Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 34
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
त्यक्त्वा सुदुस्त्यजसुरेप्सितराज्यलक्ष्मीं धर्मिष्ठ आर्यवचसा यदगादरण्यम् । मायामृगं दयितयेप्सितमन्वधावद् वन्दे महापुरुष ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३४ ॥
tyaktvā su-dustyaja-surepsita-rājya-lakṣmīṁ dharmiṣṭha ārya-vacasā yad agād araṇyam māyā-mṛgaṁ dayitayepsitam anvadhāvad vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam
ഹേ മഹാപുരുഷാ! ഞാൻ നിന്റെ പദ്മപാദങ്ങളെ വന്ദിക്കുന്നു. ദേവന്മാർക്കും ആഗ്രഹനീയമായ, ഉപേക്ഷിക്കാൻ അത്യന്തം ദുഷ്കരമായ രാജ്യലക്ഷ്മിയും ഐശ്വര്യവും നീ ത്യജിച്ചു. ധർമ്മത്തിൽ അചഞ്ചലനായി, ആര്യ (ബ്രാഹ്മണ) വചന/ശാപം അനുസരിച്ച് നീ അരണ്യത്തിലേക്ക് പോയി. കരുണവശാൽ മായാമൃഗത്തെ പിന്തുടരുന്ന പതിതജീവികളെ നീ അനുഗമിച്ചു; അതോടൊപ്പം നിന്റെ പ്രിയ അഭിലഷിതനായ ശ്യാമസുന്ദരനെ തേടുന്നതിലും നീ ലീനനായിരുന്നു.
According to the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas, this important verse of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is understood to describe Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa and also Lord Śrī Rāmacandra. This verse appears within the discussion by the sage Karabhājana of the yugāvatāras, or the different incarnations of the Personality of Godhead who deliver the conditioned souls of each age. The prayers ending with the words vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam are understood to glorify the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Kali-yuga known as Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu lived for twenty-four years in Navadvīpa as a householder and enjoyed immense popularity among both scholars and ordinary persons. His saṅkīrtana movement was completely supported by the local government, even though it was Muslim. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu had the pleasure of marrying the goddess of fortune. No ordinary woman of the material world, no matter how gorgeous she may be, can in any way compare with the beautiful goddess of fortune. Everyone in the universe, including Lord Brahmā, is searching after the goddess of fortune. Therefore it is stated here, surepsita.
FAQs
This verse praises Lord Rāma as supremely righteous: by honoring the noble words of elders and brāhmaṇas, He renounced even the god-coveted wealth of kingship and accepted forest life to uphold dharma.
Māyā-mṛga refers to the magical decoy deer that was not a real creature but an illusion arranged to divert Lord Rāma; the verse recalls how He pursued it for Sītā’s sake.
It teaches prioritizing dharma over comfort and status, and cultivating devotion by remembering the Lord’s righteous conduct—choosing integrity and duty even when it requires personal sacrifice.