Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 42

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

सुखाय दु:खमोक्षाय सङ्कल्प इह कर्मिण: । सदाप्नोतीहया दु:खमनीहाया: सुखावृत: ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

sukhāya duḥkha-mokṣāya saṅkalpa iha karmiṇaḥ sadāpnotīhayā duḥkham anīhāyāḥ sukhāvṛtaḥ

Translation

اس دنیا میں کرمی خوشی پانے اور دکھ سے چھٹکارا کے ارادے سے عمل کرتا ہے۔ مگر حقیقت یہ ہے کہ جب تک وہ خوشی کے لیے تگ و دو نہیں کرتا، تب تک وہ ایک طرح سے سکون میں ڈھکا رہتا ہے؛ اور جیسے ہی خوشی کے لیے کوشش شروع کرتا ہے، دکھ کی حالت شروع ہو جاتی ہے۔

Synonyms

• sukhāya: for happiness
• sukhāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• duḥkha-mokṣāya: for liberation from suffering
• duḥkha-mokṣāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha + mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (duḥkha 'sorrow' + mokṣa 'release' = 'release from sorrow')

• saṅkalpaḥ: intention/resolve
• saṅkalpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (देशवाचक)

• karmiṇaḥ: of the worker (karmī)
• karmiṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक) + in (तद्धित)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; agent noun 'doer of actions'

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक)

• āpnoti: attains
• āpnoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• īhayā: by striving/effort
• īhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• duḥkham: suffering
• duḥkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anīhāyāḥ: of non-striving/inaction
• anīhāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an-īhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• sukha-āvṛtaḥ: covered/veiled by happiness
• sukha-āvṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha + āvṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; क्त-प्रत्यय (āvṛta 'covered'); समास: तत्पुरुष ('covered by happiness')

Purport

Every conditioned soul is bound by the laws of material nature, as described in Bhagavad-gītā ( prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ ). Everyone has achieved a certain type of body given by material nature according to the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about trying to find happiness through karma (fruitive work)?

This verse says that the karmī plans for happiness and relief from distress, but anxious striving (īhā) repeatedly brings suffering instead of peace.

Why did Prahlāda Mahārāja speak about ‘non-anxious endeavor’ to his classmates?

Prahlāda was instructing his asura schoolmates that material planning cannot secure real happiness; freedom from agitation and turning toward higher spiritual life is the wiser course.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life without becoming lazy?

Do your duties responsibly, but drop obsession and anxious over-planning for enjoyment; cultivate inner steadiness and spiritual purpose so the mind is not driven by fear and craving.