Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 56
Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva
उभयं स्मरत: पुंस: प्रस्वापप्रतिबोधयो: । अन्वेति व्यतिरिच्येत तज्ज्ञानं ब्रह्म तत्परम् ॥ ५६ ॥
ubhayaṁ smarataḥ puṁsaḥ prasvāpa-pratibodhayoḥ anveti vyatiricyeta taj jñānaṁ brahma tat param
Trong mộng và khi tỉnh, tri thức của kẻ chứng tri đi theo các kinh nghiệm ấy, nhưng vẫn là nhân chứng không vướng mắc. Chính ý thức làm chứng ấy là Parabrahman; người biết vẫn không đổi trong cả hai trạng thái.
In knowledge the living entity is qualitatively one with the Supreme Brahman, but the quantity of the Supreme Brahman is not the same as that of the living entity, who is part of Brahman. Because the living entity is Brahman in quality, he can remember the past activities of dreams and also know the present activities of wakefulness.
FAQs
This verse explains that waking and deep sleep are changing states, while Brahman (the supreme reality) is beyond them; real knowledge is to discern that higher, unchanging truth.
He uses the contrast of sleep and awakening to help the listener discriminate the unchanging self and the supreme reality from temporary conditions of consciousness.
By observing that moods, thoughts, and daily states come and go, one can cultivate detachment and steadiness—turning the mind toward the enduring spiritual reality through remembrance, study, and bhakti.