Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 40

Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva

Devanagari script

जितमजित तदा भवता यदाह भागवतं धर्ममनवद्यम् । निष्किञ्चना ये मुनय आत्मारामा यमुपासतेऽपवर्गाय ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

jitam ajita tadā bhavatā yadāha bhāgavataṁ dharmam anavadyam niṣkiñcanā ye munaya ātmārāmā yam upāsate ’pavargāya

Translation

اے ناقابلِ تسخیر ربّ! جب آپ نے بے داغ بھاگوت-دھرم بیان فرمایا، یہی آپ کی فتح ہے۔ کماروں جیسے بے نیاز، آتما رام مُنی نجات کے لیے اسی بھاگوت-دھرم کو اختیار کر کے آپ کے کنول چرنوں کی پناہ لیتے ہیں۔

Synonyms

• जितम्: conquered
• जितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (जि/धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि—‘(it is) conquered’

• अजित: O Unconquered One
• अजित: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: then)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific ‘by you’)

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

• आह: said/spoke
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह् (अहँ/धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भागवतम्: pertaining to the Lord/devotional
• भागवतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्मम्)

• धर्मम्: dharma, religious principle
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अनवद्यम्: blameless
• अनवद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनवद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्मम्)

• निष्किञ्चनाः: having nothing (free from possessions)
• निष्किञ्चनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + किञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘येषां किञ्चनं नास्ति’)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• आत्म-आरामाः: delighting in the Self
• आत्म-आरामाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (मुनयः)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• उपासते: worship/serve
• उपासते: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√आस् (आसँ/धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अपवर्गाय: for liberation
• अपवर्गाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Purpose-Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (dative of purpose)

Purport

As stated by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu:

Characters & Entities

• Ajita (the Lord)
• Munis (self-realized sages)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhagavata-dharma (pure devotional religion)?

This verse calls bhāgavata-dharma “spotless” (anavadya) and implies it is so powerful that it can even ‘conquer’ the unconquerable Lord by awakening pure devotion.

Why is the Lord called Ajita (unconquerable) yet described as conquered here?

He cannot be conquered by force, austerity, or intellect, but He becomes conquered by bhakti—especially when His own teachings inspire surrender and devotion.

Practical application of niṣkiñcana and ātmārāma ideals in modern life?

Reduce unnecessary possessions and dependence, cultivate inner contentment through prayer and sādhana, and center daily choices on devotion rather than consumption—this nurtures freedom and spiritual clarity.