Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 28

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

विससर्ज तदा बाणं मत्वा तं स्वजितं स्मर: । सर्वं तत्राभवन्मोघमनीशस्य यथोद्यम: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

visasarja tadā bāṇaṁ matvā taṁ sva-jitaṁ smaraḥ sarvaṁ tatrābhavan mogham anīśasya yathodyamaḥ

Translation

爱神以为已征服圣者，便射出那一箭；然而此处一切诱惑尽皆落空——正如否认主宰者的徒劳作为。

Synonyms

• visasarja: he discharged
• visasarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• bāṇam: arrow
• bāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• matvā: having thought
• matvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), 'having thought/considered'

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• sva-jitam: conquered by himself
• sva-jitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + jita (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'conquered by oneself' qualifying tam

• smaraḥ: Smara (Cupid)
• smaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• mogham: fruitless
• mogham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular) qualifying sarvam

• anīśasya: of the powerless one
• anīśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anīśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• yathā-udyamaḥ: like an effort (in vain)
• yathā-udyamaḥ: Upamāna/Prakāra (उपमान/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + udyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभावः: 'as (is) an effort' (comparative sense)

Characters & Entities

• Smara (Kāmadeva/Cupid)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about overcoming lust (kāma)?

This verse shows that Cupid’s power becomes ineffective before the Supreme; thus lust is ultimately conquered by taking shelter of the Lord rather than relying on one’s limited strength.

Why is Cupid (Kāmadeva) mentioned as failing in this verse?

Śukadeva describes how even the deity of desire misjudges the Supreme as conquerable—yet his attempt becomes fruitless, emphasizing the Lord’s transcendence over material passion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

When desire overwhelms the mind, redirect attention to bhakti—hearing, chanting, and remembrance of the Lord—because mere willpower without higher shelter often becomes “mogha,” ineffective.