Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 37

Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā

Devanagari script

न नाकपृष्ठं न च सार्वभौमं न पारमेष्ठ्यं न रसाधिपत्यम् । न योगसिद्धीरपुनर्भवं वा वाञ्छन्ति यत्पादरज:प्रपन्ना: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

na nāka-pṛṣṭhaṁ na ca sārva-bhaumaṁ na pārameṣṭhyaṁ na rasādhipatyam na yoga-siddhīr apunar-bhavaṁ vā vāñchanti yat-pāda-rajaḥ-prapannāḥ

Translation

Those who have taken shelter of the dust of Your lotus feet do not desire the kingship of heaven, limitless sovereignty, the post of Brahmā, or dominion over the earth. They do not seek the perfections of yoga, nor even liberation from rebirth.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (निषेध-अव्यय), negation particle

• nāka-pṛṣṭham: the heavenly world (heaven’s surface)
• nāka-pṛṣṭham: Karma (कर्म/direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāka (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: nākasya pṛṣṭham

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (निषेध-अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (समुच्चय-अव्यय), conjunction

• sārva-bhaumam: universal sovereignty (over the earth)
• sārva-bhaumam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhauma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: sārvaṁ bhaumaṁ (universal earthly sovereignty)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (निषेध-अव्यय)

• pārameṣṭhyam: the post/realm of Brahmā (Parameṣṭhin)
• pārameṣṭhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārameṣṭhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (निषेध-अव्यय)

• rasādhipatyam: lordship over Rasātala (nether regions)
• rasādhipatyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādhipatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: rasānām ādhipatyam

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (निषेध-अव्यय)

• yoga-siddhīḥ: mystic perfections
• yoga-siddhīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: yogasya siddhayaḥ

• apunar-bhavam: freedom from rebirth
• apunar-bhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + punar (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: apunaḥ-bhavaḥ (no rebirth)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (विकल्प-अव्यय), disjunctive particle

• vāñchanti: they desire
• vāñchanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vāñch (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• yat-pāda-rajaḥ-prapannāḥ: those who have taken refuge in the dust of whose feet
• yat-pāda-rajaḥ-prapannāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक) + pra-√pad (धातु) + prapanna (कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana; prapanna = kta-participle (क्त) from pra-√pad; compound: yat-pāda (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: whose feet) + rajaḥ (dust) + prapannāḥ (those who have taken refuge)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about devotees not wanting moksha?

This verse states that those surrendered to the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet do not even desire apunarbhava (freedom from rebirth), because their fulfillment is loving shelter and service to Him, not any separate reward.

Why does Shukadeva Goswami emphasize that devotees reject heaven and siddhis?

In narrating Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Śukadeva highlights the Bhagavata’s core conclusion: bhakti is independent and superior to material elevation (svarga, kingship) and even spiritual attainment sought as a goal (siddhis, moksha).

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Prioritize devotion over outcomes: practice sincere prayer, chanting, and ethical living without bargaining for status, powers, or even “spiritual achievements,” and instead cultivate steady dependence on Kṛṣṇa’s shelter.