Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 8

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

नैताद‍ृश: परो धर्मो नृणां सद्धर्ममिच्छताम् । न्यासो दण्डस्य भूतेषु मनोवाक्कायजस्य य: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

naitādṛśaḥ paro dharmo nṛṇāṁ sad-dharmam icchatām nyāso daṇḍasya bhūteṣu mano-vāk-kāyajasya yaḥ

Translation

Ceux qui veulent progresser dans la religion la plus élevée sont invités à renoncer à toute envie envers les êtres vivants, par la pensée, la parole et l’acte. Il n’est pas de dharma supérieur à celui-ci.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• etādṛśaḥ: such as this
• etādṛśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to dharmaḥ

• paraḥ: higher/supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to dharmaḥ

• dharmaḥ: dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nṛṇām: of men/for people
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sat: true/good
• sat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक; from √as 'to be')
• Form: Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• dharmam: true dharma
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: sad-dharmam (कर्मधारय; 'true dharma')

• icchatām: of those who desire
• icchatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) used as noun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); 'of those desiring'

• nyāsaḥ: renunciation/laying down
• nyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• daṇḍasya: of violence/punishment (the rod)
• daṇḍasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūteṣu: toward/in relation to living beings
• bhūteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• manas: mind
• manas: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• vāk: speech
• vāk: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• kāya: body
• kāya: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• jasya: arising from mind, speech, and body
• jasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ja (प्रातिपदिक; suffixal element meaning 'born from')
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); compound: mano-vāk-kāya-jasya (तत्पुरुष; 'born of mind, speech, and body') with internal dvandva mano-vāk-kāya

• yaḥ: which/that (renunciation)
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun referring to nyāsaḥ

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the highest dharma?

This verse teaches that the supreme dharma for one seeking true righteousness is to give up harming any living being through mind, speech, or body.

Why does Prahlada Maharaja emphasize nonviolence in Canto 7 Chapter 15?

In his instructions on proper human conduct, Prahlāda highlights that real dharma begins with compassion and restraint—rejecting cruelty not only in actions but also in words and thoughts.

How can I apply “nonviolence in mind, speech, and body” in modern life?

Practice mental goodwill (no hatred), truthful and kind speech (no verbal harm), and compassionate behavior (no exploitation or cruelty), aligning daily life with devotional character.