Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 30

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

केचित् कुर्वन्ति कर्माणि कामैरहतचेतस: । त्यजन्त: प्रकृतीर्दैवीर्यथाहं लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

kecit kurvanti karmāṇi kāmair ahata-cetasaḥ tyajantaḥ prakṛtīr daivīr yathāhaṁ loka-saṅgraham

Translation

Having renounced all material propensities, which spring from the Lord’s illusory energy, some people execute worldly duties with their minds undisturbed by mundane desires. They act as I do, to instruct the general populace.

Synonyms

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘some (persons)’

• कुर्वन्ति: do, perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• कर्माणि: actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• कामैः: by desires
• कामैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अहत-चेतसः: whose minds are not (yet) subdued/struck (by desires)
• अहत-चेतसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहत (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय, ‘unstruck/unhurt’) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound adjective (कर्मधारय-समास); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying ‘केचित्’

• त्यजन्तः: abandoning
• त्यजन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with ‘केचित्’

• प्रकृतीः: natures, dispositions
• प्रकृतीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• दैवीः: divine
• दैवीः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying ‘प्रकृतीः’

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), comparative particle/adverb (उपमा/प्रकार)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• लोक-सङ्ग्रहम्: the welfare/holding-together of the world
• लोक-सङ्ग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of the world’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about doing work without desire (niṣkāma karma)?

This verse says that some people perform their prescribed duties with consciousness not driven by selfish desires, renouncing material impulses—an ideal aligned with devotion and inner purity.

Why does Krishna mention 'loka-saṅgraha' (upholding the world) here?

Kṛṣṇa explains that His actions are not for personal gain; He acts to maintain dharma and guide society, setting an example for others to act responsibly without selfish motivation.

How can I apply 'loka-saṅgraha' and desireless action in modern life?

Do your responsibilities with integrity, reduce ego-driven motives, and offer results to God—working for the welfare of others while keeping devotion at the center.