Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 25

Akrūra’s Prayers (Akrūra-stuti): The Lord as Cause of Causes, Virāṭ, and the Goal of All Paths

Devanagari script

अनित्यानात्मदु:खेषु विपर्ययमतिर्ह्यहम् । द्वन्द्वारामस्तमोविष्टो न जाने त्वात्मन: प्रियम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

anityānātma-duḥkheṣu viparyaya-matir hy aham dvandvārāmas tamo-viṣṭo na jāne tvātmanaḥ priyam

Translation

Thus mistaking the temporary for the eternal, my body for my self, and sources of misery for sources of happiness, I have tried to take pleasure in material dualities. Covered in this way by ignorance, I could not recognize You as the real object of my love.

Synonyms

• अनित्य: in impermanent (things)
• अनित्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी बहुवचन (Locative, Plural) — समासे पूर्वपद

• अनात्म: in non-self (things)
• अनात्म: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी बहुवचन (Locative, Plural) — समासे पूर्वपद

• दुःखेषु: in sufferings
• दुःखेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचन (Locative, Plural)

• विपर्ययमतिḥ: one whose understanding is perverted
• विपर्ययमतिḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (विपर्ययः मतिḥ यस्य/विपर्ययमतिḥ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative, Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeclinable particle: indeed/for)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन; प्रथमा (Nominative, Singular)

• द्वन्द्वारामः: one who delights in dualities
• द्वन्द्वारामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व + आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (द्वन्द्वेषु आरामः/आसक्तिः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative, Singular)

• तमोविष्टः: enveloped by darkness/ignorance
• तमोविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तमस् + विष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √विश्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तमसा विष्टः); भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative, Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• जाने: I know
• जाने: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• त्वा: you
• त्वा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative, Singular)

• आत्मनः: of the self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• प्रियम्: the dear (good)
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative, Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Sri Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about being attached to temporary pleasures?

This verse says attachment to the temporary (anitya) and non-self (anātma) is a reversal of intelligence, because it leads to suffering and hides what is truly beneficial for the soul.

Why did Uddhava speak about ignorance and duality to Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 40?

Uddhava approaches Krishna as the supreme teacher and admits his conditioned state—delighting in dualities and covered by tamas—so Krishna may instruct him on true spiritual welfare.

How can I apply the teaching of 'dvandvārāma' in modern life?

Notice how the mind swings between opposites (success/failure, praise/blame) and practice steady devotion and discernment—choosing what nourishes the soul over what merely stimulates the senses.