Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 20
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
नूनं तपो यस्य न मन्युनिर्जयो ज्ञानं क्वचित् तच्च न सङ्गवर्जितम् । कश्चिन्महांस्तस्य न कामनिर्जय: स ईश्वर: किं परतोव्यपाश्रय: ॥ २० ॥
nūnaṁ tapo yasya na manyu-nirjayo jñānaṁ kvacit tac ca na saṅga-varjitam kaścin mahāṁs tasya na kāma-nirjayaḥ sa īśvaraḥ kiṁ parato vyapāśrayaḥ
吉祥天女观照会众，心中思量：有人苦行甚深，却未降伏嗔怒；有人具足知识，却未离诸执著；有人声名伟大，却不能制伏欲念。连大者尚有所依，怎能称为至上主宰？
Here is an attempt to find the supreme controller, or īśvara. Everyone may be accepted as an īśvara, or controller, but still such controllers are controlled by others. For example, one may have undergone severe austerities but still be under the control of anger. By a scrutinizing analysis, we find that everyone is controlled by something else. No one, therefore, can be the true controller but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. This is supported by the śāstras. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ: the supreme controller is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is never controlled by anyone, for He is the controller of everyone ( sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam ).
FAQs
This verse teaches that austerity and learning are incomplete without conquering anger (krodha) and desire (kāma), and that true greatness is measured by freedom from these inner enemies.
Real knowledge is shown by detachment—knowledge that remains mixed with attachment (saṅga) is not considered fully purifying or spiritually mature.
Use spiritual practices not as a badge of pride but as tools for inner transformation—track whether your sadhana reduces anger, attachment, and impulsive desire, and increase devotion and humility accordingly.