Shloka 24

Devanagari script

आत्मा ह्येक: स्वयंज्योतिर्नित्योऽन्यो निर्गुणो गुणै: । आत्मसृष्टैस्तत्कृतेषु भूतेषु बहुधेयते ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ātmā hy ekaḥ svayaṁ-jyotir nityo ’nyo nirguṇo guṇaiḥ ātma-sṛṣṭais tat-kṛteṣu bhūteṣu bahudheyate

Translation

പരമാത്മാവ് സത്യത്തിൽ ഒരുവനേ—സ്വയംപ്രകാശൻ, നിത്യൻ, ഗുണങ്ങളെ അതിക്രമിച്ച നിർഗുണൻ. എന്നാൽ അവൻ തന്നെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ച ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ മാധ്യമത്തിലൂടെ, ആ ഗുണങ്ങളാൽ നിർമ്മിതമായ ഭൂതങ്ങളിൽ ആ ഒരേ സത്യം പലവിധമായി പ്രകടമാകുന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നുന്നു.

Synonyms

आत्माthe Self

हिindeed

एकःone

स्वयम्-ज्योतिःself-luminous

नित्यःeternal

अन्यःdistinct (from all else)

निर्गुणःwithout material qualities

गुणैःby the qualities

आत्म-सृष्टैःcreated by the Self

तत्-कृतेषुin those made by them

भूतेषुin beings

बहुधाin many ways

ईयतेis perceived/appears

Characters & Entities

Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Ātmā being beyond the guṇas?

This verse states that the Ātmā is one, eternal, self-effulgent, and nirguṇa—distinct from and untouched by material qualities—though it may seem divided among many beings.

Why does Kṛṣṇa say the one Self appears as many?

Kṛṣṇa explains that due to the self’s own creative potency and the forms it brings about in living beings, the one spiritual reality is perceived as manifold, even though it remains one.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

See identity beyond temporary labels (body, status, mood), and cultivate steadiness—through remembrance of God and inner awareness—knowing the true self is enduring and not defined by changing material qualities.