Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 35

The Murder of Satrājit and the Recovery of the Syamantaka Jewel

Devanagari script

पूजयित्वाभिभाष्यैनं कथयित्वा प्रिया: कथा: । विज्ञाताखिलचित्तज्ञ: स्मयमान उवाच ह ॥ ३५ ॥ ननु दानपते न्यस्तस्त्वय्यास्ते शतधन्वना । स्यमन्तको मनि: श्रीमान् विदित: पूर्वमेव न: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

pūjayitvābhibhāṣyainaṁ kathayitvā priyāḥ kathāḥ vijñātākhila-citta jñaḥ smayamāna uvāca ha

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa honored Akrūra, greeted him confidentially and spoke pleasant words with him. Then the Lord, who was fully aware of Akrūra’s heart by virtue of His being the knower of everything, smiled and addressed him: “O master of charity, surely the opulent Syamantaka jewel was left in your care by Śatadhanvā and is still with you. Indeed, We have known this all along.

Synonyms

• पूजयित्वा: having honored
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ktvā); 'having honored/worshipped'

• अभिभाष्य: having addressed
• अभिभाष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-भाष् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/lyap); 'having addressed/spoken to'

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun referring to Akrūra

• कथयित्वा: having spoken/told
• कथयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ktvā); 'having conversed/told'

• प्रियाः: dear/pleasant
• प्रियाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies कथाः

• कथाः: talks/stories
• कथाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; object of कथयित्वा

• विज्ञाताखिलचित्तज्ञः: knower of all hearts (all-knowing)
• विज्ञाताखिलचित्तज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञात-अखिल-चित्त-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'he whose knowledge is of all minds' (akhila-citta-jñaḥ) with participial modifier विज्ञात

• स्मयमानः: smiling
• स्मयमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मि (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/śatṛ) Ātmanepada form; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'smiling'

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) for emphasis/narration

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa’s treatment of Akrūra here confirms that he is actually a great devotee of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna knowing everyone’s mind?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa as “the knower of all minds,” indicating His divine omniscience even while He behaves with gentle, human-like courtesy in His pastimes.

Why does Krishna first honor and speak pleasantly before addressing the issue?

Because Kṛṣṇa models dharmic conduct—showing respect, building goodwill, and then speaking with clarity—especially in sensitive matters connected to the Syamantaka jewel episode.

Practical application of Krishna’s behavior in modern life?

Approach difficult conversations with respect and warmth first; then speak truthfully and calmly—combining etiquette with integrity.