Shloka 17

Kapila’s Conclusion: Limits of Karma and Yoga; Supremacy of Bhakti and Qualification to Receive the Teaching

Devanagari script

रजसा कुण्ठमनस: कामात्मानोऽजितेन्द्रिया: । पितृन् यजन्त्यनुदिनं गृहेष्वभिरताशया: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

rajasā kuṇṭha-manasaḥ kāmātmāno ’jitendriyāḥ pitṝn yajanty anudinaṁ gṛheṣv abhiratāśayāḥ

Translation

Driven by the mode of passion, such people are anxious in mind, ruled by desire, and unable to control their senses. Absorbed in household hopes, they worship the forefathers daily and labor day and night to improve the economic condition of their family, society, or nation.

Synonyms

• रजसा: by/with passion (rajas)
• रजसा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुण्ठ-मनसः: dull-minded
• कुण्ठ-मनसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘कुण्ठं मनो येषां ते’ (whose minds are dull)

• काम-आत्मानः: desire-natured
• काम-आत्मानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘कामः आत्मा येषां ते’ (whose nature is desire)

• अजित-इन्द्रियाः: uncontrolled in senses
• अजित-इन्द्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जि + क्त, with negation अ-) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘अजितानि इन्द्रियाणि येषां ते’ (whose senses are unconquered)

• पितॄन्: the forefathers (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• यजन्ति: they worship/sacrifice to
• यजन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनुदिनम्: daily
• अनुदिनम्: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुदिनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभाव (anu + dinam) = ‘day by day’ (adverb of time)

• गृहेषु: in houses/home
• गृहेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अभिरत-आशयाः: with minds attached (to household life)
• अभिरत-आशयाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिरत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अभि + √रम् + क्त) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘अभिरतः आशयः येषां ते’ (whose intention is attached/delighted [in household])

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti
• Pitrs (forefathers)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worship of the Pitrs (forefathers)?

This verse explains that daily Pitṛ-worship is commonly pursued by those influenced by rajas (passion), driven by desire, and attached to household enjoyment—contrasting it with the higher aim of devotion that frees one from sense-driven life.

Why does Lord Kapila describe people as ajita-indriyah (unable to conquer the senses)?

In Kapila’s bhakti-yoga teaching to Devahuti, he diagnoses the root of material life: when senses remain unconquered, the mind becomes dominated by passion and desire, leading one to seek ritualistic benefits rather than liberation and pure devotion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Reduce rajas-driven habits (constant craving, overconsumption, restlessness), practice sense control, and shift daily intention from enjoyment-centered routine to devotional practices—hearing, chanting, and serving the Lord with a purified aim.