Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 17

Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva

Devanagari script

अथ तस्मै प्रपन्नाय भक्ताय प्रयतात्मने । भगवान्नारद: प्रीतो विद्यामेतामुवाच ह ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

atha tasmai prapannāya bhaktāya prayatātmane bhagavān nāradaḥ prīto vidyām etām uvāca ha

Translation

随后，至能圣者那罗陀因悉多罗计都这位自制、归依的奉主者而大为欢喜，便向他宣说此一超越之教诲。

Synonyms

• atha: then; now
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक/मङ्गलार्थक)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prapannāya: to the surrendered one
• prapannāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prapanna (प्रपद्/पद् धातु-कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); used substantively

• bhaktāya: to the devotee
• bhaktāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (भज् धातु-कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prayata-ātmane: to the self-controlled one
• prayata-ātmane: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayata (यम् धातु-कृदन्त, क्त) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘one whose self is disciplined’

• bhagavān: the venerable lordly one
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītaḥ: pleased
• prītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (प्री धातु-कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidyām: the knowledge; the mantra-vidyā
• vidyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• etām: this
• etām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative qualifying vidyām

• uvāca: said; spoke
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• ha: indeed; surely
• ha: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निपात)

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Citraketu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about who is qualified to receive spiritual knowledge?

This verse says that one who is surrendered (prapanna), devoted (bhakta), and self-controlled (prayatātmā) becomes a fit recipient of sacred instruction, and such qualities please great saints like Nārada.

Why did Narada Muni teach this vidya to Citraketu?

Because Citraketu approached in a surrendered, devotional mood with disciplined mind; seeing these qualifications, Nārada became pleased and therefore imparted the spiritual teaching.

How can I apply 'surrender and self-control' from Bhagavatam in modern life?

Approach learning with humility, commit to devotional practice, and cultivate mental discipline; these make one receptive to genuine guidance and deeper spiritual understanding.