Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 66

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

याज्ञवल्‍क्यस्ततो ब्रह्मंश्छन्दांस्यधिगवेषयन् । गुरोरविद्यमानानि सूपतस्थेऽर्कमीश्वरम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

yājñavalkyas tato brahmaṁś chandāṁsy adhi gaveṣayan guror avidyamānāni sūpatasthe ’rkam īśvaram

Translation

О брахман Шаунака, затем Яджнявалкья возжелал обрести новые мантры Яджура, неизвестные даже его духовному учителю. С этой мыслью он сосредоточенно поклонялся могущественному Владыке-Солнцу.

Synonyms

• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Yājñavalkya
• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञवल्क्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ऋषिनाम (proper noun)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/देशवाचक (then)

• ब्रह्मन्: O brāhmaṇa (Śaunaka)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधनपदम्

• छन्दांसि: Vedic meters/hymns
• छन्दांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अधि: thoroughly/over
• अधि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद (upon/over; intensifier with verb)

• गवेषयन्: seeking
• गवेषयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गवेष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गुरोः: of (his) teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अविद्यमानानि: not available/not present
• अविद्यमानानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (निषेध) + विद्यमान (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त ‘विद्यमान’ (being present) with negation; विशेषण छन्दांसि

• सु-उपतस्थे: devoutly worshipped/approached
• सु-उपतस्थे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग) + उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘उपतस्थे’ = he worshipped/approached; ‘सु’ = well/devoutly

• अर्कम्: the Sun (Arka)
• अर्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्कस्य विशेषणरूपेण

Characters & Entities

• Yājñavalkya
• Sūrya (Arka)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about receiving Vedic knowledge beyond one’s guru?

This verse describes Yājñavalkya seeking Vedic mantras not available from his guru and taking shelter of Sūrya, indicating that higher knowledge is ultimately granted by the Lord’s grace when properly approached.

Why did Yājñavalkya approach Sūrya (the Sun-god) in this Bhagavatam verse?

Because he was searching for Vedic hymns that were not obtainable from his teacher, he worshiped and took refuge in Sūrya, acknowledged here as īśvara, the divine controller who can bestow such revelation.

How can a modern student apply the lesson of this shloka in spiritual life?

Honor the guru’s role, yet understand that realization comes by sincere seeking and divine mercy—so practice disciplined study, humility, and prayerful dependence on God for true insight.