Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 21

Purūravā’s Song of Renunciation and the Glory of Sādhu-saṅga

Devanagari script

त्वङ्‍मांसरुधिरस्‍नायुमेदोमज्जास्थिसंहतौ । विण्मूत्रपूये रमतां कृमीणां कियदन्तरम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tvaṅ-māṁsa-rudhira-snāyu- medo-majjāsthi-saṁhatau viṇ-mūtra-pūye ramatāṁ kṛmīṇāṁ kiyad antaram

Translation

What difference is there between ordinary worms and those who seek enjoyment in this body—an aggregate of skin, flesh, blood, sinew, fat, marrow and bone, filled with stool, urine and pus?

Synonyms

• त्वक्-मांस-रुधिर-स्नायु-मेदस्-मज्जा-अस्थि-संहतौ: in the conglomeration of skin, flesh, blood, sinews, fat, marrow and bones
• त्वक्-मांस-रुधिर-स्नायु-मेदस्-मज्जा-अस्थि-संहतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक) + मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + संहति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative aggregate); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the mass/collection)

• विण्-मूत्र-पूये: in feces, urine and pus
• विण्-मूत्र-पूये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विण् (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative: feces, urine, pus); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• रमताम्: let (them) delight
• रमताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आज्ञार्थे/अनुज्ञार्थे

• कृमीणाम्: of worms
• कृमीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of worms)

• कियत्: how much? what (difference)?
• कियत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कियत् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक; अन्तरम् इति विशेषणम्

• अन्तरम्: difference, interval
• अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नविषय/कर्म

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment to the body (deha-abhimana)?

This verse critiques bodily identification by describing the body as a bundle of impure ingredients and asks what distinguishes a body-centered enjoyer from worms that relish filth—urging detachment and higher spiritual taste.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

While instructing Uddhava in the Uddhava-gītā, Krishna emphasizes vairāgya (dispassion) so Uddhava can transcend material desire and fix his consciousness in devotion and the soul’s true identity.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Reduce obsessive body-centered living (vanity, indulgence, lust) by remembering the body’s temporary nature, cultivating purity and restraint, and redirecting pleasure-seeking into bhakti practices like chanting, hearing, and service.