Shloka 52

Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa (Brahmā-stuti) and the Restoration of Vraja’s Lunch Pastime

Devanagari script

देहात्मवादिनां पुंसामपि राजन्यसत्तम । यथा देह: प्रियतमस्तथा न ह्यनु ये च तम् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

dehātma-vādināṁ puṁsām api rājanya-sattama yathā dehaḥ priyatamas tathā na hy anu ye ca tam

Translation

Ngay cả với những người cho thân xác là bản ngã, tâu bậc vương giả tối thượng, thân xác vẫn là điều yêu quý nhất; những thứ chỉ quan trọng vì liên hệ với thân xác không bao giờ quý bằng chính thân xác.

Synonyms

• देह-आत्म-वादिनाम्: of those who say the body is the self
• देह-आत्म-वादिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देहः आत्मा इति वदन्ति)

• पुंसाम्: of men/persons
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• राजन्य-सत्तम: O best of the royal class
• राजन्य-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (राजन्यानां सत्तमः)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक

• देहः: the body
• देहः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रियतमः: most dear
• प्रियतमः: Pradhana-visheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अतिशय (superlative)

• तथा: so
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

• अनु: after/for
• अनु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/अव्यय ‘after/along’ (here: ‘in accordance with/for’)

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

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• तम्: it/him (that)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about identifying the self with the body (deha-atma-buddhi)?

This verse points out the inconsistency of bodily identification: people claim the body is the self and love it most, yet they fail to show comparable regard for those who actually serve and support the body—hinting that such ‘self-love’ is confused and not spiritually grounded.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit Mahārāja as ‘best among kings’ here?

Śukadeva speaks to Parīkṣit as an exemplary ruler and sincere seeker, using an honorific to emphasize that this insight into bodily illusion is especially relevant for a king responsible for discerning real welfare beyond mere bodily concerns.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Reflect on where your ‘love of self’ is placed: care for the body responsibly, but cultivate the soul’s welfare through sādhana—hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa, serving devotees, and practicing compassion—so identity shifts from body-centered to devotion-centered.