Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 14

Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa

Prelude to Samudra-manthana

Devanagari script

श्रीसूत उवाच सम्पृष्टो भगवानेवं द्वैपायनसुतो द्विजा: । अभिनन्द्य हरेर्वीर्यमभ्याचष्टुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-sūta uvāca sampṛṣṭo bhagavān evaṁ dvaipāyana-suto dvijāḥ abhinandya harer vīryam abhyācaṣṭuṁ pracakrame

Translation

Śrī Sūta dit : Ô brāhmaṇas érudits rassemblés à Naimiṣāraṇya, lorsque Bhagavān Śukadeva Gosvāmī, fils de Dvaipāyana, fut ainsi interrogé par le roi, il le félicita puis entreprit de décrire plus avant les gloires de Śrī Hari, la Personnalité Suprême de Dieu.

Synonyms

• श्री-सूतः: Sūta (honored)
• श्री-सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘श्री’ उपपद-विशेषणेन सह कर्मधारय-समासः

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सम्पृष्टः: having been asked
• सम्पृष्टः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/वर्णन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सम्’ उपसर्ग

• भगवान्: the venerable one
• भगवान्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• द्वैपायन-सुतः: son of Dvaipāyana (Śuka)
• द्वैपायन-सुतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘द्वैपायनस्य सुतः’

• द्विजाः: O brāhmaṇas (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Plural); संबोधनार्थे अपि प्रथमा-बहुवचन-प्रयोगः

• अभिनन्द्य: having praised / having greeted
• अभिनन्द्य: Kriya-hetu/Anubandha (क्रियानुबन्ध/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि+नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); ‘अभि’ उपसर्ग

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• वीर्यम्: prowess, valor
• वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अभ्याचष्टुम्: to narrate / to describe
• अभ्याचष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive of purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+आ+चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तुमुन् (infinitive); उपसर्गौ ‘अभि+आ’

• प्रचक्रमे: began
• प्रचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘प्र’ उपसर्ग

Characters & Entities

• Sūta Gosvāmī
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• Hari

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about beginning Hari-kathā after being questioned?

This verse shows that when asked sincerely, the saintly speaker (Śukadeva) first acknowledges the question and then begins narrating Lord Hari’s glories—highlighting respectful, purposeful transmission of bhakti teachings.

Why does Sūta Gosvāmī mention ‘the son of Dvaipāyana’ here?

Sūta identifies Śukadeva by his lineage—son of Vyāsa (Dvaipāyana)—to honor the disciplic connection and authenticate the narration as coming through the revered Bhagavata paramparā.

Practical application of hearing the ‘vīrya’ (glories) of Hari in modern life?

Make time for attentive śravaṇam—hearing and reflecting on Hari’s qualities and deeds—because it steadies the mind, strengthens devotion, and reorients daily choices toward dharma and spiritual purpose.