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Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 40

Nārada Instructs Dakṣa’s Sons; Allegory of the World; Dakṣa Curses Nārada

नेत्थं पुंसां विराग: स्यात् त्वया केवलिना मृषा । मन्यसे यद्युपशमं स्‍नेहपाशनिकृन्तनम् ॥ ४० ॥

netthaṁ puṁsāṁ virāgaḥ syāt tvayā kevalinā mṛṣā manyase yady upaśamaṁ sneha-pāśa-nikṛntanam

达叉·般若波提说:噢,独修者!人并非仅凭生起厌离就能脱离世间;你所言不实。若圆满的智慧未曾觉醒,仅仅像你那样更换衣相,并不能斩断爱著之绳。

nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)
itthamthus, in this way
ittham:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootittham (अव्यय)
Formरीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (manner adverb)
puṁsāmof men
puṁsām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootpuṁs (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/genitive), बहुवचन
virāgaḥdetachment
virāgaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/subject)
TypeNoun
Rootvirāga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/nominative), एकवचन
syātwould be / should be
syāt:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
tvayāby you
tvayā:
Karana (करण/instrument, by you)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक, द्वितीया? (actually तृतीया/instrumental), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन
kevalināby the solitary/absolute one (ascetic)
kevalinā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootkevalin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (as epithet)
mṛṣāfalsely, in vain
mṛṣā:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootmṛṣā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) / मिथ्याभाववाचक
manyaseyou think
manyase:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootman (धातु)
Formलट् (present indicative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
yadiif
yadi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyadi (अव्यय)
Formशर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)
upaśamamcessation, pacification
upaśamam:
Karma (कर्म/object)
TypeNoun
Rootupaśama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन
sneha-pāśa-nikṛntanamcutting of the noose of affection
sneha-pāśa-nikṛntanam:
Karma (कर्म; upaśamam—what kind)
TypeNoun
Rootsneha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + nikṛntana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (snehasya pāśaḥ → sneha-pāśa; तस्य निकृन्तनम्)

Prajāpati Dakṣa was correct in stating that changing one’s dress cannot detach one from this material world. The sannyāsīs of Kali-yuga who change their robes from white to saffron and then think they can do whatever they like are more abominable than materialistic gṛhasthas. This is not recommended anywhere. Prajāpati Dakṣa was right in pointing out this defect, but he did not know that Nārada Muni had aroused the spirit of renunciation in the Haryaśvas and Savalāśvas through full knowledge. Such enlightened renunciation is desirable. One should enter the renounced order with full knowledge ( jñāna-vairāgya ), for the perfection of life is possible for one who renounces this material world in that way. This elevated stage can be reached very easily, as supported by the statements of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.7) :

N
Nārada Muni
D
Dakṣa
S
Sons of Dakṣa (Haryaśvas/Savalāśvas)

FAQs

This verse highlights that merely adopting isolated renunciation is not the true means to sever worldly affection; real pacification must be grounded in the Bhagavata’s devotional understanding rather than a dry, “kevalī” approach.

In the narrative of Canto 6, Chapter 5, Dakṣa’s sons challenge Nārada’s influence, accusing him of diverting them from worldly duties by promoting renunciation, and they argue that his method will not produce genuine detachment.

Don’t rely on mere suppression or isolation to become free from attachment; instead, redirect affection toward higher purpose—devotional service, sacred study, and disciplined living—so detachment becomes natural and stable.