Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 45

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

किमेतैरात्मनस्तुच्छै: सह देहेन नश्वरै: । अनर्थैरर्थसङ्काशैर्नित्यानन्दरसोदधे: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

kim etair ātmanas tucchaiḥ saha dehena naśvaraiḥ anarthair artha-saṅkāśair nityānanda-rasodadheḥ

Translation

All this paraphernalia is very near and dear as long as the body exists, but as soon as the body is destroyed, all things related to the body are also finished. Therefore, actually one has nothing to do with them, but because of ignorance one accepts them as valuable. Compared to the ocean of eternal happiness, they are most insignificant. What is the use of such insignificant relationships for the eternal living being?

Synonyms

• kim: what (use)?
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; interrogative used in sense ‘what (use)?’

• etaiḥ: with these
• etaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• ātmanaḥ: of the self
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tucchaiḥ: trifling, worthless
• tucchaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuccha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with etaiḥ

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition/particle (उपसर्गवत् अव्यय) governing Instrumental

• dehena: with the body
• dehena: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• naśvaraiḥ: perishable
• naśvaraiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with etaiḥ (and implied objects)

• anarthaiḥ: with misfortunes/evils
• anarthaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• artha-saṅkāśaiḥ: appearing as beneficial
• artha-saṅkāśaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; upamā/tatpuruṣa: artha-iva saṅkāśa ‘seeming like value’

• nitya-ānanda-rasa-udadheḥ: of the ocean of eternal bliss-rasa
• nitya-ānanda-rasa-udadheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + udadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: (nityānanda-rasa) udadheḥ

Purport

Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, is the ocean of eternal bliss. In comparison to this eternal bliss, the so-called happiness of society, friendship and love is simply useless and insignificant. One should therefore not be attached to temporary things. One should take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and become eternally happy.

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about material pleasures compared to spiritual bliss?

This verse says bodily and material gains are petty and perishable, only seeming valuable, whereas spiritual realization is an ocean of eternal bliss.

Why did Prahlada Maharaja speak about the body being perishable?

While instructing his classmates, Prahlada emphasized that identifying with the body leads to chasing useless goals, and urged them toward the eternal happiness of devotion and the soul.

How can I apply Prahlada’s teaching on anartha in modern life?

Treat status, possessions, and sensory thrills as temporary; prioritize daily bhakti practices (hearing, chanting, remembrance) that cultivate lasting inner joy beyond bodily identity.