Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 5

Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच बाढमुक्तं भगवत उत्तमश्लोकस्य श्रीमच्चरणारविन्दमकरन्दरस आवेशितचेतसो भागवतपरमहंस दयितकथां किञ्चिदन्तरायविहतां स्वां शिवतमां पदवीं न प्रायेण हिन्वन्ति ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca bāḍham uktaṁ bhagavata uttamaślokasya śrīmac-caraṇāravinda-makaranda-rasa āveśita-cetaso bhāgavata-paramahaṁsa-dayita-kathāṁ kiñcid antarāya-vihatāṁ svāṁ śivatamāṁ padavīṁ na prāyeṇa hinvanti.

Translation

ศรีศุกเทวะกล่าวว่า “ที่ท่านกล่าวนั้นถูกต้องแล้ว พระสิริของพระภควานผู้ทรงได้รับสรรเสริญด้วยบทกวีทิพย์ เป็นที่รื่นรมย์ยิ่งแก่ผู้ภักดีใหญ่และผู้หลุดพ้น ผู้ที่จิตแนบแน่นในน้ำผึ้งอมฤตแห่งดอกบัวพระบาท แม้บางคราวถูกขัดขวางด้วยอุปสรรค ก็ยังไม่ละทิ้งฐานะอันประเสริฐที่ตนได้บรรลุ”

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: श्री-शुक (honorific + name)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बाढम्: indeed/very well
• बाढम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाढम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic adverb)

• उक्तम्: spoken/said
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि क्त (past passive participle)

• भगवता: by you, O venerable one
• भगवता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उत्तमश्लोकस्य: of the Lord of excellent fame
• उत्तमश्लोकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम + श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: उत्तम-श्लोक (whose praise is excellent)

• श्रीमद्-चरण-अरविन्द-मकरन्द-रसः: the nectar of the pollen of the glorious lotus-feet
• श्रीमद्-चरण-अरविन्द-मकरन्द-रसः: Ālambana/Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमद् + चरण + अरविन्द + मकरन्द + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास-श्रृंखला (determinative): ‘the nectar-juice of the pollen of the lotus-feet (glorious)’

• आवेशित-चेतसः: of those whose minds are absorbed
• आवेशित-चेतसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवेशित (कृदन्त; √विश्/आ√विश् धातु, क्त) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: आवेशित-चेतस् = ‘whose minds are absorbed’; षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (qualifying the following group)

• भागवत-परमहंस-दयित-कथाम्: the beloved discourse of the Bhāgavata paramahaṁsas
• भागवत-परमहंस-दयित-कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत + परमहंस + दयित + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: ‘the beloved narration of the Bhāgavata paramahaṁsas’

• किञ्चित्: slightly/somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: परिमाणार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘somewhat’)

• अन्तराय-विहताम्: hindered by some obstacle
• अन्तराय-विहताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तराय + विहत (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु, वि+क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: अन्तराय-विहत = ‘obstructed by impediment’; विशेषण of कथाम्

• स्वाम्: their own
• स्वाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of पदवीम्

• शिवतमाम्: most auspicious
• शिवतमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative)

• पदवीम्: path/state
• पदवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• प्रायेण: generally
• प्रायेण: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘generally/for the most part’)

• हिन्वन्ति: they give up/abandon
• हिन्वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हि (धातु; ‘to impel/abandon’), causative sense in usage
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī accepted both of the King’s propositions — that a person who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot embrace materialistic life again and that one who has embraced materialistic life cannot take up Kṛṣṇa consciousness at any stage of his existence. Although accepting both these statements, Śukadeva Gosvāmī qualified them by saying that a person who has once absorbed his mind in the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead may sometimes be influenced by impediments but he still does not give up his exalted devotional position.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Uttamaśloka (Śrī Bhagavān)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about continuing bhakti despite obstacles?

This verse says that exalted devotees absorbed in the nectar of the Lord’s lotus feet generally do not abandon their auspicious devotional path even when their beloved hearing and speaking about Him is temporarily interrupted.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize the Lord’s lotus feet and ‘paramahaṁsas’ here?

He highlights that the highest devotees (bhāgavata-paramahaṁsas) are sustained by deep inner absorption in the Lord (Uttamaśloka). Because their attachment is to the Lord Himself, external interruptions cannot easily divert them from bhakti.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when my spiritual routine gets disrupted?

Treat disruptions as temporary: return to hearing, chanting, and remembrance as soon as possible, keeping your inner connection primary. Steadiness grows by repeatedly re-centering the mind on the Lord rather than waiting for perfect conditions.