Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 41

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच कर्मयोगं वदत न: पुरुषो येन संस्कृत: । विधूयेहाशु कर्माणि नैष्कर्म्यं विन्दते परम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca karma-yogaṁ vadata naḥ puruṣo yena saṁskṛtaḥ vidhūyehāśu karmāṇi naiṣkarmyaṁ vindate param

Translation

ଶ୍ରୀରାଜା କହିଲେ—ହେ ମହର୍ଷିମାନେ, ଯେ କର୍ମଯୋଗ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପୁରୁଷ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଓ ସଂସ୍କୃତ ହୁଏ, ସେଥି ଆମକୁ କହନ୍ତୁ। ଏହି ଯୋଗରେ ସେ ଏହି ଜୀବନରେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ସମସ୍ତ ଭୌତିକ କର୍ମବନ୍ଧନ ଝାଡ଼ି ପରମ ନୈଷ୍କର୍ମ୍ୟ ପାଏ ଏବଂ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଆଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମିକ ଜୀବନରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ ହୁଏ।

Synonyms

• śrī-rājā: the revered king
• śrī-rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + rājā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; honorific ‘the glorious king’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘said’

• karma-yogam: karma-yoga (path of action)
• karma-yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; object of request/speech

• vadata: tell (us)
• vadata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Plural; ‘tell (you all)’

• naḥ: to us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative/Genitive enclitic; here Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Plural: ‘to us’

• puruṣaḥ: a person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; subject of vindate

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular; relative pronoun ‘by which’

• saṁskṛtaḥ: purified
• saṁskṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṁ-√kṛ (धातु) → saṁskṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; past passive participle: ‘purified/refined’ (agreeing with puruṣaḥ)

• vidhūya: having shaken off
• vidhūya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhū (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having shaken off’

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa/Prasaṅga (देश/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक) ‘here/in this life’

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (शीघ्रार्थक) ‘quickly’

• karmāṇi: actions (karmas)
• karmāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Plural; object of vidhūya

• naiṣkarmyam: actionlessness / freedom from karma
• naiṣkarmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naiṣkarmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; object of vindate

• vindate: attains
• vindate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘finds/attains’

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; adjective qualifying naiṣkarmyam

Purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.5) :

Characters & Entities

• King Nimi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about karma-yoga leading to freedom from karma?

In this verse, King Nimi asks for karma-yoga that purifies a person and quickly removes karmic reactions, culminating in the supreme naiṣkarmya—freedom from bondage to action.

Why did King Nimi ask about karma-yoga in Canto 11 Chapter 3?

Within the dialogue with exalted sages, the King seeks a practical spiritual method for purification in worldly life—how to act in a way that removes karmic bondage and leads to liberation.

How can karma-yoga be applied in modern life according to this shloka?

Perform duties responsibly while aiming for inner purification—offering work in a spirit aligned with dharma and devotion—so actions no longer bind and the mind moves toward liberation.