Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

नन्वद्धा मयि कुर्वन्ति कुशला: स्वार्थदर्शिन: । अहैतुक्यव्यवहितां भक्तिमात्मप्रिये यथा ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

nanv addhā mayi kurvanti kuśalāḥ svārtha-darśinaḥ ahaituky avyavahitāṁ bhaktim ātma-priye yathā

Translation

แท้จริงแล้ว ผู้ที่ชำนาญและเห็นประโยชน์แท้ของตน ย่อมถวายภักติที่ไร้เหตุจูงใจและไม่ขาดสายแด่เราโดยตรง เพราะเราเป็นที่รักยิ่งของอาตมัน

Synonyms

• ननु: indeed / surely
• ननु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ननु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) expressing reflection/objection ‘indeed, surely?’

• अद्धा: certainly
• अद्धा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = ‘certainly, clearly’

• मयि: in me / toward me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th, Locative), एकवचन

• कुर्वन्ति: they do / perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुशलाः: the wise / the capable
• कुशलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्वार्थदर्शिनः: those who see their own interest
• स्वार्थदर्शिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थदर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक: स्व+अर्थ+दर्शिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘seeing one’s own interest’

• अहैतुकीम्: causeless
• अहैतुकीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहैतुकी (प्रातिपदिक: अ+हेतु+की)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with भक्तिम्

• अव्यवहिताम्: uninterrupted / not separated
• अव्यवहिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यवहिता (प्रातिपदिक: अ+व्यवहित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with भक्तिम्

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आत्मप्रिये: O dear one (beloved)
• आत्मप्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक: आत्मन्+प्रिय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; address to ‘dear to oneself’ (O beloved Lord)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (comparative/manner) = ‘as, just as’

Purport

The Supreme Lord informed the brāhmaṇas’ wives that not only they but all people who recognize their true self-interest take to the spiritual process of loving service to the Lord. Lord Kṛṣṇa is ātma-priya, the real object of love for everyone. Although each individual has his own taste and freedom, ultimately every living being is a spiritual spark of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; thus everyone’s primary loving attraction is constitutionally meant for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Loving service to the Lord should be ahaitukī, without personal motive, and avyavahitā, unobstructed by mental speculation, selfish desire or any quirk of time and circumstance.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What is ahaitukī bhakti in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Ahaitukī bhakti is devotion to Kṛṣṇa offered without ulterior motive—love that is not based on material gain, fear, or social pressure, but arises from pure spiritual understanding.

Why does Krishna say the wise offer uninterrupted devotion to Him (svārtha-darśinaḥ)?

In this chapter Kṛṣṇa highlights that one’s highest self-interest is spiritual: reconnecting with Him. Therefore the truly intelligent naturally choose steady, unobstructed devotion over temporary worldly aims.

How can I practice uninterrupted devotion (avyavahitā bhakti) in modern life?

Keep daily contact with Kṛṣṇa through steady sādhana—hearing/reading Bhāgavatam, chanting His names, and offering your work and choices to Him—so devotion continues even amid duties and distractions.