Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11

Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them

Devanagari script

यदा आशिष आशास्य मां भजेत स्वकर्मभि: । तं रज:प्रकृतिं विद्यात् हिंसामाशास्य तामसम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

yadā āśiṣa āśāsya māṁ bhajeta sva-karmabhiḥ taṁ rajaḥ-prakṛtiṁ vidyāt hiṁsām āśāsya tāmasam

Translation

若有人以本分之业礼拜我，却希求物质福报，应知其性属激情（拉惹斯）；若以欲加害他人之心而礼拜我，则属愚昧（塔摩斯）。

Synonyms

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• आशिषः: blessings/boons
• आशिषः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (आशीः/आशिषः—पाठानुसार); ‘आशास्य’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• आशास्य: having desired
• आशास्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√शंस्/√आशास् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having desired/asked’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भजेत: should worship
• भजेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्व-कर्मभिः: by one’s own actions
• स्व-कर्मभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तम्: him/that person
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रजः-प्रकृतिम्: of rajasic nature
• रजः-प्रकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विद्यात्: one should know
• विद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हिंसाम्: violence
• हिंसाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आशास्य’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• आशास्य: having desired
• आशास्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√शंस्/√आशास् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having desired’

• तामसम्: tamasic
• तामसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Krishna for material benefits?

This verse says that worship of the Lord performed with a desire for rewards, even while doing one’s duties, is influenced by rajas (passion) and is not yet pure devotion.

Why does Krishna classify some worship as tamasic (in ignorance)?

Because when worship is performed with the intention to gain the power to harm others (hiṁsā), it is rooted in darkness and cruelty, which are symptoms of tamas.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Examine your motives in spiritual practice: reduce reward-seeking and completely reject harmful intentions, cultivating service to God for purification and love rather than control or gain.