Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच कृष्णस्यासीत् सखा कश्चिद् ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवित्तम: । विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेषु प्रशान्तात्मा जितेन्द्रिय: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca kṛṣṇasyāsīt sakhā kaścid brāhmaṇo brahma-vittamaḥ virakta indriyārtheṣu praśāntātmā jitendriyaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Lord Kṛṣṇa had a certain brāhmaṇa friend [named Sudāmā] who was most learned in Vedic knowledge and detached from all sense enjoyment. Furthermore, his mind was peaceful and his senses subdued.

Synonyms

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्रीशुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृष्णस्य: of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सखा: a friend
• सखा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कश्चित्: a certain
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रत्यययुक्त सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• ब्राह्मणः: brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मवित्तमः: the best knower of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवित्तमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) + तमप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्म विद् = ब्रह्मवित्) + तमप् (superlative)

• विरक्तः: detached
• विरक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इन्द्रियार्थेषु: in sense-objects
• इन्द्रियार्थेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणाम् अर्थाः)

• प्रशान्तात्मा: of tranquil mind
• प्रशान्तात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त (कृदन्त, क्त from प्र+शम्) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (प्रशान्तः आत्मा यस्य/प्रशान्त-आत्मा)

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त, क्त from जि) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येन/यस्य)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Sudāmā (the brāhmaṇa friend)

FAQs

What are the qualities of a saintly brāhmaṇa described in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.80.6?

This verse highlights a brāhmaṇa who is brahma-vittama (foremost knower of spiritual truth), detached from sense enjoyment, peaceful within, and self-controlled—having conquered the senses.

Who is Kṛṣṇa’s brāhmaṇa friend in Canto 10 Chapter 80 of the Bhagavata Purana?

Kṛṣṇa’s brāhmaṇa friend is Sudāmā, portrayed here as an exalted knower of Brahman and a model of detachment and inner peace.

How can sense control (jitendriya) be practiced in modern life based on this shloka?

By intentionally reducing dependence on sense-objects, cultivating inner calm through prayer and spiritual study, and aligning daily choices with higher purpose—one gradually becomes more peaceful and self-controlled.