Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 13

Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva

Devanagari script

निर्हृत्य ज्ञातयो ज्ञातेर्देहं कृत्वोचिता: क्रिया: । तत्यजुर्दुस्त्यजं स्‍नेहं शोकमोहभयार्तिदम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

nirhṛtya jñātayo jñāter dehaṁ kṛtvocitāḥ kriyāḥ tatyajur dustyajaṁ snehaṁ śoka-moha-bhayārtidam

Translation

Después de realizar los ritos funerarios, los parientes abandonaron el afecto que causa ilusión, lamento, miedo y dolor. Tal afecto es difícil de dejar, pero ellos lo lograron.

Synonyms

• nirhṛtya: having removed
• nirhṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): having taken out/removed

• jñātayaḥ: the relatives
• jñātayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• jñāteḥ: of the kinsman (the deceased)
• jñāteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive/6th), एकवचन

• deham: the body
• deham: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): having done/performed

• ucitāḥ: proper/appropriate
• ucitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘क्रियाः’ इति विशेषण (appropriate)

• kriyāḥ: rites/actions (funeral rites)
• kriyāḥ: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘kṛtvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tatyajuḥ: they abandoned
• tatyajuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• dustyajam: hard to give up
• dustyajam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dus (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + tyajya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘दुष्ट्यजम्’ = difficult-to-abandon

• sneham: affection/attachment
• sneham: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śoka-moha-bhaya-ārtidam: causing grief, delusion, fear, and distress
• śoka-moha-bhaya-ārtidam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘sneham’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + moha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ārti-da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शोकं मोहं भयं च आर्तिं ददाति’ (giver/causer of grief, delusion, fear, distress)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving up attachment after death?

This verse states that after completing proper rites, one should relinquish attachment—though difficult—because such attachment fuels grief, delusion, and fear.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 6.16.13?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events and teachings to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

Practical application of detachment (vairagya) in modern life based on this shloka?

Do your duties and rituals responsibly, but consciously release possessiveness—recognizing that clinging intensifies anxiety, confusion, and sorrow.