Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala
असावहं ममैवैते देहे चास्यान्वयादिषु । स्नेहपाशैर्निबध्नाति भवान् सर्वमिदं जगत् ॥ १७ ॥
asāv aham mamaivaite dehe cāsyānvayādiṣu sneha-pāśair nibadhnāti bhavān sarvam idaṁ jagat
Engkau mengikat seluruh dunia ini dengan tali kasih sayang; maka orang memandang tubuh dan berkata, “inilah aku,” dan memandang anak-keturunan serta hubungan lain lalu berkata, “ini milikku.”
This verse explains that the sense of “I” and “mine,” rooted in bodily identification and extended to family and lineage, becomes a powerful bond that keeps one entangled in worldly life.
Because affection, when centered on the body and possessiveness, functions like a binding rope—creating attachment to relatives, identity, and social continuity, which sustains material entanglement.
Notice where identity and possessiveness (“my status,” “my people,” “my body”) drive decisions; practice offering relationships and duties to Krishna, cultivating loving service without possessive attachment.