Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 52

Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance

Devanagari script

ये मां भजन्ति दाम्पत्ये तपसा व्रतचर्यया । कामात्मानोऽपवर्गेशं मोहिता मम मायया ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

ye māṁ bhajanti dāmpatye tapasā vrata-caryayā kāmātmāno ’pavargeśaṁ mohitā mama māyayā

Translation

Although I have the power to award spiritual liberation, lusty persons worship Me with penance and vows in order to get My blessings for their mundane family life. Such persons are bewildered by My illusory energy.

Synonyms

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यः (relative pronoun)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 1st person pronoun object-form

• भजन्ति: worship/serve
• भजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• दाम्पत्ये: in marital life
• दाम्पत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाम्पत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locus)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन (means)

• व्रतचर्यया: by observance of vows
• व्रतचर्यया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत-चर्या (प्रातिपदिक; व्रत + चर्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन

• कामात्मानः: desire-minded
• कामात्मानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; काम + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहिर्विशेषण—‘whose self is desire’

• अपवर्गेशम्: the Lord of liberation
• अपवर्गेशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपवर्ग-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; अपवर्ग + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपास्य-विशेष्य (object of worship)

• मोहिताः: deluded
• मोहिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भावः—‘deluded’

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (possessive)

• मायया: by (my) illusion
• मायया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु

Purport

The word dāmpatye indicates the relationship between husband and wife. Lusty and bewildered persons worship the Supreme Lord to enhance this relationship, though they know He can free them from their useless attachment to temporary things.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Krishna for marriage or worldly benefits?

This verse says that worship performed for marital or worldly gain—even with austerity and vows—remains desire-driven, and such worshipers are deluded by Kṛṣṇa’s māyā while approaching the Lord of liberation with material motives.

Why does Krishna mention maya and desire in this Bhagavatam verse?

Kṛṣṇa explains that māyā can cover one’s understanding so that a person approaches Him (the giver of liberation) but still remains centered on kāma, mistaking devotional practices as a means for sense enjoyment rather than surrender.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Use spiritual practices to purify motives: keep devotion primary (service and surrender), and treat vows, discipline, and prayer as tools for inner transformation—not merely techniques to secure relationships, status, or pleasures.