Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 15
The Glories of Lord Ananta (Śeṣa/Saṅkarṣaṇa) and the Cosmic Foundation Beneath Pātāla
एतावतीर्हि राजन् पुंस: प्रवृत्तिलक्षणस्य धर्मस्य विपाकगतय उच्चावचा विसदृशा यथाप्रश्नं व्याचख्ये किमन्यत्कथयाम इति ॥ १५ ॥
etāvatīr hi rājan puṁsaḥ pravṛtti-lakṣaṇasya dharmasya vipāka-gataya uccāvacā visadṛśā yathā-praśnaṁ vyācakhye kim anyat kathayāma iti.
My dear King, I have thus explained—just as you asked—the varied destinations, higher and lower, that arise from the ripened fruits of karma for those who follow the path of worldly endeavor. I have spoken what I heard from authoritative sources; what more is there for me to say now?
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fifth Canto, Twenty-fifth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Glories of Lord Ananta.”
FAQs
This verse states that dharma based on pravṛtti (worldly, fruitive engagement) yields varied, unequal outcomes—high or low destinations—according to one’s actions and their ripened results (vipāka).
Śukadeva concludes a section by telling Parīkṣit that he has answered his inquiries as asked, describing how karma-oriented religiosity produces different destinations, and signals readiness to proceed to the next topic.
It encourages discernment: even “religious” actions done for outcomes lead to mixed results, so one can prioritize sincere devotion and purity of intention rather than merely chasing material rewards through ritual or duty.