Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 45

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

यावन्नृकायरथमात्मवशोपकल्पं धत्ते गरिष्ठचरणार्चनया निशातम् । ज्ञानासिमच्युतबलो दधदस्तशत्रु: स्वानन्दतुष्ट उपशान्त इदं विजह्यात् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

yāvan nṛ-kāya-ratham ātma-vaśopakalpaṁ dhatte gariṣṭha-caraṇārcanayā niśātam jñānāsim acyuta-balo dadhad asta-śatruḥ svānanda-tuṣṭa upaśānta idaṁ vijahyāt

Translation

只要仍须承受这并非完全受己支配的物质身躯之“车”，就应以恭敬礼拜上师及其传承诸师的莲足。凭其慈恩，智慧之剑得以磨利；又凭阿周陀的恩力，征服前述诸敌。如此，奉献者安住于自身超然喜乐，心息寂静，舍离此身而复归其灵性本相。

Synonyms

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb): यावत् = ‘as long as’

• nṛ-kāya-ratham: the chariot of the human body
• nṛ-kāya-ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ + kāya + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्धार्थ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘नृकायस्य रथः’

• ātma-vaśa-upakalpam: made subject to one’s control
• ātma-vaśa-upakalpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman + vaśa + upakalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आत्मवशे उपकल्पः’ = brought under one’s control

• dhatte: holds, maintains
• dhatte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धत्ते (irregular present)

• gariṣṭha-caraṇa-arcānayā: by worship of the most venerable feet
• gariṣṭha-caraṇa-arcānayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gariṣṭha + caraṇa + arcanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘गरिष्ठस्य चरणयोः अर्चना’

• niśātam: sharpened
• niśātam: Karma (कर्म/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘sharp, whetted’ (used predicatively for ‘jñānāsim’)

• jñāna-asim: the sword of knowledge
• jñāna-asim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna + asi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानरूपः असिः’

• acyuta-balaḥ: empowered by Acyuta
• acyuta-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acyuta + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अच्युतस्य बलम्’/‘अच्युतबलः’ = strengthened by Acyuta

• dadhat: bearing, holding
• dadhat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bearing/holding’

• asta-śatruḥ: one whose enemies are destroyed
• asta-śatruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asta + śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अस्ताः (नष्टाः) शत्रवः यस्य’—अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत् प्रयोगः

• svānanda-tuṣṭaḥ: content in one’s own bliss
• svānanda-tuṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva-ānanda + tuṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्वानन्देन तुष्टः’

• upaśāntaḥ: tranquil
• upaśāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) from √śam (शम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘calmed, pacified’

• idam: this (body/chariot)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vijahyāt: should give up, abandon
• vijahyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-hā (हा धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should abandon’

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) the Lord says:

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about using the human body for liberation?

This verse teaches that as long as one has the human body, one should use it under self-control for worship of the Lord’s feet and realized knowledge, so that one can peacefully give up the body in spiritual fulfillment.

Why does Prahlada Maharaja mention Acyuta while speaking about knowledge?

Prahlada emphasizes that true strength to wield knowledge and defeat inner enemies comes from Acyuta (the infallible Lord); devotion empowers realization so it becomes transformative, not merely intellectual.

How can I apply “the sword of knowledge” in modern life according to Bhagavatam?

Cultivate steady worship and remembrance of the Lord, study with humility, and use realized discernment to cut down lust, anger, greed, and fear—then live and act from inner peace rather than agitation.