Shloka 36

Manu Offers Devahūti to Kardama; The Sage Accepts with a Devotional Vow

Devanagari script

स एवं स्वान्तरं निन्ये युगानामेकसप्ततिम् । वासुदेवप्रसङ्गेन परिभूतगतित्रय: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

sa evaṁ svāntaraṁ ninye yugānām eka-saptatim vāsudeva-prasaṅgena paribhūta-gati-trayaḥ

Translation

ਉਹ ਵਾਸੁਦੇਵ-ਪ੍ਰਸੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਦਾ ਜੁੜਿਆ ਰਹਿ ਕੇ ਇਕਹੱਤਰ ਯੁਗ-ਚੱਕਰਾਂ ਤੱਕ ਸਮਾਂ ਬਿਤਾਉਂਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ। ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਤਿੰਨਾਂ ਗਤੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੰਘ ਲਿਆ।

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• स्वान्तरम्: his inner self / inner mind
• स्वान्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: स्वम् अन्तरम् इति कर्मधारय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object with sense ‘within himself/inner mind’

• निन्ये: he led/passed (time)
• निन्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• युगानाम्: of ages (yugas)
• युगानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; genitive of measure/extent

• एकसप्ततिम्: seventy-one
• एकसप्ततिम्: Karma (कर्म/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + सप्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: एकसप्ततिः (71) इति द्विगु; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; numeral measure with ‘युगानाम्’

• वासुदेवप्रसङ्गेन: by association with Vāsudeva (talk/attachment to him)
• वासुदेवप्रसङ्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव + प्रसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वासुदेवस्य प्रसङ्गः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental of means

• परिभूतगतित्रयः: one who had transcended the three courses/paths (of material existence)
• परिभूतगतित्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√भू (धातु) → परिभूत (कृदन्त) + गति + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: परिभूतं गतित्रयम् यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि-like sense, but form as तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय chain); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate adjective of ‘सः’

Purport

The three destinations are meant for persons who are under the control of the three modes of material nature. These destinations are sometimes described as the awakened, dreaming and unconscious stages. In Bhagavad-gītā the three destinations are described as the destinations of persons in the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. It is stated in the Gītā that those who are in the mode of goodness are promoted to better living conditions in higher planets, and those who are in the mode of passion remain within this material world on the earth or on heavenly planets, but those who are in the mode of ignorance are degraded to an animal life on planets where life is lower than human. But one who is Kṛṣṇa conscious is above these three modes of material nature. It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā that anyone who engages in devotional service to the Lord automatically becomes transcendental to the three destinations of material nature and is situated in the brahma-bhūta, or self-realized, stage. Although Svāyambhuva Manu, the ruler of this material world, appeared to be absorbed in material happiness, he was neither in the mode of goodness nor in the modes of passion or ignorance, but in the transcendental stage.

Characters & Entities

• Kardama Muni
• Vāsudeva (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

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

This verse states that absorption in Vāsudeva-prasaṅga (hearing and remembering the Lord) enables one to surpass the threefold material courses (gati-traya) that arise from the guṇas.

Who is described as spending seventy-one yugas, and how was it possible?

Kardama Muni is described as passing seventy-one yugas inwardly through deep yogic absorption centered on Vāsudeva, indicating time passing while he remained immersed in spiritual realization.

Practical application of Vāsudeva-prasaṅga in modern life?

Regularly hear, study, chant, and discuss the Lord’s names and pastimes (kathā) to keep the mind inwardly anchored, reducing the pull of material conditioning and cultivating liberation-oriented devotion.