Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17

Nārada’s Arrival, the Nine Yogendras, and the Foundations of Bhāgavata-dharma

Devanagari script

तेषां वै भरतो ज्येष्ठो नारायणपरायण: । विख्यातं वर्षमेतद् यन्नाम्ना भारतमद्भ‍ुतम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

teṣāṁ vai bharato jyeṣṭho nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ vikhyātaṁ varṣam etad yan- nāmnā bhāratam adbhutam

Translation

Of those hundred sons, the eldest, Bharata, was wholly devoted to Lord Nārāyaṇa. Because of Bharata’s fame, this land is celebrated as the wondrous and great Bhārata-varṣa.

Synonyms

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठः: the eldest
• ज्येष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भरतः इति विशेषण

• नारायणपरायणः: devoted to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नारायण-परायण = devoted to Nārāyaṇa); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भरतः इति विशेषण

• विख्यातम्: renowned, famous
• विख्यातम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्षम् इति विशेषण

• वर्षम्: region/land (varṣa)
• वर्षम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्षम् इति विशेषण (appositional)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक (relative pronoun)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by the name)

• भारतं: Bhārata
• भारतं: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम-रूपेण (as a proper name)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful, marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भारतम्/वर्षम् इति विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

Why is India called Bhārata-varṣa according to the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse states that the land became famous by the name of the eldest son Bharata, who was devoted to Nārāyaṇa; therefore it is known as Bhārata-varṣa.

What does “Nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ” mean in Bhagavatam 11.2.17?

It means “one whose ultimate refuge and sole dedication is Nārāyaṇa”—a person fully surrendered in devotion to the Supreme Lord.

Practical application: What can I learn from Bharata being ‘Nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa’?

Make devotion your life’s center—regular remembrance, worship, and choices aligned with God—so your identity and actions become rooted in spiritual purpose.