Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 24

The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings

Devanagari script

मुक्तस्ततो यदि बन्धाद्देवदत्त उपाच्छिनत्ति तस्मादपि विष्णुमित्र इत्यनवस्थिति: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

muktas tato yadi bandhād devadatta upācchinatti tasmād api viṣṇumitra ity anavasthitiḥ.

Translation

Stealing or cheating another person out of his money, the conditioned soul somehow or other keeps it in his possession and escapes punishment. Then another man, named Devadatta, cheats him and takes the money away. Similarly, another man, named Viṣṇumitra, steals the money from Devadatta and takes it away. In any case, the money does not stay in one place. It passes from one hand to another. Ultimately no one can enjoy the money, and it remains the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Synonyms

• मुक्तः: freed
• मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन

• ततः: therefrom/then
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निष्पन्न अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/क्रमार्थक (from that/thereupon)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• बन्धात्: from bondage
• बन्धात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• देवदत्तः: Devadatta
• देवदत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

• उप-अच्छिनत्ति: cuts off/interrupts
• उप-अच्छिनत्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: from that; therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• विष्णुमित्रः: Viṣṇumitra
• विष्णुमित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णुमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणार्थक (quotative particle: thus)

• अनवस्थितिः: non-finality; regress/indeterminacy
• अनवस्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनवस्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन

Purport

Riches come from Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, and the goddess of fortune is the property of Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The goddess of fortune cannot stay anywhere but by the side of Nārāyaṇa; therefore another of her names is Cañcalā, restless. She cannot be peaceful unless she is in the company of her husband, Nārāyaṇa. For example, Lakṣmī was carried away by the materialistic Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa kidnapped Sītā, the goddess of fortune belonging to Lord Rāma. As a result, Rāvaṇa’s entire family, opulence and kingdom were smashed, and Sītā, the goddess of fortune, was recovered from his clutches and reunited with Lord Rāma. Thus all property, riches and wealth belong to Kṛṣṇa. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) :

Characters & Entities

• Devadatta
• Viṣṇumitra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about repeated bondage in material life?

This verse explains that even after escaping one entanglement, a person often becomes bound by another, showing the instability of worldly attachments and the need for higher shelter.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Devadatta and Viṣṇumitra here?

They are illustrative examples used to show how the conditioned soul keeps replacing one attachment with another, without reaching a true end to material involvement.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Recognize the pattern of substituting one obsession or dependency for another, and redirect the heart toward steady spiritual practice—especially bhakti—rather than expecting lasting fulfillment from changing material ties.