Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

क्‍वचिच्छीतवाताद्यनेकदैविकभौतिकात्मीयानां दु:खानां प्रतिनिवारणेऽकल्पो दुरन्तविषयविषण्ण आस्ते ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

kvacic chīta-vātādy-aneka-daivika-bhautikātmīyānāṁ duḥkhānāṁ pratinivāraṇe ’kalpo duranta-viṣaya-viṣaṇṇa āste.

Translation

The conditioned soul suffers many miserable bodily conditions, such as being affected by severe cold and strong winds. He also suffers due to the activities of other living beings and due to natural disturbances. When he is unable to counteract them and has to remain in a miserable condition, he naturally becomes very morose because he wants to enjoy material facilities.

Synonyms

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: क्रियाविशेषण (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (indefinite adverb: 'somewhere/sometimes')

• शीत-वात-आदि-अनेक-दैविक-भौतिक-आत्मीयानाम्: of (those) many sufferings—due to cold, wind, etc., divine, elemental, and personal
• शीत-वात-आदि-अनेक-दैविक-भौतिक-आत्मीयानाम्: सम्बन्ध (ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वात (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अनेक (प्रातिपदिक) + दैविक (प्रातिपदिक) + भौतिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन; षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/genitive); (दुःखानाम्) विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष-प्रधानः (शीतवातादि-प्रभृतयः अनेकाः दैविकभौतिकात्मीयाः)

• दुःखानाम्: of sufferings
• दुःखानाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• प्रतिनिवारणे: in warding off/remedying
• प्रतिनिवारणे: अधिकरण (adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिनिवारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचन; भाववाचक (action-noun)

• अकल्पः: incapable
• अकल्पः: कर्ता (kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; न-समास/नञ्-प्रत्ययार्थः (incapable)

• दुरन्त-विषय-विषण्णः: dejected due to hard-to-overcome sense-objects
• दुरन्त-विषय-विषण्णः: कर्ता (kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विषय (प्रातिपदिक) + विषण्ण (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्ठा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दुरन्तेषु विषयेषु विषण्णः)

• आस्ते: remains/sits
• आस्ते: क्रिया (kriyā/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the threefold miseries (tri-tāpa)?

This verse states that a conditioned soul is often unable to counteract miseries arising from higher forces (ādhidaivika), other beings/material conditions (ādhibhautika), and one’s own body and mind (ādhyātmika), and thus becomes dejected in endless sense enjoyment.

Why is the conditioned soul described as helpless against suffering in Canto 5 Chapter 14?

Śukadeva explains that because the soul is absorbed in duranta-viṣaya—endless pursuit of sense objects—he lacks the capacity (akalpa) to truly ward off suffering, remaining trapped in repeated distress.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Recognize that many problems cannot be fully controlled by external adjustments; reduce dependence on sense gratification and cultivate spiritual practice (bhakti) to gain steadiness amid unavoidable miseries.