Shloka 49
Chapter 54
तस्माद् अज्ञानजं शोकम् आत्मशोषविमोहनम् ।
तत्त्वज्ञानेन निर्हृत्य स्वस्था भव शुचिस्मिते ॥
tasmād ajñāna-jaṃ śokam ātma-śoṣa-vimohanam / tattva-jñānena nirhṛtya sva-sthā bhava śuci-smite //
ฉะนั้นจงสลัดโศกที่เกิดจากอวิชชา—ความหลงที่ทำให้จิตวิญญาณเหือดแห้ง—ออกไปด้วยญาณแห่งสัจธรรม แล้วตั้งมั่นอยู่ในตนเถิด โอ้ผู้มีรอยยิ้มบริสุทธิ์
In this intimate moment of Kṛṣṇa-līlā, Bhagavān instructs Rukmiṇī on the inner cause of sorrow: ajñāna (ignorance). Grief that arises from misidentification—thinking oneself helpless, abandoned, or lacking—creates a drying, exhausting effect on the heart (ātma-śoṣa) and produces confusion (vimohana). The remedy is not mere reassurance but tattva-jñāna, clear understanding of truth: the self is not the fragile body-mind, and the Lord’s protection and purpose never fail. By urging her to become sva-sthā (situated in one’s own true position), the verse teaches spiritual composure grounded in knowledge and devotion. This is a Bhāgavata method: emotions are honored, yet they are purified and stabilized by sambandha-jñāna (right relationship with Kṛṣṇa), leading to inner steadiness rather than anxiety. Practically, it points seekers to replace fear-based narratives with remembrance of the Lord’s presence, the soul’s dignity, and the higher meaning behind events in divine pastimes.
FAQs
This verse says lamentation arises from ajñāna (ignorance) and should be uprooted by tattva-jñāna—clear knowledge of reality—so one becomes inwardly steady (sva-sthā).
In their exchange, Rukmiṇī becomes emotionally disturbed; Kṛṣṇa redirects her from bewildering sorrow to spiritual steadiness by reminding her that such grief is rooted in ignorance and is cured by true understanding.
Pause and identify the fear-story as ajñāna-driven, then ground yourself in tattva: you are not merely the mind’s turbulence; remember Kṛṣṇa’s shelter, act dharmically, and return to calm steadiness (sva-sthā).