Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23

Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama

Devanagari script

एष तेऽभिहित: कृत्‍स्‍नो ब्रह्मवादस्य सङ्ग्रह: । समासव्यासविधिना देवानामपि दुर्गम: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

eṣa te ’bhihitaḥ kṛtsno brahma-vādasya saṅgrahaḥ samāsa-vyāsa-vidhinā devānām api durgamaḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ഞാൻ നിന്നോട് സംക്ഷേപത്തിലും വിശദമായും പരമസത്യത്തിന്റെ ശാസ്ത്രമായ ബ്രഹ്മവാദത്തിന്റെ സമ്പൂർണ്ണ സാരം പറഞ്ഞു; ഈ വിജ്ഞാനം ദേവന്മാർക്കും പോലും ദുർഗമമാണ്।

Synonyms

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश (this)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (to you/for you)

• abhihitaḥ: has been spoken
• abhihitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-dhā (धातु) → abhihita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'said/told'

• kṛtsnaḥ: entire
• kṛtsnaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying eṣaḥ/saṅgrahaḥ)

• brahma-vādasya: of the discourse on Brahman
• brahma-vādasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ (brahma-vāda = discourse on Brahman); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• saṅgrahaḥ: summary
• saṅgrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅgraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विषय (summary/compendium)

• samāsa-vyāsa-vidhinā: by the method of summary and elaboration
• samāsa-vyāsa-vidhinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (samāsa-vyāsa = concise and detailed exposition) + तत्पुरुष (vidhinā = by the method); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (even for the gods)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-निपात (even/also)

• durgamaḥ: hard to reach/understand
• durgamaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-gama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying saṅgrahaḥ)

Purport

The word devānām indicates those living beings in the mode of goodness (such as demigods, saints and pious philosophers) who nevertheless cannot understand the Absolute Truth because they lack full surrender to the Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the essence of spiritual knowledge (brahma-vada)?

In this verse, Krishna states that He has given Uddhava the complete summary of brahma-vada—the essential conclusion of spiritual truth—presented in both concise and detailed ways.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11 Chapter 29?

Krishna is concluding and emphasizing the weight of His instruction to Uddhava (Uddhava Gita), affirming that the teaching is the full essence of transcendental knowledge—subtle and hard to comprehend even for the devas.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Approach spiritual study with humility and perseverance: even exalted beings struggle to grasp the highest truth, so consistent hearing, reflection, and devotion are essential rather than casual or purely intellectual reading.