Shloka 39

Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear

Devanagari script

देहे पञ्चत्वमापन्ने देही कर्मानुगोऽवश: । देहान्तरमनुप्राप्य प्राक्तनं त्यजते वपु: ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

dehe pañcatvam āpanne dehī karmānugo ’vaśaḥ dehāntaram anuprāpya prāktanaṁ tyajate vapuḥ

Translation

When this body returns to the five elements, the embodied soul, helplessly following karma, attains another body and abandons the former one.

Synonyms

• dehe: in the body
• dehe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• pañcatvam: the state of being fivefold (returning to the five elements)
• pañcatvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• āpanne: when (it) has reached/entered
• āpanne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpanna (कृदन्त; ā√pad धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana (Singular); agrees with dehe (locative absolute sense)

• dehī: the embodied soul
• dehī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• karma-anugaḥ: following (his) karma
• karma-anugaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma + anuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); upapada-tatpuruṣa: karmaṇām anugaḥ ‘following karma’; viśeṣaṇa of dehī

• avaśaḥ: helpless
• avaśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); viśeṣaṇa of dehī

• deha-antaram: another body
• deha-antaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: dehasya antaraḥ ‘another body’

• anuprāpya: having attained
• anuprāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√prāp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having reached/attained’

• prāktanam: former, previous
• prāktanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāktana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); viśeṣaṇa of vapuḥ

• tyajate: gives up, abandons
• tyajate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Ātmanepada

• vapuḥ: body
• vapuḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

Purport

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, which presents the beginning of spiritual understanding.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about what happens after death?

This verse explains that when the body dissolves back into the five elements, the soul continues on—carried by its karma—to accept another body, leaving the old one behind.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe rebirth in Canto 10 before Krishna’s pastimes?

He establishes the philosophical foundation: beings are bound by karma and helplessly transmigrate, whereas Krishna’s advent and bhakti offer the true path beyond bondage.

Practical application of karma and rebirth teachings in modern life?

Live with accountability—knowing actions shape future experience—and prioritize bhakti and sattvic conduct to reduce karmic entanglement and move toward liberation.