Shloka 6

Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell

Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas

Devanagari script

आत्मजायासुतागारपशुद्रविणबन्धुषु । निरूढमूलहृदय आत्मानं बहु मन्यते ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

ātma-jāyā-sutāgāra- paśu-draviṇa-bandhuṣu nirūḍha-mūla-hṛdaya ātmānaṁ bahu manyate

Translation

With the heart deeply rooted in attachment to body, wife, children, home, animals, wealth, and kinsmen, the conditioned soul feels satisfied with such living and deems himself quite perfect.

Synonyms

• आत्म-जाया-सुत-आगार-पशु-द्रविण-बन्धुषु: in (his) self, wife, children, house, cattle, wealth, and relatives
• आत्म-जाया-सुत-आगार-पशु-द्रविण-बन्धुषु: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + जाया + सुत + आगार + पशु + द्रविण + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थः; ‘आत्मजायासुतागारपशुद्रविणबन्धु’ इत्यस्य सप्तमी-बहुवचनम्

• निरूढ-मूल-हृदयः: one whose heart is deeply rooted (in them)
• निरूढ-मूल-हृदयः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरूढ (√रुह् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + मूल + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘निरूढं मूलं यस्य हृदये सः’ (whose heart has deep-rooted attachment)

• आत्मानम्: the self; himself
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• बहु: greatly; very much
• बहु: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मन्यते: thinks; considers
• मन्यते: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (मन्यते) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Purport

This so-called perfection of human life is a concoction. Therefore, it is said that the materialist, however materially qualified he may be, is worthless because he is hovering on the mental plane, which will drag him again to the material existence of temporary life. One who acts on the mental plane cannot get promotion to the spiritual. Such a person is always sure to glide down again to material life. In the association of so-called society, friendship and love, the conditioned soul appears completely satisfied.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kapila

FAQs

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

This verse explains that deep attachment to wife, children, home, possessions, and relatives makes the heart firmly rooted in “I” and “mine,” causing one to feel falsely important and bound to material identity.

Why did Lord Kapila speak this teaching, and to whom?

Lord Kapila teaches this to His mother Devahūti in Canto 3, describing how material attachment strengthens false ego and keeps the soul entangled in karmic life, thereby urging the path of detachment and devotion.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Care for family and duties, but reduce possessiveness: see relationships and assets as Krishna’s trust, cultivate daily sādhana, and measure success by inner purification and devotion rather than status and accumulation.