Shloka 12

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच मानसा मे सुता युष्मत्पूर्वजा: सनकादय: । चेरुर्विहायसा लोकाल्लोकेषु विगतस्पृहा: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

brahmovāca mānasā me sutā yuṣmat- pūrvajāḥ sanakādayaḥ cerur vihāyasā lokāl lokeṣu vigata-spṛhāḥ

Translation

Lord Brahmā said: My four mind-born sons, Sanaka and the others, are your predecessors. Free from all hankering, they wander through the material and spiritual skies.

Synonyms

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• मानसाः: mind-born
• मानसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of सुता:)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुताः: sons
• सुताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• युष्मत्-पूर्वजाः: your elder brothers/ancestors
• युष्मत्-पूर्वजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (युष्माकं पूर्वजाः)

• सनक-आदयः: Sanaka and others
• सनक-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सनकः आदिः येषां ते)

• चेरुः: wandered
• चेरुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• विहायसा: through the sky
• विहायसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहायस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• लोकात्: from world to world (from a world)
• लोकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान

• लोकेषु: in the worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• विगत-स्पृहाः: free from desire
• विगत-स्पृहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगत (कृदन्त; वि+गम्/गता) + स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (येषां स्पृहा विगता ते)

Purport

When we speak of desire we refer to desire for material sense gratification. Saintly persons like Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumāra have no material desire, but sometimes they travel all over the universe, out of their own accord, to preach devotional service.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Sanaka
• Sanandana
• Sanātana
• Sanat-kumāra

FAQs

Who are the Sanaka Kumaras in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3?

They are Brahmā’s mind-born sons—Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana, and Sanat-kumāra—described here as liberated sages who travel through the worlds without material desire.

Why does Brahmā mention the Kumaras as 'vigata-spṛhāḥ' (free from desire)?

Brahmā highlights their renunciation to show their elevated spiritual status—saints who move anywhere without attachment, fit to approach sacred realms like Vaikuṇṭha.

How can 'vigata-spṛhāḥ' be practiced in modern life according to this verse’s teaching?

By reducing hankering—living simply, avoiding envy and greed, and cultivating a devotional focus that replaces material cravings with spiritual purpose.