Shloka 51

Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

निर्जित्य दिक्‌च‌क्रमभूतविग्रहो वरासनस्थ: समराजवन्दित: । गृहेषु मैथुन्यसुखेषु योषितां क्रीडामृग: पूरुष ईश नीयते ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

nirjitya dik-cakram abhūta-vigraho varāsana-sthaḥ sama-rāja-vanditaḥ gṛheṣu maithunya-sukheṣu yoṣitāṁ krīḍā-mṛgaḥ pūruṣa īśa nīyate

Translation

Nachdem er den Kreis der Himmelsrichtungen bezwungen und frei von Streit geworden ist, sitzt der Mensch auf einem prächtigen Thron und empfängt Lob von Königen, die einst seine Gleichen waren. Doch betritt er die Gemächer der Frauen, wo Geschlechtslust ist, wird er wie ein Haustier herumgeführt, o Herr.

Synonyms

• nirjitya: having conquered
• nirjitya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir + ji (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √ji (जि) with prefix nir-; indeclinable verbal form

• dik-cakram: the circle of directions (all quarters)
• dik-cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dik (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘directions’ + ‘circle’ = ‘circle of directions’

• abhūta-vigrahaḥ: one of unprecedented form/valor
• abhūta-vigrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘unprecedented’ + ‘form/body’

• vara-āsana-sthaḥ: seated on a splendid throne
• vara-āsana-sthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘standing/sitting on a splendid seat’

• sama-rāja-vanditaḥ: praised by peer kings
• sama-rāja-vanditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + vandita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘by equal kings’ + ‘praised’ (vandita = past passive participle of √vand, वन्द्)

• gṛheṣu: in houses
• gṛheṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• maithunya-sukheṣu: in pleasures of sexual union
• maithunya-sukheṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithunya (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural; तत्पुरुष: ‘of sexual union’ + ‘pleasures’

• yoṣitām: of women
• yoṣitām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• krīḍā-mṛgaḥ: a plaything (like a pet animal)
• krīḍā-mṛgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘play’ + ‘animal’ = ‘plaything/ pet’

• pūruṣa: O man
• pūruṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• īśa: O Lord
• īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• nīyate: is led/dragged
• nīyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Mucukunda
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sense gratification even for powerful kings?

This verse teaches that even a world-conquering, throne-seated king can be dragged down by attachment to sexual pleasure, becoming controlled rather than truly sovereign.

Why did King Mucukunda speak about household pleasure to Lord Krishna?

After meeting Kṛṣṇa, Mucukunda offers sober self-realization: worldly honor and victory do not protect one from māyā; only turning to the Lord brings real freedom.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Treat status and success as temporary, guard against addiction to sensual pleasure, and cultivate devotion, discipline, and higher purpose so the senses do not control the mind.