Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 1

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

श्रीशौनक उवाच अथेममर्थं पृच्छामो भवन्तं बहुवित्तमम् । समस्ततन्त्रराद्धान्ते भवान् भागवत तत्त्ववित् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śaunaka uvāca athemam arthaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavantaṁ bahu-vittamam samasta-tantra-rāddhānte bhavān bhāgavata tattva-vit

Translation

Śrī Śaunaka sprach: O Sūta, du bist der Beste unter den Gelehrten und ein großer Geweihter des Höchsten Herrn. Darum fragen wir dich nun nach der endgültigen Schlussfolgerung aller Tantra-Schriften.

Synonyms

• śrī-śaunakaḥ: Śrī Śaunaka
• śrī-śaunakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-śaunaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधनार्थ-नाम (proper name with honorific śrī-)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• atha: now/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (निपात) meaning ‘now/then’

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• artham: meaning/matter
• artham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pṛcchāmaḥ: we ask
• pṛcchāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); परस्मैपद

• bhavantam: you (honored)
• bhavantam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); honorific 2nd-person pronoun-like noun

• bahu-vittamam: most learned
• bahu-vittamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu + vittama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); superlative (तमप्) of ‘vitta’ with ‘bahu’ = ‘most learned/most knowledgeable’

• samasta-tantra-siddhānte: in the conclusions of all tantras
• samasta-tantra-siddhānte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samasta + tantra + siddhānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘in the conclusions (siddhānta) of all tantras’

• bhavān: you
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); honorific ‘you’

• bhāgavata: O Bhāgavata devotee/scholar
• bhāgavata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• tattva-vit: knower of truth
• tattva-vit: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva + vit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘knower (vit) of truth (tattva)’

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about approaching a spiritual teacher for truth?

This verse shows devotees respectfully inquiring from a highly learned authority who knows the Bhāgavata’s essential truth and the established conclusions of scripture.

Why did Śaunaka Ṛṣi say this to the speaker of the Bhagavatam narration?

Śaunaka acknowledges the narrator’s deep scriptural mastery and Bhāgavata-realization, establishing him as a reliable source before asking the next essential question.

Practical application of scriptural ‘siddhānta’ in modern life?

Seek clarity from trustworthy teachers, prioritize the essential conclusions over confusion, and align daily decisions with the Bhāgavata’s core teachings of devotion and truth.