Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 49

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

वर्जयेदसदालापं भोगानुच्चावचांस्तथा । अहिंस्र: सर्वभूतानां वासुदेवपरायण: ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

varjayed asad-ālāpaṁ bhogān uccāvacāṁs tathā ahiṁsraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ

Translation

During this period, one should not unnecessarily talk of material subjects or topics of sense gratification, one should be completely free from envy of all living entities, and one should be a pure and simple devotee of Lord Vāsudeva.

Synonyms

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj/varj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; धातोः—वर्ज्/वृज् (to avoid)

• asat-ālāpam: improper talk
• asat-ālāpam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + ālāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (asat-ālāpa = bad talk)

• bhogān: enjoyments
• bhogān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• uccāvacān: high and low; various
• uccāvacān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uccāvacā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying bhogān)

• tathā: likewise; also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/उपपद (adverb: likewise/also)

• ahiṁsraḥ: non-violent
• ahiṁsraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ahiṁsra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of implied sādhakaḥ)

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयसमासः (sarva-bhūta = all beings)

• vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (vāsudeve parāyaṇaḥ = devoted to Vāsudeva)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about avoiding useless talk?

This verse instructs a sādhaka to reject asad-ālāpa—vain, improper, and spiritually distracting speech—so the mind stays pure and fixed on devotion to Vāsudeva.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize giving up both refined and crude enjoyments?

Because attachment binds the heart in either form; the vow’s purity requires renunciation of all grades of sense indulgence so devotion can become exclusive (vāsudeva-parāyaṇa).

How can I apply this shloka in modern life?

Reduce gossip and negative media, practice mindful speech, simplify pleasures that agitate the mind, cultivate nonviolence in thought and action, and steadily redirect attention to Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa through japa, prayer, and service.