Shloka 19

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

ब्रह्म ते हृदयं शुक्लं तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: । यत्रोपलब्धं सद् व्यक्तमव्यक्तं च तत: परम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

brahma te hṛdayaṁ śuklaṁ tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ yatropalabdhaṁ sad vyaktam avyaktaṁ ca tataḥ param

Translation

The Vedas are Your spotless heart, and by austerity, sacred study (svādhyāya), and self-control one perceives within them the manifest, the unmanifest, and the pure existence that transcends both.

Synonyms

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘तव/your’

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Adhikaraṇa/Āśraya (आश्रय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुक्लम्: pure/bright
• शुक्लम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तपःस्वाध्यायसंयमैः: by austerity, self-study, and restraint
• तपःस्वाध्यायसंयमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + स्वाध्याय + संयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (तपः च स्वाध्यायः च संयमः च)

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/अधिकरणवाचक relative adverb (where)

• उपलब्धम्: is realized/attained
• उपलब्धम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपलब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; उप√लभ् + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्राप्तम्/अनुभूतम्’

• सत्: the real/being
• सत्: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक; √अस् + शतृ/सत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सत्यम्/being’

• व्यक्तम्: manifest
• व्यक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक

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

• ततः: beyond/from that
• ततः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमबोधक (from that/thereafter)

• परम्: supreme/transcendent
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Purport

Vyakta, “the manifest,” consists of the visible things of this world, and avyakta consists of the subtle, underlying causes of cosmic creation. The Vedas point toward the transcendental realm of Brahman, which lies beyond all material cause and effect.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about realizing Brahman in the heart?

This verse says that when the heart is purified through austerity, sacred study, and self-restraint, Brahman is realized within, along with the truths of both the manifest and unmanifest, and the transcendence beyond them.

Why does Vasudeva speak about a purified heart to Narada Muni in Canto 10, Chapter 84?

In the meeting at Kurukṣetra, Vasudeva honors Nārada’s spiritual stature and highlights how disciplined purity leads to direct realization of ultimate reality—affirming the role of sādhana and divine guidance.

How can tapas, svadhyaya, and self-control be applied in modern life according to this shloka?

Adopt steady discipline: simplify habits (tapas), daily study/chanting of sacred texts (svādhyāya), and mindful restraint of senses and impulses (saṁyama) to cultivate inner clarity and spiritual insight.