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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 18

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship

श्रीप्रबुद्ध उवाच कर्माण्यारभमाणानां दु:खहत्यै सुखाय च । पश्येत् पाकविपर्यासं मिथुनीचारिणां नृणाम् ॥ १८ ॥

śrī-prabuddha uvāca karmāṇy ārabhamāṇānāṁ duḥkha-hatyai sukhāya ca paśyet pāka-viparyāsaṁ mithunī-cāriṇāṁ nṛṇām

圣者普罗布达说:众生执取男女之分而结于欲爱,为灭苦增乐而不断造作世间事业;然当观其果报颠倒——乐必消散,年岁渐长,物质不安与苦恼反而增长。

श्री-प्रबुद्धःŚrī Prabuddha
श्री-प्रबुद्धः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रबुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘श्री’ उपाधि
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
कर्माणिactions
कर्माणि:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन
आरभमाणानाम्of those who are undertaking
आरभमाणानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeAdjective
Rootआ-रभ् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
Formवर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present middle participle), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (नृणाम् इति विशेष्य-सापेक्ष)
दुःख-हत्यैfor the destruction of suffering
दुःख-हत्यै:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative-purpose)
TypeNoun
Rootदुःख + हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for the purpose)
सुखायfor happiness
सुखाय:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Purpose)
TypeNoun
Rootसुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
पश्येत्one should see
पश्येत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
पाक-विपर्यासम्the reversal in outcome (ripening)
पाक-विपर्यासम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootपाक + विपर्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
मिथुनी-चारिणाम्of those who pursue coupling
मिथुनी-चारिणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeAdjective
Rootमिथुनी + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘मिथुनीचारिन्’ = युगल-सेवी/स्त्रीसङ्गी (one who moves with a mate)
नृणाम्of men
नृणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

Without the mercy of a pure devotee it is exceedingly difficult to free oneself from the bodily concept of life, which is the illusory basis of sexual attraction.

Ś
Śrī Prabuddha

FAQs

This verse says that people often begin actions hoping to end suffering and gain happiness, but the results frequently ripen in the opposite way—producing more distress—especially when life is centered on sensual/sexual absorption.

Because absorption in sense pleasure tends to bind one to repeated karmic reactions, anxieties, and disappointments—so the promised “happiness” commonly matures into its opposite, increased bondage and suffering.

Before chasing pleasure-driven goals, examine long-term outcomes: if a habit repeatedly increases anxiety, dependence, or dissatisfaction, recognize it as a reversed result and redirect effort toward self-control, devotion, and lasting well-being.