Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 12

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

अग्नयोऽतिथयो भृत्या भिक्षवो ये च लिप्सव: । सर्वं भगवतो ब्रह्मन्ननुध्यानान्न रिष्यति ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

agnayo ’tithayo bhṛtyā bhikṣavo ye ca lipsavaḥ sarvaṁ bhagavato brahmann anudhyānān na riṣyati

Translation

Ô époux bien-aimé, les feux sacrés, les hôtes, les serviteurs et les mendiants—je prends soin de tous comme il convient. Parce que je te garde sans cesse en méditation, aucun principe du dharma ne peut être négligé.

Synonyms

• agnayaḥ: fires (sacred fires)
• agnayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• atithayaḥ: guests
• atithayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• bhṛtyāḥ: servants/dependents
• bhṛtyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• bhikṣavaḥ: mendicants/beggars
• bhikṣavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ye: who/which
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun referring to the listed groups

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• lipsavaḥ: seekers/desirers (of alms)
• lipsavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lipsu (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative agent noun from √labh ‘to obtain’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of riṣyati (negated)

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• brahman: O brāhmaṇa
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• anudhyānāt: from constant contemplation
• anudhyānāt: Apādāna/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anudhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; indicates cause/source (‘from/through constant meditation’)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• riṣyati: is harmed/perishes
• riṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: riṣ (धाातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; with na = ‘does not perish/does not suffer harm’

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Aditi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about balancing bhakti with household duties like serving guests and dependents?

This verse teaches that when one remains absorbed in remembrance of Bhagavān, essential obligations—sacred fires, guests, servants, and seekers—do not suffer; devotion sustains dharma rather than obstructing it.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this in Canto 8 Chapter 16?

In the context of Aditi’s vow (payo-vrata) to please Lord Viṣṇu, Śukadeva explains that deep meditation on the Lord will not cause neglect or loss in one’s responsibilities to others.

How can I apply “anudhyāna” (constant remembrance) in modern life?

Keep regular remembrance of the Lord through japa, prayer, and mindful offering of daily duties; the verse’s takeaway is that sincere God-centered focus helps you serve family, guests, and obligations more steadily.