Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 10

Devotion in Kimpuruṣa-varṣa and the Glory of Bhārata-varṣa

Rāmacandra & Nara-Nārāyaṇa; Rivers, Varṇāśrama, and Liberation

Devanagari script

तं भगवान्नारदो वर्णाश्रमवतीभिर्भारतीभि: प्रजाभिर्भगवत्प्रोक्ताभ्यां साङ्ख्ययोगाभ्यां भगवदनुभावोपवर्णनं सावर्णेरुपदेक्ष्यमाण: परमभक्तिभावेनोपसरति इदं चाभिगृणाति ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

taṁ bhagavān nārado varṇāśramavatībhir bhāratībhiḥ prajābhir bhagavat-proktābhyāṁ sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ bhagavad-anubhāvopavarṇanaṁ sāvarṇer upadekṣyamāṇaḥ parama-bhakti-bhāvenopasarati idaṁ cābhigṛṇāti.

Translation

In his own book, known as Nārada Pañcarātra, Bhagavān Nārada has very vividly described how to work to achieve the ultimate goal of life — devotion — through knowledge and through execution of the mystic yoga system. He has also described the glories of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The great sage Nārada instructed the tenets of this transcendental literature to Sāvarṇi Manu in order to teach those inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa who strictly follow the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma how to achieve the devotional service of the Lord. Thus Nārada Muni, along with the other inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa, always engages in the service of Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and he chants as follows.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; सर्वनाम

• bhagavān: the venerable one
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; विशेष्य (bhagavān)

• varṇa-āśrama-vatībhiḥ: by those endowed with varṇa and āśrama (orders)
• varṇa-āśrama-vatībhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + vatī (प्रातिपदिक/तद्धित)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; विशेषण; ‘varṇāśrama’ युक्ताभिः

• bhāratībhiḥ: by the Bhāratī (people of Bhārata)
• bhāratībhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; जनपदवाचक

• prajābhiḥ: by the subjects/people
• prajābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• bhagavat-proktābhyām: by the two taught by the Lord
• bhagavat-proktābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + prokta (कृदन्त; √vac (वच्) + क्त, ‘said’)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual; विशेषण; ‘bhagavatā proktayoḥ’

• sāṅkhya-yogābhyām: by Sāṅkhya and Yoga
• sāṅkhya-yogābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāṅkhya (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• bhagavat-anubhāva-upavarṇanam: description of the Lord’s majesty/power
• bhagavat-anubhāva-upavarṇanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + anubhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + upavarṇana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘bhagavataḥ anubhāvasya upavarṇanam’

• sāvarṇeḥ: of Sāvarṇi
• sāvarṇeḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvarṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• upadekṣyamāṇaḥ: being about to be instructed
• upadekṣyamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa + √diś (दिश्) (धातु) + श्यत्/यमाण (कृदन्त; future passive participle sense)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मणि-भविष्यत्कृदन्त (भावी-कर्तृ/कर्मणि), ‘being about to be instructed/taught’

• parama-bhakti-bhāvena: with supreme devotional feeling
• parama-bhakti-bhāvena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘paramāyā bhakteḥ bhāvena’

• upasarati: approaches
• upasarati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √sṛ (सृ) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• abhigṛṇāti: recites/praises
• abhigṛṇāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + √gṝ (गॄ) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has clearly declared:

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Sāvarṇi
• Bhārata-varṣa prajāḥ (people of Bhārata-varṣa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about combining Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and Bhakti?

This verse presents Sāṅkhya and Yoga as teachings spoken by the Lord that culminate in describing and realizing His potencies—approached and expressed in a mood of parama-bhakti (supreme devotion).

Why did Nārada approach Sāvarṇi in this chapter of the Bhagavata Purana?

Nārada approached to instruct Sāvarṇi in the glorification of the Lord’s divine powers (bhagavad-anubhāva), aligning philosophical paths (Sāṅkhya and Yoga) with devotional praise.

How can a modern reader apply the message of this shloka?

Study philosophy and disciplined practice (analysis and meditation) as supports, but let the heart’s center be devotion—using knowledge to deepen reverence, gratitude, and consistent worship.