Shloka 35

Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Warnings on Sensual Attachment; Praise of Brāhmaṇas, Purāṇa-Listening, and Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

जनार्द्दनांघ्रिसेवा हि ह्यपुनर्भवदायिनी । नारीणां योनिसेवा हि योनिसंकटकारिणी

Transliteration

janārddanāṃghrisevā hi hyapunarbhavadāyinī | nārīṇāṃ yonisevā hi yonisaṃkaṭakāriṇī

Translation

Der Dienst an den Füßen Janārdanas verleiht wahrlich die Gabe, nicht wiedergeboren zu werden; doch das Sichhingeben an sexuelle Lust mit Frauen bringt gewiss Gefahr und Bedrängnis im Schoß — erneute Verstrickung in Geburt um Geburt.

Word by Word

• जनार्दन-अङ्घ्रि-सेवा: service to Janārdana’s feet
• जनार्दन-अङ्घ्रि-सेवा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जनार्दनस्य अङ्घ्र्योः सेवा)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; अव्यय (पूर्वपद-समर्थनार्थं पुनरुक्तिः)

• अपुनर्भव-दायिनी: granting non-rebirth (liberation)
• अपुनर्भव-दायिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपुनर्भव (प्रातिपदिक) + दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातुज)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अपुनर्भवं ददाति इति)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• योनि-सेवा: service/indulgence in the womb (sexual indulgence)
• योनि-सेवा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (योनेः सेवा)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; अव्यय

• योनि-संकट-कारिणी: causing the distress of (re-entering) the womb
• योनि-संकट-कारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + संकट (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातुज)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (योनि-संकटं करोति इति)

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent within Svargakhaṇḍa 3.61 dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: जनार्द्दनांघ्रिसेवा → जनार्दन-अङ्घ्रि-सेवा; ह्यपुनर्भवदायिनी → हि + अपुनर्भव-दायिनी; योनिसंकटकारिणी → योनि-संकट-कारिणी

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the central teaching of this Padma Purana verse?

It contrasts two paths: devotion expressed as service to Viṣṇu (Janārdana), which leads toward liberation, versus sensual indulgence, which leads to further bondage and repeated birth.

What does “apunarbhava” mean here?

Apunarbhava literally means “non-return,” i.e., freedom from rebirth (mokṣa or release from saṃsāra).

What ethical lesson does this verse emphasize?

It encourages vairāgya (dispassion) and disciplined living, presenting devotion and service to God as spiritually elevating while warning against attachment-driven sensuality as a cause of continued suffering and rebirth.