Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 4

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच नमस्कृत्य गुरून् वक्ष्ये विभूतीर्वैष्णवीरपि । या: प्रोक्ता वेदतन्त्राभ्यामाचार्यै: पद्मजादिभि: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sūta uvāca namaskṛtya gurūn vakṣye vibhūtīr vaiṣṇavīr api yāḥ proktā veda-tantrābhyām ācāryaiḥ padmajādibhiḥ

Translation

苏多说：我先向诸位灵性师长顶礼，然后将复述主毗湿奴的神圣威德与诸般显现；此等教说由莲华生的梵天等大权威依《吠陀》与《坦特罗》所宣示。

Synonyms

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having saluted’

• गुरून्: the teachers/gurus
• गुरून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वक्ष्ये: I shall speak
• वक्ष्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• विभूतीः: manifestations/powers
• विभूतीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वैष्णवीः: Vaiṣṇava (of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवीः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् विभूतीः इति

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• याः: which (those)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• प्रोक्ताः: were taught/declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन (याः इत्यन्वयः); कर्मणि प्रयोगभावः ‘have been spoken’

• वेदतन्त्राभ्याम्: by the Veda and the Tantra
• वेदतन्त्राभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; ‘by the Veda and the Tantra’

• आचार्यैः: by teachers
• आचार्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पद्मजादिभिः: by Brahmā and others
• पद्मजादिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मज + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘padmajādayaḥ’ = Brahmā etc.; -आदि-तत्पुरुष (‘beginning with’)

Characters & Entities

• Suta Gosvami
• Padmaja (Lord Brahma)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring the guru before speaking spiritual knowledge?

This verse shows Sūta beginning by offering obeisances to the gurus, indicating that sacred teachings should be spoken in humility and in alignment with the disciplic succession.

Why does Suta Gosvami mention Veda and Tantra together in this verse?

He emphasizes that Vaiṣṇava teachings and divine glories are supported by authoritative revelation—both the Vedic corpus and the Tantric (āgamic) traditions taught by recognized ācāryas.

How can a modern seeker apply this verse in daily spiritual practice?

Approach spiritual study with reverence—seek guidance from authentic teachers, learn from recognized traditions, and cultivate humility before sharing or teaching spiritual insights.