Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 18

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच एवं स्तुत: स भगवानादिदेव: सतां गति: । परितुष्ट: प्रसन्नात्मा प्रहसंस्तमभाषत ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sūta uvāca evaṁ stutaḥ sa bhagavān ādi-devaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ parituṣṭaḥ prasannātmā prahasaṁs tam abhāṣata

Translation

Sūta sprach: So gepriesen war Herr Śiva, der Urgott und Zufluchtsort der Heiligen, zufrieden. Mit heiterem Herzen lächelte er und wandte sich an den Weisen.

Synonyms

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘thus’

• स्तुतः: praised
• स्तुतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (predicate adj.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; स्तु (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘praised’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आदि-देवः: the primeval deity
• आदि-देवः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (आदिः देवः = first/original god)

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• गतिः: refuge/destination
• गतिः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परितुष्टः: fully pleased
• परितुष्टः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (predicate adj.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परितुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परि√तुष् (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• प्रसन्न-आत्मा: with a serene mind
• प्रसन्न-आत्मा: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (predicate adj.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य)

• प्रहसन्: smiling/laughing
• प्रहसन्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (concomitant action)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र√हस् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle)

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• अभाषत: spoke
• अभाषत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Characters & Entities

• Sūta Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord being pleased by prayers (stuti)?

This verse states that when the Lord is sincerely glorified, He becomes fully satisfied and responds graciously—smiling and speaking, indicating acceptance of the devotee’s devotion.

Why does Sūta Gosvāmī describe the Lord as 'satāṁ gatiḥ' (the refuge of the saintly)?

Sūta emphasizes that the Lord is the ultimate destination and shelter for devotees; their spiritual progress culminates in His protection, mercy, and personal reciprocation.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Regular heartfelt glorification—through prayer, kīrtana, and study—cultivates inner clarity and devotion, aligning one’s life with the Lord’s grace and guidance.