Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 18
Nondual Vision Beyond Praise and Blame
Dvandva-nivṛtti and Ātma-viveka
ज्ञानं विवेको निगमस्तपश्च प्रत्यक्षमैतिह्यमथानुमानम् । आद्यन्तयोरस्य यदेव केवलं कालश्च हेतुश्च तदेव मध्ये ॥ १८ ॥
jñānaṁ viveko nigamas tapaś ca pratyakṣam aitihyam athānumānam ādy-antayor asya yad eva kevalaṁ kālaś ca hetuś ca tad eva madhye
真正的灵性知识建立在分辨灵我与物质之上，并由经典证据、苦行、直接体验、诸《往世书》的历史叙述以及理性推断而滋养。那绝对真理在宇宙未生之前唯独存在，在毁灭之后亦唯独常存；祂亦是时间之因与终极原因。即使在创造存续的中间阶段，唯有祂才是真实。
Material scientists and philosophers are desperately searching for the ultimate material cause or principle, which is described here as kāla, the time factor. The material process of cause and effect takes place entirely within a sequence of time; in other words, the time factor is the motivating impetus for material cause and effect. This time factor is a manifestation of the Supersoul, the form of the Supreme Lord that pervades and supports the cosmic manifestation. The method for acquiring knowledge is scientifically described here, and those who are serious, reasonable scholars will take advantage of the transcendental epistemology revealed here by the Lord.
FAQs
This verse states that the same one Absolute Reality present at creation’s beginning and dissolution’s end is also present during manifestation as kāla (time) and as the causal principle behind events.
In the Uddhava Gita, Krishna teaches Uddhava that all valid means of knowing—scripture, perception, tradition, and logic—ultimately point to the one Supreme Reality who pervades creation throughout its beginning, middle, and end.
It cultivates humility and steadiness: recognizing time’s power and life’s changes as under the Supreme helps one detach from anxiety, act responsibly, and remember God in all phases of success and loss.