Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13
Karma, Jñāna, and Bhakti: Vedic Dharma, Piety and Sin, and the Boat of Human Life
न नर: स्वर्गतिं काङ्क्षेन्नारकीं वा विचक्षण: । नेमं लोकं च काङ्क्षेत देहावेशात् प्रमाद्यति ॥ १३ ॥
na naraḥ svar-gatiṁ kāṅkṣen nārakīṁ vā vicakṣaṇaḥ nemaṁ lokaṁ ca kāṅkṣeta dehāveśāt pramādyati
വിവേകമുള്ള മനുഷ്യൻ സ്വർഗ്ഗഗതിയും ആഗ്രഹിക്കരുത്, നരകവാസവും ആഗ്രഹിക്കരുത്; ദേഹാസക്തിയിൽ മുങ്ങി ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരവാസം പോലും ആഗ്രഹിക്കരുത്।
One who has achieved human life on the earth has an excellent opportunity to attain spiritual liberation through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service to the Lord. Thus one should not desire promotion to heaven or risk residence in hell, where excessive enjoyment or punishment deviate one’s mind from self-realization. On the other hand, one should not think, “The earth is so nice, I can stay here forever.” One should develop thorough detachment from all aspects and categories of material existence and go back home, back to Godhead, where life is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a truly wise person does not hanker for heaven, because such desire keeps one tied to bodily identification and material goals rather than pure spiritual realization.
Krishna is guiding Uddhava toward steady devotion and transcendence, warning that attachment—even to higher worlds like heaven—arises from bodily absorption and leads to confusion instead of liberation.
Focus on sincere devotion and inner discipline rather than chasing status, pleasure, or fear-based living; reduce body-centered identity by cultivating remembrance of God, humility, and steady spiritual practice.