Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 22

Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee

Devanagari script

यद्यनीशो धारयितुं मनो ब्रह्मणि निश्चलम् । मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि निरपेक्ष: समाचर ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

yady anīśo dhārayituṁ mano brahmaṇi niścalam mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi nirapekṣaḥ samācara

Translation

亲爱的乌达婆，若你尚不能使心离诸扰动而不动地安住于梵，那么就当无所求地将一切行为作为供奉献给我，不贪其果。

Synonyms

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle ‘if’)

• अनीशः: (being) unable
• अनीशः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; ‘अ-ईश’ = unable/not capable

• धारयितुम्: to hold; to fix
• धारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमुन्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to hold/steady’

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणि: in Brahman
• ब्रह्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• निश्चलम्: steady; unmoving
• निश्चलम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; मनः-विशेषण

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; कर्माणि-विशेषण

• कर्माणि: actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन

• निरपेक्षः: without expectation; detached
• निरपेक्षः: Karta (कर्ता; कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरपेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; ‘अपेक्षा-रहित’

• समाचर: perform; practice
• समाचर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

If one offers one’s activities to Lord Kṛṣṇa without trying to enjoy the results, one’s mind becomes purified. When the mind is purified, transcendental knowledge automatically manifests, since such knowledge is a by-product of pure consciousness. When the mind is absorbed in perfect knowledge, it can be raised to the spiritual platform, as described in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54) :

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering all actions to Krishna?

This verse instructs that when steady meditation is not possible, one should dedicate all activities to Krishna and act without selfish expectation.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

Krishna is guiding Uddhava through practical spiritual steps—moving from difficult mind-fixation to an accessible discipline of selfless action offered to the Lord.

Practical application of nirapeksha (acting without expectation) in modern life?

Do your duties sincerely, offer the results to God, and measure success by integrity and devotion rather than outcomes like praise, profit, or control.