Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 10

Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच कौ युवां ज्ञानसम्पन्नौ महिष्ठौ च महीयसाम् । अवधूतेन वेषेण गूढाविह समागतौ ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca kau yuvāṁ jñāna-sampannau mahiṣṭhau ca mahīyasām avadhūtena veṣeṇa gūḍhāv iha samāgatau

Translation

King Citraketu said: You two are endowed with perfect knowledge, and among the great you are the greatest. Yet you have come here in the guise of avadhūtas, concealing your identities.

Synonyms

• श्रीराजा: the illustrious king
• श्रीराजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-राजन् (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् राजा)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कौ: who (two)
• कौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• ज्ञानसम्पन्नौ: endowed with knowledge
• ज्ञानसम्पन्नौ: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘कौ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + सम्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (ज्ञानसम्पन्न = ज्ञानयुक्त)

• महिष्ठौ: most exalted
• महिष्ठौ: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘कौ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + इष्ठन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; अतिशयवाचक (superlative)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• महीयसाम्: of the great ones
• महीयसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; comparative of महत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठानाम्’ इत्यर्थे

• अवधूतेन: with (an) avadhūta (ascetic)
• अवधूतेन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवधूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वेषेण: by (such) attire
• वेषेण: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• गूढौ: hidden/disguised
• गूढौ: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘कौ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ (प्रातिपदिक; √गुह्/गूह् ‘to hide’ से निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• समागतौ: have come/arrived
• समागतौ: क्रिया-विशेष्य (Predicative to subject ‘कौ’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Characters & Entities

• King Citraketu
• Nārada Muni
• Aṅgirā Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about saints appearing in disguise?

This verse shows that exalted sages may arrive concealed in an avadhūta’s appearance, emphasizing humility and the mysterious ways divine guidance reaches a seeker.

Why did King Citraketu ask who the two sages were?

Seeing their extraordinary spiritual brilliance yet simple renunciant dress, Citraketu recognized they were no ordinary wanderers and sought to know their identity and purpose.

Practical application: what should I learn from this verse in modern life?

Do not judge spiritual depth by external appearance; honor genuine wisdom and remain receptive to guidance that may come through humble or unexpected sources.