Shloka 22

Devanagari script

क्‍वचिच्चिरायुर्न हि शीलमङ्गलं क्‍वचित् तदप्यस्ति न वेद्यमायुष: । यत्रोभयं कुत्र च सोऽप्यमङ्गल: सुमङ्गल: कश्च न काङ्‌क्षते हि माम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

kvacic cirāyur na hi śīla-maṅgalaṁ kvacit tad apy asti na vedyam āyuṣaḥ yatrobhayaṁ kutra ca so ’py amaṅgalaḥ sumaṅgalaḥ kaśca na kāṅkṣate hi mām

Translation

One may have longevity yet lack auspicious conduct; another may be well-behaved and auspicious, yet his lifespan is uncertain. Even where both appear, some inauspicious habit remains—Lord Śiva, though deathless, dwells in cremation grounds and the like. And even those qualified in every way, if not devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, do not desire me either.

Synonyms

• kvacit: sometimes
• kvacit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (sometimes)

• cirāyuḥ: long life
• cirāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cira + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (ciraṁ āyuḥ = long life)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थ-अव्यय

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• śīla-maṅgalam: auspicious character
• śīla-maṅgalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīla + maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (predicate-noun); समासः—कर्मधारयः (maṅgalaṁ śīlam = auspicious character)

• kvacit: sometimes
• kvacit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (sometimes)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थ-निपात (also/even)

• asti: exists/is
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थ-अव्यय

• vedyam: knowable
• vedyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: वेद्य = √vid (धातु) यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/potential passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• āyuṣaḥ: of life
• āyuṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• ubhayam: both
• ubhayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (both [are])

• kutra: where?
• kutra: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutra (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थ-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: where?)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (even/also)

• amaṅgalaḥ: inauspicious
• amaṅgalaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amaṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• sumaṅgalaḥ: most auspicious
• sumaṅgalaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sumaṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• kaśca: and who (then)?
• kaśca: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + ca (सर्वनाम + अव्यय)
• Form: kaḥ (kim) पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन + च (conjunction); सन्ध्यन्तरगत-समुच्चय

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थ-अव्यय

• kāṅkṣate: desires/longs for
• kāṅkṣate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kāṅkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about true auspiciousness?

This verse teaches that long life and good character alone do not guarantee real auspiciousness; the Lord Himself is the supreme auspiciousness, and desiring His shelter is the highest good.

Why did Lord Vishnu say this to the demigods during Samudra Manthan?

Amid their anxiety for success and safety, the Lord redirects their focus from temporary advantages (longevity, virtue, prosperity) to the ultimate goal—seeking Him, the sure source of all auspiciousness.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Do not measure success only by health, lifespan, or social respectability; prioritize devotion and remembrance of the Lord, making spiritual shelter the foundation of all goals.