Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 8

Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana

Devanagari script

अहं च तद्ब्रह्मकुले ऊषिवांस्तदुपेक्षया । दिग्देशकालाव्युत्पन्नो बालक: पञ्चहायन: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

ahaṁ ca tad-brahma-kule ūṣivāṁs tad-upekṣayā dig-deśa-kālāvyutpanno bālakaḥ pañca-hāyanaḥ

Translation

私はまだ五歳の幼子で、バラモンの学舎に住んでいた。母の愛情に頼りきりで、諸国の方角や時の移ろいを知る経験はなかった。

Synonyms

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (that)

• ब्रह्मकुले: in a brāhmaṇa family
• ब्रह्मकुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्राह्मणानां कुलम्)

• ऊषिवान्: having lived
• ऊषिवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Perfect active participle/क्वसु), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having dwelt’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/deictic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• उपेक्षया: by neglect/through disregard
• उपेक्षया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपेक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दिग्देशकालाव्युत्पन्नः: untrained in direction, place, and time
• दिग्देशकालाव्युत्पन्नः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिक् + देश + काल + अ-व्युत्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: दिग्देशकालेषु अव्युत्पन्नः (untrained in directions, places, time)

• बालकः: a boy
• बालकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पञ्चहायनः: five years old
• पञ्चहायनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + हायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

Characters & Entities

• Narada Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about starting bhakti from childhood?

This verse shows Narada describing himself as only five years old and untrained, indicating that spiritual destiny can begin even very early, despite external disadvantages.

Why did Narada Muni mention being neglected by the brāhmaṇas?

He highlights that his position was humble and unsupported; his later spiritual elevation came not from social privilege but from providence and subsequent association with saints.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Even if one feels inexperienced or unsupported, sincere association with devotees and steady practice can transform one’s life; beginnings do not determine the final spiritual outcome.