Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa

Daśa-lakṣaṇam

Devanagari script

वृत्तिर्भूतानि भूतानां चराणामचराणि च । कृता स्वेन नृणां तत्र कामाच्चोदनयापि वा ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

vṛttir bhūtāni bhūtānāṁ carāṇām acarāṇi ca kṛtā svena nṛṇāṁ tatra kāmāc codanayāpi vā

Translation

“维持”（vṛtti）是养生之道：动者依不动者而活。就人而言，vṛtti 特指依其本性而谋生的行为；此行或出于自私欲望，或依神之律法、随经典之教令而行。

Synonyms

• वृत्तिः: sustenance/maintenance
• वृत्तिः: Karta/उद्देश्य (प्रथमा-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूतानि: beings
• भूतानि: Karma/कर्म (objects maintained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चराणाम्: of the moving (creatures)
• चराणाम्: सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अचराणि: the non-moving (entities)
• अचराणि: Karma/कर्म (objects maintained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• कृता: is made/ordained
• कृता: क्रिया-विशेष (predicate participle of वृत्तिः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि-भाव (made/ordained)

• स्वेन: by its own (nature)
• स्वेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्व-शब्द (reflexive)

• नृणाम्: of men/humans
• नृणाम्: सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: अधिकरण (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्ग-सूचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कामात्: from desire
• कामात्: हेतु/अपादान (cause/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चोदनया: by injunction/impulsion
• चोदनया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोदना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/समुच्चय (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunction)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about actions driven by desire (kāma) versus scriptural guidance?

This verse states that humans act either from personal desire (kāma) or from codanā—scriptural prompting—highlighting the choice between impulse-based action and dharma-guided action.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe human action as either desire-based or injunction-based?

He distinguishes ordinary conditioned behavior from dharmic conduct, showing that unlike other beings acting mainly by nature, humans have the distinct capacity to align life with śāstra and higher purpose.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Before acting, pause to see whether the motive is mere craving or a principled duty; then choose habits and decisions that are aligned with dharma and devotion rather than impulsive desire.