Shloka 57

Arjuna Marries Subhadrā; Kṛṣṇa Honors Two Devotees in Mithilā (Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva)

Devanagari script

तस्माद् ब्रह्मऋषीनेतान् ब्रह्मन् मच्छ्रद्धयार्चय । एवं चेदर्चितोऽस्म्यद्धा नान्यथा भूरिभूतिभि: ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

tasmād brahma-ṛṣīn etān brahman mac-chraddhayārcaya evaṁ ced arcito ’smy addhā nānyathā bhūri-bhūtibhiḥ

Translation

Por eso, oh brāhmaṇa, adora a estos sabios brāhmaṇas con la misma fe con que Me adoras a Mí. Si lo haces, Me adorarás directamente, cosa que no se logra de otro modo, ni siquiera con ofrendas de inmensas riquezas.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात् = ‘therefore/from that reason’ (ablatival adverbial usage)

• ब्रह्मऋषीन्: the brahmarishis (sage-seers)
• ब्रह्मऋषीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; समास: ब्रह्मणः ऋषयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of ब्रह्मऋषीन्

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

• मत्-श्रद्धया: with faith in me / my faith
• मत्-श्रद्धया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: मम श्रद्धा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अर्चय: worship
• अर्चय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त-निपात (conditional particle = ‘if’)

• अर्चितः: (I) having been worshipped
• अर्चितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; ‘having been worshipped’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• अद्धा: certainly
• अद्धा: Nishedha/Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (certainly/indeed)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (otherwise)

• भूरि-भूतिभिः: with abundant opulences
• भूरि-भूतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन; समास: भूरिः भूति: (कर्मधारय) = ‘abundant prosperities’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmarṣis
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping sages and devotees?

This verse teaches that honoring Brahmarṣis with faith in Kṛṣṇa is itself direct worship of Kṛṣṇa; devotion is expressed through reverence to His saintly devotees.

Why did Krishna say to worship the Brahmarishis instead of offering Him opulent gifts?

Kṛṣṇa emphasizes that He is pleased most by faithful honor shown to saintly sages; mere material grandeur cannot replace sincere devotional reverence and proper dharmic conduct.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Serve and respect genuine sādhus, teachers, and sincere devotees; support dharmic learning and spiritual communities with humility and faith rather than relying only on display, wealth, or status.