Shloka 9

Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)

Devanagari script

तत्र तत्राञ्जसायुष्मन् भवता यद्विनिश्चितम् । पुंसामेकान्तत: श्रेयस्तन्न: शंसितुमर्हसि ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tatra tatrāñjasāyuṣman bhavatā yad viniścitam puṁsām ekāntataḥ śreyas tan naḥ śaṁsitum arhasi

Translation

ข้าแต่ท่านผู้มีอายุยืน โปรดอธิบายแก่พวกเราโดยง่ายว่า สิ่งใดที่ท่านได้วินิจฉัยแล้วว่าเป็นความดีสูงสุดและที่สุดสำหรับมนุษย์ทั่วไป

Synonyms

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय) ‘there/therein’

• tatra: in each (place/context)
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरुक्ति for distributive sense)

• añjasā: directly
• añjasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: añjas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial instrumental (तृतीया-अर्थे अव्ययीभूत), ‘straightforwardly/directly’

• āyuṣman: O long-lived one
• āyuṣman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyuṣmant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavatā: by you
• bhavatā: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument ‘by you’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun-like honorific (भवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: that which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Neuter (नपुंसक), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• viniścitam: ascertained/decided
• viniścitam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ni-√ci (धातु) → viniścita (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसक), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate of ‘yat’

• puṁsām: of men/people
• puṁsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṁs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ekāntataḥ: ultimately/solely
• ekāntataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekāntatas (अव्यय, तसिल्)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), tasil-derivative (तसिल्): ‘exclusively/ultimately’

• śreyaḥ: the highest good
• śreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसक), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (तद्), Neuter (नपुंसक), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• naḥ: to us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (अस्मद्), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन) — enclitic form

• śaṁsitum: to declare
• śaṁsitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṁs (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्/तुमर्थ), ‘to tell/praise/declare’

• arhasi: you are able/ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā, worship of the ācārya is recommended. The ācāryas and gosvāmīs are always absorbed in thought of the well-being of the general public, especially their spiritual well-being. Spiritual well-being is automatically followed by material well-being. The ācāryas therefore give directions in spiritual well-being for people in general. Foreseeing the incompetencies of the people in this Age of Kali, or the iron age of quarrel, the sages requested that Sūta Gosvāmī give a summary of all revealed scriptures because the people of this age are condemned in every respect. The sages, therefore, inquired of the absolute good, which is the ultimate good for the people. The condemned state of affairs of the people of this age is described as follows.

Characters & Entities

• Shaunaka Rishi
• Suta Gosvami

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say is the highest good (śreyas) for all people?

This verse records the sages’ request that Suta Gosvami reveal the one exclusive, ultimate welfare for humanity—implying a single supreme path to real well-being that he has conclusively understood.

Why did the sages ask Suta Gosvami to speak what he had 'conclusively determined'?

Because Suta was learned in the Purāṇas and had heard transcendental wisdom from realized authorities; the sages wanted a clear, decisive conclusion—free from doubt—about humanity’s true spiritual welfare.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Seek clarity about life’s highest purpose and prioritize practices that lead to lasting inner good—regular hearing of Bhagavatam teachings and choosing spiritually beneficial actions over temporary gains.