Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 29

Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment

Devanagari script

न ह्यङ्गाजातनिर्वेदो देहबन्धं जिहासति । यथा विज्ञानरहितो मनुजो ममतां नृप ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

na hy aṅgājāta-nirvedo deha-bandhaṁ jihāsati yathā vijñāna-rahito manujo mamatāṁ nṛpa

Translation

王よ、霊的な知識を欠く人が多くの物質的事物への偽りの所有感を捨てようとしないように、離欲を育てていない者もまた物質の身体という束縛を捨てようとはしない。

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• अङ्गात्-जात-निर्वेदः: detachment arising from a mere part (partial dispassion)
• अङ्गात्-जात-निर्वेदः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + जात (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु) + निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘अङ्गात् जातः निर्वेदः’ (detachment born from a limb/part i.e., partial)

• देह-बन्धम्: bondage to the body
• देह-बन्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘देहस्य बन्धः’

• जिहासति: wishes to abandon
• जिहासति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), प्रथम पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; सन्नन्त/इच्छार्थक (desiderative) from √हा: ‘to wish to abandon’

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा/तुलना (as)

• विज्ञान-रहितः: devoid of discernment
• विज्ञान-रहितः: कर्ता (Kartā/qualifier of मनुजः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (कृदन्त; √हा/√रह्?; ‘rahita’ as adjectival pp)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘विज्ञानेन रहितः’ (devoid of knowledge)

• मनुजः: a man
• मनुजः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ममताम्: possessiveness; ‘mine’-ness
• ममताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ममता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नृप: O king
• नृप: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about real detachment (vairagya) versus temporary frustration?

This verse says that mere bodily weariness or disgust is not enough to break bondage; without realized knowledge, one still holds on to possessiveness and ‘mine’-thinking.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

While instructing Uddhava on genuine renunciation, Krishna clarifies that liberation requires realized wisdom, not just emotional disappointment with worldly life.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Don’t mistake burnout or disappointment for spiritual progress; cultivate steady understanding and devotion so that possessiveness and identity based on the body naturally weaken.