Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 62

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

भावाद्वैतं क्रियाद्वैतं द्रव्याद्वैतं तथात्मन: । वर्तयन्स्वानुभूत्येह त्रीन्स्वप्नान्धुनुते मुनि: ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

bhāvādvaitaṁ kriyādvaitaṁ dravyādvaitaṁ tathātmanaḥ vartayan svānubhūtyeha trīn svapnān dhunute muniḥ

Translation

存在・行為・資具の一如を観じ、さらに自己があらゆる作用と反作用から別であると悟ったとき、牟尼は自らの体験に従い、覚醒・夢・熟睡という三つの状態を振り払う。

Synonyms

• भाव-अद्वैतम्: non-duality in being/state
• भाव-अद्वैतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अद्वैतं भावस्य)

• क्रिया-अद्वैतम्: non-duality in action
• क्रिया-अद्वैतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• द्रव्य-अद्वैतम्: non-duality in substance
• द्रव्य-अद्वैतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: सम्बोधन-निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/सादृश्यार्थ (and likewise)

• आत्मनः: of the Self
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• वर्तयन्: maintaining/continuing
• वर्तयन्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; ‘causative sense’ here: causing to proceed/maintaining

• स्व-अनुभूति-इह: in his own experience here
• स्व-अनुभूति-इह: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुभूति (प्रातिपदिक) + इह (अव्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘स्वानुभूति’ = ‘one’s own realization’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) + ‘इह’ अव्ययसम्बन्धः; अर्थः: ‘in one’s own experience here’

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• स्वप्नान्: dreams
• स्वप्नान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• धुनुते: shakes off/discards
• धुनुते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धुन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Purport

The three words bhāvādvaita, kriyādvaita and dravyādvaita are explained in the following verses. However, one has to give up all the nonduality of philosophical life in the material world and come to the actual life of reality in the spiritual world in order to attain perfection.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about transcending the three states of consciousness?

This verse explains that when a sage abides in direct realization of nonduality—in attitude, action, perception of objects, and identity—he shakes off the three dreamlike states (commonly understood as waking, dreaming, and deep sleep).

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī speak about nondual realization to Mahārāja Parīkṣit in Canto 7, Chapter 15?

In this chapter Śukadeva gives practical and philosophical guidance for human life and liberation; he teaches Parīkṣit how realized sages live in the world without bondage, seeing one spiritual reality beyond duality.

How can I apply bhāvādvaita and kriyādvaita in modern life?

Cultivate a nondual, God-centered attitude (bhāvādvaita) and act without egoistic doership (kriyādvaita)—doing duties as service—so experiences no longer bind the mind in dualistic reactions.