Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 27

Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच एतां मन्त्रोपनिषदं प्रतीच्छ प्रयतो मम । यां धारयन् सप्तरात्राद् द्रष्टा सङ्कर्षणं विभुम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca etāṁ mantropaniṣadaṁ pratīccha prayato mama yāṁ dhārayan sapta-rātrād draṣṭā saṅkarṣaṇaṁ vibhum

Translation

శ్రీనారదుడు పలికెను—ఓ రాజా, నా నుండి ఈ పరమ మంగళకరమైన మంత్రోపనిషత్తును శ్రద్ధతో స్వీకరించు. దీనిని ధారణచేస్తే ఏడు రాత్రుల్లోనే నీవు విభువైన సంకర్షణ ప్రభువును ప్రత్యక్షంగా దర్శిస్తావు।

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Śrī Nārada
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् नारदः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; perfect 3rd person singular

• etām: this
• etām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine (qualifying upaniṣadam)

• mantra-upaniṣadam: the mantra-upaniṣad (esoteric instruction)
• mantra-upaniṣadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + upaniṣad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मन्त्ररूपा उपनिषद्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine

• pratīccha: accept/receive
• pratīccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√i (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperative 2nd person singular

• prayataḥ: being attentive/controlled
• prayataḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine (addressed: ‘being disciplined/attentive’)

• mama: from me
• mama: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive singular ‘of me/from me’

• yām: which
• yām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun accusative singular feminine (referring to upaniṣad)

• dhārayan: holding (it)
• dhārayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; present active participle nominative singular masculine ‘holding/retaining’

• sapta-rātrāt: after seven nights
• sapta-rātrāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (सप्त रात्राः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार), पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative singular neuter ‘after seven nights’

• draṣṭā: (you will be) the seer
• draṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (तृच्), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; agent noun ‘seer’, nominative singular masculine

• saṅkarṣaṇam: Saṅkarṣaṇa
• saṅkarṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkarṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• vibhum: the all-powerful
• vibhum: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular masculine qualifying saṅkarṣaṇam

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Saṅkarṣaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about receiving a mantra from a spiritual teacher?

This verse shows Nārada instructing that a mantra-upaniṣad should be accepted with discipline and purity, emphasizing respectful reception and steady practice to attain divine realization.

Why did Nārada Muni give this mantra-upaniṣad and promise darśana of Saṅkarṣaṇa?

In the narrative, Nārada guides the seeker toward direct spiritual vision; he teaches that focused mantra practice, done with self-control, culminates in experiencing the Lord’s presence—here, Saṅkarṣaṇa.

How can a modern devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in daily life?

Practice a received mantra consistently with sincerity, regulated habits, and attentive mind; the verse highlights that disciplined devotion—not haste—leads to deeper spiritual experience.