Shloka 5

Devanagari script

यास्ता देवर्षिणा तत्र वर्णिता भगवत्कथा: । मह्यं शुश्रूषवे ब्रह्मन् कार्त्स्‍न्येनाचष्टुमर्हसि ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

yās tā devarṣiṇā tatra varṇitā bhagavat-kathāḥ mahyaṁ śuśrūṣave brahman kārtsnyenācaṣṭum arhasi

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, what narrations of the Lord did Devarṣi Nārada speak there, and how did he glorify Him? I am eager to hear; please describe that praise of the Lord in full.

Synonyms

• याः: which
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ताः: those
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• देवर्षिणा: by the divine sage
• देवर्षिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) [देव + ऋषि]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वर्णिताः: were described
• वर्णिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु) → वर्णित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भगवत्कथाः: narrations of the Lord
• भगवत्कथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्कथा (प्रातिपदिक) [भगवत् + कथा]
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• शुश्रूषवे: to (me) who am eager to hear
• शुश्रूषवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन (Singular); इच्छार्थक-नाम (one desirous of hearing/serving)

• ब्रह्मन्: O brāhmaṇa (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कार्त्स्न्येन: completely/in full
• कार्त्स्न्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्स्न्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे (in the sense of ‘completely’)

• आचष्टुम्: to narrate
• आचष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अर्थ: कथयितुम् (to tell)

• अर्हसि: you are able/ought
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Purport

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the record of bhagavat-kathā, topics about the pastimes of the Lord. What Vidura was anxious to hear from Maitreya we can also hear five thousand years later, provided we are very eager.

Characters & Entities

• Devarṣi Nārada
• Maitreya Ṛṣi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing (śravaṇa) Bhagavat-kathā?

This verse highlights the devotee’s eagerness to hear narrations of the Lord in full, indicating that attentive hearing is a primary doorway into bhakti.

Why does Maitreya ask for the Bhagavat-kathā described by Devarṣi Nārada?

Maitreya expresses a sincere desire to hear the Lord’s topics as taught by Nārada, showing respect for disciplic transmission and the completeness of sacred narration.

How can I apply this verse in modern life as a spiritual practice?

Cultivate regular, attentive listening—set time daily or weekly to hear or study Srimad Bhagavatam systematically “in full,” with a receptive and service-minded attitude.