FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.3.8

आत्मन एवानुसवनमञ्जसाव्यतिरेकेण बोभूयमानाशेषपुरुषार्थस्वरूपस्य किन्तु नाथाशिष आशासानानामेतदभिसंराधनमात्रं भवितुमर्हति ॥ ८ ॥
ātmana evānusavanam añjasāvyatirekeṇa bobhūyamānāśeṣa-puruṣārtha-svarūpasya kintu nāthāśiṣa āśāsānānām etad abhisaṁrādhana-mātraṁ bhavitum arhati.
[aatmana evaanusavanam anjasaavyatirekena bobhooyamaanaashesha-purushaartha-svaroopasya kintu naathaashisha aashaasaanaanaam etad abhisamraadhana-maatram bhavitum arhati.]
Word-for-word
ātmanaḥ — self-sufficiently eva — certainly anusavanam — at every moment añjasā — directly avyatirekeṇa — without stopping bobhūyamāna — increasing aśeṣa — unlimitedly puruṣa-artha — the goals of life sva-rūpasya — Your actual identity kintu — but nātha — O Lord āśiṣaḥ — benedictions for material enjoyment āśāsānānām — of us, who are always desiring etat — this abhisaṁrādhana — for getting Your mercy mātram — only bhavitum arhati — can be.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ātmana evānusavanam añjasāvyatirekeṇa bobhūyamānāśeṣa-puruṣārtha-svarūpasya kintu nāthāśiṣa āśāsānānām etad abhisaṁrādhana-mātraṁ bhavitum arhati.
ātmanaḥ
self-sufficiently
eva
certainly
anusavanam
at every moment
añjasā
directly
avyatirekeṇa
without stopping
bobhūyamāna
increasing
aśeṣa
unlimitedly
puruṣa-artha
the goals of life
sva-rūpasya
Your actual identity
kintu
but
nātha
O Lord
āśiṣaḥ
benedictions for material enjoyment
āśāsānānām
of us, who are always desiring
etat
this
abhisaṁrādhana
for getting Your mercy
mātram
only
bhavitum arhati
can be.
All of life’s goals and opulences are directly, self-sufficiently, unceasingly and unlimitedly increasing in You at every moment. Indeed, You are unlimited enjoyment and blissful existence itself. As far as we are concerned, O Lord, we are always after material enjoyment. You do not need all these sacrificial arrangements, but they are meant for us so that we may be benedicted by Your Lordship. All these sacrifices are performed for our fruitive results, and they are not actually needed by You.
Purport

Being self-sufficient, the Supreme Lord does not need huge sacrifices. Fruitive activity for a more opulent life is for those who desire such material opulence for their interest. Yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: if we do not act to satisfy the Supreme Lord, we engage in māyā’s activities. We may construct a gorgeous temple and spend thousands of dollars, but such a temple is not required by the Lord. The Lord has many millions of temples for His residence, and He does not need our attempt. He does not require opulent activity at all. Such engagement is meant for our benefit. If we engage our money in constructing a gorgeous temple, we are freed from the reactions of our endeavors. This is for our benefit. In addition, if we attempt to do something nice for the Supreme Lord, He is pleased with us and gives us His benediction. In conclusion, the gorgeous arrangements are not for the Lord’s sake but for our own. If we somehow or other receive blessings and benedictions from the Lord, our consciousness can be purified and we can become eligible to return home, back to Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Lord! You, who directly have a form composed of unlimited human goals, the highest bliss, a form which continues without break at all times, should satisfy us, who have desires for benedictions. This verse gives the reason. By yourself, at every moment (anusavanam), directly, you possess a form composed of unlimited results, producing bliss, which exist without break. Though this is so, our worship should not useless. It should be satisfying for us who desire benedictions. We are not doing it for you.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The Lord does not need our sacrifices — He is already complete. Worship benefits us, not Him. Recognizing this dispels the subtle bargaining mood and lets service become pure gift.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is your worship still subtly transactional — 'I do this, You do that' — rather than pure offering?
  • How would your practice shift if you fully accepted that the Lord gains nothing from you and you gain everything from Him?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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