Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 17

Akrūra’s Prayers (Akrūra-stuti): The Lord as Cause of Causes, Virāṭ, and the Goal of All Paths

Devanagari script

नम: कारणमत्स्याय प्रलयाब्धिचराय च । हयशीर्ष्णे नमस्तुभ्यं मधुकैटभमृत्यवे ॥ १७ ॥ अकूपाराय बृहते नमो मन्दरधारिणे । क्षित्युद्धारविहाराय नम: शूकरमूर्तये ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ kāraṇa-matsyāya pralayābdhi-carāya ca hayaśīrṣṇe namas tubhyaṁ madhu-kaiṭabha-mṛtyave

Translation

I offer my obeisances to You, the cause of the creation, Lord Matsya, who swam about in the ocean of dissolution, to Lord Hayagrīva, the killer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, to the immense tortoise [Lord Kūrma], who supported Mandara Mountain, and to the boar incarnation [Lord Varāha], who enjoyed lifting the earth.

Synonyms

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interjection/indeclinable salutation (नमः-प्रयोगः, अव्ययवत्)

• kāraṇa-matsyāya: to the primeval Fish (incarnation)
• kāraṇa-matsyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa + matsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘kāraṇaḥ matsyaḥ’ = ‘causal/primeval fish’

• pralaya-abdhi-carāya: to the one who moves in the ocean of dissolution
• pralaya-abdhi-carāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya + abdhi + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘pralaye abdhiḥ’ + ‘tasmin carati’ = ‘who moves in the deluge-ocean’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थ-अव्यय)

• haya-śīrṣṇe: to the horse-headed one
• haya-śīrṣṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya + śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘hayasya śīrṣam’ → ‘horse-headed (Hayagrīva)’

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interjection/indeclinable salutation (नमः-प्रयोगः)

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• madhu-kaiṭabha-mṛtyave: to the slayer (death) of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• madhu-kaiṭabha-mṛtyave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu + kaiṭabha + mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘madhu-kaiṭabhayoḥ mṛtyuḥ’ = ‘death of Madhu and Kaiṭabha’

Purport

The Viśva-kośa dictionary states that the word akūpārāya indicates the king of tortoises.

Characters & Entities

• Akrura
• Matsya
• Hayagriva (Hayashirsha)
• Madhu
• Kaitabha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya and the pralaya (cosmic dissolution)?

This verse offers worship to the Lord as Matsya, who moves within the ocean of dissolution, indicating His protection and guidance even during cosmic devastation.

Why does Akrura praise different avatars while going to see Krishna and Balarama?

Akrura recognizes Krishna as the Supreme Lord and therefore glorifies Him through His well-known divine manifestations and deeds, expressing reverence and surrender.

How can remembering the Lord as the slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha help in modern life?

It strengthens faith that the Lord removes destructive forces—externally and within the mind—encouraging a devotee to seek refuge in Him during fear, chaos, or temptation.