Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 11

Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

चरन्ति ह्यवनौ कामं ब्राह्मणा भगवत्प्रिया: । माद‍ृशां ग्राम्यबुद्धीनां बोधायोन्मत्तलिङ्गिन: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

caranti hy avanau kāmaṁ brāhmaṇā bhagavat-priyāḥ mādṛśāṁ grāmya-buddhīnāṁ bodhāyonmatta-liṅginaḥ

Translation

那些成为毗湿奴派的婆罗门——最为主克里希纳所钟爱的仆人——随其意愿行走于大地，有时甚至装作狂人。为利益如我等执著感官享乐的俗人，并驱散无明，他们才如此云游。

Synonyms

• चरन्ति: they wander
• चरन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• अवनौ: on the earth
• अवनौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कामम्: at will
• कामम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कामम् = यथेच्छम्/स्वेच्छया (adverb: at will)

• ब्राह्मणाः: brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भगवत्प्रियाः: dear to the Lord
• भगवत्प्रियाः: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘ब्राह्मणाः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; भगवत् + प्रिय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भगवतः प्रियाः)

• मादृशाम्: of people like me
• मादृशाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘मद्विध’ (like me)

• ग्राम्यबुद्धीनाम्: of those with worldly minds
• ग्राम्यबुद्धीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम्य-बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; ग्राम्य + बुद्धि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (ग्राम्या बुद्धिः येषाम्)

• बोधाय: for awakening/instruction
• बोधाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Purpose-Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• उन्मत्तलिङ्गिनः: bearing the guise of madmen
• उन्मत्तलिङ्गिनः: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘ब्राह्मणाः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्मत्त-लिङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक; उन्मत्त + लिङ्गिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (उन्मत्तस्य लिङ्गम् यस्य/येषाम्)

Characters & Entities

• Citraketu
• Narada Muni

FAQs

Why do saints in Srimad Bhagavatam sometimes appear like madmen?

This verse explains that devotees dear to the Lord may adopt an 'unmatta' (madman-like) external demeanor to awaken and instruct materially absorbed people, while remaining spiritually fixed within.

Why did King Citraketu say this to Narada Muni?

Citraketu acknowledges Narada as a Lord-beloved brāhmaṇa whose unusual, detached conduct is meant to enlighten him, since Citraketu admits his own mind was previously absorbed in worldly concerns.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Do not judge spiritual teachers merely by external style; focus on their message and character, and seek guidance from genuine devotees to awaken from materialistic thinking.