Shloka 54

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

भवान् भक्तिमता लभ्यो दुर्लभ: सर्वदेहिनाम् । स्वाराज्यस्याप्यभिमत एकान्तेनात्मविद्गति: ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

bhavān bhaktimatā labhyo durlabhaḥ sarva-dehinām svārājyasyāpy abhimata ekāntenātma-vid-gatiḥ

Translation

اے پروردگار، آپ بھکت کے لیے نہایت آسانی سے حاصل ہیں، مگر سب جسم والوں کے لیے دُشوار۔ سُورگ کے راج سے بھی بڑھ کر مطلوب، یکسو آتم-وِدوں کی آخری منزل بھی آپ ہی ہیں۔

Synonyms

• bhavān: you (Lord)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); honorific 2nd-person pronoun used as ‘you’

• bhaktimatā: by one who has devotion
• bhaktimatā: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaktimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by/for the devotee’ (possessor of devotion)

• labhyaḥ: obtainable
• labhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labh (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: Gerundive (भाव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘to be obtained’

• durlabhaḥ: difficult to obtain
• durlabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + labha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-dehinām: of all embodied beings
• sarva-dehinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of all embodied beings’

• svārājyasya: of self-rule/sovereignty
• svārājyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘one’s own sovereignty’

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive/emphatic

• abhimataḥ: desired
• abhimataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-mata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘desired/approved’

• ekāntena: exclusively
• ekāntena: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) used adverbially; ‘exclusively/with single-mindedness’

• ātma-vit-gatiḥ: the goal of Self-knowledge
• ātma-vit-gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु) → vit (कृत्) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘the attainment/goal of the knower of the Self’ or ‘attainment of Self-knowledge’ (contextual)

Purport

As stated in Brahma-saṁhitā, vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau. This indicates that it is very difficult for one to attain the ultimate goal of life and reach the supreme destination, Vaikuṇṭhaloka or Goloka Vṛndāvana, simply by studying Vedānta philosophy or Vedic literature. However, this highest perfectional stage can be attained by the devotees very easily. That is the meaning of vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau. The same point is confirmed by Lord Śiva in this verse. The Lord is very difficult for the karma-yogīs, jñāna-yogīs and dhyāna-yogīs to attain. Those who are bhakti-yogīs, however, have no difficulty at all. In the word svārājyasya, svar refers to Svargaloka, the heavenly planet, and svārājya refers to the ruler of the heavenly planet, Indra. Generally, karmīs desire elevation to heavenly planets, but King Indra desires to become perfect in bhakti-yoga. Those who identify themselves as ahaṁ brahmāsmi (“I am the Supreme Brahman, one with the Absolute Truth”) also ultimately desire to attain perfect liberation in the Vaikuṇṭha planets or Goloka Vṛndāvana. In Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) it is said:

Characters & Entities

• Pracetas
• Śiva
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attaining God through bhakti?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord is attainable only by one who has devotion (bhakti); without devotion He remains difficult to attain for embodied beings.

Why do the Pracetas emphasize devotion even above sovereignty (svārājya)?

In their prayer, they teach that worldly power or independence is not the ultimate achievement; the most desired goal is exclusive spiritual realization centered on devotion to Bhagavān.

Practical application of ekānta (one-pointed) devotion in modern life?

Prioritize a steady daily practice—hearing, chanting, and remembering the Lord—so that spiritual focus becomes primary, not secondary to status, control, or material success.