Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 28

Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra

Devanagari script

प्राह भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् । ब्रह्मणे भगवत्प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मकल्प उपागते ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

prāha bhāgavataṁ nāma purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam brahmaṇe bhagavat-proktaṁ brahma-kalpa upāgate

Translation

ท่านกล่าวว่า: ปุราณะนามว่า ‘ภาควตะ’ นี้เป็นคัมภีร์ที่เทียบเท่าพรหม; เมื่อเริ่มต้นพรหมกัลป์ พระผู้เป็นเจ้าทรงตรัสไว้แก่พระพรหมาเอง

Synonyms

• prāha: spoke; said
• prāha: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह्/ब्रू)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• bhāgavatam: the Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)
• bhāgavatam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• nāma: named; called
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/naming)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable meaning ‘by name/called’)

• purāṇam: Purāṇa
• purāṇam: Karma (कर्म/appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; apposition to ‘bhāgavatam’

• brahma-sammitam: equal to Brahman/Brahmā; authoritative
• brahma-sammitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + sammita (√mā (मा) + सम्; क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘ब्रह्मणा सम्मितम्/ब्रह्मसमम्’ (equal/approved by Brahmā); क्त-प्रत्यय-भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; qualifies ‘purāṇam’

• brahmaṇe: to Brahmā
• brahmaṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• bhagavat-proktam: spoken by the Lord
• bhagavat-proktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + prokta (pra-√vac (वच्); क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘भगवता प्रोक्तम्’ (spoken by the Lord); क्त-प्रत्यय-भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; qualifies ‘bhāgavatam/purāṇam’

• brahma-kalpe: in the Brahma-kalpa
• brahma-kalpe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (name of a kalpa); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• upāgate: having arrived; when (it) came
• upāgate: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-ā-√gam (गम्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; locative absolute with ‘brahma-kalpe’ = ‘when the Brahma-kalpa had arrived’

Purport

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of the Personality of Godhead. The impersonalist always tries to misrepresent the personal feature of the Lord, not knowing the science of this great knowledge, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is in pursuance of the Vedas and scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead. To learn this science one should take shelter of the representative of Śrī Śukadeva and follow in the footsteps of Mahārāja Parīkṣit without foolishly attempting to interpret, thereby committing a great offense at the feet of the Lord. The dangerous ways of interpretations by the nondevotee class of men have played havoc in understanding the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the careful student should be always alert in this matter if he at all wants to learn the science of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of the Bhagavata Purana?

This verse states that the Bhāgavata Purāṇa is ‘brahma-sammitam’ (authoritative about the Absolute) and that the Supreme Lord Himself spoke it to Brahmā at the start of the Brahma-kalpa.

Why is the Srimad Bhagavatam called ‘brahma-sammitam’?

Because its teachings are aligned with Brahman/ultimate reality and are presented as fully authoritative spiritual knowledge, not merely historical narration.

How can a modern reader apply this verse in daily spiritual life?

By approaching the Bhāgavatam as revealed, trustworthy guidance—studying it with humility and in a disciplic mood, rather than as ordinary literature.