Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 31
Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity
इत्यक्षरतयात्मानं चिन्मात्रमवशेषितम् । ज्ञात्वाद्वयोऽथ विरमेद् दग्धयोनिरिवानल: ॥ ३१ ॥
ity akṣaratayātmānaṁ cin-mātram avaśeṣitam jñātvādvayo ’tha viramed dagdha-yonir ivānalaḥ
Demikianlah, ketika semua penandaan material melebur ke unsur-unsurnya masing-masing, hendaknya disadari bahwa yang tersisa adalah ātman yang tak binasa—murni kesadaran semata. Mengetahui dirinya non-dual dan sehakikat dalam kualitas dengan Yang Mahatinggi, sang jīva hendaknya berhenti dari keberadaan material, sebagaimana nyala api padam ketika kayu yang dibakarnya telah habis.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual Classes.”
FAQs
It teaches that when one realizes the imperishable self as pure consciousness, one understands the nondual truth (advaya) and naturally ceases material attachment.
Because just as fire stops when its fuel is exhausted, a realized person’s worldly impulses fade when ignorance and material identification are destroyed by true knowledge.
Practice steady self-inquiry and devotional remembrance so that identity shifts from temporary roles to the imperishable self; with that clarity, cravings and distractions weaken on their own.