Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 16

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

आह त्वात्मानुभावेन पूर्णकामस्य ते विभो । करवाम किमीशान येनेदं निर्वृतं जगत् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

āha tv ātmānubhāvena pūrṇa-kāmasya te vibho karavāma kim īśāna yenedaṁ nirvṛtaṁ jagat

Translation

ਮਾਰਕੰਡੇਯ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਵਿਭੋ! ਜੋ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਆਨੰਦ ਨਾਲ ਪੂਰਨਕਾਮ ਹੋ, ਤੇਰੇ ਲਈ ਮੈਂ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ? ਤੇਰੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਸਾਰਾ ਜਗਤ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।

Synonyms

• आह: said/spoke
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• आत्म-अनुभावेन: by (your) own potency/influence
• आत्म-अनुभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः अनुभावः)

• पूर्ण-कामस्य: of the fully satisfied (one)
• पूर्ण-कामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पूर्णः कामः यस्य/पूर्णकामः)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विभो: O all-powerful one
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• करवाम: let us two do/make
• करवाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन (dual); परस्मैपदम्; ‘let us two do’

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• ईशान: O Lord (Īśāna)
• ईशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रश्नार्थक ‘by which’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• निर्वृतम्: made peaceful/satisfied
• निर्वृतम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate adj.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि√वृ/वृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Īśāna (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about God being self-satisfied (pūrṇa-kāma)?

This verse describes the Lord as pūrṇa-kāma—fully fulfilled in Himself—needing nothing, yet being the source of peace and fulfillment for the entire universe.

Why does the speaker ask, 'What can we do for You, O Lord?'

Because the Lord is complete and independent; the speaker expresses humility, recognizing that all well-being in the world already comes from Him, not from what others can add to Him.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Serve God and others without ego or the idea of “doing Him a favor,” cultivating gratitude and humility by remembering that all peace and prosperity ultimately come from the Supreme.