Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 55

Arjuna Marries Subhadrā; Kṛṣṇa Honors Two Devotees in Mithilā (Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva)

Devanagari script

दुष्प्रज्ञा अविदित्वैवमवजानन्त्यसूयव: । गुरुं मां विप्रमात्मानमर्चादाविज्यद‍ृष्टय: ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

duṣprajñā aviditvaivam avajānanty asūyavaḥ guruṁ māṁ vipram ātmānam arcādāv ijya-dṛṣṭayaḥ

Translation

Ignorant of this truth, foolish people neglect and enviously offend a learned brāhmaṇa, who, being nondifferent from Me, is their spiritual master and very self. They consider worshipable only such obvious manifestations of divinity as My Deity form.

Synonyms

• दुष्प्रज्ञाः: the foolish/ill-intelligent (people)
• दुष्प्रज्ञाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: दुष्टा प्रज्ञा येषां ते

• अविदित्वा: not having known
• अविदित्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): न विदित्वा (having not known)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• अवजानन्ति: they disrespect/deride
• अवजानन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• असूयवः: envious
• असूयवः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असूयु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (envious)

• गुरुम्: the guru
• गुरुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विप्रम्: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्च-आदौ: in worship and the like
• अर्च-आदौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अर्चायाम् आदौ (in worship etc.)

• इज्या-दृष्टयः: those who see only ritual worship
• इज्या-दृष्टयः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दृष्टि-आधारेण स्त्री), प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: इज्यायां दृष्टिः येषां ते (those whose vision is fixed on ritual worship)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeing the Deity only as an object of worship?

This verse warns that a limited vision—seeing the arcā (Deity) only as a ritual object—can lead to disrespect and envy, because one fails to recognize the Lord’s presence also as guru, Paramātmā, and the honored brāhmaṇa.

Why did Krishna say this in Canto 10 Chapter 86?

In the Kurukṣetra context, Kṛṣṇa clarifies proper spiritual vision: genuine devotion includes honoring Him in His devotees and representatives (guru and brāhmaṇas), not merely performing external worship while remaining proud or fault-finding.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Along with temple worship, cultivate respect for teachers, saints, and sincere devotees; avoid fault-finding; and practice seeing God’s presence in others through humility and service.