Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus
Beginnings
सत्यस्य ते स्वदृश आत्मन आत्मनोऽन्यं वक्तारमीश विबुधेष्वपि नानुचक्षे । सर्वे विमोहितधियस्तव माययेमे ब्रह्मादयस्तनुभृतो बहिरर्थभावा: ॥ १७ ॥
satyasya te sva-dṛśa ātmana ātmano ’nyaṁ vaktāram īśa vibudheṣv api nānucakṣe sarve vimohita-dhiyas tava māyayeme brahmādayas tanu-bhṛto bahir-artha-bhāvāḥ
おおイーシャよ、あなたは絶対真理、至上人格神であり、御自身を भक्त（信愛者）に顕されます。あなた以外に、私に完全な知識を説き明かせる語り手は見当たりません—天界の देव（神々）の中にさえ。実に、ブラフマーをはじめとする身体を持つ者たちは皆、あなたのマーヤーに惑わされ、外的なものを最高の真実とみなしています。
All conditioned souls, from Lord Brahmā down to the insignificant ant, are declared by Śrī Uddhava to be covered by material bodies produced by the illusory potency of the Lord. The demigods in heaven, being absorbed in universal management, constantly utilize their fabulous material potencies. They therefore gradually fix their minds upon their mystically empowered bodies and also upon their bodily expansions such as their celestial wives, children, co-workers and friends. In the course of life in the heavenly planets, the demigods become conditioned to think in terms of material good and bad, and thus they accept the immediate welfare of their bodies to be the highest goal of life.
FAQs
This verse states that all embodied beings, even Brahmā and other exalted devas, can be bewildered by the Lord’s māyā and thus become oriented toward external, worldly understanding rather than direct realization of the Lord.
Uddhava emphasizes that Krishna is the Self and direct witness of all truth; since others are influenced by māyā and limited by embodied intelligence, only the Lord can fully reveal His own transcendental nature.
Rely on authentic revelation and devotional practice rather than merely external information—seek inner transformation through bhakti, humility, and hearing the Lord’s teachings to move beyond māyā-driven, worldly interpretations.