Shloka 1

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति वैरोचनेर्वाक्यं धर्मयुक्तं स सूनृतम् । निशम्य भगवान्प्रीत: प्रतिनन्द्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti vairocaner vākyaṁ dharma-yuktaṁ sa sūnṛtam niśamya bhagavān prītaḥ pratinandyedam abravīt

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, heard Bali Mahārāja speaking in this pleasing way, He was very satisfied, for Bali Mahārāja had spoken in terms of religious principles. Thus the Lord began to praise him.

Synonyms

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्रीशुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nom.), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीः + शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Prayojaka (प्रयोजक/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक

• वैरोचनेः: of Virocana’s (son)
• वैरोचनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Gen.), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Acc.), एकवचन

• धर्मयुक्तम्: consistent with dharma
• धर्मयुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Acc.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मेण युक्तम्) विशेषणम् (वाक्यम्)

• सत्: true, good
• सत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाक्यम्)

• सूनृतम्: pleasant and truthful
• सूनृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाक्यम्)

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + शम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having heard)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nom.), एकवचन

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भगवान्)

• प्रतिनन्द्य: having commended
• प्रतिनन्द्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having praised/approved)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Acc.), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Virocana
• Bhagavān (Vāmana)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about speaking truthfully according to dharma?

This verse states that Bali’s words were both dharma-yukta (aligned with righteousness) and sūnṛta (truthful), and that such speech pleased the Supreme Lord.

Why did the Supreme Lord (Vāmana) become pleased with Bali Mahārāja’s words?

Because Bali, son of Virocana, spoke in a way consistent with dharma and truth, the Lord approved his intention and responded favorably.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Practice truthful speech that is guided by dharma—honest, responsible, and principled—since integrity in words is shown here to invite divine approval.