Shloka 25

Karmic Aspirations, Demigod Worship, and the Supreme Duty of Bhakti

Hari-kathā as Life’s True Gain

Devanagari script

अथाभिधेह्यङ्ग मनोऽनुकूलं प्रभाषसे भागवतप्रधान: । यदाह वैयासकिरात्मविद्या- विशारदो नृपतिं साधु पृष्ट: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

athābhidhehy aṅga mano-’nukūlaṁ prabhāṣase bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ yad āha vaiyāsakir ātma-vidyā- viśārado nṛpatiṁ sādhu pṛṣṭaḥ

Translation

ఓ సూత గోస్వామీ, మీరు భాగవతప్రధానులు; మీ వాక్యాలు మా మనస్సుకు అనుకూలంగా ఉన్నాయి. దయచేసి ఆత్మవిద్యలో నిపుణుడైన మహాభక్తుడు శుకదేవ గోస్వామి, సద్విధంగా ప్రశ్నించబడినప్పుడు మహారాజు పరీక్షిత్తుకు చెప్పినదానిని మాకు వివరించండి।

Synonyms

• atha: now/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (अनन्तर-अव्यय)

• abhidhehi: tell/declare
• abhidhehi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhā (अभि√धा धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• aṅga: O dear (sir)
• aṅga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṅga (अव्यय)
• Form: Vocative particle (सम्बोधन-अव्यय)

• manaḥ-anukūlam: pleasing to the mind
• manaḥ-anukūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + anukūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial accusative: 'agreeably to the mind'

• prabhāṣase: you speak
• prabhāṣase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√bhāṣ (प्र√भाष् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ: chief among devotees
• bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (object of 'abhidhehi')

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaiyāsakiḥ: Vaiyāsaki (Śuka)
• vaiyāsakiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiyāsaki (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātma-vidyā-viśāradaḥ: skilled in self-knowledge
• ātma-vidyā-viśāradaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'vaiyāsakiḥ'

• nṛpatim: the king
• nṛpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sādhu: properly/well
• sādhu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रयोग)
• Form: Adverb (रीति-अव्यय)

• pṛṣṭaḥ: asked (by the king)
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √prach (प्रच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'vaiyāsakiḥ'

Purport

Knowledge explained by the previous ācārya like Śukadeva Gosvāmī and followed by the next like Sūta Gosvāmī is always powerful transcendental knowledge, and it is therefore penetrating and useful to all submissive students.

Characters & Entities

• Suta Gosvami
• Saunaka Rishi
• Shukadeva Gosvami (Vaiyasaki)
• Vyasa
• King Parikshit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing from a pure devotee?

This verse emphasizes approaching and hearing from a foremost Bhāgavata (pure devotee), because such a speaker can faithfully convey the liberating teachings spoken by Śukadeva to King Parīkṣit.

Why did Suta Gosvami say this to the sages at Naimisharanya?

The sages wanted the essence of Bhāgavata wisdom; Sūta, recognizing their sincere inquiry, is asked to recount exactly what Śukadeva—expert in self-knowledge—taught Parīkṣit when questioned properly.

Practical application of Bhagavatam hearing in modern life?

Seek authentic teachers and regularly hear Srimad Bhagavatam with sincere questions; this cultivates clarity, steadiness of mind, and devotion—especially valuable amid Kali Yuga distractions.