Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 9

Ātmā’s Unborn Nature and Fearlessness at Death

Parīkṣit’s Final Instruction

Devanagari script

एवमात्मानमात्मस्थमात्मनैवामृश प्रभो । बुद्ध्यानुमानगर्भिण्या वासुदेवानुचिन्तया ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

evam ātmānam ātma-stham ātmanaivāmṛśa prabho buddhyānumāna-garbhiṇyā vāsudevānucintayā

Translation

О царь, непрестанно размышляя о Верховном Господе Васудеве и применяя ясный, рассудительный разум, тщательно осмысли своё истинное «я» и то, как оно пребывает в материальном теле.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• ātmānam: the Self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• ātma-stham: abiding in the Self
• ātma-stham: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सप्तमी/अधिकरण-सम्बन्धः): आत्मनि स्थितम्; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ātmānam)

• ātmanā: by the Self
• ātmanā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• āmṛśa: contemplate / consider
• āmṛśa: Kriya (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातुः—मृश् (स्पर्शे/परामर्शे: to touch/consider) उपसर्ग-आ (ā-)

• prabho: O Lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• buddhyā: with intellect
• buddhyā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• anumāna-garbhiṇyā: pregnant with inference (inference-based)
• anumāna-garbhiṇyā: Karana (करण/instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anumāna (प्रातिपदिक) + garbhiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: अनुमानेन गर्भिणी (endowed with inference); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of buddhyā)

• vāsudeva-anucintayā: by contemplation of Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-anucintayā: Karana (करण/instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + anucintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावः): वासुदेवस्य अनुचिन्ता; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about realizing the Self through Vāsudeva meditation?

This verse teaches that the indwelling Self is realized by steady remembrance of Vāsudeva, aided by purified intelligence and inner discernment.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize Vāsudeva-anucintā (constant remembrance of Vāsudeva)?

Because in the Bhagavatam’s conclusion, devotion-centered contemplation is presented as the direct, practical means to awaken true self-knowledge and liberation.

How can I apply Vāsudeva-anucintā in modern life?

Keep the mind repeatedly returning to Kṛṣṇa—through japa, hearing/reading Bhagavatam, and remembering Him during daily work—so intelligence becomes spiritually aligned and the heart becomes steady.