Shloka 39

Uddhava Sent to Vraja: Consolation to Nanda-Yaśodā and the Gopīs’ Separation

Devanagari script

न चास्य कर्म वा लोके सदसन्मिश्रयोनिषु । क्रीडार्थं सोऽपि साधूनां परित्राणाय कल्पते ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

na cāsya karma vā loke sad-asan-miśra-yoniṣu krīḍārthaṁ so ’pi sādhūnāṁ paritrāṇāya kalpate

Translation

Neste mundo, Ele não tem obra kármica que O obrigue a nascer em espécies puras, impuras ou mistas. Ainda assim, para saborear Suas līlās e libertar Seus santos devotos, Ele Se manifesta.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• karma: action/karma
• karma: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र—प्रथमा (predicate noun)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sat: real/existent
• sat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); 'existent/real'

• asat: unreal/non-existent
• asat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); 'non-existent/unreal'

• miśra: mixed
• miśra: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: miśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); 'mixed'

• yoniṣu: in wombs/births
• yoniṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; पूर्वपदसमासः—sad-asat-miśra-yoniṣu (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष)

• krīḍā-artham: for sport/play
• krīḍā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अर्थ-तत्पुरुष: 'for the purpose of play')

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• sādhūnām: of the good (saints)
• sādhūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/for whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• paritrāṇāya: for protection/deliverance
• paritrāṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paritrāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• kalpate: is fit/serves; is intended
• kalpate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Sādhus (saintly devotees)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why Kṛṣṇa incarnates if He has no karma?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa has no worldly duty or karmic compulsion, yet He appears by His own will for divine play (līlā) and to protect and deliver the saintly.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize that Kṛṣṇa is not bound to birth in mixed species?

To clarify Kṛṣṇa’s transcendence: unlike conditioned beings who take birth due to karma in various higher and lower forms, Kṛṣṇa’s appearance is voluntary and purposeful—centered on līlā and the protection of devotees.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

It strengthens faith that the Lord is not limited by material laws and that sincere devotion attracts His protection—encouraging steady bhakti even amid uncertainty.