Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 2

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

एतद् वदन्ति मुनयो मुहुर्नि:श्रेयसं नृणाम् । नारदो भगवान् व्यास आचार्योऽङ्गिरस: सुत: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

etad vadanti munayo muhur niḥśreyasaṁ nṛṇām nārado bhagavān vyāsa ācāryo ’ṅgirasaḥ sutaḥ

Translation

يُعلن الحكماء العظام مرارًا أنّ مثل هذه العبادة تجلب للإنسان أعظم منفعة ممكنة في حياته. وهذا هو رأي نارَد مُني، ورأي بهاگوان ڤياسَديفا، ورأي مُعلّمي الروحي نفسه، بْرِهَسْپَتي.

Synonyms

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• vadanti: say
• vadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘repeatedly/often’

• niḥśreyasam: the highest good, ultimate welfare
• niḥśreyasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niḥśreyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• nṛṇām: of men, of humans
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; proper name

• bhagavān: the venerable, divine
• bhagavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; adjective in apposition to nāradaḥ

• vyāsaḥ: Vyāsa
• vyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; proper name (implied visarga in text)

• ācāryaḥ: the teacher
• ācāryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• aṅgirasaḥ: of Aṅgiras
• aṅgirasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgiras (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• sutaḥ: son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; in apposition to ācāryaḥ (i.e., ‘son of Aṅgiras’)

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Vyāsa
• Bṛhaspati
• Aṅgirā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the highest good (niḥśreyasa) for human beings?

This verse states that the sages repeatedly affirm a particular teaching as the supreme welfare (niḥśreyasa) for humans—an authoritative conclusion upheld by Nārada, Vyāsa, and Bṛhaspati.

Why are Nārada, Vyāsa, and Bṛhaspati mentioned together in this Bhagavatam verse?

They are cited as universally respected authorities among the sages, showing that the instruction being given is not a novel opinion but a time-tested conclusion of the Vedic tradition.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

Seek the ‘highest good’ rather than temporary gains by aligning daily life with authentic guru-sādhu-śāstra guidance—regularly hearing, practicing devotion, and following proven spiritual disciplines.