Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 31

Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama

Devanagari script

एतैर्दोषैर्विहीनाय ब्रह्मण्याय प्रियाय च । साधवे शुचये ब्रूयाद् भक्ति: स्याच्छूद्रयोषिताम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

etair doṣair vihīnāya brahmaṇyāya priyāya ca sādhave śucaye brūyād bhaktiḥ syāc chūdra-yoṣitām

Translation

Dieses Wissen soll dem gelehrt werden, der frei von diesen Fehlern ist, dem Wohl der Brāhmaṇas zugetan, liebevoll, heilig und rein. Und wenn einfache Arbeiter und Frauen Hingabe an den Höchsten Herrn besitzen, sind auch sie als würdige Hörer anzunehmen.

Synonyms

• etaiḥ: by these
• etaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies 'doṣaiḥ'

• doṣaiḥ: faults
• doṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• vihīnāya: to one devoid (of)
• vihīnāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√hā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle used adjectivally, Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; 'free from' (with instr. 'doṣaiḥ')

• brahmaṇyāya: to one devoted to Brahman/holy
• brahmaṇyāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• priyāya: to a dear one
• priyāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• sādhave: to a saintly person
• sādhave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• śucaye: to a pure person
• śucaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• brūyāt: should speak/teach
• brūyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Optative: Liṅ (लिङ्/विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• syāt: would be/may arise
• syāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Optative: Liṅ (लिङ्/विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; 'may be/should be'

• śūdra-yoṣitām: of śūdra women
• śūdra-yoṣitām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; karmadhāraya: śūdrāḥ yoṣitaḥ (women who are śūdras)

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 11.29.31 say about who is qualified to receive bhakti teachings?

It says bhakti should be taught to a person free from faults—saintly, pure, and devoted to brahminical (spiritual) principles—because such a listener can truly receive and live the teaching.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in the Uddhava Gita?

Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava on how to transmit the most confidential bhakti teachings responsibly—ensuring they are given to sincere, clean-hearted seekers who will honor and practice them.

How can I apply this verse in modern life when sharing spiritual knowledge?

Share bhakti teachings with humility and discernment—offer them to those who are respectful, sincere, and willing to live a pure life, and avoid debates with those who only want to criticize.