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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 31

Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama

एतैर्दोषैर्विहीनाय ब्रह्मण्याय प्रियाय च । साधवे शुचये ब्रूयाद् भक्ति: स्याच्छूद्रयोषिताम् ॥ ३१ ॥

etair doṣair vihīnāya brahmaṇyāya priyāya ca sādhave śucaye brūyād bhaktiḥ syāc chūdra-yoṣitām

یہ علم اسی کو بتایا جائے جو ان عیوب سے پاک ہو، برہمنوں کے بھلے میں لگا ہو، محبوب، صالح اور پاکیزہ ہو۔ اور اگر شودروں اور عورتوں میں بھی پرمیشور کے لیے بھکتی ہو تو وہ بھی اہلِ سماعت ہیں۔

etaiḥby these
etaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootetad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormPronoun used adjectivally, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies 'doṣaiḥ'
doṣaiḥfaults
doṣaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
vihīnāyato one devoid (of)
vihīnāya:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeAdjective
Rootvi-√hā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
FormPast participle used adjectivally, Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; 'free from' (with instr. 'doṣaiḥ')
brahmaṇyāyato one devoted to Brahman/holy
brahmaṇyāya:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeAdjective
Rootbrahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular
priyāyato a dear one
priyāya:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeAdjective
Rootpriya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
sādhaveto a saintly person
sādhave:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootsādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular
śucayeto a pure person
śucaye:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeAdjective
Rootśuci (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular
brūyātshould speak/teach
brūyāt:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√brū (धातु)
FormOptative: Liṅ (लिङ्/विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada
bhaktiḥdevotion
bhaktiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
syātwould be/may arise
syāt:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√as (धातु)
FormOptative: Liṅ (लिङ्/विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; 'may be/should be'
śūdra-yoṣitāmof śūdra women
śūdra-yoṣitām:
Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootśūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; karmadhāraya: śūdrāḥ yoṣitaḥ (women who are śūdras)
U
Uddhava
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

It says bhakti should be taught to a person free from faults—saintly, pure, and devoted to brahminical (spiritual) principles—because such a listener can truly receive and live the teaching.

Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava on how to transmit the most confidential bhakti teachings responsibly—ensuring they are given to sincere, clean-hearted seekers who will honor and practice them.

Share bhakti teachings with humility and discernment—offer them to those who are respectful, sincere, and willing to live a pure life, and avoid debates with those who only want to criticize.