Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 46

Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच धर्मं पारमहंस्यं वै मुने: श्रुत्वासुरेश्वर: । पूजयित्वा तत: प्रीत आमन्‍त्र्यप्रययौ गृहम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca dharmaṁ pāramahaṁsyaṁ vai muneḥ śrutvāsureśvaraḥ pūjayitvā tataḥ prīta āmantrya prayayau gṛham

Translation

Nārada Muni fuhr fort: Nachdem Prahlāda, der König der Asuras, vom Heiligen die Lehre vom Dharma des Paramahaṁsa gehört hatte, verstand er sie und war erfreut. Er verehrte den Weisen gebührend, bat um Erlaubnis, nahm Abschied und kehrte in sein Heim zurück.

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Śrī Nārada
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (honorific epithet; 'śrīmān nāradaḥ'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• dharmam: dharma; religious principle
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pāramahaṁsyam: of the paramahaṁsa (highest renunciates)
• pāramahaṁsyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāramahaṁsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'dharmam' (pertaining to paramahaṁsas)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• muneḥ: of the sage
• muneḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• asureśvaraḥ: the lord of the asuras
• asureśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; 'asurāṇām īśvaraḥ'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped/honored
• pūjayitvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• prītaḥ: pleased
• prītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prī (धातु) → prīta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate/qualifier of 'asureśvaraḥ'

• āmantrya: having taken leave
• āmantrya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-mantr (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; 'having taken leave/asked permission'

• prayayau: departed/went
• prayayau: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• gṛham: to (his) home
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म; goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गन्तव्य (destination)

Purport

As quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 8.128) , Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said:

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Yudhiṣṭhira (implied as 'muni' in the dialogue context)
• Asura-īśvara (the Daitya leader, i.e., Prahlāda)

FAQs

What is paramahaṁsa-dharma in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Paramahaṁsa-dharma is the transcendental way of life centered on pure devotion and detachment, taught by the sage and received with faith and respect in this verse.

Why did the asura leader worship the sage after hearing these teachings?

Because the instructions on the highest spiritual dharma pleased him; therefore he honored the sage properly and then respectfully took leave.

How can paramahaṁsa principles be applied in modern life?

By cultivating sincere devotion, humility, and inner detachment—honoring saintly guidance and aligning daily life toward spiritual realization.