Shloka 41

The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti

Devanagari script

नूनं भगवतो माया योगिनामपि मोहिनी । यद् वयं गुरवो नृणां स्वार्थे मुह्यामहे द्विजा: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

nūnaṁ bhagavato māyā yoginām api mohinī yad vayaṁ guravo nṛṇāṁ svārthe muhyāmahe dvijāḥ

Translation

నిశ్చయంగా భగవంతుని మాయ మహా యోగులనుకూడా మోహింపజేస్తుంది; మరి మా సంగతి ఏమిటి! మేము ద్విజులమై, మనుష్యులకు గురువులమని చెప్పబడినా, మా స్వార్థమునే గూర్చి మోహితులమయ్యాము।

Synonyms

• नूनम्: certainly
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (certainly)

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen. sg.)

• माया: māyā, deluding power
• माया: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्य-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• योगिनाम्: of yogis
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (Gen. pl.)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• मोहिनी: bewildering, deluding
• मोहिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of माया)

• यत्: because / that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (यत् = because/that), हेत्वर्थक (causal)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom. pl.), सर्वनाम

• गुरवः: teachers, elders
• गुरवः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom. pl.); उपपद-भाव (as teachers)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (Gen. pl.)

• स्वार्थे: in our own interest
• स्वार्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• मुह्यामहे: we become bewildered
• मुह्यामहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन; मुह् = to be deluded

• द्विजाः: brāhmaṇas, twice-born
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता/सम्बोधन-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom. pl.); संबोधनार्थे अपि (addressing among themselves)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about māyā bewildering even yogīs?

This verse states that the Lord’s māyā can delude even advanced yogīs, and it warns that spiritual status alone does not protect one if selfish desire remains.

Why did the brāhmaṇas say they were deluded by self-interest?

In the narrative, they realize they neglected Kṛṣṇa’s request due to ritual pride and personal attachments, and they repent that, despite being teachers, they acted from svārtha rather than devotion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Regularly examine motives in spiritual practice—choose service and humility over status, profit, or ego—so devotion is not replaced by self-interest.