Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 53

The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend

Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination

Devanagari script

अपि स्मरसि चात्मानमविज्ञातसखं सखे । हित्वा मां पदमन्विच्छन् भौमभोगरतो गत: ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

api smarasi cātmānam avijñāta-sakhaṁ sakhe hitvā māṁ padam anvicchan bhauma-bhoga-rato gataḥ

Translation

Der Brāhmaṇa fuhr fort: Mein lieber Freund, auch wenn du mich nicht sogleich erkennst, erinnerst du dich nicht an den sehr vertrauten Freund von einst? Leider gabst du meine Gemeinschaft auf und, den irdischen Genüssen zugetan, wurdest du zum Genießer dieser materiellen Welt.

Synonyms

• अपि: indeed, perhaps
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (particle: also/even/indeed)

• स्मरसि: you remember
• स्मरसि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आत्मानम्: yourself/the self
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अविज्ञातसखम्: (as) an unknown friend
• अविज्ञातसखम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविज्ञात + सख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): अविज्ञातः सखा यस्य/यम् (unknown friend)

• सखे: O friend
• सखे: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; अर्थ: त्यक्त्वा (having abandoned)

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पदम्: place, position
• पदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्विच्छन्: seeking
• अन्विच्छन्: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्वि-इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अनु-

• भौमभोगरतः: attached to earthly pleasures
• भौमभोगरतः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भौम + भोग + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative): भौमे भोगे रतः (attached to earthly enjoyments)

• गतः: gone
• गतः: क्रिया-विशेषण/कर्ता (Predicate/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: गच्छितः (gone)

Purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.27) :

Characters & Entities

• Paramātmā (Unknown Friend)
• Jīva (conditioned soul / Purañjana allegory)

FAQs

Who is the ‘unknown friend’ (avijñāta-sakha) in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, the ‘unknown friend’ refers to Paramātmā, the Lord within the heart, who accompanies the jīva through all lives even when the soul forgets Him.

Why does the Supersoul say the soul ‘abandoned’ Him and went for earthly enjoyment?

The verse highlights how the conditioned soul turns away from inner divine guidance and seeks shelter in temporary material positions, becoming absorbed in bhauma-bhoga (worldly pleasures).

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Pause and remember the inner witness—seek lasting shelter through bhakti (hearing, chanting, prayer, and mindful choices) rather than chasing identity and security only through external, temporary gains.