Shloka 20

Nārada’s Arrival, the Nine Yogendras, and the Foundations of Bhāgavata-dharma

Devanagari script

नवाभवन् महाभागा मुनयो ह्यर्थशंसिन: । श्रमणा वातरसना आत्मविद्याविशारदा: ॥ २० ॥ कविर्हविरन्तरीक्ष: प्रबुद्ध: पिप्पलायन: । आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमस: करभाजन: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

navābhavan mahā-bhāgā munayo hy artha-śaṁsinaḥ śramaṇā vāta-rasanā ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ

Translation

మిగిలిన తొమ్మిది మంది కుమారులు మహాభాగ్యశాలి మునులు—పరమార్థాన్ని ప్రకటించేవారు, శ్రమణులు, దిగంబరులు, ఆత్మవిద్యలో విశారదులు. వారి పేర్లు: కవి, హవి, అంతరీక్ష, ప్రబుద్ధ, పిప్పలాయన, ఆవిర్హోత్ర, ద్రుమిల, చమస, కరభాజన.

Synonyms

• नव: nine
• नव: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (Plural) — ‘मुनयः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अभवन्: were, became
• अभवन्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महाभागाः: greatly fortunate, illustrious
• महाभागाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of ‘मुनयः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक; महा + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः (महान् भागः यस्य)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle/emphasis)

• अर्थशंसिनः: proclaiming the truth/meaning (benefit)
• अर्थशंसिनः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of ‘मुनयः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ-शंसिन् (प्रातिपदिक; अर्थ + शंसिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (अर्थं शंसन्ति)

• श्रमणाः: ascetics, renunciants
• श्रमणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वातरसनाः: clad in air (naked)
• वातरसनाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of ‘श्रमणाः/मुनयः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात-रसन (प्रातिपदिक; वात + रसन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुव्रीहिः (वातः एव रसनं/वस्त्रं येषाम्)

• आत्मविद्याविशारदाः: expert in self-knowledge
• आत्मविद्याविशारदाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of ‘मुनयः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्म-विद्या-विशारद (प्रातिपदिक; आत्म + विद्या + विशारद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (आत्मविद्यायां विशारदाः)

Purport

Nimi, the King of Videha, asked the following nine questions of the nine Yogendras, the saintly sons of Ṛṣabha. (1) What is the highest good? (Chapter Two, verse 30); (2) What are the religious principles ( dharma ), natural proclivities ( svabhāva ), behavior ( ācāra ), speech ( vākya ) and outward symptoms ( lakṣaṇa ) of a bhāgavata, a Vaiṣṇava devotee of the Lord? (2.44); (3) What is the external energy of Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord? (3.1); (4) How can one become dissociated from this māyā ? (3.17); (5)What is the true identity of Brahman? (3.34); (6) What are the three types of karma, namely karma based on the enjoyment of the fruits of work, karma offered to the Supreme Lord, and naiṣkarmya ? (3.41); (7) What are the various pastimes of the various incarnations of God? (4.1); (8) What is the aim or destination of one who is against the Supreme Lord and devoid of bhakti (in other words, a nondevotee)? (5.1); and (9)What are the respective colors, forms and names of the four yugāvatāras, the four incarnations of the Supreme Lord who appear in the four ages, and what is the process of worshiping each of Them? (5.19).

Characters & Entities

• Nine Yogendras

FAQs

Who are the Nine Yogendras in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11?

This verse introduces them as nine exalted sages—renunciants expert in ātma-vidyā—who speak only what is truly beneficial.

What does 'vātaraśanāḥ' mean in Bhagavatam 11.2.20?

It means “clad by the wind,” indicating they were naked ascetics, emphasizing complete renunciation and detachment.

Practical application of 'speaking only what is beneficial' from Bhagavatam 11.2.20?

Adopt speech that is truthful, purposeful, and spiritually uplifting—avoid talk that increases distraction, ego, or harm.