Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 11

The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच स प्रहस्य महाबाहो भगवान् शब्दगोचर: । प्रत्याचष्टात्मभूर्देवान् प्रीणन् रुचिरया गिरा ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca sa prahasya mahā-bāho bhagavān śabda-gocaraḥ pratyācaṣṭātma-bhūr devān prīṇan rucirayā girā

Translation

Maitreya nói: Hỡi bậc dũng mãnh, Đức Brahmā—Đấng được nhận biết qua âm thanh siêu việt—mỉm cười, hài lòng với lời cầu nguyện, rồi dùng lời lẽ mỹ diệu đáp lại để làm an lòng chư thiên.

Synonyms

• maitreyaḥ: Maitreya
• maitreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of participle/predicate context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prahasya: having smiled
• prahasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prahasya (कृदन्त, √has हस् ‘to laugh’ with pra-)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having laughed/smiled’

• mahā-bāho: O mighty-armed one
• mahā-bāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śabda-gocaraḥ: within the range of words (i.e., expressible)
• śabda-gocaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + gocara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying bhagavān)

• pratyācaṣṭa: replied; addressed
• pratyācaṣṭa: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cakṣ (धातु) with prati-ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट्/लुङ्-रूप (aorist/perfect-like narrative form), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he replied/declared’

• ātma-bhūḥ: the self-born (Brahmā)
• ātma-bhūḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ब्रह्मा-पर्याय (self-born)

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• prīṇan: pleasing
• prīṇan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/participial modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīṇan (कृदन्त, √prī प्री ‘to please/satisfy’)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपद; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (modifying pratyācaṣṭa)

• rucirayā: with charming
• rucirayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying girā)

• girā: speech; words
• girā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Purport

Brahmā could understand the misdeeds of Diti, and therefore he smiled at the whole situation. He replied to the demigods present there in words they could understand.

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Vidura
• Bhagavan (the Supreme Lord)
• Brahma (Atmabhu)
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by the Lord being 'śabda-gocara'?

This verse indicates the Lord is approachable and knowable through śabda—Vedic revelation and authentic spiritual sound—by which devotees understand Him.

Why did the Lord reply to the demigods with pleasing words in Canto 3?

In the Vaikuṇṭha narrative, the Lord’s gracious response reassures and satisfies the devas, showing His benevolence and the sweetness of His dealings with devotees.

How can a modern seeker apply the teaching of 'śabda-gocara'?

By regularly hearing, chanting, and studying Bhagavatam and other bona fide śāstra under guidance, one connects to the Lord through purified spiritual sound.