Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 32

Purūravā’s Song of Renunciation and the Glory of Sādhu-saṅga

Devanagari script

निमज्ज्योन्मज्जतां घोरे भवाब्धौ परमायणम् । सन्तो ब्रह्मविद: शान्ता नौर्दृढेवाप्सु मज्जताम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

nimajjyonmajjatāṁ ghore bhavābdhau paramāyaṇam santo brahma-vidaḥ śāntā naur dṛḍhevāpsu majjatām

Translation

Im furchtbaren Ozean des materiellen Daseins, in dem man immer wieder untergeht und wieder auftaucht, sind die Geweihten des Herrn—friedvoll, im Wissen um Brahman gefestigt—die höchste Zuflucht; sie gleichen einem starken Boot, das den Ertrinkenden rettet.

Synonyms

• nimajjya: having sunk
• nimajjya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni√majj (धातु) + lyap (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: Absolutive (gerund) in -ya (lyap), ‘having sunk’

• unmajjatām: of those who surface again
• unmajjatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud√majj (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.); present participle ‘of those who rise up (again)’

• ghore: terrible
• ghore: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.); qualifies bhavābdhau

• bhava-abdhau: in the ocean of worldly existence
• bhava-abdhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + abdhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘bhavasya abdhiḥ’ (ocean of worldly existence)

• parama-āyaṇam: the supreme refuge
• parama-āyaṇam: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom./Acc.), Ekavacana (sg.); karmadhāraya ‘supreme refuge/goal’

• santaḥ: saints
• santaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• brahma-vidaḥ: knowers of Brahman
• brahma-vidaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); upapada-tatpuruṣa: ‘brahma veda’ (knower of Brahman)

• śāntāḥ: peaceful
• śāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śam (धातु) + kta)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); kta-participle used adjectivally

• nauḥ: a boat
• nauḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• dṛḍhā: firm, strong
• dṛḍhā: Upamāna-dharma (उपमान-धर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); agrees with nauḥ

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya (comparative particle)

• apsu: in water
• apsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7), Bahuvacana (pl.); ‘in waters’

• majjatām: of those who are drowning
• majjatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √majj (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.); present participle ‘of those who are sinking’

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about crossing the ocean of material existence (bhavābdhi)?

This verse says that for souls repeatedly sinking and rising in samsara, peaceful saints who know spiritual truth are the highest refuge—like a strong boat for one who is drowning.

Why did Krishna say that saints (santaḥ) are the supreme shelter?

In His final teachings to Uddhava, Krishna emphasizes that realized, peaceful devotees and Brahman-knowers guide and carry conditioned souls toward liberation through association, instruction, and living example.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Seek steady association with genuine sādhus—through authentic teachers, scripture study in their guidance, and devotional community—so your choices and consciousness become aligned with spiritual truth rather than the churn of worldly ups and downs.