Shloka 8

The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute

Devanagari script

तस्मै ह्यवोचद् भगवानृषीणां श‍ृ‍ण्वतामिदम् । यो ब्रह्मवाद: पूर्वेषां जनलोकनिवासिनाम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

tasmai hy avocad bhagavān ṛṣīṇāṁ śṛṇvatām idam yo brahma-vādaḥ pūrveṣāṁ jana-loka-nivāsinām

Translation

Während die Weisen zuhörten, berichtete der Herr Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi dem Nārada von einer uralten Erörterung über die Absolute Wahrheit, die unter den Bewohnern von Janaloka stattfand.

Synonyms

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), causal/emphatic

• avocat: said/spoke
• avocat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; with prefix a- (augment)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṛṣīṇām: of the sages
• ṛṣīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śṛṇvatām: (of those) listening
• śṛṇvatām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); present active participle (शतृ) ‘while listening’ (qualifying ṛṣīṇām)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: which/that (who)
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun introducing description

• brahma-vādaḥ: the discourse on Brahman
• brahma-vādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास ‘brahmaṇaḥ vādaḥ’

• pūrveṣām: of the former/ancient (ones)
• pūrveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• jana-loka-nivāsinām: of the dwellers in Jana-loka
• jana-loka-nivāsinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana + loka + nivāsin (प्रातिपदिक; nivāsin = ni-√vas (वस्) + णिनि/इन्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास ‘janaloke nivāsinaḥ’

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)
• Brahmā
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Janaloka sages

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.87.8 say about the origin of spiritual knowledge?

It says the Supreme Lord Himself spoke an ancient teaching on Brahman, heard by sages and associated with the primordial seers of Janaloka—showing revelation ultimately comes from Bhagavān.

Why is Janaloka mentioned in Bhagavatam 10.87?

Janaloka is linked with elevated sages (ancient ṛṣis) who preserve and contemplate the highest Vedic conclusions; the verse points to the timeless, authoritative lineage of this Brahman teaching.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual practice?

Seek guidance from authentic spiritual teachings and lineages, and hear transcendental knowledge with attentiveness—because realization begins with hearing revealed truth.