Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 2

Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control

Devanagari script

उच्चावचेषु भूतेषु दुर्ज्ञेयमकृतात्मभि: । उपासते त्वां भगवन् याथातथ्येन ब्राह्मणा: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

uccāvaceṣu bhūteṣu durjñeyam akṛtātmabhiḥ upāsate tvāṁ bhagavan yāthā-tathyena brāhmaṇāḥ

Translation

Ô Bhagavān, il est difficile aux cœurs impurs de comprendre que Tu demeures dans toutes les créations, hautes ou basses; pourtant les brāhmaṇas qui connaissent la conclusion védique T’adorent selon la vérité.

Synonyms

• उच्च-अवचेषु: among high and low
• उच्च-अवचेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्च (प्रातिपदिक) + अवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘भूतेषु’ विशेषण; द्वन्द्वः ‘high and low’

• भूतेषु: in beings
• भूतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• दुर्ज्ञेयम्: hard to know
• दुर्ज्ञेयम्: Pradhana-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्/विधेय-योग्य कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्-भाव), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘त्वाम्’ (परमात्मा) प्रति विधेय; अर्थः ‘कठिनं ज्ञातुम्’

• अकृत-आत्मभिः: by the undisciplined (unpurified) persons
• अकृत-आत्मभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकृत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘अकृतात्मन्’ = असंयतचित्त/अशुद्धान्तःकरण; करण (by whom)

• उपासते: worship
• उपासते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• याथा-तथ्येन: with true understanding / as it really is
• याथा-तथ्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याथातथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः ‘यथातथ्येन’ = यथार्थतया; करण

• ब्राह्मणाः: the brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Purport

The behavior of saintly persons is also to be taken as evidence, and therefore it is here stated that although ignorant, impious persons are bewildered before the Lord’s all-pervading feature, those with purified, clear consciousness worship the Lord as He is. In this chapter Śrī Uddhava inquires about the Lord’s opulences, and here the words uccāvaceṣu bhūteṣu (“within superior and inferior creations”) clearly refer to the Lord’s external opulences, those manifested in the material world. The saintly brāhmaṇas, or Vaiṣṇavas, worship Lord Kṛṣṇa within all things and yet recognize the variety in the Lord’s creation. For example, in worshiping the Deity, the devotees will select the nicest flowers, fruits and ornaments for decorating the transcendental form of the Lord. Similarly, although the Lord is present in the heart of every conditioned soul, the devotee will give more attention to a conditioned soul interested in the message of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Although the Lord is everywhere, the devotees make distinctions, for the sake of the Lord’s service, between His presence in superior ( ucca ) and inferior ( avaceṣu ) creations.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Bhagavan (Sri Krishna)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about knowing God with an undisciplined mind?

This verse says the Supreme Lord is difficult to understand for those who have not purified and disciplined the self (akṛtātma), even though He is present within all beings.

Why did Uddhava address Krishna as difficult to know and yet worshiped by brāhmaṇas?

Uddhava contrasts two approaches: speculative or uncontrolled consciousness cannot grasp the Lord, whereas brāhmaṇas—grounded in truthfulness, purity, and scriptural vision—worship Him “as He truly is” (yāthātathyena).

How can I apply yāthātathya worship in modern life according to this shloka?

Cultivate self-discipline and purity (steady mind, regulated habits), and worship Krishna based on authentic teachings—hearing scripture, chanting His names, and aligning life with truth rather than personal projections.