Shloka 35

The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire

Devanagari script

एतावज्जन्मसाफल्यं देहिनामिह देहिषु । प्राणैरर्थैर्धिया वाचा श्रेयआचरणं सदा ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

etāvaj janma-sāphalyaṁ dehinām iha dehiṣu prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā śreya-ācaraṇaṁ sadā

Translation

Dies ist der wahre Sinn der Geburt der Verkörperten: stets zum Wohl anderer zu handeln mit Leben, Besitz, Einsicht und Wort.

Synonyms

• एतावत्: this much, so much
• एतावत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (quantitative)

• जन्म-साफल्यम्: the fulfillment/success of (one’s) birth
• जन्म-साफल्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + साफल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—जन्मनः साफल्यम् (success of birth)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha/Kaala-adhikarana (देश/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here/in this world)

• देहिषु: among embodied beings
• देहिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्राणैः: with one’s life-breaths, with life
• प्राणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अर्थैः: with wealth/resources
• अर्थैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धिया: with intellect
• धिया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाचा: with speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रेयः-आचरणम्: practice of what is best (beneficial conduct)
• श्रेयः-आचरणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + आचरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—श्रेयसः आचरणम् (practice of the good)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kaala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

Purport

This translation is quoted from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Ādi-līlā 9.42).

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the real success of birth (janma-sāphalya)?

It says life becomes successful when one consistently practices śreyas—the highest auspicious good—using one’s life-energy, resources, intelligence, and speech.

Why did Krishna say this in Bhagavatam 10.22?

In the Kaṭyāyanī-vrata context, Kṛṣṇa instructs the gopīs on proper conduct and the higher purpose of embodied life—directing all capacities toward what is truly auspicious and spiritually elevating.

How can I apply ‘prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā’ in modern life?

Offer your time and effort (prāṇa), money and skills (artha), thoughtful choices (dhī), and truthful, kind speech (vācā) toward dharma and devotion—daily and consistently.