Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 25

Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

एषु स्‍नानं जपो होमो व्रतं देवद्विजार्चनम् । पितृदेवनृभूतेभ्यो यद्दत्तं तद्ध्यनश्वरम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

eṣu snānaṁ japo homo vrataṁ deva-dvijārcanam pitṛ-deva-nṛ-bhūtebhyo yad dattaṁ tad dhy anaśvaram

Translation

During these sacred seasons, if one bathes in the Gaṅgā, the Yamunā, or another holy tīrtha; performs japa, homa, and vows; and worships the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the forefathers, the devas, and all beings—then whatever charity one gives yields an imperishable, lasting benefit.

Synonyms

• एषु: on these (occasions)
• एषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• जपः: recitation (japa)
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• होमः: fire-offering (homa)
• होमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देव-द्विज-अर्चनम्: worship of the gods and brāhmaṇas
• देव-द्विज-अर्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (देवाश्च द्विजाश्च), तत्पश्चात् तत्पुरुषभावः अर्चनम् (तेषाम् अर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पितृ-देव-नृ-भूतेभ्यः: to the ancestors, gods, humans, and beings
• पितृ-देव-नृ-भूतेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पितरः देवाः नराः भूतानि च), पुं/नपुंसक-समाहार, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान; also used as Dative in -भ्यः forms), बहुवचन

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत्-शब्दस्य विशेषणम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• अनश्वरम्: imperishable
• अनश्वरम्: Visheshya-Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् तत्-शब्दस्य

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about charity (dāna) and its lasting results?

This verse teaches that when charity is offered properly—along with purifying practices like japa, homa, vows, and worship—and directed to forefathers, demigods, people, and living beings, it becomes anaśvara, yielding imperishable spiritual merit.

Why does Nārada Muni teach these duties to Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja in Canto 7?

In this chapter Nārada outlines ideal gṛhastha-dharma—how a householder can sanctify daily life through worship, discipline, and compassionate giving—so that worldly duties become supportive of devotion rather than binding.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Keep a simple daily sādhana (cleanliness, mantra-japa, some form of worship), take periodic vows for self-discipline, and practice regular giving—food, help, and support—to elders, community, and all beings, offering the results to the Supreme.