Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 5

The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings

Devanagari script

तत्रगतो दंशमशकसमापसदैर्मनुजै: शलभशकुन्ततस्करमूषकादिभिरुपरुध्यमानबहि:प्राण: क्‍वचित् परिवर्तमानोऽस्मिन्नध्वन्यविद्याकामकर्मभिरुपरक्तमनसानुपपन्नार्थं नरलोकं गन्धर्वनगरमु पपन्नमिति मिथ्याद‍ृष्टिरनुपश्यति ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tatra gato daṁśa-maśaka-samāpasadair manujaiḥ śalabha-śakunta-taskara-mūṣakādibhir uparudhyamāna-bahiḥ-prāṇaḥ kvacit parivartamāno ’sminn adhvany avidyā-kāma-karmabhir uparakta-manasānupapannārthaṁ nara-lokaṁ gandharva-nagaram upapannam iti mithyā-dṛṣṭir anupaśyati.

Translation

ഗൃഹസ്ഥജീവിതത്തിൽ ബന്ധിതനായ ജീവൻ ചിലപ്പോൾ ഡംശ‑മശകങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ താഴ്ന്ന മനുഷ്യരാൽ, ചിലപ്പോൾ വെട്ടുക്കിളി, ഇരപിടി പക്ഷികൾ, കള്ളൻ, എലി മുതലായവയാൽ പീഡിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; എങ്കിലും അവൻ സംസാരപഥത്തിൽ അലഞ്ഞുതിരിയുന്നു. അവിദ്യ മൂലം കാമത്തിൽ രഞ്ജിതനായി കർമത്തിൽ ലീനനാകുന്നു; മനസ് അതിൽ മുങ്ങിയതിനാൽ ഈ നശ്വര ലോകത്തെ ഗന്ധർവനഗരംപോലെ മിഥ്യയായിട്ടും സ്ഥിരമെന്നു കാണുന്നു।

Synonyms

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; locative adverb (देशवाचक)

• gataḥ: having gone
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (गम् धातु) (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; qualifying implied jīvaḥ/puruṣaḥ

• daṁśa-maśaka-samāpasadaiḥ: by gnats, mosquitoes, and degraded ones
• daṁśa-maśaka-samāpasadaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṁśa (प्रातिपदिक) + maśaka (प्रातिपदिक) + samāpasada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Plural; द्वन्द्व: 'by biting insects, mosquitoes, and lowly outcast-like (men)' (collective)

• manujaiḥ: by men
• manujaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Plural

• śalabha-śakunta-taskara-mūṣaka-ādibhiḥ: by locusts, birds, thieves, mice, etc.
• śalabha-śakunta-taskara-mūṣaka-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śalabha (प्रातिपदिक) + śakunta (प्रातिपदिक) + taskara (प्रातिपदिक) + mūṣaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Plural; द्वन्द्व with ādi: 'by locusts, birds, thieves, mice, etc.'

• uparudhyamāna-bahiḥ-prāṇaḥ: with external life-breath obstructed
• uparudhyamāna-bahiḥ-prāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa + rudh (रुध् धातु) (कर्मणि शानच्) + bahiḥ (अव्यय) + prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi-like adjectival compound used as adjective; overall Masculine Nominative Singular; 'whose outward life-breath is being obstructed' (bahiḥ as avyaya member)

• kvacit: sometimes
• kvacit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (कदाचित्)

• parivartamānaḥ: wandering about
• parivartamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari + vṛt (वृत् धातु) (आत्मनेपदी शानच्)
• Form: Present participle (शानच्), Masculine Nominative Singular; 'wandering/turning about'

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative Singular

• adhvani: on the path
• adhvani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative Singular

• avidyā-kāma-karmabhiḥ: by ignorance, desire, and actions
• avidyā-kāma-karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/masc, Instrumental Plural; द्वन्द्व: 'by ignorance, desire, and actions'

• uparakta-manasā: with a tainted mind
• uparakta-manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa + rañj (रञ्ज् धातु) (क्त) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'with mind colored/tainted'

• anupapanna-artham: unreal/groundless
• anupapanna-artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- (नञ्) + upapanna (√pad/√pād 'to befit', क्त) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; कर्मधारय: 'having unreal/unfounded meaning' qualifying nara-lokam

• nara-lokam: the human world
• nara-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular; 'world of men'

• gandharva-nagaram: a Gandharva-city (illusory city)
• gandharva-nagaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; metaphorical object

• upapannam: appearing as
• upapannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa + pad (पद् धातु) (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Neuter Accusative Singular; qualifying gandharva-nagaram/nara-lokam; 'appearing/manifest'

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति)

• mithyā-dṛṣṭiḥ: one with false vision
• mithyā-dṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithyā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular; कर्मधारय: 'false view' (one whose view is false)

• anupaśyati: perceives/observes
• anupaśyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Singular

Purport

The following song is sung by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata Mahārāja (as Jaḍa Bharata)
• King Rahūgaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by 'Gandharva-nagara' (city of the Gandharvas)?

In this verse it signifies an illusory, unreal appearance—like a mirage—used to show that material society and its promises seem real to the conditioned soul but lack lasting substance.

Why is the conditioned soul described as being attacked by mosquitoes, thieves, birds, and rats in Canto 5?

Śukadeva uses these images as symbols for the constant disturbances and exploitations of material life—small and large troubles that harass one whose consciousness remains outward and sense-centered.

Practical application: how can I avoid this 'false vision' in modern life?

By recognizing the temporary nature of material goals, reducing desire-driven actions, and cultivating spiritual hearing and remembrance (bhakti) so the mind is no longer colored by avidyā, kāma, and karma.