Shloka 12

Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear

Devanagari script

एतदन्यच्च सर्वं मे मुने कृष्णविचेष्टितम् । वक्तुमर्हसि सर्वज्ञ श्रद्दधानाय विस्तृतम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

etad anyac ca sarvaṁ me mune kṛṣṇa-viceṣṭitam vaktum arhasi sarvajña śraddadhānāya vistṛtam

Translation

ਹੇ ਮੁਨੀ! ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਇਹ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਲੀਲਾਵਾਂ, ਹੇ ਸਰਵਜ੍ਞ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵਿਸਥਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਕਹਿਣ ਯੋਗ ਹੋ। ਮੈਂ ਪੂਰੀ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਣਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ; ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਵਿਸਤ੍ਰਿਤ ਵਰਣਨ ਕਰੋ।

Synonyms

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (coordinated with एतत्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (and)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मे: to me / my
• मे: सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (to/for me; possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (enclitic)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• कृष्णविचेष्टितम्: the deeds of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णविचेष्टितम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विचेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('Kṛṣṇa's deeds')

• वक्तुम्: to tell
• वक्तुम्: प्रयोजन (purpose complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → वक्तुम् (कृदन्त, तुमुन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), 'to speak/tell'

• अर्हसि: you are able/ought
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• श्रद्दधानाय: for (me) who is faithful
• श्रद्दधानाय: सम्प्रदान (recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्दधान (प्रातिपदिक; शतृ-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied 'me')

• विस्तृतम्: in detail/expanded
• विस्तृतम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+स्तृ (धातु) → विस्तृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of कथनम्/वर्णनम् implied or of कृष्णविचेष्टितम्)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing Krishna’s pastimes (Krishna-katha)?

This verse shows that a faithful listener should hear Kṛṣṇa’s līlās in detail from a realized, all-knowing sage—hearing is treated as a primary path of bhakti (śravaṇam).

Why did King Parikshit ask Shukadeva Goswami to speak Krishna’s pastimes in detail?

Because Parīkṣit, facing imminent death, sought complete spiritual fulfillment through devoted hearing; he recognized Śukadeva as qualified (sarva-jña) to narrate Kṛṣṇa’s divine activities expansively.

Practical application of shraddha (faith) from this shloka in modern life?

Approach authentic scripture with receptive faith, choose trustworthy teachers, and commit to consistent listening/reading of Krishna-katha to deepen devotion and clarity.