Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 48

The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute

Devanagari script

सभाजितो भगवता कृतासनपरिग्रह: । तस्मै तद् वर्णयामास नारायणमुखाच्छ्रुतम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

sabhājito bhagavatā kṛtāsana-parigrahaḥ tasmai tad varṇayām āsa nārāyaṇa-mukhāc chrutam

Translation

Vyāsadeva, the incarnation of the Personality of Godhead, respectfully greeted Nārada Muni and offered him a seat, which he accepted. Nārada then described to Vyāsa what he had heard from the mouth of Śrī Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi.

Synonyms

• सभाजितः: honored, received with respect
• सभाजितः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सभाजित (कृदन्त; √सभाज्/√भज् caus. ‘to honor’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karaṇa (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कृतासनपरिग्रहः: having taken his seat
• कृतासनपरिग्रहः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृतं आसन-परिग्रहः = ‘having made/taken a seat-arrangement’)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदानम्/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• तत्: that (topic/that account)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वर्णयामास: he described/told
• वर्णयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वर्णय् (धातु; नामधातु from वर्ण)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आस: (aux.) did/was (in ‘told’)
• आस: Kriyā (क्रिया-सहायक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary with periphrastic perfect)

• नारायणमुखात्: from Nārāyaṇa’s mouth
• नारायणमुखात्: Apādāna (अपादानम्/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (मुख-प्रधान), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नारायणस्य मुखम्)

• श्रुतम्: heard (i.e., what was heard)
• श्रुतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुत (कृदन्त; √श्रु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about receiving spiritual knowledge through hearing (śravaṇam)?

This verse highlights that true spiritual subject matter is to be heard from an authentic divine source (here, from Nārāyaṇa) and then faithfully narrated—showing the primacy of śravaṇam and disciplic transmission.

Why is it significant that the teaching was heard from the mouth of Nārāyaṇa?

It establishes the authority and purity of the message: knowledge is not manufactured, but received from the Supreme Lord and passed on without distortion.

How can a modern seeker apply this verse in daily life?

Seek teachings from authentic scriptures and realized teachers, listen attentively, and then reflect and share responsibly—prioritizing faithful reception over speculation.