Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 9

Nimi’s Disembodied Liberation and the Rise of the Mithilā (Videha) Dynasty

Devanagari script

यस्य योगं न वाञ्छन्ति वियोगभयकातरा: । भजन्ति चरणाम्भोजं मुनयो हरिमेधस: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

yasya yogaṁ na vāñchanti viyoga-bhaya-kātarāḥ bhajanti caraṇāmbhojaṁ munayo hari-medhasaḥ

Translation

Die Māyāvādīs, von der Furcht vor Trennung gequält, wünschen meist keinen Körper anzunehmen; doch die weisen Bhakta-Munis, deren Verstand vom Dienst an Hari erfüllt ist, sind furchtlos: Sie verehren den Lotos Seiner Füße und nutzen den Leib für liebenden, transzendenten Dienst.

Synonyms

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — ‘whose/of whom’

• योगम्: union, association
• योगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — object of ‘वाञ्छन्ति’

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• वाञ्छन्ति: desire
• वाञ्छन्ति: विधेय क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन — ‘desire’

• वियोगभयकातराः: distressed by fear of separation
• वियोगभयकातराः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वियोग (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + कातर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘distressed due to fear of separation’; qualifying ‘मुनयः’

• भजन्ति: worship
• भजन्ति: विधेय क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन — ‘worship/serve’

• चरणाम्भोजम्: lotus-feet
• चरणाम्भोजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘lotus-feet’ (feet which are like lotuses); object of ‘भजन्ति’

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — subject of ‘वाञ्छन्ति/भजन्ति’

• हरिमेधसः: Hari-minded, having intellect fixed on Hari
• हरिमेधसः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + मेधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘whose intelligence is in Hari’; qualifying ‘मुनयः’

Purport

Mahārāja Nimi did not want to accept a material body, which would be a cause of bondage; because he was a devotee, he wanted a body by which he could render devotional service to the Lord. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sings:

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

Does the Srimad Bhagavatam say that devotees may reject moksha?

Yes. This verse says sages absorbed in Hari do not desire even liberation; they prefer worship of the Lord’s lotus feet, fearing separation from Him.

Why do devotees fear separation from the Lord (viyoga-bhaya)?

Because their love is centered on personal service and remembrance of Hari; separation is more painful than any material suffering, so they choose constant devotion over impersonal liberation.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Prioritize daily bhakti—hearing, chanting, prayer, and service—so that love for God becomes the goal itself, not merely relief from problems or attainment of spiritual status.