Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 22

Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari

Gajendra Prelude

Devanagari script

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनयो ये धृतव्रता: । अन्वशिक्षन्व्रतं तस्य कौमारब्रह्मचारिण: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭāśīti-sahasrāṇi munayo ye dhṛta-vratāḥ anvaśikṣan vrataṁ tasya kaumāra-brahmacāriṇaḥ

Translation

Vibhu demeura brahmacārī toute sa vie et ne se maria jamais. De lui, quatre-vingt-huit mille munis aux vœux fermes reçurent l’enseignement de la maîtrise de soi, de l’austérité et d’autres disciplines.

Synonyms

• aṣṭāśīti-sahasrāṇi: eighty-eight thousand
• aṣṭāśīti-sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—numerical count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭāśīti (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• dhṛta-vratāḥ: having taken vows
• dhṛta-vratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धृ धातु) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (those who have undertaken vows)

• anvaśikṣan: taught/instructed
• anvaśikṣan: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + śikṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग ‘अनु’ (taught/followingly instructed)

• vratam: the vow/observance
• vratam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tasya: of him/of that (Lord Vibhu)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• kaumāra-brahmacāriṇaḥ: celibate students from boyhood
• kaumāra-brahmacāriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition to munayaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘कौमार’ (from boyhood) qualifying brahmacārin

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about brahmacharya and strict vows?

This verse highlights that vast numbers of sages, steady in discipline, followed and propagated the vow of lifelong celibacy (kaumāra-brahmacarya), showing brahmacharya as a revered spiritual standard.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 8.1.22 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to King Parīkṣit, describing the power and influence of a great vow embraced from childhood and upheld by many sages.

How can brahmacharya be applied in modern life according to this shloka?

Even without adopting lifelong celibacy, one can practice disciplined self-control, purity of conduct, and commitment to a spiritual vow—then strengthen others by example and guidance.