Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

देशान् पुण्यानाश्रयेत मद्भ‍क्तै: साधुभि: श्रितान् । देवासुरमनुष्येषु मद्भ‍क्ताचरितानि च ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

deśān puṇyān āśrayeta mad-bhaktaiḥ sādhubhiḥ śritān devāsura-manuṣyeṣu mad-bhaktācaritāni ca

Translation

Hendaknya seseorang berlindung pada tempat-tempat suci yang dihuni para sadhu bhakta-Ku. Dan hendaknya ia meneladani perbuatan luhur para bhakta-Ku yang tampak di antara para dewa, asura, dan manusia.

Synonyms

• deśān: regions/places
• deśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• puṇyān: holy/sacred
• puṇyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying deśān

• āśrayeta: should resort to/dwell in
• āśrayeta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mad-bhaktaiḥ: by my devotees
• mad-bhaktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: mad = mama (of me) + bhaktaiḥ

• sādhubhiḥ: by the saintly
• sādhubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); appositional with mad-bhaktaiḥ

• śritān: inhabited/resorted to
• śritān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śri (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying deśān

• deva-asura-manuṣyeṣu: among gods, demons, and humans
• deva-asura-manuṣyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• mad-bhakta-ācaritāni: the deeds/conduct of my devotees
• mad-bhakta-ācaritāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + ācarita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: mad-bhakta (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + ācaritāni (things practiced/acts)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Purport

Nārada Muni is one of the great devotees of the Lord who appeared among the demigods. Prahlāda Mahārāja appeared among the demons, and many other great devotees, such as Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and the Pāṇḍavas, appeared among human beings. One should take shelter of the devotees’ exemplary activities and also the holy places where devotees reside. Thus one will remain safe on the path of devotional service.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about holy places and pilgrimage?

This verse says true holy places are those associated with saintly devotees of the Lord; one should take shelter of such sanctified places rather than treating pilgrimage as merely external travel.

Why does Krishna instruct Uddhava to study the deeds of devotees among devas, asuras, and humans?

Krishna emphasizes that devotion can appear in any category of being; remembering devotees’ lives strengthens faith and teaches practical bhakti beyond social or cosmic labels.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Seek genuine association of devotees, visit places enlivened by devotional practice (temples, ashrams, satsanga), and regularly hear/read about devotees’ character and service to deepen bhakti.