Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद् ब्रह्मकुलं ब्रह्मन् शास्‍त्रयोनेस्त्वमात्मन: । सभाजयसि सद्धाम तद् ब्रह्मण्याग्रणीर्भवान् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tasmād brahma-kulaṁ brahman śāstra-yones tvam ātmanaḥ sabhājayasi sad dhāma tad brahmaṇyāgraṇīr bhavān

Translation

Therefore, O Supreme Brahman, You honor the brāhmaṇa community, for they are the perfect means to realize You as the Ātman through the śāstric evidence born of the Vedas. For that very reason, You are the foremost worshiper of the brāhmaṇas.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात् = ‘therefore/from that’ (ablatival adverbial usage)

• ब्रह्म-कुलम्: the Brahmin lineage/family
• ब्रह्म-कुलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘brahmaṇaḥ kulam’

• ब्रह्मन्: O brāhmaṇa
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शास्त्र-योनेः: of the source of scripture
• शास्त्र-योनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘śāstrasya yoniḥ’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• सभाजयसि: you honor / you pay respect to
• सभाजयसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सभाजय् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• सत्: true, holy
• सत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘sat’ as qualifier of धाम

• धाम: abode; sacred seat
• धाम: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन्/धाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; refers to भवान्

• ब्रह्मण्य-अग्रणीः: leader among the brahmaṇya (pious toward Brahmins)
• ब्रह्मण्य-अग्रणीः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘brahmaṇyānām agranīḥ’ (leader among the devoted to Brahmins/Veda)

• भवान्: you (honored sir)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; honorific pronoun

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the source of the Vedas?

This verse praises Kṛṣṇa as śāstra-yoni—the origin of sacred scripture—yet notes that He still honors brāhmaṇas, showing divine respect for Vedic dharma and its saintly custodians.

Why do the sages glorify Krishna as the foremost protector of brahmanas (brahmaṇyāgraṇīḥ)?

Because even though Kṛṣṇa is independent and the very source of the Vedas, He sets the ideal by revering and supporting true brāhmaṇas, thereby upholding dharma for the world.

Practical application of honoring brahmanas and scripture in modern life?

Respect authentic spiritual teachers, support genuine learning and sādhana, and treat scripture and saintly devotees as guides for righteous living rather than mere ritual or social status.