Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 9

Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच श‍ृणुष्वावहितो राजन्नितिहासमिमं यथा । श्रुतं द्वैपायनमुखान्नारदाद्देवलादपि ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājann itihāsam imaṁ yathā śrutaṁ dvaipāyana-mukhān nāradād devalād api

Translation

室利舒迦说：大王啊，请专心聆听；我将如实讲述这段史事，正如我从岛生毗耶娑、那罗陀与提婆罗诸圣口中所闻。

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (honorific + name); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: क्रिया (आज्ञा/imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अवहितः: attentive
• अवहितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (of implied ‘you’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवहित (कृदन्त; अव+धा धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (त्वम् implied) ‘attentive’

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• इतिहासम्: the history/narrative
• इतिहासम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (इतिहासम्)

• यथा: as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानार्थ ‘as/how/just as’

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: कर्म-सम्बन्ध / भाव (complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुत (कृदन्त; श्रु धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘heard’ (predicate to implied ‘it’)

• द्वैपायन-मुखात्: from Dvaipāyana’s mouth
• द्वैपायन-मुखात्: अपादान (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘द्वैपायनस्य मुखम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ‘from the mouth of Dvaipāyana’

• नारदात्: from Nārada
• नारदात्: अपादान (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• देवलात्: from Devala
• देवलात्: अपादान (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अतिशयार्थ ‘also/even’

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Dvaipāyana Vyāsa
• Nārada
• Devala

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing (śravaṇam) with attention?

This verse directly urges the listener (King Parīkṣit) to hear with full attention, showing that focused hearing is essential for receiving sacred truth in bhakti.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Vyāsa, Nārada, and Devala here?

He establishes the authenticity of the narration through paramparā—confirming he heard the account from authoritative sages, beginning with Vyāsa, and also from Nārada and Devala.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual practice?

Approach scripture and spiritual teachings with undistracted attention and learn from reliable sources/teachers, valuing verified tradition over speculation.