Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 21

Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint

Devanagari script

श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच वेदेदमसुरश्रेष्ठ भवान् नन्वार्यसम्मत: । ईहोपरमयोर्नृणां पदान्यध्यात्मचक्षुषा ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca vededam asura-śreṣṭha bhavān nanv ārya-sammataḥ īhoparamayor nṝṇāṁ padāny adhyātma-cakṣuṣā

Translation

The saintly brāhmaṇa said: O Prahlāda, best of the asuras and honored by the refined, by your innate spiritual vision you clearly know the stages of human life—the path of endeavor and the path of cessation—and the results of accepting or rejecting things as they are.

Synonyms

• śrī-brāhmaṇaḥ: the venerable brāhmaṇa
• śrī-brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (उपपद) + brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (honorific): ‘श्रीमान् ब्राह्मणः’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• veda: knows
• veda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘knows’

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• asura-śreṣṭha: O best of the asuras
• asura-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘असुराणां श्रेष्ठः’

• bhavān: you (honorific)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम

• nanu: surely/indeed
• nanu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nanu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ननु-प्रत्यवमर्श/प्रश्नार्थक (surely/indeed, interrogative-emphatic)

• ārya-sammataḥ: approved by the noble
• ārya-sammataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक) + sammata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्+√man)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘आर्यैः सम्मतः’ = approved by the noble

• īhā-uparamayoḥ: of endeavor and cessation
• īhā-uparamayoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īhā (प्रातिपदिक) + uparama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-भावे, षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन; अत्र षष्ठी द्विवचन: ‘of effort and cessation’

• nṝṇām: of men/people
• nṝṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• padāni: paths/steps (courses)
• padāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• adhyātma-cakṣuṣā: with spiritual insight
• adhyātma-cakṣuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyātma (प्रातिपदिक) + cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अध्यात्मस्य चक्षुः’ = spiritual eye/insight

Purport

A pure devotee like Prahlāda Mahārāja can understand the minds of others because of his pure vision in devotional service. A devotee like Prahlāda Mahārāja can study another man’s character without difficulty.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Asura-śreṣṭha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeing life with spiritual vision (adhyātma-cakṣu)?

This verse urges one to use inner spiritual insight to understand the real position of human life—beyond mere activity or external renunciation—by seeing the truth of the self and life’s purpose.

Why does the brāhmaṇa address the listener as 'asura-śreṣṭha' (best of the demons)?

He acknowledges the listener’s influence and intelligence, appealing to his reputation as 'ārya-sammata' (respected as cultured) so he will seriously consider spiritual discrimination between worldly striving and genuine renunciation.

Practical application: how can I apply 'īhā and uparama' in modern life?

Evaluate whether your efforts increase attachment and ego (īhā) or lead to clarity, detachment, and devotion (uparama), and make choices that strengthen inner discipline, truthfulness, and God-centered living.