Shloka 17

Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord

Devanagari script

महतां बहुमानेन दीनानामनुकम्पया । मैत्र्या चैवात्मतुल्येषु यमेन नियमेन च ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

mahatāṁ bahu-mānena dīnānām anukampayā maitryā caivātma-tulyeṣu yamena niyamena ca

Translation

A pure devotee should offer the highest honor to the spiritual master and the ācāryas, show compassion to the poor, befriend those who are his equals, and perform all duties under yama and niyama, with disciplined regulation and control of the senses.

Synonyms

• महताम्: of the great (saints)
• महताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Genitive plural (of the great)

• बहु-मानॆन: by great respect
• बहु-मानॆन: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (बहु-मान = बहु मानः/अत्यादरः); Instrumental singular

• दीनानाम्: of the distressed
• दीनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Genitive plural (of the poor/distressed)

• अनुकम्पया: by compassion
• अनुकम्पया: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुकम्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with compassion)

• मैत्र्या: by friendship
• मैत्र्या: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with friendliness)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• आत्म-तुल्येषु: towards those equal to oneself
• आत्म-तुल्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्म-तुल्य = आत्मना तुल्यः); Locative plural (towards/in those equal to oneself)

• यमेन: by yama (moral restraint)
• यमेन: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with restraint/yama)

• नियमेन: by niyama (discipline)
• नियमेन: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with observance/niyama)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā, Thirteenth Chapter, it is clearly stated that one should execute devotional service and advance on the path of spiritual knowledge by accepting the ācārya. Ācāryopāsanam: one should worship an ācārya, a spiritual master who knows things as they are. The spiritual master must be in the disciplic succession from Kṛṣṇa. The predecessors of the spiritual master are his spiritual master, his grand spiritual master, his great-grand spiritual master and so on, who form the disciplic succession of ācāryas.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What are the qualities of a devotee in Canto 3 Chapter 29 of Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse highlights honoring great souls, compassion to the distressed, friendship with equals, and disciplined conduct through yama and niyama.

Why did Lord Kapila teach these qualities to Devahuti?

Kapila instructs Devahuti on the practical culture of devotional service—how a bhakta relates to saints, suffering beings, peers, and personal discipline.

How can I apply compassion and self-discipline from this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Respect genuine spiritual teachers, actively help those in difficulty, build healthy friendships, and keep steady daily spiritual and ethical routines.