Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11

Purūravā’s Song of Renunciation and the Glory of Sādhu-saṅga

Devanagari script

कुतस्तस्यानुभाव: स्यात् तेज ईशत्वमेव वा । योऽन्वगच्छंस्‍त्रियं यान्तीं खरवत् पादताडित: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

kutas tasyānubhāvaḥ syāt teja īśatvam eva vā yo ’nvagacchaṁ striyaṁ yāntīṁ khara-vat pāda-tāḍitaḥ

Translation

อิทธิพล พลัง และความเป็นเจ้านายของข้าอยู่ที่ไหน? ข้าวิ่งตามสตรีที่ทอดทิ้งข้า ราวกับลาถูกลาเพศเมียเตะเข้าหน้า

Synonyms

• कुतः: whence/how
• कुतः: Hetu-prashna (हेतु-प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive singular)

• अनुभावः: power/majesty
• अनुभावः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्यात्: could be/would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तेजः: splendor
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ईशत्वम्: lordship
• ईशत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• अन्वगच्छम्: I followed
• अन्वगच्छम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यान्तीम्: going
• यान्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + यान्ती (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• खर-वत्: like a donkey
• खर-वत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial), उपमा/प्रकारवाचक

• पाद-ताडितः: kicked with the foot
• पाद-ताडितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + ताडित (ताड् धातु + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पादेन ताडितः’ (instrumental sense in compound)

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about lust and loss of spiritual strength?

This verse teaches that a person who helplessly chases sense pleasure—especially sexual desire—cannot possess true tejas (inner brilliance), anubhava (real influence), or īśatva (self-mastery), because he is driven rather than self-governed.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In His final instructions (Uddhava Gītā), Kṛṣṇa emphasizes renunciation and inner discipline; He warns Uddhava that uncontrolled attraction degrades one’s dignity and spiritual authority, making one behave like a burdened animal.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Practice self-regulation: avoid triggers that inflame lust, keep uplifting association, engage the mind in bhakti (hearing/chanting), and cultivate respectful, dharmic relationships—so mastery of the senses replaces compulsive chasing.