Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 73

Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus

Beginnings

Devanagari script

एवं कुटुम्ब्यशान्तात्मा द्वन्द्वाराम: पतत्रिवत् । पुष्णन् कुटुम्बं कृपण: सानुबन्धोऽवसीदति ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ kuṭumby aśāntātmā dvandvārāmaḥ patatri-vat puṣṇan kuṭumbaṁ kṛpaṇaḥ sānubandho ’vasīdati

Translation

Thus one who is overly attached to family life becomes restless at heart. Like the pigeon, he delights in duality and seeks pleasure in worldly sex attraction; busily maintaining his household, the miser is destined to suffer greatly along with all his family members.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• kuṭumbī: the family man
• kuṭumbī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭumbin/kuṭumbī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); ‘कुटुम्बी’ = family man

• aśānta-ātmā: restless-minded
• aśānta-ātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśānta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारयः (अशान्तः आत्मा यस्य/अशान्तात्मा)

• dvandva-ārāmaḥ: delighting in dualities
• dvandva-ārāmaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvandva (प्रातिपदिक) + ārāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः (द्वन्द्वेषु आरामः यस्य/द्वन्द्वेषु रमते)

• patatri-vat: like a bird
• patatri-vat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: patatri (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम्; ‘-वत्’ (like/as)

• puṣṇan: maintaining/nourishing
• puṣṇan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: puṣ (पुष्, धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• kuṭumbam: family
• kuṭumbam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭumba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• kṛpaṇaḥ: the miserly/helpless one
• kṛpaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• sa-anubandhaḥ: along with attachments/consequences
• sa-anubandhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह, उपसर्गवत्/प्रातिपदिक) + anubandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः (अनुबन्धेन सह)

• avasīdati: sinks down, becomes miserable
• avasīdati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-sad (अवसद्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Pres.), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपदम्

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment to family and anxiety?

This verse explains that a person absorbed only in maintaining family life remains aśānta (without inner peace), becomes absorbed in material dualities, and eventually suffers distress due to binding attachments.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī compare the attached householder to a bird (patatri)?

The comparison highlights restless striving and dependence—like a bird constantly searching and laboring—showing how worldly maintenance keeps the mind moving in dualities rather than resting in devotion and self-realization.

Practical application of transcending dvandva (dualities) in modern life?

Do your duties responsibly, but reduce possessiveness and identity based solely on family maintenance; cultivate bhakti and remembrance of the Lord so outcomes (gain/loss, praise/blame) don’t control your peace.