Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17

Bhāgavatam Mahimā — The Glory, Measure, Transmission, and Gift of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

क्षेत्राणां चैव सर्वेषां यथा काशी ह्यनुत्तमा । तथा पुराणव्रातानां श्रीमद्भ‍ागवतं द्विजा: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

kṣetrāṇāṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ yathā kāśī hy anuttamā tathā purāṇa-vrātānāṁ śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ dvijāḥ

Translation

Ô brāhmaṇa, de même que la cité de Kāśī est sans égale parmi les lieux saints, de même le Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam est suprême parmi tous les Purāṇa.

Synonyms

• क्षेत्राणाम्: of the holy places
• क्षेत्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: 'and')

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle: 'indeed/just')

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: विशेषण (adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies क्षेत्राणाम्)

• यथा: as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/उपमान (Upamā marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• काशी: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• काशी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: 'indeed/for')

• अनुत्तमा: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमा: विशेषण (adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies काशी)

• तथा: so
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्वत्/एवम्-अर्थे (correlative adverb: 'so')

• पुराणव्रातानाम्: of the collections of Purāṇas
• पुराणव्रातानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराणव्रात (प्रातिपदिक) = पुराण + व्रात
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पुराणानां व्रातम्)

• श्रीमद्भागवतम्: the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
• श्रीमद्भागवतम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमद्भागवत (प्रातिपदिक) = श्रीमत् + भागवत
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (श्रीमत् भागवतम्)

• द्विजाः: O brāhmaṇas (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative sense in address)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta Gosvāmī
• Śaunaka
• Naimiṣāraṇya brāhmaṇas

FAQs

Why is Śrīmad Bhāgavatam called the best Purāṇa?

This verse declares it “unsurpassed” among Purāṇas and religious observances, placing it at the highest position for spiritual benefit and devotion.

What does the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam say about the glory of holy places like Kāśī?

It acknowledges Kāśī as foremost among sacred places, then uses that well-known standard to illustrate the even greater, unrivaled status of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam among sacred texts and practices.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life as a spiritual practice?

Prioritize regular hearing/reading of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam as a central sādhana—treating it as a primary vow—so devotion and clarity steadily deepen.