Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 14

Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मर्षीणां भृगुरहं राजर्षीणामहं मनु: । देवर्षीणां नारदोऽहं हविर्धान्यस्मि धेनुषु ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

brahmarṣīṇāṁ bhṛgur ahaṁ rājarṣīṇām ahaṁ manuḥ devarṣīṇāṁ nārado ’haṁ havirdhāny asmi dhenuṣu

Translation

Unter den Brahmarṣis bin Ich Bhṛgu; unter den Rājarṣis bin Ich Manu. Unter den Devarṣis bin Ich Nārada; und unter den Kühen bin Ich Kāmadhenu.

Synonyms

• ब्रह्मर्षीणाम्: of the Brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्मर्षीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural; समास: ब्रह्मणः ऋषयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• भृगुः: Bhṛgu
• भृगुः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजर्षीणाम्: of the royal sages
• राजर्षीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural; समास: राज्ञः ऋषयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• देवर्षीणाम्: of the divine sages
• देवर्षीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural; समास: देवानां ऋषयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हविर्धानी: Havirdhānī (receptacle for oblations)
• हविर्धानी: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविर्धानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular; समास: हविषः धानी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), ‘container/receptacle of oblation’

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धेनुषु: among the cows
• धेनुषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; locative plural

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Manu
• Nārada
• Havirdhānī

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 11.16.14 say about Krishna’s vibhutis (divine opulences)?

It declares that the Lord is the supreme excellence within each category—Bhṛgu among brahmin sages, Manu among royal sages, Nārada among divine sages, and Havirdhānī among cows—showing His presence as the highest principle in all orders of beings.

Why does Krishna mention Bhṛgu, Manu, and Nārada in this verse?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava how to perceive Him everywhere by recognizing His special manifestations (vibhūtis) in the most eminent personalities and representatives of different classes.

How can I apply the teaching of Bhagavatam 11.16.14 in modern life?

Practice seeing God’s hand in excellence and virtue—honor genuine wisdom, righteous leadership, and saintly devotion, and let that remembrance turn admiration into gratitude, humility, and steadier bhakti.