

How can I apply “giving up duality” in modern life according to this shloka?

Practice calm reflection, reduce rigid attachment to success/failure and pleasure/pain as ultimate realities, and cultivate inner steadiness that leads to peace and spiritual clarity.