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Shloka 34

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

श्रीराजोवाच नारायणाभिधानस्य ब्रह्मण: परमात्मन: । निष्ठामर्हथ नो वक्तुं यूयं हि ब्रह्मवित्तमा: ॥ ३४ ॥

śrī-rājovāca nārāyaṇābhidhānasya brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ niṣṭhām arhatha no vaktuṁ yūyaṁ hi brahma-vittamāḥ

ശ്രീരാജാവ് (നിമി) പറഞ്ഞു—നാരായണൻ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന പരബ്രഹ്മൻ, സർവ്വരുടെയും പരമാത്മാവായ അവന്റെ പരമസ്ഥിതി/നിഷ്ഠ ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് വിശദീകരിക്കണമേ. നിങ്ങൾ എല്ലാവരും ബ്രഹ്മതത്ത്വത്തിൽ പരമവിദഗ്ധരാണ്; അതിനാൽ പറയാൻ യോഗ്യർ നിങ്ങൾ തന്നെയാണ്.

śrī-rājāthe revered king
śrī-rājā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘śrī’ उपपद-विशेषण (honorific)
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
nārāyaṇa-abhidhānasyaof (the one) named Nārāyaṇa
nārāyaṇa-abhidhānasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeAdjective
Rootnārāyaṇa + abhidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘नारायण’ इति अभिधानं यस्य (having the name ‘Nārāyaṇa’)
brahmaṇaḥof Brahman
brahmaṇaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
paramātmanaḥof the Supreme Self
paramātmanaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootparama + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
niṣṭhāmsteadfast devotion / firm establishment
niṣṭhām:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootniṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
arhathayou are worthy / please (be able to)
arhatha:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootarh (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
naḥto us / for us
naḥ:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन-रूप (enclitic); ‘our/to us’ (contextually dative sense)
vaktumto speak
vaktum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (Infinitive)
yūyamyou
yūyam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/causal nuance
brahma-vittamāḥthe best knowers of Brahman
brahma-vittamāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘वित्’ (knower) + तमप् (superlative)

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, in the previous verse the sages informed the King, nārāyaṇa-paro māyām añjas tarati dustarām: simply by unalloyed devotion to Lord Nārāyaṇa, one can very easily cross over the ocean of material illusion. Therefore, in this verse the King is requesting specific information about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa. It is significant in this verse that the King refers to the Supreme Lord as Nārāyaṇa, Brahman and Paramātmā. Although King Nimi is already understood to be a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by his question he wants to clarify that the Personality of Godhead is the highest transcendental truth. In the Bhāgavatam (1.2.11) :

N
Nārāyaṇa
K
King Nimi
T
the nine Yogendras (Navayogendras)

FAQs

This verse shows that true spiritual progress requires niṣṭhā—firm, unwavering establishment in devotion to Nārāyaṇa, who is both Brahman and Paramātmā, and that such guidance should be taken from realized knowers of the Absolute.

In the dialogue with the Navayogendras (great Brahman-realized sages), King Nimi requests authoritative instruction on how to become firmly fixed in the Supreme Lord, recognizing them as brahma-vittamāḥ—supremely qualified teachers.

Seek guidance from genuine realized devotees, choose a consistent daily practice (hearing, chanting, remembrance), and remain steady through life’s changes by anchoring the mind in the Supreme as the ultimate shelter.