Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 25

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

तर्ह्येव सरसस्तस्मान्निष्क्रामन्तं सहानुगम् । उपगीयमानममरप्रवरं विबुधानुगै: ॥ २४ ॥ तप्तहेमनिकायाभं शितिकण्ठं त्रिलोचनम् । प्रसादसुमुखं वीक्ष्य प्रणेमुर्जातकौतुका: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

tarhy eva sarasas tasmān niṣkrāmantaṁ sahānugam upagīyamānam amara- pravaraṁ vibudhānugaiḥ

Translation

The Pracetās were fortunate to see Lord Śiva, the chief of the demigods, emerging from the water with his associates. His bodily luster was just like molten gold, his throat was bluish, and he had three eyes, which looked very mercifully upon his devotees. He was accompanied by many musicians, who were glorifying him. As soon as the Pracetās saw Lord Śiva, they immediately offered their obeisances in great amazement and fell down at the lotus feet of the lord.

Synonyms

• तप्त: heated
• तप्त: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member) (burnt/heated)

• हेम: gold
• हेम: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member)

• निकाय: mass/body
• निकाय: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member)

• आभम्: having the splendor (like heated gold)
• आभम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: तप्त-हेम-निकाय-आभम् (determinative: 'having the luster of a mass of heated gold')

• शिति: gray/whitish
• शिति: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member) (whitish/gray)

• कण्ठम्: the blue/gray-throated one (Śiva)
• कण्ठम्: कर्म (Karma/object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: शिति-कण्ठम् ('gray-throated')

• त्रि: three
• त्रि: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member)

• लोचनम्: three-eyed
• लोचनम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: त्रि-लोचनम् ('one who has three eyes')

• प्रसाद: grace/serenity
• प्रसाद: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member)

• सुमुखम्: with a gracious, pleasant face
• सुमुखम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: प्रसाद-सुमुखम् ('serene and fair-faced')

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/absolutive modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive), अव्ययभाव (having seen)

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural)

• जात: arisen
• जात: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member) (arisen)

• कौतुकाः: (they) filled with curiosity/joy
• कौतुकाः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: जात-कौतुकाः ('those whose curiosity/joy has arisen')

Purport

The word vibudhānugaiḥ indicates that Lord Śiva is always accompanied by the denizens of the higher planets known as Gandharvas and Kinnaras. They are very expert in musical science, and Lord Śiva is worshiped by them constantly. In pictures, Lord Śiva is generally painted white, but here we find that the color of his skin is not exactly white but like molten gold, or a glowing yellowish color. Because Lord Śiva is always very, very merciful, his name is Āśutoṣa. Amongst all the demigods, Lord Śiva can be pacified even by the lowest class of men, who need only offer him obeisances and leaves of a bael tree. Thus his name is Āśutoṣa, which means that he is pleased very quickly.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva
• Pracetās
• Śiva’s attendants (gaṇas)
• Demigod followers (vibudhānugas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the appearance of Lord Shiva to devotees?

This verse shows Lord Śiva personally manifesting before the Pracetās, accompanied by his attendants, as his glories are sung—indicating his responsiveness to sincere spiritual seekers.

Why did Lord Shiva come to the Pracetās in Canto 4 Chapter 24?

In the narrative, the Pracetās are engaged in serious purpose and devotion; Lord Śiva appears to guide them and to offer prayers and instruction that support their devotion to the Supreme Lord.

Practical application: what does “glorification” teach in modern life?

Regularly glorifying the Lord and great devotees (through kīrtana, study, and remembrance) purifies attention and strengthens spiritual resolve, just as Śiva is welcomed here by hymns.