Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 25

Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus

Beginnings

Devanagari script

अवधूतं द्विजं कञ्चिच्चरन्तमकुतोभयम् । कविं निरीक्ष्य तरुणं यदु: पप्रच्छ धर्मवित् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

avadhūtaṁ dvijaṁ kañcic carantam akuto-bhayam kaviṁ nirīkṣya taruṇaṁ yaduḥ papraccha dharma-vit

Translation

摩诃罗阇耶度曾见一位婆罗门阿跋度多，无所畏惧地游行四方，貌似年轻而如博学诗人。精通法义的国王便向他发问。

Synonyms

• अवधूतम्: the avadhūta
• अवधूतम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवधूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• द्विजम्: a brāhmaṇa / twice-born
• द्विजम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; अवधूतम् इति कर्मणः विशेषण (appositional)

• कञ्चित्: some
• कञ्चित्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)

• चरन्तम्: wandering
• चरन्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of अवधूतम्

• अकुतोभयम्: fearless (from any quarter)
• अकुतोभयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुतः + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of अवधूतम्; समास: तत्पुरुष (अकुतः-भय = from nowhere fear)

• कविम्: a sage/poet
• कविम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; अवधूतम् इति कर्मणः विशेषण (appositional)

• निरीक्ष्य: having observed
• निरीक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive—prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having seen/observed’

• तरुणम्: young
• तरुणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of अवधूतम्

• यदुः: Yadu
• यदुः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्मवित्: knower of dharma
• धर्मवित्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of यदुः; समास: तत्पुरुष (धर्म-वित् = knower of dharma)

Characters & Entities

• Yadu
• Avadhūta (Dattātreya)

FAQs

Who is the avadhūta brāhmaṇa mentioned in Bhagavatam 11.7.25?

He is the famous Avadhūta (identified in this chapter as Dattātreya), a liberated sage whose life and teachings become the basis for profound instruction on detachment and spiritual wisdom.

Why did King Yadu approach and question the Avadhūta?

Seeing the Avadhūta’s fearlessness and realized demeanor, Yadu—being a knower of dharma—recognized him as a true authority and inquired to understand the source of his peace and wisdom.

How can ‘akutobhayam’ (fearlessness) be applied in modern life according to this verse?

By seeking guidance from saintly, spiritually grounded persons and cultivating inner detachment, one learns to face changing circumstances without anxiety, rooted in higher understanding rather than external security.