Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 8

Chapter 19

Devanagari script

श्री-उद्धव उवाच

ज्ञानं विशुद्धं विपुलं यथैतद् वैराग्य-विज्ञान-युतं पुराणम् ।

आख्याहि विश्वेश्वर विश्व-मूर्ते त्वद्-भक्ति-योगं च महद्-विमृग्यम् ॥

Transliteration

śrī-uddhava uvāca jñānaṃ viśuddhaṃ vipulaṃ yathaitad vairāgya-vijñāna-yutaṃ purāṇam / ākhyāhi viśveśvara viśva-mūrte tvad-bhakti-yogaṃ ca mahad-vimṛgyam //

Translation

قال شري أودهافا: يا ربّ الكون، يا من صورتُه هي الكون، صفْ لي معرفة هذا البورانا الواسعة الطاهرة تمامًا، المقترنة بالزهد وبالفهم المُتحقَّق؛ وبيّن لي أيضًا بهاكتي-يوغا لك، التي حتى العظماء من الأرواح يتطلعون إلى إدراكها.

Synonyms

• श्री-उद्धवः: Śrī Uddhava
• श्री-उद्धवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—श्रीमान् उद्धवः (honorific epithet)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• विशुद्धम्: pure
• विशुद्धम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ज्ञानस्य

• विपुलम्: vast
• विपुलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ज्ञानस्य

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमान (adverb: ‘as/how’)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वैराग्य-विज्ञान-युतम्: endowed with detachment and realized knowledge
• वैराग्य-विज्ञान-युतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—वैराग्येन विज्ञानेन च युतम् (instrumental-associative sense; determinative)

• पुराणम्: the Purāṇa (ancient teaching)
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आख्याहि: please explain/tell
• आख्याहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदी, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विश्वेश्वर: O Lord of the universe
• विश्वेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—विश्वस्य ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विश्व-मूर्ते: O one whose form is the universe
• विश्व-मूर्ते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—विश्वं मूर्तिः यस्य (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रचलितं, परन्तु रूपतः तत्पुरुषवत्); vocative of ‘viśva-mūrti’

• त्वद्-भक्ति-योगम्: the yoga of devotion to you
• त्वद्-भक्ति-योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—त्वयि भक्ति: (त्वद्भक्ति) + तस्य योगः (determinative)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• महत्-विमृग्यम्: great and much sought after
• महत्-विमृग्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + विमृग्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि+मृग्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महच्च तत् विमृग्यम् (great and to-be-sought); विशेषणम् योगस्य/पुराणस्य

Purport

Uddhava’s question sets the tone for the ensuing teachings of the Uddhava-gītā section: knowledge in the Bhāgavata is not dry speculation. He describes it as (1) viśuddha—pure, free from selfish motive; (2) vipula—vast and profound; and (3) joined with vairāgya and vijñāna—renunciation and realized, practical insight. Importantly, Uddhava also asks specifically for "tvad-bhakti-yoga"—devotional service to the Lord. This reveals the Bhāgavata’s conclusion: the highest knowledge matures into loving devotion. Renunciation is not merely rejection of the world; it is the natural detachment that arises when one tastes a higher, personal relationship with Bhagavān. By addressing Kṛṣṇa as Viśveśvara (Lord of the universe) and Viśva-mūrti (He whose form includes and pervades the universe), Uddhava acknowledges both God’s supreme rulership and His immanence. Yet, despite God being present everywhere, bhakti-yoga remains "mahad-vimṛgyam"—sought by the great—because true devotion requires humility, surrender, and grace, not merely intellect. Thus the verse functions as an invitation: explain the Bhāgavata’s pure wisdom in a way that culminates in bhakti, the ultimate purpose of spiritual inquiry.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the relationship between jñāna, vairāgya, and bhakti?

This verse presents Bhāgavata knowledge as pure and vast, naturally accompanied by realized understanding and renunciation, and culminating in bhakti-yoga as the highest goal.

Why does Uddhava ask Kṛṣṇa to explain bhakti-yoga in Canto 11?

Because even great souls seek to understand devotion properly; Uddhava wants the Lord’s direct guidance so that knowledge becomes lived devotion rather than mere theory.

How can a modern seeker apply this verse?

Study sacred teachings with the aim of inner purification, cultivate detachment from distractions, and anchor practice in bhakti—regular prayer, remembrance, and service to the Lord.