Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

Purūravā’s Song of Renunciation and the Glory of Sādhu-saṅga

Devanagari script

ऐल उवाच अहो मे मोहविस्तार: कामकश्मलचेतस: । देव्या गृहीतकण्ठस्य नायु:खण्डा इमे स्मृता: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

aila uvāca aho me moha-vistāraḥ kāma-kaśmala-cetasaḥ devyā gṛhīta-kaṇṭhasya nāyuḥ-khaṇḍā ime smṛtāḥ

Translation

King Aila said: Alas, just see the extent of my delusion! This goddess was embracing me and held my neck in her grip. My heart was so polluted by lust that I had no idea how my life was passing.

Synonyms

• ऐलः: Aila
• ऐलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहो: alas!/oh!
• अहो: Sambodhana/Exclamation (उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मय/खेद-उद्गार (interjection)

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

• मोह-विस्तारः: the expansion of delusion
• मोह-विस्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• काम-कश्मल-चेतसः: of (me) whose mind is sullied by lust
• काम-कश्मल-चेतसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + कश्मल + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (मोह-विस्तारः) — ‘of one whose mind is tainted by desire’

• देव्या: by the goddess (Urvaśī)
• देव्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• गृहीत-कण्ठस्य: of (me) whose throat/neck was grasped
• गृहीत-कण्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् क्त) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (मे/चेतसः) — ‘of (me) whose neck was seized’

• न: not
• न: Kriya-nishedha (क्रियानिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• आयुः-खण्डाः: pieces/segments of life
• आयुः-खण्डाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (आयुः-खण्डाः)

• स्मृताः: are remembered/considered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (आयुः-खण्डाः)

Characters & Entities

• Aila (Purūravā)
• Urvaśī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about lust (kāma) and delusion (moha)?

This verse shows that lust contaminates the mind and expands delusion so powerfully that one fails to notice life itself slipping away—time is consumed without awareness.

Why did King Purūravā (Aila) speak this verse about Urvaśī?

After being overwhelmed by attachment to Urvaśī, he reflects in remorse that his infatuation made him forget the passing of his own lifespan, revealing the bondage created by uncontrolled desire.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Guard the mind from obsession and compulsive desire; regularly reflect on time’s value, practice restraint, and redirect attention toward devotion and purposeful living.