Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 30
Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava
अविवेककृत: पुंसो ह्यर्थभेद इवात्मनि । गुणदोषविकल्पश्च भिदेव स्रजिवत्कृत: ॥ ३० ॥
aviveka-kṛtaḥ puṁso hy artha-bheda ivātmani guṇa-doṣa-vikalpaś ca bhid eva srajivat kṛtaḥ
Assim como alguém confunde uma guirlanda de flores com uma serpente, do mesmo modo, por falta de discernimento, o homem imagina diferenças no próprio ser e faz escolhas entre ‘mérito e defeito’, tomando a felicidade por boa e o sofrimento por mau.
The happiness and distress of the material world of duality are both mistaken ideas. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Antya 4.176) it is said:
FAQs
This verse says that due to lack of discrimination, a person falsely imagines divisions within the self and constructs dualities like “good” and “bad,” even though such separations are ultimately illusory.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking, explaining the philosophical root of perceived duality as a product of aviveka (non-discrimination).
Practice discernment by observing how the mind labels experiences; reduce reactive judgment, and ground decisions in dharma and devotion rather than impulsive mental dualities.