Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23
Avadhūta’s Further Teachers: Detachment, Solitude, One-Pointed Meditation, and the Lord as Āśraya
कीट: पेशस्कृतं ध्यायन् कुड्यां तेन प्रवेशित: । याति तत्सात्मतां राजन् पूर्वरूपमसन्त्यजन् ॥ २३ ॥
kīṭaḥ peśaskṛtaṁ dhyāyan kuḍyāṁ tena praveśitaḥ yāti tat-sātmatāṁ rājan pūrva-rūpam asantyajan
王よ、かつて一匹のスズメバチが弱い虫を巣に押し込み、閉じ込めた。恐怖のあまりその虫は捕らえた者を絶えず観想し、身体を捨てぬまま、次第にスズメバチと同じ在り方に至った。かくして、不断の集中に応じた境地が得られる。
The following question may be raised: Since the weaker insect in this story did not physically change his body, how can it be said that he achieved the same state of existence as the wasp? Actually, by constant meditation upon a particular object one’s consciousness becomes filled with its qualities. Due to extreme fear the smaller insect was absorbed in the characteristics and activities of the large wasp and thus entered into the existence of the wasp. Due to such meditation, he actually took the body of a wasp in his next life.
FAQs
This verse teaches that sustained absorption (dhyāna) reshapes one’s inner nature—just as a worm fixated on a wasp attains wasp-like identity—implying that remembrance of the Supreme similarly spiritualizes the devotee.
Shukadeva uses a familiar analogy to show Parikshit the immense power of continuous contemplation, supporting the Bhagavatam’s emphasis on constant remembrance of the Lord as the sure path at life’s end.
Regularly direct your attention toward the divine—through japa, kirtan, reading Bhagavatam, and mindful remembrance—because what you repeatedly contemplate gradually becomes your character and lived reality.