Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 4

Indra’s Prayers and the Coronation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Govinda

Govindābhiṣeka

Devanagari script

इन्द्र उवाच विशुद्धसत्त्वं तव धाम शान्तंतपोमयं ध्वस्तरजस्तमस्कम् । मायामयोऽयं गुणसम्प्रवाहोन विद्यते तेऽग्रहणानुबन्ध: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

indra uvāca viśuddha-sattvaṁ tava dhāma śāntaṁ tapo-mayaṁ dhvasta-rajas-tamaskam māyā-mayo ’yaṁ guṇa-sampravāho na vidyate te grahaṇānubandhaḥ

Translation

King Indra said: Your transcendental form, a manifestation of pure goodness, is undisturbed by change, shining with knowledge and devoid of passion and ignorance. In You does not exist the mighty flow of the modes of material nature, which is based on illusion and ignorance.

Synonyms

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular; parasmaipada

• viśuddha-sattvam: completely pure in essence
• viśuddha-sattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारय: 'completely pure (viśuddha) essence/being (sattva)'

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular (षष्ठी एकवचन)

• dhāma: abode; divine nature
• dhāma: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; here Nominative as subject-complement

• śāntam: peaceful
• śāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक; √śam/शम्, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; agreeing with dhāma

• tapaḥ-mayam: made of austerity
• tapaḥ-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + mayaṭ (मयट्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष/उपपद: 'consisting of austerity'

• dhvasta-rajaḥ-tamaskam: with rajas and tamas destroyed
• dhvasta-rajaḥ-tamaskam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvasta (√dhvaṃs/ध्वंस्, क्त) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक) + tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'in which rajas and tamas are destroyed'

• māyā-mayaḥ: made of māyā
• māyā-mayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + mayaṭ (मयट्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'consisting of māyā'

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• guṇa-sampravāhaḥ: the stream of the guṇas
• guṇa-sampravāhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sampravāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'flow/stream of the guṇas'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• vidyate: exists; is found
• vidyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु; 'to be found/ exist')
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person, Singular; ātmanepada

• te: for you; in you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative/Genitive Singular; here Dative (4th/चतुर्थी) = 'for you/ in you'

• agrahaṇa-anubandhaḥ: bond of non-apprehension (ignorance)
• agrahaṇa-anubandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-grahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anubandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'connection/continuity of non-apprehension (ignorance)'

Purport

The great Bhāgavatam commentator Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has masterfully explained the Sanskrit elements of this profound verse.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being beyond the three gunas?

This verse states that Krishna’s dhāma is viśuddha-sattva—pure transcendence—where rajas and tamas are destroyed, and the māyā-made flow of material qualities has no binding connection to Him.

Why did Indra say this to Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 27?

After being humbled by Krishna’s protection of Vraja (Govardhana episode), Indra offers prayers acknowledging Krishna’s supreme, transcendental position beyond māyā and the material modes.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages devotees to seek refuge in Krishna and spiritual practice, understanding that peace comes from turning away from the push of rajas and tamas and aligning life with devotion to the transcendental Lord.