Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 23

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच निन्दनस्तवसत्कारन्यक्कारार्थं कलेवरम् । प्रधानपरयो राजन्नविवेकेन कल्पितम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca nindana-stava-satkāra- nyakkārārthaṁ kalevaram pradhāna-parayo rājann avivekena kalpitam

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O King, blame and praise, insult and honor, are felt because of ignorance. The body of the conditioned soul is arranged by the Lord, through His external energy (māyā), so that one undergoes suffering in the material world.

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Śrī Nārada
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (उपपद) + nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Honorific karmadhāraya; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• nindana-stava-satkāra-nyakkāra-artham: for the purpose of censure, praise, honor, and insult
• nindana-stava-satkāra-nyakkāra-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nindana (प्रातिपदिक) + stava (प्रातिपदिक) + satkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + nyakkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāhāra-dvandva of four items (nindana, stava, satkāra, nyakkāra) + tatpuruṣa with ‘artha’ (‘for the purpose of …’); Neuter, Accusative, Singular (used adverbially as purpose)

• kalevaram: body
• kalevaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalevara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• pradhāna-parayoḥ: of Pradhāna and the Supreme (Para)
• pradhāna-parayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva: ‘Pradhāna and Puruṣa/Para’; Genitive, Dual

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• avivekena: by lack of discernment
• avivekena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aviveka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• kalpitam: imagined / constructed
• kalpitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु) → kalpita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; agrees with ‘kalevaram’ (object described)

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (18.61) it is said:

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Yudhiṣṭhira

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 7.1.23 teach about praise and blame?

It teaches that praise, blame, honor, and insult are tied to bodily identification; with true discrimination between the self and matter, a devotee does not become disturbed by them.

Why did Nārada Muni say this to King Yudhiṣṭhira in Canto 7 Chapter 1?

Nārada instructs Yudhiṣṭhira in spiritual discrimination, showing that worldly dualities arise from ignorance of the self and over-identification with the material body.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when facing criticism or praise?

Practice seeing yourself as the soul (not the body), accept feedback without ego, and anchor your identity in service to the Lord—then praise and criticism lose their power to shake your mind.