Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 5
Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint
सुप्तिप्रबोधयो: सन्धावात्मनो गतिमात्मदृक् । पश्यन्बन्धं च मोक्षं च मायामात्रं न वस्तुत: ॥ ५ ॥
supti-prabodhayoḥ sandhāv ātmano gatim ātma-dṛk paśyan bandhaṁ ca mokṣaṁ ca māyā-mātraṁ na vastutaḥ
Sa pagitan ng tulog at gising, at sa kanilang paglipat, dapat pagmasdan ng sannyāsī na nakakakita sa sarili ang galaw ng ātman. Sa gayon, mauunawaan niyang ang pagkaalipin at kalayaan ay pawang māyā lamang, hindi tunay; at sa mataas na pagkaunawang ito, ang Makapagtotohanang Ganap lamang ang makikita niyang laganap sa lahat.
The unconscious state is nothing but ignorance, darkness or material existence, and in the conscious state one is awake. The marginal state, between consciousness and unconsciousness, has no permanent existence. Therefore one who is advanced in understanding the self should understand that unconsciousness and consciousness are but illusions, for they fundamentally do not exist. Only the Supreme Absolute Truth exists. As confirmed by the Lord in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4) :
FAQs
This verse teaches that to one who truly sees the Self, both bondage and liberation are perceived as māyā-produced appearances, not the soul’s ultimate reality.
He uses the transition between sleep and waking to illustrate how states and identities shift, helping the listener discern the soul’s constancy beyond māyā’s changing conditions.
Practice stepping back from changing mental states—success, failure, fear, pride—and remember the steady witness (ātmā); this reduces attachment and strengthens devotional, self-aware living.