FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.24.44

निरहंकृतिर्निर्ममश्च निर्द्वन्द्व: समद‍ृक् स्वद‍ृक् । प्रत्यक्प्रशान्तधीर्धीर: प्रशान्तोर्मिरिवोदधि: ॥ ४४ ॥
nirahaṅkṛtir nirmamaś ca
[nirahankritir nirmamash cha]
nirdvandvaḥ sama-dṛk sva-dṛk
[nirdvandvah sama-drik sva-drik]
pratyak-praśānta-dhīr dhīraḥ
[pratyak-prashaanta-dheer dheerah]
praśāntormir ivodadhiḥ
[prashaantormir ivodadhih]
nirahaṅkṛtiḥ — without false ego nirmamaḥ — without material affection ca — and nirdvandvaḥ — without duality sama-dṛk — seeing equality sva-dṛk — seeing himself pratyak — turned inward praśānta — perfectly composed dhīḥ — mind dhīraḥ — sober, not disturbed praśānta — calmed ūrmiḥ — whose waves iva — like udadhiḥ — the ocean.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nirahaṅkṛtir nirmamaś ca
nirahaṅkṛtiḥ
without false ego
nirmamaḥ
without material affection
ca
and
nirdvandvaḥ sama-dṛk sva-dṛk
nirdvandvaḥ
without duality
sama-dṛk
seeing equality
sva-dṛk
seeing himself
pratyak-praśānta-dhīr dhīraḥ
pratyak
turned inward
praśānta
perfectly composed
dhīḥ
mind
dhīraḥ
sober, not disturbed
praśāntormir ivodadhiḥ
praśānta
calmed
ūrmiḥ
whose waves
iva
like
udadhiḥ
the ocean.
Thus he gradually became unaffected by the false ego of material identity and became free from material affection. Undisturbed, equal to everyone and without duality, he could indeed see himself also. His mind was turned inward and was perfectly calm, like an ocean unagitated by waves.

When one’s mind is in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and one fully engages in rendering devotional service to the Lord, he becomes just like an ocean unagitated by waves. This very example is also cited in Bhagavad-gītā: one should become like the ocean. The ocean is filled by many thousands of rivers, and millions of tons of its water evaporates into clouds, yet the ocean is the same unagitated ocean. The laws of nature may work, but if one is fixed in devotional service at the lotus feet of the Lord, he is not agitated, for he is introspective. He does not look outside to material nature, but he looks in to the spiritual nature of his existence; with a sober mind, he simply engages in the service of the Lord. Thus he realizes his own self without false identification with matter and without affection for material possessions. Such a great devotee is never in trouble with others because he sees everyone from the platform of spiritual understanding; he sees himself and others in the right perspective.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
He was devoid of false ego and possessiveness, and did not see with duality. He regarded everything equally, and perceived the state of bhakti within himself. His intelligence was peaceful, not functioning externally. He was sober, like an ocean without waves. He was detached from material objects: he was devoid of ahaṅkāra and possessiveness. He could see within himself how much bhakti had arisen and how much it would arise in the future (sva-dṛk). He was devoid of external functioning (pratyak). His intelligence was peaceful.
Devotion in this verse is not a feeling to wait for but a practice to take up. The heart catches up to the hands once we begin acting on the Lord's behalf instead of our own. The pivot here is lotus feet of the Lord.
Reflection Questions
  • What part of your day still belongs entirely to your own enjoyment, and could even a corner of it be offered?
  • What would steady, unglamorous service look like for you this month?
📝 My note

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