Shloka 41

Kapila’s Conclusion: Limits of Karma and Yoga; Supremacy of Bhakti and Qualification to Receive the Teaching

Devanagari script

श्रद्दधानाय भक्ताय विनीतायानसूयवे । भूतेषु कृतमैत्राय शुश्रूषाभिरताय च ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śraddadhānāya bhaktāya vinītāyānasūyave bhūteṣu kṛta-maitrāya śuśrūṣābhiratāya ca

Translation

L’enseignement doit être donné au dévot plein de foi : humble et respectueux envers le maître spirituel, sans jalousie, amical envers tous les êtres, et ardent à servir avec foi et sincérité.

Synonyms

• śraddadhānāya: to one who has faith
• śraddadhānāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrad-√dhā (धातु) + śānac/शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शानच्/शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle): ‘having faith’

• bhaktāya: to a devotee
• bhaktāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन

• vinītāya: to the disciplined
• vinītāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinīta (√nī + vi, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• anasūyave: to the non-envious
• anasūyave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-nasūya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन; नञ्-युक्त विशेषण (non-envious, free from fault-finding)

• bhūteṣu: among living beings
• bhūteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locale: among beings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• kṛta-maitrāya: to one who has cultivated friendliness
• kṛta-maitrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (√kṛ, क्त; प्रातिपदिक) + maitrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कृतं मैत्रं येन/यस्य (one who has made friendship)

• śuśrūṣābhiratāya: to one devoted to service
• śuśrūṣābhiratāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhirata (√ram + abhi, क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शुश्रूषायाम् अभिरतः (delighting in service)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Characters & Entities

• Kapila

FAQs

What are the qualities of a devotee in Canto 3 of Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse lists key qualifications: faith, devotion, humility, freedom from envy, friendliness to all beings, and a taste for submissive hearing and service.

Why did Lord Kapila describe who is qualified to receive this teaching?

Kapila emphasizes that bhakti knowledge bears fruit when heard by a receptive heart—faithful, humble, non-envious, and service-minded—so the instruction is protected and properly realized.

How can I apply ‘non-enviousness’ and ‘friendliness to all beings’ in modern life?

Practice appreciating others’ good fortune, avoid fault-finding, and intentionally act with kindness—especially toward those you disagree with—while cultivating regular hearing of sacred teachings with a service attitude.