Shloka 21

Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage

Devanagari script

तं त्वानुभूत्योपरतक्रियार्थं स्वमायया वर्तितलोकतन्त्रम् । नमाम्यभीक्ष्णं नमनीयपाद- सरोजमल्पीयसि कामवर्षम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ tvānubhūtyoparata-kriyārthaṁ sva-māyayā vartita-loka-tantram namāmy abhīkṣṇaṁ namanīya-pāda- sarojam alpīyasi kāma-varṣam

Translation

あなたを悟ることによって衆生が果報を求める行為への執着を離れるため、あなたは自らの力（マーヤー）によって諸世界の秩序を展開されました。私は絶えず、帰依にふさわしく最も礼拝すべきあなたの蓮華の御足に敬礼します。それは取るに足らぬ者にさえ、あらゆる恩寵を降り注ぐのです。

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (acc sg)

• tvā: you
• tvā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन (acc sg)

• anubhūti-uparata-kriyā-artham: whose purpose is action ceased in realization
• anubhūti-uparata-kriyā-artham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anubhūti (प्रातिपदिक) + uparata (कृदन्त; √ram/√uparam (धातु) + क्त) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (अनुभूत्याः उपरताः क्रियाः यस्य/येन; क्रियार्थम् = क्रियाणाम् अर्थः/उद्देश्यः)

• sva-māyayā: by your own māyā
• sva-māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वा माया)

• vartita-loka-tantram: who has set in motion the system of worlds
• vartita-loka-tantram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vartita (कृदन्त; √vṛt (धातु) + क्त) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + tantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य तन्त्रम्) + क्त-विशेषण (वर्तितम्)

• namāmi: I bow
• namāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present, 1st sg, P)

• abhīkṣṇam: again and again
• abhīkṣṇam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhīkṣṇa (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: repeatedly/constantly)

• namanīya-pāda-sarojam: the lotus of (your) feet, worthy of reverence
• namanīya-pāda-sarojam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namanīya (कृदन्त; √nam (धातु) + अनीयर्) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + saroja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पादस्य सरोजम्) + विशेषण (नमनीय)

• alpīyasi: in the slightest (measure)
• alpīyasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (loc sg); तुलनार्थे (in the least/very little)

• kāma-varṣam: showering desires/boons
• kāma-varṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कामान् वर्षति इति)

Purport

Everyone, therefore, whether he desires material enjoyment, liberation or the transcendental loving service of the Lord, should engage himself in offering obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, because the Lord can award everyone his desired benediction. In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord affirms, ye yathā māṁ prapadyante: anyone who desires to be a successful enjoyer in this material world is awarded that benediction by the Lord, anyone who wants to be liberated from the entanglement of this material world is given liberation by the Lord, and anyone who desires to constantly engage in His service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness is awarded that benediction by the Lord. For material enjoyment He has prescribed so many ritualistic sacrificial performances in the Vedas, and thus people may take advantage of those instructions and enjoy material life in higher planets or in a noble aristocratic family. These processes are mentioned in the Vedas, and one can take advantage of them. It is similar with those who want to be liberated from this material world.

Characters & Entities

• Devahuti
• Kapila

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 say about the Lord being beyond karma yet governing the world?

This verse says the Lord is beyond the aims of fruitive action, yet by His own māyā He makes the entire system of worlds function—showing transcendence along with supreme governance.

Why does Devahuti repeatedly bow to Lord Kapila’s lotus feet?

In her prayer, Devahuti honors Kapila as the realized Supreme Truth and takes shelter of His worshipable lotus feet, which grant true fulfillment even to an insignificant soul.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Recognize that ultimate peace is not found in endless achievement; practice humility and steady devotion by taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet, while seeing worldly order as guided by a higher intelligence.