Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 75

Diti’s Puṁsavana Vow, Indra’s Intervention, and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

आराध्यात्मप्रदं देवं स्वात्मानं जगदीश्वरम् । को वृणीत गुणस्पर्शं बुध: स्यान्नरकेऽपि यत् ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

ārādhyātma-pradaṁ devaṁ svātmānaṁ jagad-īśvaram ko vṛṇīta guṇa-sparśaṁ budhaḥ syān narake ’pi yat

Translation

ഭക്തർക്കു താനെയെല്ലാം നല്കുന്ന ജഗദീശ്വരൻ തന്നെയാണ് ആരാധ്യൻ. ആ പ്രിയതമനായ പ്രഭുവിനെ സേവിക്കുന്ന ബുദ്ധിമാൻ നരകത്തിലും ലഭിക്കുന്ന ഗുണസ്പർശ ഭൗതികസുഖം എങ്ങനെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കും?

Synonyms

• ārādhya: having worshipped
• ārādhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ārādh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; ‘having worshipped’

• ātma-pradam: bestowing the self (spiritual realization)
• ātma-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: ‘ātmaṁ pradadāti iti’ = giving the self/spiritual self

• devam: the Lord
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• svātmānam: one’s own self
• svātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘one’s own self’

• jagad-īśvaram: the Lord of the universe
• jagad-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘lord of the world’

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; interrogative pronoun

• vṛṇīta: would choose
• vṛṇīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• guṇa-sparśam: contact with material qualities
• guṇa-sparśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘contact with the modes/qualities’

• budhaḥ: a wise person
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• narake: in hell
• narake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic ‘even/also’

• yat: since/that
• yat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; relative pronoun; here causal/relative sense ‘since/that’

Purport

An intelligent man will never aspire to become a devotee to achieve material happiness. That is the test of a devotee. As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches:

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about transcending the three gunas (modes of nature)?

This verse teaches that one who has truly worshiped the Supreme Lord—giver of self-realization—no longer chooses contact with the material modes, even under extreme conditions.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize avoiding guṇa-sparśa (contact with material modes)?

Because devotion meant for liberation naturally produces detachment; choosing the modes again is seen as spiritually irrational for one seeking the Lord.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Prioritize bhakti and self-discipline so that attraction to passion and ignorance weakens—choose habits that increase clarity (sattva) and devotion rather than sense-driven impulses.