Shloka 40

Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers

The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode

Devanagari script

यन्मायामोहितधिय: पुत्रदारगृहादिषु । उन्मज्जन्ति निमज्जन्ति प्रसक्ता वृजिनार्णवे ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

yan-māyā-mohita-dhiyaḥ putra-dāra-gṛhādiṣu unmajjanti nimajjanti prasaktā vṛjinārṇave

Translation

اے پروردگار، تیری مایا سے موہت عقل والے لوگ بیٹے، بیوی، گھر وغیرہ میں لپٹ کر مادی دکھ کے سمندر میں کبھی ابھرتے ہیں اور کبھی ڈوب جاتے ہیں۔

Synonyms

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• माया-मोहित-धियः: whose minds are deluded by māyā
• माया-मोहित-धियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहित (मुह् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहिर्विशेषण—‘मायया मोहिताः धियः येषाम्’ इति (genitive-tatpurusha sense)

• पुत्र-दार-गृह-आदिषु: in sons, wife, home, etc.
• पुत्र-दार-गृह-आदिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; ‘पुत्रादिषु’ इत्यर्थे समाहार-द्वन्द्व + ‘आदि’ (etc.)

• उन्मज्जन्ति: they rise up (surface)
• उन्मज्जन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्+मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• निमज्जन्ति: they sink down
• निमज्जन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• प्रसक्ताः: attached, engrossed
• प्रसक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+सञ्ज् (धातु) → प्रसक्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle)

• वृजिन-अर्णवे: in the ocean of sin/misfortune
• वृजिन-अर्णवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृजिन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘वृजिनस्य अर्णवः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that “rising in the ocean of misery” indicates elevation to higher species, such as demigods, and that “being submerged” refers to degradation to lower species — even to immobile forms of life such as trees. As stated in the Vāyu Purāṇa, viparyayaś ca bhavati brahmatva-sthāvaratvayoḥ: “The living being rotates between the position of Brahmā and that of an unmoving creature.”

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment to family and home?

This verse explains that when the mind is deluded by māyā, one becomes absorbed in sons, spouse, and household life, and thus repeatedly suffers—rising and sinking—in the ocean of material misfortune.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe people as rising and sinking in an ocean?

He uses the ocean metaphor to show the cyclical nature of material life: brief moments of relief or success are followed by renewed distress, because attachment keeps one bound to karma and suffering.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life without abandoning my duties?

Perform duties to family and home with detachment—seeing them as responsibilities offered to God—while cultivating bhakti (hearing, chanting, and remembering the Lord), so attachment does not become the cause of bondage.