Shloka 49

Chapter 90

Devanagari script

इत्त्थं परस्य निज-वर्त्म-रिरक्षयात्त-लीला-तनोस् तदनुरूप-विडम्बनानि ।

कर्माणि कर्म-कषणानि यदूत्तमस्य

श्रूयाद् अमुष्य पदयोर् अनुवृत्तिम् इच्छन् ॥

Transliteration

itthaṃ parasya nija-vartma-rirakṣayātta- $ līlā-tanos tad-anurūpa-viḍambanāni & itthaṃ parasya nija-vartma-rirakṣayātta- $ līlā-tanos tad-anurūpa-viḍambanāni & karmāṇi karma-kaṣaṇāni yadūttamasya % śrūyād amuṣya padayor anuvṛttim icchan //

Translation

ఇలా పరమేశ్వరుడు తన దివ్య మార్గాన్ని రక్షించుటకై లీలాతనువును ధరించి, బయటకు మానవ ప్రవర్తనను అనుకరించినట్లుగా కనిపించే అయినా కర్మఫల బంధాన్ని క్షయింపజేసే కార్యాలను చేశాడు. యదువులలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన ఆయన పాదచిహ్నాలను అనుసరించదలచినవాడు, ఆయన పదయుగళ శరణలో ఉండి ఆయన లీలలను శ్రవణం చేయాలి।

Synonyms

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• परस्य: of the Supreme
• परस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• निज-वर्त्म-रिरक्षया-आत्त-लीला-तनोः: of him whose playful form was assumed to protect his own path (method)
• निज-वर्त्म-रिरक्षया-आत्त-लीला-तनोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रिरक्षा (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative-noun from √रक्ष्) + आत्त (कृदन्त, √दा/√आ-दा) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (of him whose play-form was assumed for protecting one’s own path)

• तत्-अनुरूप-विडम्बनानि: corresponding imitations / enactments
• तत्-अनुरूप-विडम्बनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + विडम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (imitations befitting that)

• कर्माणि: deeds
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• कर्म-कषणानि: destroying (previous) karma
• कर्म-कषणानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (that wear away/erode karma)

• यदूत्तमस्य: of the best of the Yadus (Kṛṣṇa)
• यदूत्तमस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (of the best of the Yadus)

• श्रूयात्: should hear
• श्रूयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अमुष्य: of him
• अमुष्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive of 'that/he')

• पदयोः: of (his) two feet
• पदयोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; here genitive 'of the two feet'

• अनुवृत्तिम्: following / devoted practice
• अनुवृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छन्: desiring
• इच्छन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Purport

This verse explains why Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s earthly pastimes should never be judged as mundane. The Lord accepts a līlā-śarīra (a transcendental pastime body) and moves among humans in ways that appear similar to worldly conduct (viḍambana), yet His actions are categorically different: they are karma-kaṣaṇa—capable of cutting the knot of karmic bondage for the hearer. The Bhagavatam repeatedly emphasizes that liberation is not attained merely by moral effort or ritual, but by śravaṇa (hearing) of the Lord’s līlā with faith and the intention to follow His path (anuvṛtti). “Protecting His own path” implies the Lord establishes and safeguards bhakti-dharma: He demonstrates how devotion, surrender, and remembrance lead beyond fate and death. Therefore, the practical instruction is to place oneself at His feet through attentive hearing—because contact with His narrations purifies desire, reshapes identity, and gradually frees one from the compulsion of karma.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Yadu dynasty (Yadus)

FAQs

How do Krishna’s pastimes destroy karma according to Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa’s deeds are karma-kaṣaṇa—hearing them with devotion cuts karmic reactions because His līlā is transcendental and purifying.

Why does the Bhagavatam say Krishna appears to act like an ordinary human?

The verse explains that the Lord adopts a pastime-form and performs actions that resemble human behavior (viḍambana), while actually establishing and protecting the path of bhakti.

What is the practical application of this verse for daily life?

Make regular śravaṇa—hear and reflect on Kṛṣṇa’s līlā with the intention to follow His devotional path; this gradually reduces karmic conditioning and strengthens bhakti.