Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

पदा शरत्पद्मपलाशरोचिषा नखद्युभिर्नोऽन्तरघं विधुन्वता । प्रदर्शय स्वीयमपास्तसाध्वसं पदं गुरो मार्गगुरुस्तमोजुषाम् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

padā śarat-padma-palāśa-rociṣā nakha-dyubhir no ’ntar-aghaṁ vidhunvatā pradarśaya svīyam apāsta-sādhvasaṁ padaṁ guro mārga-gurus tamo-juṣām

Translation

My dear Lord, Your two lotus feet are so beautiful that they appear like two blossoming petals of the lotus flower which grows during the autumn season. Indeed, the nails of Your lotus feet emanate such a great effulgence that they immediately dissipate all the darkness in the heart of a conditioned soul. My dear Lord, kindly show me that form of Yours which always dissipates all kinds of darkness in the heart of a devotee. My dear Lord, You are the supreme spiritual master of everyone; therefore all conditioned souls covered with the darkness of ignorance can be enlightened by You as the spiritual master.

Synonyms

• padā: by (your) foot
• padā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• śarat-padma-palāśa-rociṣā: with the radiance of an autumn lotus-petal
• śarat-padma-palāśa-rociṣā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarat (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक) + palāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + rocis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (शरदि पद्मपलाशस्य रोचिः इव रोचिः)

• nakha-dyubhiḥ: with the splendors of (your) nails
• nakha-dyubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha (प्रातिपदिक) + dyuti/dyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुषः (नखानां द्युभिः)

• naḥ: of us / our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; enclitic

• antaḥ-agham: the inner sin/impurity
• antaḥ-agham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaḥ (अव्यय) + agha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; अव्ययीभावः (अन्तः स्थितम् अघम्)

• vidhunvatā: while shaking off, removing
• vidhunvatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhū (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; with vi- prefix

• pradarśaya: show, reveal
• pradarśaya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; causative (णिच्) with pra-

• svīyam: your own
• svīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम् (padam)

• apāsta-sādhvasam: from which fear has been removed; fear-dispelling
• apāsta-sādhvasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apāsta (कृदन्त, apa-√as/√sthā in sense 'removed') + sādhvasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (अपास्तं साध्वसं यस्मात्)

• padam: the abode/position (footstep)
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• guro: O teacher
• guro: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• mārga-guruḥ: the guide/teacher of the path
• mārga-guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (मार्गस्य गुरुः)

• tamaḥ-juṣām: of those who cling to darkness (ignorance)
• tamaḥ-juṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + √juṣ (धातु; kridanta base juṣ)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; तत्पुरुषः—(तमः जुषन्ति ये तेषाम्)

Purport

Lord Śiva has thus described the bodily features of the Lord authoritatively. Now he wants to see the lotus feet of the Lord. When a devotee wants to see the transcendental form of the Lord, he begins his meditation on the Lord’s body by first looking at the feet of the Lord. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is considered to be the transcendental sound form of the Lord, and the twelve cantos are divided in accordance with the transcendental form of the Lord. The First and Second cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are called the two lotus feet of the Lord. It is therefore suggested by Lord Śiva that one should first try to see the lotus feet of the Lord. This also means that if one is serious about reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he must begin by seriously studying the First and Second cantos.

Characters & Entities

• Prachetas
• Lord Shiva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva as a spiritual guide?

This verse addresses Shiva as “mārga-guru,” the guide of the path, praying that his lotus feet remove inner impurity and lead devotees from ignorance to the fearless spiritual goal.

Why did the Prachetas pray to Lord Shiva for the ‘fearless abode’?

In their worship, the Prachetas seek purification from inner sin and guidance beyond tamas (darkness/ignorance), asking Shiva to reveal the fearless state—freedom from fear rooted in material bondage.

Practical application of ‘shaking off inner sin’ in modern life?

Approach a genuine guide, practice steady devotion and self-discipline, and use prayer/meditation to cleanse harmful habits and fears—moving from confusion toward clarity and spiritual courage.