Shloka 55

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

एतावानेव लोकेऽस्मिन्पुंस: स्वार्थ: पर: स्मृत: । एकान्तभक्तिर्गोविन्दे यत्सर्वत्र तदीक्षणम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

etāvān eva loke ’smin puṁsaḥ svārthaḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ ekānta-bhaktir govinde yat sarvatra tad-īkṣaṇam

Translation

Dans ce monde matériel, servir les pieds pareils au lotus de Govinda, la cause de toutes les causes, et Le voir partout, est le seul but de la vie. C'est là l'unique but ultime de la vie humaine, comme l'expliquent toutes les écritures révélées.

Synonyms

• एतावान्: this much; so great
• एतावान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/limitation

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पुंसः: of a man/person
• पुंसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्व-अर्थः: one's own highest good
• स्व-अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य अर्थः = 'one's own true interest'

• परः: supreme
• परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्मृतः: is regarded
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग: 'is considered/remembered'

• एकान्त-भक्तिः: exclusive devotion
• एकान्त-भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: एकान्ते (exclusive) भक्तिः = 'exclusive devotion'

• गोविन्दे: in/unto Govinda
• गोविन्दे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• तत्-ईक्षणम्: the seeing of Him (His vision)
• तत्-ईक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तस्य ईक्षणम् = 'seeing Him'

Purport

In this verse the words sarvatra tad-īkṣaṇam describe the highest perfection of devotional service, in which one sees everything with reference to Govinda’s activities. The highly elevated devotee never sees anything unrelated to Govinda.

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Krishna)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say is the highest self-interest (svārtha) of a person?

This verse states that the supreme self-interest is exclusive devotion (ekānta-bhakti) to Govinda, which awakens constant perception of Him everywhere.

Why did Prahlada Maharaja teach ekanta-bhakti to his schoolmates?

Prahlada instructed his classmates—born in an asuric environment—that real welfare is not material success but one-pointed devotion to Kṛṣṇa, leading to purified vision and liberation.

How can one apply “seeing Govinda everywhere” in modern life?

Practice steady bhakti—hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names, offering daily work to Him, and remembering His presence—so perception shifts from ego-centered seeing to God-centered seeing.