Shloka 45

Devanagari script

कस्तं प्रजापदेशं वै मोहबन्धनमात्मन: । पण्डितो बहु मन्येत यदर्था: क्लेशदा गृहा: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

kas taṁ prajāpadeśaṁ vai moha-bandhanam ātmanaḥ paṇḍito bahu manyeta yad-arthāḥ kleśadā gṛhāḥ

Translation

Who, if thoughtful and intelligent, would desire such a worthless son? Such a son is only a bond of illusion for the soul, and he makes one’s home a place of misery.

Synonyms

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रजापदेशम्: the pretext of having children
• प्रजापदेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-अपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रजायाः अपदेशः/प्रजां अपदिश्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘pretext/excuse of progeny’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चयार्थक/particle of emphasis)

• मोहबन्धनम्: bondage of delusion
• मोहबन्धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह-बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मोहस्य बन्धनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पण्डितः: a learned man
• पण्डितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बहु: much
• बहु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणम्/adverb): ‘much/greatly’

• मन्येत: would consider
• मन्येत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (मन्यते) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• यदर्थाः: for whose sake
• यदर्थाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद्-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यस्य अर्थः/यदर्थम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘for which purpose/for whose sake’ (qualifying gṛhāḥ)

• क्लेशदाः: giving suffering
• क्लेशदाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लेश-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्लेशं ददाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• गृहाः: homes/household life
• गृहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment to family life (grihastha)?

This verse warns that when household life is pursued mainly for progeny and worldly expansion, it can become moha-bandhana—bondage in illusion—bringing kleśa (distress) rather than liberation.

Why does Shukadeva Gosvami criticize ‘praja-padesha’ (the pretext of progeny)?

He highlights that merely justifying material entanglement in the name of children or lineage can bind the soul; wisdom is to see through the pretext and seek spiritual freedom through devotion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Treat family duties as service to God rather than ego-driven expansion; reduce possessiveness, simplify life, and prioritize bhakti—so responsibilities don’t become bondage.