Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 60

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

धातवोऽवयवित्वाच्च तन्मात्रावयवैर्विना । न स्युर्ह्यसत्यवयविन्यसन्नवयवोऽन्तत: ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

dhātavo ’vayavitvāc ca tan-mātrāvayavair vinā na syur hy asaty avayaviny asann avayavo ’ntataḥ

Translation

Поскольку элементы образуют тело как единое целое, они не могут существовать без танматр — тонких объектов чувств. Поэтому, раз тело само по себе ложно, то и чувственные объекты по природе своей также ложны или преходящи.

Synonyms

• धातवः: elements (dhātus)
• धातवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• अवयवित्वात्: because of having parts
• अवयवित्वात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवयवित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause: because of)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तन्-मात्र-अवयवैः: with those parts alone
• तन्-मात्र-अवयवैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘तन्मात्र’ = ‘that alone/only that’ (determinative) + ‘अवयव’ = parts; करण/सहकारकभाव (instrumental: with/by)

• विना: without
• विना: वियोग (Separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगार्थक उपपद (without; governs तृतीया)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• स्युः: would be / could exist
• स्युः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बोधन-निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed/for)

• असति: when (it is) unreal/non-existent
• असति: अधिकरण (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute: when/if non-existent)

• अवयविनि: in the whole (that has parts)
• अवयविनि: अधिकरण (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवयविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute: in the whole/part-possessor)

• असन्: non-existent
• असन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अवयवः: a part
• अवयवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अन्ततः: ultimately
• अन्ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिणाम/निश्चयार्थ (finally/ultimately)

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the material elements being unreal?

This verse explains that the gross elements are composites dependent on subtler components (tan-mātras); therefore, if the composite “whole” is ultimately unreal, its parts are also ultimately unreal—supporting detachment from material identification.

Why did Prahlāda Mahārāja speak about parts and wholes in Canto 7?

In his instructions on civilized life and spiritual progress, Prahlāda analyzes matter to help one see its dependent, temporary nature, so the mind turns toward the eternal self and devotion to the Supreme.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Use this analysis to reduce over-attachment to the body and possessions: treat material arrangements as temporary and focus daily effort on sādhana—hearing, chanting, and serving Bhagavān—while living responsibly.