Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 5

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

एतत् कमलपत्राक्ष कर्मबन्धविमोचनम् । भक्ताय चानुरक्ताय ब्रूहि विश्वेश्वरेश्वर ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

etat kamala-patrākṣa karma-bandha-vimocanam bhaktāya cānuraktāya brūhi viśveśvareśvara

Translation

O lotus-eyed one, O Supreme Lord of all the lords of the universe, please explain properly to Your devoted and affectionate servant this means of liberation from the bondage of karma.

Synonyms

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एतद्-सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• kamala-patra-akṣa: O lotus-petal-eyed one
• kamala-patra-akṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ('whose eyes are like lotus-petals'); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• karma-bandha-vimocanam: the liberation from the bondage of karma
• karma-bandha-vimocanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + bandha (प्रातिपदिक) + vimocana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: 'release from bondage of karma'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to etat

• bhaktāya: to a devotee
• bhaktāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anuraktāya: to one who is attached (lovingly devoted)
• anuraktāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; qualifying bhaktāya

• brūhi: tell, speak
• brūhi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• viśva-īśvara-īśvara: O Lord of the Lord of the universe (Supreme Lord)
• viśva-īśvara-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'lord of the lord of the universe' / 'supreme lord'); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Shri Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about freedom from karma bondage?

In this verse, Uddhava asks Krishna to teach the method that releases one from karma-bandha, indicating that liberation is attained through the Lord’s instructed devotional process rather than mere ritual action.

Why did Uddhava ask Krishna to explain this teaching?

Uddhava, as Krishna’s devoted and loving servant, seeks direct guidance from the Supreme Lord on the practical means of becoming free from karmic entanglement—setting the stage for Krishna’s instructions on worship and devotion in this chapter.

Practical application of becoming free from karma in modern life?

Approach spiritual practice with devotion and loving attachment to God, seeking clear instruction and applying it consistently—so actions become offerings rather than bindings, gradually reducing karmic anxiety and compulsive material motivation.