Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

तस्मात्त्वं सर्वभावेन भजस्व परमेष्ठिनम् । तद्गुणाश्रयया भक्त्या भजनीयपदाम्बुजम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

tasmāt tvaṁ sarva-bhāvena bhajasva parameṣṭhinam tad-guṇāśrayayā bhaktyā bhajanīya-padāmbujam

Translation

ゆえに母よ、全身全霊で至上主を礼拝しなさい。御徳に依りて起こるバクティによって、礼拝に値する蓮華の御足に帰依しなさい。

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-प्रयोग (therefore, from that reason)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-भावेन: with all one’s being
• सर्व-भावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सर्वः भावः = सर्वभावः; instrumental ‘with whole being’

• भजस्व: worship, take refuge in
• भजस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative); आत्मनेपद; मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनम्: the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तद्: his/that
• तद्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे अव्यक्त-सम्बन्धः (used as ‘his/that’)

• गुण-आश्रयया: by (a devotion) resting on his qualities
• गुण-आश्रयया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—गुणानाम् आश्रयः (resting on his qualities); instrumental feminine

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental

• भजनीय-पद-अम्बुजम्: his worship-worthy lotus feet
• भजनीय-पद-अम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भजनीय (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—भजनीयम् पदम्; पदाम्बुजम् = पदं अम्बुजमिव (lotus-feet)

Purport

The word parameṣṭhinam is sometimes used in connection with Brahmā. Parameṣṭhī means “the supreme person.” As Brahmā is the supreme person within this universe, Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality in the spiritual world. Lord Kapiladeva advises His mother that she should take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, because it is worthwhile. Taking shelter of demigods, even those in the highest positions, like Brahmā and Śiva, is not advised herein. One should take shelter of the Supreme Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti
• Parameṣṭhin (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 say about wholehearted bhakti (sarva-bhava)?

This verse instructs that one should worship the Supreme Lord with one’s entire being—mind, heart, and actions—making devotion the central orientation of life.

Why does Lord Kapila tell Devahuti to take shelter of the Lord’s qualities?

Kapila teaches that meditating on and relying upon the Lord’s divine qualities naturally nourishes devotion, making worship steady and attractive, and drawing the devotee toward His lotus feet.

How can I apply “taking shelter of the Lord’s qualities” in modern life?

Regularly hear and remember the Lord’s qualities (compassion, purity, protection), and let them guide choices—turning daily duties into service and strengthening consistent devotional practice.