Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 18
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
हित्वात्ममायारचिता गृहापत्यसुहृत्स्त्रिय: । तमो विशन्त्यनिच्छन्तो वासुदेवपराङ्मुखा: ॥ १८ ॥
hitvātma-māyā-racitā gṛhāpatya-suhṛt-striyaḥ tamo viśanty anicchanto vāsudeva-parāṅ-mukhāḥ
వాసుదేవుని నుండి ముఖం తిప్పినవారు ప్రభువు మాయాశక్తి సృష్టించిన ఇల్లు, సంతానం, మిత్రులు, స్త్రీలు మొదలైన వాటిలో ఆసక్తి పడతారు. చివరికి కాలవశాత్తు వాటన్నిటిని విడిచిపెట్టవలసి వచ్చి, ఇష్టంలేకున్నా ఘోరాంధకార ప్రాంతాలలో ప్రవేశిస్తారు.
The living entity turns his back on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and tries instead to enjoy temporary sense gratification. The result is simply anxiety as the conditioned soul struggles to maintain his temporary wife, children, friends, home, nation, etc. Finally all of these things are taken away, and the bewildered soul, in great frustration, sometimes tries to take shelter of an impersonal concept of God and liberation. Thus the conditioned soul is always in ignorance, either pursuing illusory sense gratification or trying to avoid sense gratification by merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, called Brahman. But the actual position of the living entity is to serve the Supreme Person, who is his master. And unless one gives up one’s inimical feelings toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no question of peace or happiness.
FAQs
This verse says that those who become vāsudeva-parāṅmukha—turned away from the Lord—enter tamas (darkness/ignorance), even if they try to renounce worldly ties.
He emphasizes that bondage is sustained by the soul’s misidentification and self-made illusion; without devotion to Vāsudeva, even external renunciation cannot free one from inner darkness.
Renunciation alone is not the solution—cultivate remembrance and service of Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) while responsibly living, so detachment becomes enlightened rather than depressing or escapist.