Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 28

The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच कथमेवं गुणो देश: केन वा भगवन् कृत: । प्रश्न‍मेनं समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि न: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca katham evaṁ guṇo deśaḥ kena vā bhagavan kṛtaḥ praśnam enaṁ samācakṣva paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

Translation

ମହାରାଜ ପରୀକ୍ଷିତ କହିଲେ—ହେ ପରମ ଶକ୍ତିଶାଳୀ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ! ଏହି ସ୍ଥାନ ଏତେ ଗୁଣମୟ ଓ ପ୍ରଭାବଶାଳୀ କିପରି ହେଲା? ଏହାକୁ ଏତେ ଶକ୍ତିମାନ କିଏ କଲା? ଦୟାକରି ଏହି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ; ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ମୋର ଅତ୍ୟଧିକ ଉତ୍ସୁକତା ଅଛି।

Synonyms

• śrī-rājā: the revered king
• śrī-rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound: śrī + rājā (honored king)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• katham: how?
• katham: Prashna (प्रश्न-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय)

• evam: thus, in this way
• evam: Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय)

• guṇaḥ: quality, attribute
• guṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• deśaḥ: place, region
• deśaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kena: by whom/with what
• kena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun; Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय)

• bhagavan: O Lord, O venerable one
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtaḥ: made, created
• kṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रियाविशेष/भूतकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्-प्रत्यय), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with deśaḥ

• praśnam: question
• praśnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• enam: this (one)
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samācakṣva: please explain, tell clearly
• samācakṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); with prefix sam-ā-

• param: great, supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies kautūhalam

• kautūhalam: curiosity, wonder
• kautūhalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kautūhala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निश्चयार्थक/हेतौ-अव्यय)

• naḥ: of us, our
• naḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन) (enclitic form)

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 9.1.28 say about how a place becomes sacred?

It shows Parīkṣit’s inquiry that a land’s special spiritual qualities arise due to a divine cause—someone or something empowered by Bhagavān—prompting the sage to explain the sacred origin.

Why did King Parikshit ask this question to Shukadeva Goswami?

Because the narration described a land with remarkable qualities, and Parīkṣit, eager to understand the divine reason behind such sanctity, asked Śukadeva to clarify its origin.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual life?

It encourages sincere inquiry: when encountering sacred traditions or holy places, ask respectfully about their spiritual source and purpose, and learn from realized teachers rather than assuming or dismissing.