Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 41

The Appearance of Lord Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa) and the Divine Exchange with Yoga-māyā

Devanagari script

अद‍ृष्ट्वान्यतमं लोके शीलौदार्यगुणै: समम् । अहं सुतो वामभवं पृश्न‍िगर्भ इति श्रुत: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

adṛṣṭvānyatamaṁ loke śīlaudārya-guṇaiḥ samam ahaṁ suto vām abhavaṁ pṛśnigarbha iti śrutaḥ

Translation

Since I found no one else as highly elevated as you in simplicity and other qualities of good character, I appeared in this world as Pṛśnigarbha, or one who is celebrated as having taken birth from Pṛśni.

Synonyms

• adṛṣṭvā: not having seen
• adṛṣṭvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) with negation prefix a-: ‘not having seen’

• anyatamam: any other (person)
• anyatamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anyatama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (7th, locative), एकवचन (sg)

• śīla-udārya-guṇaiḥ: by virtues of character and generosity
• śīla-udārya-guṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + udārya (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (pl)

• samam: equal
• samam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg)

• sutaḥ: (as) a son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg)

• vām: of you two
• vām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी (6th, genitive), द्विवचन (dual)

• abhavam: I became / I was born
• abhavam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद

• pṛśnigarbhaḥ: Pṛśnigarbha (name)
• pṛśnigarbhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛśni-garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (pṛśni + garbha ‘womb/embryo’), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg)

• iti: thus
• iti: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-बोधक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• śrutaḥ: known/heard (as)
• śrutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śru (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg)

Purport

In the Tretā-yuga the Lord appeared as Pṛśnigarbha. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, pṛśnigarbha iti so ’yaṁ tretā-yugāvatāro lakṣyate.

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Devaki
• Pṛśni
• Lord Vishnu (Pṛśnigarbha)

FAQs

Who is Pṛśnigarbha in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Pṛśnigarbha is a name of the Lord indicating His appearance as the son born from Pṛśni; here He says He is known by that name in tradition.

Why did Lord Vishnu say He became the son of Vasudeva and Devaki?

He explains that, finding no one equal to them in virtue, noble conduct, and generosity, He chose to manifest as their son.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Cultivating character, generosity, and virtue is presented as devotionally powerful—qualities that draw divine grace and deepen one’s relationship with God.