Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 59

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

त्वं चानेन महाभागे सम्यक्‌चीर्णेन केशवम् । आत्मना शुद्धभावेन नियतात्मा भजाव्ययम् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

tvaṁ cānena mahā-bhāge samyak cīrṇena keśavam ātmanā śuddha-bhāvena niyatātmā bhajāvyayam

Translation

हे महाभाग्यवती, शुद्ध भावाने मन स्थिर करून हे पयो-व्रत नीट आचर आणि अव्यय भगवान केशवाचे भक्तिभावाने भजन कर।

Synonyms

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person), एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनेन: by/with this (vow/act)
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case)

• महाभागे: O greatly fortunate lady
• महाभागे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (vocative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन; समास: महा + भाग (कर्मधारय)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चीर्णेन: (by) duly performed
• चीर्णेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → चीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग?; अत्र तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular) — ‘performed/observed’ (agreeing with अनेन/व्रतेन implied)

• केशवम्: Keshava (Vishnu)
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case)

• आत्मना: with (your) self
• आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case)

• शुद्धभावेन: with pure disposition
• शुद्धभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case); समास: शुद्धस्य भावः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नियतात्मा: self-controlled
• नियतात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियतात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case); समास: नियतः आत्मा यस्य (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः) — ‘self-controlled’

• भज: worship
• भज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अव्ययम्: the imperishable (Lord)
• अव्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case) — विशेषण of केशवम्

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Kashyapa
• Keshava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Keśava with a pure heart?

This verse instructs that Keśava is to be worshiped with śuddha-bhāva (pure devotion) and niyata-ātmā (a controlled mind), especially while properly observing a sacred vow.

Why did Kaśyapa Muni tell Aditi to worship Keśava in Canto 8 Chapter 16?

Aditi sought relief for the devas; Kaśyapa directed her to a regulated vow and pure worship of Keśava, because the Lord alone can grant lasting protection and fulfillment.

How can I apply “self-controlled worship” from this shloka in modern life?

Keep a simple, consistent devotional routine (prayer, japa, or reading), avoid distractions during practice, and cultivate sincerity—offering whatever you do with a clean intention to the imperishable Lord.