Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 35

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

कर्मणा कर्मनिर्हार एष साधु निरूपित: । यच्छ्रद्धया यजेद् विष्णुं सर्वयज्ञेश्वरं मखै: ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

karmaṇā karma-nirhāra eṣa sādhu-nirūpitaḥ yac chraddhayā yajed viṣṇuṁ sarva-yajñeśvaraṁ makhaiḥ

Translation

[The sages said:] It has been definitely concluded that work is counteracted by further work when one executes Vedic sacrifices as a means of worshiping Viṣṇu, the Lord of all sacrifices, with sincere faith.

Synonyms

• कर्मणा: by action; through ritual act
• कर्मणा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कर्मनिर्हारः: removal/clearing of karma
• कर्मनिर्हारः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् + निर्हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कर्मणः निर्हारः)

• एषः: this
• एषः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• साधु: properly; well
• साधु: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• निरूपितः: has been explained/defined
• निरूपितः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-√रूप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक

• यत्: that (by which/whereby)
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relational/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative particle)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice to
• यजेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वयज्ञेश्वरम्: the Lord of all sacrifices
• सर्वयज्ञेश्वरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + यज्ञ + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां यज्ञानाम् ईश्वरः)

• मखैः: by sacrifices; with sacrificial rites
• मखैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about removing karma (karma-nirhāra)?

It teaches that karmic reactions are truly neutralized when one worships Lord Viṣṇu with faith, since He is the Lord of all sacrifices.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize worship of Viṣṇu as the goal of sacrifice?

Because sacrifice is meant to please the Supreme Lord; when offerings are directed to Viṣṇu (Sarva-yajñeśvara), work becomes purified and its binding reactions are removed.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Perform your duties responsibly, but dedicate the results to Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa through sincere devotion—such as prayer, service, and offerings—so work becomes spiritually liberating rather than binding.