Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 14

Pṛthu Mahārāja Meets the Four Kumāras: Bhakti as the Boat Across Saṁsāra

Devanagari script

भवत्सु कुशलप्रश्न आत्मारामेषु नेष्यते । कुशलाकुशला यत्र न सन्ति मतिवृत्तय: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

bhavatsu kuśala-praśna ātmārāmeṣu neṣyate kuśalākuśalā yatra na santi mati-vṛttayaḥ

Translation

আপোনালোক আত্মাৰাম মহাপুৰুষ; সেয়ে আপোনালোকৰ কুশল-অকুশল সুধাৰ প্ৰয়োজন নাই, কাৰণ আপোনালোক সদায় আত্মানন্দত নিমগ্ন। য’ত শুভ-অশুভৰ কল্পনাজাত মনোবৃত্তি নাই, ত’ত সৌভাগ্য-দুৰ্ভাগ্যৰ প্ৰশ্ন কেনেকৈ উঠিব?

Synonyms

• bhavatsu: among you/in you
• bhavatsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) बहुवचनम्; आदरार्थक-प्रातिपदिक (honorific ‘you’)

• kuśala-praśnaḥ: the inquiry about welfare
• kuśala-praśnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśala + praśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—कुशलस्य प्रश्नः (inquiry about welfare)

• ātmārāmeṣu: among the self-satisfied
• ātmārāmeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma + ārāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—आत्मनि आरामः येषु (those who delight in the Self)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• īṣyate: is desired/considered necessary
• īṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is desired/considered)

• kuśala-akuśalāḥ: good and bad (states)
• kuśala-akuśalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśala + akuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; द्वन्द्वः (pair)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/relative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb) = where

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• santi: exist/are
• santi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्

• mati-vṛttayaḥ: mental fluctuations/activities
• mati-vṛttayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—मतेः वृत्तयः (mental modifications)

Purport

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Antya 4.176) it is said:

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Sanandana
• Sanātana
• Sanat-kumāra
• Pṛthu Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about an ātmārāma (self-satisfied soul)?

This verse says that for ātmārāmas—those absorbed in the Self—ordinary concerns of worldly ‘welfare’ don’t meaningfully apply, because the mind is no longer driven by dualities like auspicious and inauspicious.

Why did the Kumāras say this to King Pṛthu in Canto 4?

In their conversation with Pṛthu, the Kumāras highlight the transcendental platform of self-realized devotees, indicating that true spiritual realization rises above material calculations of good and bad.

Practical application: how can I rise above ‘good’ and ‘bad’ mental reactions in daily life?

By cultivating steady devotion and inner remembrance of the Lord, one gradually reduces reactive mental tendencies and learns to act from spiritual clarity rather than anxiety over worldly outcomes.