Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 22

Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly

Devanagari script

गृहेषु कूटधर्मेषु सक्तो ग्राम्यसुखेच्छया । कर्मतन्त्रं वितनुते वेदवादविपन्नधी: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

gṛheṣu kūṭa-dharmeṣu sakto grāmya-sukhecchayā karma-tantraṁ vitanute veda-vāda-vipanna-dhīḥ

Translation

Wer an der heuchlerischen Religiosität des Hauslebens hängt, aus Verlangen nach weltlichem Glück, und sich an oberflächlichen Erklärungen der Veden berauscht, dessen Einsicht verdirbt; und er breitet das Karma-kāṇḍa aus, als wäre es das Ganze.

Synonyms

• gṛheṣu: in houses, in household life
• gṛheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kūṭa-dharmeṣu: in hypocritical duties
• kūṭa-dharmeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: kūṭāḥ dharmāḥ (false/pretended duties); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saktaḥ: attached
• saktaḥ: Kartṛ-predicative (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) from √sañj/√saj (सञ्ज्/सज्) ‘attached’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• grāmya-sukha-icchayā: by desire for worldly pleasure
• grāmya-sukha-icchayā: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāmya (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: grāmyasya sukhasya icchā; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• karma-tantram: a system of ritual action
• karma-tantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + tantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: karmaṇāṁ tantraṁ (system/complex of rituals/actions); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vitanute: spreads out, elaborates
• vitanute: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-tan (धातु)
• Form: Dhātu: √tan (तन्) with vi-; Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• veda-vāda-vipanna-dhīḥ: one whose understanding is spoiled by Vedic argumentation
• veda-vāda-vipanna-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक) + vipanna (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: veda-vāda-vipannā dhīḥ yasya saḥ (whose intellect is ruined by Vedic disputation/wordy doctrine); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

Persons who identify with bodily existence are attached to the fruitive activities described in the Vedic literature. For example, in the Vedas it is said that one who observes the cāturmāsya vow will attain eternal happiness in the heavenly kingdom. In Bhagavad-gītā, it is said that this flowery language of the Vedas mostly attracts persons who identify with the body. To them such happiness as that of the heavenly kingdom is everything; they do not know that beyond that is the spiritual kingdom, or kingdom of God, and they have no knowledge that one can go there. Thus they are bereft of transcendental knowledge. Such persons are very careful in observing the rules and regulations of household life in order to be promoted in the next life to the moon or other heavenly planets. It is stated here that such persons are attached to grāmya-sukha, which means “material happiness,” without knowledge of eternal, blissful, spiritual life.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about karma-kanda ritualism and bondage?

This verse warns that craving for worldly enjoyment makes one expand the web of fruitive rituals, keeping the soul bound instead of reaching the Vedas’ true aim—purification and devotion.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 2, and what is the point being made?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī explains that when dharma is practiced for selfish ends and sense pleasure, one becomes trapped in karma and loses the real understanding of the Vedic purpose.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Avoid turning spirituality into a tool for status or material gain; practice dharma to purify the heart—prioritizing sincerity, self-control, and devotion over mere ritual and debate.