Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 9

Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama

Devanagari script

कुर्यात् सर्वाणि कर्माणि मदर्थं शनकै: स्मरन् । मय्यर्पितमनश्चित्तो मद्धर्मात्ममनोरति: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

kuryāt sarvāṇi karmāṇi mad-arthaṁ śanakaiḥ smaran mayy arpita-manaś-citto mad-dharmātma-mano-ratiḥ

Translation

En te souvenant toujours de Moi, accomplis tous tes devoirs pour Moi sans précipitation. L’esprit et l’intelligence offerts à Moi, fixe ton cœur, avec amour, dans Mon service de bhakti.

Synonyms

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• sarvāṇi: all
• sarvāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with karmāṇi

• karmāṇi: actions
• karmāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (कर्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mat-artham: for my sake
• mat-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक, मत्-आदेश) + artha (अर्थ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष ‘for my sake’ (purpose)

• śanakaiḥ: gradually
• śanakaiḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaka (शनक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial usage (क्रियाविशेषण) from instrumental plural; ‘slowly/gradually’

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु) + an (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with implied subject (devotee)

• mayi: in me
• mayi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• arpita-manaḥ-cittaḥ: whose mind and heart are offered (to me)
• arpita-manaḥ-cittaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arpita (अर्प्/अर्पय् धातु, क्त) + manas (मनस् प्रातिपदिक) + citta (चित्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि ‘he whose mind and heart are offered (to me)’

• mat-dharma-ātma-manaḥ-ratiḥ: whose self and mind delight in my dharma
• mat-dharma-ātma-manaḥ-ratiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक, मत्-आदेश) + dharma (धर्म प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (आत्मन् प्रातिपदिक) + manas (मनस् प्रातिपदिक) + rati (रति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि ‘he whose self and mind delight in my dharma’

Purport

The words mad-dharmātma-mano-ratiḥ mean that all of one’s love and affection should be devoted to pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not indicated here that one should try to relish selfish satisfaction in devotional service, but rather that one should be attracted to the Lord’s own satisfaction, which one achieves by faithfully executing the order of a bona fide spiritual master coming in disciplic succession from Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Attachment to one’s own satisfaction, even within devotional service, is materialistic, whereas attachment to the satisfaction of the Lord is pure spiritual emotion.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering Krishna while doing work?

This verse teaches that all actions should be done for Krishna’s sake, while gradually cultivating constant remembrance, offering one’s mind and consciousness to Him.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava Gītā, Krishna instructs Uddhava in the most confidential path of devotion—how to spiritualize ordinary duties by dedicating them to the Lord and sustaining remembrance.

Practical application of offering all actions to Krishna in modern life?

Do your responsibilities as service, set a daily habit of japa/reading, and repeatedly redirect your intention—“for Krishna”—so remembrance becomes steady over time.