Shloka 5
Lord Viṣṇu Instructs Pṛthu: Forgiveness, Ātmā-Deha Viveka, and the Bhakti Ideal of Kingship
अत: कायमिमं विद्वानविद्याकामकर्मभि: । आरब्ध इति नैवास्मिन्प्रतिबुद्धोऽनुषज्जते ॥ ५ ॥
ataḥ kāyam imaṁ vidvān avidyā-kāma-karmabhiḥ ārabdha iti naivāsmin pratibuddho ’nuṣajjate
अतः कायम् इमं विद्वान् अविद्या-काम-कर्मभिः आरब्धम् इति ज्ञात्वा, अस्मिन् देहे प्रतिबुद्धो नानुषज्जते।
As stated in a previous verse, those with good intellect ( sudhiyaḥ ) do not accept themselves to be the body. Being a creation of nescience, the body has two types of activities. In the bodily conception, when we think that sense gratification will help us, we are in illusion. Another kind of illusion is to think that one will become happy by trying to satisfy the desires that arise from the illusory body or by attaining elevation to the higher planetary systems or by performing various types of Vedic rituals. This is all illusion. Similarly, material activities performed for political emancipation and social and humanitarian activities performed with an idea that people of the world will be happy are also illusory because the basic principle is the bodily conception, which is illusory. Whatever we desire or perform under the bodily conception is all illusion. In other words, Lord Viṣṇu informed Pṛthu Mahārāja that although the sacrificial performances set an example for ordinary people, there was no need for such sacrificial performances as far as his personal self was concerned. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.45) :
FAQs
This verse teaches that the body runs due to ignorance, desire, and karma, and an awakened person does not cling to it, knowing it is already set in motion.
While instructing his citizens, Pṛthu Mahārāja emphasized self-realization—showing that bodily identification arises from avidyā, kāma, and karma, and that freedom comes by not attaching to the body.
Treat the body and its changing conditions as a responsibility, not an identity—reduce desire-driven choices, act dutifully without obsession, and cultivate daily spiritual awareness to loosen attachment.