Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 21

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणा: साधव: शान्ता नि:सङ्गा भूतवत्सला: । एकान्तभक्ता अस्मासु निर्वैरा: समदर्शिन: ॥ २० ॥ सलोका लोकपालास्तान् वन्दन्त्यर्चन्त्युपासते । अहं च भगवान् ब्रह्मा स्वयं च हरिरीश्वर: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāḥ sādhavaḥ śāntā niḥsaṅgā bhūta-vatsalāḥ ekānta-bhaktā asmāsu nirvairāḥ sama-darśinaḥ

Translation

Those brāhmaṇas are saintly—ever peaceful, free from attachment, compassionate to all beings, exclusively devoted to us, without enmity, and endowed with equal vision. The residents and ruling demigods of all worlds, and also I, Lord Brahmā, and Śrī Hari Himself, the Supreme Īśvara, glorify them, worship them, and render them service.

Synonyms

• brāhmaṇāḥ: brāhmaṇas
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sādhavaḥ: saints
• sādhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• śāntāḥ: peaceful
• śāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; विशेषण

• niḥsaṅgāḥ: detached
• niḥsaṅgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥsaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; विशेषण

• bhūta-vatsalāḥ: kind to all beings
• bhūta-vatsalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘भूतानां वत्सलः’

• ekānta-bhaktāḥ: exclusive devotees
• ekānta-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘एकान्ते भक्ताḥ’/‘एकान्त-भक्तिः येषाम्’ (sense: exclusive devotees)

• asmāsu: towards/in us
• asmāsu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; 1st person pronoun

• nirvairāḥ: free from enmity
• nirvairāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirvaira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; विशेषण

• sama-darśinaḥ: equal-seeing
• sama-darśinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + darśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; समासः—कर्मधारय ‘समं पश्यन्ति’

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What are the qualities of a pure devotee according to Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 12?

This verse lists key qualities: peacefulness, detachment, compassion to all beings, exclusive devotion to the Lord, freedom from enmity, and equal vision.

What does 'ekanta-bhakta' mean in the Bhagavata Purana?

Ekānta-bhakta means a single-minded devotee who worships the Lord exclusively, without competing motives or divided allegiance.

How can I apply 'nirvaira' (non-enmity) and 'samadarshi' (equal vision) in modern life?

Practice seeing others as souls, avoid retaliatory hostility, and respond with compassion and fairness while keeping steady devotion to Krishna.