Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 1

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच कर्मनिष्ठा द्विजा: केचित्तपोनिष्ठा नृपापरे । स्वाध्यायेऽन्ये प्रवचने केचन ज्ञानयोगयो: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca karma-niṣṭhā dvijāḥ kecit tapo-niṣṭhā nṛpāpare svādhyāye ’nye pravacane kecana jñāna-yogayoḥ

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O King, some brāhmaṇas are devoted to karma, some to austerity; others to Vedic self-study, others to preaching; and very few cultivate knowledge and the paths of yoga—especially bhakti-yoga.

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Śrī Nārada
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘श्रीमान् नारदः’ (honorific prefix)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• karma-niṣṭhāḥ: devoted to ritual action
• karma-niṣṭhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma + niṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘कर्मणि निष्ठा येषाम्’ (devoted to action)

• dvijāḥ: twice-born (brāhmaṇas etc.)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kecit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• tapo-niṣṭhāḥ: devoted to austerity
• tapo-niṣṭhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas + niṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तपसि निष्ठा येषाम्’

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• apare: others
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन; ‘others’ (pronoun/adjectival noun)

• svādhyāye: in self-study (of Veda)
• svādhyāye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

• pravacane: in teaching/recitation
• pravacane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• kecana: some (others)
• kecana: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kecana (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• jñāna-yogayoḥ: of/in knowledge and yoga
• jñāna-yogayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन रूप (Gen./Loc. dual); द्वन्द्व: ‘ज्ञानश्च योगश्च’

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Yudhiṣṭhira

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about different duties of brāhmaṇas?

This verse states that brāhmaṇas may be devoted to different disciplines—ritual work (karma), austerity (tapas), Vedic study (svādhyāya), teaching (pravacana), or spiritual realization through knowledge and yoga—according to their nature and training.

Why did Nārada Muni speak this verse to King Yudhiṣṭhira?

Nārada is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on civilized religious life and varṇāśrama principles, beginning by describing the recognized engagements of the twice-born—especially brāhmaṇas—in society and spiritual culture.

How can I apply karma, tapas, svādhyāya, and yoga in modern life?

Do your duties responsibly (karma), adopt simple self-discipline (tapas), study sacred texts regularly (svādhyāya), share what you learn with humility (pravacana), and cultivate inner practice through meditation and devotion-oriented yoga.