Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 8
Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee
देहस्थोऽपि न देहस्थो विद्वान् स्वप्नाद् यथोत्थित: । अदेहस्थोऽपि देहस्थ: कुमति: स्वप्नदृग् यथा ॥ ८ ॥
deha-stho ’pi na deha-stho vidvān svapnād yathotthitaḥ adeha-stho ’pi deha-sthaḥ kumatiḥ svapna-dṛg yathā
ആത്മസാക്ഷാത്കാരത്തിൽ ജ്ഞാനിയായവൻ ദേഹത്തിനുള്ളിൽ ജീവിച്ചാലും ദേഹസ്ഥനെന്നു കരുതുന്നില്ല; സ്വപ്നത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഉണർന്നവൻ സ്വപ്നദേഹത്തോടുള്ള ഐക്യം വിട്ടുകളയുന്നതുപോലെ. എന്നാൽ മൂഢൻ ദേഹത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്തനായിട്ടും താനെ ദേഹത്തിൽ തന്നെയാണെന്ന് കരുതുന്നു; സ്വപ്നദർശി കൽപ്പിത ദേഹത്തിൽ താനെ കാണുന്നതുപോലെ.
In Lord Kṛṣṇa’s discussion of the different characteristics of liberated and conditioned souls, the Lord first clarified the distinction between the eternally liberated Personality of Godhead and the marginal potency, the innumerable jīvas, who are sometimes conditioned and sometimes liberated. In this and the next nine verses, the Lord describes the different symptoms of liberated and conditioned jīva souls. In a dream one sees oneself in an imaginary body, but upon waking one gives up all identification with that body. Similarly, one who has awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness no longer identifies with the gross or subtle material bodies, nor does he become affected by the happiness and distress of material life. On the other hand, a foolish person ( kumati ) does not awaken from the dream of material existence and is afflicted with innumerable problems due to false identification with the gross and subtle material bodies. One should become situated in one’s eternal spiritual identity ( nitya-svarūpa ). By properly identifying oneself as the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, one becomes relieved of his false material identity, and therefore the miseries of illusory existence immediately cease, just as the anxiety of a troublesome dream ceases as soon as one awakens to his normal, pleasant surroundings. It should be understood, however, that the analogy of awakening from a dream can never be applied to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never in illusion. The Lord is eternally awake and enlightened in His own unique category called viṣṇu-tattva. Such knowledge is easily understood by one who is vidvān, or enlightened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
FAQs
In 11.11.8, Kṛṣṇa explains that the wise live in the body without identifying as the body—like someone awakened from a dream—whereas the foolish wrongly identify with the body, like a dreamer absorbed in a dream.
Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava the difference between true knowledge and ignorance, using the dream analogy to show how liberation comes from ending false identification with the body and mind.
Regularly observe thoughts, emotions, and roles as temporary experiences rather than the self; this reduces anxiety and attachment and supports devotion and steady spiritual practice.