Shloka 8

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

उवाच सुखमासीनान् भगवान् धर्मगुप्तनु: । सदसस्तस्य महतो यतवाचोऽनुश‍ृण्वत: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

uvāca sukham āsīnān bhagavān dharma-gup-tanuḥ sadasas tasya mahato yata-vāco ’nuśṛṇvataḥ

Translation

Nachdem die Weisen bequem Platz genommen hatten, wandte sich der Herr Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, dessen transzendenter Leib die Dharma bewahrt, mitten in jener großen Versammlung an sie. Alle hörten schweigend und gebannt zu.

Synonyms

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• सुखम्: comfortably
• सुखम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया), neuter singular

• आसीनान्: (to those) seated
• आसीनान्: Karma (कर्म/object addressed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifying (तान्) munis etc. as object of speech

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्म-गुप्त-तनुः: he whose body is guarded by dharma
• धर्म-गुप्त-तनुः: Karta (कर्ता, apposition to भगवान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + गुप्त (प्रातिपदिक/क्त-कृदन्त) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; bahuvrīhi epithet: ‘धर्मेण गुप्ता तनुः यस्य’ = whose body is protected by dharma / who is guarded by righteousness

• सदसः: of the assembly
• सदसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• महतः: great
• महतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular; qualifying सदसः

• यत-वाचः: of the restrained-in-speech (sages)
• यत-वाचः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध, qualifying listeners)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural; compound: यता वाचः येषाम् = those whose speech is restrained

• अनुशृण्वतः: who were listening attentively
• अनुशृण्वतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-श्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान शतृ), Masculine, Genitive, Plural; agreeing with यत-वाचः

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about listening attentively in a spiritual assembly?

This verse highlights that the great assembly restrained their speech and listened closely, showing that receptivity and respectful silence are essential for receiving divine instruction.

Why is Krishna described as the protector of dharma in this verse?

The verse calls Bhagavān ‘dharma-guptanuḥ,’ indicating that His very presence and actions uphold and safeguard righteousness, and His words guide society back to dharma.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Create space for sacred learning by reducing distraction and argument—listen carefully, speak thoughtfully, and approach spiritual guidance with humility.