Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23

Karma-vāda Critiqued, Varṇāśrama Reframed, and the Soul’s Distinction from the Body

Devanagari script

इष्ट्वेह देवता यज्ञै: स्वर्लोकं याति याज्ञिक: । भुञ्जीत देववत्तत्र भोगान् दिव्यान् निजार्जितान् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

iṣṭveha devatā yajñaiḥ svar-lokaṁ yāti yājñikaḥ bhuñjīta deva-vat tatra bhogān divyān nijārjitān

Translation

Celui qui, sur terre, accomplit des sacrifices pour satisfaire les devas va aux mondes célestes; là, tel un deva, il jouit des plaisirs divins qu’il a mérités.

Synonyms

• इष्ट्वा: having worshipped (performed sacrifice)
• इष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इष्/यज् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; having worshipped/sacrificed

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• स्वः-लोकम्: the heavenly world (Svarga)
• स्वः-लोकम्: कर्म (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वः-लोक), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular

• याति: goes
• याति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 3rd sg

• याज्ञिकः: the sacrificer
• याज्ञिकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular

• भुञ्जीत: should enjoy
• भुञ्जीत: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आदेश), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3rd sg

• देव-वत्: like a god
• देव-वत्: सम्बन्ध (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (vat: like/as)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (there)

• भोगान्: enjoyments
• भोगान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• दिव्यान्: divine
• दिव्यान्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; Accusative plural; agreeing with भोगान्

• निज-अर्जितान्: earned by oneself
• निज-अर्जितान्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जित (अर्ज् धातु + क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (निज + अर्जित), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; agreeing with भोगान्

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the result of demigod worship and yajna?

This verse states that by performing sacrifices for the demigods, a person attains Svarga and enjoys celestial pleasures there according to the merit he has earned.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

Krishna is teaching Uddhava how karma works—showing that ritualistic worship aimed at material gain leads to temporary heavenly results, not ultimate liberation.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Do good actions and worship without making temporary rewards the goal; focus your spiritual practice on devotion to the Lord and lasting inner transformation rather than short-lived “heavenly” comforts.