Shloka 5

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

समुद्रावरणां जित्वा मां विशन्त्यब्धिमोजसा । कियदात्मजयस्यैतन्मुक्तिरात्मजये फलम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

samudrāvaraṇāṁ jitvā māṁ viśanty abdhim ojasā kiyad ātma-jayasyaitan muktir ātma-jaye phalam

Translation

เมื่อพิชิตแผ่นดินที่ถูกมหาสมุทรล้อมแล้ว กษัตริย์ผู้หยิ่งผยองเหล่านี้ยังบุกลงทะเลด้วยกำลัง ราวกับจะพิชิตมหาสมุทรด้วย แล้วการข่มตนเพื่อแสวงอำนาจทางการเมืองจะมีประโยชน์อะไร? ผลแท้ของการชนะตนคือโมกษะ—ความหลุดพ้น

Synonyms

• समुद्रावरणाम्: (the earth) enclosed by the ocean
• समुद्रावरणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (samudra-āvaraṇā = ‘ocean-enclosed’), विशेषण of implied ‘पृथ्वीम्’

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); ‘having conquered’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विशन्ति: they enter
• विशन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√श् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अब्धिम्: the ocean
• अब्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द्धि/अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ओजसा: by strength, forcibly
• ओजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrumental: by force)

• कियत्: how much? what (value)?
• कियत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कियत् (प्रश्न-सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (how much?)

• आत्मजयस्य: of self-conquest
• आत्मजयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ātma-jaya = ‘self-conquest’)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आत्मजये: in self-conquest
• आत्मजये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; अधिकरण (in/with regard to self-conquest)

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about conquering the self (ātma-jaya)?

This verse teaches that true victory is inner conquest—mastery over one’s own mind and senses—and that even liberation (mukti) is merely a fruit of such self-conquest.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī compare entering the ocean to entering the Supreme?

He uses a poetic comparison: as one may ‘conquer’ and enter the physical ocean by force, similarly one may speak of entering the Absolute—yet the real measure of spiritual success is not external power but inner mastery.

Practical application of ātma-jaya in modern life according to this shloka?

Prioritize discipline over display: regulate habits, speech, and desires, and cultivate steady sādhana—because inner control is the root from which peace and spiritual freedom arise.