Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 53

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

मामेव नैरपेक्ष्येण भक्तियोगेन विन्दति । भक्तियोगं स लभत एवं य: पूजयेत माम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

mām eva nairapekṣyeṇa bhakti-yogena vindati bhakti-yogaṁ sa labhata evaṁ yaḥ pūjayeta mām

Translation

若人不求果报，以无所依的奉爱瑜伽唯求得我，便能证得我。凡依我所示之法而礼拜我者，终将获得对我纯净的奉爱。

Synonyms

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

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; एव = emphasis/only

• नैरपेक्ष्येण: with non-dependence (without expectation)
• नैरपेक्ष्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरपेक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक; निरपेक्ष + यत् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (state of non-dependence)

• भक्तियोगेन: by the yoga of devotion
• भक्तियोगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति-योग (प्रातिपदिक; भक्ति + योग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष (भक्तेः योगः)

• विन्दति: attains/finds
• विन्दति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• भक्तियोगम्: devotional yoga
• भक्तियोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति-योग (प्रातिपदिक; भक्ति + योग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

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

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• पूजयेत: should worship
• पूजयेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

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

Purport

The previous two verses were spoken by the Lord to attract those interested in fruitive results, and now the ultimate purpose of worshiping the Lord is described. The ultimate goal in life is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Love for the Lord is the highest bliss, although ordinary people cannot understand this.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about selfless devotion (nairapekṣa bhakti)?

This verse states that one attains Kṛṣṇa by bhakti-yoga performed without ulterior motives or expectation of material results—pure, selfless devotion leads directly to Him.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11 Chapter 27?

In the arcana (Deity worship) teachings of the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa explains that the essence of worship is not ritual for rewards, but devotion free from selfish desire—such worship grants pure bhakti and realization of Him.

How can I practice this teaching in modern life?

Offer daily worship, prayer, or service to Kṛṣṇa with the intention to please Him rather than to gain recognition or favors; measure progress by sincerity and steadiness in devotion, not by external outcomes.