Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 51

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाभागो वसुदेवोऽतिविस्मित: । देवकी च महाभागा जहतुर्मोहमात्मन: ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca etac chrutvā mahā-bhāgo vasudevo ’ti-vismitaḥ devakī ca mahā-bhāgā jahatur moham ātmanaḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī dit : Ayant entendu ce récit, le très fortuné Vasudeva fut saisi d’un profond émerveillement. Et, avec la bienheureuse Devakī, tous deux abandonnèrent l’illusion et l’inquiétude entrées dans leur cœur.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीः + शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• एतत्: this (thing)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• महाभागः: greatly fortunate
• महाभागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् + भागः)

• वसुदेवः: Vasudeva
• वसुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अति-विस्मितः: greatly astonished
• अति-विस्मितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिविस्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—अव्ययीभाव (अति + विस्मितः)

• देवकी: Devakī
• देवकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाभागा: greatly fortunate
• महाभागा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् + भागः)

• जहतुः: they two abandoned
• जहतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन

• मोहम्: delusion
• मोहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of themselves
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Vasudeva
• Devakī

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe the removal of illusion (moha)?

This verse states that simply by hearing transcendental truth, Vasudeva and Devakī gave up moha—showing that śravaṇam (hearing) awakens clarity and dissolves delusion.

Why were Vasudeva and Devaki astonished in Bhagavatam Canto 11 Chapter 5?

They were overwhelmed upon hearing profound spiritual instruction, and that realization caused their internal confusion to fall away.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

Regularly hearing authentic Bhagavatam teachings from a genuine source can reduce mental confusion and strengthen spiritual conviction.