Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.9
श्रीभगवानुवाच
धर्म्य एष तव प्रश्नो नै:श्रेयसकरो नृणाम् ।
वर्णाश्रमाचारवतां तमुद्धव निबोध मे ॥ ९ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
dharmya eṣa tava praśno
[dharmya esha tava prashno]
naiḥśreyasa-karo nṛṇām
[naihshreyasa-karo nrinaam]
varṇāśramācāravatāṁ
[varnaashramaachaaravataam]
tam uddhava nibodha me
[tam uddhava nibodha me]
Word-for-word
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
—
the Supreme Personality of Godhead said
dharmyaḥ
—
faithful to religious principles
eṣaḥ
—
this
tava
—
your
praśnaḥ
—
question
naiḥśreyasa-karaḥ
—
the cause of pure devotional service
nṛṇām
—
for ordinary human beings
varṇa-āśrama
—
the varṇāśrama system
ācāra-vatām
—
for those who faithfully follow
tam
—
those highest religious principles
uddhava
—
My dear Uddhava
nibodha
—
please learn
me
—
from Me.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Personality of Godhead said
dharmya eṣa tava praśno
dharmyaḥ
faithful to religious principles
eṣaḥ
this
tava
your
praśnaḥ
question
naiḥśreyasa-karo nṛṇām
naiḥśreyasa-karaḥ
the cause of pure devotional service
nṛṇām
for ordinary human beings
varṇāśramācāravatāṁ
varṇa-āśrama
the varṇāśrama system
ācāra-vatām
for those who faithfully follow
tam
those highest religious principles
tam uddhava nibodha me
uddhava
My dear Uddhava
nibodha
please learn
me
from Me.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, your question is faithful to religious principles and thus gives rise to the highest perfection in life, pure devotional service, for both ordinary human beings and the followers of the varṇāśrama system. Now please learn from Me those supreme religious principles.
Purport
The word naiḥśreyasa-kara indicates that which awards the highest perfection of life, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which the Lord is explaining to Śrī Uddhava. When considering religious principles, ordinary human beings remain bogged down in sectarian mundane considerations. The process that awards the highest perfection of life should be considered the most auspicious for human beings. The varṇāśrama system is the most scientific presentation of religiosity on the earth, and those who are most perfect in that system come to the point of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or dedicating everything for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: O Uddhava! Your question is faithful to dharma and thus gives rise to the highest perfection in life, for both ordinary human beings and the followers of varṇāśrama. Please learn from me that dharma.
Dharmyaḥ means “faithful to dharma.” Tam refers to dharma.
Personal Guidance
The Lord praises Uddhava's question as faithful to dharma and giving rise to the highest perfection — pure devotional service for both varṇāśrama followers and others. The right question generates fruit by itself.
Reflection Questions
- What is the right question to ask the Lord in my current situation?
- What might I be missing because I am asking a smaller one?
My note
Source: vedabase.io