Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 2

Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच गृहेष्ववस्थितो राजन्क्रिया: कुर्वन्यथोचिता: । वासुदेवार्पणं साक्षादुपासीत महामुनीन् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca gṛheṣv avasthito rājan kriyāḥ kurvan yathocitāḥ vāsudevārpaṇaṁ sākṣād upāsīta mahā-munīn

Translation

Nārada Muni replied: My dear King, those who stay at home as householders must act to earn their livelihood, and instead of trying to enjoy the results of their work themselves, they should offer these results to Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva. How to satisfy Vāsudeva in this life can be perfectly understood through the association of great devotees of the Lord.

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Nārada (honored)
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• gṛheṣu: in the home(s)
• gṛheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• avasthitaḥ: being situated
• avasthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-sthā (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्थितः (being situated)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• kriyāḥ: duties, actions
• kriyāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• kurvan: doing, performing
• kurvan: Karta (कर्ता/Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• yathā: as, according to
• yathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• ucitāḥ: proper, appropriate
• ucitāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘कriyāḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• vāsudeva-arpaṇam: offering to Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-arpaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva + arpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वासुदेवाय अर्पणम् (offering to Vāsudeva)

• sākṣāt: directly
• sākṣāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; साक्षात् (directly, in person)

• upāsīta: should worship/serve
• upāsīta: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ās (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mahā-munīn: great sages
• mahā-munīn: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘great sages’

Purport

The format for gṛhastha life should be dedication to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gītā (6.1) it is said:

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Vāsudeva
• King Yudhiṣṭhira

FAQs

How does Srimad Bhagavatam teach householders to practice bhakti?

This verse says a householder can stay at home, do proper prescribed duties, and dedicate them to Vāsudeva—especially by directly honoring and serving great sages as recipients of such devotion.

Why does Nārada Muni instruct the King about worshiping great sages?

In the context of teaching ideal gṛhastha conduct, Nārada explains that devotion is not limited to renunciation; honoring saintly persons is a direct, practical expression of offering one’s life and duties to Vāsudeva.

What is a practical modern application of vāsudevārpaṇam?

Do your responsibilities ethically and conscientiously, and consciously dedicate the results to God—while supporting and learning from genuine sādhus/teachers through service, hospitality, and respectful engagement.