Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 27
Nondual Vision Beyond Praise and Blame
Dvandva-nivṛtti and Ātma-viveka
तथापि सङ्ग: परिवर्जनीयो गुणेषु मायारचितेषु तावत् । मद्भक्तियोगेन दृढेन यावद् रजो निरस्येत मन:कषाय: ॥ २७ ॥
tathāpi saṅgaḥ parivarjanīyo guṇeṣu māyā-raciteṣu tāvat mad-bhakti-yogena dṛḍhena yāvad rajo nirasyeta manaḥ-kaṣāyaḥ
Namun demikian, sehingga melalui amalan bhakti-yoga yang teguh kepada-Ku segala kekotoran rajas dalam hati benar-benar disingkirkan, seseorang mesti dengan sangat berhati-hati menghindari pergaulan dengan guṇa-guṇa yang dibentuk oleh māyā-Ku.
The word tathāpi in this verse indicates that even though the material nature is nondifferent from the Supreme Lord (as elaborately described in this chapter), one who has yet to conquer material desire should not artificially associate with material things, declaring them to be nondifferent from the Lord. Thus one aspiring to be Kṛṣṇa conscious should not loosely associate with women, claiming them to be nondifferent from the Personality of Godhead, for by such imitation of the most advanced devotees one will become a sense gratifier. A neophyte devotee who presumes himself liberated is impelled by the mode of passion to become falsely proud of his position, and thus he neglects the actual process of devotional service to the Lord. One must have firm and steady engagement in the loving service of the Lord, under the direction of higher authorities; then advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be easy and sublime.
FAQs
This verse says attachment to the material modes created by māyā should be avoided until steady bhakti to Krishna purifies the heart and removes rajas and the mind’s residual stains.
In the Uddhava Gītā section, Krishna instructs Uddhava on liberation: real freedom requires purification of the mind, and firm devotion is presented as the effective means to transcend the guṇas and their influence.
Limit influences that intensify passion and distraction, and build steady bhakti practices—hearing, chanting, prayer, and service—so the mind becomes clean and less driven by rajas.