Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 14
Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama
इति सर्वाणि भूतानि मद्भावेन महाद्युते । सभाजयन् मन्यमानो ज्ञानं केवलमाश्रित: ॥ १३ ॥ ब्राह्मणे पुक्कसे स्तेने ब्रह्मण्येऽर्के स्फुलिङ्गके । अक्रूरे क्रूरके चैव समदृक् पण्डितो मत: ॥ १४ ॥
iti sarvāṇi bhūtāni mad-bhāvena mahā-dyute sabhājayan manyamāno jñānaṁ kevalam āśritaḥ
光辉的乌达婆啊！若有人以“我住在一切众生之中”的心念观照万有，依此神圣之智而对众生各尽其敬，此人方为真正的智者。他以平等眼看待婆罗门与贱民、盗贼与护持婆罗门文化者、太阳与微小火花、温和者与残酷者。
A series of opposites is set forth here — namely the high-class brāhmaṇa and the low-class aborigine, the thief who steals from respectable persons and the respecter of brahminical culture who gives charity to brāhmaṇas, the all-powerful sun and the insignificant spark, and finally the kind and the cruel. Ordinarily, the ability to distinguish between such opposites qualifies one as intelligent. How, then, can the Lord state that ignoring such obvious differences establishes one as a wise man? The answer is given by the words mad-bhāvena: a wise person sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead within everything. Therefore, although externally perceiving and dealing with the varieties of material situations, a wise man is more impressed by and concerned with the overwhelming unity of all existence, which is based on the presence of the Supreme Lord within everything. As explained here, a truly wise person is not limited to superficial material discrimination.
FAQs
It says a truly learned person sees with equal regard all beings—pure or impure, gentle or cruel—by relating them to the Supreme Lord and honoring them accordingly.
Krishna was instructing Uddhava on mature devotion supported by clear knowledge—how a devotee should move in the world without hatred or contempt, seeing the Lord’s connection with all.
Train yourself to offer basic respect to all, avoid contempt, and remember the Lord’s presence or ownership behind every person and situation—while still acting wisely and responsibly.