Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23

The Vraja Elders Question Kṛṣṇa’s Identity; Nanda Recounts Garga’s Prophecy

Devanagari script

इत्यद्धा मां समादिश्य गर्गे च स्वगृहं गते । मन्ये नारायणस्यांशं कृष्णमक्लिष्टकारिणम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

ity addhā māṁ samādiśya garge ca sva-gṛhaṁ gate manye nārāyaṇasyāṁśaṁ kṛṣṇam akliṣṭa-kāriṇam

Translation

[Nanda Mahārāja continued:] After Garga Ṛṣi spoke these words to me and returned home, I began to consider that Kṛṣṇa, who keeps us free from trouble, is actually an expansion of Lord Nārāyaṇa.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-चिह्न (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अद्धा: certainly/indeed
• अद्धा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of certainty)

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समादिश्य: having instructed
• समादिश्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having instructed/ordered’

• गर्गे: when/while Garga (was...)
• गर्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्व-गृहम्: to (his) own house
• स्व-गृहम्: गति-कर्म (Goal/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य गृहम् = his own house)

• गते: having gone
• गते: सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘when (he) had gone’ (locative absolute with गर्गे)

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नारायणस्य: of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अंशम्: a portion/partial expansion
• अंशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to अंशम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अक्लिष्ट-कारिणम्: who acts effortlessly
• अक्लिष्ट-कारिणम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to कृष्णम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अक्लिष्टः कारिणः = one who acts without trouble)

Characters & Entities

• Garga (Gargācārya)
• Nārāyaṇa
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.26.23 say about Krishna’s identity?

Nanda Mahārāja concludes that Kṛṣṇa is an empowered portion of Nārāyaṇa (nārāyaṇāṁśa) and that His actions are akliṣṭa—untouched by karmic distress or impurity.

Why does Nanda Mahārāja mention Garga in this verse?

He recalls how Gargācārya had earlier instructed him (about Kṛṣṇa’s extraordinary nature) and, after Garga returned home, Nanda reflects on those words and recognizes Kṛṣṇa’s divine status.

How can the idea of “akliṣṭa-kāriṇam” be applied in modern life?

It inspires devotees to act with devotion and integrity, remembering that the Lord is never overwhelmed—so one can face difficulties with steadiness, prayer, and trust in divine protection.