Shloka 4

Kapila on Liberation: Detachment, Devotional Discipline, and the Soul’s Aloofness from the Guṇas

Devanagari script

अर्थे ह्यविद्यमानेऽपि संसृतिर्न निवर्तते । ध्यायतो विषयानस्य स्वप्नेऽनर्थागमो यथा ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

arthe hy avidyamāne ’pi saṁsṛtir na nivartate dhyāyato viṣayān asya svapne ’narthāgamo yathā

Translation

In truth, even when sense objects have no real substance, samsara does not cease for one who dwells on them; just as in a dream, the dreamer is afflicted by many misfortunes.

Synonyms

• अर्थे: in the object/meaning (basis)
• अर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• अविद्यमाने: (even) when not existing
• अविद्यमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विद्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √विद्)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle) ‘विद्यमान’ with नञ्; लिङ्गं सन्दर्भानुसारं (locative absolute sense)

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive particle)

• संसृतिः: transmigration
• संसृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• निवर्तते: ceases/returns (stops)
• निवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: वृत् (to turn/cease), उपसर्ग: नि

• ध्यायतः: of one who contemplates
• ध्यायतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle) ‘ध्यायत्’; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive) = ‘of one who meditates’

• विषयान्: sense-objects
• विषयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अनर्थ-आगमः: the coming of misfortune
• अनर्थ-आगमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अनर्थस्य आगमः = arrival of misfortune)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (comparative adverb)

Purport

The example of a dream is very appropriate. Due to different mental conditions, in dreams we are put into advantageous and disadvantageous positions. Similarly, the spirit soul has nothing to do with this material nature, but because of his mentality of lording it over, he is put into the position of conditional existence.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about thinking of sense objects even when they are not present?

This verse says that bondage to saṁsāra continues simply by mentally dwelling on sense-objects; suffering can arise from contemplation alone, even without external contact.

Why did Kapiladeva teach Devahuti this dream analogy in Canto 3 Chapter 27?

Kapiladeva uses the dream example to show Devahuti that the mind can manufacture fear and distress without real objects—therefore purification of consciousness through bhakti is essential.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Reduce rumination on cravings and anxieties, and redirect the mind to devotional remembrance—hearing and chanting about the Lord—so the inner causes of distress are weakened.