Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 28

Parīkṣit’s Vow on the Gaṅgā and the Advent of Śukadeva Gosvāmī

Devanagari script

श्यामं सदापीव्यवयोऽङ्गलक्ष्म्या स्त्रीणां मनोज्ञं रुचिरस्मितेन । प्रत्युत्थितास्ते मुनय: स्वासनेभ्य- स्तल्लक्षणज्ञा अपि गूढवर्चसम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śyāmaṁ sadāpīvya-vayo-’ṅga-lakṣmyā strīṇāṁ mano-jñaṁ rucira-smitena pratyutthitās te munayaḥ svāsanebhyas tal-lakṣaṇa-jñā api gūḍha-varcasam

Translation

他肤色如青黑，常住青春，因肢体之美而光彩照人；其可喜微笑令妇女亦心生欢悦。虽他掩藏天生的光辉，然在座大圣皆精通相法，仍从座起身以示恭敬。

Synonyms

• śyāmam: dark-complexioned
• śyāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-avyaya/adverb (काल-अव्यय)

• apīvya-vayasā: by (his) full youthful vigor
• apīvya-vayasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apīvya + vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: apīvya-vayas (कर्मधारय-समास: ‘plump/healthy’ + ‘youth’); Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; hetu/means sense

• aṅga-lakṣmyā: by bodily beauty
• aṅga-lakṣmyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: aṅga-lakṣmī (तत्पुरुष: ‘beauty of limbs’); Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• mano-jñam: mind-pleasing
• mano-jñam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: mano-jña (तत्पुरुष: ‘pleasing to the mind’); Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• rucira-smitena: with a charming smile
• rucira-smitena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rucira + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: rucira-smita (कर्मधारय: ‘charming smile’); Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• pratyutthitāḥ: rose up to greet
• pratyutthitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ud-√sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्यय), Masculine, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana; ‘having risen up in response’

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Masculine, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• sva-āsanebhyaḥ: from their own seats
• sva-āsanebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: sva-āsana (तत्पुरुष: ‘own seats’); Napumsaka, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Bahuvacana; apādāna sense ‘from’

• tat-lakṣaṇa-jñāḥ: knowing the (spiritual) signs
• tat-lakṣaṇa-jñāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat + lakṣaṇa + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: tat-lakṣaṇa-jña (तत्पुरुष: ‘knowers of those marks/signs’); Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of munayaḥ

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

• gūḍha-varcasam: having concealed splendor
• gūḍha-varcasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gūḍha + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: gūḍha-varcas (कर्मधारय: ‘hidden radiance/tejas’); Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa (object of perception)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• the sages (munayaḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about recognizing a liberated sage like Śukadeva Gosvāmī?

This verse shows that even expert sages can find a truly liberated soul’s inner splendor “hidden” (gūḍha-varcasam); spiritual greatness may not be fully measurable by external marks alone.

Why did the sages stand up from their seats when Śukadeva Gosvāmī arrived?

They rose to honor him instinctively, sensing his extraordinary spiritual stature, even though his effulgence was outwardly concealed.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual life?

It teaches humility and reverence: do not judge seekers by externals; honor genuine saintly association and look for depth of realization and character rather than display.