Shloka 31
Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity
इत्यक्षरतयात्मानं चिन्मात्रमवशेषितम् । ज्ञात्वाद्वयोऽथ विरमेद् दग्धयोनिरिवानल: ॥ ३१ ॥
ity akṣaratayātmānaṁ cin-mātram avaśeṣitam jñātvādvayo ’tha viramed dagdha-yonir ivānalaḥ
अशा रीतीने सर्व भौतिक उपाधी आपापल्या तत्त्वांत लीन झाल्यावर, आत्मा अक्षर—केवळ चैतन्यमात्र—अवशिष्ट आहे असे जाणून, परब्रह्मासारखा गुणतः अद्वय असलेला जीव भौतिक अस्तित्वातून विरत व्हावा; जसे इंधन जळून संपल्यावर ज्वाला शांत होते।
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual Classes.”
FAQs
It teaches that when one realizes the imperishable self as pure consciousness, one understands the nondual truth (advaya) and naturally ceases material attachment.
Because just as fire stops when its fuel is exhausted, a realized person’s worldly impulses fade when ignorance and material identification are destroyed by true knowledge.
Practice steady self-inquiry and devotional remembrance so that identity shifts from temporary roles to the imperishable self; with that clarity, cravings and distractions weaken on their own.