Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

तथापि वदतो भूमन् करिष्याम्यनुशासनम् । एतच्छ्रेय: परं पुंसां यत् तवाज्ञानुपालनम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tathāpi vadato bhūman kariṣyāmy anuśāsanam etac chreyaḥ paraṁ puṁsāṁ yat tavājñānupālanam

Translation

Dennoch, o Erhabener, werde ich Deine Weisung ausführen. Für die Menschen ist das höchste Heil, Deinem Befehl zu folgen und ihn zu erfüllen.

Synonyms

• तथा अपि: even so/however
• तथा अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-द्वय; ‘तथा’ (adverb ‘thus’) + ‘अपि’ (particle ‘even/though’)

• वदतः: of you who are speaking
• वदतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘वदत्’; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (of the one speaking)

• भूमन्: O great one
• भूमन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• करिष्यामि: I shall do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अनुशासनम्: the instruction/command
• अनुशासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + शास् (धातु) + ल्युट् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त-नाम (ल्युट्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रेयः: the best good
• श्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठतमम्’

• पुंसाम्: of men/of persons
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यत्: namely that/which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative particle ‘that/which’)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आज्ञा-अनुपालनम्: obedience to (your) order
• आज्ञा-अनुपालनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा + अनुपालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आज्ञायाः अनुपालनम्)

Characters & Entities

• Bali Maharaja
• Vamana (Trivikrama)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the highest good (śreyaḥ) for a person?

This verse states that the supreme welfare (śreyaḥ) for all people is to follow the Lord’s command—obediently aligning one’s will with His instruction.

Why did Bali Maharaja say he would follow Vamana’s instruction?

In the Vāmana-līlā context, Bali accepts the Lord’s supremacy and chooses surrender over pride or resistance, declaring that obeying the Lord is the greatest benefit.

How can I apply this teaching of obedience and surrender in modern life?

Practice aligning decisions with dharma and devotion—accepting divine guidance through śāstra, guru, and conscience, and doing one’s duty with humility rather than ego.