Shloka 22
Nārada’s Arrival, the Nine Yogendras, and the Foundations of Bhāgavata-dharma
त एते भगवद्रूपं विश्वं सदसदात्मकम् । आत्मनोऽव्यतिरेकेण पश्यन्तो व्यचरन् महीम् ॥ २२ ॥
ta ete bhagavad-rūpaṁ viśvaṁ sad-asad-ātmakam ātmano ’vyatirekeṇa paśyanto vyacaran mahīm
ते एते भगवद्रूपं विश्वं सदसदात्मकम्, आत्मनोऽव्यतिरेकेण पश्यन्तो व्यचरन् महीम्।
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, it is clearly demonstrated in this and the following verse that the nine saintly sons of Ṛṣabhadeva known as the nava-yogendras were situated in the highest stage of spiritual perfection, called pāramahaṁsya-caritam, or “having fully developed the character of paramahaṁsas. ” In other words, they were pure devotees of the Lord. According to Śrīdhara Svāmī and Jīva Gosvāmī, the words ātmano ’vyatirekeṇa indicate that the nine sages saw the universe as being nondifferent from themselves as well as nondifferent from the Supreme Soul, Lord Kṛṣṇa. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has additionally commented, ātmanaḥ paramātmanaḥ sakāśād avyatirekeṇa, viśvasya tac-chakti-mayatvād iti bhāvaḥ: “ Ātmanaḥ indicates the Supersoul. This universe is not different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Paramātmā, since the entire universe is composed of His energy.”
FAQs
This verse says liberated sages perceive the entire cosmos—both manifest and unmanifest—as Bhagavān’s own form, and thus view the world through devotional, non-separate vision.
In Canto 11, Chapter 2, Śukadeva explains the symptoms of elevated devotees and liberated souls; their God-centered vision makes them free to move through the world without material attachment.
Practice seeing people and circumstances as connected to the Lord—serve without possessiveness, reduce envy, and cultivate remembrance of Bhagavān in daily work and relationships.