Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 34

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana

Devanagari script

त्यक्त्वा सुदुस्त्यजसुरेप्सितराज्यलक्ष्मीं धर्मिष्ठ आर्यवचसा यदगादरण्यम् । मायामृगं दयितयेप्सितमन्वधावद् वन्दे महापुरुष ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

tyaktvā su-dustyaja-surepsita-rājya-lakṣmīṁ dharmiṣṭha ārya-vacasā yad agād araṇyam māyā-mṛgaṁ dayitayepsitam anvadhāvad vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam

Translation

اے مہاپُرش! میں آپ کے کمل چرنوں کی وندنا کرتا ہوں۔ آپ نے وہ راجیہ-لکشمی اور شان و شوکت ترک کی جسے چھوڑنا نہایت دشوار ہے اور جس کی خواہش دیوتا بھی کرتے ہیں۔ دھرم میں ثابت قدم رہ کر آپ نے آریہ (برہمن) کے وचन/شاپ کی اطاعت میں جنگل کا رخ کیا۔ محض کرُونا سے آپ نے مایا-مِرگ کے پیچھے دوڑتے ہوئے گرے ہوئے جیوں کا پیچھا کیا، اور اسی کے ساتھ اپنے محبوب مطلوب—شیامسندر—کی تلاش میں بھی لگے رہے۔

Synonyms

• tyaktvā: having given up
• tyaktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having abandoned’

• su-dustyaja-sura-īpsita-rājya-lakṣmīm: royal fortune desired by the gods, very hard to renounce
• su-dustyaja-sura-īpsita-rājya-lakṣmīm: Karma (कर्म/Object of tyaktvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + dustyaja + sura + īpsita + rājya + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः: rājya-lakṣmī (राज्यस्य लक्ष्मीः) + īpsita (इप्सित) + sura (सुरैः) + su-dustyaja (अतिदुस्त्यजा)

• dharmiṣṭha: O most righteous one
• dharmiṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharmiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; श्रेष्ठार्थे इष्ठ-प्रत्यय (superlative)

• ārya-vacasā: by noble words (obedient to a noble command)
• ārya-vacasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आर्यं वचः)

• yat: who/that (he who)
• yat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of agāt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• agāt: went
• agāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• araṇyam: to the forest
• araṇyam: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• māyā-mṛgam: the illusory deer
• māyā-mṛgam: Karma (कर्म/Object of anvadhāvat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मायामयः मृगः)

• dayitayā: by/for (his) beloved (Sītā)
• dayitayā: Karaṇa/Hetu nuance (करण/हेतु—‘because of the beloved’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• īpsitam: desired
• īpsitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īpsita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) from √āp/√īps (इप्स् ‘to desire’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; māyā-mṛgam इति विशेषणम्

• anvadhāvat: ran after
• anvadhāvat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + dhāv (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vande: I worship/salute
• vande: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• mahā-puruṣa: O great person
• mahā-puruṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• caraṇa-aravindam: lotus-feet
• caraṇa-aravindam: Karma (कर्म/Object of vande)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa + aravinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Purport

According to the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas, this important verse of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is understood to describe Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa and also Lord Śrī Rāmacandra. This verse appears within the discussion by the sage Karabhājana of the yugāvatāras, or the different incarnations of the Personality of Godhead who deliver the conditioned souls of each age. The prayers ending with the words vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam are understood to glorify the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Kali-yuga known as Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu lived for twenty-four years in Navadvīpa as a householder and enjoyed immense popularity among both scholars and ordinary persons. His saṅkīrtana movement was completely supported by the local government, even though it was Muslim. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu had the pleasure of marrying the goddess of fortune. No ordinary woman of the material world, no matter how gorgeous she may be, can in any way compare with the beautiful goddess of fortune. Everyone in the universe, including Lord Brahmā, is searching after the goddess of fortune. Therefore it is stated here, surepsita.

Characters & Entities

• Mahāpuruṣa (Supreme Lord)
• Śrī Rāma
• Sītā
• Demigods (Suras)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Rama giving up His kingdom?

This verse praises Lord Rāma as supremely righteous: by honoring the noble words of elders and brāhmaṇas, He renounced even the god-coveted wealth of kingship and accepted forest life to uphold dharma.

What is the meaning of 'māyā-mṛga' (illusory deer) in this shloka?

Māyā-mṛga refers to the magical decoy deer that was not a real creature but an illusion arranged to divert Lord Rāma; the verse recalls how He pursued it for Sītā’s sake.

How can I apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

It teaches prioritizing dharma over comfort and status, and cultivating devotion by remembering the Lord’s righteous conduct—choosing integrity and duty even when it requires personal sacrifice.