Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 22

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship

Devanagari script

तत्र भागवतान् धर्मान् शिक्षेद् गुर्वात्मदैवत: । अमाययानुवृत्त्या यैस्तुष्येदात्मात्मदोहरि: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

tatra bhāgavatān dharmān śikṣed gurv-ātma-daivataḥ amāyayānuvṛttyā yais tuṣyed ātmātma-do hariḥ

Translation

そこで弟子は、グルを自らの命であり礼拝すべき神と受け取り、彼からバ―ガヴァタの法、すなわち純粋なバクティ奉仕の道を学ぶべきである。偽りなく、信と好意ある態度で主に仕え、万魂の魂であるハリを満足させよ。ハリは満足すると、清浄な帰依者に御自身を授けられる。

Synonyms

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: ‘there/in that context’)

• bhāgavatān: devotional (pertaining to Bhagavān)
• bhāgavatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘dharmān’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• dharmān: duties/principles
• dharmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• śikṣet: should learn
• śikṣet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śikṣ (धातु; शिक्ष् ‘to learn/teach’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थ (should)

• guru-ātma-daivataḥ: one who regards the guru as his very self and deity
• guru-ātma-daivataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (गुरुः एव आत्मा एव दैवतं—sense of apposition; karmadhāraya-like within tatpuruṣa), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपदेशक-कर्ता (the one whose guru is his very self-deity)

• amāyayā: with sincerity (without deceit)
• amāyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-māyā (प्रातिपदिक; negated māyā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; निःकपटतया (with non-deceit/sincerity)

• anuvṛttyā: by faithful following/service
• anuvṛttyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक; from anu-√vṛt)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• yaiḥ: by which
• yaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे ‘dharmān’ प्रति (by which [dharmas])

• tuṣyet: may be pleased
• tuṣyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tuṣ (धातु; तुष् ‘to be pleased’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘may/should be pleased’

• ātma-ātma-daḥ: the bestower of the (true) self
• ātma-ātma-daḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक; from √dā ‘to give’)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः आत्मा दः—‘giver of the self to the self’ / ‘bestower of the true self’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘hariḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• hariḥ: Hari (the Lord)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Purport

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī the Lord’s tendency to give Himself to His pure devotee is demonstrated in the case of Bali Mahārāja, who sacrificed his universal kingdom for the pleasure of Lord Vāmanadeva. Lord Vāmana was so pleased by the selfless surrender of Bali Mahārāja that the Lord became the doorman in the palace of Bali, who was reinstalled as a great leader in the universe.

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Uddhava
• Guru

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about learning bhagavata-dharma from a guru?

This verse says one should learn bhāgavata-dharma by honoring the guru as worshipable and as one’s own very self, and by following the teachings sincerely.

Why did Krishna say to follow without duplicity (amāyayā) in the Uddhava Gita?

Because devotion matures through honest, non-deceptive practice; such straightforward following is what truly satisfies Lord Hari.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life as a devotee?

Choose authentic guidance, practice consistently (japa, hearing, service), avoid show or pretense, and measure progress by increased humility and sincerity rather than external display.