Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20

Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas

Devanagari script

यथानेवंविदो भेदो यत आत्मविपर्यय: । देहयोगवियोगौ च संसृतिर्न निवर्तते ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

yathānevaṁ-vido bhedo yata ātma-viparyayaḥ deha-yoga-viyogau ca saṁsṛtir na nivartate

Translation

So long as one fails to know the true distinction between body and ātman, and through mistaken identity clings to the body, saṁsāra does not cease, being driven by bodily union and separation.

Synonyms

• यथा: as/when
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• विदः: of the knower
• विदः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘knower’ (agent noun)

• भेदः: difference
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतुवाचक (causal: because/for)

• आत्म-विपर्ययः: misapprehension about the self
• आत्म-विपर्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः विपर्ययः)

• देह-योग-वियोगौ: union and separation with the body
• देह-योग-वियोगौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + योग + वियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (योगः च वियोगः च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• संसृतिः: transmigration
• संसृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• निवर्तते: ceases/turns back
• निवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: नि

Purport

As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6) :

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about ending samsara (the cycle of birth and death)?

This verse says samsara continues as long as one misidentifies the self and clings to bodily union and separation; liberation comes through correcting this self-knowledge.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.4.20 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this philosophical point while narrating to King Parīkṣit, explaining how ignorance of the self sustains bondage.

How can I apply the teaching of deha-yoga and deha-viyoga in modern life?

Treat relationships and losses as changes related to the body and circumstances, while cultivating steady spiritual identity through bhakti and self-knowledge.