Shloka 10

Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy (Śṛṅgi) and the Moral Crisis of Kali-yuga

Devanagari script

या या: कथा भगवत: कथनीयोरुकर्मण: । गुणकर्माश्रया: पुम्भि: संसेव्यास्ता बुभूषुभि: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

yā yāḥ kathā bhagavataḥ kathanīyoru-karmaṇaḥ guṇa-karmāśrayāḥ pumbhiḥ saṁsevyās tā bubhūṣubhiḥ

Translation

ভগবানের বিস্ময়কর কর্মসমূহের যে যে কথা—যা তাঁর গুণ ও লীলার আশ্রয়ে—সেগুলি পরম সিদ্ধি কামনাকারীদের শ্রদ্ধাভরে শ্রবণ ও সেবা করা উচিত।

Synonyms

• याः: which (those)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• याः: whatever
• याः: Anuvritti (अनुवृत्ति/Distributive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; repetition for distributive sense

• कथाः: stories, narrations
• कथाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive singular

• कथनीय-उरु-कर्मणः: whose great deeds are worthy to be narrated
• कथनीय-उरु-कर्मणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथनीय (कृदन्त from √कथ्) + उरु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: कथनीयानि उरूणि कर्माणि यस्य (genitive qualifier of भगवत्); ‘whose great deeds are to be spoken’

• गुण-कर्म-आश्रयाः: based on (His) qualities and deeds
• गुण-कर्म-आश्रयाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: गुणान् कर्माणि च आश्रयन्ति/आश्रिताः; qualifies कथाः

• पुम्भिः: by men/people
• पुम्भिः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुमान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• संसेव्याः: should be cultivated/served
• संसेव्याः: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√सेव् (धातु) → संसेव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: विधिलिङ्गार्थक-भाव्य/gerundive (तव्यत्/यत् sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be served/attended’

• ताः: those
• ताः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun referring to कथाः

• बुभूषुभिः: by those who desire (liberation/true being)
• बुभूषुभिः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √भू (धातु) → बुभूषु (कृदन्त; desiderative participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; desiderative present participle ‘wishing to be/become’

Purport

The systematic hearing of the transcendental activities, qualities and names of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa pushes one towards eternal life. Systematic hearing means knowing Him gradually in truth and fact, and this knowing Him in truth and fact means attaining eternal life, as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Such transcendental, glorified activities of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are the prescribed remedy for counteracting the process of birth, death, old age and disease, which are considered to be material awards for the conditioned living being. The culmination of such a perfectional stage of life is the goal of human life and the attainment of transcendental bliss.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing Hari-kathā for spiritual progress?

This verse says that all narrations describing Bhagavān’s great deeds, qualities, and activities are to be deliberately cultivated (heard and served) by seekers who want true life and the highest benefit.

Why does Sūta Gosvāmī emphasize narrations of Bhagavān’s qualities and activities?

Because topics centered on the Lord’s guṇa (qualities) and karma (divine acts) nourish devotion and lead the listener toward the supreme goal, unlike mundane stories that bind the mind.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Make a daily habit of hearing or reading Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, choosing content that highlights the Lord’s qualities and līlās, and replace distracting media with purposeful hari-kathā.