Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana

Devanagari script

एत आत्महनोऽशान्ता अज्ञाने ज्ञानमानिन: । सीदन्त्यकृतकृत्या वै कालध्वस्तमनोरथा: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

eta ātma-hano ’śāntā ajñāne jñāna-māninaḥ sīdanty akṛta-kṛtyā vai kāla-dhvasta-manorathāḥ

Translation

These killers of the soul are never peaceful, for in ignorance they pride themselves on knowledge and think human intelligence is meant only to expand material life. Neglecting their true spiritual duties, they remain in distress; though filled with great hopes and dreams, these are always shattered by the inevitable march of time.

Synonyms

• एते: these (people)
• एते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• आत्महनः: self-killers / destroyers of the self
• आत्महनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु) → आत्महन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (आत्महन्-शब्दः; प्रथमा बहुवचनम् = आत्महनः); विशेषणवत्

• अशान्ताः: unpeaceful
• अशान्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अ (निषेध) → अशान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (एते इति)

• अज्ञाने: in ignorance
• अज्ञाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचनम्

• ज्ञानमानिनः: those who think themselves knowledgeable
• ज्ञानमानिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक) → ज्ञानमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक (मानिन्-शब्दः)

• सीदन्ति: they sink / languish
• सीदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद् (सीद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present); प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• अकृतकृत्याः: with duties unfulfilled
• अकृतकृत्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकृत (कृदन्त) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) → अकृतकृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (एते इति)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle; emphasis)

• कालध्वस्तमनोरथाः: whose hopes are destroyed by time
• कालध्वस्तमनोरथाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वस्त (कृदन्त) + मनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक) → कालध्वस्तमनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (एते इति)

Purport

There is a similar verse in Śrī Īśopaniṣad (3) :

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Vasudeva (father of Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about people who think they are knowledgeable but remain in ignorance?

This verse says they are “jñāna-māninaḥ”—proud of supposed knowledge—yet actually situated in ajñāna, and therefore remain aśānta (without peace) and suffer.

Why did Nārada Muni speak this teaching to Vasudeva in Canto 11?

Nārada instructs Vasudeva on the futility of material ambitions and the danger of self-destructive ignorance, directing him toward life’s real success—spiritual realization and devotion.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Avoid mistaking information or ego for wisdom; align goals with lasting spiritual purpose, because time will overturn purely material plans and leave one dissatisfied.