Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 20

Aditi’s Payo-vrata and Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as Her Son

Prelude to Vāmana

Devanagari script

नैतत् परस्मा आख्येयं पृष्टयापि कथञ्चन । सर्वं सम्पद्यते देवि देवगुह्यं सुसंवृतम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

naitat parasmā ākhyeyaṁ pṛṣṭayāpi kathañcana sarvaṁ sampadyate devi deva-guhyaṁ susaṁvṛtam

Translation

Hỡi Nữ thần, đây là bí mật thiêng liêng rất kín; dẫu có ai hỏi cũng chớ tiết lộ cho bất kỳ ai. Điều được giữ kín mới thành tựu viên mãn.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; here object of ākhyeyam (to be told)

• parasmai: to another
• parasmai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; 'to another person'

• ākhyeyam: to be disclosed
• ākhyeyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/predicative obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākhyeya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ā-√khyā ख्या)
• Form: Gerundive (यत्) 'to be told'; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicative with etat

• pṛṣṭayā: by (her) asking / when asked
• pṛṣṭayā: Hetu (हेतु/circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭā (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √prach प्रच्छ्)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; 'even when asked' (instrumental of circumstance)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) = 'even'

• kathañcana: in any way
• kathañcana: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcana (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'in any way/at all'

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; subject of sampadyate

• sampadyate: is accomplished, succeeds
• sampadyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√pad पद् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular

• devi: O goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• deva-guhyam: divine secret
• deva-guhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'devānāṁ guhyaṁ' (secret of the gods); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate/apposition to sarvam

• su-saṁvṛtam: well concealed
• su-saṁvṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + saṁvṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; sam-√vṛ वृ)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) with intensifier su-; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; agrees with sarvam/deva-guhyam

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa Muni
• Aditi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about keeping spiritual practices confidential?

This verse instructs that the Lord’s confidential worship and vow-related instructions should not be disclosed to others, even if questioned, because such secrecy protects the sanctity and successful completion of the vow.

Why did Kashyapa Muni say this to Aditi in Canto 8 Chapter 17?

Kashyapa was guiding Aditi in a specific devotional vow meant to invoke Lord Vishnu’s help; he emphasized confidentiality because the procedure was “deva-guhya” (a divine secret) and meant to be preserved with care for full success.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Keep your personal vows, spiritual disciplines, and sacred commitments steady and private—focus on sincere practice rather than public display—so your devotion remains protected from distraction, criticism, or pride.