Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 41

Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers

The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode

Devanagari script

देवदत्तमिमं लब्ध्वा नृलोकमजितेन्द्रिय: । यो नाद्रियेत त्वत्पादौ स शोच्यो ह्यात्मवञ्चक: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

deva-dattam imaṁ labdhvā nṛ-lokam ajitendriyaḥ yo nādriyeta tvat-pādau sa śocyo hy ātma-vañcakaḥ

Translation

得此人身乃天赐；若不能制御诸根而不敬奉你的莲足者，实堪怜悯，因为他只是在欺骗自己。

Synonyms

• देव-दत्तम्: given by God
• देव-दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (दा धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘देवेन दत्तम्’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थ (given by God)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश (this)

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• नृ-लोकम्: the human world (human birth)
• नृ-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘नॄणां लोकः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• अजित-इन्द्रियः: one with uncontrolled senses
• अजित-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + जित (जि धातु, क्त; कृदन्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘अजितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य’ (one whose senses are unconquered)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (who)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• आद्रियेत: should honor / would respect
• आद्रियेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+दृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• त्वत्-पादौ: your two feet
• त्वत्-पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; ‘त्वदीयौ पादौ’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शोच्यः: lamentable
• शोच्यः: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुच् (धातु) → शोच्य (यत्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त—‘शोचितव्यः’ (to be lamented)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• आत्म-वञ्चकः: a self-deceiver
• आत्म-वञ्चकः: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वञ्चक (वञ्च् धातु, ण्वुल्/क-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘आत्मानं वञ्चयति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ

Purport

Lord Śiva here condemns those who refuse to engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the value of human birth?

This verse says human life is a divinely granted opportunity, and it becomes wasted if one does not honor and take shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.

Why did Lord Shiva say this to Krishna in Canto 10?

In the context of the Bāṇāsura episode, Śiva offers prayers acknowledging Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy and teaches that neglecting devotion—despite receiving human life—is self-cheating.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Use human life intentionally: restrain sense-driven habits and prioritize daily bhakti—such as chanting, prayer, and service—so life is not spent in self-deception.