Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 48

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

विद्यातप:प्राणनिरोधमैत्री- तीर्थाभिषेकव्रतदानजप्यै: । नात्यन्तशुद्धिं लभतेऽन्तरात्मा यथा हृदिस्थे भगवत्यनन्ते ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

vidyā-tapaḥ-prāṇa-nirodha-maitrī- tīrthābhiṣeka-vrata-dāna-japyaiḥ nātyanta-śuddhiṁ labhate ’ntarātmā yathā hṛdi-sthe bhagavaty anante

Translation

Durch Verehrung der Halbgötter, Askese, Atemzähmung, Mitgefühl, Bäder an heiligen Orten, Gelübde, Almosen und Mantra-Rezitation erlangt das innere Selbst nicht jene vollkommene Reinheit, wie wenn der unendliche Bhagavān Ananta im Herzen erscheint.

Synonyms

• विद्या-तपः-प्राण-निरोध-मैत्री-तीर्थ-अभिषेक-व्रत-दान-जप्यैः: by learning, austerity, breath-control, friendliness, holy-bath, vows, charity, and recitation
• विद्या-तपः-प्राण-निरोध-मैत्री-तीर्थ-अभिषेक-व्रत-दान-जप्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + निरोध (प्रातिपदिक) + मैत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + जप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/सूची-समास; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (करणे)

• न: not
• न: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अत्यन्त-शुद्धिम्: complete purity
• अत्यन्त-शुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय) + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• लभते: attains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अन्तरात्मा: the inner self
• अन्तरात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamāna/Prakāra (उपमान/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारार्थक (as/just as)

• हृदि-स्थे: situated in the heart
• हृदि-स्थे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (हृदि स्थितः); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘भगवति’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भगवति: in the Lord
• भगवति: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अनन्ते: the infinite (Ananta)
• अनन्ते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘भगवति’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Ananta)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the highest way to purify the heart?

This verse says that the deepest purification of the inner self comes from the Supreme Lord (Ananta) being present in the heart—i.e., devotion and inner God-consciousness—more than external disciplines alone.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize the Lord in the heart over pilgrimage, vows, and austerity?

In the Kali-yuga context, Śukadeva teaches Parīkṣit that external practices are helpful but incomplete without direct remembrance and devotion to Bhagavān within; inner connection surpasses mere ritual performance.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Keep spiritual practices, but prioritize daily remembrance—hearing and chanting about the Lord, sincere prayer, and cultivating inner devotion—so that discipline becomes heart-transforming rather than only external.