Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

त्रैवर्गिकास्ते पुरुषा विमुखा हरिमेधस: । कथायां कथनीयोरुविक्रमस्य मधुद्विष: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

trai-vargikās te puruṣā vimukhā hari-medhasaḥ kathāyāṁ kathanīyoru- vikramasya madhudviṣaḥ

Translation

They are called trai-vargika because they care only for dharma, artha, and kāma. Averse to Hari, who can relieve the conditioned soul, they feel no taste for the līlā-kathā of Madhudviṣa—pastimes worthy of hearing for His transcendental prowess.

Synonyms

• त्रै-वर्गिकाः: devoted to the three aims (dharma-artha-kāma)
• त्रै-वर्गिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रै (त्रि-सम्बन्धि) + वर्गिक (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘त्रैवर्गे (धर्म-अर्थ-काम) हिताः/निष्ठाः’

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरुषाः: men/persons
• पुरुषाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विमुखाः: turned away (from)
• विमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• हरि-मेधसः: having (their) understanding away from Hari
• हरि-मेधसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + मेधस् (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘हरौ मेधा येषां (न) सा’ इति—अत्र ‘विमुखाः’ इत्यनेन नकारार्थः सूचितः (whose intelligence is not toward Hari)

• कथायाम्: in the discourse/talk
• कथायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• कथनीय-उरु-विक्रमस्य: of Him whose vast exploits are to be spoken of
• कथनीय-उरु-विक्रमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथनीय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कथ् + अनीयर्) + उरु (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/बहुपद-समास: ‘कथनीयः (स्तुत्यः) उरुविक्रमः यस्य सः’—भगवतः विशेषणम्

• मधु-द्विषः: of Madhudviṣ (slayer of Madhu, Viṣṇu)
• मधु-द्विषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मधोः द्विट्’ (slayer/enemy of Madhu)

Purport

According to Vedic thought, there are four elevating principles, namely religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. Persons who are simply interested in material enjoyment make plans to execute prescribed duties. They are interested in the three elevating processes of religious rituals, economic elevation and sense enjoyment. By developing their economic condition, they can enjoy material life. Materialistic persons are therefore interested in those elevating processes, which are called trai-vargika. Trai means “three”; vargika means “elevating processes.” Such materialistic persons are never attracted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, they are antagonistic towards Him.

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Madhu-dviṣa (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• Madhu (as the slain demon)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about people absorbed only in dharma, artha, and kama?

This verse says that those whose minds are fixed only on the three worldly aims (dharma, artha, kāma) become averse to Hari and do not relish Hari-kathā—hearing and speaking about the Lord’s glorious deeds.

Why does Kapiladeva emphasize Hari-katha in Canto 3 Chapter 32?

Kapila is teaching Devahūti bhakti-yoga: real spiritual progress comes from devotion, beginning with śravaṇam and kīrtanam of the Lord. Mere pursuit of worldly religiosity, prosperity, and enjoyment does not awaken love for God.

Practical application: how can I move beyond only worldly goals and develop taste for Hari-katha?

Prioritize daily hearing/reading Bhagavatam, keep company with devotees, and consciously connect dharma and duties to serving Hari—so the heart gradually prefers the Lord’s narrations over temporary gains.