Shloka 12

Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala

Devanagari script

नश्वरेष्विह भावेषु तदसि त्वमनश्वरम् । यथा द्रव्यविकारेषु द्रव्यमात्रं निरूपितम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

naśvareṣv iha bhāveṣu tad asi tvam anaśvaram yathā dravya-vikāreṣu dravya-mātraṁ nirūpitam

Translation

Parmi toutes les réalités périssables de ce monde, Tu es l’unique entité impérissable; tel le substrat que l’on sait immuable tandis que les formes issues de lui se transforment.

Synonyms

• नश्वरेषु: in perishable (things)
• नश्वरेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगे; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (भावेषु इति विशेष्य)

• इह: here
• इह: देशाधिकरण (Locative sense/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• भावेषु: in entities/conditions
• भावेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: प्रत्यय/उपपद (Correlative/that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• असि: are
• असि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनश्वरम्: imperishable
• अनश्वरम्: प्रत्यय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण/प्रत्यय (त्वम् इति संबन्धे predicate adjective)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान-सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative ‘as/just as’)

• द्रव्यविकारेषु: in transformations of substance
• द्रव्यविकारेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य + विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्रव्यस्य विकाराः)

• द्रव्यमात्रम्: substance alone
• द्रव्यमात्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मात्र = only)

• निरूपितम्: is determined/defined
• निरूपितम्: क्रिया-विशेष (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + रूप् (धातु) → निरूपित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is ascertained/defined’

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the imperishable reality behind temporary material changes?

This verse states that while worldly conditions are perishable, Kṛṣṇa is the imperishable truth—like the underlying substance that remains the same even when its forms and modifications change.

Why did Vasudeva say that Krishna is imperishable in Canto 10 Chapter 85?

In the context of Kṛṣṇa’s teachings and divine acts, Vasudeva recognizes his son as the supreme, unchanging reality beyond all material transformations and offers philosophical praise.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life when everything feels uncertain?

Treat changing circumstances as temporary, and anchor your identity and trust in the eternal—cultivating steady devotion, remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, and detachment from outcomes that inevitably shift.