Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

येषु येषु च भूतेषु भक्त्या त्वां परमर्षय: । उपासीना: प्रपद्यन्ते संसिद्धिं तद् वदस्व मे ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

yeṣu yeṣu ca bhūteṣu bhaktyā tvāṁ paramarṣayaḥ upāsīnāḥ prapadyante saṁsiddhiṁ tad vadasva me

Translation

Dis-moi, je T’en prie, quelles perfections obtiennent les grands sages en T’adorant avec dévotion; et explique aussi quelles formes de Toi ils vénèrent.

Synonyms

• येषु: in which (among)
• येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ (in whichever)

• येषु: in which (in whichever)
• येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-सम्बन्धक (conjunction)

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

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

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

• परम-ऋषयः: the great sages
• परम-ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘परम’ विशेषणपूर्वकः

• उपासीनाः: worshipping, engaged in worship
• उपासीनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु) → उपासीन (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण ‘परमर्षयः’

• प्रपद्यन्ते: attain, reach, take refuge (here: attain)
• प्रपद्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• संसिद्धिम्: perfect accomplishment
• संसिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘वदस्व’ कर्म (that [method/thing])

• वदस्व: tell (please)
• वदस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी (4th/6th), एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to me)

Purport

Śrī Uddhava here inquires about the spiritual opulences of the Lord, which consist primarily of His viṣṇu-tattva expansions such as Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. By worshiping different plenary expansions of the Lord one achieves particular perfections, and Śrī Uddhava wants to know about this.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Sri Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attaining perfection through bhakti?

This verse states that great sages attain complete perfection (saṁsiddhi) by worshiping the Lord with devotion and fully taking shelter of Him.

Why did Uddhava ask Krishna about where devotion succeeds?

In the Uddhava-gītā context (Canto 11), Uddhava seeks clear guidance on how devotion works—how worship and surrender to Krishna lead to spiritual perfection.

Practical application of surrender (prapadyante) in modern life?

Offer your actions and decisions to God with devotion—serve sincerely, reduce ego-driven motives, and consistently take refuge in divine guidance through prayer, study, and steady practice.