Shloka 35

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

Devanagari script

देहेन्द्रियासुहीनानां वैकुण्ठपुरवासिनाम् । देहसम्बन्धसम्बद्धमेतदाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

dehendriyāsu-hīnānāṁ vaikuṇṭha-pura-vāsinām deha-sambandha-sambaddham etad ākhyātum arhasi

Translation

ವೈಕುಂಠ ನಿವಾಸಿಗಳ ದೇಹ, ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಾಣವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ; ಭೌತ ದೇಹದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ವಿವರಿಸಿ—ಭಗವಂತನ ಪಾರ್ಷದರು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಂತೆ ಭೌತ ದೇಹಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇಳಿಯಲು ಹೇಗೆ ಶಪಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟರು?

Synonyms

• देह-इन्द्रिय-असु-हीनानाम्: of those devoid of body, senses, and life-breath
• देह-इन्द्रिय-असु-हीनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + असु (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देहेन/इन्द्रियैः/असुभिः हीनाः = devoid of body, senses, and life-breath)

• वैकुण्ठ-पुर-वासिनाम्: of the residents of Vaikuṇṭha-city
• वैकुण्ठ-पुर-वासिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वैकुण्ठपुरे वासिनः)

• देह-सम्बन्ध-सम्बद्धम्: connected with bodily relation
• देह-सम्बन्ध-सम्बद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देहसम्बन्धेन सम्बद्धम्)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आख्यातुम्: to explain
• आख्यातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive); ‘to tell’

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Purport

This very significant question would be difficult for an ordinary person to answer, but Nārada Muni, being an authority, could answer it. Therefore Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired from him, saying, etad ākhyātum arhasi: “Only you can explain the reason.” From authoritative sources it can be discerned that associates of Lord Viṣṇu who descend from Vaikuṇṭha do not actually fall. They come with the purpose of fulfilling the desire of the Lord, and their descent to this material world is comparable to that of the Lord. The Lord comes to this material world through the agency of His internal potency, and similarly, when a devotee or associate of the Lord descends to this material world, he does so through the action of the spiritual energy. Any pastime conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is an arrangement by yoga-māyā, not mahā-māyā. Therefore it is to be understood that when Jaya and Vijaya descended to this material world, they came because there was something to be done for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Otherwise it is a fact that no one falls from Vaikuṇṭha.

Characters & Entities

• Vaikuṇṭha-vāsīs (residents of Vaikuṇṭha)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about bodies and senses in Vaikuṇṭha?

This verse states that Vaikuṇṭha’s residents are devoid of material body, senses, and vital air—indicating their existence is fully transcendental, not governed by material physiology.

Why did King Parīkṣit ask this question about Vaikuṇṭha residents?

Hearing of an event that seemed connected to “bodily relationship,” Parīkṣit seeks clarification because such material connections should not apply to the eternally liberated inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha.

Practical application: how should a devotee use this teaching in modern life?

It encourages devotees to distinguish the soul’s spiritual identity from bodily labels and relationships, and to cultivate bhakti that lifts consciousness beyond material identification.