Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 11

Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell

Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas

Devanagari script

वार्तायां लुप्यमानायामारब्धायां पुन: पुन: । लोभाभिभूतो नि:सत्त्व: परार्थे कुरुते स्पृहाम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

vārtāyāṁ lupyamānāyām ārabdhāyāṁ punaḥ punaḥ lobhābhibhūto niḥsattvaḥ parārthe kurute spṛhām

Translation

生業に損失が生じると、彼は何度も何度も立て直そうとする。だが、あらゆる企てが挫かれ破滅すると、過度の貪欲に支配され、他人の財を欲するようになる。

Synonyms

• वार्तायाम्: in (his) livelihood/occupation
• वार्तायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• लुप्यमानायाम्: being destroyed/vanishing
• लुप्यमानायाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुप् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; वार्तायाम् इति विशेषणम्

• आरब्धायाम्: having been begun/undertaken
• आरब्धायाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; वार्तायाम् इति विशेषणम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• लोभाभिभूतः: overpowered by greed
• लोभाभिभूतः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभ + अभि-भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense: लोभेन अभिभूतः), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नि:सत्त्वः इति विशेषणम्

• नि:सत्त्वः: one devoid of strength/virtue
• नि:सत्त्वः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःसत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (यस्य सत्त्वं नास्ति), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परार्थे: in another’s wealth/interest
• परार्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्य अर्थः), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative: 'in/for another’s wealth/interest')

• कुरुते: he makes/does
• कुरुते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• स्पृहाम्: desire/longing
• स्पृहाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about greed (lobha) and desiring others' wealth?

This verse says that when livelihood repeatedly collapses, greed can overpower a person and make them hanker for others’ property—showing a loss of sattva (goodness) and moral strength.

Why did Lord Kapila say this to Devahuti in Canto 3 Chapter 30?

Kapila is analyzing the suffering produced by adverse fruitive work and material conditioning, warning Devahuti how repeated frustration can push the mind into greed and unethical desire.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

When setbacks occur, guard against envy and shortcuts; strengthen sattva through honest work, self-discipline, and devotion, so frustration doesn’t turn into craving for what belongs to others.