Shloka 24

Nārada Instructs the Pracetās: Bhakti as the Goal of All Paths

Devanagari script

तेऽपि तन्मुखनिर्यातं यशो लोकमलापहम् । हरेर्निशम्य तत्पादं ध्यायन्तस्तद्गतिं ययु: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

te ’pi tan-mukha-niryātaṁ yaśo loka-malāpaham harer niśamya tat-pādaṁ dhyāyantas tad-gatiṁ yayuḥ

Translation

Al oír de labios de Nārada las glorias de Hari, que disipan toda infortunio del mundo, los Pracetās también se apegaron al Bhagaván. Meditando en Sus pies de loto, alcanzaron el destino supremo.

Synonyms

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya/Anvaya (समुच्चय/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (अपि)

• tat-mukha-niryātam: issued from his mouth
• tat-mukha-niryātam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + niryāta (कृदन्त, nir-√yā)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषण (of yaśaḥ)

• yaśaḥ: glory, fame
• yaśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• loka-mala-apaham: removing the impurity of the world
• loka-mala-apaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + mala (प्रातिपदिक) + apaha (कृदन्त, apa-√han)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषण (of yaśaḥ)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त/ल्यप्), expresses prior action

• tat-pādam: his feet
• tat-pādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषसमासः

• dhyāyantaḥ: meditating
• dhyāyantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with te

• tat-gatim: his path/goal (state)
• tat-gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषसमासः

• yayuḥ: went, attained
• yayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

Purport

Here it is seen that by hearing the glories of the Lord from a realized devotee, the Pracetās easily attained strong attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, meditating on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord at the end of their lives, they advanced to the ultimate goal, Viṣṇuloka. It is sure and certain that anyone who always hears the glories of the Lord and thinks of His lotus feet will reach that supreme destination. As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.65) :

Characters & Entities

• Pracetās
• Lord Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing the glories of Lord Hari?

This verse says Hari’s glory, when heard, removes the impurities of the world and leads the hearer toward the Lord’s supreme destination.

Who attained the Lord’s destination by meditating on His lotus feet in Canto 4?

The Pracetās, after hearing the purifying glories of Hari and meditating on His lotus feet, attained His abode.

How can I apply śravaṇa (hearing) and meditation in modern life according to this shloka?

Regularly hear authentic Hari-kathā and then contemplate the Lord’s lotus feet—turning attention away from impurity and toward devotion and liberation.