Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 16

Nārada’s Arrival, the Nine Yogendras, and the Foundations of Bhāgavata-dharma

Devanagari script

तमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं मोक्षधर्मविवक्षया । अवतीर्णं सुतशतं तस्यासीद् ब्रह्मपारगम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tam āhur vāsudevāṁśaṁ mokṣa-dharma-vivakṣayā avatīrṇaṁ suta-śataṁ tasyāsīd brahma-pāragam

Translation

يُقبَل شري رِشبهاديڤا على أنه امتدادٌ (أمش) للرب الأعلى فاسوديفا. وقد تجسّد في هذا العالم ليُشيع مبادئ الدَّرما التي تقود الكائنات إلى الموْكشا. وكان له مئةُ ابنٍ، كلّهم كاملون في معرفة الفيدا.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह्/√ब्रू (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वासुदेव-अंशम्: an expansion of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेव-अंशम्: कर्म (Object complement/कर्म-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘portion/expansion of Vāsudeva’)

• मोक्ष-धर्म-विवक्षया: with the intention of (expounding) the dharma of liberation
• मोक्ष-धर्म-विवक्षया: हेतु/करण (Cause/Instrument/हेतु-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विवक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘with the intention (विवक्षा) of (teaching) the dharma of liberation’

• अवतीर्णम्: descended
• अवतीर्णम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव-√तॄ (कृदन्त; धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘descended/incarnated’; agrees with तम्

• सुत-शतम्: a hundred sons
• सुत-शतम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘a hundred sons’)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-पारगम्: fully versed in Brahman
• ब्रह्म-पारगम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘gone to the far shore of Brahman/fully versed in Brahman’); predicate adjective of सुत-शतम्

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about mokṣa-dharma (the path of liberation)?

This verse states that a divine portion of Vāsudeva descends specifically to teach mokṣa-dharma—the principles that lead the soul toward liberation and realization of the Absolute Truth.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention a Vāsudeva-aṁśa descending to teach liberation?

In the flow of Canto 11, Śukadeva highlights how the Lord arranges authentic instruction on liberation by sending empowered personalities who can clearly articulate transcendent dharma.

How can this verse be applied in modern life for spiritual progress?

Seek guidance from genuine, realized teachers and prioritize teachings that awaken realization of Brahman/Paramātmā/Bhagavān rather than merely external religiosity.