Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 31
Dharma, Purity, and the Inner Purpose of the Vedas
Karma-kāṇḍa Reoriented to Bhakti
स्वप्नोपमममुं लोकमसन्तं श्रवणप्रियम् । आशिषो हृदि सङ्कल्प्य त्यजन्त्यर्थान् यथा वणिक् ॥ ३१ ॥
svapnopamam amuṁ lokam asantaṁ śravaṇa-priyam āśiṣo hṛdi saṅkalpya tyajanty arthān yathā vaṇik
Cõi đời này như giấc mộng—nghe thì êm tai nhưng thật ra không chân thực. Như kẻ thương buôn ngu dại bỏ của cải thật vì sự đầu cơ vô ích, người mê muội cũng bỏ điều quý giá trong đời mà chạy theo sự thăng lên thiên giới vật chất, rồi tự tưởng trong lòng rằng sẽ được mọi phúc lộc thế gian.
All over the world people are working hard to achieve perfect sense gratification in this life or the next. As eternal living beings, part and parcel of Lord Kṛṣṇa, we are naturally endowed with all bliss and knowledge in the association of the Lord. But giving up this exalted position of spiritual bliss and knowledge, we foolishly waste our time pursuing the phantasmagoria of bodily happiness, just like a foolish businessman who squanders his real assets in imaginary business ventures that deliver no real profit.
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa describes the world as dreamlike and unreal (asat), even though it sounds attractive, urging discernment and detachment from its promises.
Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava in discrimination (viveka) and renunciation (vairāgya), showing how people sacrifice real value for imagined gains in a temporary world.
Treat worldly goals as temporary: invest time and energy first in lasting spiritual practice (bhakti, japa, satsanga), and handle money and ambition without being driven by endless hopes.