Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva
एवं योनिगतो जीव: स नित्यो निरहङ्कृत: । यावद्यत्रोपलभ्येत तावत्स्वत्वं हि तस्य तत् ॥ ८ ॥
evaṁ yoni-gato jīvaḥ sa nityo nirahaṅkṛtaḥ yāvad yatropalabhyeta tāvat svatvaṁ hi tasya tat
Ainsi, le jīva entré dans une yoni est éternel et, en vérité, sans ego. Tant qu’il est perçu dans un corps, il prend ce corps pour « sien »; quand le corps se défait, le lien s’achève. Qu’on ne se laisse donc pas prendre à une joie ou à un deuil illusoires.
When the living entity lives within the material body, he falsely thinks that he is the body, although actually he is not. His relationship with his body and his so-called father and mother are false, illusory conceptions. These illusions continue as long as one is not enlightened about the situation of the living entity.
This verse states that the jīva is eternal and actually free from false ego; ‘ownership’ of a body is only temporary—lasting only as long as that body is perceived as one’s identity.
He highlights that the sense of ‘I am this body’ and ‘this is mine’ is a mistaken overlay on the eternal self, which fuels attachment and sorrow when bodies and relationships change.
By remembering that identity and possession tied to the body are temporary, one can practice steadier detachment, reduce grief-driven reactions, and refocus on the soul’s lasting relationship with Bhagavān.