Shloka 24

Devanagari script

एतदाख्याहि मे ब्रह्मन् सुनीथात्मजचेष्टितम् । श्रद्दधानाय भक्ताय त्वं परावरवित्तम: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

etad ākhyāhi me brahman sunīthātmaja-ceṣṭitam śraddadhānāya bhaktāya tvaṁ parāvara-vittamaḥ

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, please tell me of the deeds of Vena, the son of Sunīthā. You know all matters, past and future; I am a faithful devotee, so kindly explain them to me.

Synonyms

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद्-प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ākhyāhi: tell; explain
• ākhyāhi: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khyā (धातु) with ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• me: to me; for me
• me: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• brahman: O brāhmaṇa; O sage
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• sunīthā-ātmaja-ceṣṭitam: the conduct/deeds of Sunīthā’s son
• sunīthā-ātmaja-ceṣṭitam: Karma (कर्म/object apposition to etat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunīthā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक) + ceṣṭita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sunīthāyāḥ ātmajasya ceṣṭitam)

• śraddadhānāya: to one who is faithful
• śraddadhānāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/dative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śraddadhāna (कृदन्त; √dhā with śrad-dhā, वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (me)

• bhaktāya: to a devotee
• bhaktāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक; √bhaj क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• parāvara-vittamaḥ: the best knower of higher and lower (matters)
• parāvara-vittamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicative to tvam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + avara (प्रातिपदिक) + vittama (प्रातिपदिक; vid + tama)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासार्थः: परं च अवरं च (उभयम्) वेत्ति इति; -तम (superlative)

Purport

Vidura accepted Maitreya as his spiritual master. A disciple always inquires from the spiritual master, and the spiritual master answers the question, provided the disciple is very gentle and devoted. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura said that by the mercy of the spiritual master one is blessed with the mercy of the Supreme Lord. The spiritual master is not inclined to disclose all the secrets of transcendental science unless the disciple is very submissive and devoted. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, the process of receiving knowledge from the spiritual master entails submission, inquiry and service.

Characters & Entities

• Sunīthā
• Vena

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing sacred history with faith (śraddhā)?

This verse shows that a faithful, devoted listener (śraddadhāna bhakta) is qualified to receive deep narrations of the Bhāgavatam from a realized teacher.

Why did King Parīkṣit ask about the deeds of Sunīthā’s son (Vena)?

In the flow of Canto 4’s dynastic history, Parīkṣit wants Śukadeva to explain Vena’s conduct because it leads into the crucial appearance of King Pṛthu and the restoration of dharma.

How can I apply this verse in modern life as a student of the Bhagavatam?

Approach scripture with humility, faith, and devotion, and learn from a qualified guide—this mindset opens the heart to transformative understanding.