Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 16

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

आह त्वात्मानुभावेन पूर्णकामस्य ते विभो । करवाम किमीशान येनेदं निर्वृतं जगत् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

āha tv ātmānubhāvena pūrṇa-kāmasya te vibho karavāma kim īśāna yenedaṁ nirvṛtaṁ jagat

Translation

قال ماركنḍيَـا: يا ربَّ القدرة، أنت مكتفٍ تمامًا بنشوة ذاتك؛ فماذا عساي أن أفعل لك؟ إنما برحمتك يطمئن هذا العالم كلّه ويكتفي.

Synonyms

• आह: said/spoke
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• आत्म-अनुभावेन: by (your) own potency/influence
• आत्म-अनुभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः अनुभावः)

• पूर्ण-कामस्य: of the fully satisfied (one)
• पूर्ण-कामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पूर्णः कामः यस्य/पूर्णकामः)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विभो: O all-powerful one
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• करवाम: let us two do/make
• करवाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन (dual); परस्मैपदम्; ‘let us two do’

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• ईशान: O Lord (Īśāna)
• ईशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रश्नार्थक ‘by which’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• निर्वृतम्: made peaceful/satisfied
• निर्वृतम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate adj.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि√वृ/वृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Īśāna (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about God being self-satisfied (pūrṇa-kāma)?

This verse describes the Lord as pūrṇa-kāma—fully fulfilled in Himself—needing nothing, yet being the source of peace and fulfillment for the entire universe.

Why does the speaker ask, 'What can we do for You, O Lord?'

Because the Lord is complete and independent; the speaker expresses humility, recognizing that all well-being in the world already comes from Him, not from what others can add to Him.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Serve God and others without ego or the idea of “doing Him a favor,” cultivating gratitude and humility by remembering that all peace and prosperity ultimately come from the Supreme.