Shloka 74

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

अथेदं नित्यदा युक्तो जपन्नवहित: पुमान् । अचिराच्छ्रेय आप्नोति वासुदेवपरायण: ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

athedaṁ nityadā yukto japann avahitaḥ pumān acirāc chreya āpnoti vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ

Translation

A devotee devoted to Vāsudeva, whose mind is always absorbed in Him, and who chants this stotra with careful attention and reverence, quickly attains the highest good—the supreme perfection of life.

Synonyms

• अथ: then / now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) / discourse connector

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of implied ‘does/recites’

• नित्यदा: always
• नित्यदा: Kala/Desha (काल/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) = ‘always’

• युक्तः: engaged / disciplined
• युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘joined/engaged (in yoga)’ qualifying ‘पुमान्’

• जपन्: chanting
• जपन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying ‘पुमान्’

• अवहितः: attentive
• अवहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवहित (प्रातिपदिक; from अव-धा/हित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘attentive’ qualifying ‘पुमान्’

• पुमान्: a man / person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• अचिरात्: soon
• अचिरात्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अचिरात् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: Adverbial ablative (क्रियाविशेषण) = ‘before long/soon’

• श्रेयः: the highest good
• श्रेयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of ‘आप्नोति’

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• वासुदेवपरायणः: devoted to Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘वासुदेवे परायणः’ (devoted to Vāsudeva) qualifying ‘पुमान्’

Purport

Perfection means becoming a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. As stated in the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.28), vāsudeva-parā vedā vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ. The ultimate goal of life is Vāsudeva, or Kṛṣṇa. Any devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa can attain all perfection, material gains and liberation simply by offering prayers to Him. There are many varieties of prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa chanted by great sages and great personalities such as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. Lord Kṛṣṇa is known as śiva-viriñci-nutam ( Bhāg. 11.5.33 ). Śiva means Lord Śiva, and viriñci means Lord Brahmā. Both of these demigods are engaged in offering prayers to Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa. If we follow in the footsteps of such great personalities and become devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa, our lives will become successful. Unfortunately people do not know this secret. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: “They do not know that the real interest and the highest perfection of life is to worship Lord Viṣṇu [Kṛṣṇa].” ( Bhāg. 7.5.31 ) It is impossible to become satisfied by trying to adjust the external energy. Without being a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can only be baffled and confused. To save living entities from such a calamity, Lord Kṛṣṇa points out in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) :

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the benefit of daily chanting (japa)?

This verse states that one who regularly and attentively chants this prayer, taking refuge in Vāsudeva, quickly attains the highest spiritual good.

Why does Lord Śiva emphasize attentive chanting in Bhagavatam 4.24?

Because the fruit is not mere recitation—when chanting is done with focused awareness and devotion to Vāsudeva, it becomes a direct means to attain the supreme welfare (śreyaḥ).

How can I apply “avahitaḥ” (attentive) chanting in modern life?

Set a fixed daily time, chant without multitasking, and keep your intention centered on Vāsudeva—quality of attention and devotion is the key teaching of this verse.