Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 24

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

कृपया भूतजं दु:खं दैवं जह्यात्समाधिना । आत्मजं योगवीर्येण निद्रां सत्त्वनिषेवया ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

kṛpayā bhūtajaṁ duḥkhaṁ daivaṁ jahyāt samādhinā ātmajaṁ yoga-vīryeṇa nidrāṁ sattva-niṣevayā

Translation

La souffrance venant des autres êtres se surmonte par la compassion; celle due à la providence, par le samādhi et la méditation; et celle du corps et du mental, par la puissance du yoga. De même, en cultivant la bonté—surtout dans l’alimentation—on vainc le sommeil.

Synonyms

• कृपया: by compassion
• कृपया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental (by/with compassion)

• भूतजम्: born of living beings
• भूतजम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषणम्; ‘भूतात् जातम्’ (born of beings)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object

• दैवम्: fated (from destiny)
• दैवम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषणम् (divine/fated)

• जह्यात्: should give up
• जह्यात्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he should abandon’

• समाधिना: by samādhi (concentration)
• समाधिना: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental

• आत्मजम्: born of oneself
• आत्मजम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषणम्; ‘आत्मनः जातम्’ (born of oneself)

• योगवीर्येण: by yogic power
• योगवीर्येण: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘योगस्य वीर्येण’ (by the power of yoga)

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object (to be abandoned/overcome)

• सत्त्वनिषेवया: by cultivating sattva (goodness)
• सत्त्वनिषेवया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व + निषेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘सत्त्वस्य निषेवया’ (by cultivating sattva)

Purport

By practice, one should avoid eating in such a way that other living entities will be disturbed and suffer. Since I suffer when pinched or killed by others, I should not attempt to pinch or kill any other living entity. People do not know that because of killing innocent animals they themselves will have to suffer severe reactions from material nature. Any country where people indulge in unnecessary killing of animals will have to suffer from wars and pestilence imposed by material nature. Comparing one’s own suffering to the suffering of others, therefore, one should be kind to all living entities. One cannot avoid the sufferings inflicted by providence, and therefore when suffering comes one should fully absorb oneself in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. One can avoid sufferings from the body and mind by practicing mystic haṭha-yoga.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the threefold miseries (tāpa-traya) and how to overcome them?

This verse teaches practical remedies: suffering from other beings is eased by compassion, providential suffering is met through meditative steadiness (samādhi), and self-born suffering is conquered by the strength of yoga.

Why did Nārada Muni give these instructions to Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja in Canto 7?

In Canto 7, Chapter 15, Nārada advises the king on ideal conduct and inner discipline for civilized life, showing how a ruler and devotee should face different kinds of distress with spiritual methods rather than agitation.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life—how can I reduce suffering and control sleep?

Practice compassion in relationships, maintain a steady daily meditation to face uncontrollable events, use yogic discipline to regulate body and mind, and improve sleep habits by cultivating sattva—clean living, good company, and a pure routine.