Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

तत्त्वं न: सर्वधर्मज्ञ धर्मस्त्वद्भ‍‍क्तिलक्षण: । यथा यस्य विधीयेत तथा वर्णय मे प्रभो ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

tat tvaṁ naḥ sarva-dharma-jña dharmas tvad-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ yathā yasya vidhīyeta tathā varṇaya me prabho

Translation

O Herr, Du kennst alle Grundsätze des Dharma; unser wahrer Dharma trägt das Merkmal der Bhakti, des liebenden Dienstes an Dir. Bitte beschreibe, welche Menschen diesen Weg ausführen können und wie dieser Dienst zu verrichten ist.

Synonyms

• tat: that (topic/nature)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• naḥ: to us
• naḥ: Sampradana (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural

• sarva-dharma-jña: O knower of all religious principles
• sarva-dharma-jña: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva-dharma-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Singular

• dharmaḥ: religious duty/nature
• dharmaḥ: Karta (Subject of relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tvad-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ: characterized by devotion to You
• tvad-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvad-bhakti-lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yathā: how/in which manner
• yathā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• yasya: for whom/of whom
• yasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vidhīyeta: may be ordained/prescribed
• vidhīyeta: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + dhā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• tathā: in that manner
• tathā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• varṇaya: describe
• varṇaya: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇ (धातु)
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• me: to me
• me: Sampradana (Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• prabho: O Lord/Master
• prabho: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the defining feature of true dharma?

This verse states that real dharma is marked by devotion (bhakti) to the Lord—devotion is its essential characteristic.

Why did Uddhava ask Krishna to explain dharma in this verse?

Uddhava recognizes that dharma’s core is bhakti and therefore requests Kṛṣṇa to describe how that devotion-centered dharma should be prescribed and practiced according to different persons and circumstances.

How can I apply this teaching about dharma and bhakti in modern life?

Make devotion to God the center of your duties—shape your work, relationships, and responsibilities so they support remembrance, worship, and service, rather than treating spirituality as separate from daily life.