Shloka 45

Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas

Devanagari script

ते वै रज:प्रकृतयस्तमसा मूढचेतस: । सतां विद्वेषमाचेरुरारादागतमृत्यव: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

te vai rajaḥ-prakṛtayas tamasā mūḍha-cetasaḥ satāṁ vidveṣam ācerur ārād āgata-mṛtyavaḥ

Translation

Portés par la passion (rajas) et aveuglés par l’ignorance (tamas), l’esprit égaré, ces asuras —dont la mort approchait— se mirent à haïr et à persécuter les saints.

Synonyms

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/Emphasis (निपात)

• रजः-प्रकृतयः: of rajasic nature
• रजः-प्रकृतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (रजः-प्रधान-प्रकृतयः); Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• तमसा: by darkness/ignorance
• तमसा: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• मूढ-चेतसः: bewildered-minded
• मूढ-चेतसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (मूढं चेतः येषाम्); Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• विद्वेषम्: hatred
• विद्वेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• आचेरुः: practised/committed
• आचेरुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; Third person, Plural

• आरात्: from afar
• आरात्: Desha/Avadhi (देश/अवधि-अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• आगत-मृत्यवः: those whose death had come near/was impending
• आगत-मृत्यवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (आगतः मृत्युः येषाम्); Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

Purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.13) :

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why people hate saintly devotees?

This verse explains that hatred toward the saintly arises when one is ruled by rajas (passion) and deluded by tamas (ignorance), which distorts one’s intelligence and produces envy of the good.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the wicked as ‘death approaching’?

Because hostility to saints and devotees is a self-destructive path; such envy accelerates downfall, so Śukadeva notes that their end is already near due to their demoniac actions.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Watch for envy toward virtuous people as a symptom of passion and ignorance; reduce it through sāttvika habits, humility, and devotional association, replacing criticism with service-minded respect.