Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 2

Akrūra’s Mission: The Departure from Vraja and the Yamunā Vision of Viṣṇu-Ananta

Devanagari script

किमलभ्यं भगवति प्रसन्ने श्रीनिकेतने । तथापि तत्परा राजन्न हि वाञ्छन्ति किञ्चन ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

kim alabhyaṁ bhagavati prasanne śrī-niketane tathāpi tat-parā rājan na hi vāñchanti kiñcana

Translation

My dear King, what is unattainable for one who has satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the shelter of the goddess of fortune? Even so, those who are dedicated to His devotional service never want anything from Him.

Synonyms

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• अलभ्यम्: unobtainable
• अलभ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलभ्य (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपसर्ग + लभ् धातु से साध्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-योग्यतार्थक (यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ: ‘not obtainable’)

• भगवति: when the Lord (is present)/in the Lord
• भगवति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• प्रसन्ने: being pleased
• प्रसन्ने: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भगवति’ इति विशेषण

• श्री-निकेतने: in the abode of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्री-निकेतने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निकेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रियाः निकेतनम् = abode of Śrī)

• तथा अपि: even so
• तथा अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-द्वयम्; ‘तथा’ (adverb) + ‘अपि’ (particle)

• तत्-पराः: those devoted to Him
• तत्-पराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्मिन् पराः = devoted to Him)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• वाञ्छन्ति: desire
• वाञ्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• किञ्चन: anything
• किञ्चन: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चन (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक ‘anything’

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about asking Krishna for material benefits?

This verse teaches that although everything becomes attainable when Bhagavān is pleased, exclusive devotees still do not seek any separate gain; their devotion itself is the goal.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva explains to Parīkṣit the nature of pure bhakti—devotees may have access to all blessings through Krishna, yet they remain free from personal demands, highlighting devotion beyond bargaining.

Practical application of desireless devotion in modern life?

Serve and pray with sincerity, but measure success by steadiness of devotion and character—not by outcomes; accept results as Krishna’s arrangement while keeping the heart focused on loving service.