Shloka 41

Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation

Devanagari script

पूर्तेन तपसा यज्ञैर्दानैर्योगसमाधिना । राद्धं नि:श्रेयसं पुंसां मत्प्रीतिस्तत्त्वविन्मतम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

pūrtena tapasā yajñair dānair yoga-samādhinā rāddhaṁ niḥśreyasaṁ puṁsāṁ mat-prītis tattvavin-matam

Translation

Selon les connaisseurs de la vérité, le but suprême des œuvres pieuses, austérités, sacrifices, aumônes, yoga et samādhi est d’éveiller Ma satisfaction.

Synonyms

• पूर्तेन: by pious works/charitable public works (pūrta)
• पूर्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental (by/with)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• दानैः: by gifts/charity
• दानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• योग-समाधिना: by yogic concentration (samādhi of yoga)
• योग-समाधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (योगस्य समाधिः) instrumental

• राद्धम्: accomplished/attained
• राद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राध् (धातु) → राद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with नि:श्रेयसम्

• नि:श्रेयसम्: supreme good, final beatitude
• नि:श्रेयसम्: Karma/Phala (कर्म/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि:श्रेयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative (as predicate/goal)

• पुंसाम्: of men/of persons
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; genitive plural

• मत्-प्रीतिः: My pleasure/favor (devotion pleasing to Me)
• मत्-प्रीतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मम प्रीतिः)

• तत्त्व-वित्: knower of truth
• तत्त्व-वित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) → वित् (कृदन्त, क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (तत्त्वं वेत्ति इति)

• मतम्: the opinion/teaching
• मतम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate noun with implied 'is'

Purport

There are many traditionally pious activities in human society, such as altruism, philanthropy, nationalism, internationalism, charity, sacrifice, penance and even meditation in trance, and all of them can be fully beneficial only when they lead to the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The perfection of any activity — social, political, religious or philanthropic — is to satisfy the Supreme Lord. This secret of success is known to the devotee of the Lord, as exemplified by Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra. As a good, nonviolent man, Arjuna did not want to fight with his kinsmen, but when he understood that Kṛṣṇa wanted the fight and had arranged it at Kurukṣetra, he gave up his own satisfaction and fought for the satisfaction of the Lord. That is the right decision for all intelligent men. One’s only concern should be to satisfy the Lord by one’s activities. If the Lord is satisfied by an action, whatever it may be, then it is successful; otherwise, it is simply a waste of time. That is the standard of all sacrifice, penance, austerity, mystic trance and other good and pious work.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Lord Vishnu (Garbhodakashayi Vishnu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the highest perfection beyond charity, sacrifice, and yoga?

This verse states that although welfare-work, austerity, yajña, charity, and samādhi can lead to the highest human good, the ultimate perfection is mat-prīti—pleasing Lord Vishnu through devotion.

Why does Lord Vishnu tell Brahma that pleasing Him is superior to tapas and yajña?

In Canto 3 Chapter 9, Brahma seeks empowerment for creation; Vishnu teaches that all spiritual disciplines reach their real completion when they culminate in devotion that satisfies the Lord, not merely in impersonal achievement.

How can I apply “mat-prīti” (pleasing the Lord) in modern life?

Offer your daily work, charity, and spiritual practice with a devotional intention—remembering the Lord, serving His devotees, and aligning actions with dharma—so the goal becomes pleasing Him rather than personal prestige or gain.