Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 18

Nārada’s Arrival, the Nine Yogendras, and the Foundations of Bhāgavata-dharma

Devanagari script

स भुक्तभोगां त्यक्त्वेमां निर्गतस्तपसा हरिम् । उपासीनस्तत्पदवीं लेभे वै जन्मभिस्त्रिभि: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sa bhukta-bhogāṁ tyaktvemāṁ nirgatas tapasā harim upāsīnas tat-padavīṁ lebhe vai janmabhis tribhiḥ

Translation

婆罗多王知一切物欲之乐皆无常而无益，遂舍离此世；弃年轻妻子与家眷，以严峻苦行礼敬圣主哈利，历经三生，终得入主之圣境。

Synonyms

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

• भुक्त-भोगाम्: (this) whose pleasures have been enjoyed / enjoyed pleasures
• भुक्त-भोगाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्त (भुज् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; ‘भुक्ताः भोगाः यस्याः सा’ इति विशेषण-प्रयोगः (enjoyed pleasures)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having abandoned’

• इमाम्: this (one/this world-life)
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निर्गतः: having departed/renounced
• निर्गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्गम् (निः+गम् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘gone out/renounced’

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तपस्-शब्दः), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपासीनः: worshipping
• उपासीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘worshipping/serving’

• तत्-पदवीम्: that path/position (of Him)
• तत्-पदवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पदवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘तस्य पदवी’ = his path/state)

• लेभे: attained
• लेभे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• जन्मभिः: by births (through births)
• जन्मभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

Purport

The complete narration of the three lives of Bharata — as a king, as a deer and as an exalted paramahaṁsa devotee of the Lord — is given in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about renunciation after enjoying worldly life?

This verse teaches that after one has experienced material pleasures and becomes detached, one should renounce them and worship Lord Hari; such focused devotion, supported by austerity, leads to the supreme destination.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 11.2.18 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks in the Eleventh Canto, instructing King Parīkṣit while describing the standards and progression of devotional life and the attainment of Hari.

How can I apply the teaching of Bhagavatam 11.2.18 in modern life?

Cultivate detachment from excess consumption, adopt disciplined spiritual practices (tapasya) like regulated habits and sincerity, and keep steady worship/remembering of Hari as the central aim—progress comes from consistent devotion.