Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

यो वै भारतवर्षेऽस्मिन् क्षेमाय स्वस्तये नृणाम् । धर्मज्ञानशमोपेतमाकल्पादास्थितस्तप: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

yo vai bhārata-varṣe ’smin kṣemāya svastaye nṛṇām dharma-jñāna-śamopetam ā-kalpād āsthitas tapaḥ

Translation

From the very beginning of Brahmā’s day Lord Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi has been undergoing austere penances in this land of Bhārata while perfectly performing religious duties and exemplifying spiritual knowledge and self-control — all for the benefit of human beings in both this world and the next.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निपात)

• bhārata-varṣe: in Bhārata-varṣa (India)
• bhārata-varṣe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārata-varṣa (प्रातिपदिक; bhārata + varṣa)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास (भāratasya varṣam)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• kṣemāya: for welfare/safety
• kṣemāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• svastaye: for well-being/auspiciousness
• svastaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svasti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dharma-jñāna-śama-upetam: endowed with dharma, knowledge, and tranquility
• dharma-jñāna-śama-upetam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + jñāna + śama + upeta (प्रातिपदिक; upeta = √i (इ) + उपसर्ग upa, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); past participle (क्त/कृदन्त) used adjectivally; समास: तत्पुरुष (dharma-jñāna-śama-yukta)

• ā-kalpāt: from the beginning of the kalpa
• ā-kalpāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverbial usage (आ-उपसर्गयुक्त; ‘from the beginning of the kalpa’), functioning like Ablative (पञ्चमी-अर्थ)

• āsthitaḥ: having undertaken/observed
• āsthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√sthā (स्था) (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); past participle (क्त) of ā-√sthā ‘to undertake/observe’

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata-varṣa (as a sacred land)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhārata-varṣa’s special role in spiritual life?

This verse praises Bhārata-varṣa as a place where divine, age-long austerity rooted in dharma, knowledge, and inner peace is undertaken specifically for the welfare and auspiciousness of human society.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 10.87, and why are these prayers offered?

The Personified Vedas (Śrutis) are speaking, offering prayers that glorify the Lord’s arrangement for the upliftment of souls—highlighting how genuine tapasya guided by dharma and jñāna brings real benefit to humanity.

How can I apply ‘dharma, jñāna, and śama’ in modern life according to this shloka?

Live ethically (dharma), study and reflect on spiritual truth (jñāna), and cultivate calm self-control (śama); then let any discipline or austerity (tapasya) be purposeful—meant to improve character and serve the well-being of others.