Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 38

Parīkṣit’s Vow on the Gaṅgā and the Advent of Śukadeva Gosvāmī

Devanagari script

यच्छ्रोतव्यमथो जप्यं यत्कर्तव्यं नृभि: प्रभो । स्मर्तव्यं भजनीयं वा ब्रूहि यद्वा विपर्ययम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

yac chrotavyam atho japyaṁ yat kartavyaṁ nṛbhiḥ prabho smartavyaṁ bhajanīyaṁ vā brūhi yad vā viparyayam

Translation

主よ、人は何を聴聞し、何をジャパとして唱え、何を行い、何を憶念し、誰をバクティによって礼拝すべきか、また何をしてはならぬか—すべてお説きください。

Synonyms

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• śrotavyam: to be heard
• śrotavyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative)

• atho: and also/then
• atho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय) + u (निपात)
• Form: निपात/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (particle: 'and then/also')

• japyam: to be recited (japa)
• japyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु) + ya (यत्/ण्यत् कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्/ण्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• kartavyam: to be done
• kartavyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• nṛbhiḥ: by men/people
• nṛbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• prabho: O Lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• smartavyam: to be remembered
• smartavyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• bhajanīyam: to be worshipped/served
• bhajanīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु) + anīya (अनीयर् कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अनीयर्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• brūhi: tell (me)
• brūhi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yad: that which
• yad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• viparyayam: the opposite/contrary (course)
• viparyayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viparyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about what one should hear and chant for spiritual progress?

This verse shows Parīkṣit’s essential inquiry: the path is defined by what we hear, chant, remember, and worship—centered on the Lord—along with avoiding the opposite distractions.

Why did King Parikshit ask this question to Shukadeva Goswami?

Facing imminent death, Parīkṣit seeks the most practical and complete spiritual guidance—what to practice (hearing, chanting, remembering, worship) and what to avoid—so his remaining time is perfectly used.

How can I apply śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembering) in modern life?

Prioritize daily hearing of Bhagavatam/Kṛṣṇa-kathā, add simple mantra-japa, and regularly recall the Lord’s names and teachings during routine activities while reducing content that pulls the mind in the opposite direction.