Shloka 18

The Deliverance of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva

Yamala-Arjuna Līlā Prelude and Culmination

Devanagari script

साधूनां समचित्तानां मुकुन्दचरणैषिणाम् । उपेक्ष्यै: किं धनस्तम्भैरसद्भ‍िरसदाश्रयै: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sādhūnāṁ sama-cittānāṁ mukunda-caraṇaiṣiṇām upekṣyaiḥ kiṁ dhana-stambhair asadbhir asad-āśrayaiḥ

Translation

Saintly persons, equal-minded, seek the feet of Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) and remember Him day and night, having no other aim. Why should one neglect the company of such exalted souls and instead associate with materialists proud of wealth, taking shelter of nondevotees and the impure?

Synonyms

• साधूनाम्: of the saints
• साधूनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• सम: equal
• सम: समासाङ्ग
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• चित्तानाम्: of minds
• चित्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासान्तपद

• समचित्तानाम्: of the even-minded
• समचित्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् (to साधूनाम्)

• मुकुन्द: Mukunda (Krishna)
• मुकुन्द: समासाङ्ग
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुकुन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (in compound)

• चरण: feet
• चरण: समासाङ्ग
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (in compound)

• एषिणाम्: of seekers
• एषिणाम्: सम्बन्ध-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘seeking’

• मुकुन्द-चरण-एषिणाम्: of those who seek Mukunda’s feet
• मुकुन्द-चरण-एषिणाम्: सम्बन्ध-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुकुन्द + चरण + एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (to साधूनाम्)

• उपेक्ष्यैः: by/with those fit to be neglected
• उपेक्ष्यैः: करण (Instrumental of comparison/association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपेक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from उप-ईक्ष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तव्य/य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be neglected’), विशेषणम्

• किम्: what (use?)
• किम्: निपात (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative particle)

• धन: wealth
• धन: समासाङ्ग
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (in compound)

• स्तम्भैः: by prides / arrogances
• स्तम्भैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• धन-स्तम्भैः: by pride of wealth
• धन-स्तम्भैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः

• असद्भिः: by the wicked
• असद्भिः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• असत्: bad / wicked
• असत्: समासाङ्ग
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• आश्रयैः: by shelters / dependences
• आश्रयैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• असत्-आश्रयैः: with wicked supports / taking refuge in the wicked
• असत्-आश्रयैः: करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (to धन-स्तम्भैः / implied persons)

Purport

A sādhu is one who is engaged in devotional service to the Lord without deviation ( bhajate mām ananya-bhāk ).

Characters & Entities

• Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride in wealth?

This verse teaches that pride born of wealth is spiritually useless to true sādhus; devotees seeking Mukunda’s feet simply disregard such arrogance and impiety.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe materialistic people as fit to be ignored?

In the narrative context of Canto 10, Chapter 10, he contrasts the saintly, equal-minded devotees with those attached to impure shelter and wealth-pride, emphasizing that bhakti thrives by avoiding such association.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Seek the company of sincere devotees, stay focused on devotion to Kṛṣṇa, and don’t be pulled into status, ego, or toxic influence driven by money and pride.