Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 54

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

यश:श्रियामेव परिश्रम: परो वर्णाश्रमाचारतप:श्रुतादिषु । अविस्मृति: श्रीधरपादपद्मयो- र्गुणानुवादश्रवणादरादिभि: ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

yaśaḥ-śriyām eva pariśramaḥ paro varṇāśramācāra-tapaḥ-śrutādiṣu avismṛtiḥ śrīdhara-pāda-padmayor guṇānuvāda-śravaṇādarādibhiḥ

Translation

The great endeavor one undergoes in executing the ordinary social and religious duties of the varṇāśrama system, in performing austerities, and in hearing from the Vedas culminates only in the achievement of mundane fame and opulence. But by respecting and attentively hearing the recitation of the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord, the husband of the goddess of fortune, one can remember His lotus feet.

Synonyms

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śriyām: of fortunes/prosperities
• śriyām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), emphasis particle

• pariśramaḥ: effort/toil
• pariśramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pariśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• paraḥ: supreme/ultimate
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Nominative (1st), Singular; viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of pariśramaḥ

• varṇa-āśrama-ācāra-tapaḥ-śruta-ādiṣu: in (matters of) varṇa-āśrama duties, conduct, austerity, scripture, etc.
• varṇa-āśrama-ācāra-tapaḥ-śruta-ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + śruta (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); samāsa: varṇāśramācāra-tapaḥ-śrutādi (तत्पुरुष, ‘in matters such as…’)

• avismṛtiḥ: unforgetfulness (constant remembrance)
• avismṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vismṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘non-forgetfulness’

• śrīdhara-pāda-padmayor: of the lotus-feet of Śrīdhara
• śrīdhara-pāda-padmayor: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīdhara (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (padma), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); samāsa: śrīdhara-pāda-padma (तत्पुरुष, ‘lotus-feet of Śrīdhara’)

• guṇa-anuvāda-śravaṇa-ādara-ādibhiḥ: by (means such as) hearing with reverence the narration of (His) qualities
• guṇa-anuvāda-śravaṇa-ādara-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuvāda (प्रातिपदिक) + śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādara (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga/napuṁsaka collective sense, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); samāsa: guṇānuvāda-śravaṇādarādi (तत्पुरुष, ‘by means such as…’)

Characters & Entities

• Śrīdhara (the Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the real perfection of varṇāśrama-dharma and austerity?

This verse says their highest perfection is avismṛti—never forgetting the Lord’s lotus feet—cultivated especially through devoted hearing and glorifying His qualities.

Why does Sūta Gosvāmī emphasize hearing and glorification at the end of Canto 12?

In summarizing the Bhāgavatam’s essence, he highlights that all religious and spiritual effort culminates in steady remembrance of the Lord, and the most practical means is śravaṇa and guṇānuvāda (hearing and praising His qualities).

How can I apply “never forgetting the Lord” in modern life?

Make daily time for hearing—Bhāgavatam recitation, kīrtana, or talks about the Lord—and regularly speak or reflect on His qualities; this keeps remembrance alive amid work, study, and responsibilities.