Shloka 10

The Deliverance of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva

Yamala-Arjuna Līlā Prelude and Culmination

Devanagari script

देवसंज्ञितमप्यन्ते कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञितम् । भूतध्रुक्तत्कृते स्वार्थं किं वेद निरयो यत: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

deva-saṁjñitam apy ante kṛmi-viḍ-bhasma-saṁjñitam bhūta-dhruk tat-kṛte svārthaṁ kiṁ veda nirayo yataḥ

Translation

Пока жив, человек из гордости телом мнит себя великим — министром, правителем или даже подобным деве; но в конце это тело станет пищей червей, нечистотами или пеплом. Потому тот, кто ради прихотей временного тела убивает бедных животных, не ведает страданий следующего рождения; такой грешник падает в ад и вкушает плод своих деяний.

Synonyms

• देवसंज्ञितम्: called ‘deva’ (god)
• देवसंज्ञितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; संज्ञित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय, √ज्ञा/ज्ञा(धातु) ‘to know’/‘to designate’) — ‘called/termed’

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — concessive ‘even/although’

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन — locative ‘at the end’

• कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञितम्: called worms, excrement and ashes
• कृमिविड्भस्मसंज्ञितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृमि + विट् + भस्म + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संज्ञित (क्त-प्रत्यय, √ज्ञा) — ‘called/termed’; समासः: (कृमि-विट्-भस्म)-संज्ञितम् = ‘termed as worms/excrement/ashes’

• भूतध्रुक्: one who harms beings
• भूतध्रुक्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + ध्रुक् (प्रातिपदिक; √द्रुह् धातु ‘to harm’ से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ध्रुक् = ‘one who harms’ (agent-noun)

• तत्कृते: for that (purpose/reason)
• तत्कृते: हेतु/अधिकरण (Cause/Locative usage)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘for that reason/for that purpose’ (तत्-कृते = ‘for the sake of that’)

• स्वार्थम्: one’s own interest
• स्वार्थम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन — object ‘one’s own interest’

• किम्: what
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; interrogative pronoun used adverbially ‘what?’

• वेद: knows
• वेद: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्/परस्मैपद-रूपवत् (वेद = परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट-रूप ‘knows’), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• निरयः: hell (state of damnation)
• निरयः: कर्ता/प्रथमा (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन — subject complement ‘hell’

• यतः: from which/wherefrom; because
• यतः: सम्बन्ध (Relational)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative adverb) — ‘from which/wherefrom; because’

Purport

In this verse the three words kṛmi-vid-bhasma are significant. After death, the body may become kṛmi, which means “worms,” for if the body is disposed of without cremation, it may be eaten by worms; or else it may be eaten by animals like hogs and vultures and be turned into stool. Those who are more civilized burn the dead body, and thus it becomes ashes ( bhasma-saṁjñitam ). Yet although the body will be turned into worms, stool or ashes, foolish persons, just to maintain it, commit many sinful activities. This is certainly regrettable. The human form of body is actually meant for jīvasya tattva jijñāsā, enlightenment in knowledge of spiritual values. Therefore, one must seek shelter of a bona fide spiritual master. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta: one must approach a guru. Who is a guru ? Śābde pare ca niṣṇātam ( Bhāg. 11.3.21 ): a guru is one who has full transcendental knowledge. Unless one approaches a spiritual master, one remains in ignorance. Ācāryavān puruṣo veda ( Chāndogya Upaniṣad 6.14.2): one has full knowledge about life when one is ācāryavān, controlled by the ācārya. But when one is conducted by rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa, one does not care about anything; instead, one acts like an ordinary foolish animal, risking his life ( mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani ) and therefore continuing to go through suffering after suffering. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum ( Bhāg. 7.5.31 ). Such a foolish person does not know how to elevate himself in this body. Instead, he indulges in sinful activities and goes deeper and deeper into hellish life.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Nanda Mahārāja
• Yaśodā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the body being temporary?

This verse states that even if the body is praised as ‘divine’ in life, it ends as worms, stool, and ashes—therefore it is not worth committing sin for.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī warn against harming other beings for bodily interests?

He explains that violence and exploitation done for the body’s sake is ignorance of true self-interest, because such actions lead to hellish reactions (niraya).

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Recognize bodily gain and prestige as temporary, avoid causing harm for profit or pleasure, and choose dharmic, compassionate living aligned with devotion to God.