Shloka 12

Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear

Devanagari script

एतदन्यच्च सर्वं मे मुने कृष्णविचेष्टितम् । वक्तुमर्हसि सर्वज्ञ श्रद्दधानाय विस्तृतम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

etad anyac ca sarvaṁ me mune kṛṣṇa-viceṣṭitam vaktum arhasi sarvajña śraddadhānāya vistṛtam

Translation

O sage, all-knowing about Kṛṣṇa, please narrate in detail all His divine deeds—those I have asked about and those I have not. I am full of faith and greatly eager to hear.

Synonyms

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (coordinated with एतत्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (and)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मे: to me / my
• मे: सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (to/for me; possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (enclitic)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• कृष्णविचेष्टितम्: the deeds of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णविचेष्टितम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विचेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('Kṛṣṇa's deeds')

• वक्तुम्: to tell
• वक्तुम्: प्रयोजन (purpose complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → वक्तुम् (कृदन्त, तुमुन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), 'to speak/tell'

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

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• श्रद्दधानाय: for (me) who is faithful
• श्रद्दधानाय: सम्प्रदान (recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्दधान (प्रातिपदिक; शतृ-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied 'me')

• विस्तृतम्: in detail/expanded
• विस्तृतम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+स्तृ (धातु) → विस्तृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of कथनम्/वर्णनम् implied or of कृष्णविचेष्टितम्)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing Krishna’s pastimes (Krishna-katha)?

This verse shows that a faithful listener should hear Kṛṣṇa’s līlās in detail from a realized, all-knowing sage—hearing is treated as a primary path of bhakti (śravaṇam).

Why did King Parikshit ask Shukadeva Goswami to speak Krishna’s pastimes in detail?

Because Parīkṣit, facing imminent death, sought complete spiritual fulfillment through devoted hearing; he recognized Śukadeva as qualified (sarva-jña) to narrate Kṛṣṇa’s divine activities expansively.

Practical application of shraddha (faith) from this shloka in modern life?

Approach authentic scripture with receptive faith, choose trustworthy teachers, and commit to consistent listening/reading of Krishna-katha to deepen devotion and clarity.