Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 34

Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot

Devanagari script

एवं गोमृगकाकचर्यया व्रजंस्तिष्ठन्नासीन: शयान: काकमृगगोचरित: पिबति खादत्यवमेहति स्म ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ go-mṛga-kāka-caryayā vrajaṁs tiṣṭhann āsīnaḥ śayānaḥ kāka-mṛga-go-caritaḥ pibati khādaty avamehati sma.

Translation

ด้วยประการฉะนี้ พระฤษภเทวะทรงประพฤติเสมือนวัว กวาง และกา. บางคราวทรงเดิน บางคราวทรงยืนอยู่ที่เดิม บางคราวทรงนั่ง และบางคราวทรงนอน—เหมือนวัว กวาง และกาโดยแท้. ด้วยวิธีนั้นพระองค์ทรงเสวย ดื่ม ขับถ่าย และทรงหลอกผู้คนด้วยอาการเช่นนี้.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• गो: cow
• गो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• मृग: deer, wild animal
• मृग: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• काक: crow
• काक: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• चर्यया: by the conduct (like cows, deer, and crows)
• चर्यया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (गो-मृग-काक-चर्या) करण (instrumental)

• व्रजन्: going
• व्रजन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• आसीनः: sitting
• आसीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP used adjectivally) पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘seated’

• शयानः: lying down
• शयानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त; शानच्-प्रत्यय पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• काक: crow
• काक: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• मृग: deer/animal
• मृग: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• गो: cow
• गो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• चरितः: having the behavior (of)
• चरितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (काक-मृग-गो-चरितः = whose behavior is like...)

• पिबति: drinks
• पिबति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्

• खादति: eats
• खादति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खाद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्

• अवमेहति: urinates
• अवमेहति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मिह्/मेह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्

• स्म: indeed/then (particle)
• स्म: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-निपात

Purport

Being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva possessed a transcendental, spiritual body. Since the general public could not appreciate His behavior and mystic yoga practice, they began to disturb Him. To cheat them, He behaved like crows, cows and deer.

Characters & Entities

• Jaḍa Bharata (Bharata Mahārāja)

FAQs

Why does Jaḍa Bharata behave like animals in Srimad Bhagavatam?

To avoid social entanglement and remain fully detached, Jaḍa Bharata deliberately acted like cows, deer, and crows, keeping his mind fixed in renunciation and spiritual absorption.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 5.5.34 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to King Parīkṣit, describing Jaḍa Bharata’s outward behavior as part of his life of detachment.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 5.5.34 for modern life?

The verse teaches humility and freedom from obsession with reputation—cultivate inner devotion and simplicity, and avoid needless social distractions that pull the mind away from spiritual practice.