Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 42

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

तस्यावितु: स्थिरचरेशितुरङ्‍‍घ्रिमूलं यत्स्थं न कर्मगुणकालरज: स्पृशन्ति । यद् वै स्तुवन्ति निनमन्ति यजन्त्यभीक्ष्णं ध्यायन्ति वेदहृदया मुनयस्तदाप्‍त्यै ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

tasyāvituḥ sthira-careśitur aṅghri-mūlaṁ yat-sthaṁ na karma-guṇa-kāla-rajaḥ spṛśanti yad vai stuvanti ninamanti yajanty abhīkṣṇaṁ dhyāyanti veda-hṛdayā munayas tad-āptyai

Translation

Weil Du der Beschützer und höchste Lenker aller beweglichen und unbeweglichen Wesen bist, wird, wer bei Deinen Lotosfüßen Zuflucht nimmt, niemals von der Verunreinigung durch Karma, Guṇas oder Zeit berührt. Große Weise, die den Wesenskern der Veden aufgenommen haben, preisen Dich; um Deine Gemeinschaft zu erlangen, verneigen sie sich bei jeder Gelegenheit, verehren Dich unablässig und meditieren über Dich.

Synonyms

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• avituḥ: of the protector
• avituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: av (धातु) + tṛ (कृत्)
• Form: Agent noun (तृच्/तृ), Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; 'protector'

• sthira-cara-īśituḥ: of the Lord of the moving and unmoving
• sthira-cara-īśituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक) + īśitṛ/īśitu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'sthira-caraṇām īśitā' = ruler of the moving and unmoving

• aṅghri-mūlam: the root of (his) feet
• aṅghri-mūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; 'feet-root' = base of the feet

• yat-stham: in which (all is) situated
• yat-stham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'yasmin stham' = situated in which; qualifies aṅghri-mūlam

• na: not
• na: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• karma-guṇa-kāla-rajaḥ: action, qualities, time, and (material) dust
• karma-guṇa-kāla-rajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; dvandva (samāhāra): action, qualities, time, and dust/impurity

• spṛśanti: touch
• spṛśanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā/Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to aṅghri-mūlam

• vai: indeed
• vai: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis

• stuvanti: praise
• stuvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• ninamanti: bow down
• ninamanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-nam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• yajanti: worship/sacrifice to
• yajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• abhīkṣṇam: constantly
• abhīkṣṇam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhīkṣṇam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'repeatedly/constantly'

• dhyāyanti: meditate on
• dhyāyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• veda-hṛdayāḥ: Veda-hearted (Veda-centered)
• veda-hṛdayāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: 'whose heart is (filled with) Veda'

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• tat-āptyai: for attaining that
• tat-āptyai: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + āpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana; 'tasya āptiḥ' attainment of that

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about being untouched by karma and time?

This verse says that at the Lord’s lotus feet there is a state not touched by the contamination of karma, the material modes, or time, and that sages seek it through constant devotion.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize praising, bowing, worshiping and meditating?

He presents these as practical limbs of bhakti by which realized sages attain the Lord’s shelter—the transcendental position beyond material influence.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Adopt a steady daily practice of bhakti—regular glorification (kīrtana), respectful humility (namaskāra), worship (sevā/arcana), and meditation (smaraṇa)—to reduce material agitation and deepen spiritual shelter.